How to Come Up With Awesome Business Podcast Content Ideas

A business podcast can play a key role in your organization’s evolving digital marketing strategy. But how do you keep a volume of business podcast content ideas flowing to ensure it entices the target audiences you aim to help?  

Podcasting as a thought leadership tool is so ripe for all the things digital consumers are looking for – especially if you’re in the B2B realm aiming to attract busy professionals. So let’s leverage that! 

Hopefully, you’ve developed an overarching strategy that’ll guide your podcast direction moving forward. If so, now it’s time to develop that further into actual business podcast content. 

In this blog, we’ll explore various techniques and strategies to spark inspiration for your podcast, empowering you to consistently deliver high-quality episodes that resonate with your audience.

Unlocking Creativity: 4 Strategies for Generating Business Podcast Content Ideas

The good news is there are so many great business podcast content ideas and show formats out there. You can: 

• Host guest experts from your field
• Discuss the benefits of your latest product with your product engineer
• Interview satisfied customers/clients
• Provide tips & tricks to solve pain points
• Give insider knowledge about industry trends  

What luck, in content marketing, anything that can be blogged about, posted on social media, turned into an infographic, etc., can be talked about. If it can be talked about, it can be turned into a great podcast content idea.

The format options are also wide-ranging – from one-on-one interviews to panel discussions to solo shows. (Josh Hatcher, our VP of Client Success, sometimes likes to sit in his car and turn his thoughts into awesome podcasts for our business!)

In general, here are four strategies to get your gears turning about specific business podcast content ideas.

1. Identify & Address Audience Problems

This one’s always key for me. Any piece of content marketing should strive to solve a problem or pain point of your target audience. Sure, there’s wiggle room for entertainment and enlightenment, but the most engaging business podcasts keep people coming back for one simple reason: THEY ARE HELPFUL!

At the core of every successful business podcast is a deep understanding of the audience’s needs, challenges and aspirations.

(I know, you’ve been told “know your audience” more times than you can shake a stick at.) But getting to the crux of their issues takes more than educated guessing. Listen to your audience and prospective listeners/viewers. Engage them through:

• Surveys (offer incentives for participation)
• Feedback forms
• Social media interactions
• Live Q&A sessions or virtual events
• Interactive polls or quizzes on your podcast’s website or social media channels
• Listener-generated content submissions (questions, stories or testimonials)
• Attend industry events, conferences, or meetups to engage listeners face-to-face

Uncovering pain points and audience questions in these ways could potentially inspire hundreds of business podcast episode topics you had never considered. Each problem is a solution waiting to be discussed. Craft episodes that offer practical solutions, actionable insights and meaningful conversations that resonate with your listeners and establish your podcast as a thought leader in your industry.

2. Journal Techniques for Inspiration

Take some time to jot down your thoughts and feelings. Seriously.

Journaling isn’t just some grade-school activity to learn personal reflection. In a professional sense, it’s also a powerful tool for generating content ideas for your business podcast. By setting aside time to jot down ideas, experiences and observations, you can uncover a wealth of potential topics and themes to explore.

These thoughts don’t have to be logical or coherent. Whether you prefer traditional pen and paper or digital note-taking tools like Google Keep, even a random train of thought can get you thinking in the right direction.

3. Collaborate with Other Business Podcasts

Collaboration holds the key to unlocking fresh perspectives and new audience insights – while also greatly amplifying your message and reach. Partnering with fellow professionals in your niche offers a unique opportunity to generate compelling content ideas.

Identify podcasters or influencers whose content aligns with yours and resonates with a similar audience. Pitch a guest spot on your podcast – or vice versa. Your two organizations may form a natural connection in a continuum of services, from one step in a process to another. 

Feeling bold? Reach out to a competitor and have a friendly debate!

Discuss shared interests, audience demographics and the unique perspectives each party brings to the table. Brainstorming sessions can spark creativity and generate a wealth of business podcast inspiration.

4. Competitor Analysis

There’s much to learn by looking at what others are doing. You can stay ahead of trends to keep your content fresh and relevant. Online forums, discussion groups and subreddit communities pertaining to your podcast’s subject matter are great places to mine for information. Use digital analytics tools to analyze listener/viewer demographics and behavior.

And if you’re looking at competitors, you stand a better chance of not missing a particular podcast discussion or format that really seems to resonate.

Remember my buddy Josh from earlier? He jokingly calls this “spycraft.” I just call it smart market research. Ethically gather insights – engagement strategies, emerging topics, etc. – from competitors and other industry authorities. Note exciting new opportunities for innovation! 

Borrow ideas. Give credit where it’s due, of course. Ensure your podcast stands out while staying true to your brand.

Ready to Come Up with Some Great Business Podcast Content Ideas? We Can Help!

As business decision-makers, you understand the importance of engaging your audience with valuable and relevant content. First, you must strategize and create it, and then you must launch and promote it to the world!

Remember, creativity knows no bounds – so let your imagination soar as you craft compelling business podcast content that sets yours apart in the digital landscape.

In the bustling world of podcasting, competition for listeners’ and viewers’ attention is fierce. The ability to generate fresh and compelling content ideas is paramount. That can be a lot even for well-established marketing teams – let alone for small businesses and nonprofits. If you need help, contact us here.

Kelsey Boudin

President and Founder, Grand River Agency
With over 19 years of diverse experience in print journalism, digital media marketing, and nonprofit administration, Kelsey Boudin founded Grand River Agency (formerly Southern Tier Communications Strategies) in 2020. The agency specializes in offering contract-based strategic communications, content marketing, grant proposals, website design, and public relations services to small businesses and nonprofits. Kelsey’s career spans roles as an editor, content creator, and grant writer, reflecting his expertise in leading successful digital marketing campaigns, securing funding, and executing various projects.

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