Why is it important to know about a podcast ideal listener?
Most podcasters start their podcasting journey because one fine day they felt that they should start a podcast. Or, maybe someone told them that they should start a podcast.
If that is how you are planning to start your podcast then that’s one big mistake that you could be making.
In this episode I will tell you the ideal way to start your podcasting journey so that you succeed with your show.
This episode is something that will help you set things right, if you are facing issues with low listenership and lost motivation.
I’m going to talk about the two most important questions that every beginner podcaster should ask themselves before launching their show.
And if you already have a podcast, then too this could help you correct the course of your journey.
But first let me ask you a question.
So how did you start your podcast?
Or, what prompted you to think of starting a podcast?
Did somebody tell you that you should just start a podcast or, did you just feel that you should start one?
There’s a big problem with this approach.
Either of those ways of starting a podcast isn’t right.
Why?
Because a podcast that is started that way, isn’t created for the audience.
Instead, it’s created for yourself.
And that’s probably the biggest reason why podcasts fade with low listenership.
Because if you don’t know who your audience is, what they want, and how you can help them, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
You end up with low downloads, poor reviews, no engagement, and no growth. You lose motivation, confidence, and interest eventually quitting after a few episodes.
Don’t let that happen to you.
If you want to succeed as a podcaster, you need to follow a different formula. A formula that puts your audience first, and your podcast second.
A formula that helps you create a podcast that your listeners will love, value, and recommend.
A formula that consists of two simple, but powerful questions that you need to ask yourself before you start your podcast.
And it all starts with identifying your podcast audience persona.
Podcast Ideal Listener – Two Questions to Answer
The success of any podcast depends upon how well it is received by the audience.
So it becomes extremely important that you create a show for the audience that you are targeting.
A show that answers their questions, that solves their problems and helps them with solving their life’s problems.
And that is what these two questions that I am going to talk about will help you do.
Question #1 : Who are you creating the podcast for?
This question is all about defining your target audience or, finding your podcast ideal listener.
Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to listen to your podcast, benefit from it, and become your fans.
They are the people who share your interests, values, goals, and challenges. They are the people who need your podcast.
To answer this question, you need to do some research – a podcast audience research.
You need to find out as much as you can about your potential listeners. Things like their demographics, their psychographics, their behaviors, their preferences, and their pain points.
You need to create a listener persona, which is a detailed profile of your podcast ideal listener. You need to give them a name, a face, a story, and a voice.
Why is this important?
Because by knowing who your audience is or, who your podcast ideal listener is, you can tailor your podcast to their needs and wants.
You can choose a topic, a format, a tone, a style, and a frequency that suits them.
You can create content that resonates with them, educates them, entertains them, and inspires them. You can speak their language, address their problems, and offer them solutions.
You can build a relationship with them, earn their trust, and turn them into loyal fans.
And one thing to keep in mind when doing this podcast audience research, is that you be as specific as possible when answering that question.
Don’t say something vague like “people who like music” or “people who want to learn”. Say something like “young professionals who want to learn how to play the guitar” or “busy moms who want to learn how to cook healthy meals”.
The more you narrow down your audience, the more you can connect with them.
Question # 2: How will your podcast help them?
This question is all about defining your value proposition.
Your value proposition is the main benefit or outcome that your podcast delivers to your audience.
It’s the reason why they should listen to your podcast, and not to someone else’s.
It’s the answer to the question: What’s in it for me?
To answer this question, you need to think about what problem your podcast is going to solve for your audience, or what goal it’s going to help them achieve.
You need to think about what makes your podcast unique, different, or better than other podcasts in your niche.
You need to think about what you can offer to your audience that they can’t get anywhere else.
Why is this important?
Because by knowing how your podcast helps your audience, you can communicate your value clearly and effectively.
You can craft a compelling podcast name, tagline, description, and cover art that captures your audience’s attention and interest.
You can create content that delivers on your promise, and exceeds your audience’s expectations.
You can provide value that makes your audience happy, satisfied, and grateful. You can stand out from the crowd, and attract more listeners.
The more you define your value, the more you can convince your audience to listen to your podcast.
And that’s it.
Those are the two most important questions that every beginner podcaster should ask themselves before starting their podcast.
If you can answer these questions clearly and confidently, you’re on your way to creating a podcast that your audience will love, value, and recommend.
Two Questions to answer before releasing an Episode!
Once you have answers to those two questions, there is another very simple step that you need to do, every time you plan for an episode.
Every time you create an episode, you need to ask yourself two more questions:
Will that audience that you defined in the first step like it?
And will it solve their problems?
These questions will help you stay focused, consistent, and relevant with your content.
They will help you avoid creating episodes that are boring, irrelevant, or off-topic.
They will help you create episodes that are engaging, valuable, and on-point.
If the answer is yes, go ahead and record your episode.
If the answer is no, go back to the drawing board and rethink your content.
And that’s how you create a podcast that your audience will love, value, and recommend.
By asking yourself the right questions, and answering them with the right answers.
By putting your audience first, and your podcast second.
By creating a podcast for them, not for yourself.
Conclusion – Create for listeners
And always keep this in mind: your podcast is not about you. It’s about your audience. So, create a podcast that serves them, not yourself. And you’ll be amazed by the results.
I hope you found this episode helpful and informative.
If you did, please leave a review for the show on your favorite podcast listening platform and share it with your friends. It really helps me to reach more people and grow this community of podcasters.
