Take a moment to think about the top five ways to get your voice out to current and future customers. 15 years ago, the first things to come to mind would likely have been television, print, and radio. Today, it’s all about the internet and social media. One medium that has exploded in the last few years is the podcast. If I told you that you could have the uninterrupted attention of every iTunes user for 30 minutes to an hour every week, would you take me up on that opportunity? I’m sure you would. Podcasts combine the benefits of radio with the reach of the Internet.
If you are considering starting a podcast here are a few things to help you get started.
Choose your topic carefully
Think about your audience and the type of content they want to hear. Also, keep in mind that talking for an extended period of time can be difficult. Be sure to take the time to prepare before stepping in front of the microphone.
Consider the length
I’ve found that 30 minutes to an hour is the sweet spot for the length of a podcast. Any longer and your listener starts to lose focus.
Think about equipment, but don’t let it be a barrier
Your equipment can be as simple as the microphone on your cell phone to as complicated as a full studio. For months, I recorded my podcast using my iPad and the app Garage Band. These days I use a mixer and 6 microphones. Determine what is right for you but don’t let the cost prevent you from getting started. Build up an audience and improve your equipment over time.
Post it on iTunes
iTunes has a vast user base and every user has the podcast app. You've got millions of people at your fingertips! It's also surprisingly simple to do. People can access your podcast many ways but iTunes is a great start.
Be consistent
This is critical. You run the risk of losing your audience if you don’t produce new content regularly. If you say you’ll have a new podcast every week, be sure to put out a new podcast every week.
Market it
Even if you are using the podcast for marketing purposes, it’s important that you market your podcast as well. Tell your family and friends about it, post it to social media, have your colleagues / customers join you and have them share it as well.
Keeping all of this in mind, the most important thing to do is to have fun. Your listeners will be able to tell and the more positive you sound, the more likely they are to keep coming back.
From a personal standpoint, I’ve been producing podcasts on and off for the past 4 years and I’ve been listening to them for about 6. My current podcast is titled “What’s That Podcast Called?” and along with my co-host, we’ve posted over 30 podcasts and seen our audience grow tremendously.
You can learn more about me and my podcast at http://whatsthatpodcastcalled.com. You can also find us on iTunes by searching for "What’s That Podcast Called". I love to talk podcasts so feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or feedback you have.