Content Mapping and Podcast Planning Made Painless

Is your podcast lost because you don't have a map? Ever wonder how to make sure your podcast?episodes and topics?align with your audience, their problem, and where they are? Your podcast can't drive results without considering the listener journey, and one of the best ways is to create a content map.

Content mapping outlines how each piece of your content strategically relates to and supports the customer journey. In this case, the customer journey is the "story" each podcast episode layers upon the previous to build and support your?over-arching topic.

There are a lot of ways to approach planning content, but the framework outlined below is one way that works well for me and my clients.

Planning a content campaign using the following approach will do several things for you including:

1. Generating up to?one year of content ideas. (Thank you, Marie Forleo!??)
2. Creating a cohesive?overarching story?for your content.
3. Creating sub-stories?(chapters)?in your individual content pieces.
4. Creating content that builds on itself.
5. Delivering content?in the right order.

Let's Find That Map!

You already know that storytelling is a big part of creating content for your business. But what that looks like isn't always clear.

So after you've checked Step #1 above off your list, let's move on to 2 through 5 so that your podcast's story is clear to you and your audience.

2. What's Your Over-arching Story?

I know we've addressed your?Over-arching Topic, but your overarching story is a big picture view of the story you want to share with your audience. A common example is the?hero's journey.

By itself, the hero's journey is a story, but it's lacking those details that make it interesting. Ideally, your?ideal listener / target audience?should identify with the hero.

The hero's journey, according to?Joseph Campbell, looks like this:

1. Ordinary world
2. Call to adventure
3. Refusal of the call
4. Meeting with the mentor
5. Crossing the first threshold
6. Tests, allies, and enemies
7. Approach to the inmost cave
8. The ordeal
9. Reward
10. The road back
11. The resurrection
12. Return with the elixir

The hero's journey provides the structure that is your overarching story. It's not the only possible structure, but it's a solid one. Other questions your podcast's story needs to answer are:

• Who is on this adventure?
• What is their mission?
• What are the challenges they'll face along the way?
• In the hero's journey, there is always a point in the story where the hero has a setback, loses a battle, or hits rock bottom. Be sure to address the issues/challenges that will arise for your listener. Many times, how to overcome those challenges will be your most popular content.

3. The Chapters in the Story

Think of your content map like a book, rather than a literal map. Start with the?over-arching topic, then the over-arching story, finally break the story down into chapters.

"Chapters" are the sections of content that logically fit together to tell a sub-story, but you start with figuring out what your podcast will be about and who?your ideal listener?is. From there you move on to building and creating episodes for that listener.

4. Content That Builds on Itself

Two questions that always come up from?Wendistry clients?are:

1. How often should I publish my podcast?
2. How long should each episode be?

While there is no one answer for all podcasts, as a rule, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND at least once per week...?on the same day at the same time. Week in. Week out. Consistency is what transforms average into excellence.

5. Publishing Podcasts in the Right Order

Yes, your podcast's content should fit into your over-arching story, but it should also stand on its own. What that means is that if someone listens to your Episode 34, they don't have to go back to Episodes 1 - 33 to understand what you're talking about.

BONUS: Some New Ideas Will Come Up Along the Way

And that's okay. Even though you have content planned out doesn't mean you can't take side road off the map. Sometimes, there are amazing ideas to uncover down rabbit holes! Also, extra episode topics can come from:

• Direct feedback from listeners:?This is the most important source of new ideas since your audience is telling you exactly what they need help with.?Note: in the beginning you may not get a lot of feedback (if any). Don't get discouraged. It takes time to build enough of an audience to get comments on your podcast.
• Gaps in the plan that emerge as you're creating content:?It's common as you're creating one piece of content to realize that there's a related topic you want to cover... One you didn't think of in the beginning. Add it into your plan and keep going!
• Social Media and Communities:?There are a lot of people talking about things at a high-level on social media. If you're paying attention, you'll spot opportunities for ideas and expand on them as they apply to your topic. Communities can also be a great source of ideas.

Need Help with Your Podcast's Content Map?

• Our?WORK
• Our?WAY
• Our?WHY
• Contact Us

Get Started with our "Audio Accelerator Plan"

1. Schedule a Complimentary Consultation by clicking “Hire Me to Help”
2. Collaborate on a Customized Strategy tailored to your business goals.
3. Start "Streaming Your Story!"

What's Up Next Week?

Yeah... we get it. You're ready for "Show Me the Money!" from your podcast. So, next week, we'll be diving into your podcast's Call To Action. Whether that's to buy a product, share your show, or just learn more about your business, you want to deliver the right message at the ideal time.

Have a wonderful week! HAPPY NEW YEAR, and here's wishing us all the best in 2022!

Please?SHARE this newsletter, and DON'T HESITATE to?send me any questions or comments you might have.

Let's start "Streaming Your Story"