7 Ideas to Revive Your Podcast

Your podcasts may be great. They've done so well in the past. But if they remain the same, at some point your audience will lose interest.  In this media-driven age, people are always looking for something fresh and new.

Unfortunately, we can find ourselves in a rut doing the same things out of sheer habit. And what was once cutting edge can become dull with use.

Your content may be outstanding. But if the feel of your podcasts hasn't changed, your audience is bound to dwindle.

Some time ago I noticed the subscriptions and downloads of my podcasts diminishing. Not one to take such things lightly, I began to look into ways to breathe new life into my podcasts. I made lots of tweaks and watched the results carefully.  Some changes made  a positive difference (more new subscribers and more downloads). Some changes had a negative impact. And some made no difference at all.

Below, I have distilled down the top 7 tactics that have worked for me and other bloggers. Anyone can revive their fading podcast by using one or more of these 7 ideas.

 1. Get a new sound. Invest in new voice-over talent for intros. Add other production elements including jingles and music. Those little changes can be the trigger that catches interest. They can keep listeners interested and attract new subscribers.

2. Change the length of the show. If you've been doing a one-hour show, try cutting it back to 30 minutes. People may expect one length of podcast from you. Now they see that has suddenly changed. You've got their interest piqued. “I wonder what else has changed?”

3. Change the subject. Go in a radical new direction with your content. You still want to stay within the realm of your expertise and experience. But what if you shared a podcast on a topic that others don't expect from you? Again, you've caught their interest and broadened your scope.

4. Add (or remove) a co-host. If you do the show alone, add a co-host. (And make sure it's someone whose personality is different from yours!) Not only will a new voice bring a different sound, but a fresh perspective as well. Listeners' interest level just went up!

5. Conduct a contest. Give away cash to new subscribers. Or give people mentions and back-links if they subscribe to, download, and rate your podcast in iTunes. A contest may be just the thing to win back a former follower. And if they rate your podcast for you it's a double-win.

6. Add (or remove) interviews. Whatever you're doing now in this regard, do the opposite. If you're all interviews, switch to all solo shows. If you've been flying solo, do some interviews. Shake it up! Try something new and different. Keep your listeners guessing.

7. Get interviewed on other shows. Gain the interest of a whole new audience and compel them to take you up on your “Amazing Free Gift” offer. Also, collaboration appeals to people. They like relational connections. When you show up on someone else's podcast, it's a win for all involved.

What's the status of your podcasts right now? If you do even half of these tips, you're sure to inject new life into your flagging podcast. I can't wait to hear about what you tried and what worked for you!

Which one of these tips will you try first? What other tactics have you tried that worked well for you?

Ray Edwards is a world-renowned copywriter and communications strategist, writing for some of the most powerful voices in leadership and business including New York Times bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Tony Robbins. Ray is a sought-after speaker and author, hosts a popular weekly podcast, and blogs at RayEdwards.com.