Having your own internet radio station means that you have the control to program what you want on your station. However, with this control brings the responsibility of branding, constant updating, and building an audience, among several other responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are difficult though, so we've compiled a list of tips for internet radio broadcasting.
14. Be a Great Live Radio Broadcaster.
If you do live radio broadcasts on your station, you've absolutely got to be mindful of what kind of live radio host you are. Take a look at our Top 10 Tips for Being a Great Live Radio Broadcaster here.
13. Be Mindful of Audio Quality.
You are playing music and/or doing live radio broadcasts, so being mindful of audio quality is important. Ensure that your audio files are high quality and that there are no skips, strange noises, etc. As for live radio broadcasts, ensure that you are sufficiently close to your mic and that you are speaking clearly and loudly enough for your live event to sound great.
12. Appeal to a Niche.
The more specific your radio station is, the easier it will be to identify your audience and thus appeal to them. And, appealing to a niche will help you develop loyal listeners. Of course, there is a fine line with how specific you can be as to not alienate others who may have some interest in your station. There are communities around all genres of music, so decide what kind of music and content that you want to play and appeal to the communities around that content.
11. Keep Your Branding Consistent.
Your radio station branding needs to be powerful and consistent to truly reach and resonate with people. Without consistency, your radio station becomes easily forgettable. For information on how to keep your branding consistent, check out our How to Create a Radio Station Brand Style Guide.
10. Get to Know Your Listeners.
We know, you've probably heard this one before, but it's important. Take the time to research your audience and truly understand them. Even if you don't have many listeners, use what you know about the audience around the content you play to understand who will likely listen to your station. Demographics, interests, lifestyles, preferences, etc. are all important things that you should know about your listeners. The better you know them, the better you will be able to appeal to them. Conduct surveys, use social media analytics, check out listener statistics on Live365, and engage with your listeners online.
9. Build Relationships.
On top of getting to know your listeners, you want to build relationships with them as well as other broadcasters. You may even want to build relationships with podcasters and others within your niche, radio, music, and entertainment more generally. Building relationships with people means that you are getting the word out about your radio station as well as engaging with others and their radio stations. Reach out to people via email and social media. Go on other people's radio stations and have guests on yours. Post about other radio stations that you enjoy and they may even return the favor.
8. Remember That You Have a Global Audience.
When you are selecting your programming, remember that people from different countries may be listening to your station. You may want to consider incorporating international content on your station or you may just want to be aware of any cultural differences that may have an impact on the reception of your station. Either way, it's important to be mindful that you could have a global audience.
7. Create a Website.
Websites are incredibly important because you want to have a central place where you can direct your audience for radio station related information as well as any other potential business endeavors. Also, you can embed the Live365 Licensed Player Button into your website, which will open up to your custom pop-out player, so your website can truly be a one-stop shop.
6. Use Social Media to Your Advantage.
Again, you've probably heard before that you need to utilize social media. It may sound simple. I mean, all you've got to do is create a profile for the different platforms and post some stuff there occasionally, right? Wrong. In order to spread the word about your radio station as well as engage current listeners, you've got to put significant time into social media. For information on how to use social media to your advantage, see our Social Media for Radio Stations: How to Optimize Your Accounts article.
5. Make Yourself Easily Discoverable.
Ensure that your radio station's title and description include keywords that people may search for online. Additionally, include keywords on your website as well as on your social media profiles and posts. On your social media profiles, include links to your radio station and website to make it simple for people to navigate to your station.
4. Personalize Your Communication.
Personalize your communication with your listeners and potential listeners. Whether you create an email list and send out emails to your listeners or you communicate with people who mention your station on social media, you want to ensure that you are warm and inviting. You may even want to use social media to spread the word about your station to communities around the content you play. If so, ensure that you are adding a personal touch and that you don't appear to be sending out spam or mass emails/messages. The more that people feel that you are genuine and trustworthy, the more likely it is that they will become loyal listeners.
3. Check for Listening Trends.
Take a look at your listening statistics and keep an eye out for trends. The number of listeners that you get at certain times should direct how you adjust your station.
2. Keep Your Music Fresh.
This one may sound obvious, but no one wants to hear the exact same group of songs every time they tune in. If they wanted that, they likely wouldn't be tuning in. Create new playlists with new music often. Also, listen to your playlists all the way through. You are the best judge of whether your playlists are engaging. If you are utilizing AutoDJ, remember to switch out music every so often. It is also beneficial to follow any trends within the genre(s) that you play so that you can adjust what you play with changing tastes.
If you are looking for information about creating playlists, check out our article here.
And...
1. Have Fun!
Play the music and content that you enjoy. If you have a passion for a certain genre of music and/or for live radio broadcasting and you incorporate it into your broadcast, that passion will translate to listeners. If you enjoy creating your radio station, then others will enjoy listening to it.
If you are just starting your internet radio station or you've been broadcasting for awhile, these tips can help you create the best station possible. Whether these tips are new information or just reminders, we hope that they are helpful with your broadcasting journey!
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