Improve Your Solo Podcast With 5 Simple Ideas

Solo podcasts are easy to start, and they can do very well for passionate podcast hosts! However, even the most passionate podcasters have a difficult time improving their solo podcasts! Try these 5 tips and step-up your solo podcast game!

By Niall Mackay

Alright, you started your spectacular podcast, and you’ve got all the passion for it. – Great! 

However, no one tunes in aside from your closest friends and family.

Not that great…

If you wonder how to improve your solo podcast, try to follow these easy steps to increase your listenership.

Do Solo Podcasts Do Well?

Solo podcasts are easy to start, and they can do very well for creative and passionate podcast hosts! All you need is a microphone and yourself. Plus, as a solo podcaster, you have complete control over the content and do not have to worry about micromanaging guests for technical issues.

Regarding technical issues, post-production is also easier on solo podcasts, which speeds up your production process. You only need to worry about your sound points, and the episode is done. 

If you need a few guides on editing your podcast, I also included a detailed post for you.

5 Ways To Improve Your Solo Podcast For More Downloads

Spend Time To Research Your Topic

Do your homework! Even if you are an expert or a complete beginner (but passionate about your podcast topic), preparing a podcast episode outline of what you want to talk about is always safe.

If you already KNOW what you will talk about in the exact order, you will have more time to bring in more jokes or engaging voices to your show.

Plus, researching your episode topic gives you a full confidence boost and brings more encouragement for you to work on your next audio piece!

Watch Your Voice

Every successful podcaster knows this by now:

Your voice is your hook.– Okay, I just made this up, but on a serious note, working on your pronunciation and clarity is essential for a successful solo podcast!

If you read why podcasters wear headphones, you already know that understanding how you sound can step up your podcasting game. 

Invite a Guest

If your podcasting has been a solo ride for a while, consider inviting a friend or colleague to bring in new stories.

Guests are not the same as co-hosts, where you partner up with other people to keep your podcast show going. 

But rather a new way to convey a podcast episode that otherwise would be your job to do.

For example, your podcast show talks about animals and pets, but you aren’t an expert at training dogs. If you got friends or colleagues who love dogs or own a couple of them, they would be a great guest on your solo podcast! 

For starters, your guests can be anyone you know personally or virtually.

If your podcast is just starting out, you can first look in your small circle and then expand to people within your industry.

Wrap Up The Episode

Always include a short wrap-up at the end of your podcast episodes and let the listeners know one more time what the key takeaway points were.

A summary helps the structure of your podcast episode make your solo episode sound more professional and organized.

Include A Teaser For The Next Episode

Don’t you love when movies include a short teaser at the end for Part 2? It’s time you try this old trick after your solo episode!

 

If you researched your podcast topic thoroughly and built up an excellent podcast content map, it is a great time to bring in teasers.

As part of your conclusion, briefly mention the next episode’s topic. 

This will hold you accountable to your podcast content plan, and most importantly, you give your biggest fans to come back for the next episode!

How should you finish your solo episode if you don’t have the next podcast episode topic planned?

In case you have no idea what you will talk about next, but you want to ensure that your listeners are coming back, I recommend implementing at least one of these tactics:

Ask a question and let people reply on your social media page.

When you ask that question, you can move to your contact information session and remind your fans can reach you or your business.

Introduce a give-away game.

This can be time-consuming, but a short game can let listeners stay engaged with your small business. 

Introduce an online product you have on your website

Remind your fans about the free materials that you have online such as an e-book, YouTube video, Instagram page, etc.

Drive people somewhere. Don’t just end your podcast episode without any call-to-action!

How To Format Your Solo Podcast?

For a concise and successful solo podcast episode, consider these steps:

1. Start with a hook, or start with your own podcast intro.
2. Briefly mention the episode’s topic and relevance that highlights the pain point or benefit for the listeners.
3. Start with three key points and elaborate.
4. Recap your episode.
5. Include your call to action.

How long Should Your Solo Podcast Be?

It is tempting to think whether your solo podcast should be as short as 10 minutes or hours long.

A rule of thumb is that as long as you have a great message to talk about in an engaging tone, your solo podcast episode should not be tied to an exact number of minutes. 

Final Thoughts On Solo Podcast Episodes

Solo podcasts are popular. They are easy to start but extremely difficult to maintain.

Even the most popular podcast of 2021 has numerous guest interviews and co-hosts, so to make yours stand out, you have to stay exciting and concise!

If you want to step up your podcast show, check out my latest e-book and never miss any updates on podcasting.