Artwork That Packs a Punch!
First impressions count, there’s no denying it. And, although people always say to never judge a book by its cover – they inevitably do, especially when it comes to podcasts. Having good artwork can mean the difference between getting ‘featured’ on podcast streaming platforms and gaining tons of new listeners, to looking unprofessional. So how do you create something that packs a big punch!? Here are some tips and tricks you can utilize to help your artwork stand out!
Get You Podcast Artwork Dimensions Right
This may seem like something that you think “why is it important?” But size DOES matter, and you need to make sure you follow some basic rules to make sure your podcast gets accepted across all the main podcast directories. Follow the requirements of the podcast directly you are hosting to. Each one will have their own but lately they seem to be following suite with Apple Podcasts. Lastly, before finalizing your design, see how it looks in smaller formats too. Most people will be listening on their mobile devices. Make sure your artwork stays crisp and is always easy to read when displayed in various dimensions.
Check Out the Competition
If your lacking inspiration for your podcast, see what others are doing. Look at podcasts in your category or niche market. Be careful not to copy exactly what they have but use theirs to build upon with yours.
Communicate Your Podcast’s Message
Your artwork is one of the first things people see when looking at your podcast. That’s why it is so important to communicate clearly what your podcast is about, it’s topic, and or theme. It needs to visually evoke the podcast’s content to your audience. Your goal is to make sure potential listeners understand what your podcast is about so that you make a great first impression. Ask yourself “what is my podcast really about?” and it may help inspire your creativity. The main point is that your podcast artwork should visually communicate what the podcast is about. If somebody only sees your podcast artwork, they should still be able to understand the podcast.
Keep It Consistent with Your Logo and Brand
Never underestimate the power brand consistency holds. You want your customers/listeners to instantly be able to recognize your brand, wherever it may be presented. Use the same color scheme and logo across all of your socials and platforms where your podcast is being hosted. Pro tip: “create a template for episode images to distinguish episodes from each other whilst keeping them consistent with the podcast’s overall artwork.”
Use High Quality Images (Which Aren’t Already Overused!)
Using high quality images will convey to others that you are professional and mean business. Avoid using overused images like microphones, headsets, mixers, etc. Other people are probably using them, and you want your podcast to stand out like the unique show it is. If you don’t know where to even begin looking for images, try some of these websites, which offer free stock images: Pexels, Unsplash and Pixabay.
Make It Eye-Catching
When listeners browse through podcasts, most of the time they decide in a few seconds if they want to listen to and base it off the podcast’s artwork. So, consider designing artwork with bold contrast and try to use images that will immediately catch people’s eye. They scroll fast and you want them to stop at your show. If it’s not eye-catching enough, you risk not having your podcast featured on their home page.
Use Your Words Carefully
It’s never a good idea to push a bunch of words onto your podcast artwork. People don’t want to read something like a blog post explaining what the podcast is about. If your artwork is interesting enough to someone scrolling by, they very well may give it a chance. Use the description field to explain what your podcast is about. One of the easiest words to remove from your artwork is ‘podcast,’ as it’s unnecessary in your title. People already know they are listening to a podcast, that’s one reason why they came to yours!
Don’t Use More Than Two Fonts
When putting any sort of text in your artwork, you want to most importantly make sure it’s legible to anyone who may read it. If they can’t read it in the few seconds spent looking at your artwork, you may have lost them forever. As a good rule of thumb: don’t use more than two fonts in your podcast cover art and make sure it’s legible in various dimensions.
Whether your podcast has been running for a long time or is just getting off the ground, a great image is vital to its success. Podcast artwork will help you attract new listeners and grow your podcast. Most importantly, make sure it is simple, professional, and conveys the message/content of your podcast.