5 Ways to Make an Engaging Podcast

Introduction

Making a podcast is easy. So are lots of other things that people do with their spare time. But there's one thing that makes a podcast engaging: the story. You can tell it through words, or through music and sound effects. Your audience needs to care about what you're saying—and not just because they think you're smart or funny (although those are good qualities). They need to be invested in your topic as well as your tone of voice and approach as an orator—which means they need an emotional connection with what you're saying. If you want them to listen again after their first listen, here are some tips on how to make your podcast more engaging:

Tell a story

One of the best ways to keep people listening is to tell a story. Whether it's your own or someone else's, a good story will make people want to hear more. You can tell stories in many different ways:

• Share your own experiences. This could be anything from something funny that happened at work or an embarrassing situation you got into as a kid, all the way up to interviews with friends and colleagues about their lives and careers (or even just what they had for breakfast).

• Interview others about their life stories, businesses, interests—whatever! This is also a great way of getting advice on how other people do certain things so that you can apply it yourself in your own business (or just because if someone else has done it then there must be some kind of lesson there).

Give listeners a reason to be there

Give listeners a reason to be there.

If your podcast is going to take people's time and attention, it needs to be worth the investment. You'll have more success with this if your podcast is relevant to your audience, so make sure you know exactly who will listen before making it. Think about what kind of content they're looking for: if their main interests are politics, sports or entertainment gossip, then you can probably assume that's what they'll want from your show too. So do some research and figure out what topics would appeal most to them—and try not to stray from those topics unless the situation merits it!

In addition, think about how they might connect with the stories and ideas you share on air each week. The best podcasters use their shows as an opportunity not only to discuss current events but also to help listeners deepen their understanding of these topics by offering perspectives different than those found elsewhere in mainstream media coverage (whether because those perspectives aren't covered or because they're presented differently).

Use humor

Humor is one of the best ways to keep your audience engaged. It’s also an easy way to make your podcast more relatable, memorable, and accessible. You can use humor in a variety of ways:

• Make fun of yourself or other things that have nothing to do with you—like a news story or something someone said on Twitter

• Use silly voices when telling stories or reading questions from listeners

• Do a dramatic reading of jokes from Twitter

Get the facts right

• Get the facts right.

• If you don't know, ask someone who does.

• If you get the facts wrong, people will lose trust in your podcast.

Find the right co-hosts

In order to make the most of your podcast, you’ll want to choose a co-host that complements your style and is a good fit for both you and the audience.

For example, if you tend to get excited about the topics that are being discussed on the podcast and can come across as passionate about them, it might be wise to find someone who can play more of a neutral role in order to balance out that energy. On the other hand, if you’re not much of a talker but rather prefer having shorter conversations with guests who have longer stories and experiences to share, then finding someone who will keep things moving while allowing guests plenty of time in between questions would be ideal.

The goal here is balance—you want there to be enough back-and-forth between all parties involved so that listeners will feel like they got their money's worth (i.e., an engaging experience), but also enough time for your co-hosts themselves so that listeners get some insight into what makes these individuals tick as well!

Keep these things in mind when you make your podcast.

• Use humor.

• Tell a story.

• Give listeners a reason to be there.

• Get the facts right.

• Find the right co-hosts and guests for your podcast, who match your voice and style of conversation, as well as the subjects you cover in each show.

Conclusion

The world of podcasting is an exciting place, and it’s only getting more so. With more people listening to podcasts than ever before, we think you have a great opportunity to reach your audience by creating something unique and special. And if you’re not sure where to start? We’re here for you!