There are two big questions you need to ask yourself here, and they're joined at the hip. First…

1. What's Your Podcast For?

So firstly, why do you want to make a podcast?

Are you a freelancer? A business? Or a marketing manager? If so, you might have identified podcasting as a great way to build authority, and provide your customers and target audience with valuable and entertaining content.

Or are you looking at podcasting from a hobbyist perspective? This might mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time. And the subject will be something that you're passionate about.

In either case, you can identify your “why” here. That's important to keep in mind, so that you can stay motivated, even when you're finding it difficult to get a show out.

Next, what about your “who”?

2. Who is Your Podcast For?

So first day, get the big question in: Who are you making this podcast for?

The thing is, unless you know exactly who you’re making your show for, and why you’re doing it, you’ve got no chance of growing an audience.

If you're coming at it from a business point of view, and you're (for example) a personal trainer who wants to make a health and fitness podcast, then your target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, exercise, or bodybuilding.

So once you know who you want to reach, how do you reach them?

You need to give people a reason to listen.

This means creating content that they will get something out of when they hit play.