When Should I Upload My Podcast?

Much like with social media, coming up with a consistent posting schedule is crucial to gaining and maintaining an audience for your podcast. But when is the best time to release new episodes and what else should you consider to make your show a success?

What day should I release my podcast?

Research suggests that Wednesday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (in that specific order) are the best days for podcast episodes to be released. However, it all depends on your personal schedule and that of your target audience’s.

If you’re a branded podcast creator aiming to target young professionals, consider when they’re most likely to listen to your show (perhaps their commute or their lunch hour). If your podcast is aimed at new parents, they may be more likely to listen to your show in the evenings (once their kids have gone to bed).

What time should I release my podcast?

When it comes to a specific time to publish a new podcast episode, early mornings (and we mean early) are the most effective. Posting between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM increases the chances your podcast will be the first shown in your listener’s daily feed on their app of choice. It’s also a good idea to post on social media to remind your listeners that a new episode is up (and also direct your listeners to follow you on social at the end of each episode).

Marketing is everything here! You can make sure you’re doing everything to promote your show with our ultimate marketing checklist.

How long should my podcast be?

The average podcast has a runtime of about 36 minutes, although the suggested runtime from industry experts is anywhere between 20 and 40. Shorter podcast episodes, understandably, have higher consumption rates. For longer episodes, consumption tends to drop off at around 70%.

However, it’s important to remember to tailor your podcast length to your audience’s needs. Complex narrative shows may require longer episodes than daily news podcasts. Podcasts for kids and teenagers may need to be shorter than podcasts aimed at adults. Our fictional children’s podcast, The Old Man in the Boat, has episodes of around 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Conflicted, our long-standing Middle-eastern history show, has episodes that last up to 90 minutes.

Not all podcasts are created equal, and not all shows are alike. It’s important that regardless of each episode's runtime, your show remains engaging and fun for you and your audience. 

How often should I release podcast episodes?

Broadly speaking, once per week is what listeners tend to expect. However, as is the case with everything related to podcasting, this is not a hard and fast rule, nor does it apply to every show.  Depending on how long production and distribution takes, you may space episodes out to be released every two weeks, or even once a month.

All of this is up to personal preference and capabilities. Podcast production is a long process and a big undertaking, so it depends on how much time you have to put in.

Should I release my podcast in seasons?

Podcast seasons are a great way to make sure you have enough time to plan and market upcoming episodes. they also provide you with time to take a break from your show if you’re finding your regular release schedule too demanding. Podcast seasons also give you the opportunity to:

• Source guests and plan interviews for upcoming episodes.

• Create a PR strategy around your show’s next season.

• Create additional assets like videos, audiograms and social media graphics.

• Pitch your show to Apple and Spotify.

While there’s definitely value in keeping your podcast ‘always on,’ seasons definitely give you a wide range of marketing opportunities.

We recommend giving yourself more time than you need for the first few episodes in case you can’t keep up with a schedule. As always, consistency is key!

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Are you ready to get started on your own brand’s podcast with MessageHeard? Get in touch today. We are here to get your message heard and we can help with many aspects of your next great podcast project.

The Best Podcasts of 2022

2022 has been a bumper year for podcasts. From sharing juicy everyday gossip to investigating a prolific social media stalker, there’s been a show for every taste. So we decided to ask the Message Heard team, what was your favourite thing you listened to this year?

The 12 Best Podcasts of 2022

Normal Gossip

Normal Gossip

“Making use of some most masterful storytelling, you’ll want to talk about Normal Gossip with literally everyone you meet. This was the first podcast in a long time that made me devour its back catalogue like it was a full time job - perfect for all you messy gossip lovers out there wanting to scratch the itch. Truly proving that water cooler moments need not be reserved for the big narrative blockbusters!”

Bea Duncan, Producer

Can I tell you a secret?

Can I tell you a secret?

“This podcast totally gripped me with how easily someone can destroy a total stranger’s life using only social media.”

Louise Clarke, Operations Manager

Shamelesss Acquisition Target

Shameless Acquisition Target

“A great balance between irreverance and informative.”

Jake Warren, CEO

Scam Goddess

Scam Goddess

“I love that this is a true crime show that’s on the side of the scammer. It might sound morally dubious but Laci Mosely makes the case for using scams to make your way in an unjust world without being disrespectful to fraud victims. It’s also one of the only podcasts that makes me laugh out loud on the tube.”

Beth Watson, Marketing Lead

Case 63

Case 63

“This is the first fictional podcast I’ve listened to and had me gripped from start to finish. The short episodes and sound design were very clever, and drew me in in a way no other podcast has done before.”

Will Thompson, Business Development Manager

Who killed Daphne?

