We’ve had a couple of people talk about this to me recently, so we thought that we should do an article about it - because if they’re talking about it, then chances are that a few other people are too!
So, this is the scenario: You started a podcast a few months or even years ago - but you stopped. For whatever reason; you got a cat, Stranger Things started on Netflix or something shiny flew past your window. Whatever it was, you stopped and you’ve only just got round to the idea of starting again.
Now, in the meantime your original podcast is still ‘out there’ in the podcasting void. Still on a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify. Still able to be found and listened to - you’ve just not created any new content for it in months.
So - what’s the plan? Are you thinking of creating new content, or just picking up where you left off? If its new content, could it be considered a brand new podcast? We only offer that as an option because it might be something that the audience you’ve built up with the old podcast might not be into what you’re offering this time around.
Also, a brand new podcast is the chance to refresh, rebrand, learn from the lessons that you gained from the first podcast. With a new podcast there is no embarrassing early episodes where you were just learning your craft, finding your way…
The flip side to starting a brand new podcast, rather than reviving your old one, is that, with the old one, you’ve got an audience that knows you, had made a connection with you.
Many of those subscribers or followers will STILL be subscribed or following you - so they’ll be pleasantly surprised when a new episode drops on their device. For that reason, then you should just carry on adding episodes to your old podcast.
BUT - and it’s a big butt and we cannot lie - if your new content differs from your old podcast, then you really aren’t looking at a revival, you’re looking at a relaunch. You’ve got to think about starting again from the beginning - new logo, new music etc.
That’s because, and we're going back to something we’ve said a couple of times before - listeners love spontaneity, but they don’t like surprises.
What that means is they love it when you bring on an unexpected guest, or something similar - but they don’t like it when you change the format without warning, or just stop creating new episodes…
So if the idea of “reviving your podcast” is actually based around a lot of new content - then we'd ask you to think about NOT reviving, but relaunching.
If you do go ahead and revive, so add new episodes onto your old podcast - explain what’s been going on.
Don’t just start your new episode as though nothing has happened.
You wouldn’t treat your friends and family with that level of disrespect would you? So, why do it to a group of people that you want to respect you?
We're not saying that you have to go into every little detail as to why you stopped creating content, and why you’re starting again now - just don’t pretend that nothing has happened.
Something that we were asked the other day in a network meeting was whether or not there is some kind of time limit on reviving your podcast - we honestly don’t think that there is.
The only thing we will say is that the longer it has been since your last episode, the more you’re going to have to shout about any new content you create.
And that loops back to the earlier point that there is a tipping point where launching a brand new podcast is probably going to be the better option. If the amount of effort you’re having to put in to revive your podcast is more than it would take to launch a brand new one - you might as well launch a brand new one.
If you'd like to talk more about your podcast - whether it's a revive or a relaunch, then you can book in for a chat here