Top Podcasts
With a new podcast popping up every minute, how can we know which shows to take seriously?
By Brandy Whalen
- Kitcaster
- December 20, 2021
- 6:44 pm
Looking for shows in all the wrong places
What does it mean to be a top podcast? Here at Kitcaster, it means that you are taking your role as a content creator seriously. Raise your hand if you remember the blog bubble. You knew it reached critical mass when your mom, your friend’s mom, and the dude down the street decided to update the world on what they ate for breakfast. Let’s go, WordPress! But in all seriousness, thank you, Facebook, for stepping in. With that being said, podcasting is headed in the same trajectory as blogging.
There are roughly 2.7 million podcasts globally, and that number does not seem to be slowing down. We are also seeing a surge in listenership. Fifty-seven percent of the US population are tuning in to podcasts. According to Statista, $1.3 billion was spent on podcast advertising in 2021, and that number is on track to hit over $5 billion by 2025.
With a new podcast popping up every minute, how can we know which shows to take seriously? It’s important to find the perfect show that can reach and connect with the demographic any specific advertiser would like to reach. Here are some tactics that Kitcaster uses to determine the legitimacy of a show:
Number of episodes
Regardless of what streaming platform you have queued up for podcasts, they all list the number of episodes that a host has under their belt. So it’s no surprise that it seems the more episodes a show has, the better the content. Now, this isn’t always the case, but more times than not, hosts invested in the quality of their shows are also prolific content producers.
Types of Guests
Take a good look at the type of guests a podcast has on its show. Any recognizable names or organizations? Podcasts of higher quality attract guests with exciting perspectives or are fantastic conversationalists. These guests do not necessarily need to be household names but do need to shine behind the mic. If you find a guest you enjoy listening to, search for more shows they have been on, which will lead you down the path of more amazing shows.
Show Description
On the surface, a show’s description can be an indication of the quality. The time and care a show takes into giving listeners a good idea of what they will be discussing is typically a good sign. We personally like shows that niche down a bit. So not only are you a podcast about SaaS but more specifically about SEO strategies for SaaS.
Podcast Intro
The podcast intro is just one of those things that you listen to and quickly make snap judgments on quality. Some do a fantastic job pulling you in, while others make you cringe a bit. Intro’s matter but don’t jump ship just because you’re not a fan of the jingle. Instead, stick around for a few minutes and listen to how the host begins the conversation. Hosts that understand the nature of podcasts know that hooking a listener in during the first 5 minutes is essential.
Reach
Since most hosts understand that the key to success is to spread the love amongst multiple listening platforms, don’t just look at iTunes for the rating and reviews. Look at other popular streaming platforms – Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, and Amazon Music, to name a few. Also, check out the podcast’s social and video streaming reach. Finally, do a bit of social sleuthing to discover a host’s influence. (let’s be honest, we all have done this before)
The key here is to not just focus on one aspect, take a look at the whole picture to determine the legitimacy of a podcast. Also, if you are trying to dip your toes into the world of podcast guesting, we encourage you to go on any and every podcast opportunity to cut your guesting teeth. And lastly, if you don’t feel like dealing with the fuss of finding podcast guest opportunities, we are here to help you out and take the stress off your hands. So grab a seat, throw on those headphones, and dive deep into the podcast guesting world, we’ve got you covered 🙂
There are roughly 2.7 million podcasts globally, and that number does not seem to be slowing down. We are also seeing a surge in listenership. Fifty-seven percent of the US population are tuning in to podcasts.
