Tips On Starting A Podcast During Quarantine
In an age where we are suffering from both anxiety and ADD, the podcast is a beacon of calm amidst the selfie pandemonium. So if you’re looking to start up your own podcast during quarantine, here are a few tips to help you find your way to that beacon.
- Podcasts are a genuine way to connect with an audience. Instead of the short-lived and fractured connection you may or may not make through Facebook, Twitter, IG, or Tik Tok, listen to or creating a podcast allows for engagement with an audience in a long-form content. People can listen while exercising, driving, cleaning the house, or knitting next year’s scarf for their brother.
- There’s a lot of unexplored space in the podcast world. There are 23 million YouTube channels, 600 million blogs, but only 800,000 podcasts on Apple Podcasts. That’s a pretty substantial differential. So there’s still room for you to make your mark, and have fun doing it.
- Develop a podcast concept that you are passionate about. When you figure out your “what” and “why” you will then have a strong foundation as to where to target your direction.
- Identify your goals. Why are you doing it? Is it for income, to share your ideas with the world, or to simply have fun? Knowing why is helpful in keeping you on track with meeting your deadlines, goals, and helping to shape your creative concept.
- Choose your format. Do you like to improvise? Then you’ll do well to have a co-host to bounce all those brilliant jokes off of. Do you like the idea of drama or intrigue? Then maybe a scripted show is more your direction. Or maybe you love learning from others, and if so, then the interview format might be your perfect match.
- Determine the length beforehand. Whatever your length is, whether it’s tasty 10-minute segments or more extensive 45-minute long interviews, determine your length and stick to that format.
- Consistency is key! It’s best to get a handful of shows in the can before going to broadcast because you’re going to want to keep to a consistent schedule. If weekly seems daunting, then go to a bi-monthly format. Whatever your schedule is, stick with it and watch as your listenership grows over time.
- Don’t be afraid to edit out the boring stuff. Listen back to the recording and make note of the parts that aren’t completely engaging. If it loses your attention, then it will most likely lose your listener's attention too.
- Have Fun! Even if you are creating a podcast to rake in the big bucks, remember to have fun doing it. There’s a lot of hours that will be put into your new endeavor, and if you’re having fun doing it, you’re a lot less likely to peter out when you’re in the doldrums.
Podcast Listenership Surges Under Quarantine
Because not everyone can watch ten hours of Netflix at a time, there has also been a surge in other binging activities during lockdown. Aside from the rampant increase in baking, gardening, and stalking of one’s ex’s on social media, there’s also been a giant increase in podcast listenership.
In March Spotify noted they had nearly 150,000 podcasts uploads, which was a 69% increase from February and the largest monthly increase in Spotify’s podcast catalog overall.
And, at a time when many productions in the film and television market have been put on hold, Spotify continues to build out its podcast business. As more and more people are craving for entertainment and news while in lockdown, the demand has created more necessity for quality content. Further, since podcasts can be produced remotely with little more than a good microphone and a decent internet connection, it is a viable way to create low-cost new and ongoing shows.
Now that Spotify has bought Gimlet Media and Parcast, two large podcast companies, they have large steaks in the game. So hold on to your hat because The Obamas just signed a deal to do their own podcast. So from here on out, it’s no longer just your cousin doing weird movie reviews from his basement.