With over 3 million podcasts out there, it can be intimidating to start your own.
How do you create a podcast that stands out from the rest?
If you want to podcast like the professionals, there are a few things to remember. Above all, your recordings should be studio quality, and your content needs to be engaging and relevant for your target audience. Although, there is a lot more to consider to grow your show to success.
So where do you get started?
Fear not; we’re here with a list of 24 podcast tips to help you start and build a successful show in 2024 and beyond.
What makes for a good podcast?
Before diving into our list of podcast tips and tricks, let’s consider what makes a good podcast.
A good podcast should be engaging, consistent, and most of all it should keep its audience in mind. At the end of the day, while you’re creating the podcast, your listeners are the ones actually consuming the content you create. This means your podcast needs to provide them with an enjoyable experience.
But, don’t worry! If you’re starting a podcast, our tips will guide you to create an engaging and top-quality podcast. Our podcasting tips are for beginners, professionals, and anyone interested in improving their podcasting skills.
25 Podcast Tips for Starting a Successful Show
Start with the video below then read on for our list of 25 tips for podcasting.
1. Start with the What
First, what makes a good podcast?
One that knows the essentials from the beginning: what it’s about, how to get the message across, and why it matters.
What’s your podcast topic? Don’t start a podcast just because you think it’d be cool to chat with your friends into a microphone. Having a clear idea of what your show is about will help keep you grounded and consistent from the beginning.
2. Then, Think about the How
Similarly, decide on your content’s style, structure, and tone before beginning. The more you know about what your podcast will be like and how you’ll get it done, the less bumpy the road will be as you get started.
And while it’s certainly allowed to make changes as you go, the more consistent you can be, the easier it will be for your audience to stick with you.
3. Find Your Why
And, of course, ask yourself why you’re doing the show.
If it’s just to mess around with your friends or hustle up some sponsorships, you may want to rethink this project. Without a deeper goal or purpose in mind, you could find yourself floundering or petering out not long after you’ve begun.
4. Know Your Target Audience
Next, take a minute (or several) to determine who you’ll be speaking to. Don’t try to appeal to everyone; if you do, you’ll end up appealing to no one. After all, there’s a reason why a buyer persona is so commonplace among marketers.
Ask yourself the following about your ideal listener:
- How old are they?
- What are their interests or hobbies?
- What kind of job do they have?
- Where do they live?
- What are their goals in life?
A clear and detailed understanding of your ideal listener can help you create consistently entertaining and relatable content that they’ll love.
5. What Value Do You Provide?
Once you know your target audience, ask yourself what needs your listeners have that your content fulfills.
Whether it’s simply providing great entertainment for their commute, giving actionable advice for their professional goals, or anything in between—make sure you have a solid idea of how your show fits into your audience’s lives.
6. You Don’t Need "That Voice"
Many people think they don’t have the right voice for a podcast.
Many new podcasters—consciously or unconsciously—use a different voice while recording than they would in real life. Whether you’re tempted to avoid the social connotations that might come from your voice’s pitch, upticks, accent, or slang, know that you’re not alone.
But you can be an excellent podcaster regardless of what your voice sounds like.
The best thing podcasters can do is be authentic. Don’t sound like your regional radio broadcaster or an uptight professor delivering a dry lecture; just talk in a conversational voice.
Part of that comes down to the script, so be sure to write your podcast script like you would speak in a normal conversation (leave out the big words or flowery sentences).
And if you’re wearing headphones (which you should absolutely do), you’ll get an immediate feedback loop of how you sound in real-time. That’ll let you modulate your talking speed, pitch, and other characteristics on the fly. The more you practice, the more natural you’ll sound.
7. Find the Right Structure—and Stick With It
You’ll want to decide on the regular segments of your show before you start. It’ll make planning episodes so much easier, and your audience will know what to expect from each one.
A common podcast structure looks like this:
- Intro: The start of the podcast, where you introduce yourself, your co-hosts, and any guests. You’ll give your listeners an idea of what you’ll be talking about in the episode.
- Main Content: The main body of your show, whether it’s the guest interview, primary monologue/conversation, or audio drama.
- Outro: The conclusion of the episode. Wrap up and give key takeaways, and don’t forget to include a call to action (CTA).
If you're recording a podcast interview format we've got extra tips for you:
8. Don’t Forget About Ads
Interspersed between episode segments should be your ads. Most podcasters include some combination of:
- Pre-roll ads between the intro and main content,
- Mid-roll ads in the middle of the main content, and
- Post-roll ads between the main content and the outro.
When you start, you probably won’t have any sponsorship deals. But as you gain subscribers, make sure to start reaching out to potential sponsors. For more information and a free pitch template for when you’re ready, check out our guide: How to Get Podcast Sponsorships.
9. Decide How Long Your Episodes Should Be
And don’t forget to think about your average episode length. How long will you shoot for?
Average podcast episode lengths range from the bite-sized podcast of 10-20 minutes to a medium-length podcast of 30-45 minutes to a “long” podcast of an hour or more.
