Choose the Right Podcast Format for Your Business
Your podcast format shouldn’t be a default setting.
If you want your podcast to help grow your business, boost authority, and generate leads, then your format has to be chosen with intention.
In this episode, I break down the most common podcast formats for business owners, what each one can do for your brand, and how to choose the one that will best serve your audience and your goals.
What Podcast Format Should You Use?
Let’s be honest. Most entrepreneurs and experts default to the interview-style podcast because it’s what they’re used to listening to. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best format for your business.
Say it with me: Your podcast is not about you. It’s for your listener.
And, there are a lot of other podcast format options out there. Let’s break down a few to consider:
- Straight Interview: Host asks questions, guest answers. Simple, effective, but can feel repetitive if not well-structured.
- Conversational Interview: A more natural back-and-forth style. Still needs to stay listener-focused.
- NPR Style (Narrative with Clips): Pre-recorded interviews woven into a narrative. Think magazine article meets audio. Very high authority, but higher production value is required.
- Talk-Tape Style: The host interviews a reporter who has done the research and gathered quotes/audio clips. Think news radio. Professional and informative.
- Panel Show: One host moderates a discussion between multiple guests. Offers diverse perspectives but can be hard to manage (and hard to stand out as the authority you are).
Don’t Overlook the Solo Format
The solo format is exactly as it sounds. Just you. Teaching, storytelling, coaching, or sharing insights. This is a powerful way to showcase your expertise and build trust. A lot of podcasters shy away from solo episodes. But if you’re building a personal brand or service-based business, solo episodes are one of the best ways to:
- Demonstrate expertise
- Share case studies or success stories
- Build are relationship (and trust) with your audience
Like the sound of an interview format AND the solo format? You can always mix solo episodes with interviews; just be strategic about it.
How to Choose the Right Podcast Format
If you are podcasting as a hobby, this shouldn’t be a tricky question — just do what you want, it’s supposed to be fun. But, if you’re podcasting for your business and you want some kind of return on all that invested time and money — you want to seriously consider what is going to work best for you.
Start by asking the right questions:
- Why are you podcasting?
- What do you want your listener to do after each episode?
- What kind of authority do you need to build?
- What does your audience expect from a trusted expert in your niche?
If your goal is to:
- Grow authority — solo and informed interviews might be the perfect mix
- Generate leads — solo, educational episodes are powerful
- Build trust — behind-the-scenes stories, coaching calls, or candid conversations work well
- Expand reach — interviews with well-known guests can help (just don’t let your guest steal the show)
Hold up. If you’re thinking, ‘all of the above, please’, then it’s time to dial in your strategy. What exactly do you want your podcast to do for you? If you try to make it a one-and-done marketing tools, you just aren’t going to see the ROI you’re looking for. Get strategic. Know your podcast’s role.
When Format Fails: Signs You Need to Rethink Your Show Style
Maybe you committed to a format and now, after listening to this episode, you’re wondering if you might have picked the wrong podcast format. Here are some signs that it’s time to reconsider your format:
- You’re not getting leads from your podcast
- Your listeners don’t stick around
- You’re doing it because “that’s how podcasts are supposed to be.”
If that sounds like you, it’s time to revisit your format. In our Podcast Tune-Up Coaching Program, we help podcasters rethink their format and strategy so their show actually supports their business. And, we’ll make sure you stay consistent with your format with our customizable show outline and format template.
We also use that template inside our Concept to Casting Podcast Launch Program.
If you’re launching a new show for your business (and you want to get it right from the start), book a free coaching call and let’s talk it through.
