3 Tips on Launching a Kickass Podcast, from My First Million Producers

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The pandemic birthed a rise in puppies, planting flowers in Animal Crossing, and podcasts — with 1.1m+ shows launched in 2020 alone.

But soon, the podcast phenomenon plateaued. New podcasts decreased a year later, and in 2022, fell by 80%. 😬

Would you ride this rollercoaster? Be honest. Source: NiemanLab

Does this mean the podcast train has left the station? No more tickets available to savvy hosts and sultry voices?

Not at all — your podcast just can’t suck.

Luckily, podcast geniuses Darren Clarke (executive producer of My First Million) and Kal Elsebai (HubSpot’s senior manager of podcast strategy) shared their tips on how you can create a killer show. The two broke it down into three distinct parts:

Ideation

Launching
Monetization

Here’s how you can turn your business or niche hobby (ever wanted to listen to 49 minutes of stationary fangirling?) into the next big thing in podcasting:

1. Create the podcast you want to listen to

If you’re launching a podcast to make a quick buck… think again.

Instead of finding a profitable niche, start with your passions. If you can rave about a topic for hours, chances are your enthusiasm will come through, and people will pay attention.

If you’re starting from scratch, conduct your research, identify your niche, and figure out your unique take on that topic.

“Niche down until it hurts,” as Darren lovingly suggests.

Consider the podcast Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet. As the name suggests, this widely popular podcast explores the most dramatic one-star reviews ever written. And that’s it. The hosts simply use their cracking wit and high-class Karen’ing to create a niche, comedic podcast.

Remember to ask yourself — what will listeners take away from tuning in to your podcast? Will they whip out the Notes app? Will they chuckle at your wit throughout?

Whatever emotions listeners experience from listening to you, identify the promise your podcast makes to them.

If you already have an audience, find the middle point between your passion and their wants. Poll your customers, newsletter subscribers, or social media followers. If possible, get them on a call.

2. Launch with slingshot momentum

Before you launch your podcast into the ether, set it up for success:

📅 Figure out a realistic cadence. Can you produce an episode a week? How about every other week? Whatever you choose, stick with it.

🎙️ Record several episodes before launching. That way, you give yourself breathing room to produce future episodes.

🎨 Design compelling podcast art. The thumbnail should tell a story right out the gate. When a user scrolls through shows, the art should tell them what your show delivers.