10. Organize Your Workflow
All the best podcasters have an established structure for each podcast and an established structure for how they produce an episode. Creating a podcast episode takes several steps, including:
- Outlining
- Researching
- Booking guests
- Recording
- Editing
- Uploading
Then there’s the post-publication work, like sharing the episodes on social media and sharing podcast transcripts or show notes to your blog.
Decide on the steps for your specific workflow, which will make it as easy as possible to streamline your work.
11. Stick to a Consistent Release Schedule
Decide how often you’ll produce episodes, whether that’s daily, weekly, or every couple of weeks. The right release schedule for you depends on several factors, including how frequently you can (sustainably) create new episodes.
It also depends on what kind of show you’re producing; if you’re discussing politics or news, being timely is more important than if you’re producing a fictional audio drama.
Regardless of the frequency that works for you, stick to the schedule you choose. You may want to use script templates, checklists, and project management software like Trello or Asana to make sure everyone is on the same page.
12. Get The Tech and Podcast Equipment You Need
If you don’t have the right equipment, there’s a limit to how good your podcast can be. You’ll need to invest in:
- Mics
- Headphones
- A video camera
- Lighting
- Mixers
For our recommendations of the best podcast equipment, check out our article: The Essential Podcast Equipment Checklist for Every Budget.
13. Focus on Putting Out Episodes with High-Quality Audio
And it’s not all just about the hardware, either. Our biggest podcast recording tip is that you should always opt for top-quality audio (and video)!
Your listeners will be able to tell the difference between amateur recordings compared to ones with high audio quality, which is why you need recording software that’s made to produce the best results.
Look for quality recording software like Riverside that’s easy to use, records in lossless WAV audio and 4K video files, and saves each file locally to each participant’s device so you don’t have to rely on your internet connection. Learn more here, or start recording professional podcasts the easy way.
14. Start off Strong
You shouldn’t slap your first podcast together for the sake of “publishing something.” Don’t fall prey to the temptation to just get started and hope you figure it out as you go along.
Create your first podcast episode with purpose. Introduce yourself and welcome your audience to the show. Give a little background about what inspired you to start this podcast and how you expect it to impact your audience’s lives. (Will it educate them on something important? Provide a place for fun conversations? Teach them a new life skill?)
And don’t forget to acquaint your new audience with what to expect going forward. What will your release schedule be like? What will each podcast episode’s structure contain (including recurring segments)?
The more you can prepare your audience for what to expect, the better—which is why it’s essential to answer all of these major questions before hitting “upload” on your first episode.
15. Choose the Right Day to Launch Your Podcast
Then, set yourself up for success publishing at the day and time that’s most popular for podcast listeners. Best practices dictate that it’s usually a good idea to publish podcast episodes on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday mornings Eastern Standard Time (EST).
16. Find Guests You’re Really Interested In
If you’re doing an interview podcast, you’ll want to book guests that you’re actually excited to speak to. Don’t book people simply because they reached out to you or have an impressive resume; if you’re not interested in the guest, that will likely come through in the recording.
For the most vibrant and entertaining conversations, our podcast interview tip is that your heart needs to be in it.
To find interesting and relatable guests, start by researching other podcasts in your niche. Who have they interviewed? (Of course, if you invite someone who was already interviewed by a similar podcast, be careful to ask different questions so that your interview isn’t just a carbon copy of the first one).
Other ways to find guests include using social media, in-person networking, and guest directories like PodcastGuests.com.
17. Learn from Master Podcasters and Interviewers
So many podcasters and creators have already made it big. So why not learn from them and there advice?
For example, here are a few tips you can take from Mr Beast, one of the most successful creators in the world:
You can also take a leaf from the pros in their interviewing techniques. Once you prepare your list of guests and start booking interviews, you’ll need to learn the right skills to become an engaging interviewer.
Notice how the pros don’t just listen to speak; they listen to understand. Practice active listening to show your interest in what the guest has to say.
Don’t be afraid to let the conversation veer from your list of questions—instead, let the conversation flow naturally. Ask follow-up questions as you think of them.
18. Do Your Research
Podcast interview preparation is key to a successful show. Learn as much as you can about your podcast guests before you interview them. Peruse their website’s About page, scroll their social media accounts, and listen to previous interviews they’ve done. That way, you can dig deeper than surface level and get an engaging and unique discussion.
By researching and learning about your guests, you can prepare interesting questions (and avoid asking the obvious ones that your guest has probably heard a million times before).
19. Use a Pre-Interview Process
Once the guest appears (whether in-person or in the virtual studio), take a few minutes to chat before the recording begins.
Familiarize your guest with what your show is about and who your audience is. Tell them what the post-publishing process is like, including when you expect the episode to be live and where you’ll be promoting it.
And finally, ask if they have any questions for you. The more you can put your guest at ease before pressing “record,” the more they’ll be comfortable enough to open up and give a really great interview.
20. Produce in Batches
Here’s another efficient podcast recording tip: Batch your recordings!
