Services & How We Work
We offer two core services: format development for brands wanting to get it right first time, and format revamps for shows that aren't performing. Both let you validate your concept before you commit to production.
Strategic Format Development
We work with your team to design an original podcast format that creates competitive moats and ladders to your marketing strategy.
What You Get
Format Strategy Deck: Complete format specifications, mechanics, structure, and creative rationale
Audience Analysis: Deep understanding of who this is for and why they'll care
Competitive Positioning: How this format creates moats and prevents copying
Execution Guidelines: Everything needed to brief your team or another agency
Optional Production: If you want us to produce it, we move into exec producer/creative lead roles
The Process
Week 1: Discovery & Diagnosis
We run discovery sessions with your team to understand your business & marketing goals, audience, and competitive landscape. We diagnose what job this podcast needs to do in your broader marketing system.
Week 2-3: Strategic Synthesis & Format Design
We synthesise insights and design the format: mechanics, structure, episode architecture, creative rationale. We develop the strategic foundation that makes this format differentiated and ownable.
Week 3-4: Delivery & Handoff
We package everything into a comprehensive format strategy document and present it to your team. You receive format specifications, audience insights, competitive positioning, and execution guidelines.
Investment
£3,500
Timeline: 3-4 weeks from kickoff to delivery
Who This Is For
£1-50M revenue brands with marketing budgets
Teams who understand the potential of podcasting
Marketers who want to validate strategy before committing to production
Founders/CMOs who don't want another generic interview show
Podcast Revamp
We audit your existing podcast, diagnose why it's not performing, and if format is the issue then we redesign it. Most underperforming podcasts have the same problem: they're interview shows in a saturated market.
What You Get
Performance Audit: Data-driven diagnosis of why the current format isn't working
Redesigned Format: New format specifications, mechanics, and structure
Transition Strategy: Roadmap for implementing the change (reboot vs. pivot vs. evolution)
Audience Communication Plan: How to message the change to existing listeners
Optional Production: If you want us to produce the revamped show, we move into a phased production agreement (Pilot, limited series, on-going production)
The Process
Week 1: Audit & Diagnosis
We analyse your current show's performance data (downloads, retention, attribution), review content and format, and diagnose the root problems. We also assess your competitive landscape and audience feedback.
Week 2-3: Format Redesign
We design a new format that addresses the core problems. This could be a complete reboot, a soft pivot, or an evolutionary change depending on what the diagnosis reveals.
Week 3-4: Transition Strategy & Handoff
We develop the transition plan: how to communicate the change to your existing audience, whether to rebrand, and how to phase in the new format. Complete documentation for execution.
Investment
£3,500
Timeline: 3-4 weeks from kickoff to delivery
Who This Is For
Brands with existing podcasts that plateaued or declining
Shows with low retention rates or minimal word-of-mouth
Podcasts that aren't attributing to business goals
Why This Approach Works
Branded podcast can become an expensive mistake when teams commit to 6-12 month production contracts costing £50,000+ before validating whether the format will work.
By intentionally separating strategy & implementation our model reduces the risk by letting you validate original & differentiated ideas without wasting a year of your time and a healthy chunk of your marketing budget.
If you like the early signs, you can proceed with confidence.
Optional: Production Partnership
If you want us to produce the podcast after we've designed the format, we offer a phased engagement. No long-term commitments upfront.
Phase 1: Pilot (1-3 Episodes)
We produce 1-3 pilot episodes to prove the format works in practice. This tests the mechanics, validates audience response, and refines creative execution before committing to a full series.
Investment
Pricing varies based on format complexity and production requirements. Scoped after format development is complete. But plan for a minimum of £1,000 per episode
Timeline: 4-6 weeks for pilot production and delivery
What's Included
Executive producer oversight and creative direction
Episode planning and format execution
Full recording & editing production workflow
Format refinement based on what we learn
Phase 2: Limited Series (8-12 Episodes)
Once the pilot proves the format, we produce a limited series. This gives you enough episodes to measure traction, build an audience, and see if the show delivers on marketing goals—without committing to indefinite production.
What's Included
Everything from pilot phase
Format evolution and optimization based on performance data
Audience feedback integration
Mid-series strategic review
Investment
Structured as fixed project for the series length. Pricing depends on episode frequency, complexity, and production requirements.
Timeline: 3-6 months depending on episode release schedule
Phase 3: Ongoing Partnership
If the limited series proves the show has traction and delivers ROI, we can move to an ongoing production partnership for continued seasons or regular release schedules.
What's Included
Everything from previous phases
Ongoing format evolution as audience and goals shift
Quarterly strategic reviews and optimisation
Long-term creative partnership centred around your success
Investment
Monthly retainer based on episode frequency and production scope. We only recommend this phase once you've validated the show's performance.
This ensures you're not locked into long-term production contracts before knowing if the podcast delivers.
“Without Soundquake's really sound advice (pun-intended), what I initially proposed as a 10-episode podcast series would have already been finished. Done. Over. Gone in a flash. Instead, we are part the way through a fully sponsored 12-month contract and, with strong content, great work flow systems, and a growing audience, are already thinking beyond the next 12 months”
- Gillian Burke (If I Ruled the World)
FAQ’s
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Yes. We work with UK and US-based clients. All discovery and delivery sessions happen remotely, so geography isn't a constraint.
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Book a consultation call. We'll assess your situation and recommend the right approach. Sometimes the answer is neither! We'll tell you if podcasting isn't the right channel for your goals.
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Absolutely. We package everything needed to execute the format. Your team or another agency can take it from there. We're paid for thinking, not gatekeeping production.
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We work across industries. The common thread isn't industry, it's sophistication: clients who understand that playing it safe is the riskiest thing they can do.
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We need 2-3 key stakeholders available for discovery sessions (Week 1) and delivery presentation (Week 3-4). This is usually a mix of people involved in marketing or communications
Total time commitment: approximately 6-8 hours across the engagement. We handle the strategic & creative heavy lifting.
Ready to design a format that gets people talking?
Book a consultation to discuss your podcast strategy needs. We'll assess your situation and recommend the right approach be that format development, revamp, or something else entirely.