How can you create and distribute a podcast?

You decide and you commit! And you learn along the way. Setting expectations is key which is best done by talking to others who have launched podcasts. Know the skills you have and the gaps where you need others to help you. It’s rewarding and full of unexpected surprises. Give yourself grace and applaud yourself for doing something a lot of people dream of but get stuck in fear and never make happen. #laidofflifeon

Having a clear purpose for your podcast and articulating this succinctly helps you to tell your story and for others to share it. For example, The Cricket Library Podcast aims to provide a platform for people to share their stories of how the game of cricket has positively impacted their lives and others. This is a short, clear, and easy way of explaining what we do to others and enabling them to share this message with cricket lovers who they know would appreciate listening to the podcast.

Determining the podcast 's niche and knowing your audience is the key! Once you know this, plan the format and structure your episodes

It's very important to choose your niche/cause/topic to cover and decide upon the format of your podcast. The format can be either audio or video format. If it's audio, challenges are a little high, as people are only hearing you/your podcast. And the interest level might drop, unless the content is good enough to keep the listener hooked to your podcast. The niche is something where you can create content anytime, and even call upon your friends or guest to talk about it.

If podcasting is a hobby, you can start with a smartphone; no headphones or computer needed. Record on your phone and upload the unedited audio. If you want an interview based podcast, you could buy a standing microphone, but continue to only use your smartphone. There are plenty of phone apps that allow you to edit a podcast without a computer. If you have a computer and time to learn, use Audacity to edit and clean up your audio. I use Audacity and Final Cut Pro to edit clients work and both programs are intuitive and simple. You could also skip the boring stuff and hire a podcast manager so that you focus in being the talent and leave the editing to someone else.

Planning is the most important step. This step decides on the success rate of your podcast. Few things to keep in mind 1. Create a script outline or key points of discussion 2. Focus on providing valuable and engaging learning bytes for your listeners 3. Inviting guest speakers can add variety and perspectives

With over 100 episodes published, here are my top two tips for a successful launch. 1) Your publishing cadence matters just as much as quality guests. Meaning, you may have time to publish weekly, however, without knowing the future, a bi-weekly cadence helps with work-life integration. I started with a bi-weekly cadence to help with unexpected demands. 2) Finalizing the vision for the experience you wish to create for your audience will help with booking guests and topic focus. Recording as many episodes possible up front, and then scheduling for release will help you avoid urgency with needing to record and publish a show quickly. Lastly, go for it! Everyone has something special to share.

Transistor.fm offers a website, wonderful analytics, and distribution to more than 15 podcast apps and platforms. For more than 3 years, I’ve used Transistor for myself and clients and love their option to add team members, create transcripts and link YouTube videos. RSS means Really Simple Syndication and using Transistor us the simplest way to distribute your podcast RSS feed.

After a ton of due diligence, I went with Buzzsprout. They are the top trusted resource in the publishing market for download stats.

Promoting your podcast is important. Social media can be the best solution. Collaborating with social media influencers can give your podcast better penetration. Don't forget to take reviews or ratings!

Podcasting is a great way to share your personal story, build your brand and add value to your network. I often direct people to episodes I recorded years ago so it also creates a bank of evergreen content that you can continuously leverage!

Podcasting is a wonderful marketing channel because people want to hear from you. Podcasting is especially relevant for small business owners and corporate leadership because your team wants access to you and podcasting is an intimate way to share with others. Whether you create an interview based podcast or a show where you share your personal opinions, podcasting allows you to improve your public speaking skills, showcase your talents, and discover new opportunities while teaching others.

Podcasts are an impact thing, don't think about viewers or even about how many subscribers you have. Focus on creating value, even if it's a very niche topic, stick to being original self. If you start, do at least 30 podcasts and you'll see the results yourself.

Consistency is the key! Release new episodes on a regular schedule to build a loyal audience. Remember the audience wants you to win. Building an audience base can take time, so be patient and persistent.

Try to be you and don’t copy anyone else.😉 At the beginning it will be hard and uncomfortable, but after while will be great.

Evergreen is a big consideration with podcasting. The content lives forever. This helps with brand/company visibility and credibility. The material supports you both at publishing date and into the future.