Who killed Daphne?

“This podcast is both an incredible piece of investigative journalism and a well-stylised narrative. A rare treat!”

Sandra Ferrari, Head of Production

The Superhero Complex

The Superhero Complex

“Really compelling character study where the reveals could only work in an audio-only format.”

Lincoln Van der Westhuizen

Cities and Memory: Remixing the World

Cities and Memory

“Wonderful hybrid of real field recordings from around the world, and artists’ interpretations of these recordings through remixing them into musical pieces and soundtracks.”

Ivan Eastley, Sound Engineer

Revisionist History

Revisionist History

“Another top notch series of Malcolm Gladwell’s investigative anthology podcast that always seems to uncover the most obscure but consequential events of the last century. Special mention to the three parter on the Minnesota Starvation Experiment which recounts one of the most extraordinarily bizarre and harrowing stories of medical manipulation I’ve ever heard.”

Harry Stott, Producer

Bad Friends

Bad Friends

“The chaotic dynamic Bobby and Santino have gets me through every Monday.”

Hannah Southern, Content Strategist

The 11th

The 11th

“An ode to slow audio, I love that you never know what to expect with this show. It’s obvious it was made with a lot of love and care.”

Talia Augustidis, Junior Producer

All About Sound

All About Sound

“I think the world is beginning to appreciate sound more and more and this series does an amazing job at driving that interest further. Had no idea there was a sound collection at the British Library so that’s an extra treat!”

Tom Biddle, Sound Lead

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Want more podcast recommendations? You can find even more of our favourite shows in the Message Heard blog. Or check out our podcasts here.

The 10 Best Investigative Journalism Podcasts

We all know the feeling. You’ve found an investigative journalism podcast with endless twists and turns. You’re so caught up in the surprising tale that you end up bingeing the whole show in just a few days. What are you going to listen to now?

Luckily we’re here to help! We’ve selected our favourite investigative journalism podcasts so you never get caught short again.

The Best Investigate Journalism Podcasts

Untold Legends: Ora

While everyone knows the story of Venus and Serena Williams, not everyone knows Ora Washington, an African-American athlete who excelled in tennis and basketball and won 201 trophies and titles throughout her career. However, Washington managed to fade into obscurity due to her race.

In this podcast from the BBC, former basketball player Renee Montgomery seeks to tell Washington’s previously untold story. Each instalment fuses research and narrative storytelling to tell Ora Washington’s incredible story that has unfortunately been forgotten.

The Catch

One of our very own productions, The Catch is Presented by Raphael Rowe, a journalist who himself spent 12 years locked up for a crime he didn’t commit.

This series delves into the story of a group of fishermen living on the Isle of Wight who were convicted of one of the largest, most audacious drug-smuggling plots in British history. Now fighting to clear their names, this show delves into both sides of the case, exploring each twist and turn, to piece together the real Freshwater Five story. 

Listen now on Audible.

Finding Natasha

In the early 1970s, a promising young British ballerina was chosen to study at Russia’s prestigious ballet academy. A dream come true quickly became a nightmare that led to the teenage dancer having to escape the country, thanks to a woman she’d never see again. Finding Natasha seeks to reunite the ballerina and her unlikely hero across six riveting episodes.

The Trojan Horse Affair

In 2014, an inexplicable and confusing letter appeared on a city councillor’s desk in Birmingham, England, detailing an elaborate plan by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The story soon blows up in the news and kicks off a national panic, leading to multiple investigations, revamped schools, and extra counterterrorism efforts.

In this podcast, hosts Brian Reed and Hamza Syed team up to investigate: Who wrote the Trojan Horse letter? They quickly discover that it’s a question those in power do not want them asking or answering.

Harsh Reality: The Story Of Miriam Rivera

The series is hosted by transgender actress Trace Lysette and focuses on the show There's Something About Miriam, a British reality show, and the life of Mexican transgender model Miriam Rivera.

The show examines Miriam’s early life in Mexico to her years in the US, and her experience on a dating show who’s premise was to hide her trans identity.​​ The podcast dissects gender, sexuality, and the decision to make this TV show in the first place. This is a must listen podcast for anyone interested in the ethics of reality TV.

Sweet Bobby

Sweet Bobby is a multi-part investigation story in search of one of the world’s most sophisticated and notorious catfishers. It’s a story about who we act as online, and how social media can easily be weaponised as a tool of abuse and coercion.

With seven episodes (six plus a bonus one!), the story of Kirat Assi, the British woman at the centre of a web of lies that controlled and destroyed 10 years of her life is told for the first time. The show is hosted by investigative journalist Alexi Mostrous and dives into the fifty aliases created to abuse, coerce, and gaslight Assi for a decade.

