Have you been thinking about starting a podcast in 2013?
Things have changed dramatically in the past few years in podcasting. While the process to start one is pretty much the same, the resources available to help are astounding.
When I started podcasting in early 2011, there were not a lot of resources on how to start a podcast. Not only that, there wasn’t a lot of information on how to make that podcast successful.
Here is what I found to be the BEST resources in starting your podcast. From what to do technically to how to market it.
Why a Podcast?
You may have thought about starting a podcast before, and maybe that’s why you are coming to NMX. Or maybe you have never thought podcasting might be for you.
But I can tell you there seems to be a trend; a wave that seems to be happening. It’s not just me that’s recognizing it.
Superheroes like Chris Brogan saying, “I believe that the audio medium is still really powerful. I think it’s because of how intimate it can feel. I believe there’s really something to be said for this, and that you might find some great success in considering an audio show.”
Rock star Pat Flynn surveyed his audience and found that “The podcast has become the #1 way people who read my blog found out about me – that’s above search, social media and links from other websites.”
The awesome SmallBizTrends blog has an article on how “Podcasting is Becoming More Popular.” It says:
“The U.S. podcasting audience is ballooning, and eMarketer projects that growth will continue at least through 2013. By then, there will be 37.6 million people who download podcasts monthly, more than double the 2008 figure of 17.4 million. As a percentage of Internet users, podcast downloaders are expected to grow from 9% in 2008 to 17% in 2013.”
If you are convinced and are thinking about starting, let me show you the best resources I’ve found to start and market the heck out of your podcast.
3 Ways to Get Started:
How to Start a Podcast: Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn
Includes: How podcasting works, choosing equipment and software, recording tips, and the technical aspects of getting it online and on iTunes and other places.
NMX Ebook: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Podcaster
Very similar to the above link, including choosing a topic and equipment, and how to get it up and online. But it’s in an easy-to-read ebook format!
Inspirational Interview with Cliff Ravenscraft: The Rise to the Top
If you started looking through the previous two links and were a little overwhelmed by the complexity of starting. Listen to this: it will have have cemented your motivation! And truly podcasting is VERY simple after you get things up and going.
(It takes me less 1.5 hours per week for my interviews, and it has taken me longer than that for this guest post!)
Questions to Answer Before You Start:
How Do You Determine The Potential Size of A Podcast Audience? – Podcast Answer Man
Find out before you start if anyone is going to be listening. It’s also not just about the amount of people, but the quality of people that really buy into your topic!
Is it Better to Create Video or Audio Shows? An interview with Cliff Ravenscraft – The Rise to the Top
This is a hot debate. Is audio or video best? Learn what two amazing content creators think. (My two cents on this, if you are scared of video, do audio first to warm up to the idea. If you aren’t scared of video then do it, because you can always create audio from it too!)
How Do You Choose Your Niche? – Locker Gnome
This is a VERY important topic. It’s no longer about going broad and trying to serve everyone. You aren’t trying to capture everyone. You are trying to capture your select audience. This will help.
What Podcast Listeners Really Want from Your Show Notes – NMX
Show notes are the note that accompany the podcast. I learned a lot from this article on what an audience wants, and I wish I knew this when I was first starting!
Marketing Your Podcast:
How to Get Your Podcast into “New and Noteworthy” in iTunes – Eventual Millionaire
My video podcast is currently in the “New and Noteworthy” section of iTunes Business. I also asked a lot of other current N&N podcasters how they did it. If you want to land on the “New and Noteworthy” list when you launch, read this!
How To Grow Your Audience And Market Your Podcast! – Podcast Answer Man
Just creating your podcast isn’t enough. You do need to know how to market it. Listen to Cliff Ravenscraft explain how to market and grow your audience!
How to Market Your Podcast – Chris Penn
Chris Penn is a pioneer of podcasting. This link will show you his mind map on how to market your podcast. It’s very dense, but it’s so good. Make sure you take some time with this one!
Improving Your Podcast:
9 Questions To Improve Your Podcast – NMX
Reviewing your work is utterly important. Save this for after you start your show to make sure you are doing what you set out to do. And for those of us with a podcast already, we should be doing this! It even includes awesome worksheets to make sure you are delivering what you intent to with your podcast.
6 Podcasting Tips From the Pros – Social Media Examiner
Great tips from great podcasters. It’s a short article that will help give your show that professional quality you are looking for.
Um… Er… Ah… 7 Speech Tips for Podcasters – NMX
Everyone that speaks to an audience needs to be paying attention to how they speak! You can have amazing content, but if you cannot deliver it in a clear way, no one will listen!
How to Make Money with Your Podcast:
9 Successful Techniques for Making Money from Podcasting – Mashable
Finally, if you are looking to generate revenue with your podcast (and unless it’s just a hobby, you should be!) this article has nine ways that people are successfully generating revenue. Choose at least one before you launch!
If a podcast is on your list of things you want to accomplish in 2013, make sure you bookmark this AND make sure you show up for the podcasting track at NMX! It will save you a lot of time and heartache. (Take it from someone who did it the hard way!) And if you want to do an interview show, make sure you come to my session at NMX, “How to Create Amazing Interviews for your Podcast!”
What is stopping you from starting a podcast?
Thanks for sharing!
Taking a survey is one of the easiest techniques in making a podcast more noticeable. Pat Flynn did well in his survey. He discovered that he has a large audience and that is the great achievement.