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If you’re new to creating a podcast, whether for yourself or for a client, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed about how to plan it all!

That’s totally understandable! There’s a lot to think about. So, here in this blog post, I want to share what I go through with my clients when they are creating a brand new podcast.

1. What are the aims of the podcast? What do you want to achieve?

Whether it’s increasing brand awareness in key communities or even creative ways to drive sales to events, products or services. Get really clear about the aims of the podcast.

2. What community does it serve?

Who are your community of listeners? Where do the like to hang out? What are their problems and concerns? How could you use a podcast to solve those problems?

3. Titles

What would you like your podcast to be called? Brainstorm some titles. Think about how it could appeal to your community. Have a look at what podcasts already exist to make sure you’re not stepping on any toes name-wise.

4. What format will your podcast have?

Podcasts have many formats. Business podcasts generally come in two flavours – many mix both these:

  • Mini-trainings
  • Inspiration/helpful interviews

What format will suit your podcast audience?

5. Content upgrades?

Do you want to offer occasional (or frequent) content upgrades? What kind? Where will you host them? How will people access them – e.g. will they be instant downloads (no opt-in?) or opt-in required?

6. Guest Interviews

If you’re having guest interviews, how would you like guests interviews to go?  E.g. Amy Porterfield usually has a fun story-intro section (that she’s workshopped with the guest previously followed by a “you’re going to teach us how to do x” today). Or, will it be a more free-form conversation.

7. Opening script suggestions

If you’ve ever listened to a podcast, there are some podcasts that start with the following:

E.g. You’re listening to Show Title, Episode number x. Will you adopt a similar structure?

8. Thinking about your intro music

With voiceover on what the show is about. Examples:

Amy Porterfield’s (voiced by someone else): “Welcome to the Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast. Business advice so easy, you’ll feel like you’re cheating. And now your host, Amy Porterfield”

Elle Roberts (voiced by Elle) “Hello and welcome to the Artful Business Podcast, the show dedicated to helping creative entrepreneurs thrive in business. I’m your host Elle Roberts, let’s get on with the show.”

What kind of music would you like and what would you like for the voice over?

Audiojungle.net is a great place to start looking for music.

9. Intro to main body of the podcast.

After the very opening followed by the introductory music, how will you start each episode?

E.g. “Hi and welcome to Show Title, Sub Title. On today’s show we’re ________”

10. Community Building

Some shows help build community and listener engagement a couple of ways.

E.g. Reading listener reviews from iTunes (great way to encourage people to leave a review if they might get featured!) and they answer questions they get on social media.

Or drawing comments, inspiration, and congratulates members of the podcast Facebook community. This encourages people to join the community and feel supported, heard etc.

What ways would you like to build in community engagement?

11. End of the episode

Where you ask for reviews and give people a place to grab the content upgrade/shownotes.

E.g. “If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please head across to iTunes and leave us a rating and a review. Doing so helps us a lot – it makes it easier for other people to find us in the charts. If you want to find the download mentioned in this episode, go to website.

12. What equipment do you need?

Brainstorm the equipment you need to get started

Microphone?

Audio recording software – e.g. Audacity or Skype call recorder etc.

13. Launch episodes

Because people like to binge when they find something good, it’s best practice to drop multiple episodes upfront. These can be anywhere between 4-10 episodes.

How many episodes would you like to drop in your launch?

14. Podcast Frequency/Schedule

Some podcasts run weekly, others fortnightly. Others run in seasons – e.g. this family life with Nicole Avery only ran during school terms.

What frequency and schedule suits you and your audience?

15. Hosting

Where will your audio files live? Good hosts do cost money. My personal favourite after testing a number has to be Omny (omnystudio.com). Other options might include Libsyn, Soundcloud and Audioboom.

What hosting option would you like to go with?

16. Assets to Create

Outline the assets you need to create to get started.

E.g. Documents

  • Guest information pdf which includes – what the show is about, who it’s aimed at. What they’ll need (headset, Zoom (or Skype?), quiet room).
  • Standard operating procedure/book on the podcast and how it works etc.

And Artwork

  • Show art (what will show in iTunes)
  • Blog post feature image template
  • A “I was featured on xxx podcast” badge for guest media pages

Audios

  • Intro music
  • Intro script
  • Outro music
  • Outro script

17. Outline your launch episodes (4-10)

Use a spreadsheet to outline your launch episodes

18. Outline your first 10 regular episodes

Use a spreadsheet to outline your regular episodes.

That’s my process when starting a new podcast. I hope it helps you on your podcasting journey.

Have a question? I’d love to invite you to join my Facebook Community.