The Dropout

The Dropout tells the story of the infamous Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and how she managed to fool the entire world into believing in her medical technology company.

This compelling show is hosted by Rebecca Jarvis, a correspondent for ABC News, who interviews people who knew Elizabeth Holmes and follows her story from childhood to her recent trial. The podcast serves as the inspiration for, and shares a name with the 2022 Hulu miniseries of the same name, starring Amanda Seyfried as Holmes.

Pieces of Britney

Pieces of Britney from BBC Radio 4 is hosted by Pandora Sykes and seeks to dissect the treatment of women in the public eye through a case study on Britney Spears, who’s life and struggles have been at the forefront of the public eye.

This eight part series chronicles Spears’ life and conservatorship and includes interviews with psychologists and cultural historians. While there have been dozens of podcasts about Spears and her conservatorship, Pieces of Britney serves as an analytical edition that does not sensationalise the details of her abuse.

Dark House

Dark House serves as the incredibly niche cross section of interior design, the paranormal, and true crime. In each episode, hosts Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino, a twisted backstory of an infamous American home is explored, including The Watcher House in New Jersey and the Boise Murder House of Idaho. While the podcast can be incredibly dark at times, this show is a fun dive into the paranormal homes we’ve always wondered about.

The Walker’s Switch

The final podcast on our list is something a little different. Describing itself as ‘Serial, but for crisps,’ The Walker’s Switch is an investigation into whether Walkers switched the colours of their Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar crisp packets. 2 out of 3 people are convinced they changed. But Walkers deny it ever happened. Over six episodes, Lauren Peters and Augustine Cerf try to discover the truth.

Want more captivating podcasts?

Whether you’re a lover of history podcasts, investigative journalism, current affairs or more, discover more shows from Message Heard.

The Best Digital Marketing Podcasts

Digital marketing can be a tricky space to navigate, with trends, best practice and even whole channels changing in an instant (think Twitter and Elon Musk). However, podcasts can help you stay on top of an ever-changing market with insights from experts and sneak-peeks into viral campaigns. Here’s a list of some of our favourites.

The Best Digital Marketing Podcasts

Social Pros Podcast

Social Pros interviews experts and professionals in the social media industry in typically under-50 minute long instalments. The hosts, Jay Baer and Adam Brown, have been praised for their discussions of social media strategies that listeners call in-depth and actionable. Case studies also appear on this podcast’s roster, with subjects including ride-sharing app Lyft, indie cosmetic brand Glossier, and American restaurant chain Chili’s.

Social Creatures

On our very own Social Creatures Head of Marketing at Sprout Social, Cat Anderson, sits down with some of the most innovative minds in the social space to find out how they achieve success. Favourites include the TikTok viral Black Country Living Museum and an in-depth interview with the PR agency behind the controversial Heinz Baked Beans and Weetabix campaign.

The Science of Social Media

The Science of Social Media was developed by Buffer, a social media toolkit designed for small businesses. Their excellent library of content that they transfer into podcast form. While they may gear their own work towards small businesses, we think anyone can learn from their podcast that helps explore what exactly works on social media.

Casual Fridays

Casual Fridays target those in entertainment, tourism, and hospitality industries. Episodes are conversational and always include a discussion on current trends, strategy moves, and useful tactics. With over 200 episodes available, there’s no shortage of tips and tricks from host Tyler Anderson.

Everyone Hates Marketers

In this cheekily named podcast hosted by Louis Greiner, marketing isn’t put on a pedestal. Greiner understands the honest truth that people don’t want to be marketed to, which is why Greiner’s goal with the podcast is to discuss and share ethical marketing tips and tricks that are in good taste and no-nonsense. Episodes are released on a weekly basis, with interviews or Greiner’s own opinion sharing their thoughts on the sometimes “shady” marketing tips.

Duct Tape Marketing

Duct Tape Marketing is the marketing podcast made for small businesses specifically. Since 2005, host John Jantsch has interviewed thought leaders, experts, and authors to share their stories and secrets to make it in the business world. Recent episodes have explored data usage, communication tips from the world’s greatest salesman, and ways to double sales.

The Agents of Change

Through fascinating and engaging interviews with expert marketers, The Agents of Change podcast promises to help increase your brand’s online visibility, drive more qualified traffic to your site and convert that traffic into consumers. Host Rich Brooks talks to internationally known marketers to get their inside insights that cover tips and tricks on SEO, social media, and mobile marketing. There are over 400 episodes, and they’re available weekly, with each episode running about 30-45 minutes, so there’s plenty of content for you to binge!