Thank you so much for your support!
Show Notes:
Here’s what we discussed in the episode on the two most important questions before starting a podcast –
- The 2 questions that you should ask before starting a podcast
- The importance of a podcast audience research
- 2 follow up questions that you should ask before releasing your episodes
This episode is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link here to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan.
Thank You for Joining
Thank you all for joining me on the show today.
If you enjoyed this episode then I am sure you will love some of the previous episodes as well. Pick your favorite ones and give them a listen.
The podcasting university is available on all podcasting platforms. You can pick your favorite one to listen to the show there. The links to some of the prominent ones are mentioned below.
CASTBOX: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/castbox
STITCHER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/stitcher
TUNEIN: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/tunein
GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/googlepodcasts
APPLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/itunes
PLAYER.FM: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/playerfm
SPOTIFY: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/spotify
HUBHOPPER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/hubhopper
AMAZON PRIME: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/prime
Recommended Resources for Podcasting
Here are some of the recommended resources for Podcasting. These are the ones that I personally use and am satisfied with and hence am recommending them.
- Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my favorite podcast hosting company. They have excellent customer support, have a pocket-friendly plan, and even have a free option with no limits.
- Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
- Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast. Go to zencastr.com/pricing and use my code “thepodu” You’ll get 30 percent off your first three months of Zencastr professional.
- Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
- Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
- Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
- Fusebox – Embeddable Podcast Player
- Descript – Audio Editing, Transcription and Video editing software
AMAZON DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Podcasting University is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
MICROPHONES –
- ATR-2100x
- MAONO AU-HD300T : https://geni.us/ro48q
- Maono AU-WDM01 : https://geni.us/PhZ3V2v
- Samson Q2U – https://geni.us/k9cuk
- Audio Technica AT 2035 – https://geni.us/g2URDI
- Rode NT USB – https://geni.us/O6b65K
- Shure MV7X – https://geni.us/w7rZ4
LAVELIER MICROPHONES
- Boya ByM1 Auxillary Lavelier Microphone – https://geni.us/boyabym1lav
- Boya ByM1 Pro Lavelier Microphones – https://geni.us/boyabym1prolav
- Digitek Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/R3cGd
- Boya – BYXM6 Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/OS6gq
- Vook Dual Channel Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/V9YBO1i
PORTABLE RECORDERS –
- Zoom H5 Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/rVTAIAV
- Zoom H1N Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/dOaDg
AUDIO INTERFACE –
- Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 – https://geni.us/gBCjm
- M-Audio M-Track Solo – https://geni.us/RnhHr
- HAYDEN HY-229 – https://geni.us/c80KbWB
MIXERS –
- HAYDEN 4 Channels – https://geni.us/cXQ0
- Behringer Q502USB
MONITORING HEADPHONES –
- Oneodio Studio Pro-10 : https://geni.us/IQI88Se
- Maono AU-MH501 : https://geni.us/AbNrU
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20X : https://geni.us/eEUf9
POP-FILTER –
- JEYANG Metal Pop Filter – https://geni.us/JMfuY
- Wright WP 101 – https://geni.us/OcOAzj
DESK-STAND/BOOM ARM –
- MY-STANDS MC 18: https://geni.us/Lwnb
- Bulfyss Professional Recording Microphone Stand: https://geni.us/mV4S
If you are on Pinterest, do pin the below image there.
u003cstrongu003eCan I record a high-quality podcast interview using Zoom?u003c/strongu003e
Since zoom is primarily a video conferencing platform that helps record conversations, you cannot expect it to be as top quality as dedicated remote interview recording softwares.u003cbru003eBut you can get manageable quality podcast using zoom.
u003cstrongu003eWhat are the best audio settings for a Zoom podcast interview?u003c/strongu003e
The best audio settings are what is discussed in this episode. You can check them out in the post above or, the video that I have added here!
u003cstrongu003eShould I record separate audio tracks for each participant in a Zoom podcast interview?u003c/strongu003e
I recommend that you record separate audio tracks for each participant so that you have control and flexibility in editing each audio tracks separately.u003cbru003eYou might need this because the background at your guest’s end might necessarily not be as quiet as it is at your end.
u003cstrongu003eHow can I improve the audio quality of my guest’s microphone in a Zoom podcast interview?u003c/strongu003e
You can do it by asking your guest to use headphones to listen to the conversation. Also ask them to close any open windows or, doors so that there is no background noise.
u003cstrongu003eAre there any free alternatives to Zoom for recording podcast interviews?u003c/strongu003e
Zoom is the only free option available today, especially if you are looking to record podcast interviews. But you might want to keep in mind that there are limitations to the FREE plan in Zoom.
u003cstrongu003eWhat are some common mistakes to avoid when recording a Zoom podcast interview?u003c/strongu003e
There are two common mistakes that people do when recording a zoom podcast interview. First, they forget to select the correct audio and video source in the settings.u003cbru003eSecond, they often forget to hit the record button before starting the interview.u003cbru003eThird, ensure that both you and your guest wait for a couple of minutes after you stop recording the interview, just so that the files are saved.
u003cstrongu003eDo you have any tips for editing a Zoom podcast interview for better sound quality?u003c/strongu003e
Editing a zoom podcast interview follows the same process. The only thing that you might want to keep in mind is that you should edit both the tracks independently depending upon how the audio in the individual tracks are. Also ensure that you are applying loudness normalization, once you have completed editing.
0 comments