Is Your Podcast Sustainable?: How to Create a Podcast That Stands the Test of Time
Photo by Vika Strawberrika on Unsplash
It’s one thing to start a podcast, but it’s something else entirely to make it sustainable. Whether you’re just starting or looking for new strategies, your podcast’s longevity is critical. Otherwise, you’re putting a lot of time and effort into something that’s just not built to last.
Luckily, there are plenty of relatively simple steps for building a more sustainable strategy. Today, we’ll look at six tips to help you level up – not only in 2023 – but for years to come.
What is a Sustainable Podcast?
First, let’s talk about what it means to be sustainable! As you’ve probably guessed, it’s all about sticking with your podcast long-term. While it’s true that just about anyone can launch a podcast these days, it takes planning, know-how, and savvy to keep one going strong.
A sustainable podcast:
Is well-researched
Goes deep
Prioritizes quality
Is timely and relevant
Hooks listeners
Is authentic and entertaining
Publishes at a regular cadence
Life’s many responsibilities and demands will edge out anything not built on a sustainable foundation. So let’s look at how to have a podcast that keeps them coming back for more… and more and more!
Use Social Media Channels for Promotion
Get people excited by sharing audio clips, memes, memorable quotes, and episode covers across social platforms. Or engage your audience via Twitter polls. The more you promote on social media, the more you’ll get a feel for what generates the most excitement and dialogue around your episodes.
Batch Your Content
One of the best ways to avoid burnout and keep things sustainable is to batch your podcasts. Batching can be done with any type of content, and it simply means doing a bunch at once! Sure, it’ll be tough for a day (or three) as you push to get everything done. But when you have an entire month’s content inside of a week, you’ll thank yourself – big time.
Invest in Professional Equipment
Investing in high-quality equipment sends a message to both your audience and yourself that you’re in this for the long haul. Be thoughtful about the equipment you buy and how it reflects your commitment to the show. The good news is it’s easier than ever to generate beautifully-produced content without breaking the bank.
Must-have podcast equipment includes:
A great microphone
Mixers and interfaces
Quality headphones
Recording and editing software
A reputable podcast hosting platform
Microphone accessories like pop filters and shock mounts
Having a professional production strengthens your reputation, builds confidence in your listener, and makes it easier to attract sponsors. Each of these elements is critical for the sustainability and success of your podcast.
Sponsored Content
Don’t you need a huge following to get sponsored content? Actually, no! If you’re a small-to-mid-sized podcast, you might have success with value-based sponsorship. With value-based sponsorship, you negotiate a set rate with the sponsor – say, $75 an episode.
Sponsored content helps you:
Monetize your podcast
Grow your brand identity
Expand your platform
Build a network
One of the simplest ways to get a sponsor is to contact them directly. You can start by checking out other podcasts in your niche and noting their sponsors. Find a point of contact at the company and pitch them with a short, professional email.
Consider Shorter Shows
The days of talk radio are waning, as are people’s attention spans! If you have an hour-long show, consider dividing it into two or three shorter episodes.
You can keep people’s attention and leave them wanting more, which is always a win/win situation. Plus, you’ll have several weeks of content from a single session. Remember: Making things streamlined and straightforward is what sustainability is all about.
Love What You Do
It might sound sentimental, but it’s not: Loving what you do will make it that much more sustainable. In fact, your passion might be the most essential factor in your longevity and success.
If you’re still establishing your niche, try focusing on what you know and love instead of what feels topical. If you already have a podcast, hone in on why you started in the first place. Consider what you’d like your audience to feel, learn, and take away and how that might improve their lives – even in a small way.
Your podcast is more likely to survive challenges, obstacles, and setbacks when built on passion and spoken in your most authentic voice. After all, few things have more staying power than love.
