In preparation for the New Year, here is how you can begin to set realistic and achievable resolutions for your podcast
Moving into a new year with your podcast means also asking yourself some tough questions. We know that podcaster fatigue around the holidays is very real, and we want to help you dodge the burn out and look for the positivity when it comes to restarting your show in 2025. Here are some good questions to ask yourself that could help to inspire new ideas and bring about new energy to your show:
- Why am I working on this podcast?
The first one is very simple – it’s the why? We often live day-to-day and forget to look beyond the end of our nose when it comes to the future of our podcasts. The drive you have for your show to succeed probably lies in some other feeling too. It might be that you want to have more influence in a particular industry or space, you might want to become a thought leader, you might be interested in securing a big IP deal, or just be having fun, so whatever it is – this is a time to reflect on that why and think, has your ‘why’ changed over the past year?
You might be surprised to find yourself in a completely different headspace to the beginning of 2024. You might have risen to new heights, met challenges head-on and also tried and tested tactics for your podcasts that did and did not work for you. If the answer to ‘your why’ is not clear, well, the reality is that it might be time to also reconsider some of the things that you do. Creating a show takes dedication and work, so make sure your why is crystal clear and is slowly getting you to the place that you want to end up. We know you can do it – and we want you to know it, too.
- What problem am I solving with my podcast?
The second question is about looking outward and thinking about your listener. We believe that all of the best podcasts are always solving a problem for a listener. It could be an entertaining gap in their commute, but it might also be a parenting tips show or a way to connect with fellow fly-fishing enthusiasts – all podcasts have a reason for existence. So, what’s yours? What problem are YOU solving for your audience?
If the answer to this question is not immediately obvious, we have some bad news. You need to go beyond your own motivations for your podcast (i.e. question one) and think about your listener too. Although in truth – we have rarely met a podcaster who has absolutely no value to add to their audience so we know that’s probably not you, either.
Think about what that problem is and if you are expressing extremely clearly that you are here to solve it for them. You want to make sure your description, your artwork and your episode titles as well as the actual content always come back to solving that problem. Here’s an example: The Martin Lewis podcast is full of advice on how you can be smarter with your money, while Media Club with Matt Deegan gives us an insider look into media industry giants with fresh takes for media pros. See? Everyone has a problem to solve – whether it’s a serious take or a light-hearted chat.
- Am I reaching my ideal listeners?
The last question is all about finding your audience. Now that you have the answers about your and your motivations, as well as the needs of your audience, it is time to think about how you are getting your podcast out there. The most important thing you need to do is to have an extremely clear idea of WHO listens to your podcast. What is their age range, where do they live, what other shows do they like – all of these questions will help you find new listeners. Once you figure out these audience profiles, ask yourself: am I doing my best to reach them?
This is all about distribution and marketing. Your podcast might be the best in the world, but if a tree falls and no one is there to hear it… you get the picture. You need listeners to make your show great. If you have younger audiences, consider targeting apps like Spotify that cater to younger demos. If you have a lot of video-watches, intensify your YouTube, TikTok and IG strategy. And finally if you constantly see a spike around a particular theme, for example a popular book or TV show that you bring – consider going straight to the source where more fans of the same content could live, like Facebook groups or Reddit threads.
Your podcast promotion does not have to be linear – it can be a huge complicated squiggle. We know that it takes over seven times for people to hear about a podcast before they ever check it out, so working hard to reach your listeners where they already engage with similar content is key.