The Valuable Basics of Your Podcast

The basics seem so…basic, so easy. Some of it is and some of it takes a little bit more of our creative thinking. When it comes to the basics of our podcast, like the name and the description, it's very easy to gloss over these elements because we're very excited to just launch. Just like our content, our basics need to be considered and planned for effective communication with our audience and what we're aiming to do with our podcast.

If you're preparing to launch your show, you've come to the right place. Even if you've already launched your show you can fine tune your show with the information I'm about to share with you.

Jump To It

00:14 - Why the basics are important as should be fine-tuned.
02:10 - What to consider for a great podcast name.
05:43 - Examples of a great podcast name.
07:16 - What to consider for a great description and tagline.
09:21 - Other importance basics to review and fine-tune.
11:00 - A little “secret” is revealed.
11:31 - Episode 9 teaser.
11:45 - Thank YOUs.

In the first part of this series, episode 7, we began creating our very own podcast compass. We started with the core elements and in this episode, we'll go over the basics, but important information about your podcast.

This section is pretty neat because you can start to see where the core elements (our goals, ideal listener, and core topics) start to trickle down into the name, into the description, into the categories and the keywords. It all starts to make more sense.

Podcast Name

To be creative with your podcast name or not to be? That's a very common question. A podcast name is very important, so that's a valid question. Some podcasting coaches will say, "Be creative and unique so that you stand out." And then you have other podcasting coaches that say, "Keep it very simple and don't get all cute." My opinion on creating a podcast name is that you know what's best once you've taken a few things into consideration.

Ever think of why the number one online shopping store was named Amazon when everyone thought it was a rain forest in Brazil? It's safe to say that Jeff Bezos went with the creative and unique option when renaming his online store. Which by the way, yes, I did write, renaming. Jeff had to go back to the basics and change the name from what he originally had.

What You Should Consider:

Does it resonate with the vision and the goal you have with your podcast?
Is it relatable to your content and your audience?
Does it intrigue your potential audience?
Is it consistent with your business or personal brand?
Doesn't make it easy on the searcher? You know the person looking for the podcast to quickly determine whether they should listen or not.

These questions reveal and guide us the creation and help with the process of elimination when creating a podcast name. Let's take question number four. If you're trying to establish your brand or your business the podcast name should be consistent with your branding. Let's take the show as an example. My business name is The Podcast Planner. I sell a guide named The Podcast Planner. I provide podcast planning services to help individuals and brands share their message with the world. I then wanted to podcast about the information that I hold regarding podcasting and aim to gain brand awareness. With all of that, I kept it very simple. The name of this podcast is The Podcast Planner. I did this for brand consistency awareness and making it easy for the potential listener to find the show.

As you gain ideas for the podcast name, I recommend that you share the podcast name with others and take their input into consideration. If you would like to ask a group of podcasters head over to VIPodcaster.com.

Other Quick Tips:

Avoid unusual spelling.
Is it already taken?
Is the domain available?
Keep it simple.
Give a clue to what the show's about.

In the end, you will know what's best. Once you've taken some relevant points into consideration. A lot of the points that I shared with you may or may not be relevant. But you know what's best and get input from others.

Examples of Good Podcast Names

Congressional Dish - The word "Congress" in there. What do you think that podcast is about? Actual description: it's a weekly podcast that outlines the good, the bad, and the really ugly contents of the bills passed by Congress.

Twenty Thousand Hertz - As an audio geek like me, I know that's about audio. I'm a huge nerd when it comes to the science and the creativity behind audio, so I know that title, Twenty Thousand Hertz, that's about audio. Here's the description of that podcast: stories about the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds. Boom! I was right.

The Productivityist podcast with Mike Vardy - The word "productive" in there. Well, it's a weekly show that discusses tips tools and tactics and tricks designed to help you take your productivity, time management, goals and to do list, habits, and workflow to new heights.

Ben Franklin's World - Ben Franklin represents the early America. What do you think this podcast is about?

More Examples

Description & Tagline

When building a business or even pitching to Hollywood, because I think we can all relate to Hollywood, because we're creating content, they're part of a media outlet. Podcasting is a media outlet. We're creating content to an audience very similar right? When you want to pitch your story, your movie, your TV show idea to these producer and director executives, you have to come up with one sentence that explains it all. Then that one sentence is designed to intrigue the director the studio executives to say "Tell me more." Then your "tell me more" should be about three to four sentences. And then that's where the discussion starts to happen right? Well the same thing for your podcast. What you're trying to sell here is the reader to become a listener. You're inviting them to become a listener based on what's in your description and your tagline.

What You Should Consider:

Include the "what" is the show about. Using the words and the language of your audience.
Include the "who." Call them out in a way that's relatable.
Include the "why" they should listen. Have some words to encourage action, which is listening.
Don't need to worry about where. Typically when we think about the who, what, when, where, well in podcasting, you don't have to think about that because they're already reading or looking at the podcast app. They're already there. We just need to encourage them to press play and subscribe.

Open the apple podcast app, whether it's on your desktop or your phone and review the names and how that's worded. Review the description. Review the tag line, if they have one. Some podcasts don't have one. I encourage you to have one and just see what resonates with you and how you can actually put that into your own show. Fine tune these elements to intrigue the reader to become a listener. To become a subscriber, a fan of the show.

Main & Subcategories

Your main category is very important for your podcast listing on all podcast directories, not just Apple Podcasts. Once you have your main category figured, out come up with two more that are subcategories.

Most podcasts hosting companies allow you to put these three categories into your RSS feed. I know that's some pretty geeky talk there, but in the end what you want for your podcast is to be available in as many places (categories) as possible. When it comes to the podcasting app.

Other Important Basics for Your Podcast Compass:

What type of show is your podcast? Is it an interview show? Is it a solo show? Storytelling? Educational? Is it repurposed?
Who is the host or hosts?
A website, is it easy to find the website to the podcast?
Key words that describe your show. This is very important not just for your podcast reach but also you can use these keywords for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and search engine optimization - SEO.

There you have the basic but important elements of your podcast. These zone in on your audience, your goals, and your content.

I realized I let out a little secret. It's only considered a secret because I've never mentioned it, but you're more than welcome to join. Head over to VIPodcaster.com, it's a perfect place for you to share your podcast compass for feedback. I reviewed the requests that come in to ensure that we're always surrounded with good company.

This doesn't end here, we'll continue to build our podcast compass on the next episode by focusing on the commitments we make with our podcast. Deep diving into our schedules for planning, recording, and publishing.