Four success factors for a successful podcast

Podcasting – especially for those who have little or no experience with it – has a high do-it-yourself content. One thinks: a person with a story, a microphone, a recording device and an Internet connection to throw it online, that’s all a podcaster needs to lay his or her egg. Unfortunately, this romantic image does not match reality. A professional podcast requires thoughtfulness and preparation.

Anyone who wants to podcast must be an expert in many fields, ranging from hosting or interviewing to storytelling and editing, as well as (music) producing, sound design, marketing, data analysis and business intelligence. Therefore, an important tip for people who want to start podcasting is: realize what steps are needed to arrive at a finished product. Good preparation is half the battle. And above all: realize that it is a team sport.

Realize that the work is not finished when your podcast is online. If you really want to get the potential out of it, you need to see it as a product with which you can interact with your target audience. This can be through posts on your website, through your newsletter or your own social media channels, but equally through targeted advertising.

Of course, interaction also means paying attention to what’s being said in the community already during preparation. This allows you to respond to the expectations of your audience in the podcast and address the listeners. It helps you find the right call-to-action when promoting your podcast. And based on the responses, you can also fine-tune the content for subsequent podcast broadcasts. So this type of community building requires attention.

Podcasting affects our listening behavior. We are selective in the choices we make, and if it doesn’t captivate us (quickly enough), we drop out. So the key message is: make sure you stand out and captivate the listener. This brings us to choosing the right format or concept. Podcasts come in many forms, ranging from the classic interview and a panel discussion on a documentary to even a totally fictional story. In practice, we also see the emergence of all kinds of mixed forms, which often generate more impact through their originality.

In other words, dare to think creatively about your podcast design. Ask yourself which narrative form lends itself best to telling your story to your target audience. By no means consider a branded podcast as a long-winded advertising message, but as a way to express your values and individuality and strengthen your connection with your audience.