Creating a Compelling Podcast - Part 3: Ongoing Maintenance
This is Part 3 of my three-part series on creating a podcast. Click here for Part 1 which will help you plan it out your concept and get your show bible together and here for Part 2 to help with the initial technical parts like scripting, recording and editing.
Getting Your Show on the Road!
Now that you have figured out the fundamentals, and hopefully created your first episode, it’s time to launch this baby! There are many podcast websites that, for a nominal fee, guide you through posting your episodes and making them available on all platforms. Here are a few things you will have to do when you submit your episode:
Create a nice thumbnail image to represent your show (and maybe even customizing it per episode).
Figure out what nomenclature you will use when naming your episodes (will you include episode #s? Make each title a pun?) and stick to it!
Intrigue your audience with episode descriptions (and making sure to credit any guests, music or sound effects appropriately!)
Once that’s all squared away, you are all set! Until, of course, you have to post your next episode. But this is fun right? RIGHT?
Editing Your Series
The nice thing about editing is that it will get easier with every episode you create. Repetition develops muscle memory and you will find that your brain will start to think and pre-plan for the formula you have created for your podcast. By episode 4 or 5 you will have a good sense of your pain points and know how to anticipate editing issues while you are recording. You will probably also figure out little time savers and shortcuts like keeping all your music transitions and frequently sound effects in an easy to find folder pre-edited and ready to drop in on a track in audacity.
Maintaining a Connection with Your Audience
Forcing your friends to listen and recommend your podcast is all well and good but getting them to keep coming back is the real challenge. Even if your content is phenomenal, there is just too much competition for attention to leave it just at that. Here are some tips that can help:
· Pick a schedule and stick to it. If you are ambitious and want to do a daily, weekly or even bi-weekly podcast, you should make a few episodes in advance to give you some buffer time if life gets in the way.
· Provide easy ways for people to subscribe. Your podcast website helps a lot with pushing updates to platforms but giving listeners the option to get an email reminder when a new episode is available will really boost your engagement.
· Leverage your show notes/podcast description. Sometimes you need visuals to get your point across. Don’t be afraid to add links or supplemental material in your show notes / podcast description. It will push your audience to engage with your content beyond the episode – and that’s a huge win.
· Speaking of user interaction…Try to get creative on getting your audience invested in your show. Ask them a question and have them to send you voice recordings that you can use on your episode. If you are doing a fictional podcast, consider asking them to vote on what happens next. Not only are you boosting engagement, you are also getting insights on your most loyal listeners.
Preventing Your Burnout
Committing to a podcast long-term is not a trivial decision. There are parts that you will love, but there are also parts that will feel like hard work. To avoid feeling like you’re in a rut, try to change things up every so often. Here are some ideas to consider:
· Get more adventurous in your editing. Try out different platforms and softeware to see how that changes up your process or challenge yourself to create more advanced sound design or effects.
· Create special episodes. Holiday specials are an easy excuse, but you can also do one-offs or mini-series arcs.
· Rebrand. New artwork or a new theme song can helps keep things fresh and can influence a long term change in tone
However, it should go without saying that it is also important to know when to call it quits. If it has turned into an obligation instead of an outlet of creativity, skill-building and growth, it’s simply not worth your time.
I hope this series has been helpful for you. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback. I’d love to hear from you!
