Graphic Design Podcast is a great way for graphic designers to share ideas, experiences, stories, and often question-and-answer sessions with creative professionals in and out of the graphic design industry. Graphic design podcasts are also good marketing tools for customer conversion. It creates a relationship of trust between the podcaster and the listeners, therefore making the listeners have an affinity with the brand and also become brand loyalists.
Importance of graphic design podcast
Brand Exposure
Podcasting provides an excellent platform to promote your brand and reach a wider audience. By hosting a graphic design podcast, you can establish your brand’s presence, increase visibility, and create a unique identity within the design community.
Show Expertise
Podcasts offer a fantastic opportunity to showcase your expertise in graphic design. Through insightful discussions, interviews, and sharing valuable tips and techniques, you can position yourself or your company as an authority in the field. This can attract potential clients, collaborators, or even job opportunities.
Learn the Latest Trends
Keeping up with the rapidly evolving trends in graphic design is crucial for professionals in the industry. By hosting a podcast, you can stay at the forefront of the latest design techniques, tools, and industry news. Engaging with guests or discussing current design trends with fellow experts can broaden your knowledge and keep you updated.
Share Knowledge
Podcasts serve as a platform for knowledge sharing within the graphic design community. By creating informative and educational content, you can contribute to the growth of aspiring designers and enthusiasts. Sharing your experiences, insights, and practical advice can inspire and empower others in their creative journey.
Engagement with Audience
Podcasts facilitate direct and intimate communication with your audience. Listeners often develop a personal connection with hosts, feeling like they are part of a community. Engaging with your audience through comments, questions, and feedback helps build strong relationships, fostering a loyal and supportive fan base.
Drives traffic to a website or Blog
A well-produced podcast can drive traffic to your website or blog. By mentioning and promoting your online platforms during episodes, you can attract listeners to explore additional content, portfolios, or services you offer. This increased web traffic can lead to higher visibility, conversions, and potential business opportunities.
Get Design Advice from Professionals
Hosting a graphic design podcast provides a unique opportunity to connect with and learn from other professionals in the field. By inviting expert guests or participating in collaborative discussions, you can gain valuable insights, receive design advice, and engage in meaningful conversations with fellow designers.
Identify your podcast niche
Be certain to have a laser-focused niche that you want to talk about in your podcast. You shouldn’t create a podcast where you talk about graphic design niches arbitrarily. You should pick a primary niche that listeners will know and recognize you for and consistently go with it.
Along the way, you can step out of your niche and talk about related niches, which will absolutely make sense to your listener because they already know you well enough.
Podcasts are followed up by episodes, after covering most of your podcast’s primary niche, you can begin talking about other related niches in the upcoming episodes. Exploring new niches will open doors for new ideas, discussions, and audiences.
Research existing design podcasts
- Researching existing podcasts that talk about graphic design can be a great way to stay updated with industry trends, gain insights from experts, and expand your knowledge in the field. By finding out what other prominent graphic podcasts are doing, you will be able to find a sweet spot for your own brand and begin to create podcast series your audience would like.
You should be looking for loopholes left by your competitor and use them as an edge against them. That is how you build the best design podcast that your audience will fall in love with.
There are prominent graphic design podcasts to listen to and have a good idea of what yours should sound and feel like:
- The Futur
- Creative Peptalk
- Design Matters with Debbie Millman
- The Honest Designers Show
- Adventures in Design
- Design Review
- 99% Invisible
- Design Matters
- Logo Geek
- The Deeply Graphic Design podcast
Define your target audience
Defining your target audience gives you a vivid idea of the kind of audience your content should aim to attract. Creating content for the right audience will not only resonate with the audience but also be relevant to them.
Your content will create more engagement with your audience, drive traffic, and increase conversions.
Set podcast goals and objectives
Outline certain goals that you want your odcast to achieve. Having a goal in mind creates a sense of encouragement to do more episodes. Goals are simply the reason why we keep going whenever we feel like giving up on dreams.
