This Kills Podcasts
Clever names kill shows before they ever get started.
People will ignore your podcast if they don’t understand what it’s about.
Yeah, there are exceptions. But for every Call Her Daddy, there are ten thousand podcasts with clever titles that nobody will bother to try.
“Growth Sauce” sounds fun in a brainstorm. But “This Podcast Will Grow Your Business” is the one that gets found, gets clicked, and gets subscribed to.
Here’s a way to test your name …
Say your podcast name to someone outside your industry. If they can’t tell you what the show is about, your title is working against you. You’ll spend the rest of the show’s life explaining it.
But what if your show is only for insiders? Wouldn’t they know what it’s about?
Don’t assume. People are busy and they’re not nearly as “inside” as you may think.
Three rules that keep names honest:
Say what the show is about. Topic beats wordplay.
Name the audience or the outcome they get.
Use words your ideal listener actually uses.
You can still be creative, just put it in the subtitle. “Brand Builders: Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses” works because the clever part doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting.
Your podcast name is the front door. Don’t make people guess where the handle is.
What’s the worst podcast name you’ve come across that buried a great show?
RELATED: The same thing applies to logos and any graphics you use for your podcast … or app. What was Spotify thinking?
