This podcast is sponsored by Faith Media and Impact Podcast Coach, a service that supports women podcasters to boldly share their voices and their powerful messages through the medium of podcasting. Find out more about our podcast coaching services and courses, and download your free Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist below.
Own Your Podcasting Space
Remember, this is YOUR show! Before hitting record, take a moment to own the space you’re in. Whether it’s a corner of your bedroom or a swanky home studio, make it YOURS. Decorate it with things that inspire you and make you feel powerful. When you feel at home, you’ll bring that confidence to the mic. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of confidence you get from being very comfortable in your space.
Take Deep Breaths Often
If you’re starting to feel yourself tense up, remember to breathe. Inhale, and exhale. Get rid of self-doubt, it doesn’t belong to you. Deep breaths not only calm your nerves but also give you a moment to center yourself. Remember, you got this!
Prep Like a Pro
Preparation is your secret weapon. Research your topic, jot down key points, and have a rough outline. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel. It’s like walking into an exam knowing you aced the material. You are absolutely going to rock this! After all, this is YOUR podcast and you are a fabulous podcast host.
Treat Your Audience Like a Friend
Remember you’re talking to your sisters out there. Picture them sitting right across from you, vibing with every word. Speak to them like you would your bestie. When you connect with your audience on a personal level, it’s like having a virtual chat with a friend.
Embrace Imperfections
Perfect is boring. You don’t need to stress about every little “um” or “uh.” Free yourself to embrace the imperfections in your show; they make you real and relatable. Your audience will love you even more for being authentically you.
Remember, you’re not just a podcaster; you’re a trailblazer.
This podcast is sponsored by Faith Media and Impact Podcast Coach, a service that supports women podcasters to boldly share their voices and their powerful messages through the medium of podcasting. Find out more about our podcast coaching services and courses, and download your free Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist below.
Download your Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist
Women rise up! I believe this episode is just for you! I truly believe you have purpose. Combined with your passion to share your truth, you can rise up and be a blessing to the masses through the power of your voice, and through podcasting.
This show is to inspire you to do just that. I discussed a few tips such as…
🌟Pick up your FREE copy of your Business Clarity Guide before you start your podcast, plus download your Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist: https://impactpodcastcoach.com/
This podcast is sponsored by Faith Media and Impact Podcast Coach, a service that supports women podcasters to boldly share their voices and their powerful messages through the medium of podcasting. Find out more about our podcast coaching services and courses, and download your free Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist here.
In this week’s episode, we’re talking about avoiding some BIG podcasting mistakes to avoid. I’ve been there and done that…so I thought I would help you to avoid them as well. Stats show that the podfading rate among new podcasters is 50% and half of all new podcasters quit shortly after they begin. This episode is all about making things easier for new podcasters.
Here are a few tips I’ll be sharing on this show…
Spending a fortune on equipment upfront
Not making a clear decision about your hosting platform
Not familiarizing yourself with recording software and tools of choice
Being afraid to request reviews
Bad quality sound
Not knowing who your audience is
Having unrealistic expectations
With that said, let’s jump into how to avoid podcasting mistakes that will slow your growth, and let’s make room for
Spending a fortune on equipment upfront
I’ve talked about this in previous episodes that there are only a few essential tools necessary for starting a podcast and you don’t need to sink a lot of money into creating a show for yourself. You will need to invest in a few necessary tools like your microphone, your audio hosting, and your editing software (should you need to edit), and those things are going to cost you a little bit of money. But you shouldn’t have to feel obligated unless you are just geeking out on technology and you like to have all the bells and whistles.
You don’t have to have a whole recording studio in your home. You don’t have to have a soundboard. There are things you can use to soundproof your room that don’t cost a fortune such as soundproof panels and foam that you can get from Amazon. But all of this is on a budget. So if you’re thinking that it’s going to cost you an army of like it’s not true. It doesn’t have to cost you a lot.
That’s one of the bigger mistakes that people make when they get really excited about starting their podcast. They think they have to invest in the state-of-the-art top-of-the-line microphones and connections and gadgets and all the things they go with the microphones.
You’re not going to have a perfect sound probably under your first couple of takes. You may not have perfect sound in your 50th episode or your 500th episode. That’s okay. We’re not looking for perfection. What listeners are looking for is whether or not your show is easy to listen to.
