John Harris, acast.com

What makes a compelling podcast?

As a podcast listener first and foremost, authenticity is key. You’ve got huge blockbuster shows and niche podcasts with dedicated audiences. The thing that popular shows all have in common is the feeling that everyone involved believes in what they’re doing – that’s why so many podcast fans want to give back by supporting directly through things like Acast+ memberships. Do something you love, have conversations you’d be having anyway and that will make for compelling content.

How do you market your podcast and get listeners? It’s crucial to be consistent. With your releases, whether you’re seasonal or weekly, pick a day and stick to it to ensure your show is a part of your audience’s life. Also, think about where people who would like your show are and go to them. That could be forums, social media groups or even relevant in-person events. There are some great tools online to create audiograms and other bits of media to promote your podcast everywhere. If

you’re on Acast, we give you lots of ways to understand your listenership and grow your audience, as well as helping you promote your show to as many potential new listeners as possible.

How do you identify a popular subject? Popularity is subjective depending on what you are covering. Going back to the idea of authenticity, doing a podcast simply because you think the subject might be popular isn’t going to make for a compelling listen if you don’t actually care about it. This might seem obvious but ask yourself ‘would I listen to this podcast?’ before you start making it.

John Harris is a creator network partner manager at Acast, which supports 47,000 podcasts including Happy Place and Shagged. Married. Annoyed.