5 Steps to Creating a Successful Podcast

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when starting a podcast is not having a system. If you don’t have a system, then you are setting yourself up to fail. This applies to all walks of life from starting a business to doing DIY.

I have to admit that I never used to abide by this rule. I used to just jump into things and so consequently I have experienced many disasters with things like decorating and gardening. Only recently much to my wife’s despair the sitting room curtains came crashing down again; but I hope that I have now learned that to do anything successfully you have to plan or have a system.

#1 Having a system

Knowing the technical steps of creating a podcast will simply not be enough – there is more to podcasting than just making a recording. You also need to know where to upload it, how to launch your podcast and other aspects too.

It is like anything – you need to prepare and have a plan – without any preparation or a plan, things get done in the wrong order and so never got finished on time or in some cases not at all.

So when starting out, remember the 5 P’s:

PROPER
PRIOR
PLANNING
PREVENTS
POOR
PERFORMANCE

#2 Defining your ideal listener

Let’s look at your ideal listener or the “WHO”. You need to imagine who your listener is going to be sometimes referred to as your Avatar. You need to imagine:

What Age will they be?
What Gender will they be?
What Income Range will they have?
What will their Marital Status be?
What Employment Status do they have?
What is their Business Association?
What Interests do they have?

By asking yourself these questions, you build up a picture of your ideal listener. That way you will find it easier to speak out to them which is key if you are new to recording your voice.

#3 Defining the problem

It’s best if you take some time to Define the problem that your listener may have; Asking the question “WHAT is the problem my listener will have” will give you a voice that will resonate with your listener. Because you are effectively talking in to the ear of your audience means that you want to be personal, be someone that they will want to listen to.

If you already have the luxury of a list of subscribers on an email list, you could do a survey and ask them questions such as

What are your biggest challenges?
What would you like to know more about?
What would you NOT be interested to learn more about?
What’s one main benefit that you would need to get to tune into a podcast?
What’s your favourite book, blog or podcast about?

Of course not all of us have the luxury of having a list so you could ask colleagues, friends and family or even do your research on line.

#4 Recording Quality Audio

Although it is not expensive to create a Podcast, it is important that you make sure that the quality of recording is good enough so that your listener won’t notice it – does that make sense? In other words if the quality is bad then they will notice hiss or that your microphone is placed in the wrong position.

It is funny but it is a known fact that if you make a video, the viewer will put up with bad quality pictures and good quality video but not the other way round, so it important that you take some time to make sure that you have reasonable equipment to record on (not necessarily expensive).

If you are new to recording your voice, then you can pick up my:

“How to Use Audacity to Create your First Podcast course”

#5 Planning your launch

Now you have your recording it is time to plan your launch. There is the opinion that you shouldn’t launch with one episode. Some say that you need many episodes but the general opinion is that you need three to start with. If your potential listener sees that you have more than one episode then they are more likely to download your episodes or subscribe, which is what you want.

iTunes has what is known as a New & Noteworthy which means that you have 56 days or 8 weeks in which to make the most of promoting your new Podcast so that you can get exposure. So try making your launch an event. Get your friends and family, email subscribers, social connections to get the momentum going. If you can get in the New & Noteworthy section, then this will help to catapult your show.

Do You Need Help With Your Podcast?

I have briefly touched on areas to help you get your Podcast launched but this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want further help and advice, then please enter your email address in the form below.

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