Podcast Launch: Quick Tips from Industry Experts
Studio D’s Quick tips to get you started on your podcast launch.
The Podcast:
Format:
The average commute to work is 23 minutes long.
Consider shorter episodes and saving extra content for Patreon or compilation episodes.
Every episode needs a hook at the beginning and somewhere in the middle. You want listeners to get all the way to the end.
Frequency:
Be consistent with the release date and let listeners know in the episode and in the show notes.
Fridays don’t do as well as Monday - Thursday.
Release at midnight for best results. Listeners usually want it available right when they wake up.
Record ahead if possible, to account for the unexpected.
Guests:
Industry insiders and thought leaders are great guests.
A podcast is a great opportunity to interview potential clients or partners.
Prioritize guests with their own following or influence.
The Process:
Pre-Production:
Planning and preparing goes a long way to cut down on post-production time.
Reach out to guests early and let them know what to expect, how they can improve recording, and ask them to share the episode when it is done.
Recording:
Studio D Insights:
Environment is very important for the recording process. Record in a quiet room with few reflective surfaces (window, hardwood floors, etc.)
Wearing Headphones is a must to avoid echoes!!!
For Remote Recording, we suggest whatever will be easiest for your guests to access. If you can record in .wav and to separate files, that should make editing much easier.
Consider asking guests to improve their recording environments by having them wear headphones and potentially recording on their end (Only for guests that you know won’t have an issue with this).
Post-Production:
Studio D Insights:
For beginners, Garageband is free and works great.
We use Adobe Audition and have some heavy-duty tools to clean up audio.
Listeners aren’t as concerned with filler words as you might think, but it is important to not take them out of the experience (background noise, poor audio, long pauses are all bad things).
Visual Branding:
Name:
Make sure the name is unique enough to not be confused with any other titles.
You should consider an action verb for a more authoritative and instructional feel.
Stick with the gerund verb for a more informative and journey feel.
Show Art:
Make sure the show art is bright and stands out.
Show Art should be square.
Show Art should be 3000 x 3000 pixels.
Show Art should be RGB color mode.
Text should be large and bold and easy to read on a phone.
Include branding to add credibility.
Sonic Branding:
Music Options:
Royalty Free Music - free to cheap but not unique to your podcast
Existing Song - can be more recognizable, but requires permission or payment
Original Music - Starts around $375
Voiceovers:
Create an intro voiceover to introduce the show
Keep the intro short and to the point
Use this for every episode to create consistency
Create an outro with calls to action and credits at the end.
Distribution:
Website:
Create your own website for extra content and for listeners to follow up on calls-to-action.
Create a page for your podcast on your existing website.
Create a subpage for each episode and include a transcript for SEO value.
Hosting:
For more, see our Hosting Guide.
Make sure your podcast is properly connected to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play.
Social Media:
Link the podcast to your social media accounts to integrate your existing audience.
Consider using social media channels to provide extra content.
Consider releasing episodes on YouTube as well. You can have a static image with audio to start.
Repurpose as much content as possible. The episode summary and sections of the transcript are great for newsletters.
Ask guests to share content via their social media.
Ask guests to follow you on the proper social media channels
LinkedIn works great for long form content.
Consider more visual content (pictures of guests, audiograms, images with quotes, video clips) for Instagram and Twitter.
Ask listeners to RATE AND REVIEW on Apple Podcasts (This will increase your presence a lot).
Offer extra content in exchange for supporting the show. Setting up a Patreon account is an option.
Need Professional Help? Check out our Podcast Launch Service.