Summary

The website content provides insights from 20,000 podcasters on launching a podcast, emphasizing the importance of understanding your audience, defining your unique value proposition, and strategically planning your launch.

Abstract

The article shares collective wisdom from a survey of 20,000 podcasters, who reflect on their experiences launching their podcasts and what they would do differently. It serves as a guide for aspiring podcasters, offering practical advice on overcoming self-doubt, technical challenges, and the importance of having a clear 'why' for starting a podcast. The author, who has personal experience in podcasting and coaching, suggests reverse engineering successful podcasts to find gaps in the market and emphasizes the need for thorough preparation, including creating a listener avatar and identifying audience pain points. The article also highlights various resources and guides available for new podcasters, encourages personalized marketing strategies, and invites readers to join a Podcast YCombinator style bootcamp for further support.

Opinions

The author believes that understanding your 'why' is crucial for a successful podcast launch.
There is a consensus among experienced podcasters that preparation, including identifying audience needs and unique value propositions, is key.
Some podcasters, like Shay Potter and Wesleyne Greer, have used innovative strategies such as leveraging their podcast to boost writing and speaking careers or releasing episodes like a Netflix series.
The article suggests that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to launching a podcast; each podcaster should find a method that aligns with their values and audience interests.
The author advocates for a strategic launch, recommending against generic marketing tactics in favor of personalized outreach and networking within the podcast community.
The author offers resources and a bootcamp to assist new podcasters, indicating a commitment to supporting others in the field.

What You Can Learn From 20k Podcasters About Launching A Podcast

Their insights will save you time and frustration

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

I asked 20k podcasters “how they launched their podcast, and if they had it to do over what would they change?” The responses ranged from I just jumped in, to I wouldn’t change a thing.

It wasn’t just a random question to a group of podcasters. It served a dual purpose. My primary reason for posing the question was part research for four friends who are considering launching their podcast. And I am in the middle of creating a Podcast YCombinator style bootcamp for podcasters in the early stages of their podcast startup.

If you are considering starting a show I know what you must be feeling because not too long ago, I was in your shoes. You may have feelings of self-doubt, overwhelming thoughts of pulling all of the moving parts together, doing research, buying equipment, learning software, and gear. There is a ton of planning and execution occurs behind the scenes before you even hit record.

I am familiar with the feeling of starting something new. I get it. When I launched my coaching business in 2007, I dropped about $1,000 on a three-day coach training program.

Back then, I didn’t have a target audience, but I knew I wanted to help people, that statement makes me laugh now because while it sounds well intentioned it was vague. I made several mistakes along the way, I have fallen scrapped my knees and had to get up, brush myself off and start again-only this time I was not starting from scratch. So, I don’t mind offering to help others trying to make a difference through this medium called audio that I love, because I understand the struggle.

When you search how to launch a podcast, your first hit will be from Shopify, and it is a 27min read. RadioPublic, NPR, Buzzsprouts, and Gimlet Media have compiled reliable guides to make your in-flight experience exceptional started.

Identify your why

When I started in my podcast in 2016, my why was simple. I wanted to share stores of ordinary people who I thought were doing incredible things within their sphere of influence.

So what?

Who cares?

Why should listeners tune into my(your show)? This is not a rhetorical question, in order to give ourselves the best opportunity to succeed we need to answer these questions about our pitch. Alex Bloomberg and the Gimlet team cover the pitch in detail during the first episode of the Gimlet Academy Podcast, well worth the listen.

More than one way to launch a podcast

Shay Potter is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, she started her podcast with the intent of using it as a springboard to launch her writing and speaking career. Crack This ShXt Open is a story about coming into who you are while accepting the things you can not change.

Wesleyne Greer is the founder of Transformed Sales. When she thought of starting her podcast, she used a combination of marketing strategies that included writing articles to create an initial buzz. Wesleyne released Snack Sized Sales as a Netflix series, I thought that was clever.

Reverse engineer Your Launch

Identify The Top 5 podcasts in your genre, figure out what you like and don’t like. Most importantly, you have to identify what they are not offering, look for the gaps. What aren’t your competitors providing for the marketplace that you are uniquely able to offer? Finding and filling gaps will differentiate you from the pack.

Prepare

Create a listener avatar: (name, age, sex, location, occupation, social media hangouts, topic interest and podcast interest)
What are their pain points? What do they need to learn? Where do they need help? How do they want to feel?
What are your values? What will your show offer? What does the world need that you are uniquely qualified to talk about?
Come up with different ideas for your show. Once you have settled on one, your podcast will be on the middle of the intersection where your values and the audiences intersect.

You are not alone

Finally, after you edit your first episode and hit publish, you are not finished; now you have to tell the world about your podcast.

If you have waited until you have a couple of episodes under your belt before you start spreading the word, you’re already working behind the eight ball. Resist the urge to do a generic email blast, instead send out small personalized batch announcements within your network. Treat your podcast launch like a movie or a book release, get yourself booked on a few podcast to talk about your new show.

Join Podcast YCombinator

I want you to be successful. In addition to having launched, hosted, produced, and edited BTW Podcast, I’ve served as a consultant to several podcasters and inspired countless others to step out of their comfort zones and start a new venture. And I want to do the same for you.

Download a FREE Podcast Launch Checklist Be the first in line to receive a copy of Write Outta Hell: “Write Outta Hell!” Is the story of a man who wrote 104 short stories over a two years by only using the notes app on his phone and a microphone. In the process he delivered inspirational messages of hope to thousands of people all over the world, discovered his voice and found peace.