So you’re looking into how to start a dispensary podcast. Well, it sounds like you’re about to join the ranks of hundreds of other smart business professionals who have undergone this tricky first step. Starting a podcast for your dispensary can be a great way to network, meet with experts in the industry, and enhance your knowledge of the cannabis market as a whole.
In this article, we’ll cover exactly how to start a dispensary podcast, and all of the variables you will need to consider in the process.
Let’s roll into it.
Choose a theme and audience
First and foremost, choose a targeted niche. As anyone who’s ever started a podcast knows, it’s not enough to just have a good idea. You need to have a laser-focused target audience in mind if you want your show to be successful. And while it may be tempting to try and appeal to everyone, the truth is that cannabis users are a diverse group, with different interests, needs, and preferences.
By choosing a specific niche and tailoring your content accordingly, you’ll be able to create a podcast that stands out from the crowd. This will allow you to attract listeners who are truly interested in what you have to say.
Some popular targeted niches include:
- Legislation
- Expert content and interviews
- Cannabis and health
- Myths versus facts
- Vendors and manufacturers
- Products
- Growing cannabis
Pick a catchy name
Coming up with a name for your dispensary’s podcast can be tough. After all, you want something that is catchy, authentic, and will make potential listeners want to tune in. However, there are a few ways that you can make sure your podcast name stands out from the rest.
For example, consider using a pun that ties in with your dispensary name. This can help to create an instant connection with potential listeners and make your podcast name more memorable.
Alternatively, you could try coming up with a play on words or an inside joke that only people in the cannabis industry would understand. Whatever approach you take, just make sure that your podcast name is unique and will leave a lasting impression.
Some examples of catchy cannabis podcast names include:
Or you can consider using a ‘unique’ generic name to let listeners know your podcast is straight to the point. Some examples of these podcasts are:
- NCIA Cannabis Industry Voice
- Cannabis Business and Science Podcast
- Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast
- The Cannabis Enigma Podcast
- Cannabis Business Minds
Decide on a podcast layout
One of the great things about podcasts is that there is no one-size-fits-all format. Whether you’re looking to entertain, inform or simply give your audience a way to procrastinate, there’s a podcast out there for you.
Solo shows are a great way to share your unique perspective with the world. If you’re looking for someone to help you bounce ideas off of, a co-hosted show might be more your style. And if you’re the type who loves to ask probing questions and get the scoop on all the latest gossip, an interview show is probably right up your alley.
Some of the main podcast categories you can select from include but are not limited to:
- Solo episode: This is a one-speaker, monologue-style delivery.
- One-on-one interview: The podcast host asks the guest a series of questions about their area of knowledge.
- Panel interview: Two or more subject matter experts are asked a series of questions by the host or moderator, allowing each guest to respond.
- Co-host conversational: Involves two or more co-hosts discussing a subject without a designated interviewer or interviewee.
- Non-fiction storytelling: The telling of an actual occurrence.
- Fiction storytelling: A nonfactual story told in the form of a narrative with occasional voice actors and, more frequently, sound effects.
- Repurposed content: Video, webinar, and/or other audio sources may be repurposed for a podcast episode’s content queue.
- Hybrid: To make a single, cohesive episode, you might use a variety of formats, such as an individual interview and non-fictional narrative storytelling.
Create a unique style
The most successful podcasts provide targeted content in a conversational, engaging style. In other words, they sound like two (or more) people having a conversation, not reading from a script. A short topic outline might prove helpful, but successful podcasters don’t use scripts because they lead to stilted language that doesn’t resonate with listeners.
And while we’re on the topic of things that don’t resonate with listeners, let’s talk about podcasts that feel like an advertisement or resemble college lectures. Those won’t cut it either.
The bottom line is this: if you want to succeed in podcasting, you need to provide targeted content that sounds natural and unscripted. Banter back and forth, and most importantly, have fun!
Podcast length
When it comes to podcasts, there’s no sure-fire length limit. The length of your show should be determined by how much you have to say on a topic and the needs of your audience.
If you’re looking to appeal to a certain kind of listener, a five-minute podcast might be all you need. But if you’re aiming for in-depth coverage of a particular issue, you could record an entire two-hour show. Most podcasts tend to fall somewhere in the middle, 20 to 45 minutes long which just happens to be the average length of a commute.
There’s no point in forcing yourself to stick to a rigid length if it doesn’t suit your style or the type of content you’re sharing. Similarly, don’t try to cram too much into an episode just because you feel like you have to hit a certain time limit. If you do, your listeners will end up feeling overwhelmed and may tune out before they reach the end.
Just remember, it’s okay to vary the length of your episodes as necessary in order to provide the best experience for your listeners.
Episode frequency
The old saying goes, “quality over quantity.” But when it comes to content creation, that’s not always the case. Sure, you want your content to be good. No one wants to release a sub-par podcast episode.
But in the world of content creation, especially when you’re first starting out, it’s more important to release new episodes on a regular basis than it is to worry about making each individual episode perfect.
Of course, as you build up a following and establish your brand, you can start to be more selective about what content you release and how often you release it. But in the beginning, it’s essential to just get started and keep the momentum going.
Have the right equipment
You don’t need a professional studio with fancy equipment to record a podcast. All that’s required is a laptop or tablet, editing software, and a high-quality microphone to record the audio. With just a few tools, you can create a polished, professional-sounding podcast that will rival the audio quality of any big-budget radio show. And best of all, you can do it from the comfort of your own home.
