{"id":19150,"date":"2019-08-26T08:05:58","date_gmt":"2019-08-26T14:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/?p=19150"},"modified":"2019-08-26T08:05:59","modified_gmt":"2019-08-26T14:05:59","slug":"top-tips-for-creating-a-successful-podcast-for-your-membership-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/memberpress.com\/de\/blog\/top-tips-for-creating-a-successful-podcast-for-your-membership-site\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Creating a Successful Podcast for Your Membership Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThis is Writing Excuses<\/em>. Fifteen minutes long because you\u2019re in a hurry, and we\u2019re not that smart.\u201d\u00a0
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Every podcast of Writing Excuses<\/em><\/a>, a Hugo and Podcast Award winning series, ends with that snappy tagline.\u00a0
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\u201cEverything you need to know about the celebrities you don\u2019t.\u201d
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This tagline for Slow Burn<\/em><\/a> summarizes what it is\u2014a history podcast that delves into the unknown subplots of major historical events. The series is considered one of the most popular of 2019.\u00a0
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\u201c\u2018Hey, Alexis? Can I pet your dog?\u2019 \u2018Can I pet your<\/em> dog?\u2019\u201d\u00a0
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Can I Pet Your Dog<\/em><\/a>?<\/em> is a quirky but popular podcast where two women chat about their dogs and the dogs they meet. It seems simple, and yet it\u2019s so successful.\u00a0
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These three podcasts in completely different genres use taglines, guests hosts, and other tools to appeal to their audiences. They\u2019re completely different, but they know what they need to succeed. We\u2019ll talk about how you can experience some of that success yourself.
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But first, here are a few important steps you\u2019ll want to take before starting your podcast.
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Audio Equipment<\/strong>
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Buy your equipment. How much audio equipment you need depends on what you\u2019re willing to pay and how many hosts you have. At a bare minimum, you\u2019ll need a microphone and computer. Use a USB microphone if it\u2019s just you or a microphone with XLR output if you plan to have a team of hosts. Microphones range in price from almost $1,000 to less than $100. One of the most popular low-cost microphones of 2019 is the Samsun Q2U. Other equipment to consider: headphones, mixer, pop filter, headphone amplifier, headphone stand.
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Buy what you can afford but consider that one of the hosts of Writing Excuses<\/em> regretted not going with good audio equipment earlier on.\u00a0
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Podcast Plugins<\/strong>
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In order to upload your files, consider using Blubrry<\/a>. As our site<\/a> states, \u201cPowerPress by Blubrry is one of the top podcasting plugins for WordPress. Use it to create a podcast and it will manage all of your media files, episodes and iTunes feeds. Use this integration to grant access to private podcasts based on MemberPress memberships.\u201d
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Now, on to success.\u00a0
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Host\/Hosts<\/strong>
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Every podcast has one or more hosts. That\u2019s obvious. But what makes a host successful? What do a slate of award-winning authors, a serious journalist, and lighthearted women have in common? Personality. Wit. And relatability. They\u2019re the same aspects that make a character in a fiction novel likable. Renee and Alexis, hosts of Can I Pet Your Dog?<\/em>, spend the episode making jokes and laughing, and yet they know their stuff when it comes to dogs. Hosts of Writing Excuses<\/em> advertise that they aren\u2019t that smart (which makes them more personable, even though they are that<\/em> smart). Success in hosting comes from knowing who you are and being true to yourself. You are real, so be real. Offer great insight, and don\u2019t be afraid to be vulnerable about your shortcomings. (That\u2019s what makes you relatable.) Even the host of Slow Burn<\/em> admitted he knew little about Watergate before going into the season on Watergate.\u00a0
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Guest Hosts<\/strong>
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Many great podcasts have guest hosts. A guest host is an individual who joins a podcast for one or a few episodes. Guests hosts help you find success because they increase your connections. For instance, all the friends, family, and fans of your guest host will listen to the episode the guest host participates in. If they like your podcast, they\u2019ll listen to more. Guest hosts also offer more perspective and knowledge, so it\u2019s a win-win.
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Subject Matter<\/strong>
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Obviously, the subject matter of your podcast has to be in line with your membership site. If your site sells cookies, the podcast has to somehow relate to cookies. You could do a podcast on funny cookie stories or on cookies in pop media. And while it\u2019s great to pick a niche subject, don\u2019t go so narrow you can\u2019t speak about it for dozens of episodes. Even regarding subject matter, the three podcasts we\u2019ve mentioned share a common ground. They all have a USP (unique selling point). A USP is a unique spin or twist that makes your podcast stand out from the others. Writing Excuses<\/em> is far shorter than a typical podcast, for instance. Slow Burn<\/em> explores the lesser-known aspects of a story. Can I Pet Your Dog? <\/em>blends comedy and dogs together to make something fresh.\u00a0
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Music<\/strong>
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Many podcasts include a jingle. Jingles are not necessary, and not every podcast has one, but music can get stuck in a listener\u2019s head like nothing else. If someone is singing your song in his or her mind, he or she is thinking about your podcast. It\u2019s sneaky, and that\u2019s why companies do it. Can I Pet Your Dog?<\/em> has a jingle about all the dogs they want to meet. (A word to the wise: be careful with copyright laws when creating a jingle and create your own music, or make sure you have rights to it.) If you don\u2019t use a jingle, you can use some other hook to captivate your audience from the get-go. Maybe you start every episode with a joke about cookies or an unusual cookie fact. Whatever you choose, be consistent, and you\u2019ll keep your audience happy.\u00a0
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Tagline<\/strong>
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Yes, we are finally going to talk about taglines! Consider Slow Burn<\/em>\u2019s tagline: \u201cEverything you need to know about the celebrities you don\u2019t.\u201d It\u2019s short and simple and piques curiosity. Keep your tagline to one to two sentences. Slow Burn<\/em>\u2019s tagline also explains what the podcast is about and why it should be of interest to their audience. That\u2019s what you need to do. Your tagline should summarize your entire podcast in a way that\u2019s casual, catchy, and tells your audience why they should care.\u00a0
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Remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n