Gone are the days where a few friends could get a microphone and skyrocket to the top of the charts because they’re funny. In 2017, businesses spent over $200 million in podcast ads. It’s an industry now. And success in podcasting comes from intentionality and planning, from the very beginning.
The first step to podcasting glory is not reading microphone reviews or creating branded accounts on social media. Every show must start with a solid idea.
Ideas can be really easy. You’ve probably heard someone tell you their amazing podcast idea before. You’ve probably been that person. But it isn’t as simple as going with the first thought that captures your attention. Here are 7 tips that will help you refine your creative ideas into podcast gold.
Know Your Goals
Why do you want to start podcasting? People come into the field with varying goals, whether it’s to share news, provide escape through storytelling, make people laugh, or creep people out. Keeping your ultimate goal in mind will help guide every decision as you create your podcast and motivate you to be more creative in order to succeed. Or if you only want a hobby and an excuse to weekly chat with friends, remembering your goal can relieve stress and keep you grounded.
Start with something you’re passionate about
This might seem obvious. Creating a podcast can be a years-long commitment and if you aren’t excited about your topic, it won’t be fun to create or listen to. Burnout is real. If you choose a topic because you think it will grow an audience or catch the right attention, but you don’t love it, it will be more work than fun.
Kate Wallinga produces and hosts Ignorance Was Bliss, a podcast that blends true crime with psychology. Her experience as a forensic psychology and crisis clinician brings unique expertise to the table. When she found herself unable to work, podcasting became a way she could explore her passion and contribute to the community.
Continue with something you’re knowledgeable about
Do you have an area of expertise? Whether it’s advanced degrees from Harvard or Seinfeld pub trivia championships, starting from a place of authority gives people a reason to listen to you.
Wallinga has multiple master’s degrees in criminal justice and mental health counseling, and her knowledge helps her answer the questions other podcasts can’t.
“I found myself answering people’s questions alone, on my couch, months after they were recorded. And it felt like similar questions were being asked, about different cases in different ways, and those were all things I kind of knew the answers to,” said Wallinga. “The world wasn’t exactly beating a path to my front door in order to host me is an interview subject, so the only way to get those answers that I had out was to start my own podcast.”
Be aware of oversaturated genres
To quote the highly relevant 1959 broadway musical Gypsy, “You gotta have a gimmick if you wanna have a chance.” They may have been talking about burlesque dancing, but the point remains. FastCompany reported that there are over half a million active podcasts on iTunes. If you want to stand out, you’ll need something more creative. But you may not have to get as far out of the box as you think you will; sometimes one step is far enough.
“What lets me stand out, is not so much finding a niche, such as crimes committed by squirrels or crimes committed after 3 p.m.,” said Wallinga, “but finding an entirely different way to approach the subject. A different angle, rather than a different place.”
Don’t try to be someone else
It can be tempting to try to channel some of your podcaster heroes, but being true to your own perspective is what will make your podcast interesting. How do you approach a topic in a way that other people might not consider? Where do you see connections that other people miss?
“There are so incredibly many details involved in podcasting, and there were times where it would get overwhelming,” said Wallinga. “But I kept taking a step back and remembering that I did have something unique to offer, both in terms of subject matter and especially in terms of the angle that I was approaching the genre, and that’s what kept me coming back: that reminder that it was worth it and someone else that could benefit.”
Ask for help
There’s no shame in reaching out for advice! Many podcasters love talking about their work and are happy to offer guidance to those trying to get in the game. Not only do they have experience, they’re active in the field and can tell you if your idea has legs. Wallinga encourages potential podcasters to reach out for feedback on their idea.
“Ask other people in this field, have they heard of someone doing this already? What would they like to hear about? Overall, get connected with the field, through social media, and through a lot of Google searches with the word “podcast” in them.”
Choosing a podcast topic might seem easy, especially if you’re someone who is already creative. But before you commit to hours of recording, editing, promotion, and interviewing, invest some time to researching and planning.
Kate Wallinga produces Ignorance Was Bliss independently and releases on a weekly schedule. Visit Ignorance Was Bliss on Podchaser to listen with your favorite app, and leave it a rating or review.
This post is part of Podchaser’s series ‘How to Podcast,’ where we aim to create the definitive podcasting guide. If you have expertise to lend or questions you’d like answered, email Emily at emily@podchaser.com.
Originally published at blog.podchaser.com on May 22, 2018.