Copyblogger

Copyblogger is the ultimate copywriting, content marketing, freelance writing, and social media marketing podcast. Quality copywriting is at the centre of quality marketing, so this podcast has you covered on all the tips and tricks to write the catchiest of content. In each episode, ​​a variety of experts analyse copywriting, content marketing, conversion optimization, and more. Start listening here.

We hope that’s helped you find a digital marketing podcast to keep you on top of the trends, in the meantime make sure to check out Social Creatures for more insights into the bizarre world of viral marketing. Or contact us to find out how to use a podcast to grow your brand!

Podcasts and PR: The New Way of Controlling Your Message

Public relations serves as one of the most important factors for a brand to focus on when trying to maintain their brand image and identity. However, the realm of PR is rapidly changing and evolving, with the lines that separate PR from marketing and thought leadership becoming increasingly blurry and vague. 

Podcasts can, (and in our opinion should!), serve as the new form of PR delivery for your brand. By creating a branded podcast, you’ll create a space for your followers to learn more about you as a brand as well as using the content you already have to generate press interest. 

Here’s why podcasts need to become a part of your PR strategy.

Podcasts increase brand awareness

More and more brands are turning to podcasts to reach their target audiences in an innovative and creative way. The House of Commons’ Committee Corridor, Sephora’s #LipStories, Red Bull’s Basement Sessions, and Gatorade’s The Secret to Victory all fall into this category of popular organisations with equally popular podcasts. Each of these shows get directly into their audiences ears through storytelling that finds creative ways to engage with their consumers. 

Podcasts allow you to cut out the PR middleman

Podcasts also give brands complete control of their messaging without the need for sending out mass press releases. With a podcast, you’re in control of the content and messaging of each episode. You can also release them on their own if you have the resources to do so (and if they need a little help, Message Heard is here to provide a helping hand!) 

Podcasts are flexible

The podcast for your brand doesn’t need to always run for a specific number of episodes, and the running time can be as long or as short as you’d like. The Secret to Victory was a six-part series,while #LipStories ran for two seasons. There is a lot of flexibility in podcasting, making it one of the easier ways of accessing your current and new customers, while also keeping it interesting and engaging for the people working on it.

Podcasts go hand in hand with traditional PR methods

We’re all familiar with those viral clips of celebrities on shows such as ‘Diary of a CEO’ and there’s no reason why you can’t use your branded podcast to make a splash online. Taking key quotes from prominent guests and turning them into press releases is a sure fire way to make sure both your brand and your podcast make the news.

Podcasts maintain your brand’s image

The aforementioned branded podcasts are all viewed as podcasts that serve as reflections of the brand's image, which is an important need for brands who want to get into the podcasting space: your brand must correlate and align with the podcast in every way possible. This consistency is a critical part in customer acquisition and retention. 

Uniformity isn’t always a good thing, but in this case, it definitely is worth paying attention to for the sake of your brand. Keeping things on-brand for your podcast will help maintain the brand image through the podcast.

Podcasts can humanise your brand

A voice associated with an organisation can become the brand’s public image through the use of podcasts as well. This can make an individual feel more connected to a brand, and will most likely inspire them to engage with the brand if they feel this form of connection and personal tie. 

Ultimately, a podcast can humanise your brand and make your brand feel more personal and serves as an extension of your brand’s identity. Podcasts have the incredible power to elevate a brand’s status and position them as something other than just a company that's working to make a profit. 

Are you convinced yet and want to get started on your own brand’s podcast with MessageHeard? Get in touch today. We are here to get your message heard and we can help with many aspects of your next great podcast project.

How to Market Your Podcast: Your Perfect Launch Checklist

It’s not a secret that we think podcasts can elevate you and your brand to the next level. Starting a podcast is an exciting way to tell a story. But telling your story isn’t done once you’ve finalised your edits or posted the podcast to the world. You then have to tell the world that your story exists! Marketing gets your story out there, and will help drive the benefits of starting a podcast in the first place.  

So, how can you start pulling together your ideal marketing plan for your new podcast? Let’s explore. 

How to launch your podcast

Align your podcast content with your wider marketing strategy  

A podcast can form a powerful part of a larger marketing strategy. And if you have a larger marketing plan, then your podcast should aim to align with your overall goals. Your podcast content is the first thing to consider – how do the guests or themes align with your wider audience? Communicate this with your producer. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to ensure that you attract the biggest audience possible with your marketing efforts: 

• Is my podcast catering to the right demographic? Does the content meet their need? 

• Are my guests influential in the space I’m in (industry, subject area, etc)? 

• Does my content offer something new in the space? 

• Can I reuse the content I share by creating other content and sharing it online? 

