Names are a MASSIVE deal. From children to short novels, just about everything has a meaningful name, so your podcast isn't any different. From hugely successful podcasts like This American Life to more obscure stuff like Everything is Alive, we take a look at some brilliant shows and why you should name your podcast well.
Why Podcast Names Matter (& Why You Should Care)
Scientists believe that a name can determine a person’s future and the way they're perceived. Well, the same goes for podcasts. Picking the right name for your ickle baby podcast (yes, in this scenario your podcast is your child) can set you apart from the rest. It's kinda like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you choose the right name, the rest will fall into place, more or less.
Take Planet Money, a podcast on cash and the economy, all the while telling some pretty funny stories. Podcast names don't need to be short either, take My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Bit long-winded, but from the name alone you know it's something about murder mystery cases with well-known hosts.
If looking at successful podcasters doesn't get the old juices flowing, then best turn to your listeners for inspiration.
Name Your Podcast Based on Your Listeners
Figuring out WHO your target audience is a must when thinking of a podcast name. If you work out what kind of brands your audience trusts and what kind of products they buy, then you’ll find it sooooooo much easier to come up with a suitable name.
Now then! Ask yourself who your ideal listener is. Are they young hipsters that like ambiguous names? Such as the Robot Dinner Party? Or is it older business owners that see themselves as budding entrepreneurs looking for the next big thing? Maybe corporate sounding names like Entrepreneurs on Fire would work. The point is, knowing who you're talking to can give you some insight into the language of your average listener.
Don't Waffle, Keep It Clear
Nowadays, people don't have the time or attention span. Long-winded or confusing podcast names will only alienate and turn away potential listeners, so you gotta keep it clear! If someone can guess what your podcast is about just by name alone, then OWWW BOY, you're onto a WINNER!
Get Those Creative Juices Flowing 🍹
Of course, making your podcast name WAY too obvious can make it seem boring or unimaginative (and just downright dull), so it pays dividends to think a little bit outside of the box to find a good hook. What's not been done before that you can do to name your podcast well? Think of your podcas is a blank canvas, with your mind as the brush 🖌
Not everyone has a knack for coming up with inventive names, so if you need a hand try thinking about:
- Puns: Clever names that play on your ideas and what you talk about, just like Mind Your Business Podcast.
- Big Names: If your podcast is for a business with a well-known CEO, then stick their name it. Loads do it like The Tim Ferriss Show and The GaryVee Audio Experience.
- Everyday Phrases: Common phrases or idioms that people say, like the quiz podcast Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Use Naughty Words, but Keep It Friendly 😉
Rude words can be a whole heap of fun! Even as adults, most of us can't help but snigger at phrases like 'poop deck', 'dongle', and 'fanny blower' (which is what fans were referred to in the 19th century). When used right and in a friendly way, even the most on the noise podcast names can make them stick out from the crowd.
Take the My Dad Wrote A Porno podcast. Crass? A bit. Funny? Definitely! The point is, you don't need to use bad or vulgar language to get noticed. Plus, keeping things clean and light means you won't get booted or restricted on podcast hosting platforms.
Don't Listen to Them, You ARE a Unique Snowflake ❄
Feels like just about everything has already been said and done in the podcasting world, but that's not true. Take murder mystery podcasts. Since Serial and other big hitters, there's been hundreds (if not thousands) of them sprout up in recent years. To name a few:
You might be asking: "But why are there so many?". Well, each one has their own hook. Take Dr Death, for example, which looks at how patients of a medical practitioner were taken advantage of.
Well thought out and close examinations like these can be intense, but they focus on particular cases to really grab the audience's attention. So it goes to show that even if you're treading familiar ground, with a good story and hook people will sit up and pay attention.
Snag Those Social Handles Early!!!
If, like us at the Podcast.co HQ, you work with a group of people that share the same name, you know exactly how confusing it can be at times. Luckily, podcasts don't often suffer from the same problem, but that doesn't mean people are already using your podcast's name on places like Twitter and Instagram.
Just like a good black Friday deal, you gotta snag those social handles (and even domain names) as early as possible!
That's all she wrote! Hopefully, these handy tips can inspire you to come up with an awesome name. Remember, first impressions count, so NAME YOUR PODCAST WELL!!!
