Looking for another great way to grow your audience and, in turn, your business? Have you considered podcasting? Maybe the thought of producing a podcast or series of podcasts is daunting to you. It can be time-consuming, and there\u2019s no guarantee of reward, you say? Well, don\u2019t dismiss it out of hand. If done right, there are numerous benefits.<\/p>\n
In this article, we will discuss the top tips for creating a successful podcast. We\u2019ll look at why you should start a podcast, what equipment you\u2019ll need, how to plan your content, and how to promote it. Most importantly, we\u2019ll consider how you can use a podcast to promote your membership site and increase subscribers.<\/p>\n
If you want more in-depth information about profiting from podcasting we recommend you check out the Podcast Network's eBook by Cameron Reilly called \u201cMaking Money From Podcasting<\/a>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s great way to promote your membership site. Each podcast you create can be based on a different area of the content on your site. This way you can give your listeners a taste of what you have to offer, convince them of your site\u2019s benefits, and encourage them to sign up.<\/p>\n When you successfully promote your podcast, you\u2019ll raise awareness of your site, attracting new visitors, and reach a wider audience. Those who take the time to download and listen to your podcasts became your target audience. They\u2019re the ones\u00a0likely to join to your membership site in the future.<\/p>\n A great way to generate leads and bring in new subscribers to your site is to use podcasts as part of the premium content on your site. Will people really pay to see them? Chances are good\u2014the number of podcast downloads has risen dramatically in the last few years because a lot of people prefer to listen rather than read. Podcasts as premium content can help you cater to your audience\u2019s needs and give you an edge over your competitors.<\/p>\n Convinced? Then let\u2019s get down to the business of podcast how-to.<\/p>\n One of the most important aspects of a successful podcast is high-quality audio, so be sure to invest in some good podcasting equipment, like a quality microphone and a set of headphones. With equipment like this, the rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better the sound quality\u2014something worth considering.<\/p>\n As your podcasts become more advanced and you find yourself needing more than one microphone, you may want to invest in a mixer, or audio interface. These can be pricey, so it\u2019s best to wait until you\u2019ve got a bit of experience under your belt before purchasing one.<\/p>\n As for recording software, try\u00a0Audacity<\/a>. It\u2019s easy to use, achieves great results, and best of all, it\u2019s free.<\/p>\n It goes without saying that you\u2019ll need to carefully think through your content before sitting down to record your podcast. If you\u2019re creating a series, make a list of topics for each show, basing each podcast on a different area of your site\u2019s content. You\u2019ll attract a wider range of listeners interested in different areas of your niche.<\/p>\n With each individual podcast, be sure to break your subject down into subcategories. This will help you achieve a smooth-flowing, well-rounded show. Some podcasters like to have a script handy, while others who are more confident at improvising simply use notes. Whatever works best for you, do a couple of practice run-throughs so you\u2019re comfortable with your content before you record.<\/p>\n Always bear in mind that your podcasts should be interesting and provide value to your listeners. Make them fun and engaging. If your audience enjoys your podcasts, they\u2019ll be back for more.<\/p>\n So how do you add value to your content? Try interviewing a guest. Not only does it give your audience an interesting listening experience, it also takes the pressure off you to be a one-person show.<\/p>\n And try to interview unique, knowledgeable, fascinating guests. It\u2019ll help your podcast stand out from the crowd, grow your audience, and increase your popularity. Interviewing professionals in your industry is a smart way to go. Experts come with their own fan base, and when they appear on your show, they\u2019re introducing you to their following. It\u2019s great exposure.<\/p>\n Once your content is recorded, be sure to come up with a fun, catchy jingle. If you\u2019re creating a series of podcasts, you should use the same soundtrack for each. This helps listeners distinguish your podcast from others and gives it its own unique identity.<\/p>\n Check out the free jingles and soundtracks at\u00a0AudioJungle<\/a>.<\/p>\n People won\u2019t just start downloading your podcast, however good it is. You\u2019ll need to go out and promote it. Tell people about its content and\u00a0create a buzz<\/a>\u00a0around it. How? Send out emails to your mailing list, write about it in newsletters, or create a banner or popup displaying it on your website. Most importantly, get the message out on social media.<\/p>\n To generate excitement about your podcast, start a countdown to a release date, and publish a few podcast clips to get people fired up. The more people hear about your podcast and share about it, the more downloads you\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n iTunes<\/a>\u00a0is a key place to promote your podcast. Listing your podcast on iTunes<\/a> will give you exposure to a much wider audience. It\u2019ll help increase traffic to your membership site and drive subscriptions when new listeners download your podcast.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget about the power of iTunes ratings. At the end of each podcast, encourage listeners to leave a review. Numerous positive reviews will sway iTunes browsers to download your podcast, even if they\u2019ve never heard of your website before.<\/p>\n The goal of your podcast is, of course, to get more subscriptions for your membership site. So make sure your podcast not only promotes your site but encourages people to visit it.<\/p>\n Explain to listeners that they can go to your site to find more of the same dynamite content they\u2019ve heard about in your podcast if they join up. But be sure to sell the importance of your site in a subtle way\u2014no one wants to listen to a podcast full of advertising.<\/p>\n At the end of your podcasts, share your site\u2019s URL and encourage people to visit by creating a landing page of free content relevant to the podcast in general or to a specific episode. When people visit your site and are convinced of the benefits of being a member, you\u2019re looking at potential converts and greater success for your business.<\/p>\n How do you plan to use podcasting to grow your membership site? Share your thoughts in the comments below.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Looking for another great way to grow your audience and, in turn, your business? Have you considered podcasting? Maybe the thought of producing a podcast or series of podcasts is daunting to you. It can be time-consuming, and there\u2019s no guarantee of reward, you say? Well, don\u2019t dismiss it out of hand. If done right, [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2122,"featured_media":15098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_strive_editorial_status":"not-started","_strive_copy_of":0,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"content-sidebar","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_strive_checklists":"\"\"","_strive_active_checklist":"62291e2bb2422","_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[325],"class_list":{"0":"post-13726","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-marketing","8":"tag-podcast","9":"entry"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWhy Create a Podcast?<\/h4>\n
Get the Right Equipment<\/h4>\n
Plan Your Content<\/h4>\n
Interesting Interviews<\/h4>\n
Find a Jingle<\/h4>\n
Promote your Podcast<\/h4>\n
List Your Podcast on iTunes<\/h4>\n
Final Thoughts<\/h4>\n