Fresh Starts & Smooth Transitions
Have you been thinking about rebranding your podcast (or launching a new series)? Here are the key assets to update:
The podcast description explaining what the show/series is about.
Episode cover art displaying the new logo and podcast name.
Intro/Outro voiceover.
Intro/Outro music, if a change is desired.
Before you begin creating the assets, don’t skip this important step:
Do your due diligence and research to ensure the new
name isn’t being used by another podcast show.
Follow these three ways to crosscheck the name you’ve chosen is available and free for you to claim for your show or series.
Do a Google search to see if anyone is currently using (or has ever used) the show name you’ve chosen. This is as easy as and typing in the name and seeing what comes up. Check via general All searches, Image searches, and Video searches.
Check to see if the name you want to use has ever been copyrighted or trademarked. You want to choose a name with no strings attached and is free and clear to use.
Check to see if a domain name is available for the name you’ve chosen. Whenever possible try to secure a .com domain name though .biz is acceptable. If you are planning a YouTube show, a .tv domain name is acceptable.
Should the name be available with no strings attached, proceed forward with creating the assets and moving forward with your marketing plans.
Eep! The named you’ve chosen came up in a due diligence search.
If you discover someone is already using the name you wanted to use, reach out to them and ask if their show is still going strong or has been discontinued. You may get lucky and find the previous host is done with the name and you’re free to claim it. Be sure to save the email (or letter) granting you permission to use the name.
If you find out someone has used your show’s names.
Communication is key. Reach out to them to discuss options for them to rename their show. Even a slight naming variation is enough to distinguish between two shows.
If your show is copyrighted or trademarked, you have legal rights to the name and will need to contact the other show to ask them to stop using your name. You may need to get your attorney involved with a strongly worded letter if you first attempt is ignored.
Tips for a smooth transition
Once you have your assets created, log in to your podcast host to make the necessary changes. From there, you can update the name of the show, change the podcast cover art, and update the description.
You would then produce the updated intro/outro and record the first new episode, using the intro/outro in the new episode.
Marketing the new brand would be required if the show is current (and creating episodes actively). I recommend putting out an episode letting listeners know of the rebrand about 1-2 weeks before the rebrand. Then reference the transition again once the rebrand happens.
For podcasts on hiatus undergoing a rebrand, a “Coming back but all-new” kind of marketing campaign would suffice. Market this announcement via email, social media, a blog post, in your newsletter, etc.