Is there a lot of background noise?
Are there a lot of unnecessary mouth sounds that are distracting for your listener?
Are there unnecessary breaths and mouth pops? The first part of that tip is stressing over the quality. You don’t want to be so obsessed over how perfect your sound is. But on the other hand, you want to make sure that your listener is not bombarded with all of the unnecessary sounds that turn them off to your podcast.
So have a little balance there and know that when you finished recording an episode you might need to run it by a friend. Have them listen to it first before you hit publish because they may be able to catch a few things that can help you to even out your tone and your and the overall quality of your recording.
Not deciding quickly on your hosting tools
Once you’ve deciding on your podcasting goals, it’s important to figure out where exactly you will host your show. One of my biggest podcasting mistakes was jumping around from one hosting platform to another. It cost me a lot in energy and time (since I was attempting to save money), but my advice to you is to pick a hosting platform and stick with it. Choose hosting that meets your needs in terms of your budget and what the service offers (making sure it offers quality stats), then stick with that hosting of choice.
Not being familiar with your recording and editing tools
I had an embarrassing moment years ago where I had forgotten to hit the “record” button during a Skype interview, and it was all because I had not familiarized myself thoroughly enough with Skype.
My advice: always be sure you know your way around your recording and editing tools. Get familiar with the programs and tools you’ve chosen to work with. Practice, practice, practice in advance…then implement.
Being hesitant to request interviews
Another thing that I would highly recommend if you’re planning on having guests is to be very bold and confident when you want someone on your show. If you see that there is a particular guest that you’re interested in having on your show because they bring so much value everywhere they go and you want them to be a part of what you’re doing. I recommend just sending out an email to them personally or to their assistant and making it clear who you are and what your podcast is about and why you feel like they would be a great asset to the topics that you’re providing for your audience. And ask, asking you shall receive and so either you’ll receive a yes or no.
So since I’ve been podcasting since 2005 and in all the 18 years that I’ve asked a guest to be on a show, I’ve only received a “no” twice. That’s a whole lot of “yes’s”. So don’t be discouraged. Reach out to the potential guests you’d like on your show and don’t make the podcasting mistake of being afraid of a “no”. You’ll get the right people on your show with time and persistence.
Not understanding your audience
And the very last piece of advice I’ll give you about what not to do when podcasting is being a generalist and not knowing who your audience is. You want to know who you’re talking to. You want to be very familiar with your audience as pain points. You can’t help them if you don’t understand them. So if you’re a generalist meaning that your podcast is about a bunch of different things, it’s difficult for your listeners to determine if they really want to listen to your show.
Stay on topic, have a theme, have a goal, have a purpose for what you’re doing, and have your topics surround that purpose.
Ask yourself these questions as you podcast:
What do you want your audience to feel when they listen to your podcast?
What do you want them to think about when they’re done listening?
Do you want them to feel encouraged, inspired, motivated, and happy, or do you want them to feel educated?
Do you want them to feel like they’re in the know?
Do you want them to feel like they just achieved a breakthrough?
What is your goal?
Remember what your goal is as you’re talking to your audience. So those are some of the reasons I have this podcast. It’s about podcasting with soul. So being able to fit it into your lifestyle, being able to create a show that comes straight from your heart and your soul.
Keep podcasting, keep producing content that your audience grows to love and they grow to love you and your show grows and you make more of an impact.
🌟Pick up your FREE copy of your Business Clarity Guide before you start your podcast, plus download your Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist: https://impactpodcastcoach.com/
In this week’s episode, I want to help take you from zero to done with your podcasting endeavors. No more procrastinating! Here is your podcast launch checklist that will help you move forward quickly.
Remember your why
Why did you start your podcast, again? Remind yourself of the reason you enjoy doing this work. Is it to help people solve a problem? Grow your audience? Monetize your message with brand deals and sponsorships?
Check out episode 3 about finding your podcast purpose, and this will help you to further investigate your “why”.
Think like your customer avatar
One of the best ways to relate to your customer is to think like them. What are some of their pain points? Their desires? What keeps them up at night? What do they wish they could do differently? How do they wish to change their circumstances?
