Podcasting has grown at an incredible pace, with over 5 million podcasts and more than 70 million episodes available across platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. While this boom has created exciting opportunities, it has also made competition fiercer than ever.
Listeners today have endless options, and they’re selective about what they tune into. If your podcast doesn’t offer something fresh, engaging, or uniquely valuable, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. So, how do you stand out?
How to Assess the Uniqueness of Your Podcast
It’s easy to assume your show is unique, but how can you be sure? Before you focus on improving your podcast’s distinctiveness, you need to assess where you currently stand.
Research Your Niche & Competition
One of the best ways to determine if your podcast is unique enough is to analyze your competition. If your show sounds too similar to others in your niche, it’s time to refine your approach. Here’s how to research your competition:
- Search for similar podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser. Look at the top-ranking shows in your category.
- Listen to a few episodes from competitors and take notes on their format, style, and content.
- Identify patterns—do many podcasts in your niche follow the same interview structure? Cover the same topics? Use a similar tone?
- Look for gaps—what’s missing in these shows that you could offer?
Ask Yourself: What’s Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
In business and marketing, a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is what makes a product or brand different from competitors. The same concept applies to your podcast.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the one thing my podcast offers that others don’t?
- Why would someone choose my show over another on the same topic?
- What’s my signature style, tone, or format that sets me apart?
Your USP might come from:
- Your Expertise or Background: Do you have unique experience, insider knowledge, or a fresh perspective?
- Your Delivery: Are you known for humor, deep storytelling, or a no-nonsense approach?
- Your Format: Do you use a narrative, roundtable discussions, or highly produced soundscapes?
Get Listener Feedback
Your audience is one of the best sources for determining whether your podcast is unique—or just another voice in the crowd. Here are a few ways you can get feedback from your listeners:
- Send out surveys: Use Google Forms or Typeform to ask your audience what they love about your show and how they’d describe it to a friend.
- Check your reviews: What themes come up in your Apple Podcasts or Spotify reviews? Do listeners mention anything distinctive about your show?
- Engage on social media: Ask your followers how they’d describe your podcast in one sentence. Their responses can reveal whether your show has a strong identity or not.
- Analyze your best-performing episodes: Look at your podcast analytics. Which episodes have the most downloads or engagement? What do they have in common?
6 Actionable Tips to Make Your Podcast Stand Out
So, you’ve assessed your podcast’s uniqueness—and maybe you realized it’s not as distinct as you’d like. The good news? You don’t need to start from scratch. Sometimes, small but intentional changes can make a big difference in how your podcast is perceived.
- Develop a Signature Format or Style: A unique format can make your podcast instantly recognizable. For instance, you could mix interviews with scripted storytelling and sound design (like Serial or Radiolab). Instead of one-on-one interviews, bring in multiple perspectives per episode. Incorporate listener call-ins, live Q&As, or real-time reactions.
- Craft a Strong Podcast Brand: Your podcast’s branding isn’t just about looks—it’s about how your show feels to listeners. Does your name clearly communicate your niche? Is your artwork bold, professional, and eye-catching? A unique theme song, catchphrase, or soundbite can help your show become instantly recognizable. Are you authoritative? Laid-back? Sarcastic? Whatever your style, lean into it consistently.
- Niche Down & Own a Specific Angle: One of the biggest mistakes podcasters make? Being too broad. Narrowing your focus can actually help you attract a more loyal audience.
- Bring Your Personality & Authenticity: People don’t just tune in for content—they tune in for you. Your authentic personality can be the reason listeners choose your podcast over another. Whether it’s humor, sarcasm, or deep storytelling, lean into what makes you you. Add in relatable moments as much as you can as they make episodes more engaging and memorable.
- Leverage Unique Storytelling Techniques: Great storytelling can hook listeners and keep them coming back. Even if you’re running an interview-based show, you can make it more compelling by enhancing the way you tell stories. A few ways you can improve your storytelling include teasing a key insight at the beginning and revealing it later, using sound effects or music to enhance the mood, and weaving in different perspectives and audio clips to create a more dynamic experience.
- Experiment with Unique Episode Structures: Listeners love variety—so don’t be afraid to break the mold with different episode types. You can vary the structure, length, and content type from episode to episode. Consider incorporating different series within your podcast for each episode type.
Standing out isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about delivering an experience listeners won’t forget.
Promoting Your Podcast’s Uniqueness
You’ve refined your podcast’s unique angle—now what? It’s time to make sure the right listeners find it. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
- Your podcast’s branding and messaging should clearly communicate what makes it unique. If your show sounds generic in your promotions, listeners won’t feel compelled to check it out.
- Social media isn’t just for promotion—it’s for connection. When done right, it can help amplify what makes your podcast stand out.
- A strong podcast isn’t just about listeners—it’s about fans who engage, share, and spread the word to build a loyal community around your podcast.
- One of the fastest ways to grow your audience? Tap into other audiences that already exist through cross-promotion and collaboration.
Conclusion
If you’ve been struggling to grow your audience or feel like your podcast is blending in, don’t get discouraged. Small, intentional changes can have a massive impact. The more clearly you define what makes your show special, the easier it becomes to attract the right listeners—people who will not only tune in but return, engage, and share your podcast with others.
