5 Podcast Trends I’m Loving Right Now
When we listen to podcasts we’re looking for connection, relatability, and to walk away feeling more educated or empowered. With so many podcasts going live each week, the way to stand out is to be as unique as you are, and lean into your point of view. Your audience listens because they connect with you and your reason for creating your show. Don’t be afraid to infuse your opinions, ideas, struggles and takeaways in real time! This is how you create a relationship with your listeners and find a community that will hit play every week.
In addition to leaning into your authentic point of view, know what your listeners are looking for: entertainment or tips to implement into their lives today. Keep it personal and light giving life updates or Q&As to give advice to your listeners, or keep it super actionable through best-of or round-up episodes that highlight your top guests and most downloaded episodes. This also allows you to build in breaks from recording! I recommend batching 2-3 episodes that are evergreen or can be set live any time in case you get sick or want to go on a vacation. These are great themes for batched episodes!
Overall, these 5 trends I’m seeing across the podcasts I listen to and write for result in building an engaged and connected listener base! Every show and host is different, so choose one or all of these trends to incorporate into your upcoming schedule and see how they land with your unique audience.
Best of episodes from top guests
Guest round-ups on a specific category
Get personal: relate to your guests & be vulnerable
Throw out the title formula & focus on the big picture takeaway
Listener Q&As
1. Best of episodes: Highlight top moments and keep your audience engaged with easy-to-digest content. This is great for podcast milestones like 50 or 100 episodes or yearly anniversaries! Example: Working Hard, Hardly Working Ep.100! The 10 Pieces of Advice You NEED To Improve Your Life
2. Guest round-ups on a specific category: Bring together expert tips on one topic from multiple episodes, making it a valuable resource for your listeners that they can come back to over and over. Then, break them up into clips by topic or guest for social media! Example: Pursuit of Wellness Best In Class: Motivation, Mindset, Productivity & Manifestation
3. Get personal: Top episodes are usually the most personal. Audiences crave truth and connection more than ever. We see this trend across social media too. But how do you build that authenticity into your podcast?
Ask questions you're genuinely interested in: Your curiosity will fuel the conversation.
Answer questions with a story: Storytelling resonates far more than just sharing facts or data.
Relate to your guest's experiences: If something they say strikes a chord with you, mention it. That connection deepens the conversation.
Share something vulnerable: Your own vulnerability helps build trust with your audience.
Example: Transform Shoot the Shit: Wedding Prep, Italy Vacations, and BIG Life Updates!
4. Throw out the title formula: Focus on summarizing the big picture – what will listeners learn or take away from this episode? Example: Real Pod what i'm working on in therapy: addressing my perfectionism... This one actually nails the vulnerability being shared by the host & the big picture takeaway that’s relatable for listeners.
5. Listener Q&As: this is a great opportunity to connect with your community, build rapport, and get insight into what they are dealing with and need help with! This can inform your guests and show topics, as well as show your audience what a valuable resource you are. Example: Real Pod Life Advice with Vic! Q&A on Acceptance, Navigating Breakups, & Career Transitions
Bonus tip: Repurpose your content across social media, YouTube, your website, and email to expand your reach. Create 60 second bite sized clips from your podcast video and upload them to YouTube Shorts and as Instagram Reels. Use Opus AI to add audio captions and choose viral clips easily! Use your podcast description and show notes to build out a newsletter and create a new web page on your website for each episode. This will increase SEO!
Need help with this? That’s what I do! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me and schedule a podcast consultation call to take your show to the next level. I hope one of these tips inspires you and helps you grow your community!
How to Grow Your Podcast Through Easy & Engaging Social Media Content
For many podcasters just starting out, it’s crucial to leverage social media to connect with your audience and get more eyes and ears on the incredible content you’re creating. While a lot of content is focused around video, that can certainly be a more advanced step in the podcasting journey. However, we know that video content on social media performs the best. In fact, according to a study by Wyzowl, 87% of marketers say video content gives them a positive ROI. This means that incorporating engaging visual content into your social media strategy is crucial for growing your podcast. So here are some ideas to create engaging content, even if you're not quite ready to record your podcast interviews and episodes. These strategies will help you boost visibility, attract new listeners, and foster a loyal community around your show.
