Knowing what niche your show should focus on when you're new to the podcast game can be challenging. There are so many different topics that could potentially make great podcasts (and some of them overlap), which is why narrowing down what you want to talk about is vital. Whether it's sports, relationships, travel, or something else entirely, finding your niche will help listeners identify with and enjoy your content more. If you don't know where to start looking for inspiration, here are a few things to consider:

1. What’s Your Passion?

Contrary to what others say, podcasting should be about the things that you like. Can you imagine choosing a niche based on its popularity and not enjoying it one bit? Podcasting shouldn’t feel like a chore or a job, so gravitating to what you like is a great place to start.

But Melissa, what if I’m passionate about something that I don’t know a lot about?

Just like any other podcast, research and planning are very important to the success of your show. For example, if you are passionate about natural hair but only know how to treat type 4A hair, you may want to research the other types of hair before you launch a podcast dedicated to natural hair.

2. What’s Hot Right Now?

Ok, so you’ve figured out what you're passionate about but does a podcast about your passion already exist?

Probably. No worries. That’s not a sign for you to give up. It’s an opportunity for you to see what other people have been doing, what works, what doesn’t, and how you may want to approach a particular topic. So if you’re interested in having a finance podcast, research all the finance podcasts that exist and pay attention to what they talk about, how they format their show and the type of guests they may bring on.

Disclaimer: Don’t go copying what you see others doing. That is a definite turn-off to listeners who may want to hear another perspective, and the creators themselves won’t be happy about it. Plagurisng may even come with some legal ramifications.

3. How Much Time Are You Willing to Dedicate?

Current data suggests that the average podcast episode is about 43 minutes long, but it takes way more than that to get an episode up and running. Here are some things to consider. Can you dedicate the necessary time to research a specific topic for an episode (a quick google search is never enough)? Do you have the time to create an outline for the episode? Can you record, edit, upload your RSS feed, and promote your episode? Yeah, there’s a lot that goes into making those 43 minutes happen, and that’s something you have to do for every episode. So if the niche that you selected requires more behind-the-scenes work than you’re willing to commit to, it may not be the niche for you. If you’d like, consider podcast batching or outsourcing all your pre and post-production work, or go back to my first point and start again.

4. Is Anybody Listening?

Before you hit record, you have to figure out what your audience wants to hear. Sometimes it may not be what you want to talk about, and that’s fine. One of the easiest ways to figure out what your audience wants is to do a survey.

In your survey, give your audience a list of topics to choose from. Ask them what they want to hear. That way, they’ll have an idea of what your show will be about, and you’ll have a better understanding of what they’re looking for. Ask them how long or short they’d like each episode. Believe it or not, there are many successful 20-minute podcast episodes. Ask them about their favorite programs (TV, podcasts, youtube videos) within your niche. Ask them about their favorite influencers and their goals within your niche. You’ll be surprised by how much content you can create from the responses you’ll get. The answers are all around you; you just have to ask the right questions.

5. Are you Paying Attention?

If your identified niche is something that you are really passionate about, chances are you may already be dabbling in it. For example, if you love all things relationships, you may watch 90 Day Fiancé or Married at First Sight. These can be great outlets to find content for your relationship podcast. Pay attention to the things that trend on social media within your niche, and don’t be afraid to start a conversation about it either. Just like I said before, the answers are all around you.

6. Are You Consistent?

If you’re not willing to do the research and spend the time to give your audience what they need, then podcasting may not be for you. If you tell your audience that your podcast is about finances, but you’re dropping episodes about gardening, you will lose your audience. Once you select a niche, try to stick to it. It may not blow up overnight, but one thing’s for sure. Your audience is looking for consistency. Yes, it will be difficult at first, but things will come naturally once you get into it.

Also, don’t be afraid to revamp your niche if months pass and you see no engagement. Sometimes that could mean that your niche may be too large or too small. Try focusing on the solution you can provide to your audience’s problem, and stick to that.

Finding your niche can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be! It's important to ask yourself what you're passionate about and then consider the types of podcasts that are already popular in your industry. Next, evaluate how much time and resources you have available for podcasting before deciding on whether or not this is something worth pursuing. Once you've decided how to proceed with podcasting, figure out who your audience is and understand their needs, so they feel like they’re being spoken to directly when listening to your show. Finally, keep track of any ideas related to topics surrounding your niche. They will come in handy for episode ideas.

How to Find Your Podcast Niche