Elements Of A Succesful Sports Podcast For The Year 2020
The year 2020 is going to be big for the podcast industry. The rise in the number of podcast listeners has been on the rise, not just in the United States but all over the world.
The space is tight, but the positive outlook is that it’s still open for everyone. While it is a great time to be a consumer, it’s also the perfect moment to be a creator.
Smartphone users make up the largest percentage of podcast listeners, and they mostly lie in the age group of 18-44. With such a wide group of audiences, there are podcasts on every topic out there.
From something as microscopic as a cell to something as large as our universe. If you have good content, you will always have listeners.
Some of the most liked categories of podcasts are sports, technology, comedy, and music. However, as podcasts evolve and creators get more experimental, a lot of successful podcasts are beginning to fall under more than one genre. For instance, sports-comedy or sports-technology are categories you can easily find.
Let’s take a look at the elements that make a sports podcast successful in 2020.
There are a few important points that make a podcast successful. While some of the points are common for all podcasts in general, some are specific to a sports podcast.
1. Professionalism is key
First things first, this is the year 2020, and the bar is set quite high. You cannot just pick up an old microphone and set up your podcast. You need to be meticulous with your actions and make sure that saving some pennies will not jeopardize your podcast.
Nobody would like to hear a hazy voice, so investing in a good set of microphones is a good idea. Make a title track and a definite introduction. Authenticity is important because there are a lot of other free options, and you need to stand out.
A regular podcast is something that appeals to the audience. At the end of every podcast, let your listeners know what they can expect in the next one, keep their hopes high and deliver on it. It’s the best way to win hearts and subscribers too.
2. Focus on a Niche
While a general sports podcast covering a range of topics sounds nice, it will only saturate the arena with just more casual stuff that people can read on the headlines. You need to find a specific niche for yourself and focus on something you are passionate about.
It is sometimes better to be a master of one than a jack of all. You might think this is sharply going to reduce the size of your audience, but don’t worry about that. A thousand people who listen to you are better than a billion who don’t.
A niche will help you set authority in the topic, and that will make your podcast genuine and give it immunity from the increasing competition in the segment.
3. Content is King
This statement has never been more true. When it comes to podcasts, the content is actually the king, and you have just one way of keeping the listeners entertained. Dig out facts and research thoroughly before setting out your content.
Everyone loves surprises and new information, entertain them with something unusual, and they are going to stick for more! The more effort you put in creating the content, the more fruitful it will prove to be. Most importantly, keep it short and informative.
Your content is what will help you get sponsors for your podcast as well. That’s how your podcast is going to grow. Make sure to make subtle pitches and not sound like an advertisement.
People who regularly listen to podcasts are more likely to be digital consumers who don’t watch a lot of TV. Leveraging this fact and bringing new products through your sponsors that they might be interested in can work wonders.
4. Interviews and Debates
Every time someone listens to a sports podcast, their expectations are more than just to hear the latest news in sports. They want to listen to opinions from experts, enthusiasts, and the host. This is your chance to collaborate and grow your channel.
Call on a fellow creator to your show and have a friendly debate with them. This way, your listeners have the opportunity to listen to different angles of the same story. As their host, they might know what you think about it, but debate can clear a lot of things out.
For instance, the Zach Lowe podcast, a popular basketball special calls players and experts on his show for interviews. People love it because they have their favorites on the show, talking about what they think and like. Every week is something to look forward to.
5. Fantasies are Real
Fantasy leagues have been gaining immense popularity lately. When you think of a sports podcast, fantasy sport is a strong contender to be mentioned because, without it, a lot of people are going to be disappointed.
Podcasts like CBs fantasy football podcast rely on the same game. People want to be a part of the sport, along with regularly following it. Fantasy leagues offer that inclusion, and you talking about and giving your opinions will highlight everyone’s best interests.
Here you can cover different sports depending on what is currently trending and the upcoming sports seasons. Help people make the right choices, and you will be rewarded with their loyalty.
Conclusion
Apart from the important elements that will make a good podcast, the distribution plays an important role too. Your podcast platform should be favorable, as well. You need to align your podcast to the standards of the platform and adhere to all the guidelines to reach the top spots.
A successful sports podcast is not an easy task to achieve, but with some hard work and a passion for it, you can reach the goal sooner. Don’t lose your originality and the purpose of your sports podcast, and there is nothing that can stop your podcast from slaying the charts.