Is It too Late to Start a Podcast?

Arguably the best time to join a wave is before it breaks. And when it comes to podcasting, that peak was reached a few years ago. If you’re wondering whether or not it’s too late, keep reading. Here’s why you can still find success with this medium, which has become a staple for businesses and content creators the world over.

The Right Time to Start a Podcast

Podcasting grew to levels of mass popularity thanks to its ability to share stories, often right in the ear of the listener. It was also a convenient way to communicate while commenting to work. With more people working from home in recent years, there was a reported drop in listeners, but that has steadied itself once more, with people finding ways to incorporate listening to their favourite podcasts while being at home. Many listeners find it a comforting break to tune in while they wash the dishes, have a bath, tidy the house, or drift off to sleep.

Another reason that podcasts are an excellent medium is that they are so versatile. They can be listened to for educational purposes, whether it's learning about industry updates or teaching your kids the alphabet, or for entertainment with traditional style storytelling (the compelling nature of listening to the voice alone has made this a particularly popular choice for true crime stories).

The list goes on and on as to why podcasts are great. For one, they’re a great way to boost your credibility. Thought leadership articles have been all the rage, and podcasts are a great way to expand upon that. You don’t need to get stuck in one highly specific niche either, you can create a variety of content that relates to you, and cover various topics in multiple series if you wish. Finally, there is a pretty low barrier of entry - uploading yours online is free, all you need to do is plan and record (with quality equipment ideally).

When Is the Best Time to Start a Podcast?

Sure, the best time to have started a podcast was a few years ago, but then again the same could be said for any other type of content sharing, be it social media accounts or blogs. While it can be more difficult to attract an audience and build a community, it may be a case of better late than never. That is to say, without generalising, some brands will benefit from podcasting, while others may not. If you feel that it works well in your content mix, then there is absolutely space for your podcast in the market.

when to start a podcast

Tips for Podcasting

So, you’d like to start a podcast, now what? Well, you’re going to want to ensure that you’ve done your research. We’ve written a guide on how to create a podcast, where you’ll learn all about how to get started, from equipment to hosting platforms. The benefit of starting now is that you have more information at hand when it comes to finding the best platforms and seeing what works best with your selected audience.

Let it be known, however, that podcasting is no walk in the park. You want it to sound good - not only in the quality of the recording but in terms of editing, too. To succeed, you’re going to need to rely on the content itself, since there are no accompanying visuals. This is why you’ll need to plan out your content ahead of time to create a comprehensive series that people will want to tune into. This will also help you to stay consistent with your episodes and uploads, which is a big factor when it comes to building an audience. Finally, as with all content, be sure that it is unique!

Once your podcast is out in the world, don’t just leave it hanging and hope for the best. It’s important that you create a promotional plan to ensure that your podcast makes waves, so to speak. Help it reach your audience by presenting it optimally and sharing it widely. Additionally, as with all content, there are important insights to be learnt from tracking metrics. This is a great way to monitor the performance and make improvements where necessary.

The Potential to Grow with Podcasting

If you’re wondering how much potential podcasting has, consider this: The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Spotify is worth over $100 million. Spotify has also invested a reported $1 billion in original podcasts. While there is certainly money to be made in podcasting, yours needn’t become monetized. It can also be an outlet to share interesting stories with your community and to extend your content offering as a brand.