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When launching your own podcast, the topic of your show needs to be narrow enough to establish your niche but also broad enough to find an audience.
Read on to learn how to come up with an idea for a podcast, first by developing an interest, expertise, or passion into a show, brainstorming an effective name, and picking the best podcast format and structure for your show. Plus, get some ideas for how to determine who might be interested in your podcast and market your show to that target audience.
Establish your podcast topic
Your podcast should cover a topic you know a lot about, so you can establish yourself as an expert. Your commitment to and excitement for exploring your topic should be clear to your listeners from the start. Even if you plan to interview people in depth instead of doing all of the talking yourself, you’ll need to know enough about the subject matter to ask intelligent, probing questions and draw out interesting stories.
To increase your odds of turning new listeners into devoted fans, your topic—or your unique approach to it—needs to be narrow enough that it can’t already be found on dozens of other podcasts. Too broad a topic and you’ll fail to stand out. If your podcast topic ideas are too niche, however, you could struggle to find a large audience ready to tune in.
If you discover that there are already other podcasts devoted to your topic—and you likely will, given the number of podcasts that exist—your approach to it can help set you apart. For example, there are plenty of true crime and comedy podcasts, but the podcast hosts of any you listen to likely take their own point of view on the genre. One might devote their comedy podcast to having guests share funny stories or focus a true crime podcast’s content on a relevant TV show.
Choose the right podcast name
A podcast’s name needs to be concise and easy to remember. It should clearly state the subject of your podcast so people searching for the topic can find it. Make sure your name is also unique and not the same as a podcast that already exists.
You could use a play on words, but avoid being too clever because it might confuse would-be listeners. If someone can’t tell from the title what your podcast is about, they might keep scrolling.
To be discoverable to someone searching for the topic of your podcast, you might want to include a keyword in the title, episode title, or episode descriptions. Adding a search term will improve your odds of gaining a following. But don’t force keywords into your podcast name or episode titles at the expense of having a catchy name that captures the tone and personality of your podcast.
Decide on a format and structure
There are a number of different formats that work for a podcast. You can create a solo podcast where you’ll be the only voice, or you can team up with a friend who will act as a cohost. Another option is to create an interview show where you’ll have a conversation with a different guest each episode. For example, you could ask entrepreneurs to share short stories about running a small business or a typical day as a business owner.
Think about what feels comfortable for you and what you have time to organize—finding and scheduling guests can be time consuming.
With your format established, you’ll need to decide on the structure of your podcast. That is, how you will tell a story over a series of episodes. Create an outline to map out the number of episodes for the first season to avoid having a lull where you might lose listeners. Think of each episode as a chapter in your story, even if you’re not telling a season-long story.
A podcast can be narrative or more spontaneous and unrehearsed. A narrative podcast follows a script, while a more spontaneous show might have you following a general outline or letting a conversation with a guest follow its own course.
Even if you choose a more spontaneous format, outlining the structure of your podcast will help you keep each episode at a manageable length. Keep each episode focused on a specific part of your main topic to keep your audience engaged. Aiming for around 30 minutes per episode is a good place to start.
When considering podcast episode ideas, think about how you want to structure individual episodes, too. What does your introduction segment look like? Do you want to include other segments, like a segment where you answer questions from listeners or a recurring question you ask guests each episode? Choose a style that fits the tone and pace of your podcast and the topics you’re covering.
Define your podcast audience
To create a successful podcast, it’s necessary to define your audience. Understanding the types of people who might listen to your podcast will help you engage more deeply with them.
What types of people do you envision listening to your podcast? Do some thinking about the age of your audience, the hobbies and interests of people who might listen, and if they are single or married or have kids. Look at similar, popular podcasts and their audiences if you’re feeling stuck.
If you can get a sense of who might be interested in your podcast, then you will be able to develop your voice and marketing strategy. Doing some research work up front to define your audience can go a long way toward creating a meaningful connection with your listeners and ensure that you’re delivering a great podcast that they’ll enjoy.