Should you start a podcast?

I get asked this a lot (& how to start one). I wish someone would have given me this info 3-5 years ago. I hope it helps:

1. Should I do it?

YES - 

(If you have an area of passion, skill, knowledge, & desire to share it & educate others)

(If you want to grow your brand, reach, followers, influence & you will do it consistently)

NO - 

(If you want to do it because you think everyone else is, or just to sell stuff)

(If you aren’t hellbent on giving great value, you chop & change easily & you give up)

2. What equipment do I need?

This is way easier than you think. All you need is 3 things.

(Yes you can have a studio, radio quality, fancy editing et al. Get perfect later; start now).

This gear has helped me reach 400,000 subscribers in 164 countries. I can take it anywhere in the world in hand luggage. I can visit any interviewee at their house or offices. 

All I have to do is put the SD card in my Mac, weTransfer it to my team (VA, outsourcer, podcast host) & it is done

3. What should I talk about?

What you know. What you love. Start with a niche first, you can always grow outwards later. 

Get 1000 true fans & get the hang of getting good at delivery. Start one that you know you will grow into

4. What format (how long? Interview? Rant? Frequency? etc)

Up to you. Varies from 8 mins to 3.5 hours. 30 mins is often cited as the optimal time (commute).

Start with a format, stay consistent with it, & then disrupt when you think things are getting predictable

(I started with 30 minute episodes once a week. Then added a ‘Caffeine Casts’ (TM!) that were 15 mins; now 2 a week but 2 formats

Then I added interviews. (I didn’t want just interviews as wanted to build my brand too, & not just be seen as an interviewee)

In 110 episodes I’ve done around 15 interviews (go for quality & relevance over quantity)

Make sure they are same day, same frequency. IMPORTANT. Add bonus episodes like birthday, anniversary, etc as you go

5. How/when should I launch?

You will need a hosting platform (we use Omnystudio). I suggest leveraging this. You need an image/design cover. 

A catchy name (short). Title (sexy). Description (Brief, intriguing, benefit driven)

Get 6 episodes done & uploaded that way when you launch it doesn’t look brand new. You can do them well in advance (ie. you could do 4 episodes/weeks worth in one sitting)

When you launch it will focus your mind on getting content out because now you have deadlines you will find you have dry spells & then times when you are inspired & you will churn them out

6. How do I make them good?

Get animated. Use your body as well as your tonality. Have very brief notes/bullets so it is not a long waffle/rant

Mix stories with facts & rants. Ask different questions in interviews. Make it fun. You’ll get better the more you do

Have nice scenery to do them so you feel inspired. Do them at the time of day you feel energised. 

7. How do I get exposure/reach/subscribers?

Be consistent. Keep doing it. Be patient (which I am NOT!). Make your content great. If in doubt, take it out

Record your podcasts on video for YouTube, etc. Post regularly about your podcasts on all platforms 

Do not be afraid to keep promoting your podcast remember they are free

Create show notes & transcriptions and host them on your podcast website. SEO each episode. 

Get great interviewees (stay patient, keep stalking them!). One big dog posting your podcast on their platforms could change the game for you

Run competitions for reviews & extra subscriptions by asking people to share the podcast 

Do reciprocal interviews with other relevant podcasts 

Have a hashtag & post it each time you name it (I only started doing this a week ago - DUH!)

8. How do I monetise my podcast?

Don’t at first. Make it great & grow the reach. Once you hit critical mass:

1. You can sell ad space (most shows, esp. American ones, do). I personally don’t like it, so don’t (but I don’t need the money)

You should consider this carefully because there is a downside & some don’t like it

2. Get trickle down monetisation. If you have books, audios, websites, products, courses, merch, etc, & you are visible on all main media sites, people will find you & buy from you (I can say for sure that my podcast has generated ￡100,000s & I have never sold on it). Keep the faith, create these other assets to catch business & it will grow

3. Occasional offers (anniversary episodes, black Friday, etc)

4. Give people offers/benefits to subscribe/follow you on your other platforms & then sell more directly from there

My podcast the #DisruptiveEntrepreneur has done things for me I would never have dreamed (it’s on Quantas airlines, 164 countries, the most random, important & interesting people follow it, taught in schools/Uni's) all by accident. I think because I didn’t force commercialisation from it, it naturally happened. 

But I did promote it regularly. https://bit.ly/disentpodcast 

I hope this helps. Tag me in of you have any questions happy to help. I’m no guru on this, don’t run any podcast courses, wish I’d have started sooner (been doing it 13 months), LOVE doing it & get asked a lot.

So at least now I can copy & paste this post to save my time :-) 

Rob

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