Podcasts have quickly become a dime a dozen; a host doesn’t necessarily need a following or expertise to launch a podcast but there are some very clear indicators that could make a podcast thrive or fail. The benefits of podcasting come from the ability to cover any niche topic, whilst also not being location specific as digital nomads and remote workers have turned to podcasting as a great option for an outlet too – but what is it that makes a great podcast, and what should new hosts consider when launching a new show?
Research is important to delivery – There’s a clear difference between shows that have put in the time to do the research and those that haven’t, and a well-presented show with all of the details stands far above all others. This can be done in a few different ways, whether independent research on the topic, self-experience that can be presented in an interesting way, or by welcoming expert guests that can speak on the topic with authority too – there are many podcasts out there that have simply become opinion pieces, and the well-researched alternatives stand out in stark contrast.
Confidence and competence – A key to getting your own podcasting voice out there is simply within confidence – the ability to be interactive and draw a listeners attention comes from a confident voice that draws listeners in, even if the information being given isn’t 100% accurate, sounding confident is often enough to convince others it’s correct. The confidence will also help when there’s a guest starring in the show, the host should after all be the star and knowing how to remain confident with another person sharing the spotlight is a rare trait for many creators. Competence comes from knowing how to use this confidence too, some creators like Joe Rogan, despite recent controversy, had become well known for this ability to deliver a competent experience whilst remaining confident in his own beliefs too.
The right equipment can make or break a listener’s experience – Whilst this is more on hardware rather than the individual, having a great mic and audio balancing equipment are the hallmarks of what makes up a positive listening experience – choppy or robotic audio makes listening to a chore, and anything short of crystal clear is already falling behind other creators. High quality audio is key to a good experience, and before a podcast is ever launched, this should be something that is guaranteed to be right ahead of time.
Podcasting is only growing and shows no signs of slowing down, there are plenty of opportunities for new creators to emerge if they’re able to get it right the first time, but it’s also easy to get lost in the crowd if the right balance isn’t found.
