Fresh content is key in running a successful podcast. Your loyal listeners want to hear more of you, and new content helps attract new listeners who don’t yet know how great you are! But just like writer’s block is very real, podcast block can plague even the most chatty podcasters.
When you’re stuck and can’t think of what to include in your next podcast, try one of these ideas.
1. Ask Your Audience
What do your listeners want to hear from you? Not sure? Ask them!
Use the platforms and methods where you engage the most with your listeners — whether that’s Instagram Stories, Twitter, your website, email — to ask your listeners what’s on their mind. To ensure you’ll get helpful responses, keep your call for questions focused.
For example, if your podcast is about marketing for small businesses, ask your listeners what their biggest challenge is in getting qualified leads. If your podcast is about parenting kids with disabilities, ask your listeners about the challenges they’re having with their children in school.
From there, you’re sure to get at least one — but probably several — excellent topics that will not only keep you talking, but will be meeting the needs of your audience.
2. Do a Focused Google Search on Your Audience
When it comes down to it, your podcast is going to succeed only when your audience is engaged. That means that getting really specific about your audience is critical. If you haven’t already, write down descriptors of who your ideal listener is. Is your listener male or female? Old or young? Parent or not? DIYer or someone who hires help? Entrepreneur or employee?
What emotions does your ideal listener feel? What are their political beliefs? Fears? Hopes?
From your description, you’ll get some focused keywords. Use those keywords together in Google to see what comes up. For example, a Google search of the keywords “DIY female cabinetry” brings up topics like:
- How do you make a small kitchen look bigger?
- Building Built-in Wardrobe Cabinets in Walk-in Master Closet
- DIY Cabinets for a Garage, Workshop, or Craft Room
You can speak directly to these topics in a podcast episode, or you can even break them down further. (“The Exact Materials I Used in My Garage Cabinet Remodel”, “How to Incorporate Both Form and Function Into Your Workshop”).
3. Browse Amazon Book Reviews
Read #2 above about keywords, and then use those same keywords to search for books in Amazon. You’ll get great ideas from the book titles that show up in your search, but go even deeper. Read the reviews of the books, and see if you can find something within them that could lead to a podcast episode.
For example, a reviewer of a parenting book might comment on how they like that the book addresses parenting priorities. There’s a topic for you! Or maybe a reviewer is frustrated that the book doesn’t delve deep enough into how to connect with kids of a certain age. Topic idea!
4. Listen to Others in Your Industry
First things first. Don’t plagiarize. Ever. But reading or listening to other experts in your industry can give you a good feel for topics your audience cares about. Can you put your own twist on a hot topic?
Can you go a little deeper, or show a new perspective on something that someone else has discussed?
5. Rework Old Content
Sometimes your best place to look for content ideas is yourself. Really!
Look back over old episodes you’ve recorded or old blog posts you’ve written. Have you learned anything new since then that you would have shared? Share it now! Was the topic just a drop in the bucket? Expand on the topic in a new episode.
Sometimes, it just takes one good spark to get your mind churning again. Set a timer for 30 minutes, and try out one of these five suggestions. Chances are, you’ll have a long list of podcast topics once the timer dings.