Here are certain goals you may strive for:
Gaining More Brand Visibility
A primary goal of starting a graphic design podcast is to increase brand visibility. By consistently producing high-quality content and promoting your podcast through various channels, you can reach a broader audience. This increased visibility enhances brand recognition and establishes you as a reputable figure in the design industry.
Getting New Clients
A well-executed podcast can attract potential clients to your graphic design services. By showcasing your expertise, sharing valuable insights, and demonstrating your unique approach to design, you can build trust and credibility with your listeners.
This can lead to inquiries, collaborations, design consultations, and ultimately, new client relationships.
Showcasing Your Expertise
A podcast offers an ideal platform to showcase your expertise in graphic design. Through informative discussions, interviews, and sharing practical advice, you can position yourself as a thought leader and industry expert.
Demonstrating your knowledge and skills can attract opportunities for speaking engagements, collaborations, more followers, and consulting projects.
Breaking into the Industry
If you’re a budding graphic designer looking to establish yourself in the industry, a podcast can be a powerful tool.
By consistently producing valuable content, networking with influential guests, and engaging with your audience, you can gain recognition and break into the design community. This can lead to new connections, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to exciting projects.
Getting More Traffic to Your Website
A successful podcast can drive more traffic to your website, which can translate into increased visibility and potential business opportunities.
By promoting your website during podcast episodes and providing additional resources, you can encourage listeners to visit your site for more information and services or to explore your portfolio. This increased website traffic can result in higher conversion rates and a broader online presence.
Whatever your goal may be, you should always create quality content. Because quality content is key to achieving the above-mentioned.
Outline topics and potential guests
Podcasts aren’t fun when you just sit all by yourself in your space without conversing with people on the other side of their devices. right? You should create a topic outline that will guide you in picking relevant guests that will join your discussions throughout the episode.
Never forget to create interesting and engaging podcast topics for every podcast episode that are relevant to your audience. When your contents are relevant to the audience, they will be excited to listen to your podcast.
Also, when building a podcast about graphic design, consider making a plan to invite creative professional guests that are in and out of your niche to talk about experiences and stories, share ideas, and also give practical advice to the rookies.
Gather necessary equipment and software
Having the necessary recording equipment and software puts your podcast in a top-notch position regarding audio quality.
You should always invest in getting the right audio hardware, and software that will give your listeners an immersive audio experience whenever they put on their headphones, Bluetooth speakers, or whatever device they are listening on.
Some graphic designer podcasts often neglect this aspect of the user listening experience, but take my word for it: it pays to invest in good audio.
Nowadays, you don’t even need to spend much or have the most expensive podcast microphones to start a graphic design podcast. There are nice and affordable microphones that don’t cost much to get yet give you high-quality audio.
Set up a suitable recording space
You should find a suitable recording space for your podcast. Honestly, podcasts can be made anywhere, whether indoors or outdoors. Your style of podcasting will shape the type of environment in which you want to host your podcast.
You could do it in a room with a lot of furniture where sound hardly bounces off flat surfaces. Actually, there are fewer echoes on surfaces with a lot of furniture around them. In such an environment, there will be fewer background noises and echoes.
But for better podcast audio quality, we recommend you invest in an acoustic diffuser, which is the best sound control device for indoor studio recording.
Select the right microphone and headphones
The journey to the best graphic design podcast starts with owning a good microphone. Your choice of microphone for your podcast heavily influences the level of audio quality your listeners will get during your podcast.
It can be confusing when picking the best microphone for your podcast, but always keep in mind the features that come with every feature.
Podcast mics come with XLR and USB features that allow more flexibility in connection. This will make it possible for you to connect with multiple speakers on your podcast show.
Record and organize podcast episodes
Podcasts are made up of a series of engaging discussions, thought-sharing moments, and real stories of guests. Organizing episodes about your topic is how you keep things on track for listeners to follow up from beginning to end.