As you start to ask yourself questions that your customer is probably asking themselves, you’ll think more and more like them.
Pick up your podcasting checklist here…
Remember to show up to serve and support
I’m going to offer you a podcast launch checklist that you can download to accompany this episode, and one of the best ways to implement what’s on this list, is simply to show up and serve.
Making time in your schedule each week to record and publish a podcast episode will prove beneficial to you and your audience. You’re going to enjoy serving them and they are going to love hearing from you. But you have to know your why first and think the way they do.
Don’t overthink, just do it
Of course, part of this podcast launch checklist is to remind you not to overthink the entire process, but simply get into action. Just do it! You know your material, you understand your mission. Now it’s time to jump in and do the work of reaching your audience and helping them out the best you can with your content.
If you’ve been wondering how to podcast confidently, just know that you are not alone. You can start by listening to the podcast or watching the video below, then keep reading for extra pointers and details to accompany my tips for you in the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-U3PcwBYXw
Tap into your passions and goals
When you first start your show, you are very passionate about your topic. You’ll need this kind of passion to keep you going for the long haul (because, let’s face it, podcasting can get hard with time).
You’ll also want to ask yourself hardcore marketing questions such as: how will you market your podcast? How will more people learn about it? How will you receive engagement? These are all questions you’ll want to answer before each show so that you’ll feel confident when producing your content.
Podcast confidently by not comparing
If you want to grow a podcast you’re proud of, you’ll need to remember to be confident in your own podcasting choices. Your topics, your show format, the way you show up, the encouragement you give, and the style in which you share, are all completely yours. Therefore, there is no need to compare what you are doing with another podcast show or format. Just stick with what you know and what you’re comfortable with.
Determine your tools of choice
Back in episode 4, I shared about how to select podcasting tools that are within your comfort zone. This is a crucial step in beginning to podcast confidently: choosing the right tools. If you love your microphone and recording gear and your workstation and setup are easy to navigate, you’ll feel more confident recording your shows.
Jump in!
This is my final tip for you. If you tap into your passion and message and jump right on in, you’ll be driven to serve the people you truly care for through your podcast. I hope I’ve encouraged you to start a podcast with confidence. You don’t have to be afraid of this process. It truly is a lot of fun once you jump into it.
Thanks for listening, friends, and I’ll be back next week with more tips for you on my podcast about podcasting!
No doubt, if you’re curious about the podcasting industry (what it’s all about, and why you should start one), then you’re probably already knowledgeable about the answer to this one foundational question: “What is podcasting?” But…if you’re like some (who like to just cover your basics before you start your own), then that’s what this post is all about. Let’s dig into podcasting and what it’s all about!
So, what is podcasting exactly?
The nuts and bolts of podcasting
Here is where I’m going to get very technical. We’ll get the boring stuff out of the way, and then we’ll talk about benefits.
Podcasting is a method of distributing audio and sometimes video content over the internet, allowing users to subscribe and listen or watch on demand. Podcasts are typically hosted on a platform, such as a website or services like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and can be downloaded or streamed directly to a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. That’s basically what podcasting is in a nutshell. Pretty simple, right?
A few benefits of podcasting
Podcasts cover everything from news and politics to comedy and entertainment, and can be created by just about anyone, as well as organizations and businesses. They are often serialized, with new episodes being released regularly, and can be enjoyed at any time, making them a popular choice for on-the-go listening. That’s one of the benefits of podcasts (you’re not stuck at a desktop or laptop…take your fave podcast on the go with you!)
As a listener, I appreciate the versatility of a podcast. Many of my favorite podcasts get listened to while I’m grocery shopping or out running errands. The podcast hosts then become my go-to “life coach” of sorts. (Although I never paid for a coaching session, I feel especially loved from a distance as I receive “virtual coaching” from my favorite business podcasters who cover a topic I need at that exact moment of my life!)
As a podcaster, I can vouch that this is true for so many of my clients, women entrepreneurs at various stages of their podcasting journey who just need some extra support and motivation along their entrepreneurial journey. A lot of women have reached out to share with me how my podcasts have helped them so much in their lives, how they were about to throw in the towel and give up on their attempts to take another stab at business (or as on my homeschooling podcast, women who were struggling with their parenting or homeschooling journey). I’ve been told over and over again that my podcasts have helped them in some way or another…and they can’t wait to listen to the next episode. (I even had a few women tell me that they listen to each and every episode that I release! I was blown away by that level of commitment!)
