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Creating Consistency – My Podcast Workflow – Episode 166
How do you find time to record your podcast? Consistency is an important part of building an audience. This week, I thought I would share my podcast workflow to help you create more consistency with your show.
Before we begin, I want to share with you two things.
First, I launched a Facebook group last week for podcast interviews. If you conduct interviews on your podcast, join our group here:
[PODCAST TALENT COACH INTERVIEWING FACEBOOK GROUP]
We are helping each other find great guests and become better interviewers.
Next, I received a great e-mail from one of my coaching clients. This shows the power of taking action.
Erik,
I’m listening to the episode on how to get guests while driving home last night. As u go thru each tip, I say “yeah yeah yeah” until u said those magic words “make the ask short and offer something of value to the guest” and it was like a lightening bolt.
I pulled off on the side of the road and messaged a top-of-the-food-chain guest I’ve been chasing w no results for a while ,,,,,, and said, “Hey I have an opportunity to highlight your vision (something I know he is pushing) and if u can give me a 30 second sound bite I can record it and put it out.”
It worked. I got the clip today and a commitment for an interview As I reflect on it, I’ve been trying to impress him w how good my podcast is instead of figuring out what he needed so I could offer that thing of value.
One of your most important messages is of being a servant of guests and listeners and giving the something. Thanks Erik.
Rick Sizemore
Regardless of the information and training I provide you, none of it will matter unless you actually put it to work.
That is why I love working with Rick and his co-host Anne. When I make recommendations to them in our coaching sessions, they put the suggestions into effect and see results. They do the work. I’m so proud of them.
If you would like information on my coaching services, get details here.
[PODCAST TALENT COACH COACHING SERVICES]
Now, let’s talk about your podcast workflow and consistency.
Many podcasters will post episodes consistently. Then life will get in the way causing them to miss a few. They will then get back on track.
When this inconsistency happens, they will often reach out to me wondering why they cannot get their downloads to grow.
Listening is a habit. Help your listeners to develop that habit.
THE BENCHMARK
Have you ever listened to a radio show where they do a bit at the same time every day? You know you are on time on the way to work if you hear the game or joke or trivia question when you are at the corner of 16th and Broadway.
In news radio, the network news typically airs right at the top of the hour. These stations sometimes do “traffic on the tens”, where they air the traffic report every ten minutes at ten past, twenty after, etc. Morning shows on music stations might play their contest every morning at 7:20, creating consistency on the show. The station might do a lunchtime feature playing nothing by 80s music.
In radio, we call these a benchmark. The definition of a benchmark is a standard or point of reference against which things can be compared or assessed. When the radio feature happens at the same time each day, that is the point of reference for the show.
The benchmark tells listeners they are in the right spot at the right time. It becomes a habit, because listeners are listening at the same time each day. The feature provides stability and consistency in the life of your listener.
Your show can do the same thing when you are consistent. Listeners may not listen every Tuesday at 6pm when you post. However, they might listen every Thursday at 7am on their way to work, because they know a new episode is there when they tune in. When you don’t publish, the promise and habit are broken.
To create consistency, I have found focus is critical. My podcast is the center of all I do. If I do not create the podcast episode, nothing else matters. Therefore, I have scheduled a specific time each week to record the podcast. I built my podcast workflow to streamline the process. If it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t happen.
You should do the same thing. Schedule the time. Build your podcast workflow. Make it happen.
There is another step that helps me create consistency. I batch my recording. Each time I go into the studio, I record three episodes. This step also helps me work ahead just in case life gets in the way.
I use the podcast time during the weeks I am not recording to write the outlines for new episodes.
Let’s go over my podcast workflow for each episode. This will help you plan your episodes and schedule your time to record. Most of all, a plan will help you create consistency with your show and a habit for your listener.
A good rule of thumb is one hour of preparation for every hour of show. That involves gathering your information and outlining it for the show.
Once your show is recorded, you will probably spend another hour or two posting it and promoting it. If you want traffic, you need to spend most of your time promoting and marketing your content.
MY PODCAST WORKFLOW
- 60-second blog content plan
- Show prep planning worksheet
- Write the outline
- Topic development worksheet
- Develop the lead magnet
- Write the show notes
- Set up my studio
- Record the episode
- Edit the episode
- Add the ID3 tags
- Post the show to Libsyn
- Create the cover art for the episode using 123RF.com and Canva
- Post the show to my website
- Add the appropriate links
- Send out a broadcast to my list
- Share on Facebook and Twitter
If you wish to create more engagement and increase downloads with your podcast, begin focusing on consistency. Schedule your podcasts. Create a podcast workflow. Then, begin to market your show as much as you can.
Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.
You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.
Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.