Microphones
The difference between a professional-sounding podcast and an amateur one can be as simple as the microphone being used. Any old laptop or desktop computer has a built-in microphone, and using that will leave your audio sounding muffled, distant, and just plain bad. It will make you sound like you’re recording in a closet, instead of in a professional studio (or wherever the best-sounding room in your house is). Even the mic on your earbuds will sound better than the built-in mic on your computer.
But if you want to up your podcast game, you’ll need to get a USB microphone that plugs into the USB port on your computer. These mics range in price, but even the most affordable ones will make your podcast sound light years better than using your computer’s built-in mic.
Recording and editing
As any aspiring podcaster knows, the first step to creating a professional-quality podcast is to invest in some good audio software. If you’re lucky enough to own a MacBook or iPad, you’re already ahead of the game.
Apple’s laptops and tablets come equipped with GarageBand, a professional-level studio editing application that’s not only free, but also easy to use. Just fire up GarageBand and start recording your masterpiece. You can even learn more about how to use GarageBand for podcasting by watching a few YouTube tutorials.
For those of us who aren’t as lucky as Mac and iPad users, there are still some great options available. Applications like Audacity and Adobe Audition are similar to GarageBand in terms of features and functionality. Audacity is free, while Audition requires a monthly subscription. But both apps are more than capable of helping you create a podcast that sounds just as good as anything on iTunes.
Enhance and upload your podcast
Now that you’ve recorded your dispensary’s podcast with high-quality equipment, defined your style, and deciphered your audience, it’s time to share it with the world. To do so, consider the following elements.
Intros and outros
Podcasts are a great way to entertain and inform your audience, but they can also be a lot of work. In addition to writing and recording the main content of each episode, you also need to create intros and outros. These brief voice-overs help to set the tone for your podcast and make it sound more professional.
You can record them yourself or hire a voice-over artist through a service like Music Radio Creative. Either way, make sure that your intros and outros are well-written and make a good first impression. Otherwise, you risk losing listeners before they even get to the good stuff.
Music
If you’re looking to add music to your podcast that will really make it pop, you’ll want to avoid anything that could be considered too common or run-of-the-mill. After all, you want your show to have personality, right? But be careful not to violate any copyright laws. Using protected music without permission is a surefire way to get your podcast booted off of iTunes or Spotify.
A couple of good resources for podcast music include:
- Incompetech: A good resource for free-to-use music. Although the tracks are free, they can also be quite commonplace.
- Jamendo: If you have a little bit of money to spend, you can get royalty-free music for a one-time fee.
- Storyblocks: Includes thousands of tracks available through a monthly subscription service.
Cover art
The first thing listeners see when browsing through podcast directories like iTunes or Google Play is your podcast cover art. Your artwork should be an accurate representation of your podcast’s subject matter, and it should also include your logo (if you have one). Keep the design clean and simple, using easy-to-read fonts and high-quality images. Remember, your listeners will see the image in a much smaller format, so less is definitely more.
Cover art that meets iTunes’ specifications must be:
- 3000 x 3000 pixels
- JPEG or PNG
- Under 500 KB
There are plenty of ways to create great-looking cover art, even if you’re not a professional designer. Platforms like Canva and Snappa offer a wide variety of stock images to choose from, or you can pay for custom artwork through sites like 99designs, Podcast Designs, or Fiverr. Whichever route you choose, take the time to create something that accurately represents your brand and will make potential listeners want to hear more.
Hosting
You’re almost a podcasting pro! You’ve got your microphone, your editing software and you’ve even practiced recording and editing a few episodes. The only thing left to do is to export your masterpiece to your website and the distribution platforms of your choice. However, you can’t just upload your podcast directly to iTunes (or any other podcast directory). First, you need to create an account with a media host.
A media host is a subscription service that stores your audio files. In addition to housing your audio files, a hosting service provides statistics, marketing tools, and podcast websites. Media hosts also serve as a link between you and podcast directories like iTunes and Spotify.
There are many media hosts to choose from, but some of the most popular options include Libsyn, Podbean and Blubrry. Once you’ve selected a host, you’ll need to create an account and upload your audio files. After that, you can promote your podcast on social media, generate RSS feeds (or URLs) and submit your show to directories like iTunes.
Launch and promote your podcast.
If you’re planning to launch a new podcast, there are a few things you can do to generate buzz and get people talking. First, make sure you have several episodes completed and uploaded before launch day. This will give people something to listen to right away, and it’ll help build momentum for your show.
Second, include a launch announcement in your marketing plan. Send out emails and post on social media to let your business network know what’s coming.
And finally, encourage new listeners to subscribe to your podcast and leave reviews. This will improve your chances of being noticed by iTunes and other directories. If you do all of these things, you should be in good shape come launch day.
In conclusion
Starting a podcast for your business may be an excellent method to network, and enhance your knowledge of the cannabis market. Once you’re able to get over that initial hump of just ‘how’ to get the podcast up and running, the rest should be a breeze.
Have any questions? Need some guidance?
You can get in touch with us here at WeedBoost if you have questions about how to start a dispensary podcast, how to build a new website, SEO (search engine optimization), social media management, or anything else to do with this whole “cannabis thing”. We know how to give some good advice.
