Alright, so you’ve made the decision to start a podcast; now what? Before diving into the logistical details, ask yourself, “Why?” What are you looking to accomplish with your new show? Perhaps you’re looking to develop a deeper connection with your audience, spread brand awareness, further your brand identity, generate leads, or create meaningful partnerships. And once you’ve determined your objectives, you can start thinking about the format.
There are many formats to consider when developing your podcast; however, it’s essential to pick one that fits your target audience and aligns with your objectives. We’ve dappled in a little bit of everything between ourselves and our clients, but below, we’ve included a few that we’d recommend for any business looking to start their own podcast.
- Interview
One of the most popular podcast formats is an interview-style. This format requires a host (or two) and a new guest for each episode. This style is great for those who plan on gaining a multitude of viewpoints and a potential new audience with each episode. In addition, guests will typically promote their appearance on your show, so you’ll be able to engage with a new audience.
- Solo/Monologue
If you’re running a one-person show or have an ultra-specific topic or thought leader content you’d like to share, you may want to consider a solo/monologue format. This format also lends itself to a flexible schedule, easier editing (since there will only be one audio track), and an intimate relationship with your audience. Just be cognizant that this style requires a lot of talking; if you don’t have the personality or preparation to speak for 15+ minutes.
- Conversational/co-hosted
A conversational/co-hosted format marries the consistency of a solo/monologue show with the conversational aspects of an interview format. It’s essentially two hosts with great chemistry talking about their specific expertise. This format is perfect for those with a common goal but different strengths. This style encourages organic conversation and creates a friendly environment for listeners. However, as mentioned above, you and your co-host must have chemistry to be on the same page with topics to discuss, roles each other has, and agreement on an overall message.
- Panel
Another podcast similar to the interview format is a panel. A panel-style podcast consists of a single host with multiple guests. This style facilitates meaningful conversations and healthy debates, and very little is required from you conversationally.
- Non-Fictional Storytelling
A non-fictional storytelling podcast is essentially turning a documentary into a podcast. This style is perfect for those with a specific event or a series of events that they would like to discuss. This podcast format is gaining popularity as it is highly addictive for people interested in a specific topic. This style also lends itself to more creativity than the others, as you can splice different audio elements and choose whatever stories interest you and your audience. However, the customizability of this podcast style does require more work in post-production.
- Repurposed Content
A repurposed content podcast is the definition of “work smarter, not harder.” A repurposed content format turns the content you’ve already produced into a podcast. This style is great if you regularly give seminars, lectures, or speeches. Though it requires a lot less from you, the host, it doesn’t always sound the best to the listener. When you repurpose content just make sure to preface it in the intro.
- Video Podcasting
Lastly, a unique format that can be in addition to any of the ones we’ve mentioned above is video podcasting. This format can be layered with any mentioned above because it is just setting up a camera while recording. You can use the entire video for YouTube, splice it for social, and even create TikToks. Anyone can benefit from this style as it allows for further reach on multiple platforms, and if you use closed captions, it opens the door to those that can’t traditionally listen to podcasts.
If you’re looking to start a podcast to grow your business, reach new audiences, and deepen relationships reach out today!
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