• Is the podcast host an advocate for the podcast online? (Do they share the podcast, and get excited about telling people about it?) 

• Are there potential events that could be generated or joined in alignment with the podcast’s subject area?  

Key takeaway? Keep your podcast on target with your wider business goals and allow this to help your podcast strategy unfold. A podcast can elevate every other part of your existing marketing. 

Leverage social media  

Social media is always going to form a really important part of your podcast marketing strategy. We always encourage the use of audiograms, to provide potential listeners with a taste of your podcast – creating short teasers in this way can be really powerful for reshares too. We recommend: 

• Try multiple formats and platforms for sharing the news about your podcast. This should align with the demographic target of your podcast – many younger users are more commonly found on TikTok than Facebook, for instance. If you’re targeting other businesses or professionals, LinkedIn is a great platform to try. So it makes sense to use the platforms that make the most sense for your podcast.  

• Sending out the audiograms to your podcast guests ahead of pushing the podcast live, and asking them to share social media posts when they do go live. You might consider creating a template for them with an example post and any relevant links, to make it easier for them to spread the word on your behalf.  

• Make sure you always tag the relevant guests, companies and/or organizations who are featured in the particular episode you are releasing.  

• Schedule your promotion at appropriate times when you know your audience is the most active and engaged. 

• Make sure to engage with your audiences if anyone does comment, shares or likes the post you put out.  

• Always use a universal link for the podcast, so that listeners can open the episode in their favourite app or browser. You can use a tool like PodFollow or PodLink to generate this.   

Key takeaway? Sharing podcast content and audiograms can provide great content for your social presence – and do a lot to help your podcast get discovered by a wider and more varied audience.  

If you’re looking for tailor-made insight into how to market your podcast, get in touch with us today to find out more.

Start fostering a community 

Forming a community around your podcast can do a lot to help encourage engagement. Though you can form this around a more general social media presence if you have the capacity, a Discord group, Patreon or dedicated Facebook group can do a lot to help build a more active community around your show. Here are the potential benefits: 

• Giving your audience a place they can discuss the show 

• Opportunities to put forward questions or polls to help get audience input or feedback on episodes 

• Greater insight into who is listening  

• Greater insight into what gaps you could fill with upcoming episodes of your content 

Key takeaway? Community fosters engagement. By dedicating space to your listeners, they can feel part of the process – and give you important feedback to make your podcast even better! They also become podcast advocates.   

Use paid advertising 

If you have some budget behind your podcast, paid ads can provide a real push. Our audio ad promotion plans can help ensure that listeners are directed to your series courtesy of some of the world’s most loved shows from around the world. We send you a list of shows that are curated to align with your podcast and its audience, and together we would decide on the ideal places to advertise your show.  

Audio ads that we create are made with our in-house team of expert podcast producers who can reach your perfect audience via podcast distributors. We usually run campaigns to deliver between 388,888 to a million impressions. After the campaign, we provide detailed analytics to review the impact of your ads. To give you a feel for what our audio ads are like as well, you can have a listen to previous campaigns and possibilities.   

• Sponsored ads: For these, we provide a list of podcasts within the same space as your podcast, and organise with the hosts of popular podcasts to give your podcast a recommendation during their airtime!  It’s a great way to build trust with a new audience, growing your following by leveraging the established trust these hosts have with their own audience. It’s like getting a recommendation from a friend.  
   
  
  

Key takeaway? Ads can provide a solid push in the right direction – but they have to be done thoughtfully and with expert understanding to be really effective. Learn more about how we can help you with this here.  

With a well-rounded marketing plan dedicated to your podcast, you can ensure that your story is heard by the right people. Discover your future fan base today and maximise the power of a story well told. And remember: We’re here to help your story find its fans! Get in touch with us today to find out more about how you can take your podcasting marketing a step further towards success.   

Your One-Stop Guide to Recording Your Podcast Remotely

After the pandemic, organising podcast recordings from the comfort of your own home has become the norm. Some of your favourite podcasts might even be recorded under a stuffy blanket or in a cramped closet.

So what do you need to think about when recording a podcast from home? Here are some of our tips for making sure that your makeshift podcast setup is still able to impress and engage audiences.

Getting the perfect audio from home

Sound quality is more important than you think. We’ve written before about how important good audio is.

In fact, a study from 2018 by USC and the Australian National University shows that bad audio can even lower the credibility of your podcast.

So if you are producing a branded podcast – or a podcast where it’s important to build trust and authority in a certain field –  make sure you have quality audio.

Don’t skimp on high-quality gear. For crisp audio, you’re going to want to invest in a high-quality microphone. On the lower end of the price scale are microphones for about 80 pounds, whereas good microphones can cost anywhere upwards of 400 pounds.