Batch recording podcasts can help you save time, get more done more efficiently, and avoid missing a scheduled release day. Simply plan out your next batch of episodes, then record and edit them in one sitting.
Of course, if you talk about the news or current affairs, you can’t record ahead of time. But if your content is evergreen, you can record multiple episodes at once.
When done right, batch recording can mean creating content for an entire month in a single day.
21. Determine and Track Your Key Metrics
The world of podcast analytics can be confusing and overwhelming. Depending on the podcast hosting platform you choose, there’s a lot of raw data at your fingertips.
But when correctly utilized, podcast analytics can help you make strategic decisions about your show that let you learn about your audience, measure your growth, and determine your potential for monetization.
Choose the metrics you’ll track based on your own goals and what matters to you. Possible metrics to track might include:
- Downloads
- Streams
- Listens
- Subscribers
- Audience demographics
- Average consumption
- Highest-performing episodes
Once you’ve chosen a few metrics to consider, measure them over time to see what’s working, what isn’t, and what you should change as your show progresses.
To learn more about finding and tracking key metrics for your podcast, check out our guide to Podcast Analytics.
22. Give Your Podcast a Distinct Brand
Finally, your podcast will be more successful when you take the time and effort to give it a distinct brand.
Branding your podcast is simply the process of creating a distinct image of your podcast. You do this by creating a certain set of emotions, memories, and connections that your audience automatically associates with your show.
Your brand is your audience’s perception of you—and they’ll have one whether you design it or not.
So if you’re intentional about designing your brand, you’re more in control over how your audience perceives your show. And you’re more likely to build a consistently loyal base of fans.
Take a moment to consider your target audience, your overall vision, and your goals. Then, decide on what style and voice would best match those things. Let your personality shine through!
23. Use Social Media to Your Advantage
If you’re not on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, you’re missing out on a massive opportunity for podcast promotion. Social media is a free and easy way to reach a huge audience.
Get creative with your posts. For instance, you can:
- Use an online video editor to repurpose your podcast episodes into sharable clips (You can do this in one quick click with Magic Clips)
- Ask your guests to share the podcast episode on their social media channels and tag you (and don’t forget to retweet/re-post it to your feed)
- Post regular updates for your followers, such as the next episode’s release date and/or topic
- Post memorable quotes from your latest episode
- Ask for audience questions (that you’ll answer on your next episode, of course)
- Interact with others in your niche by following them, liking their posts, and making friendly comments where appropriate
24. Provide Consistent Value To Help Grow Your Podcast
Keep your focus on the value you provide to your listeners. The more valuable content you can create, the more likely you’ll be to expand your listener base and reach your goals.
The research on your target audience shouldn’t end after you’ve begun your podcast. You should be continually learning what your audience is interested in, what they want to hear, and their reasons for listening to you.
Ask for feedback and ideas in the form of emails, social media mentions, direct messages, and survey responses. The more you can relate your show’s content to your listeners’ interests, the more likely you will develop a growing—and loyal—audience base.
25. Record in a quiet environment
The last thing you want is background noise getting in the way of producing quality podcast audio recordings. This is why one of our number one podcast recording tips is to make sure you are in a quiet environment.
Ideally, you should be recording in a soundproofed studio. You can do this from home too. Follow our guide on creating a podcast studio setup at home to make sure you’re in a quiet and suitable recording environment.
What should you not do in a podcast?
While we’ve given you some great tips for starting a podcasting, we’ll also share with you some common mistakes you should try to avoid. We want you to remember that making mistakes is part of the process, but to help you out here are podcast tips on what to avoid:
- Don’t spend too much money on equipment and software if you’re just starting out:
You don’t need to spend a lot for good quality, it’s also better to start off with the basics and build up as you go. - Don’t start a podcast without a niche:
While you might think it’s good to cover a broader podcast topic, giving your podcast a niche gives listeners a better understanding of what they can expect from your show. - Don’t leave out podcast editing:
We know it can be intimidating at first, but editing your podcast is a must if you want to produce a top-quality podcast. If you’re a beginner, try using automated software like Riverside that fine-tunes and allows you to fix your podcast in a few quick clicks. - Don’t forget to promote your podcast:
It's great if you’ve published a podcast, but you won’t get any listeners unless you let everyone know your podcast exists. You can promote your podcast on social media or other podcasting channels. A good podcast promotion tip is to create short shareable clips as promotional trailers of your podcast. - Don’t rely on your internet to record:
What happens if you’ve recorded your whole podcast only to find that your faulty internet has made your audio and video look and sound glitchy? For this reason, our podcast recording tip to you is that you should use local recording to record directly on your devices so nothing interferes with your podcast recording. (You can easily do this remotely with Riverside.) - Don’t skip on backing up your recordings:
You wouldn’t want a computer crash to get in the way of your podcast. We recommend you back up everything you record and ideally to online cloud storage. Some software allows you to do this as you record so you’ll be able to access your recording no matter what.
Now you’re all covered with all the podcast tips and tricks you need to know to get started on creating your own podcast show. What are you waiting for? Go make some podcast magic!
