Podcasting FAQ

If you're doing solo episodes it could be as little as half an hour of your time .. talk into your phone for 15 minutes, upload to your podcast host, write shownotes and share.

Or, on the other end of the scale, you can hire a professional podcast production company and pay anything up to $300 per episode for top quality audio, transcripts, show notes etc. taken care of.

To produce my podcast I spend about 3 hours a week, incl. scheduling and recording the interview with my guest, editing & publishing the episode. For me, that's worth the effort to get the benefits the podcast brings. (read about what these benefits are here)

You can start for 0$.

* You can use your smartphone or zoom to record.

* Buzzfeed is a podcast host that offers a free starter plan that is not just a gimmick and perfect if you're not quite sure yet where to go with this.

* You can use free open source software to edit your audio or not edit at all

* You can use your existing website to give your show a “home”. If you haven't got one you can create one for free to start with (e.g. Wix)

On the other end of the scale you can spend as much as you want on microphones and other recording equipment, editing software or services and hosting.

For my podcast I use zoom to record, I have a good microphone (one that I had bought 10 years ago but never used), open source Audacity to edit, my existing website to “house” it, Blubrry's basic plan ($12 per month) to host it.

Again, you can invest as much or as little as you want. Whatever you decide don't let “kit” you don't have get in the way of getting started. Work with what you have. Producing interesting, engaging episodes is more important than studio quality sound. Your people want to hear from you!

You don't need technical skills beyond what you're likely already using day to day.

You can use what you have to record – your phone, skype, zoom

You can use a platform like anchor.fm to host your podcast for free. It's simple to use and doesn't require you to be a tech whizz.

You can hire someone to edit your episodes for you, or, if you don't want to spend that much, sign up for Alitu – an online platform that does the heavy lifting for you. They have a 7 day FREE trial and it's worth checking out.

Bottom line, there are plenty of options – both for the tech lover and for those who want nothing to do with it 🙂

Again, there is no one size fits all answer.

There are several different popular formats:

• solo – just you and your microphone – great if you have content/a message to share, especially if you already got an audience who's eager to hear from you.
• interview style – you inviting guests to interview – great fun and great to build an audience. People love to be podcast guests if it gives them a platform to talk about what they're passionate about. They'll be more than happy to share the podcast which helps you get introduced to new people, from a trusted source
• interview style – someone interviews you – one of my favourite podcasts the Sales Gorilla Podcast is done like that. It's similar to solo episodes but more fun to listen to.
• co-hosts – 2 or more people talking – another format that takes advantage of the fact that people love listening to conversations, discussions or debates
• panel – usually a host + 2 or more guests discussing/debating a topic
• Q&A – you or several hosts answering questions the audience has sent in. Of course, you need an audience for that 🙂

.. or any combination of formats. For example, the Girls Gotta Eat Podcast is hosted by two hilarious chicks who spend part of each episode chatting about blokes and dating, but also invite a guest for another section, then finish off with a Q&A section.

So which format is right for you?

There is no right or wrong answer. Just a few things to consider ..

• If you don't have an audience yet formats that have you invite guests or a panel (who will help you spread the word) might make more sense.
• Which format sounds most fun to you? If you don't enjoy it you're less likely to stick to it.
• The more people you have to coordinate in order to record an episode the more difficult it gets. Pick a format that you can keep up.

Bottom line, there is only one way to find out what works .. (and you can change your mind any time 🙂

I wasn't sure either when I launched. That's the reason I announced I'd do a mix of guest and solo episodes, just in case ..

Turns out people LOVE being guests on podcasts ..

.. provided they see a benefit for themselves in taking the time to talk to you.

If it ..

• gives them a platform to talk about themselves, their work or whatever it is they're passionate about sharing,
• gives them the opportunity to be found by more people,
• helps them increase their credibility on front of their own audience

they'll seek you out rather than you going out trying to find them.

