Thinking of launching a podcast for your shopping centre? Great idea! Podcasts can be a brilliant way to showcase your shops, events, community stories, and customer experiences—without relying solely on social media or print advertising.
If you’re wondering where to begin, here are 10 practical steps to help get your shopping centre podcast off the ground!
1. Clarify Your Purpose
Why are you starting a podcast? Is it to boost footfall, promote tenants, share community stories, or create a stronger brand identity? A clear purpose will shape everything from your format to your guests.
2. Decide Who Will Host It
Will it be someone from your centre team, a rotating selection of tenants, or a professional voiceover host? Your host needs to be warm, engaging, and aligned with your centre’s personality.
3. Choose the Right Format
Podcasts can be interviews, stories, Q&As, behind-the-scenes features, or a mix. Choose a format that fits your audience and the type of stories your centre has to tell.
4. Start with a Pilot Episode
Before you commit to a full season, try a pilot. Feature a popular shop, a fun event, or even the centre manager. See how it sounds—and how your audience responds.
5. Get Buy-In from Tenants
Your podcast should showcase your shops and services—but make sure they’re on board. Offer them the chance to be featured, provide quotes, or share special offers.
6. Keep It Simple (and Affordable)
You don’t need a studio or expensive gear. With a quiet room, a decent mic, and free editing tools, you can produce high-quality audio on a budget. We cover all the options in our mini course.
7. Create a Bank of Episode Ideas
Think about seasonal campaigns, behind-the-scenes stories, customer favourites, community initiatives, or even interviews with local personalities. Aim for 10–12 ideas to begin with.
8. Plan a Realistic Schedule
Weekly? Fortnightly? Monthly? Consistency is key—so choose a release schedule you can stick to. Even one episode per month can have a big impact if it’s promoted well.
9. Promote Through Your Existing Channels
Use your website, social media, newsletter, in-centre screens, and even posters in shop windows to promote each new episode. Don’t assume people will find it on their own!
10. Track What’s Working
Use basic podcast analytics to see how many people are listening, and which episodes are most popular. This helps you refine your format and topics over time.
Good luck and let us now hope you get on!