Some of your decision will be based on your budget, who you are recording with, and where they are located. In this episode, I will be sharing the different options you have to record a premium-sounding podcast without having to worry about a bad connection or poor quality gear.

Everyone has an opinion on what you should buy, even if they are not an expert. This can make it challenging to discern who to trust. And knowing who to trust is key because good podcasting equipment can determine the quality of your audio and save you time during the editing and producing process. 

So, let’s break down this big question into three specific questions...

First, you’ll want to ensure that your show title is clear, concise, unique, specific, and evocative. Next, I will explain the importance of being representative, searchable, and unique. Most importantly, remember you’re writing for other humans. Search engine optimization and algorithms matter but not as much as the actual humans who will be listening to your podcast. 

Being consistent is one of the most popular pieces of advice that you receive as a podcaster. But most people mistakenly assume that this wisdom only applies to your release schedule. Consistency in tone, style, and format are also central to building trust and loyalty.

In this episode, you will discover clear action steps for deciding what your host will sound like and the “vibe” of your show. You will learn the three main show styles that exist and how to format your show to align with your goals. 

When you provide consistency in your tone, style, and format, listeners learn what to expect and look forward to each new episode you create.

If you’re creating a podcast as part of a business, several brand guidelines that you might want to consider are the vision or mission, the values, the tone of voice, or the color scheme. In this episode, I will be sharing what you can do to solidify your brand strategy if you’re still feeling unsure after these initial guidelines have been met.

Why should someone listen to your show and not one of the other podcasts on the market? This really comes down to the type of content you are creating and how much of it you are giving to the audience. Listen in as I go over transactional versus transformational content, and which of these two will make a real difference in helping your podcast stand out.

With all of the different categories, you can list your podcast in, it may feel as though you have an overwhelming amount of choices. Remember that the primary category matters the most and that it is important to choose a subcategory when possible. From there, choose the least crowded category that is suitable for your podcast and you will be well on your way to a successful category choice. 

Think about your interests, hobbies, or areas of expertise, and then conduct research on websites such as Reddit or Quora. There are other options such as reading book reviews on Amazon or joining social media groups. If you follow these guidelines, you will have a topic picked out for your podcast in no time.

When you’re feeling stuck, you can rely on tools such as Google search suggestions or Google trend comparisons. However, there are several other options you can use to help power your brainstorming sessions. Listen in as I share how to narrow down your ideas and make strategic content decisions for your podcast.

Pursue what you enjoy and what will benefit your audience - find something that will interest you both. Talk to people who you think are your target audience and find out if they are interested in what you want your podcast to be about. Trust your gut and refine as you go. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be starting your show off on a great foundation.

These are several questions I encourage our own clients and students to consider before deciding on the topic of their podcast. They will help you get clear on the journey you want to go on with your podcast as well as the value you will be adding to your listeners’ lives. Ready to nail down a topic for your show? Let’s get started.

You really have two ways to think about podcast topics: the content you cover and the format in which you deliver it. Once you have determined the topic, person and theme as well as how you will organize your show, you will have a solid foundation to base your podcast topic on.

Listen in as I describe the service you will get if you’re willing to pay $15,000 for an episode, as well as what you may have to pay if you’re simply looking for a consultation or the editing of an episode. If you want to see a detailed version of this, you can find an in-depth description on our blog titled How Much Should It Cost to Produce a Podcast.

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out our blog post How Much Should It Cost to Produce a Podcast? Between the blog and this episode, you will be equipped to make an educated guess on the cost of creating your own podcast. 

Not into DIYs and want some help launching your show? Tune in next week to hear the breakdown of how much it costs to hire an expert.

Something to consider is you will always be spending time or money. If you don’t have a lot of money, plan on spending your time. And if you have a lot of money or you don’t have a lot of time, plan on hiring help. So decide what you need to do in your situation. You have to figure out what is right for you.

My team at Come Alive Creative has broken this process into 3 main phases. You will need a plan first: Set your goals, define your target audience and topics, brand your show. Next, you will need to make it. This includes identifying your talent, planning your interviews, and conducting your interviews. Lastly, you need to edit, promote and launch your show. That is just the 1,000-foot view of launching a new podcast.

If you feel clear on your target audience and need more direction in a different area, focus on what interests you. There are a lot of resources that exist. 

For example, try searching for keywords like: 

• Developing personas
• Niching 
• Specializing
• Positioning

April Dunford has an insightful book called ”Obviously Awesome” on positioning yourself to attract the right audience. It is a great read and a wonderful place to start!

Finding your people requires intention and strategy. Invest the time and effort in it and you’ll be able to serve better and grow your business.

I would argue this is true of marketers and content developers as well. Newsletters, videos, blogs, and social media are all competing for people’s visual attention.

But those aren’t the only things vying for our attention - want to know what else? Driving, making dinner and playing with your children in the backyard. All of it demands attention from our eyes. 

Podcasting is different because it demands attention from our ears. It’s the one medium we can do while doing something else. In that way, it’s unique. The only real competitors are audiobooks, radio, and other podcasts. To me, that’s a huge unfair advantage for reaching and staying with your audience.

Podcasts also have several similar qualities according to James Cridland from the website Podnews…

A podcast is an audio file, available to download, and distributed via an RSS feed - just to name a few. But what does this all practically mean? And how does it all work? I hope to clarify this and more for you in today’s episode.

Generally speaking, a podcast is an audio file that is then uploaded to a media host. 

Podcasts also typically have a home--like a website--that you can send your listeners to for show notes, resources, etc. 

Lastly, they are available to be openly distributed across a variety of platforms and apps. So, if you’re new to podcasting or curious about how a podcast differs from other forms of media, this is the show for you.

Once you start your podcast, a whole new world of obstacles opens up. Luckily, there have been many podcasts created - successful and not-so-successful - that you can learn from. If you are considering starting a podcast, or you are already in the game, apply this information to your own situation, and find a way to efficiently handle every new challenge as it comes.

Podcasts - when produced well - conjure up a lot of interest and can increase leads for your business. They offer hosts a chance to connect with their audiences, build meaningful connections, make money selling products or services and promote their brands. Regardless of your profession, podcasting might be the right avenue for you - listen in to find out.

This podcast was started back in 2018 to help demystify the art of starting a podcast. Since then, although the podcast space has definitely gotten busier, it isn’t any less confusing. This show is for the entrepreneurs, marketers, and experts who want a podcast but don’t know where or how to start.

If you’re having a hard time understanding all of the conflicting opinions, have taken a how-to podcast course (or tried to finish a course) that left you confused, or just want someone to give you some honest advice, you’re in the right place. My approach is straightforward, answering one question per episode, and my purpose is to make all of the complex stuff not that way.