Preparing for a New Podcast Season
Your current podcast season is quickly coming to an end (or maybe it already has) and all of your hard work is showing. Picking up viewers/listeners, increasing ratings, monetizing and more! Likely, there’s even room to improve, gain more listeners, earn more money, and continue to make a great impact! Whether your podcast has been running for years or this is your first year running, it’s time to prepare for a new podcast season! As your current season ends, this is a perfect time to take a break, give yourself time to recharge, make a game plan, and create another amazing season (or a new show)!
As the need for a new season approaches we will all take a moment to think on the past episodes. What we’ve done well and what we hope to do better. Every new season (and episode) is an opportunity to grow and learn from what we did in the past. So, here are our steps to get your podcast ready for another season (or just a refresh!)
Look Over the Past Season
Start with a podcast audit. You will want to review what worked last season, what didn’t, where you could make adjustments, and the previous goals you had set. It's a great time to analyze where your show is currently at.
You want to look back at your metrics, as well as what impacted those metrics. Did you start bringing guests onto your show? If so, did that increase or decrease viewership? If you monetized, what ads/promotions worked well vs. the ones that decreased viewership? Looking into the cause and effect of what you saw in your last season will be vital in preparing for a successful new podcast season. For example, if your episodes that included guests got the most views, maybe you lean into guests on each episode of your new season!
Again, the seasons metrics, listener reviews, and earned income, etc. are a great place to start to really get a good picture of what worked well and why. This will set you up for success in your new podcast season and likely will make your life easier as it can become less of a guessing game now that you have history to look back at.
Adjust Accordingly
Next, if you have any adjustments you'd like to make, this is a great time to do it. For example, the format of your episodes or even a full-blown rebrand. This is also a great time to set your goals for next season.
You’ve reviewed your last season and maybe you’ve decided that you don’t want to change much. All you need is to make your show titles more clear, include background music, and change your cover art. Great! But maybe you look over your last season and you’ve decided you want to to about the new podcast season differently. Guests got great reviews, so now you can include more guests. Your audience didn’t like your music so you change it completely. Maybe you even start this new podcast season covering a completely different niche as you’ve grown out of your last niche.
Either way, you can succeed with a great new podcast season by reviewing what you’ve done and seeing what works well. Giving yourself a nice break and working out the kinks will have you coming back ready to take on a new podcast season like a champ. Try something new!
Plan your New Podcast Season
Now that you’ve reviewed your past season, decided the adjustments you’ll make (small or large), and are ready to create your next season it’s now time to get your show organized!
Start by organizing your episode topics and guest lineup. What episodes would you like to air first? By planning this you give yourself a jump start on knowing when and where you’ll need guests, features, etc. Then you can begin reaching out to those you’d like to have on your show and prepare when and where you need to record your episodes.
If you have interviews scheduled and planned, this is a great time to get that on the calendar. And if you have spaces you need to fill this is the time to mark those and make reach-out plans in case you have some cancels or nos.
Cover your back and stay ahead so that if things don’t go to plan (as they often don’t) your new podcast season will not be effected because you had back ups prepared
A plan has been created, you have episodes thought out, are reaching out to guests and know when and where you need things done.
Monetization
If you haven’t monetized yet, this is also a great time to do so! Especially if you are heading into another season (or even giving your show a refresh) this is a great time to consider if you are going to monetize. You have a past season of metrics and episodes to show to sponsors, etc. You have experience and a game plan for what your new podcast season will look like. Now is the time to either start monetizing or continue (and maybe even increase your income). In order to gain the most from your new podcast season think about:
Affiliates (and how you'll promote them in your plan/what topics they go with)
Sponsors (any that fit the bill? This is a great time to get support for half or even the full season)
Your own services + products (will you be inserting ads?)
Once you’ve decided your plan and have gained or continued with your affiliates, sponsors, etc. you are one step closer to launching your new podcast season!
Make your Promotional Plan
Everything is coming together and your almost ready to launch your new podcast season. But there is one really important step missing! What is your promotional plan? How will you get your podcast’s name out there, gain viewers, and continue to monetize? Let’s think about what you need to do in order to promote your show!
How are you going to promote the show? Social media, newsletter, guest podcasting, etc.
Plan your social media post cadence, prepare your newsletters, and encourage your guests to share your show name and let their fans, friends, and family (etc.) know they will be on your show
Will you be recording a new trailer?
Trailers are a great way to catch a listeners attentions. It can be used to give sound bites from episodes and more to entice listeners that have yet to listen to your show just enough information to know whether or not this is for them.
Or any other teasers/marketing updates?
Teasers are a great way to get your current listeners excited for you new podcast season. It will let them know that after your break you will be back, what you’ll be covering, and maybe even excite them for guests you plan to have.
Promotion of your new podcast season starts with your current viewers! The Podcast Host has a great article, “Podcast Promotion: From Your First 100 Listeners to Your Next 100K!” Make sure that you are sharing the news with them, updating them as you go, and give teasers that will peak their interest.
Conclusion
Just because your current podcast season is coming to an end doesn’t mean the end of your show as a whole! Once you've gone through these steps, you will be ready to record and take on your new season (or show look!). Get your listeners excited, take a break for yourself - rest, and come back ready to promote your new podcast season!
If you’re looking for help, we offer packages for all of your podcast production needs! Check out our base packages here - and schedule a call to see how we can help you.
