BUSINESS

The Complete and Only Podcast Launch Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Are you thinking about launching a podcast?

There are over 2 million podcasts out there. Podcasting is having a real moment right now, as an estimated 144 million Americans listen to podcasts. Additionally, 51% of Americans older than 12 have listened to a podcast at least once. 

While these high engagement levels are great for hosts, it also means that there’s a lot of competition out there amongst podcasts. To make your podcast stand out from the crowd, you need to have a successful podcast launch strategy. 

To learn how to launch a podcast correctly, read our complete checklist. 

1. Understand Your Audience 

Understanding your audience is one of the most important aspects of launching a podcast. Your target audience will influence everything from your social media posts to your merchandise to your marketing tactics. 

Plus, understanding your audience will help you structure your podcasts and formulate appropriate interview questions. Some questions you should ask to understand your audience include:

  • How old are they?
  • What is their education level?
  • What time of day do they listen to podcasts?
  • Do they have children?
  • Do they work?
  • Why might they be interested in your podcast?

Write down a description of your ideal customer so you know so it can direct you through your launch experience and beyond. 

2. Have a Few Episodes Ready to Go 

While most podcast shows launch one episode per week, it’s best to have at least a few episodes ready to go pre-launch. There are going to be weeks or days where you can’t tape your podcast due to other conflicts, so having a few episodes in your archives will keep you ahead of the game. 

If you want to publish more than one episode per week, that’s great. However, don’t overwhelm your audience with so many episodes that they won’t be able to keep up. The goal is to give your audience a taste without overwhelming them. 

3. Send in Your Podcast’s RSS Feed 

Once you configure your podcast RSS feed and set up your podcast hosting account, you need to submit your show to all of the major podcast directories. 

The biggest podcast directories include Apple, Spotify, Google, iHeartRadio, and Stitcher. It’s important to time it out, as every listening platform takes about a few days to approve your show. This means that if you want to launch your podcast on Thursday, you need to submit the RSS feed by Monday morning at the latest. 

To make sure your episodes are up to par, we also recommend hiring a podcast production service

4. Generate Some Pre-Launch Buzz 

You can’t simply upload your podcast to the directories and expect it to climb the charts. Even if your podcast is a part of a major podcasting network, you still need to create some pre-launch buzz. 

Some things you should do to generate buzz include:

  • Creating a podcast website
  • Creating an Instagram page and other social media pages for your podcast
  • Running ads on other podcast shows similar to yours
  • Creating a newsletter

You’ll need to keep this buzz going throughout the course of your podcast, so make sure you focus on your long-term marketing goals. 

Podcast Launch: Time to Go 

As you can see, there’s a lot you need to do to prepare for your podcast launch. With the above tips, your podcast will be ready to go. 

For more podcasting tips, check back in with our site.