In the digital age, podcasts have become a powerful tool for B2B marketers for engaging with their audience, establishing thought leadership, and building brand authority.
After publishing 1,600+ podcast episodes and helping 50+ brands launch their own podcast, I've gathered invaluable insights on what it takes to host a successful podcast.
Here are actionable tips to help you embark on your B2B podcasting journey.
11 Steps on Your Path to B2B Podcasting Mastery
1. Define your audience and niche
As a B2B marketer, your target audience should always be your end customer. What do they want to hear? What are their greatest struggles or biggest focus areas? Target those for topics and guests.
Before hitting the record button, clearly define who your target audience is and what niche topic you'll cover. Understanding your audience's pain points and interests will help tailor your content to resonate with them.
2. Craft compelling content
Content is king in the podcasting realm. Plan your episodes around topics relevant to your audience and offer valuable insights, actionable tips, and industry trends. To retain listeners' attention, keep your content informative, engaging, and entertaining.
Use data to inform your content choices by searching for keywords on trending topics. Don't leave it to chance! Use that data to inform your topics as well as your titles and show notes content.
3. Invest in good-quality equipment
You don't need to break the bank, but investing in good-quality recording equipment is essential for producing professional-sounding podcasts. A good microphone, headphones, and recording software can make a significant difference in the overall quality of your audio.
My recommendation for all our clients and friends is to get the Shure MV7 USB Microphone for their office—and if they're on the road, the Shure MV88. If they plan to record live interviews, I recommend getting the Rode Wireless Pro.
Technology has gotten so good that you can create studio-like sound with a $500 equipment budget.
4. Master the art of storytelling
Great podcasts are more than just a recitation of facts. They tell stories that captivate listeners and keep them coming back for more. Learn the art of storytelling—use anecdotes, case studies, and real-life examples to make your content relatable and memorable.
One of the best tips we share with our clients and also practice in our podcast is to break the fourth wall: speaking with your guests but then breaking away from your guests with keywords that call out the audience specifically on a point that you want to hit home for them. Do this, and your engagement will soar.
5. Be consistent to breed familiarity and trust
Whether you release episodes weekly, biweekly, or monthly, stick to a consistent publishing schedule. Doing so not only keeps your audience engaged but also improves your podcast's visibility on podcast platforms.
Consider outsourcing guest booking, production, and writing tasks to an agency. By delegating those responsibilities, you can focus on creating and deepening relationships that help your business grow. Using this approach allows you to leverage the expertise of professionals, ensuring high-quality content while freeing up your time to focus on strategic aspects of your podcast and business.
6. Promote, promote, promote
Don't just rely on organic growth to build your podcast audience. Actively promote your episodes across your marketing channels, including social media, email newsletters, your website. Collaborate with industry influencers or guest experts to expand your reach and attract new listeners.
One of the very effective things we do with our podcast has two stages.
First, we align with our guest and their marketing team on any key priorities they want to focus on with the promotion of their podcast. That includes any hashtags tied to key efforts or assets they may want to share.
Second, the day the podcast goes live, our team emails the guest, letting them know, and we share the link to the LinkedIn post promoting the podcast as well as links to the podcast episode posted on our website. That helps generate likes, comments, and engagement early and often for all the episodes we post.
7. Engage with your audience
Building a loyal community around your podcast requires active engagement with your audience.
Encourage listeners to leave reviews, comments, and feedback. Incorporate listener questions or suggestions into your episodes to foster a sense of inclusivity and involvement.
8. Monetize
As a B2B business owner, your main monetization strategy with a podcast should be to use it as a relationship-development and lead generation tool.
By attracting top voices, you too will become a thought leader and influencer—and that only helps your and your company's credibility in the market.
If you grow big enough, even the industry conferences you are used to paying to attend may start offering you comped media passes so you can share and help them grow while you attend and grow your business.
9. Embrace 'downloads are vanity, contacts are sanity'
Though it's tempting to focus solely on download numbers, real value lies in creating meaningful connections with your audience. Use your podcast as a platform to network, establish relationships, and ultimately secure business.
10. Track and analyze metrics
Use analytics tools provided by podcast hosting platforms to track key metrics, such as downloads, listener demographics, and engagement levels. Analyzing those metrics will provide valuable insights into what content resonates with your audience and where you can improve.
11. Continually improve
The podcasting landscape is constantly evolving, so don't be afraid to experiment, iterate, and adapt. Solicit feedback from your audience and peers, stay updated on industry trends, and continually strive to improve the quality and relevance of your podcast content.
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By following those 11 practical tips, you'll be well-equipped to launch and grow a successful podcast that not only showcases your expertise but also strengthens your brand's presence—and your own thought leadership—in the competitive B2B marketing landscape.
Grab your microphone, hit record, and start podcasting your way to marketing success.
More Resources on B2B Podcasting
How to Create a B2B Marketing Podcast—And Why You Should
Your New Content Marketing Engine: Podcasting
The Business Podcast Primer: The Right Way to Do What Is So Often Wrong