How hard it will be to find guests depends of course on who you're after and who you already have a relationship with. If, for example, you're trying to get Oprah on your show you'll have to get creative if you don't know her or anyone who can help you get into her world ..

When you first start out people with a large following might not be interested in being a guest on your podcast, unless you already know each other and/or your podcast topic really resonates with them. That doesn't mean you can't have interesting guests.

Of course, if you invite guests who don't have a large audience to share their episode with your podcast likely won't be famous over night. Your call whether or not that's a problem.

For the Passion Business Podcast I look for people who have turned their passion into a business. I don't care how long they've been in business or how big their audience is. I'm interested in their story, the twists and turns of their entrepreneurial journey, and I've not yet talked to a guest who hasn't got a fascinating tale to tell that helps inspire and support others on a similar path.

I got my first guests simply asking in a Facebook group I'm active in, then I asked people I already knew. I'm on the podcastguests.com mailing list (they send out a list of guests looking for podcasts and podcasts looking for guests each week). Another great place is a Facebook group called Speaker Advantage, for both finding and being a podcast guest. Now people are contacting me – because they've come across an episode or someone sends them my way. 

I LOVE talking to my podcast guests! I enjoy getting to know them, finding out about their entrepreneurial journey.

It's fun but it isn't just about having a chat to nice people.

In order for it to be worth your guest's and your audience's time the conversation needs to have a point to it, a purpose, an objective.

It's your job as a host to make sure the logistics is as clear and hassle free as possible, including:

• scheduling the call,
• getting any info you need from your guest,
• recording the episode,
• sending the guest the details of their episode/promo material when published etc.

It's also your job as a host to make the experience as pleasant and fun as possible for your guest

• stick to the agreed time
• come prepared, be curious and present
• make your guest feel welcome and comfortable (some people are new to this and really nervous at the start, knowing exactly what they can expect helps)
• make your guest feel heard

When there is a genuine connection between you and your guest the audience gets drawn in too.

For the Passion Business Podcast I invite entrepreneurs to share their story, the twists and turns that are inevitable when you turn your passion into a business. I want these stories to illustrate that building a business isn't a matter of “6 step proven success formulas to 6 figures in 6 weeks”, so that listeners who might beat themselves up for not “measuring up” or doubt whether they've got what it takes can see that it's doable for them too.

If you've been a guest on the Passion Business Podcast you know I send out a document outlining exactly how it works, what I need from a guest, and a link to my calendar to book a time for the conversation. It takes care of timezone troubles and pops it into my calendar so nobody forgets.

On the day, we meet on zoom, chat for a bit (especially if we haven't met before) and then record what I call “a casual conversation with a wee bit of structure”. It allows the guest to share what they feel inspired to share, and it allows me to get the point across without getting carried away.

Some people have interview questions prepared, I like a more free flowing conversation. As always, there is no right or wrong way of doing it. You need to figure out what works for you and your audience. And as always, there is only one way to find out ..

If you're thinking about starting a podcast it's because you have something you want to share. But that's not enough.

If you have a large audience who adores you chances are they will love your podcast no matter what you talk about. For the rest of us – no matter whether you write a blog, run a facebook group, have a youtube channel, or a podcast – it comes down to talking about topics the audience we have (or want to build) wants to hear about. Your podcast episodes need to be of value to THEM.

So what is valuable to the people you want to reach?

The clearer you are on that the easier it is to produce podcast episodes people will love.

Solve a problem, teach something they are keen on learning, entertain them – give them a reason to spend their precious time with you.

For the Passion Business Podcast, my objective is to help entrepreneurs realize that others go through a similar journey as they do, with ups and downs, twists and turns, that they're doing better than they think and have what it takes to turn their passion into a business.  I want the podcast to help them step out boldly, carve out their own path with confidence and embrace and enjoy the adventure.

.. and no, the picture has NOTHING to do with the content of the post ?? .. or maybe it does .. if you've ever tried to catch or keep a dog's attention with something he doesn't give a damn about you know what I mean ??