The right environment is also important. Sitting in an echoey room is detrimental to audio quality. There is a reason podcast hosts record from inside closets or under blankets. You want to avoid hard surfaces and empty space to minimise as much echo as possible.

Once you’ve honed your sound, you can expect listeners to slowly start growing.

 

Want to record your podcast with professional gear, a producer and zero hassle?

We got you.

We can take care of the whole thing and leave you with the best audio-quality podcast possible.

How to record a podcast from different locations

Recording with a co-host

If you are creating a podcast, you might want to consider getting a co-host. For casual, conversational podcasts, the friendly co-host dynamic can make listeners feel like they are a part of the podcast friendship (what listener doesn’t appreciate a para-social podcast relationship?). 

For informative podcasts, having a co-host is a great mechanism to pose questions and provide answers in a way that sounds natural.

Also, hearing two voices helps add variation and makes the podcast more interesting from an audio perspective, which can draw listeners in as a result. 

But difficulties might arrive. When recording a podcast from 2 locations, make sure that you have properly planned the recording.

If you have especially good chemistry, it can be easy to speak over each other enthusiastically when you’re sitting in two separate locations. Establish rules about making sure to let someone finish their sentence – your producer will be thankful for it.

Make sure both hosts have put in the work. It’s important to make sure that both parties have planned the recording and gone through the planned episode you’re about to record beforehand – even if the podcast is not scripted. This will help you stay on track and save your producer lots of editing time in the long run.

Make sure that you have all the tech gear set up, and do a soundcheck before you get going. Of course, a lot of this is up to the producer. You can read more about all the things for a producer to keep in mind in our Producer’s Checklist post.

Recording with a guest

Make it easy for your guest. If you are recording with a guest in a separate location, make sure that they have technology that will work easily for them, using the apps and devices that they might already have at home.

While it’s always good to tell them to record the conversation on their end, the internet can always be spotty, you don’t want to rely fully on their audio recordings.

Always make sure you have a backup, and a way to retrieve the recording even if the internet fails you, or if you have a flaky guest who has stopped responding to your calls.

Consider their safety. If you have an interviewee who is sharing confidential information, use end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms to share information.

Scheduling

Make a schedule – and stick to it! Make sure to factor the time difference if there is any, and always call a little earlier to set up the gear.

For interviewees, give them a certain time to choose from for the recording, and send a reminder a day beforehand to make sure that they remember.

Of course, once the podcast is made, you want people to listen to it. Message Heard can help you level up your podcast and get it to reach your target audience.

And if you’re fed up recording under a hot blanket and editing your own show, the Production packages are a great way to make sure your podcast has flawless production.

Want to work with us?

Reach out via contact@messageheard.com with your ideas and questions!

Should You Pay to Make Your Podcast?

Are podcasting services worth it?! It’s a great question.

According to Sounds Profitable, there are around 2 million podcasts out there – and that number is growing! With this, there is also a growing number of podcast fans. The desire to create your own podcast for your brand might be greater than ever, too.

The world is changing, and it often feels unstable, but smart businesses are investing in marketing that will make their customers stick around – no matter what. And podcasting is just that.

But, there are a lot of things to consider before you start recording. This is why we don’t encourage you to just grab a mic, set up in your kitchen, and start recording – the quality, narrative and overall experience will suffer.  So, if you are wondering whether paying for podcasting services is going to be worthwhile, here are a few more questions to help shine a light on the importance of making your podcast the very best that it can be.

Question 1: Who is your podcast for? What purpose does it serve?

Is it for your friends? Or for potential clients? While there’s a stereotype about podcasts being a few people having a chat, this is only one way of thinking about the craft of podcasting – one that serves friends more than it does potential clients.

Podcasts that resonate beyond a friendship circle often do so because they are easy to follow, they provide value or insight into a topic, and therefore aren’t totally off the cuff. They’re a cultivated conversation – and they can take a variety of other formats. A conversation is just one option. So the first question to determine is who the intended audience is, and the purpose behind your potential podcast.

Professionals trying to speak to other professionals, or hoping to engage potential clients, need to give the right impression. You need to create a lasting relationship with your clients. And you know what they say: you only get one chance to make a good first impression! Ensure that yours meets your offering and level of expertise by cultivating the right quality. Podcasting is an extension of your brand identity – it is your brand’s voice. Make sure you cultivate an identity people want to engage with time and time again.

Question 2: What quality level does the podcast need to meet?

