11 Quick and Actionable Tips to Improve Your Podcast for 2025

If you're looking to elevate your podcast and refine your strategy for the year ahead, you're in the right place. In today's episode of The Podcast Therapist for December 18th, 2024, I'm sharing practical tips to enhance your podcast's content flow, branding, audio quality, and promotions. These insights stem from my experience as a radio broadcaster, podcast producer, and listener who has spent time analyzing what works and what doesn't across various podcasts. Let’s dive in.

Quick Podcast Improvements: The Four Key Categories

The 11 tips I’m sharing today fall into four main areas:

1. Pre-rolls and Promotions

2. Content Structure and Organization

3. Branding and Consistency

4. Audio Quality and Delivery

Let’s start with the first category: Pre-rolls and Promotions.

Pre-rolls and Promotions

1. Share Offers Briefly and Direct Listeners to the Show Notes

If you’re mentioning an offer or promotion in your podcast pre-roll, keep it simple. State the website or call to action briefly, but guide listeners to the show notes for more details.

For example:

"You can grab my $9.97 guide on podcast growth. Head to the link in the show notes for all the details."

Why does this matter? Many listeners aren’t in a position to type a long URL while listening. Simplify their experience and increase your conversion potential by pointing them to where the information lives.

2. Highlight the Benefits First

When promoting a product or offer, start with the benefits. Hook your audience immediately by explaining what’s in it for them before diving into the details.

Think of it like an infomercial:

• Highlight the result or transformation first (e.g., “This guide will help you double your audience in 30 days”).

• Then mention the offer itself and direct them to the show notes for more.

3. Keep Pre-Roll Promotions Short and Snappy

Long, drawn-out pre-roll ads risk losing your audience. Keep your pre-roll promotions under 30 seconds to maintain engagement and respect your listeners' time.

Here’s what NOT to do:

• I recently heard a six-minute pre-roll ad on a podcast, and it was overwhelming. Long ads can cause listeners to skip forward or, worse, abandon your episode entirely.

Keep it short, impactful, and valuable.

4. Repeat Promotions Across Multiple Episodes

If you’re running a promotion, don’t limit it to a single episode. Repetition is key to ensuring your audience hears and remembers your message.

For example:

• If you’re promoting a guide or a special offer, mention it consistently across multiple episodes. This increases the likelihood that new and returning listeners will take action.

Pro Tip: Plan your campaign strategy in advance. For example, if your promotion runs for a month, schedule mentions across four weekly episodes. You can mix it up by placing mentions in the pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll.

Content Structure and Organization

5. Structure Your Content for Natural Flow

One of the most common mistakes I noticed while listening to various podcasts is the lack of a logical flow. Often, episodes include unnecessary double introductions or unorganized transitions that confuse listeners.

Here’s a simple and effective structure to follow:

1. Pre-roll: A quick promotion or call-to-action (under 30 seconds).

2. Branded Introduction: A polished intro with your show name and music bed (around 15 seconds).

3. Personal Introduction: Introduce yourself and share a brief summary of the episode.

4. Main Content: Dive directly into the value-driven content without unnecessary delays.

For example, the flow I follow on The Podcast Therapist looks like this:

• A short pre-roll offer.

• Branded sounder/stager (e.g., “This is The Podcast Therapist.”).

• My quick personal intro: “Welcome! I’m Shannon Hernandez, radio broadcaster and podcast producer.”

• Episode overview: “Today, I’m sharing 11 actionable tips to improve your podcast.”

This structure sets expectations, reduces confusion, and keeps the audience engaged.

6. Avoid Delays—Get to the Content Quickly

Listeners don’t want to wait six minutes before reaching the main content. I’ve heard podcasts with long, meandering stories or extended ads at the start, and it’s frustrating.

Keep intros and housekeeping short:

• State what the episode is about.

• Jump into the content within the first 2 minutes.

• If you have a story or anecdote, weave it into the main content where it adds value.

7. Use Smooth and Intentional Segues

Segues (or transitions) are essential for a polished podcast. They signal to your listeners that a new segment or topic is starting, maintaining flow and professionalism.

For example:

• Fade music up as you conclude a segment and change your tone to introduce the next topic.

• Use pre-recorded sweepers (e.g., “Coming up next: How to monetize your podcast…”).

• Gradually lower the music as you introduce your guest or start a new discussion.

Radio techniques like these make your podcast sound cohesive and intentional, whether you use tools like the Rodecaster Pro 2 for live fades or edit manually in software like Adobe Audition.

Branding and Consistency

8. Ensure Your Branding is Consistent Across All Platforms

Your branding—both visual and audio—needs to be cohesive. Use the same artwork, logo, and style across all platforms, whether it's Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

Key Tip: Avoid generic or unbranded episode artwork. Instead, incorporate your logo and consistent design elements to make your podcast instantly recognizable.

For example, some podcasters use Canva to create episode-specific images but fail to include their branding. This weakens recognition and impact. Your artwork should clearly reflect who you are and what your show is about.

9. Keep Sound Effects and Sweepers Consistent

Consistency in sound design gives your podcast a polished and professional feel. Use the same:

• Music beds

• Sweepers (short audio clips introducing topics or segments)

• Sound effects

For example, when creating a top 10 list, use consistent sound effects for each number:

Number 5… SWOOSH.

I’ve noticed some podcasters introduce a sound effect once and never use it again, which feels disjointed. Keep it uniform throughout the episode to maintain flow.

Tip: Ensure sound effects have a clear purpose—like signaling a countdown or a transition—to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Audio Quality and Delivery

10. Boost and Normalize Your Audio Levels

Audio quality can make or break your podcast. Boost your levels and normalize your loudness to ensure your podcast meets platform standards and sounds clear and balanced.

Why is this critical?

• Inconsistent audio can force listeners to adjust the volume constantly, leading to frustration.

• Podcasts with low levels are hard to hear, especially in noisy environments (e.g., traffic, workouts).

Solution: Use tools in your DAW (like Adobe Audition’s Match Loudness feature) to balance levels. This ensures guest and host audio are clear and consistent throughout the episode.

If you record live on platforms like YouTube, tools like the Rodecaster Pro 2 can help you manage audio levels in real time.

11. Close with a Clear Call to Action (continued)

Always close your podcast with a reminder of where listeners can connect with you:

• Promote your website for show notes and resources.
• Encourage social media follows (e.g., Threads, Instagram).
• Highlight any downloadable resources (like guides or checklists) you’ve mentioned during the episode.

For example:

“If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to check out my Essential Podcast Equipment Guide linked in the show notes. You can also connect with me on Threads at @ShannonHernandez or visit my website at thepodcasttherapist.com.”

By ending with a clear call to action, you encourage listeners to take the next step and remain engaged with your content. Don’t leave your audience guessing about what to do next!

Implementing these 11 practical tips will help you create a polished, engaging, and professional podcast that keeps your audience coming back for more. From improving your content flow to refining your branding and audio delivery, these changes will set you apart and keep listeners coming back for more.

Remember, podcasting success comes from consistency and a willingness to improve over time. Start small—adjust one or two areas first and build from there.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to connect with me on Threads. Here's to making 2025 your best podcasting year yet!