How to build a profitable podcast.
Do you want your Podcast to stand out? Here are 5 Branding Tips for you!
There are many reasons to start podcasting. Maybe you want to reach a new audience, grow your brand, or educate customers on your product or service. Whatever your goal, you must ensure that your show stands out from the crowd to be successful. One of the best ways to do that is to create a strong brand for your podcast.
A well-branded podcast will have both immediate and long-term benefits. In the short term, it will help you attract new listeners/customers and build buzz around your show. In the long term, it will help establish you as an authority in your field and make it easier for people to remember and recommend your podcast.
This article will share five tips to help you get started with your podcast branding.
Creating a brand visual identity is an essential step in podcast branding. This will help people remember your podcast and associate it with certain qualities. You'll need to design a logo with characteristics that represents your podcast and its values.
So you want to ensure they're professional and set the right tone for your show. Start by defining your podcast identity. What is your podcast all about? What feeling do you want your listeners to have when they think of your show? Answering these questions will help you start to define the look and feel of your brand.
Then, choose colors and fonts. Use colors and fonts that are associated with your topic or industry. For example, if your podcast is about fashion, you might use bright colors and funky fonts. If your podcast is about sports, use earth tones and traditional fonts as part of your podcast branding.
When it comes to creating a logo, ensure your logo is simple and easily recognizable, and consider using logo templates to kickstart your design process efficiently.. Also, keep the overall look of your website and other marketing materials, if you already have those, in mind. The goal is to create a unified look that instantly helps people recognize your podcast.
For example, when McDonald's started a podcast called "The Sauce," it maintained the same visual identity. It used the same typefaces and colors.
Working with a designer can help you create professional artwork, but if you're on a tight budget, some great DIY tools (like Canva) can help you create professional-looking artwork even if you're not a designer.
On-brand content is any content that strengthens a company's brand messaging. This includes blog posts, social media updates, website content, and advertising. It is always on message and accurately reflects the company's brand values and goals.
So, you could record interviews with people mentioned in your podcasts or create short video clips that recap crucial points from your episodes. You could also create a post that discusses the podcast episode you just released.
If you can successfully create on-brand content consistently, you'll be able to build a strong following of engaged fans and increase your chances of success.
To create on-brand content, develop a content strategy that outlines how you will produce and distribute your on-brand content over time. It can include the types of content you will use, the channels, and the target audience you are trying to reach.
A guide to SaaS marketing might teach you valuable strategies since both podcast marketing and SaaS marketing focus on promotion and generating leads for subscription-based solutions.
Developing a set of core values for your content is also crucial. These could be things like being entertaining, informative, or thought-provoking. Keep your core values in mind when producing all your content.
For instance, Heydigital’s case studies and blog posts are just as insightful as its podcast content:
Develop a style guide to help ensure that your content is cohesive as part of your podcast branding.
The most important part when starting a podcast is having a voice that listeners will remember. However, this doesn't mean you must be a great or experienced public speaker. It means your podcast should have a voice that aligns with your brand.
For example, your podcast should sound polished and sophisticated if you have a professional corporate brand. On the other hand, if you have a more laid-back, casual brand, your podcast should also reflect this. You must use the same tone, vocabulary, and sentence structure consistently in your podcast.
That will help create a cohesive experience for your listeners and make connecting with your brand easier, boosting your podcast visibility.
You may connect your brand's voice to your podcast using various techniques. For instance, you may experiment with multiple accents, tones, and volumes to discover which comes closest.
For example, the Message podcast made by General Electric shown below uses inspiring content and tone, which matches the brand’s identity and purpose.
Study the best podcasts in your genre. How do their hosts communicate with their listeners? What sort of tone do they use? After getting a feel for how they harmonize their voice, you may begin adding your twist.
Finally, don’t ignore practicing. The more comfortable you become with your material, the more natural your delivery. This is critical to podcast branding as well.
Creativity is a skill that anyone can learn, and it's a valuable skill to have. If you can come up with creative ideas for your podcast, it will help your podcast stand out and attract new listeners.
One way to be creative with your podcast is to come up with good topics. See the types of topics similar podcasts come up with. This can be as simple as using Google. Then give the topics you find in Search Engine Results Pages your own creative twist.
When coming up with ideas for your podcast branding, though, it's always essential to keep your target audience in mind.
But how exactly can you give your podcast content a creative twist?
Try new things, such as playing relevant games or offering your audience free online services. Using technology such as a daily standup tool might help you be organized and be more effective with generating new ideas.
When you're feeling stuck, it can also be helpful to start doodling simply. Draw inspiration from whatever is around you - a magazine, a book, a poster, etc. - and let your mind wander. You might be surprised at your brain's creative connections when you give it some freedom to explore.
Promote your podcast with the same branding consistently. Why? Remember, you want the audience to understand the values you stand for. You can only do that if all your content reflects these values consistently. So, whether you’re promoting your podcast in directories or on social media, your podcast should be packaged the same way. You should also try to connect at each of the customer touchpoints with the same branding.
Building a strong network should also be part of your podcast branding strategy. After all, your strong network can help you promote your branding.
So, reach out to other podcasters in your industry and collaborate on episodes. Being a guest on other popular podcasts is another excellent way to build your network. If you can't be a guest on another podcast, try promoting other podcasters, leaders, creators, or professionals in your industry on your show. This will help build goodwill with other podcasters and could lead to them returning the favor down the line.
Connect with other podcasters by attending podcasting events or joining relevant online communities. If you have the ability, you may sponsor an event or create your own to get brand exposure in the branding you want.
However, when choosing an event to sponsor or host, you need to find one that aligns with the topic of your show as part of your branding. For example, if you have a food-themed podcast, sponsoring a local food festival would be a great way to show your audience you’re all about food. It’s also a great way to attract relevant listeners (foodies, for instance) to your show.
Partnering with other businesses is another excellent approach to expanding your network. These businesses might be another company that sells related products or services or one that shares your company's values. For instance, in the screenshot above, the podcast The Startup Catalyst, invited Brittney Riley of Village Capital, which develops and invests in startup companies.
Whatever you decide to do to promote your podcast, make sure you create relevant marketing collateral. For instance, if you invite a guest to your podcast, drum up interest in your episode with graphics on social media (check out the example from The Startup Catalyst above). All these marketing materials should also have the same branding. Ensure business systemization to ensure the way you package your podcast every time is the same and on point.
Podcast branding is one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from other shows and attract new listeners. These six tips should get you started on the right track:
By following these podcast branding tips, you can create a strong brand that stands out. It will help you succeed in the podcasting world and help ensure your podcast remains top-of-mind with listeners.