Episodes are a great way to fire up engaging and debatable content that will capture the interest of your audience and make them want to tune in daily or weekly to your podcast.
To make things more interesting with your design podcast, you can attract more interest by inviting notable graphic design designers to your show for a question-and-answer session where they share their ideas and advice with upcoming graphic designers who take them as role models.
Edit and enhance audio quality
After recording your audio, there are some adjustments that will require editing. Fortunately, there are editing software programs that can be used to add audio effects, audio enhancements, clip cutting, and so many more.
We have various industry-standard tools that can help you achieve great editing results:
This professional-grade audio editing software offers advanced features for podcast editing, including multi-track editing, noise reduction, audio restoration, and effects processing.
Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing software that provides a range of basic editing tools. It allows you to record, edit, and mix audio tracks, apply effects, and export your final podcast file.
GarageBand is a free audio editing software for Mac users. It offers a user-friendly interface with a variety of editing tools, pre-recorded loops, and effects. GarageBand is suitable for beginners or those looking for a simple editing solution.
Hindenburg Journalist is a podcast-specific editing software designed for radio journalists and podcasters. It offers features like automatic leveling, voice profiling, and noise reduction, along with multi-track editing and effects processing.
Reaper is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) that can be used for podcast editing. It offers a wide range of features, including multi-track editing, MIDI support, effects processing, and automation.
Logic Pro X is a professional DAW primarily used by music producers, but it can also be used for podcast editing. It offers advanced editing tools, virtual instruments, effects, and mixing capabilities.
Pro Tools is another industry-standard DAW used in professional audio production. It provides comprehensive editing, mixing, and mastering features suitable for podcast editing.
Add intros, outros, and music
Your podcast’s intro and outro serve as your audio branding. It gives an introductory audio play to the listeners, telling them about the value your podcast brings.
When done properly, it is how you can hook your listeners by giving them a snippet of your episode and why they should stick with the whole podcast.
A podcast outro and intro can be made with a mix of different short audio clips from episodes that are mixed with a sound effect that feels coherent with your brand, or you can simply download a free or paid stock audio intro clip.
Outros are also an important part of your podcast. The outro is the voice-over mixed with music that plays at the end of every episode.
Your podcast outro is essentially used to thank the listeners for sticking to the end of the podcast and also to encourage them to check out the rest of your content. It can also be used as a call to action or you can start a graphic design blog or website and direct them to it.
Choose a podcast hosting platform
Choosing a good hosting platform contributes heavily to the storage space of your podcast media files, the optimization of episodes, and the speed of content delivery to podcast distributors through RSS feeds.
As a beginner, you may be starting with a low-budget hosting platform that is giving you the optimal service you need, but it is advised that you make sure that platform will be able to give you expandable storage and features further down the road.
Here are a few of the best podcast hosts for your podcast:
- Libsyn
- Podbean
- Anchor
- Buzzsprout
- Transistor
- Blubrry
- Simplecast
- Castos
- Spreaker
- SoundCloud
- Apple podcast
Create podcast artwork and write descriptions
Simply putting a podcast artwork or cover art and your description beneath it is how your listeners are able to identify your content when they search and find a lot of other results from the search engine.
Having a uniquely designed artwork is how you stand out from the crowd of other thumbnails on the search result. When they see the thumbnail holding your artwork, they will be able to identify your podcast channel.
Creating a podcast artwork can be as easy as using your brand logo or using an image of you with some text describing your podcast title.
Upload episodes to the hosting platform
Upload your episodes to your hosting platform so that the podcast can be processed and go live. You can locate the option to upload episodes, this is typically done through a web-based interface or a dedicated podcast management dashboard.
Follow the instructions provided by the platform to upload your episodes. You may need to select the files from your computer and provide relevant metadata for each episode.
