The bCast Blog

Let's welcome our guest writer Josh Collins

You've listened to a very interesting podcast and would like other people to discover and appreciate it as much as you do. What do you do to make that happen? Writing a detailed podcast review will surely increase the chances of its popularity. 

Even though it seems like a simple and fun thing to do, you might come across some challenges. For instance, how do you list the things that you disliked about the podcast? What goals does writing a review have? If this is the first review you are going to write, you need to find the answers to these and many other questions. 

If you don't know where to start when writing a podcast review, you can hire an assistant at Customwritings or look through some professionally written reviews. Then, you will get a clear idea of the structure of a comprehensive review and the points you need to include. This article also offers many helpful recommendations. Therefore, let's start to analyze the process of writing a podcast review.

Reasons to Write a Podcast Review

Before we go any further, let's consider some of the reasons why you might want to try writing your first podcast review. After defining a specific purpose for your review, focusing on the main message you want to communicate through it that resembles an essay outline will be easier. Even short and simple reviews can make a significant impact. 

Attract New Listeners

Positive reviews serve as social proof. They convince potential listeners to get acquainted with the podcast. If you are a fan of a particular podcast and wish to increase its popularity, writing a review builds trust and credibility for the show. Moreover, many podcast platforms factor reviews into their ranking algorithms. A strong review base can push the podcast higher in search results, increasing visibility and attracting new listeners organically. If you take part in the podcast creation, you can share your qualified perspective and expertise as someone within the industry.

Provide Valuable Feedback

Reviews offer creators crucial insights into what listeners enjoy or find lacking. Constructive criticism helps them improve content, format, and overall quality. It becomes possible to meet the needs of the audience and keep them interested in the content creators provide. On top of that, positive reviews are a morale boost for podcast creators, acknowledging their hard work and dedication. They can inspire them to keep creating quality content and motivate them to experiment and improve.

Boost Interaction

Finally, you can write reviews to spark conversation and interaction between listeners and creators. By responding to reviews, listeners demonstrate appreciation and encourage further engagement. All of this fosters a strong and loyal community around the podcast.

Where to Begin?

Here are some essential tips for writing your first podcast review. 

• Be specific and honest. Share your true thoughts and emotions about the podcast. Mention specific episodes, segments, or aspects you enjoyed or found lacking. Your subjective perspective helps both listeners and podcast creators.
• Tailor your review to the platform. Different platforms have different review formats. Keep it concise for Apple Podcasts, while Spotify allows for longer reviews. Try using relevant keywords and hashtags to increase the visibility of your review and help the target audience discover it.
• Consider the target audience. Similarly, tailor your review to their interests and expectations if you're writing for a specific community or publication.
• Focus on the value. Explain what you learned, gained, or enjoyed from the podcast. While an engaging delivery of information matters, the key value for listeners is the quality and usefulness of the facts they learn. Highlight its strengths like humor, information, or production quality. 
• Offer constructive criticism. If you have areas for improvement, suggest them politely and specifically. Focus on actionable feedback, not personal attacks. This point might look similar to writing a SWOT analysis paper, where you mention the weaknesses and threats for a company. Address specific examples to back up your statements.
• Engage with the podcasters. Many shows interact with reviewers. If possible, use your review as a starting point for conversation, ask questions, or share personal anecdotes. Getting information first hand will make your podcast exclusive and insightful.
• Be mindful of spoilers. If the podcast is narrative-driven, avoid revealing major plot points or surprises. You aim to give the readers of your review a taste of the podcast without giving out too much information.
• Proofread and edit. Take a moment to ensure your review is clear, grammatically correct, and easy to read. You can use tools like Grammarly to make your review flawless. Doing so shows you put effort into your feedback.
• Be respectful and inclusive. Avoid discriminatory language or personal attacks. Keep your review focused on the podcast itself. 
• Promote the podcast. If you enjoyed the show, share your review on social media or recommend it to friends. You can also rely on current marketing trends to promote it. 
• Have fun! Writing a review should be an enjoyable experience. Therefore, try choosing a topic that inspires you. 

Creative Approaches to Spice Up Your Podcast Review

Now that you are aware of the key points of writing a review, here are some ideas for turning it into something outstanding. 

‍Storytelling. People love stories. Craft your review as a personal narrative. How did the podcast impact you? Share a story about how it changed your perspective or helped you solve a problem.

‍Fictional review. Write a mock interview with a character from the podcast to review the show itself. This approach works well for narrative or fictional podcasts. You can demonstrate your creative skills and make the review as captivating as possible.

‍Top X List. Instead of a traditional review, create a "Top 5 Reasons to Listen" list highlighting specific aspects you loved. Readers are used to bullet-pointed lists and find them rather easy to analyze.

‍Haiku review. Why not challenge yourself to summarize the podcast's essence in a 17-syllable haiku poem? Without a doubt, you have to ensure that this approach is relevant to the topic of the podcast and its target audience.

‍Podcast mashup. Create a short audio clip mixing your voice with snippets from the podcast, highlighting your favorite moments. Choose an appropriate platform for publishing your review.

‍Podcast awards. Such events as the Oscars and Grammys have millions of viewers every year. Design your award categories and "nominate" specific episodes or segments you found extraordinarily beautiful.

‍Imaginary Q&A session. Craft a Q&A session where you interview the podcast hosts, posing questions you'd love to ask them. The questions might be about something that was unclear to you after listening to the podcast or about topics worth further discussion.

‍Collaborate with other listeners. Writing a podcast review for the first time is a huge challenge. Team up with fellow listeners to write a joint review to make it less overwhelming. Then, you will offer diverse perspectives and create a more engaging read.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It would be wrong not to add the "don'ts" list to this article. After all, you need to learn about the pitfalls beginner reviewers make to avoid them. Also, even if you make a mistake, try not to criticize yourself too much. You can learn only through practice. And practice often means being imperfect.

Negativity without Constructive Feedback

While offering critique is valuable, focus on constructive suggestions instead of just bashing the podcast. Be specific and explain improvements it might need.

Going Off the Topic 

Stay focused on the podcast itself. Avoid irrelevant personal short stories or going off on tangents that don't add value. Define the goals you want to reach by writing this review and check if all of its sections correlate with them.

Misinformation

Double-check facts and avoid spreading false information about the podcast, its hosts, or the topics discussed. By using false information, you can harm your reputation as a future reviewer and decrease your credibility with readers.

Self-Promotion

Don't use your review solely to promote yourself or your projects. Keep the focus on the podcast. Building your brand as a reviewer takes time, so don't try to fill your review with an advertising campaign.

Unrealistic Expectations

Remember, passionate individuals, not perfect machines, create podcasts. Avoid expecting flawless production or catering to every individual preference. There will be those who dislike your review. Just try to accept this fact before you post it.

Overcomplicating Your Creativity

Creativity is great, but don't let it overshadow the substance of your review. Ensure your creative approach still clearly conveys your thoughts and feedback. Sometimes, excessive creativity can confuse readers.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have the motivation and knowledge to create a stellar podcast review. Stay true to your interests and passions, and keep a healthy balance between creativity and comprehensiveness of your statements. Have fun expressing your unique perspective while keeping these tips in mind. 

Even as a beginner, your experience can help fellow listeners discover gems and empower podcast creators to grow. Don't hesitate to get support from other reviewers when starting your writing path. Join the vibrant community of those who celebrate podcasts and help shape their future!