What Podcasters Can Learn from Looking at the Top 3 Performing Podcasts: Insights from Leading Podcast Agency
Podcast services to boost your brand!
If we take a snapshot of the top three listed Podcasts in the UK today on iTunes, we see that ‘The Rest Is Politics’, ‘Pod Save the UK’, and ‘Leading’ are (stats according to www.itunescharts.net dated 12th May 2023). So, what do these three most popular podcasts in the UK have in common? They all have a political dimension to them. Two of them; The Rest is Politics' and ‘Leading’, are even hosted by the same person - Alastair Campbell. Politics as a genre has experienced remarkable growth and popularity over the past four or five years, and this phenomena corresponds with an era of marked political polarisation.
The popularity of political podcasts can also be attributed to their accessibility, their ability to offer deep and nuanced discussions, plus the establishment of personal connections with likeminded people who often provide a counter narrative to the mainstream media.
There is a perception about podcasting that still persists which we’ll debunk right here; Podcasting is no piece of cake, it takes a lot more to produce a well informed, professional podcast than simply turning on a microphone and nattering into it. Well produced, well researched Podcasts are the work of often dozens of professionals drafted in by a leading Podcast Company.
It is recommended that newcomers looking to enter the political podcasting arena begin by connecting with a professional Podcast Agency. Podcast Agencies (and Podcast Companies) offer a huge range of services that can help a new host establish themselves in an increasingly crowded market.
The main podcasting activities that both Podcast Agencies and Podcast Companies can help with include:
Concept & Planning Stage
-
Identifying niche topics, themes and audiences
-
Defining format, structure, and ambition
-
Detail episode topics, suggest interviewees
Pre-Production stage
-
Planning specific episodes, including intros, ads, summaries, etc
-
Research guest, gather information
-
Prepare script (if applicable) and lease with interviewees
Audio / Video recording
-
Prepare a suitable location for recording
-
Source appropriate equipment
-
Setup & test recording equipment
-
Create additional content (ads, etc)
Editing stage
-
Watch / listen to recordings and professionally edit out mistakes, etc
-
Enhance audio and video quality (where necessary)
-
Re-record segments which are unusable
Post-Production stage
-
Skilfully add intros, transitions, ads, etc
-
Add post-production effects or enhancements, as desired.
-
Review the completed episode
Show Notes and Metadata
-
Create show notes that summarise each episode and detail key points.
-
Add backlinks and additional resources that are appropriate
-
Create episode titles and descriptions.
-
Add metadata, href titles, and tags.
Publishing stage
-
Upload content to a podcast hosting platform
-
Manage the feed to distribute content
-
Align with social media content
Promotion & Marketing stage
-
Promote new content on social media, on websites, and via your partners.
-
Encourage engagement & reviews
On top of the activities listed above, leading Podcast Agencies and Podcast Companies will ensure that your new political podcast has the best possible chance of making an impact as it continues to grow and evolve.