Making a Podcast Plan
Do you need a podcast plan?
There is a term in the podcasting industry called "podfade." This is the sometimes slow, sometimes fast act of the abandonment of a podcast. It usually starts with episodes getting more sporadic and ends with a podcast that still lives in the cyber world but will never again see fresh content. Most podcasters don't start out intending to abandon their podcast, but it happens—a lot.
“The problem is that many podcasters start out without taking into account the full measure of what it takes to crank out an episode every week or even every month. ”
There are a lot of reasons for podfade, but one is a simple lack of planning. Honestly, even with the vaguest of concepts and zero planning, most people can probably crank out a couple of podcast episodes. If we are passionate about a topic, we probably also have quite a bit to say. The problem is that many podcasters start out without taking into account the full measure of what it takes to crank out an episode every week or even every month. Even if it is your life's passion, it still takes work and commitment.
Some podcasts reach their demise before even one single episode makes its way to the pod universe. As we all know, lots of people are "starting a podcast," but not all that many make it happen. There are lots of reasons for this, but one is, again, lack of planning. Without a clear roadmap, it can be impossible to even get started.
What aspects of a Podcast Do You Need to Plan?
The more, the better. As we saw in the first post of this series, it is useful to think through what you are trying to do and what level of time, energy, and money you are willing to put into it. This is the time to really decide what that is going to look like. What concrete steps are you going to take to make this happen? This is going to include a plan to get everything you need in place to start. This will likely include some type of list of potential topics, a schedule of when your episodes will come out, a framework for promoting your show, and some thoughts about when you will do the recording, editing, posting, etc. This is a rough list. You will, for sure, find some other things to think about along the way. Still, you have to start somewhere.
Note: You don't HAVE to develop and work from a plan. There are some people who can buy a mic, hit record, and do amazing things. If that is you, awesome. However, that is not 99% of people. Depending on how we are wired, some of us will want to plan every last detail and follow the plan to the letter. Others will have some kind of outline and make things up as they go along. The whole point is to make your podcast a reality. At some point, you will just have to be you.
Make a List
Start your podcast plan with a list
The first step of laying out a plan like this is to make a list. What is everything you can think of that needs to happen to start a podcast? I am not going to offer a comprehensive list here. You can put your own together as you read through the rest of this series. Everyone's list will be a little different. Yours will depend on what you are trying to do, what equipment you already have, and how comfortable you are with the technology and software you will need. Think about everything you need to do and write it down. And keep that list handy. You will be, for sure, adding things along the way.
Creating a Podcast Launch Timeline
Unless you are starting a podcast for work, you are likely not under any deadline. Whether you know when you want to start or not, it is good to pick a date. Try to be realistic and remember, unless you have some kind of hard deadline, you can adjust. From that start date, work backward and try to figure how long everything is going to take. For instance, if you don't have any equipment, it will take some time to find the right gear, get it ordered, and get it setup. It might take you some time to figure out your topics. It will definitely take some time to work through technical details like finding the right hosting site. If you are new to working with audio, you will need time to get the right software and learn how to record and edit your shows. If you decide to outsource some of the work, you will need to find the right person. Will you be designing your own cover art or finding a graphic artist to do it for you?
Your podcast plan should include the number of episodes you want completed before launch.
How Many Episodes?
Many podcasts launch as soon as the first episode is ready to go. People hosting shows with time-sensitive topics like news and sports may not have much of a choice. If your podcast idea is not time-sensitive, I recommend waiting to launch until you have five episodes. Really. Once you have five, you have two options. One, you can release them all at once. That means that if people like the first episode, they can keep on listening. This gets people hooked on what you have to offer and, in some cases, gets you noticed on some of the podcasting charts. The other option is to release one right away and then release the rest on a schedule. Weekly seems to be the norm, but you can also do monthly or, if you are really committed to this, daily. This is another way to build listener loyalty. At least for the first five episodes, listeners can count on new content on a regular schedule.
While I think there is merit to launching a few at once for new podcasters, I am fond of the idea of recording five and releasing them one at a time. This takes a lot of pressure off and gives you a lot of time to get ready to record again.
Podcast Planning Tools
If you already have experience with project planning, you may already be familiar with tools to help with this process. If not, that is okay too. My favorite project planning tool is paper. It helps me think better when planning. Still, you can use any calendar app, to-do list, or project management software like Basecamp or Trello. I am actually writing this blog inside Evernote. I use several different planning tools for my work, but my podcast planning lives inside this app.
Keep Planning Your Podcast
If you can make a plan to get through your first podcast episode, you will find this a useful tool going forward. You will learn a lot as your start your podcast, and those insights can help you make a better plan for the future. Maybe editing takes longer than you thought. Perhaps you learned some tricks about booking guests. You may have made some discoveries about the best time to record and the best time to release your episodes. All of that can be part of the plan going forward.
Need Help?
Whether you need a professional sounding intro or help to get your podcast edited and ready to go, I have several services to help you sound great: