Podcasts are all the rage these days. In fact, over one-third of Americans listen to a podcast at least once a month. Listening to a podcast is an enjoyable way to pass the time on your break at work, during a commute, or while doing chores at home. A variety of shows provide entertainment, humor, and interesting insight spanning every topic imaginable.
7 Tips for Starting Your Own Podcast
Owning a podcast is a fulfilling way to express your interests and create content. It’s an activity you can enjoy as a hobby or as a valuable addition to your business’ marketing portfolio. Whatever your goal is when starting a podcast, keep these 7 tips in mind to help you get going:
1. Grab a Friend
Running a podcast is so much more enjoyable with a friend. A co-host will fill up awkward pauses with comments and help move the conversation along. Additionally, you’ll already have some chemistry talking with a friend, making your podcast sound more fluid and natural.
Thanks to the power of technology, you don’t have to be in the same room to record a podcast with a friend. Just dial in together, with the proper recording equipment, of course, and fire away. Coordinating recording sessions is easy with Calendar; just share an event complete with a meeting link, and sessions will be organized without breaking a sweat.
2. Plan Your Episodes
Filling an entire episode with quality content is a tall order at times. To prevent the “uhs” and “ums” from overtaking your showtime, plan each episode in advance. Even a simple outline will keep the show flowing better.
With your co-host, schedule some times to hold planning meetings for your future shows. What topics do you want to tackle? What bullet points can you list down to separate the topic into a long enough segment? Who can you invite to be on a future episode? The more details you can iron out in advance, the smoother the show will become during your recording time.
3. Invite Guests
While many podcasts get by with the same hosts night after night, many shows have found great success from inviting guests for special spotlight episodes. A guest adds an extra element to your podcast with special insight you wouldn’t get from anywhere else. You can invite a local leader, an industry specialist, or even try and land a celebrity.
Just like you would with your co-host, create and share events to share with guests through your Calendar to invite them on the show. By tweaking your availability, guests can select a time that works best for them that also works for you. Keep your commitments with your guests, and you’ll have a stellar reputation — your guests will be clamoring to work with you in the future.
4. Stick to a Schedule
As you build up a following of regular listeners, try and stick to a schedule. This way, your listeners know exactly when new episodes are coming out and can tune in. Otherwise, they might fall away or get distracted by other things waiting for spontaneous content.
You don’t have to record at the same time each week; you just need to make sure your publishing schedule is consistent. For example, if you choose to release a new episode every Friday at 9:00 A.M., listeners will know when to expect the latest edition. You can automate
5. Record Multiple Episodes in Advance
Getting a podcast started is the hardest part. Once you get in a rhythm, it’s mostly smooth sailing, but gathering the time and resources to kick things off takes a bit more effort. One way to hedge your bets is to record multiple episodes in advance before launching your pilot episode.
Having a few recordings stashed away will provide enough backup for your show while you’re getting used to the process. With a queue already set up, you’ll be able to release several consecutive episodes even if life gets in the way of your short-term plans. Pre-recorded content acts as a buffer when execution doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d like.
6. Leverage Social Media
When you finally launch your podcast, it’s time to spread the word about your new venture. Otherwise, your show will get drowned out by the numerous other podcasts flooding the market. To make sure you build a following straight out the gate, leverage the power of social media.
Your podcast can use its own social media page to post its content using your Calendar to schedule and organize posts. If you’re creating a podcast for your business, you can share episodes on your business page. Encourage followers to comment on their thoughts to boost engagement and further spread the word about your new podcast.
7. Listen to Other Podcasts
You can get a lot of ideas and guidance by listening to other podcasts. Established podcasters provide a great example of how you should present yourself and your show. Listen to a few high-end podcasts and emulate some of the techniques they utilize.
When listening to other podcasts, be sure not to blatantly steal their ideas. The purpose of this exercise is to get a feel for what you like and don’t like in a podcast and using that to develop your own show. Of course, you can get ideas for segments and talking points from the shows you listen to, but try and put your own spin on things whenever possible.
A podcast is a lot of work, but it’s a fun activity that can become a great hobby or be used to grow your business. Either way, your personal brand will grow, which, when done correctly, will always be of benefit to you as you progress through life. Happy podcasting!
Image Credit: christina morillo; pexels; thank you!
Max Palmer
I'm Max, and I love helping businesses we work with expand their businesses online. Growth potential is what we strive for! I help with press, productivity and overall business needs for business owners.