When it comes to podcasting, creating a quality show that is consistently entertaining is key to your success. Listeners are looking for a show that they can count on to be high-quality and engaging episode after episode. By putting in the work and delivering a great show, you can attract an audience and keep them coming back for more.
But you don’t want to put in all that hard work, only to see no results. You can have the best episodes, full of value, but if they’re not reaching your intended audience, you’re definitely not going to achieve podcasting success.
So, what is a podcast host to do? Easy! Keep reading!
In this blog post, we will share with you The 10 Must Do’s for Successful Podcasting. This guide will help you get started on the right foot and will put you on the right path for podcasting success.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
1. Zero In On Your Niche
The first step to a successful podcast comes down to zeroing in on your niche. Podcasting is a quickly growing industry, and with so many people getting into it, there are bound to be many podcasts on similar topics as yours. So, in order to make sure that your podcast is successful, you’ll need to find your niche, and zero in on this.
This will help your show stand out from the crowd, and this is a key “must do” for podcasting success. You need to create a niche topic or angle that is unique to your show. Offering something different or interesting that listeners can’t find elsewhere will help keep them coming back for more.
Find a way to make yourself different from the rest of the podcasters and appeal to listeners who are particularly interested in what you have to say, and you’ll set your show up for success.
2. Never Compromise on Sound Quality
When it comes to podcasting, it’s all about your sound. Podcasting is predominately an audio medium, and so making sure each episode is of the greatest quality is critical.
First prize for achieving the highest quality sound possible is having professional sound editors handle your audio. And if you’re looking for help in this department, check out the editing packages we have on offer.
But, there is also a ton of great editing software out there to help you edit your show and get it sounding top class. And we have tips and tricks to help you edit like a pro!
Find out all we have on podcast editing here: The Best Podcast Editing Tips from We Edit Podcasts
The key to a great-sounding episode is capturing a great raw recording. And that boils down to using quality equipment. Check out this post for all you need to know about podcasting equipment.
3. Pay Attention to Episode Length
An often overlooked podcasting “must-do” is considering the impact your episode length has on the success of your podcast.
Time is precious. We’re becoming more and more conscious about how we choose to spend it. And when it comes to podcasts, listeners are becoming selective with how they’re spending their listening time.
Which is why it is important to really consider the length of your episodes.
The truth is that hours-long episodes only work for a select few podcasters. Those who are already big names in the industry, or have built up a fairly massive fan base who are willing to devote a couple of hours to getting through each episode.
In order for your podcast to be successful, you should be measuring your length by considering quality. If you have enough valuable content for episodes averaging 30 minutes, that’s exactly how long your episodes should be.
Do this consistently, and your episode length will be a key player in the success of your podcast.
4. Stick to a Consistent Publishing Schedule
Speaking of consistency, another “must-do” when it comes to achieving podcast success is to stick to a consistent publishing schedule.
The more consistent you are in publishing new episodes, the more consistently your listeners will tune in to listen to the new content you put out. And this is the basis for building a loyal community around your show.
But sticking to any type of schedule is tricky…if you don’t have a plan that is! And we’re full of hot tips here! So our best tip for sticking to a consistent publishing schedule is to batch record your episodes and get a few weeks of content ready to go.
Batching your episodes will help you build time into your routine. With a backlog of episodes in the bag, you will never be chasing deadlines, meaning that you’re always able to create top-notch episodes.
5. Genuinely Engage with Your Audience
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: your audience is the most important part of your podcast. A podcast’s audience is really its lifeblood. They are the ones who will support you, and who will keep driving your show forward.
So, never neglect your audience!
Create opportunities for them to engage with you. Use social media, email newsletters, or even find ways for them to contribute to your show.
And when they do reach out, be sure to respond! Your goal is to start to create genuine connections between you and your audience. And that all starts with engagement.
6. Grow Your Audience
Okay, so you’re engaging with your audience. That’s great! You’re turning your casual listeners into loyal fans. BUT! Now you’ve got to focus on growing that group of listeners.
Because the next must-do for podcast success is to grow your audience.
An audience that is consistently growing is the sign of a healthy, successful podcast.
