Nobody can go a week without hearing the word “podcast” at least once. With more accessibility than ever, it seems like everyone has or wants to start their own show. There’s nothing wrong with starting a podcast, but many start one with no sense of direction. Over-saturated markets in the podcast world often discourage individuals from starting their own show.
Rambles, overcomplicated discussions, and circular conversations make up countless talk shows and podcasts today. Over-saturation is a major issue that seems impossible to address. With more podcasts popping up on a regular basis, the playing field becomes extensively larger and more complex than ever before.
Podcasts and Sense of Direction
Every good podcast needs a solid sense of direction. Too many people start a show without actually planning out what they will talk about consistently. General conversations will not draw in the right people and too specific discussions will exclude too many. It’s all about finding the middle ground. Podcasts are unique because they can connect with a particular audience in an intimate way.
However, finding out how to connect to the right crowd is one of the most pressing challenges in the early stages of a podcast. A well-known author might start a podcast to find out he can’t connect with his readers in the same way he can with written words. An individual starting a podcast must understand the complexities of over-saturated markets. Competition will not go away, but will typically become less intimidating when someone understands the ins and outs of a particular market.
A sense of direction is necessary for anything worthwhile. Podcasts require a high level of undivided attention to the show’s direction because of how easy it is to get sidetracked with irrelevant or unnecessary conversations and/or discussions.
Finding Your Niche
Finding the right niche isn’t as easy as it sounds. Most people start a podcast based about something they like. While it makes sense to talk about a particular interest, this alone doesn’t automatically propel the idea into something worthwhile. A podcast must entertain and/or provide valuable knowledge. Talking about something you like might be entertaining in the short-term, but without insight and wisdom, the entertainment will only take the said endeavor so far.
A particular niche like dating and relationships is extremely over-saturated. Everyone isn’t a relationship expert even though countless people have first hand experience with dating and romance. Picking a highly competitive niche will make it harder for the right audience to find your show.
It makes sense to take a step back and select a niche that will provide the most potential benefit in the long run rather than something with only short-term sustainability.
Niches often make or break a podcast. Someone starting off might think of starting a show talking about sports. While sports is a vague topic, if an individual selects something like a sports program at a particular college or university, or a professional team, they already set themselves up with a much greater sense of direction and vision. Taking something and making it unique requires countless hours of thinking of ideas that may or may not stick before the “right ones” come to fruition.
Open Doors in an Over-Saturated Market
Although podcasting in general is extremely over-saturated, there is still plenty of opportunity for individuals looking to start their own show. Countless niches are less saturated than others; someone starting out must find a particular area of interest with ample room for growth yet not too over-saturated.
There are open doors all around us. Sometimes opportunities come disguised or unexpectedly, but anyone who stays open and dedicated can find themselves in places and rooms they never would have thought about being possible before.
The key to navigating an overs-saturated market is to understand the desired niche within that particular market. Someone starting a dating podcast might experience more success if they focus on a specific topic like dating in a new city/environment or interracial dating experiences. Markets can always be narrowed down with adequate levels of attention to detail and focus.
At the end of the day, anyone can start a podcast. All it takes is some recording equipment, basic recording software, and some original ideas. However, the fact that anyone can start their own show can also be a downside to numerous podcasters. Competition literally increases daily. The individuals who set themselves apart from the masses have an ultra clear sense of direction and focus on a niche or two in a particular market.
Start that podcast or project today. The competition will always be there. Stay in your lane and focus on what you can do better to improve your work of art.