It is my 20th Podcast Anniversary. I just “hit publish” on my 20th episode of the Fruitfulujah Podcast today. It is a refreshing experience.

I will share with you 20 ways I have learnt so far to make your podcast remarkable. If you are a podcast host or you want to get into podcast, then this article is for you.

I have not arranged these lessons in order of importance. Pick any lesson you want and apply it the way you like.

Are you ready? Here we go:

1. Get a good name for your podcast, there’s no perfect one!

A good podcast name sells. It is memorable and simple. It just sticks there when you call it. How to come up with a good name is difficult. Because every good name seems far from that perfect name you are looking for.

When I wanted a name for my podcast, I considered so many names. Yet I was much comfortable with The Frutifulujah Podcast, which was and is the name for my website. Fruitfulujah is a coined word. It is an existing brand name that my clients where familiar with. It is unique and stands out.

Is it a perfect name? No.

But it’s a good name, and represents my brand. Get a good name. Not necessary the perfect one!

2. Get a good intro and outro for your show (outsource if necessary)

You will be shooting yourself in the foot if you adapt an intro to your podcast that is boring or annoying. That?s your trademark. When anyone listens to your intro, it should be captivating. It should give them a hint of what to expect from the show.

I knew the kind of intro and outro I wanted for my show, but I could not deliver that professional touch. So I hired someone on Fiverr to do the recording for me. I outsourced it. That’s right.

I wrote the words and he did the authoritative voicing I wanted. It always stands out when somebody listens to my podcast.

3. Listen to other shows and improve

Last year I did a survey of different podcast hosts. I asked them about their most important, but less talked about podcast tool. It was remarkable what one podcast host told me. He said, his best but less talked about tool is to listen to other podcasts.

Yes. That’s odd, but I saw a lot of sense in what he said. When you listen to other podcasts, you learn and improve your own. You know more, and get challenged to do better.

My favorite podcast is from InTouch.org hosted by Dr. Charles F. Stanley.

4. Ask questions if you need more clarification

There is no stupid question. You can only give a stupid answer.

When you are starting, they will be a lot of questions to ask. Like, which microphone should I use?

Which software should I use for editing?

Which software is best for remote recording, Skype, Zoom or Google Hangout?

There are tons of questions.

I asked a lot of questions and googled them on the internet. The good thing about it all is that, you will always find what you are looking for. So ask questions.

Please, feel free to ask me a question.

5. When interviewing guests, make them shine. Don’t intimidate them.

I learnt that in each interview, when I make my guests shine, I get more promotion and shares on the internet. They feel more comfortable to come back as guests on my show. That creates a win-win scenario for both of us.

That’s a good lesson you too should learn. Don’t intimidate your guests.

6. When interviewing guests, be a good listener. Listen more, talk less.

Talk less but listen more when you interview people on your show. Come on, that opportunity is for your guests, and not for you. If you want to talk, let them invite you to their show (that’s if they ever will).

Everyone is taking a class in public speaking these days, and no one is learning how to listen. That is the sad part to it.

Listen my friend.

Listen. Listen. Listen right, and ask the right questions.

7. Build an email list alongside your show.

The best time to build an email list for your podcast was last year. Another best time to build an email list for your show is today. Start now. Build an email list for your show if you want stay a top.

You are supplying on-demand content to your listeners in a midst of several other shows. You have to find a way to connect with your listeners beyond the show. Building an email list is the sure thing to do.

8. Read.

If you want to stay fresh, read as much as you can and improve your skills. Please, read outside your field too. Read blog post and articles related to the topic you are handling on your show. Also, read articles and blog posts related to podcast delivery. It will help you in many ways.

9. Use Social Media to your advantage, don’t be abuse by it.

Use social media to engage your audience as much as possible. Social media can be energy sucking and time-consuming if you don’t have a plan. If you want to stay productive, use it to your advantage in the best way you can. And don?t let it abuse you.

10. Get the right kind of friends to promote your work

Connecting with the right kind of people is helpful. Make friends with people who share the same idea with your podcast. If you have the right connections on any of the social media platforms, they will share your work. That is a plus to you.

11. Networking with the right kind people always helps

Birds of the same feathers flock together. That’s how the saying goes.

You can podcast alone and market your work alone, but it will be a lot easier if you let other podcast hosts help you. Nigerian Podcast Network is a nice group on Facebook, created by Dayo Samuel that you can join. You can promote your show and ask for help if you need any.

12. Plan your show.

Don’t just hit record and speak without thinking. You may later have to eat your words.

Whether you are doing free style or scripted podcast, plan and choose your words to build and not to destroy. And make sure you use the right words for your audience. Be careful what you say to others, or your words may later come back to hurt you.

13. Everyone ‘can be’ or ‘is’ unique.

Choose the podcast format that you are convenient with. Don’t be afraid to improvise. It’s your show!

It’s your show. Choose the podcast format you like. Go solo if you are comfortable with that. Ask somebody to join you if that is what you want. Anything or any method you choose to deliver your message, use it. Don’t be afraid to improvise. Always try new things.

14. Podcasting ought to be fun if you want to pass the first 7 episodes.

Always try to make each episode a memorable experience. Podcasting ought to be fun. Don’t squeeze out all the fun juice out of it. That’s the only way you can keep it going. Learning is hard work enough. Relax.

Still be cautious about making fun: don?t crush other people with your insensitivity.

15. Don’t allow the success or failure of other people discourage you. Build confidence as you move along.

It’s a hard fact to accept that you are struggling to reach your 10th episode. Other podcast hosts are celebrating their 100th episode. That can send fearful chills down your spine.

Never fret. And do not be afraid. You are not them. And they are not you. Move on. Hit record and bring out another episode of your show. Rome was not built in a day.

16. If you use copyrighted materials, remember to give credits.

To use copyrighted materials like music, pictures and text etc., get permission. Make sure you give credits for the works you use where necessary.

I wanted to reproduce a newsletter on my show, so I reached out to the author of the work. He was happy to give me permission to use his work, and was happy that I left a link back to his site. That’s the right thing to do.

17. Always ensure you record the best audio quality you can.

Avoid bad recordings with so much noise. Your competition is offering quality audio content to their clients. You can do better. You can buy basic recording equipment to start your podcast without breaking your back. Most basic podcast recording and editing software are free to download and use.

18. Quality sells. Always make sure to produce quality content for your audience.

Research and produce quality content for your listeners. And if you are doing an interview, bring on guests that are experts in their fields to add value to your show. On the internet, quality content is king!

19. Rest if you have to. But don’t give up.

I wanted to do a weekly show, but because of my time, I don’t always meet up. Sometimes I don’t produce for a week or two. That’s not consistency. Please, I am a bad example. But there’s one thing I have done to hit my 20th episode: I don’t quit! That you can learn from me. 🙂

20. I am still learning. I need your help to improve.

The day you stop learning, that is the day you die. I learn every day. I am still learning. And I need your help to improve. Listen to my podcast, leave me a thought or two on how to improve and make it a remarkable show.

You must give room for improvements if you want to go far. That’s one lesson you must not forget.

Now its your turn. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.