Making a compelling podcast isn’t easy – it requires creativity, focus, and attention to detail. 

It’s not a case of simply attracting high-profile guests and getting them to talk about their life’s work, but instead, it falls on you, the host, to create new and exciting angles that set you apart from the status quo.

It’s about creating a conversation about topics that aren’t necessarily original but spark ideas and alter the perceptions of your listeners.

When you can resonate with your target audience in such a way, this is when you’ll start to grow your show. But don’t worry; this doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may sound. 

Here are some tips for making a gripping podcast and ensuring maximum exposure:

#1. Know Your Niche

Understanding what type of content your ideal listener is looking for is key. While it may feel like you’ll get the most success by trying to attract as many people as possible to listen to your shows, the truth is that not everyone will be interested.

You can’t please everyone.

Instead, find the people who enjoy your content and double down on giving them things they’re interested in. This is basically a process of creating tailored content that will get results. 

Concentrate on producing content that caters to your niche, and potential listeners will be drawn to it.

How do you define your niche?

Well, it could be anything from an industry-specific podcast to a weekly news show that covers trending topics. It’s important to identify the type of content your target audience is interested in and then create something unique that resonates with them.

#2. Invite Relevant Guests

Podcasts are an excellent platform for having conversations with interesting people, which can make for captivating content. However, that means getting interesting people, not just the ‘top’ people, that every show will try to have as a guest.

Consider inviting guests with intriguing stories or knowledge about topics within your niche that people have overlooked. Perhaps business owners or volunteers instead of the niche’s thought leaders.

The more creative you are, the more creative your show will be.

The best way to connect with these people is to simply research your niche, find what’s going on, and identify the people you want to speak to. You can use social media or email to reach out to them directly.

The benefits of inviting relevant guests include appealing to their own audience, as well as the possibility of gaining an endorsement from them which can be very valuable for your podcast exposure.

#3. Utilise Guests with a Bigger Following

Okay, while we’ve tried to help you see that attracting unconventional guests is an excellent idea for creating great content, there are benefits to hosting a show with more well-known guests.

If a guest has a large following or influence, they’ll enable you to reach more people than just your own network. This can hugely benefit gaining exposure and growing your podcast’s audience.

You can do this quite easily by finding guests who’re currently promoting something, such as a new book, movie, or even their own podcast. This is one of the best ways to find engaged guests and ensure the podcast is sustainable.

#4. Post Teasers on Social Media

Social media channels are important for attracting new listeners, so take advantage of platforms like Instagram and TikTok to share short clips or sneak peeks into upcoming episodes.

The reach of Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikToks is huge right now and can attract tons of attention, sometimes reaching thousands, if not millions, of people every hour. 

It’s one of the most expansive ways to reach the wider world.

However, it takes work.

You need to post high-quality clips and highlights from your show that will entice people in, plus you need to post consistently and engage with the communities on these platforms to help them grow. 

It can be a lot of work, but it’s a worthwhile commitment for the extra exposure and new listeners.

#5. Learn from the Best

There are few ways to get better than by studying the most successful podcasts to understand what makes them popular and what tips you can take away from them to apply to your own show.

Take a podcast such as ‘The Diary of a CEO‘, which has grown its host Steven Bartlett’s profile considerably. 

Arguably the largest podcast in the UK right now (with ten million monthly downloads), Barlett clearly showcases how the professional execution of all these tips can lead to tremendous results.

He mixes everything from having high-profile and interesting guests to using short-form video content and snippets to broaden his reach and to highlight some of the best parts of each episode, thus encouraging more people to watch the long-form content.

By studying popular podcasts, you’ll better understand what content resonates with different audiences and how to best promote your show to reach the broadest possible audience.

Again, it’s not about getting everyone to listen to your podcast because that’s an unrealistic goal. However, even if just 5% of people who see your clips enjoy your content, 5% of 10,000 is far better than 5% of 100.

There you have it! 

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a gripping podcast with maximum exposure.

And if you’re looking to improve your content’s quality, check out our new UK podcasting facility here at Eldraw. 

Our facility can accommodate 1-6 guests, allowing you to record episodes as frequently as you like. Our production and editing services can also produce both your video and audio episodes ready for release and include dozens of short-form clips per episode, ready for you to release on your social media profiles.

Get in touch with us today to see what we can do for you!