Every day we hear many news and stories, some of them are easily forgotten, while others stick with us in detail and we share them around. 

So what is the difference between those that stick and those that don’t? 

The answer is simple. 

The main element of every piece of content is the topic, however, the storytelling approach and the narration play a greater role in attracting listenership.

How is this related to podcasting?
Just like the news, a podcast is an attractive story presented to listeners in a distinctive and interesting plot to draw attention to the content.

After hours of work and preparation to create distinctive content, the podcaster must top the work by presenting the content with a new, innovative, and out-of-the-ordinary structure.

In fact, in addition to setting a clear and appropriate structure for the program, introduction, main content, and conclusion, the podcaster must know that the use of storytelling is the key to attracting and retaining listeners.

How to set a Podcast Structure?
Just like any other media show, a podcast consists of several sections that sculpt a roadmap for the show and helps the podcaster stick to a timeframe. 

Knowing that your podcast episodes may differ in subjects addressed, they should all usually contain the same main sections to create continuity and consistency for listeners. 

When developing your podcast structure, you should know your ideal listener very well to create a listening experience that draws them into your story.

The best structure is the one that maintains its consistency from one to the other. The best practice includes an introduction, main content and an attractive outro with a call to action. 

What is the difference between Podcast Sections?

• Introduction: The intro will tell new listeners who you are, and why they should listen to your podcast. But most importantly, your podcast intro script needs to tell your listeners that your podcast is intended for them.
• Main Content: The primary content of your episode could be a guest interview, a monolog podcast format, or even an audio drama. This content is typically the longest portion of your podcast.
• Outro: Your podcast outro is very important, so don’t skip this segment! In your outro, you should direct your listeners to a specific call to action, such as “rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast” or “follow me on Instagram”. This segment is key to building a relationship with your audience beyond your podcast.

How to tell your listeners a story?
The best content always tells a story. The best skill that you as a podcaster should work on developing and improving is storytelling. 

Here are some factors that make a story interesting:

• Engaging with listeners: for example, you can ask them a question that entices their feelings and creates curiosity strong enough to listen to the episode until the end to find answers.
• Let your listeners live the story: mention the narrative of the story, i.e the location, the timeframe, the characters, and the feelings. Allow your audience to create a real image while listening.
• Create suspense in your tone: Audio is the main tool in podcasting. Using it properly gives weight to the story when knowing where to change your pitch and raise your voice, or when to slow down or speak faster to draw attention.
• Use Sound Effects: sound effects play a major role in creating an overall listening experience and highlight sections, milestones, and events.
• Narrate logically: story narration needs to have a logical flow, to guarantee that the listeners will continue till the end. Keep a reasonable sequence of the events.
• Conclude with a Clear Ending: Listeners are with you to know “How will it end?! And So what?!”. Make sure that your story closure sent out the intended message in a clear manner and that you were able to direct your listeners on what to do next.

The above simple tips will help you create a structured podcast that captures the listeners’ attention from the first hello to the final breath and keeps them coming back to listen to more stories and information. 

Start today, and our support team at Podeo is ready to help you create a top-quality podcast 24/7. Just reach out!