98. Is It Time to Rebrand Your Show? Podcasting Signs You Should & How to Do It Right

Are you in the frustration stage of your podcasting journey? A podcasting rebrand might be just the thing you need to accelerate! In this episode, I'll help you determine whether a rebrand is the right move for you, walk you through what exactly needs to change during the rebranding process, and finally, show you how to strategically position your rebrand so that it actually fuels growth.

Get on the waitlist for the Podcast Growth Collective: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com/collective 

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 86 - 7 Podcast Naming Mistakes to Avoid | Podcasting Tips for Titles, Launches, and Rebranding
• Episode 94 - 3 Podcast Cover Art Mistakes to Avoid | Podcasting Tips for Thumbnails

This episode was produced by me, The Podcast Teacher! Contact me at Hello@ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Hey. Hey. And welcome back. Today, we're diving into a topic that can feel both exciting and a little overwhelming, and that is rebranding your podcast. If you are in the restoration stage of your podcasting journey, you know who you are, then a rebrand might be just the thing to revive your show and set it on a path to real growth. So in this episode, I'm going to help you determine whether or not a rebrand is the right move for you, walk you through exactly what needs to change during the rebranding process, and finally, show you how to strategically position your rebrand so that it actually fuels growth. So let's kick things off by talking about three common scenarios where I see a rebrand as a possible solution to your frustration. Scenario number one is that your podcast isn't growing.

You've launched your show. You've given it some time, at least three to six months, and nothing is really happening. Your download numbers are stagnant or maybe they're even declining month after month. No new listeners are discovering your show organically, and your marketing efforts just aren't moving the needle. Something just isn't clicking, and you are super frustrated. If this sounds like you, a rebrand could be the key to repositioning your show for better visibility and audience alignment. Alright. Scenario number two is very similar, but it's that your podcast isn't bringing in clients.

So this might mean that your content is attracting an audience, but it's not the right audience because you're getting downloads and then those listeners are not converting into email subscribers, discovery calls, sales, etcetera. And this can be happening for a few different reasons. So maybe your topic is too broad and listeners don't see how it funnels directly into your offers, Or maybe your messaging isn't aligned with your ideal client's pain points and there's a mismatch there. Or your CTAs, your calls to action, aren't working because listeners don't understand the value of taking the next step. So if any of these are the situation, a rebrand can help clarify your messaging and ensure that your podcast is attracting the right people who actually need and want what you have to offer. Alright. And scenario number three is that you are not excited about your podcast anymore. If you feel out of alignment with your show's branding, name, content direction, etcetera, it's going to feel like a chore rather than an exciting platform for your business.

And if you feel out of alignment with these things, that could be causing a lack of growth and or a lack of clients as well. I went through something like this myself when I rebranded from podcasting for introverts to podcasting for solopreneurs. If you've been around here for a while, if you're an OG, then you remember that change. I had a gut feeling that introverts was not quite the right word for my audience when I started this podcast, but I teach taking imperfect action. And so practicing what I preach, I move forward with the name anyway. And I'm so glad that I did because it allowed me to get my podcast started and find my footing. But after about eight months or so, I realized I needed a name that better represented my listeners and my business. So I felt out of alignment with the name and the direction of the podcast, and so it was time to pivot.

A rebrand should feel like stepping into alignment. The puzzle pieces are clicking into place, and then your podcast starts to become exciting and energizing rather than draining. So, if any of those scenarios sound familiar to you, it might be time for a rebrand. But, before you make the leap, let's talk about what actually needs to change when you rebrand your show. With a rebrand, you are making a strategic pivot. And so that is usually either shifting your content focus and or refining your audience, and that means that you'll need to update several key elements to reflect the new direction of your show. So let's go through them one by one here. The first one is of course your podcast title.

Your show title is the first impression that a new listener gets and a rebrand might mean a subtle tweak like mine, podcasting for introverts to podcasting for solopreneurs, or it could mean a total overhaul. No matter how big the change, make sure that your title includes search friendly keywords so that it ranks in the podcast directories. And you can check out episode 86 for my full breakdown on how to name your podcast for maximum discoverability, as well as the mistakes to avoid. Then comes your cover art. Your podcast cover art should reflect your new branding and messaging, and this is a great opportunity to refresh your color scheme, font choices, or even update your headshot in addition to simply replacing the text of your title. Make sure that your cover art is clear, bold, easy to read, and that it stands out, especially when it's viewed as a teeny tiny thumbnail on your phone. You can refer back to episode 94 for more info about how to create a cover that works for your podcast and plus, of course, the mistakes to avoid. Next up is your show description.

This is one of the most overlooked pieces of a podcast rebrand, but your show description should also be revised to reflect your content and or audience pivot, and it should definitely include search optimized keywords. Choosing the best keywords is something that we dive into inside my brand new community, the Podcast Growth Collective. If you want guidance on choosing the right keywords for podcast SEO, check out The Collective. The doors open next month and you can be the first to hear about it by hopping on the wait list at the podcast teacher dot com slash collective. Okay. That brings us to your show's trailer. Your trailer is the short two minute commercial for your podcast, and the trailer should also be updated to reflect the new content and or audience focus. You'll rerecord and post the new trailer as an advertisement for your new and improved show.

And finally, there's your show's intro and outro, if you have them. Some people have a pre recorded intro and outro that play at the beginning and end of every episode, And so if you have these and they mention the current branding, you'll want to update those to reflect the new direction. So those are the pieces that need to be updated whenever you do a rebrand. It's also important to note that you can update these individual items without doing a complete rebrand. You can give your show description a refresh or rerecord your trailer whenever you feel like it. And in most cases, you don't even need to announce to your audience that you're updating something. I would say that the exception is your cover art. If you're making major changes to the cover art, the audience is definitely going to see that when the next episode pops up into their feed.

So you want to announce that and avoid having them exit out because they didn't recognize it. Alright. So that brings us to the final item in today's agenda, and that is how to position your rebrand to spur growth. Because a podcast rebrand is more than just a name change, it is a marketing opportunity. So here are a few tips on how to turn your rebrand into a relaunch that boosts your visibility. So the first tip is to treat it like a launch. Set a specific rebrand launch date and build excitement leading up to it. Involve your family, friends, colleagues, get other people on board for the launch.

My second tip is to tell your audience why. Explain and share the story behind your rebrand. What has changed? What is staying the same? And what new value they can expect? Why they should continue to stick around? The third tip is to leverage multiple platforms. You don't want to just post the new podcast in the podcast player and assume that things will happen. Make sure to announce your rebrand on social media and on your email list, put something on your website, make a big deal out of it in various places. And my final tip here is to run a launch contest or giveaway. So you can encourage listeners to share the rebranded podcast for a chance to win a prize. This is a great way to get additional eyes and ears on your podcast, attract new listeners, and re engage your current audience.

So if you have been feeling stuck, uninspired, or misaligned with your podcast, a rebrand might be the fresh start that you need. But I wanna make sure that you don't rush it. Take the time to think strategically so that your rebrand isn't just a simple set of changes, but rather it's a catalyst for growth. And if you want step by step guidance on growing your podcast after a rebrand, make sure to get on the wait list for the Podcast Growth Collective. Inside, we are gonna cover exactly how to position your podcast for long term success and the doors are opening soon so be sure to get on the waitlist at the podcastteacher.com/collective. Alright. That's all for today. Until next time.

Happy podcasting.