Submit the podcast to directories
Podcast directories are platforms where you submit your podcast using an RSS feed link that is created by your podcast hosting service.
After submitting all necessary information to your desired podcast directory, your podcast directory will automatically update whenever you release a new episode.
Here are popular directories among podcast listeners:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify for Podcasters
- Buzzsprout
- TuneIn
- Audioboom
- Pandora Podcasts
- Pocket Casts
- Acast
Utilize social media platforms
To make sure your design podcast gains as many listeners as possible, you need to be creating awareness through social media platforms.
Promotion pushes your podcast service even further to a broader audience. Instead of just sitting and waiting for people to tune into your podcast service. It doesn’t work that way. Unless you already have a popular brand with a strong customer base.
Social media has millions of potential listeners who would love to hear about your graphic design ideas and knowledge shared by guests. Facebook and Twitter are platforms that you can use to promote your graphic design podcast to a wider audience.
Collaborate with designers and podcasters
Collaborating with other podcasters and designers in and out of your niche creates more opportunities for bringing up new graphic design ideas, discussions, and debatable opinions that will educate your listeners.
When you invite professional designers who have valuable skills that they are willing to share, your listener will always be captivated and willing to stick to the end of every episode.
Hosting interesting individuals in your podcast, both upcoming and professional, will significantly increase your engagement rate and attract new listeners.
Create a website or blog for your graphic design podcast
Your graphic design podcast should allow seamless access from your podcast platform to your blog. This enhances the whole listening experience for your listeners, as they may sometimes want to see things visually rather than just auditorily.
Some podcast platforms make it easier on their podcast app; they provide a button that you can click to easily navigate from the app to your blog or website.
These are essential in-app features you should always consider when choosing your podcast platform.
Leverage email marketing and newsletter subscriptions
Emailing and newsletters go hand in hand with your podcast. You should always send emails and try to get returning listeners to your podcast. Some
Some listeners might have forgotten they have a weekly podcast that they need to listen to, your email broadcast message reminds them to tune in.
Your podcast email list is important for sending updates, new episode notifications, teasing of upcoming episodes, feedback, and engaging your listeners privately.
Here are some awesome emailing services that you can use to retrieve emails from your listeners:
Seek reviews and ratings from listeners
Calmly requesting your users to drop a review or a 1–5 star rating is how you gauge your performance. And trust me, you feel nice when people talk nicely about you, right?
So, whenever an episode finishes, there is a need to politely request their review of your podcast.
Their review and star rating will inform you how they feel about your podcast. If there are opinions, experiences, technical faults, or whatever, they will let you know so that you can improve on them.
Good reviews also encourage potential listeners who are skeptical about your podcast to tune in and consume your content.
Encourage feedback and questions
Graphic design podcasts are filled with informative content that helps listeners become better designers.
While they listen, there are certain areas where they fail to understand the topic being discussed, You can encourage them to be part of the conversation and ask questions and give feedback where they do not grasp it properly.
This way, you create a relationship of trust and community among your listeners. Your audience has diverse ideas and questions, and they need your platform to answer those questions.
Host live Q&A sessions or interviews
Hosting a question-and-answer session can significantly make your podcast more interesting for your audience to engage with. This is actually how you build the best podcast: by giving them value for their time.
Questions and answers sessions can be made after the end of every episode, or you can have a special weekly episode just for hosting questions and answers.
You can even make this more interesting by inviting experts from other industries related to graphic design.
Interact on social media and build a community
Most podcast hosts overlook the gold mine that social media platforms hold. Social media platforms can be used as an engagement tool to keep your audience engaged and keep the conversation going even when you are off your podcast platform.
In January 2023, over 4.73 billion social media users worldwide take advantage of social media’s game-changing ability and use it as a tool to grow your presence.
Establish a regular publishing schedule
Planning a timetable on how you should constantly publish new episodes on your podcast encourages new followers, grows your listeners over time, and helps keep you above the fold of search results.
