Now that you have launched your first few podcasts or are about to, the next question is can you make it a success?
With diligence, professionalism, and attention to detail, you can.
For example, instead of simply being on the air, these suggestions below could help you stay on the air and exist for a long time.
More than Launching
Once you've recorded the audio and uploaded it to your media host, there’s more to it than just getting your message out.
While many podcasters decide to throw in the towel after a few episodes you don’t have to be part of that group. Rather, make sure your podcast achieve what you intend it. Give it the best chance of making it through the early days and remaining on the airwaves the right way.
Determine a Successful Podcast
Work toward what you believe is a successful podcast, and ask yourself, “What does success look like to me?” Everyone has their idea of success.
Ask Why?
Keep in mind, when you create a podcast, things don't always fall into place perfectly. Things can get in the way like your everyday life, hardware and software malfunctions, and/or files could be deleted, and more.
When things go wrong, be sure you have a solid reason for wanting to do a podcast and push to make it happen. Ask why you are doing the podcast and try to stay on track despite being sidetracked.
Know It Takes Time
Realize that it may take years to build an audience for your podcast and not just days or weeks.
To make a successful podcast you need to be consistent and determined over the next few years by keeping the overall goal in mind. Doing so can offer a sense of keeping in tune with the podcast's success.
If you enjoy doing the podcast in general, you will be determined to stay with it and keep growing its audience.
If you don't enjoy it, then the audience will see through this and tune out, and you won’t be consistent in recording it. As a result, this could lead to missing episodes, before possibly giving up totally.
If you have recently launched your podcast and it is not a happy experience for you, consider starting over and determine what, why, etc., and reassess the overall goal of the podcast.
Is It Sustainable?
A big part of enjoying the process of podcasting, is making new episodes regardless if it is daily, weekly, or monthly.
In the planning stages, decide if you can dedicate the time needed to your podcast be it weekly, monthly, or daily. Try to create an episode outline to determine if the podcast is going to take more work than you thought to produce it.
The key is to decide if working on your podcast is something you feel is enjoyable as opposed to a task.
Don't Get Weighed Down On the Launch
Whether you have launched a few episodes or are about to launch the first one, be realistic and don’t fall into the myth that unless you are famous before your podcast goes live – nobody will tune in.
Be sure to lay the foundation for building a podcast that is going to grow and get better with every episode.
During the early days of launching your podcast, concentrate on presentation skills, recording, and editing. Start small, and let your audience grow slowly along with your podcast. You don’t have to be perfect before the first episode or even for the first few.
Get Control
As you grow, check-in regularly with your audience and get their feedback; this could help you know if the podcast will survive and thrive.
Again, in the early episodes, you will not have an established audience as early listeners haven not completely bought into your podcast yet. Keep in mind with each episode, they are determining whether to stay with you.
That said, in the beginning, be decisive and let the listeners know what the podcast is about, how it works, and what they may get out of it by listening in.
If you've done your research in the planning stages, you know who your target audience is and want they are hoping to hear, make sure it is serving them.
Don't Plan on Immediate Audience Participation
When you are a new podcaster try not to create your shows around an audience as there is no one.
For example, if your episodes are created to answer listeners' questions or doing a live show, think again when planning your podcast theme in the early stages.
Hopefully, these podcast tips and suggestions have been helpful and will give you the tools needed so you will be podcasting for many years to come.