What you need for listening to podcasts
Listening to podcasts is easy. To start listening to podcasts, all you need is a device and an internet connection.
You can find podcasts by searching online or using a podcast app, and subscribe to receive new episodes automatically as they are released. Many podcasts are also available for free, making them a great way to access a wide range of content without having to pay.
(Personally, I’ve found that making my podcasts available for free has helped me to build my businesses more quickly than charging for them. Although, at some point, I may start charging for a private podcast feed available for my coaching club members!)
What you need for creating good podcasts
Podcasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks in part to the ease with which anyone can create and distribute their own content. The rise of smart speakers and voice-activated devices like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home has also made it easier than ever to listen to podcasts, as listeners can simply ask their device to play the latest episode of a show.
If you’re interested in creating a podcast, you’re going to need a few basic pieces of equipment, including a microphone, headphones, and a computer. You’ll also need to find a hosting service that can store your audio or video files and distribute them to listeners. Some popular podcast hosting services include Soundcloud, Libsyn, and Anchor…
Here is a video I recorded a while back that can help you figure out what equipment you need to create podcasts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a_kGEKsOM8&t=55s
After you’ve asked yourself “What is Podcasting?”, here are a few basic things you’ll need to start your podcast.
1. Choose a topic or theme for your podcast.
Choose a subject that you’re knowledgeable about and that you’re passionate about. This will help you keep your content fresh and engaging.
2. Choose quality equipment
You’ll need a good-quality microphone and headphones to record and edit your podcast. Some popular microphones for podcasting include the Shure SM7B, the Rode NT1-A, and the Audio-Technica AT2020. I’ve personally used a Shure SM58 for over 10 years and recently switched to a Blue Yeti.
3. You’ll need recording software you’re comfortable with using.
You can use a digital audio workstation (DAW) like GarageBand (for Mac), Audacity (for Mac and Windows), or Adobe Audition to record and edit your podcast. (I prefer the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite).
4. You’ll need a hosting platform.
To distribute your podcast, you’ll need to host it on a platform such as Libsyn, Podbean, or Spreaker. You’ll also need to create an RSS feed, which is what allows your listeners to subscribe to your podcast. (Your RSS feed will be created using one of these platforms and will get your show distributed to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.)
5. You’ll need to market and promote your show.
To build an audience, you’ll need to promote your podcast through social media, guest appearances on other podcasts, and other marketing efforts.
6. And lastly, you’ll need consistency and dedication.
Finally, you’ll need to be consistent with your content and dedicated to growing your audience. This will take time, effort, and patience, but it will be worth it in the end.
Pick up your free podcasting checklist…
“What’s in it for me”?
You might be asking yourself this question if you’ve stumbled upon this post. First, you wanted to know “What is podcasting?”…just to be clear you understand what it is exactly before you ask the next pertinent question: How will podcasting be applicable in your situation?
And my answer is…it really all depends on what you want to get out of your podcasting adventures (and, yes, podcasting is an adventure). Podcasting can be a means to many ends, helping you to accomplish goals for yourself personally as well as for your business.
Work on your speaking and delivery skills without getting things perfect right away
Gives you space and time to get comfortable with your topic, learn more, and grow into it as you create new content
Adds an extra layer of personal touch and vulnerability that can attract your listeners to you over and over again
Adds to your credibility with your network and search engines
There are enough benefits to help me in my personal AND business life, which is why I’ve chosen to keep podcasting (after 17 years!)
Get started with your own podcast
I’m definitely very excited about the growth of podcasting post-2020. I’ve definitely seen a boom in the industry in recent years (probably largely due to so many people being homebound during 2020). Podcasting is only rising and becoming more of a norm. It doesn’t take much to start your podcast with confidence.
Now that we’ve answered the question “What is podcasting?”, if you are interested in starting a podcast of your own, check out my podcast coaching services and see how my team and I can help you get started on your podcasting journey within two weeks! I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together.
If this post has been helpful to you, leave a note in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
