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Episode 23

The How Show

February 12, 2016 ·

Ep23: The How Show How do you start a Podcast? Episode Summary: “Perfection is not attainable, but if you chase perfection, you can catch excellence”

Episode Summary: 7 concrete steps to actually get a podcast started — from picking a launch date to defining long-term goals — with realistic timelines and real resources for learning the craft.

What You’ll Learn

  • The 7 concrete steps to actually launch a podcast, in order
  • Realistic launch timelines: 4-6 weeks solo, 8-10 weeks minimum for interview shows
  • 5 podcasts and courses worth studying to learn the craft
  • A tool for promoting episodes with short audio teasers

“Perfection is not attainable, but if you chase perfection, you can catch excellence.” — Vince Lombardi

Ask Mike Anything: Promoting with Audio Teasers

Guest question from: Dr. Vivian Carrasco, The Turning Inward Podcast.

Question: Are there tools for promoting a podcast with audio teasers?

Answer: Yes — Clammr, essentially “Twitter for audio.” It lets 24 seconds of audio get shared on any social media channel or website, a great way to promote individual episodes.

How to Start a Podcast: 7 Steps

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”

1. Pick a Launch Date

4-6 weeks is a reasonable timeline for a one-man-band show, 8-10 weeks minimum for an interview format. Action step: put the launch date on Google Calendar and hold yourself to it.

2. Create a Master Document

Organize and plan as thoroughly as possible. Action step: create a Google master doc and write everything down.

3. Learn Your Craft

Resources mentioned: Dave Jackson’s The School of Podcasting, Daniel J. Lewis’s The Audacity to Podcast, Ray Ortega’s The Podcasters’ Studio, Cliff Ravenscraft’s The Podcast Answer Man, Pat Flynn’s How to Start a Podcast Tutorial, and John Lee Dumas’s Free Podcast Course.

4. Define Your Topic & Content

What’s genuinely exciting to talk about? Go there.

5. Choose a Format

One-man band? Interview show? Co-host? Storyteller? See Episode 21: The Format Show for a full breakdown of each.

6. Commit to a Publishing Schedule

Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Pick a schedule and stick to it — audiences want consistency above almost everything else.

7. Define Long-Term Goals — for You and Your Audience

What should the podcast do for you? What should it do for your audience? Is this a path to making a living, or is it 100% a hobby?

Music: “Life of Riley” & “Wallpaper” (incompetech.com).

Show Notes & Links