Listeners are always on the lookout and expecting new episodes on your podcast channel. You should keep an unfailing time to give them new episodes.
They should be expecting to get new episodes twice weekly or just once weekly. This way, they become glued to your podcast session and also willing to engage with your podcast frequently.
Evaluate podcast performance
Tracing podcast performance can be difficult because its metric doesn’t count like youtube views or Facebook likes, which are proxies for better performance. However, the number of downloads and listeners will give good metrics of performance.
Some hosting platforms give some data in measuring podcast performance but there might be some essential missing metrics because sometimes these podcasts are downloaded to their devices, making tracking difficult.
Seek opportunities for growth and expansion
Exploring opportunities for guest collaborations or sponsorships can greatly enhance the quality and reach of your graphic design podcast.
It allows you to tap into the expertise and influence of industry professionals while potentially generating additional revenue or resources for your podcast.
Here are some points to consider when seeking guest collaborations or sponsorships:
Identify Potential Guests
- Research and identify individuals or experts in the graphic design field who can contribute valuable insights to your podcast.
- Explain the importance of selecting guests who align with your podcast’s theme and target audience.
Building Relationships
- Share tips on how to reach out and build relationships with potential guests, emphasizing the mutual benefits of collaborating.
- Highlight the significance of personalized invitations and showcasing the value of your podcast.
Engaging Interview Questions
- Provide guidance on preparing engaging interview questions that will showcase your guest’s expertise and provide valuable content for your audience.
- Encourage interview formats that foster dynamic discussions and insightful exchanges.
Cross-Promotion Opportunities
- Discuss the benefits of leveraging your guest’s network and encouraging them to share the podcast episode with their followers.
- Explain how cross-promotion can help expand your podcast’s reach and attract new listeners.
Sponsorships: Generating Resources and Building Relationships
Define Target Sponsors
- Guide readers in identifying brands or companies that align with their podcast’s audience and values.
- Discuss the importance of finding sponsors related to design tools, software, or creative services.
Crafting a Compelling Pitch
- Share tips on creating a sponsorship proposal that outlines the benefits for potential sponsors.
- Emphasize the value of exposure to your dedicated graphic design audience and various promotional opportunities.
Offering Sponsorship Packages
- Explain the importance of developing different sponsorship tiers to cater to different budgets and provide a range of benefits.
- Highlight examples such as ad placements, sponsored segments, or shout-outs.
Demonstrating Value
- Guide readers in showcasing their podcast’s reach, engagement metrics, and listener demographics to potential sponsors.
- Discuss the potential return on investment for sponsors and how it can be beneficial for both parties.
Building Long-Term Relationships
- Provide insights on fostering strong relationships with sponsors by delivering on promises, providing excellent service, and maintaining open communication channels.
- Highlight the significance of cultivating trust and mutually beneficial collaborations.
Maintaining Ethical Guidelines and Authenticity
Transparency and Disclosure
- Stress the importance of transparently disclosing any sponsored content or collaborations to maintain trust with the audience.
- Encourage clear communication and adherence to ethical guidelines throughout the process.
Aligning with Audience Interests
- Emphasize the significance of selecting sponsors or collaborations that genuinely align with the podcast’s values and audience interests.
- Highlight the benefits of maintaining authenticity and resonating with the target audience.
Stay updated on trends and skills
Staying updated on trends and skills is essential for any design podcast host. As the field of graphic design continues to evolve rapidly, it’s crucial to remain knowledgeable about the latest trends, techniques, and industry developments. Celebrate milestones and engage with the audience.
With all the listed steps for you on how you can build the best podcast, I’m sure you will be very confident in starting your own podcast service in no time and start driving traffic to your blog or website.
However, the results of your hard work might take a little time to start showing up, but it should always be in your mind to never give up on the process no matter what. Just here to the tips listed above, and you will see your podcast start gaining traction gradually.