Planning is an important part of podcasting. It can add a tremendous value to the podcast. Talking randomly without any particular goal is like targeting your ads to mass market, which is not very effective nowadays, especially if you don't have the budget like Coca Cola.
Establishing a path by planning upfront allows you to achieve your goal easier. The audience usually can relate better and know what to expect out of the podcast.
What do you need to do to design a successful podcast? Here are step by step on how to do it right from the start.
1. Identify the podcast's goal
Start with an end in mind. After knowing where you want to go, plan backwards until you get the next action you can take right now to move it closer to the goal.
This may sound common sense but the fact shows just the opposite. You can't just speak about your life and hope to get sponsorship from a car company, unless perhaps, you are sitting inside the brand of the car every time you podcast.
Most companies are going to get more savvy about podcasts. They are not going to spend much on a podcast without knowing its audience. They'd better spend with known demographics.
2. Know your audience
Who is your audience? Who are going to listen to the podcast? Are there any separate groups of people who will listen to the podcast?
Knowing your target audience allows you to speak directly to them and address their problems instead of talking to your interest. If you know the demographics so well you know they are hooked to the Internet via dial-up connections, you should begin finding the balance between the right quality and file size to cater to the slow download problem.
Perhaps now is also a good time to start an idea journal to keep notes when something interesting appears that relate to the target audience well.
3. Brainstorm the needs specifically
What do you need to get to the goal? Do you need to sell ad space on the podcast site? What content do you plan to publish for at least the next three episodes?
Are you going to interview an expert? Do you have the equipment or software to record the conversation? Maybe you should start researching on software and what kind of deals you can get to save money.
As the result of the brainstorm, you will get clear ideas about what the needs are and then plan to acquire them if necessary.
Podcasting can be fun, but only if you plan ahead and avoid the stressful condition during deadlines because lack of preparation. Being able to establish a schedule and deliver it is very important to keep the momentum.
Copyright Hendry Lee and MarketingLoop.com
Do you want to learn more about podcast creation and marketing? Have you considered podcasts as part of your business and marketing mix but are confused about the strategy?
Download your free 3-step podcasting guide and business case for podcasting from http://podcastingscout.com/subscribe
Get comprehensive tutorial on how to plan and start your own podcast here: podcast tutorial.
mass upload ebay