If you’re starting to explore podcasting for your business, you need to think about a few things I talked about in the last post. In it, there is an excellent pre-podcasting agenda to get you thinking.
First, you need to make sure you have something to say! It helps if you’re enthusiastic or passionate about the things you’re going to talk about. Hopefully, you are excited to help by generously sharing content and ideas as part of your podcasting mission.
Podcasting is like having “conversations in public” says Joel Comm, as a guest on Conex, the Convince and Convert Podcast.
~Joel Comm
Just remember, audio is a highly relevant way to deliver consumable content to people. But, not any old content, if you want to have an impact. You’re going to have to work harder than merely deciding to talk—if you genuinely want to make your podcast successful. There are, as inc. points out here, other business and personal benefits to deciding to do a podcast.
And while you are finalizing decisions on a name, key topics, podcast artwork, show format, and other pre-prep list items, you can now start working on action items to begin to put things into motion.
Podcast Pre-Launch Decisions
If you know you are going to do this and can’t wait to launch your show, things are definitely looking up. Still, there’re some peripheral decisions to consider, some I’m delinquently only catching up with now. Maybe listing them for you here can help you avoid playing catch-up later on. This is the stuff you need:
- Hosting for your podcast is essential for audio to load quickly, safely, and efficiently without sucking resources directly from your site or computer. LIBSYN, for Liberated Syndication, is one of the first audio-specializing hosts and is a leader in the field. Check out this updated guide to podcast hosting choices for all the best picks to find the host for you.
A Podcast Brand?
- A podcast website to showcase and grow your podcast and audience let you offer value-added assets to your show while giving your podcast a home and an engaging content hub/blog. I’m hoping this MSSYBiz site becomes a place for interaction and the exchange of ideas around the MIX/SIZZLE AND SHAKE YOUR BUSINESS Podcast. But you don’t have to have a dedicated website for the show as a standalone if you don’t want to. You can always use a page on your site for the show’s episodes or embed an audio player directly on a typical blog post to share and archive if you prefer. The important thing is to have a direct access route to listeners and a way to add to the audio content to make meaningful connections with them. Offering links to stuff from your podcast is only the first valuable tidbit you can do for people when you invite them to your podcast website. If you do go with a branded website for your podcast, don’t make these podcast website mistakes!
- Nailing down the name so you can incorporate it into podcast artwork, site design, and domain registration, to name a few, is of utmost importance in building your whole podcasting marketing plan, along with site structure and design. Make sure the URL for your favorite name idea is available and secure it for your domain before you move forward on the previous steps. HINT: Don’t get too fancy with naming but do get clear and concise. Instead of fancy, try to go for names that are easy to remember and easy to type:) Research for a name here: https://instantdomainsearch.com/.