But audience growth doesn’t just happen! It takes work, effort, and it takes strategy!
And strategy is something we can definitely help with! We have 5 effective strategies for growing a podcast audience. You can check them out on this post: How to Grow a Podcast Audience: 5 Effective Strategies.
Now, go grow that audience, and you’ll have ticked off this “must-do” off of your “to do” list for podcast success.
7. Learn From Others
One of the things we love most about the podcasting space is the general sense of camaraderie that exists between hosts and others in the industry. There is generally a great willingness to help others along on their podcasting journey.
So, one of the best pieces of advice we can give, particularly to new hosts, is to ask for help! There is no need to hit your head against every obstacle first. You can learn from others who have walked this road before you and who know the pitfalls and challenges you will face in the different stages.
There are plenty of blogs and newsletters focused on podcasting. There are even podcasts to help you better your podcast! Help is everywhere. You just have to be willing to ask for it.
Check out Buzzsprout’s YouTube channel. It’s also a great place for quick tips to help you improve your show.
8. Keep Learning and Improving
Another key “must-do” if you’re looking to achieve podcasting success is to keep learning and keep improving.
This is one of the best ways to keep making your show the best that it can be. And to ensure that it’s consistently serving your audience. A podcast that just keeps getting better is definitely one that is set up to achieve success!
But how do you do this?
Well, you can keep improving your show by consistently improving your skills. You can take editing courses to improve your editing skills, you could take up a writing challenge to help improve your content creation. Or, you could up your marketing skills by staying on top of all that’s currently trending.
But your audience can also be a great guide! Periodically take a look at your ratings and reviews. Are there any pointers there that could help you improve your podcast?
While negative reviews are never going to be fun to read, they are actually a good thing if they can help you make your show better! So use them to help your show keep growing! This is a sure sign of success!
9. Start Monetizing Your Podcast
In at Number 9, another step towards podcast success is to start monetizing your podcast. While monetizing your podcast is the ultimate objective in the podcasting industry, it should not be your primary motivation for starting.
If you’re starting a podcast with the only goal of making money, then it’s likely that your show will not be successful.
But if you’ve built a strong foundation, engaged with your audience, and are consistently delivering quality content, then it’s time to start thinking about talking your show to the next level of success by looking at how you can monetize your podcast!
Creating a high-quality podcast can become expensive. Not to mention time-consuming. And so looking for ways to monetize your show is a natural “next step” as you’re pursuing podcast success.
It can sound daunting! But thankfully, there are plenty of diverse ways to monetize a podcast.
Check out this post and we’ll get you started on your monetization journey! How To Monetize Your Podcast: Here’s Everything We Know
10. Keep Your Podcast Passion Alive
Last but not least, Must-Do Number 10, keep your podcast passion alive.
But why is that a must-do? Well, if you want to achieve podcast success in the long run, you’re going to need to keep your podcast alive! And a major part of that is keeping your passion for your podcast burning strong!
Yes, you need to consisntently create highly-valuable episodes. Yes, you need a consistent publishing schedule. And yes, you need to be engaging with your listeners and builidng your audience base.
But none of the above is truly possible without passion driving you forward. If you start to lose your podcasting momentum, every task or step you need to take to make your show successful becomes a chore. And this will be reflected in your episodes.
Your audience will certainly pick up the difference between true passion and simply going through the motions. And I gurantee that if they start to pick up that you’ve lost your passion, they will soon lose interest in your show.
So keep that passion alive!
But, even if you feel like your podcasting passion has started to dwindle, all is not lost. There are ways and means to restore that passion, if that’s what you want.
It may mean taking a break, starting a new season, or changing up some of your segments to help breathe new life into you and your show. If you still have the desire to keep your podcast going, then you will find workable solutions for you to get that passion back!
In Conclusion
So, there you have it! The Ten Must-Do’s for Successful Podcasting.
Podcast success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of hard work, dedication, and consisteny over time. You have to be committed to quality, both when it comes to sound and content, and you have to form connections with your audience and keep them engaged.
But do this, and put these 10 Must-Do’s into practice, and you’ll have the makings of one successful podcast!
