One of the biggest reasons for people failing in Podcasting is starting off with the wrong expectations. In this post, we will be solving that problem and will help you start a podcast with the right mindset.
Here are 7 things that you need to keep in mind before you decide to launch your podcast.
Podcasting is probably the easiest of all content marketing channels. When I say easiest, I mean in getting started. But at the same time, it is also important that you understand that nothing is easy in this world. There is some amount of effort involved in everything that we do.
Podcasting follows the same principles as all other content marketing channels – blogging, vlogging etc.
These are some of the things that we will be discussing in due course.
Since I had promised that I won’t overwhelm you with information overload, we will set everything aside and talk about the absolute basics right now.
As part of the podcasting basics in this video we will be discussing more about the right mindset.
People who fail at podcasting start with the incorrect mindset, the incorrect expectations. And when they do that, they very soon get demotivated. This leads them to think that it is not working, is very high. They start to feel that they are wasting their time and then slowly they quit. They might not quit immediately but eventually they will. They miss out on releasing episodes once, then twice then multiple times and slowly totally stop releasing any episodes. This phenomenon is called “Pod-Fade”.
My objective is to ensure that your podcast doesn’t end that way. So it is important that you start with the right mindset.
Mindset Changes Before You Start a Podcast!
So let us look at 7 things you need to keep in mind before you start a podcast.
In fact, I would recommend that you sign a document saying that you agree to all of these 7 things and keep it in a locker.
Whenever you feel down and out, just go back and open the locker. Take the document out, read it and tell yourself that you signed up for it.
Then, go back and work.
These 7 things are something that can be the difference between your success and failure in podcasting. Here are the 7 mindset changes you need before you start a podcast.
It is easy to get started but difficult to sustain –
To start a podcast is not difficult. In fact, it is pretty easy. All you need to do is just pick up your smartphone and record.
Most podcast hosts have online editing tools (though I don’t recommend it), which you can use to edit your episode and hit publish. That’s it!
But when you have to keep releasing episodes week after week, spend hours doing the same thing, face rejections from guests, see your downloads in single digits, you will find the going difficult.
There isn’t a RIGHT time to launch
Don’t wait for the perfect time. Just get started. I see people who have an idea and have done the homework as well.
But they don’t launch their show because they are waiting for the right time.
Remember that there is no right time to launch a podcast. The best launch time is now.
So, just get started!
You don’t need to master audio to launch your podcast
Audio editing is one of the most overwhelming activities in podcasting, not because editing is difficult. But because, editing is made to look difficult with all of those jargons and difficult videos.
Beginner podcasters who start a podcast spend hours editing out the silences, dead air, filler words etc. and consequently get burnt out.
You don’t need to spend hours editing your audio. Just do the basic edits and publish your episode.
If you want to learn a very simple editing process, you can watch my video here.
You aren’t going to become RICH overnight or, with the first episode
Now this is important!
If you are getting into podcasting so that you can become rich in about a month or, so then keep in mind that it won’t happen.
In fact, you might not even become rich in a year.
Podcasting is a long journey. If you plan and strategize right, you will be able to monetize your show even with low downloads. But it will take some time before it can become a full time income sources for you.
Expect low downloads initially
Your first few episodes will be listened to only by your mom and your close friends. So expect crickets and some really low download numbers for the first few episodes.
It is hence that I recommend that you do not look at your download numbers for the first 3 months. Focus only on creating content.
You have to Promote your show
If you are a believer in “Build it and they will come”, then podcasting isn’t for you. You will have to promote your own podcast.
Promotion can take a lot of time. So you might want to be ready for it.
I recommend a 20:80 ratio in the time you spend on your podcast. Spend 20% of your time creating content and about 80% promoting it.
There is a time commitment required in Podcasting
If your episodes are about 20 minutes, you will need about an hour to edit it and publish it (I will be talking about a fast editing method in my next episode, so don’t forget to tune in next Thursday) and another 3-4 hours promoting your show.
So be ready to put in that many hours.
Over to You!
I hope you found value in this post.
If you did, then do comment below and let me know your thoughts.
I have a FREE 10-day ecourse that can help you get started with your own podcast, if you are new to podcasting. You can join the course here.
If you have any questions, you can drop them below and I will respond to it.
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