Start with Your Listeners (or Who You Want to Listen)

Podcasting is a two-way street. If you want people to listen to you, you need to listen to them.

Great podcasters start with the people they want to listen to their podcasts and work backwards.The most successful podcasters are those who immerse themselves in their listener's world. They ask questions and genuinely care about the answers, using this information as the foundation for their content strategy. 

“Starting with the listener” also involves understanding the landscape of existing content and identifying gaps your podcast can fill. By delving into topics that are underserved by other podcasts or presenting a unique angle on popular subjects, you position yourself as somebody who adds genuine value to their lives, not just takes up space.

A podcast listener’s time is precious. Working backwards allows you to create episodes that respect this by being concise, well-structured, and insightful. It helps you to avoid fluff and ensure that each minute of your podcast has purpose.

Great podcasts engage both hosts and listeners in an ongoing dialogue by creating communities around shared interests. And great hosts keep an ear to the street, listening for opportunities to strengthen these things. 

Want a loyal and engaged audience? Master the balance between speaking and listening.