Do you want to start a podcast? It can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. There are a lot of things to think about when planning and starting a podcast. In this blog post, we will give you some tips and ideas on how to plan your podcast and make it the best it can be!
Why should you care about podcast episode structure?
Organizing your thoughts and content into a structured format will help you communicate your message more effectively to your audience. It will also make the recording and editing process much easier and faster.
Episode length
How long should each episode be? This will depend on the type of content you are planning to include and the overall tone of your podcast. If you are planning to have interviews, they will usually be around 45 minutes to an hour. If you are planning solely monologues or shorter segments, aim for 20-30 minutes.
Think about the pacing of your show and what will keep your listeners engaged. If you are planning on having a lot of content, you might want to consider making your episodes shorter so that people can easily digest the information. On the other hand, if you want to have more leisurely conversations, longer episodes might be better.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to episode length. It really depends on your show’s format and what you think will work best for your audience.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning the length of your episodes:
- The overall tone and style of your show
- How much content you have
- The attention span of your target audience
- How often you plan on releasing new episodes
If you’re not sure how long your episodes should be, start with a shorter length and see how it goes. You can always make them longer later on if you need to.
Episode theme
What is the main focus or theme of each episode? This will help you determine what content to include and who to interview. For example, if your podcast is about business, you might want to include interviews with entrepreneurs or experts in various fields.
If you are planning on having a variety of segments in each episode, it can be helpful to come up with a theme for each segment. This will give your listeners something to look forward to and help keep them engaged.
Some other things to consider when planning your podcast:
- Your target audience: Who are you making this podcast for? What kinds of things would they be interested in hearing about?
- Your branding: How do you want your podcast to be perceived? What kind of image do you want to portray?
- Your budget: How much money are you willing to spend on this project?
- Your equipment: What kind of equipment do you need to produce high-quality audio?
Storybuilding
One of the most important aspects of any podcast is the story. What is the overall story you are trying to tell with your podcast? This will help you determine what content to include and how to structure each episode.
Think about the beginning, middle, and end of your story. What are some key points that you want to make sure to hit? How can you make each episode interesting and engaging for your listeners?
Some things to consider when storybuilding:
- Your hook: What will grab your listeners’ attention and make them want to keep listening?
- Your call to action: What do you want your listeners to do after they finish listening to your podcast?
- Your cliffhanger: What will make your listeners want to tune in next week?
Recording
Once you have a structure for your show, it’s time to start recording! If you are planning on having interviews, make sure to do your research ahead of time and come up with questions that will elicit interesting responses from your guests.
If you are doing a solo show, take the time to write out what you want to say ahead of time so that you can stay on track. If you are winging it, make sure to have a general idea of what topics you want to cover and any points you want to hit.
When recording, pay attention to your sound quality and try to avoid any background noise. If possible, use a microphone and record in a quiet room.
If you are recording remotely, there are a number of ways to do this. Zoom is a popular option, but there are also many other programs that allow you to record audio and video calls.
Once you have your recording, it’s time to move on to post-production!
Post-production
Post-production is the process of editing your recording to make it sound its best. This is where you will add in any music or sound effects, remove any pauses or dead space, and generally clean up the audio.
If you are not familiar with audio editing, there are a number of tutorials online that can help you get started. If you don’t have the time or patience to edit your own audio, you can always hire someone to do it for you.
If you are planning on including video with your podcast, you will also need to edit your video footage. This is a bit more complicated than audio editing, but there are also many tutorials and resources available online.
Once you have finished editing your podcast, it’s time to start thinking about publishing!
Publishing
There are a number of ways to publish your podcast. The most popular option is to use a hosting service like Podbean, Buzzsprout, or Libsyn.
These services will provide you with an RSS feed that you can submit to iTunes and other directories. They will also host your episodes and give you statistics on your downloads.
Another option is to self-host your podcast. This means that you will need to find a place to host your audio files and create your own RSS feed. If you go this route, you will need to submit your podcast to directories yourself. Self-hosting can be more complicated, but it does give you more control over your show.
Once you have chosen a method for publishing, you will need to promote your podcast!
Social Media
As a podcaster, you know that one of the most important things you can do to promote your show is to use social media. But with so many platforms and options out there, it can be tough to know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of social media promotion for your podcast:
First, consider which platforms your audience is most active on. If you’re not sure, take a look at your own social media usage and see where your interest lies. Chances are, your audience is similar. Once you’ve determined which sites to focus on, it’s time to create some content. For each platform, you’ll want to create engaging posts that will encourage your audience to check out your podcast.
Make sure to use strong visuals and captivating copy. You should also make use of hashtags, as they can help you reach a wider audience. And don’t forget to include links to your episodes!
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. Social media is constantly changing, so it’s important to be flexible and willing to try new things. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to adjust your strategy.
You can also create a website for your podcast and use SEO techniques to attract listeners from Google. If you are interviewed on another podcast or appear on a panel, be sure to promote that appearance on your social media channels.
You can also use paid advertising to promote your podcast. Facebook and Instagram both have options for promoting posts, and you can also use Google AdWords to run ads specifically for people searching for podcasts.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it! These are just a few tips and ideas to get you started on planning your podcast. The most important thing is to just get started and have fun with it! Remember, there are no rules when it comes to podcasts so be creative and experiment until you find what works best for you and your audience.