If you’re looking to start a podcast, you may be wondering if your idea is overdone. Is it even possible to have a successful podcast in a niche that already has many podcasts in the same category? The answer is—yes. Here’s how:
The first step in recognizing if your genre is overdone is to get familiar with the industry. One of the best ways to do this is to browse the various categories in the Apple Podcasts or Spotify app and see how many podcasts exist within your chosen genre or overarching topic. As you might guess, the heavier the saturation, and the harder it is for your show to be discovered.
The next step is to see what’s trending in your category. Look at the comments under the most popular podcasts and take note of what listeners like, dislike, and what more they want from their favorite shows. These notes come in handy for discovering widespread commonalities in what listeners like and dislike about elements of a podcast, and it gives you a good idea of what your target audience will enjoy most about your podcast.
Once you feel like you have a solid understanding of your ideal listeners and potential competitors in the podcasting arena, you might conclude that too many similar shows exist in your category. But worry not fellow podcaster, you probably don't need to change your idea completely. Focus on your strengths and craft a plan to make your podcast stand out.
Successful podcasts tend to hone in on their specific niche, making sure to shy away from broad topics. Most importantly, they stay consistent. We always say that consistency is key to podcast growth and overall success, and it’s true. Being consistent in episode duration and posting schedules, niche topics, and staying authentic as a host and creator will get you far in this game. Your podcast will inevitably stand out from the others if you stay consistent. Here are some other ways to make your show unique in an over-saturated category:
-- Identify Your Unique Strengths: Write down what makes you unique as a content creator and podcast host. Is it your presentation style? Your interview approach? Are you an expert in your category or a voice of authority? Perhaps you excel in storytelling, and your genre lacks solid stories. Ask yourself, "What do I bring to the table that others do not?"
-- Create a Unique Title: Your podcast title should represent your brand, convey your message, and stand out. Avoid overused words in your category by noting the most popular podcast titles.
-- Find Your Unique Angle: Identify topics or styles to avoid in your category. What are YOU tired of hearing about? Will your perspective bring something fresh to the table? Humans seek novelty, and presenting your information uniquely will keep listeners engaged.
-- Conduct Market Research: Identify keywords to use in episode titles and descriptions so both search engines and niche listeners can find your podcast.
-- Build an Unforgettable Brand: Focus on creating a strong brand identity, from podcast art and fonts to social media presence. Yes, you should have a dedicated social media account for your podcast—it helps with engagement.
-- Be Authentic: Be your authentic self on the air, even if it means creating a consistent persona. Hosts who frequently change their style come off as disingenuous. Understand your target audience and provide what they truly want to hear.
Standing out from the competition starts with creating high-quality content. You might be thinking, “Great, another article telling me to invest in expensive recording equipment.” Quite the contrary; we’re saying invest in your ability to create high quality content. This means allowing yourself the opportunity to make something great by planning your episodes ahead of time and doing thorough research on your topics. Afterall, it’s your job as a niche reporter to ensure you become the voice of authority on the topics you speak about. This adds incredible value to your podcast and can help you stand out from other shows that don’t take the time to research thoroughly.
We also encourage anyone starting a podcast to collaborate with others in their category. You might be surprised at how willing some seasoned podcasters are to hand out advice, time, and assistance to newbies. Everyone has to start somewhere and networking is a great way to get your name out there and to build relationships within the industry.
Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to get help behind the scenes. We at LPM recommend partnering with a podcast production agency (like us) to handle all of the mundane tasks in podcasting such as audio editing, posting on social media, coordinating guest interviews, and scheduling episodes. We know you’re busy brainstorming podcast ideas and creating entertaining content. We’re good at what we do and can help to elevate your content to the next level so that not only is your target audience engaged, but your show becomes something excellent.
Happy podcasting!
Book a time with one of our podcast experts and launch your brand into orbit. Or don't... we really can't tell you what to do.