Picking A Podcast Topic: Tips To Get A Larger Following
Podcasts have been such a hot thing for the last few years. Before that, it was "vlogs.", and before that, talk radio. You probably want to get in on the podcast craze yourself. That is understandable when you consider the number of newly discovered famous people who were "podding" about this and that until their following became almost viral in numbers. Yet, how do you pick a podcast topic to get a larger following? Here are some tips to guide you.
Positive Podcasts Usually Outrank Negative Ones
A positive podcast means that you pick a relatable topic that can help everyone else. For example, a podcast about parents coping with the challenges of autism and maintaining a healthy and upbeat outlook for themselves and their children is both relatable and positive. It is relatable because of the frequency of the rate of autism among kids born right now. It is positive because these challenges presented to parents of children with autism need to know that autism is not a negative diagnosis or a "doomed life" sentence.
The only way negative podcasts work is if it is not insensitive to any group of people, and that it makes others laugh. This is a more complicated choice in podcasts because being sensitive to others while trying to be funny is a slippery slope. You really have to know how to handle your topics without too much seriousness, too much offensive content, and plenty of humor.
Your Podcast Should Be More Frequent at First
Until people recognize you and begin to follow your podcasts, you need to "cast" more frequently. Twice a week is good, three times a week (e.g., M-W-F) is better. You can create shorter podcasts when you air more frequently, allowing you to break up a subject into smaller, more easily digestible bits. As your following grows, you can lengthen the podcast and decrease the number of days you are airing.
Have an Outline to Help You Stay on Task
Think less radio show, more talk show, although a podcast is a little of both. Have an outline of what you are going to talk about or address in each of your podcasts. It helps you stay on task and not wander too far from what you had intended. If you have an interactive, "live" podcast where people can call in and add their two cents, then you can allow the occasional diversion off-topic.