1. Pull a Powerful Quote from the Episode and Put it Over a Nature Video Reel
Find a standout quote from your latest episode—something that resonates deeply or offers valuable insight. Pair this quote with a serene nature video reel. The calming visuals combined with impactful words create a shareable piece of content that not only promotes your episode but also adds value to your followers’ feeds.
Tip: Use free stock video platforms like Pexels or Unsplash to find nature clips, or take 10-15 second clips when you travel to beautiful locations! I love taking beach and sunset videos to always have on hand (ahhh the benefit of living in San Diego!)
2. Create a Graphic with a Controversial Topic Discussed in the Episode and Ask for the Audience’s POV
Identify a hot topic or a controversial discussion point from your episode. Design a visually appealing graphic highlighting this topic and pose a question to your audience, inviting them to share their point of view. This encourages engagement and fosters a community of listeners who feel their opinions are valued. You can use a photo of yourself, or a meme!
Tip: Tools like Canva make it easy to create professional graphics without needing design skills. You can also use apps like Tezza or Capcut to add unique text features.
3. Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) of Setting Up/Recording Your Podcast
Give your audience a peek behind the curtain by sharing behind-the-scenes footage of your podcast setup and recording process. Show them what you do to set yourself up for success on recording days. This humanizes your brand, makes your content more relatable, and can be both informative and entertaining.
Tip: Short BTS clips can be recorded on your smartphone and shared directly to your social media stories.
4. Selfie Asking What Their Favorite Recent Episode Was
Post a selfie and ask your audience what their favorite recent episode was. This personal touch not only boosts engagement but also provides valuable feedback on what content resonates most with your listeners. Plus, it’s a great way to show your face and connect on a more personal level. Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy does this for her celeb guests every week and the engagement goes crazy!
Tip: Use interactive features like Instagram Stories' question stickers to collect responses easily.
5. Share Something You’re Considering Talking About and Ask for Feedback
Have an idea for a future episode but aren’t sure if it’s a hit? Share your idea with your audience and ask for their feedback. This not only helps you gauge interest but also makes your listeners feel involved in the content creation process. They’re more likely to tune in if they feel they’ve had a say in what you discuss.
Tip: Running polls on Twitter or Instagram can quickly give you a sense of your audience’s interest.
6. Tease Upcoming Guests with a Clue for People to Guess Who It Is
Building anticipation for upcoming episodes is a surefire way to keep your audience hooked. Tease an upcoming guest by sharing a clue and inviting your followers to guess who it is. This not only generates buzz but also engages your audience in a fun and interactive way.
Tip: Offer a small reward, like a shoutout on the next episode, for the first correct guess to encourage participation.
Additional Tips for Engaging Content
Use Audiograms: Even without video, you can create engaging audiograms using tools like Headliner. Audiograms combine audio snippets from your podcast with waveform animations and captions, making your content more visually appealing.
Consistent Branding: Ensure that your graphics, colors, and fonts are consistent across all your content to build brand recognition.
Engage in Comments: Respond to comments and engage with your audience to build a community and encourage more interaction. This is especially important in the beginning, as your first listeners can be your biggest drivers of recommendations and long-term community members!
Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags! Around 4-6 highlighting the topics discussed is perfect. You can search the topic in your app’s search bar to see what popular words or phrases pop up.
By incorporating these strategies into your content plan, you’ll keep your podcast’s social media presence dynamic and engaging. Not only will these ideas help you promote your episodes effectively, but they’ll also strengthen your connection with your audience and foster a loyal listener community.
Download my free Podcast Growth Guide for more tips and guidance!