Following on from this, quality becomes the key to unlocking the right tone. This is because we can all tell when a podcast has been recorded in someone’s kitchen – it will be echoey, low quality, there might be background noise, and so on. None of this screams ‘quality’!

Quality comes from having the right equipment and knowledge. But investing in all your equipment upfront is a cost, and it’s hard to recreate a quality-controlled environment if you’ve never had one before. Doing this yourself isn’t as straightforward as it seems, and professional podcasting as a service means your gear is sorted for you – not just mics and headphones, but editing and mixing, too!

The quality of podcasts out there is only getting better all the time. Audio quality can be a big factor in whether people listen to the entirety of an episode or not. It’s a steep learning curve – and this takes time and money to do yourself.

 

Do you need help with making your podcast the absolute best that it can be?

Check out our podcasting services to get started on the right foot.

Question 3: What is your budget?

We have written before about budgeting. Budgeting a podcast can be tricky and require buy in from stakeholders if you really want to make your podcast a success. But ‘cost’ can come in a few different ways – what would be the cost of a podcast that doesn’t sound great? Or a podcast that just never finds an audience? How much time will you spend creating something that doesn’t quite work?

Time, equipment and knowledge all come together to make for a great outcome. While you might be willing to front the cost of a lot of fancy equipment, the execution and expertise of using this is a time-consuming and costly factor to overcome.

You may think you saved money by cutting some corners, but no DIY project is ever really free. A professional editor can make the recording and editing of your podcast easy so that you can focus on the more important part of the process – finding great stories to tell and speaking with your audience.

Question 4: What are you hoping to achieve with a podcast?

We believe in the power of a podcast to do big things for your brand. According to the Australian Radio Network’s Neuro Lab, listeners experience a 134% uplift in memory for audio content, when this is delivered across two or more listening channels (like radio and podcasts, for instance). This means that relying only on one format really puts your brand at a disadvantage.

So, what are you hoping to achieve? What are your goals? And how serious are you about reaching them?

Once you have created a podcast, the hardest part of the project will be to get it out there into the world, in front of the right listeners. This can involve transcribing your podcast, creating audiograms, the right descriptions, and much more. These parts of the process aren’t usually the ones you might think about in the excitement of creating something new – but without them, the goals of your podcast will be hard to meet.

If marketing your podcast is sounding like a lot of extra work, we can help!

Find out more about our marketing services.

A podcast might seem like just another way of marketing a product or service, but it can also be a lot more. With the right help in creating and marketing your podcast, the right people will hear it and you will grow your network, your community, the trust and awareness of your brand, and make sure people stay loyal to your brand.

Reach new demographics, new clients and new listeners by engaging professional podcasting help.

Want to work with us?

Reach out via contact@messageheard.com with your ideas and questions!

5 Steps to Getting the Most Out of Your Podcast Interviews

Are you having a guest on your podcast for the first time or just wondering how you can give your guests the best possible podcast-recording experience?

We got you. Here is 5-step guide to getting the most out of your interview with a guest…

Step 1:  Establish a relationship

Building a rapport with your podcast guest before they appear on your show can be hugely beneficial. Establishing this relationship will make your discussions flow naturally during recording, and perhaps even allow for them to provide you with more intimate details.

How can you do this? Have a few meetings beforehand, where nothing is recorded, to eliminate any first-encounter nerves!

Step 2: Ensure you are representing your guest responsibly

It’s important you are aware of your responsibility as the host of your podcast, especially in representing your guest.

This can be ensured by first following Step 1 and then making sure you let your guest correct themselves if they wish to do so. You want to create an open and welcoming environment so more guests want to take part in your podcast!

Do you like this advice? You might also like... The 5 ways to grow your podcast in 2022.

Step 3: Provide an opportunity for self-promotion

As a show of thanks for having an individual come and feature on your podcast, giving them an opportunity to promote their own current endeavours is a great way to show your gratitude. It’s simple — this way, you are both benefiting from the arrangement!

Also, your guest will then also be more likely to spend their time recording with you, if they get to say their piece, too.

Step 4:  Utilise open questions, and let your guest use them too

Open questions allow for a much smoother conversation and can prevent any discomfort when recording. So, questions that will only give you a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ response should be avoided; your listener will be able to tell if you have had to edit a lot out.

Depending on the theme of your podcast, having a guest speaker on will either take the form of an interview or a casual conversation. If yours is the latter, let your guest ask you questions too! Your listeners will only appreciate a greater understanding of their favourite podcast host.

Do you want us to help you with your podcast?

Check out our production services to get started!

Step 5: Promote, promote, promote

With the added influence of your guest, this provides an opportunity for a larger audience to be at the receiving end of your promotion. Furthering your reach in this way will help grow your podcast. If your guest has a different kind of audience to your podcast’s listenership, optimising your guest’s capabilities could expose your show to an entirely new demographic, too!

