Five Tools to Make Your Podcast Stand out in 2019

The podcast market is increasingly saturated. Because of this, new podcasters and established ones often have a challenging time differentiating their product from the others. Podcasts are usually not very expensive to create, which means that a lot of the differentiation comes from combining creativity with the right toolset.

You must remember that it is not all about the content that you have to offer the world. Consider this example. If seven different podcasts wanted to cover a shocker of a match at a Superbowl, doesn’t that imply that the content of each is similar? Be that as it may, all these podcasters need to do what is necessary to attract an audience, even if their base information is not unique.

Quality should be one of your main considerations. This does not only refer to the sound quality though that is a very important aspect of any podcast. Apart from sound quality, there is the way information is presented. Is it logical? Is it interesting? Is it relevant? Is it understandable?

Another consideration is engagement. Podcasts are normally listened to, but some manage to make their target audiences feel engaged and involved. This is a skill that needs to be mastered as it contributes greatly to keeping an audience interested.

There are numerous other considerations, but tools are the focal point of this article. Any podcast with the right tools behind it stands a chance of making waves. On that note, below is a discussion of what tools are necessary to get your podcast to stand out in 2019.

1. How to Start a Podcast

To start with a disclaimer, this is not a tool in the traditional sense as it is not a tangible thing. However, there is much value in having this done right. The real tool here is the knowledge you need to have so you can prepare to get your podcast off the ground. Below is an outline of the top considerations that you must not only consider, but also decide on before putting out any content.

• Nature of the podcast – Every podcast begins with an idea. There must be something that you want to discuss with the world on a somewhat regular basis. For best results, it’s a good idea to focus on something that can spark conversation and boost engagement.

• Target audience – Speaking of sparking conversation, you need to identify and understand who your target audience is. What do they like? What kind of language do they use and respond to? What techniques can be used to gain and maintain their interest?

• Podcast name – This is a gatekeeper of sorts. If the name you go with is boring, inappropriate, or ill-advised, then you can turn off potential listeners before they hear a word. Try using a creative name that plays on the nature of the podcast.

• Episode schedule – You want your users to stay engaged with your podcast. This means that episode length and frequency need to be carefully considered. If you’re going for longer episodes, then less of them may be best. Similarly, you may need to increase your frequency if your episodes are on the shorter side of the spectrum.

• Presentation – This is a big part of your podcast’s identity. Format, scripting, music, editing style, cover art, etc., all come into play here.

2. Podcast Equipment

There is no industry in which the lack of proper tools poses an advantage. In the world of podcasts, if the production is to stand out, then you must use the right equipment. Therefore, the second tool of excellent podcasting is having and using adequate equipment. Check out some of the equipment below that you should factor into your podcasting.

• Microphones – There’s no way anyone can hear what you have to say if there’s no microphone for you to speak into. If you’re running a single speaker podcast, then a USB microphone may be all you need. However, for great flexibility or multiple persons, you need one or more microphones that have XLR output. Mics on the market are generally either condenser or dynamic though other types exist). Note that dynamic mics shine when multiple people are being recorded.

• Mixer – Converts analog mic signals into digital ones, so they become usable by your computer.

• Headphones – The best podcasters can work while listening to themselves live. It helps to adjust quality on the fly and can improve your podcast.

3. Podcast Website

The next thing you need is a stunning website. Podcast websites are very popular with potential and existing listeners. Once a podcast exists, you need to decide how your content is presented and delivered to viewers. Some podcasts use free platforms such as YouTube or Soundcloud, while others get their creative juices going with the creation of a dedicated website for the podcast.

A well put together website is a must in 2019 as it creates a sense of clarity and allows listeners to really focus on your podcast. YouTube, for example, is a saturated space. There’s nothing preventing potential viewers from straying and watching interesting looking cat videos as they listen to a podcast on YouTube.

With a dedicated site, however, all the content revolves around your podcast. Feel free to throw in a merchandise page, a blog, etc. to get people to enjoy visiting your site.

The idea is that even though they show up for the podcast, the experience should provide them with something more.

The great thing is that these days, you don’t need to be an expert coder to build a great site. There are numerous drag-and-drop options such as WordPress or Wix, some of which even offer hosting.

4. Voice

The power of voice is grossly underestimated in the world of podcasts. That sounds a bit strange to hear considering that a podcast is typically an audio or an audio/video presentation at its core. However, that means that the content creator(s) record something for their audience, and that’s about all.

Think of how far the world has come though. There is speech recognition that has been extended to search engines and other platforms. In many ways, these things are making life more interesting, engaging, and accessible.

The thing about voice is that it is not subject to the limitations of text. Typed words cannot convey pitch, tone, emotion, and intention as easily as voice can. This is because voice includes tone and is a much more personal way of conveying meaning.

Remember the bit earlier about engaging listeners? What if they were able to comment and interact with voice too?

5. Comments Platforms

Continuing from the previous point, it is important to visit the concept of comments platforms as a tool in podcasting. Comments are a mainstay on many different websites. This is where users and patrons of the site get to interact and weigh in. What if this was made more engaging?

To achieve this, you should consider bringing voice comments platforms into your podcast production mix. On that note, take a moment to consider a platform named Heyoya.

Imagine meaningful, interactive discussions between podcast publishers and their audience all done via voice. This is not common in podcasting and even for the world of comments it’s a pretty recent innovation. So, what better way to stand out than with a technological tool that separates you from the pack and commands attention?

Every interaction with Heyoya is personal, which makes website visitors feel like individuals as opposed to a number. Think of higher website traffic, click conversions, better reviews, greater user retention, etc. All this is made possible through the dynamic created by voice comments.

You may be wondering if the trade of for all this is a complicated setup process. Well, this is where it gets even better. Implementing Heyoya into your workflow is not complicated at all. In fact, it only requires copying and pasting a single line of code. Before you panic, site optimization is not affected, so your load time won’t change at all. In this era of instant gratification, it’s well known that slow sites have no place.

Heyoya has a number of unique features that makes it stand out from the crowd including:
• Rich media that lets readers combine voice with video, images, GIFs and more to express themselves better.
• The option to customize the Heyoya widget to reflect your unique brand and content.
• The option to send alerts to your users about new content, special offers and anything else you want to talk about through a unique notifications feature.

Using Heyoya means you will have higher user retention, lower bounce rates and better engagement. You will avoid spam through email authentication and if you do have any problems, you can get support 24/7. Analytics are easy to view and understand through a simple dashboard, and you can share comments on social media with just one click. For even greater convenience, you can use Heyoya on mobile to record and track voice comments on-the-go.
If you are looking for a proven way to grow your online community, look no further! You can download Heyoya today (and it’s totally free): Heyoya.com