How Business Owners & Mastermind Leaders Can Find Their Niche & Ideal Listener for a Profitable Podcast

Before you press "record," ask yourself this: Who are you speaking to, and why should they listen?

Podcasting isn’t about trying to appeal to everyone. It’s about connecting deeply with a specific audience—the people who truly need what you have to offer. For small-to-mid-size business owners and Business Mastermind Chairs, this means understanding your niche and defining your ideal listener.

What’s Your Niche?

Your niche is the unique intersection of your expertise, passion, and audience needs. It’s what sets your podcast apart in a crowded digital space.

For example:

• Are you a small business owner helping others scale past $5 million?

• Are you a leadership coach guiding CEOs through transitions?

Your niche is your promise—a clear, specific reason why your listeners will choose you over the hundreds of other podcasts out there.

Who’s Your Ideal Listener?

Imagine one person who represents your audience. Let’s call them your “Minimal Viable Listener" to quote Seth Godin, who I had the pleasure and honour of interviewing on "The Leadership Standard" podcast, that I host.

Ask yourself:

• What are their biggest challenges?

• What keeps them up at night?

• How does your expertise solve their problem?

For instance, if your ideal listener is a mid-size business CEO, they might be looking for practical ways to grow their team, boost morale, or leverage storytelling in sales.

By focusing at first on only one specific listener, your podcast will feel personal, relevant, and indispensable.

How to Define Your Niche and Listener: A Quick Exercise

1. Write down three areas where you have a story in and specific expertise or a unique perspective.

2. Identify the biggest challenges your target audience faces in those areas.

3. Refine your niche into a single, specific sentence:

   • Example: “I help CEOs of mid-size businesses build stronger teams through better storytelling.”

Why This Matters

When your niche is clear, and your audience feels seen, your podcast becomes more than just content—it becomes a solution. Listeners don’t just tune in; they take action, share your episodes, and eventually, reach out to work with you.

Remember, you’re not creating for the masses. You’re creating for the right people—the ones who will benefit most from what you have to say.

Takeaway:
Narrow your focus. Speak directly to your ideal listener. In doing so, you’ll create a podcast that doesn’t just entertain—it transforms.