Think big and feature your guest heavily in all of your promotion, including tagging them on social media where their fanbase might see them.

If you want to more about podcasting for your brand, check out our other blogs…

And if you are curious about working with us, reach out or email us at contact@messageheard.com

Should You Convert Your Blog into a Podcast?

Branded podcasts are on the rise. Not just terms of active listeners, but also in the number of shows being created and shared. Currently, 6.5 million adults in the UK are listening to at least one podcast a week. This means that if you’ve been sticking to blogging up until now, you might be missing out on one of the best ways to tell the world about your brand or business – podcasting.

But is it as simple as turning your blog into a podcast series? And what would this involve? In this article, we unpack what you need to know to ensure a smooth transition blogging to audio.

5 top reasons to convert your blog into a podcast

 

1.     Repurpose for smart and efficient content production

If you’ve already got your content production down in words, you’ve got the material you need to get started. Why not make more of your knowledge and insight, and repurpose? It’s an efficient way to take your content and stretch it further.

Using existing blog posts as a basis for a podcast comes with a few caveats, but it can be a great way to start fielding ideas that you know your audience is interested in. It’s also a great way to get more engagement from your existing content as research show that 80% of listeners will complete an entire episode, or most of an episode. This means that if you’re struggling to get readers to the end of an article, it could be a good alternative.

2.     Expand your audience in new directions

Appealing to a wide range of people means tapping into different channels to reach them. By the end of 2025, it’s predicted that there will be over 144 million monthly podcast listeners in the US, with an average listening time of 23 minutes a day.

Listeners are diverse, but almost half of all listeners in the US are under 35 years old. This is great news if you’re looking to target a younger audience. Equally, half of all listeners have a full-time job and an income between US$100-150k. They have the purchasing power to really make an impact on your business.

3.     Increase brand recognition and accessibility

While blogging is straightforward, it’s only one way of telling the world about your brand. Not only is audio more accessible for many who may not have the time or desire to read through long texts online, but it also adds a far more personal touch. When we hear a voice, we have an opportunity to connect in a more friendly, intimate way. Personalise your brand’s offering through a branded podcast that will create opportunities for your audience to really get to know the people behind the name.

Many podcast listeners also enjoy their favourite episodes while doing other tasks – like commuting, or household chores. Podcasts are easy to listen to while completing other tasks and are totally portable, making them a great medium to improve the accessibility of your message. Offer your audience a branded podcast that fits in with their everyday life. 

4.     Explore new storytelling possibilities

While a blog can be easy to access and create, there’s only so much you can do when it comes to telling your brand’s story in words. What new storytelling options might you unlock with a podcast?

With a variety of formats and genres out there, branded podcasts open up space to consider what new stories you’ve got to offer the world. We’ve talked before about the various formats you might consider for your branded podcast – including the solocast, the documentary, the interview and even the fictionalised podcast. There are no limits to the creativity you can use to share memorable stories.

5.     Create more memorable content

And speaking of memorable, did you know that audio is 36% more memorable than video? This means that investing in audio can offer a far more memorable message for your listener, over investing in other media. If you’re wanting to send a message to your audience that will stick with them, turning your blog into a podcast can be a great way to go.

The sticking points: What to be aware of when converting your blog into a branded podcast

Keep it professional

Because of the sheer number of podcasts out there, anything that doesn’t sound slick and put-together is going to stand out – for all the wrong reasons. A third of listeners will stop listening if they detect a podcast is low quality. That means there’s no room for bad sound quality, dodgy editing or disjointed episode structures.

An experienced producer can make all the difference. We have the knowledge to ensure your podcast passes the quality test.

Take a look at our branded podcast production packages to find out more about how we can help give you a consistent, quality result in audio format.

Know the medium

If you’ve never made a podcast before, you might struggle to create something that really maximises the medium. While your audience might be excited by the pivot, podcasts and blogs appeal to different people in different ways. In other words, you can’t just read out your blogs and call it a podcast!

If you have tried to dabble in podcasting from a blog already, but are noticing that your output isn’t quite translating, you might not be maximising the new medium.

Our Power Up package is here to offer your branded podcast the boost it needs to really make sure it reaches your audience in the right way.

All in all, we’re biased when it comes to the power of the podcast – but the stats are here to back us up! Though podcasting is an effective medium for telling your brand’s story, it’s also a crowded marketplace.

Make sure your podcast stands out from the crowd with the right production, strategy, and delivery methods in place.

Get in touch to learn more about how we can help turn that blog into a whole new listener experience.