4 Things You Need to Have a Successful Podcast

Podcasting is one of those things that is very easy to start but extremely difficult to master. Most podcasts fail after just ten episodes. This platform is one of the best ways to build trust with your audience and create opportunities you would never have otherwise. 

It’s worth it to lean in and figure out the whole podcasting thing, but with only the top 20% of podcasts creating 80% of the content, how do you break through? Here, I’ll break down 4 things every aspiring podcaster needs to create engaging content. 

You might be surprised to hear that it has very little to do with what mic you have and much more to do with YOU. 

Understand the ONE Person You Want to Speak to 

Before you embark on a mission to reach millions of potential listeners, you need to ask yourself: who is that one person I want to speak to? If you can’t answer that question, you’re not ready to start creating content. 

Understanding who your audience is, while seemingly oblivious, is challenging in podcasting. You rarely get the kind of feedback you would in video or social media content. That’s why podcasters need to dial in on their unique avatar and keep them in mind while creating content. 

What does your avatar look like? Who are they? Where do they work? Do you know what time they’d listen to the show? How how much do they make annually? Get authentic and intimate with this avatar to understand what appeals to them and what you have to offer that others might not. 

Plan Out Your Calendar Before Even Pressing Record

Before you ever start recording the first episode, you should already have mapped out your first ten. A content guide/strategy is pivotal to making a podcast that survives. If most podcasts fizzle out after just 7 to 10 episodes, then a winning strategy includes a solid plan of how you plan to pass that benchmark. 

Having your episodes planned out also helps you stay consistent while life comes up. Any podcaster will tell you; you will have both good days and bad. Creating content one step at a time as you go is a surefire way to burn the candle very quickly on both ends. 

Consistency is Key to Content

Joe Rogan wasn’t built in a day. It came from years of consistently putting out content unique to his own voice that he became number one. That rings true for all shows and content as a whole. 

You won’t get a thousand subscribers in a day. It just doesn’t happen like that. You need to understand that there will be days when all you hear are crickets. Those who push through and keep doing what they believe in are the ones who unlock success. Sometimes, you need to start slow to go fast. 

Be Patient With Yourself

Podcasters who have been guesting for over 100 episodes even learn new things as they go. You can’t expect yourself to be everything you need to be right off the bat. Even when getting guests, you may have to face ten rejections before getting one taker. 

One day, that little show of yours may just gain the kind of momentum that turns those rejections into future wins. Trust the process and have fun with it. 

Final Thoughts

Yes, podcasting can be tricky, but when you do it right, it becomes worth it. By knowing your audience, you can create engaging content that builds your reputation and leads people to your brand or business. 

There are plenty of resources to start creating a podcast. But if you master these 4 things, those resources won’t go wasted.