Starting a podcast requires careful attention to content structure, production quality, and branding. From choosing a unique podcast name to ensuring high-quality video and audio, this lesson will guide you through best practices to help your podcast succeed because not many do!
Podcast name
When thinking about your podcast name, you should follow two main rules: First, don't make it too long because whenever it's displayed, the name will get truncated, and it just looks bad. Second, make it unique. If you have a business podcast, using a generic name like "Business Podcast," "Business Today," or "Your Business" will rob it of any character and make it difficult to remember. Instead, opt for something original that will allow you to make it your own and build a brand for it.
Episode titles
Above all else, you want to keep your episode titles consistent. Here's what you shouldn't do:
1. Ep. 1 Interview with John Doe about reindeers
2. Can bears eat pumpkin w/Jane Doe | E2
3. Big Mike joins us to talk owls and pudding - episode 3
Alternating the episode title formats makes it a mess to look at and screams that you're an amateur. Pick one name format and stick to it. Here's how it should look instead:
1. Talking reindeers with John Doe | #1
2. Bears eating pumpkin with Jane Doe | #2
3. Owls and pudding with Big Mike | #3
It doesn't really matter which name title you pick as long as you stick to it. As with the podcast name, don't make it too long so it doesn't get cut off.
Podcast image
The most important thing to realize when designing your podcast image is that it's very often displayed very small, usually in the search results. This means that you should make it very simple and clean and avoid small text and details that will be hardly visible when the image is shrunk. Any text in the image should be written in a bold font. When you look at images of the most successful podcasts, they're usually very simple - a cut-out photo of the podcast host, the podcast name, and some signature graphic design elements. If you're going to use your image, always cut out the background unless it's single-color. Don't use images of yourself from far away - go for a simple headshot or a photo from a little further away where your arms are visible.
The best way to evaluate whether your podcast image is done right is to go to the main screen of any podcast app where the most popular shows are listed, take a screenshot, get it to your computer, and place your podcast image over any other podcast image. If it clearly differs from the others, you have to re-design it.
💡 Keep in mind
Amateur-looking podcast images are the easiest way to identify a beginner - that’s not how you want to look like, so make sure your podcast image is on par with the best in the business.
Long intros & music
Beginning podcasters make the huge mistake of having their podcasts too long and not focusing on substance. Many start it with a 10-minute off-topic talk of how their week is going, while professional podcasters try to scrap every second from the intro to get to the point, engage the listener, and minimize the number of people who drop off within the first couple of seconds. Unless you're a celebrity, nobody cares about your week - get to the episode's point ASAP.
Another bad practice is using super long intros and annoying music. Anything beyond 5 seconds for the intro is too long, and you better avoid the music altogether. Either of them doesn't bring any value and only prolongs the time until you finally start speaking, which is what listeners are interested in. Beginners think that long intros and music will make it look more professional, but when you look at any successful podcast, the intros are very short, and music is rarely used.
Audio quality
Using a professional microphone is a must. Listeners are used to hearing clean, quality audio, and anything that doesn't meet this standard is instantly looked down on and considered unprofessional and not worth listening to.
Video
If you're not starting your podcast with a sizable audience - in other words, if you're not famous, you will have a very hard time getting listeners without video clips from it published on social media. If your podcast has no video, your only distribution channel is podcast apps, which only a few podcast listeners use to find new stuff to listen to. Usually, people find a video clip from the podcast on YouTube Shorts, check out the channel, and only then, when they're already familiar with the content, will they download a podcast. That said, many will simply play it on YouTube and never download it in the audio-only form.
The video is so important for a podcast that without video, recording a podcast may be a waste of time for you. We can't stress enough how important social media are for a podcast to grow an audience and how big of a role short clips from the podcast play in its distribution. Just think about the first time you stumbled upon Joe Rogan's podcast. We bet you didn't go and listen to a 3-hour episode outright but rather saw an interesting 2-minute clip somewhere in your feed first. You can apply this test to any podcast or personality you like.
💡 Keep in mind
If you want to attract more interesting guests, quality video production can be the thing that convinces them to come, even if you're just starting out. It's an easy way for them to get tons of high-quality clips of themselves to share online.
Remember
👉 Podcast name should be short, unique, and able to carry a brand.
👉 Episode titles have to be consistent - don’t change their format around.
👉 Podcast images will be often viewed when shrunk.
👉 Avoid long intros and annoying music - get straight to the point.
👉 High-quality audio is an absolute must.
👉 Video clips are crucial for the discovery of your podcast on socials.
Homework
1️⃣ Create a short, unique podcast name that reflects your podcast’s theme and tone.
2️⃣ Format your episode titles the same way to maintain a professional appearance.
3️⃣ Make sure your podcast image is simple, clean, and its elements are recognizable in small displays.
👏 You’re a rockstar!
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