Pod-Crashing
Episode 25: The Seven Truths Of Podcasting
This
past week I was invited to break out of the studio and sit with future
Broadcasters. The subject? Podcasting! The importance of
investing your personal time and creative space to what’s quickly becoming a
good sized puzzle piece in the world of content connection.
Each
lecture was four hours long. Oh yeah. When you call me to the stage
we’re gonna plant the seed and wait for the first leaf to leap out of the
soil.
During
those ticks on the clock we covered seven main areas that most podcasters never
tap into. My father used to shout, “No matter how much it might hurt or
comes across as being boring. The truth
is
always the best way to lead.”
Truth
number one of the seven. When it comes to podcasting it’s easy to
start. Even easier to quit. It’s like looking at a really cool
bottle of ice cold beer on a very hot Carolina day. You can’t wait to pop
that
top
and pour those natural juices through your system of choice. The biggest mistake
always takes place during the first big gulp. Podcasting comes across as
being free spirited and fun until you need to
get
the work done. Suddenly that bottle of beer become funny tasting earth
water. You forgot to read the label. It’s strawberry flavored with
a twist of lime.
Easy
to start. Easier to quit. I love listening to the stories of those
getting started. They’re so excited about launching the episodes and
instantly there’s 150 to 200 listens. That’s right Captain that oh wow
factor
of making the right decision to be a podcaster has pumped up the volume in your
heart. You’re gonna make money! But now you’ve got to plan and
execute shows number two, three, four and so on. What? The
analytics are showing a huge drop in the numbers. That vision to hit one
million quickly begins to fizzle and those well invested ten hours have started
sending out invitations to find a new sport.
Easy
to start. Easier to quit. This totally leads me into the second of
the seven truths. Just because I’ve seen many people kick off a podcast
then drop it off like a dirty diaper doesn’t mean you’re gonna feel
the
same storm. The second truth? You are your own story. How I reached
my first million can’t be compared to your journey. The layout of decisions
and reasons for each season are completely in tune with your own
universe. Podcasting is a beast blessed with many faces. We might
see eye to eye on which platforms to use and what it’s like to watch a totally
nothing episode become your biggest attraction in months but ultimately your
story as a podcaster will walk it’s own path.
This
is why it’s wise to join a podcast community. To compare the bumps and
bruises. To try new ways to produce or interview. Social media
techniques versus just posting it to Blogger.com The podcast
adventure
is a wild ride that always has a story of its own. It’s yours. And
I have mine. I keep a journal. Documenting what I’ve tried and
why. When it doesn’t work out I go back into the journal and locate
the
areas of weakness. The best way to build a skyscraper is from the ground
up. If you think you’re starting out on the 13th floor then you should
also expect there to be no elevator. All things that move in an
upward
motion start beneath the surface of dirt.
Truth
number three. Practice, practice, fail, practice. The only way
you’re gonna bring light to an otherwise silent spot on the wall is to figure
it out. Podcasting is like sex. A lot of people show up thinking
they
know how to use the tools. You’ve got to practice. To locate that
voice. This isn’t terrestrial radio. Developing the right pitch
volume and tone demands a little love and affection. Practice, practice,
fail
practice.
Be nice to your creative self! When it’s not paying off like you dreamed
that’s not a red flag for you to pick up a country song and play it
backwards. You’re not getting anything back.
When
new ideas hit me. I write them down. I plan out what could be the
execution. The first attempt never makes it to the air. I listen to
the episode in the car. I listen to it in a stinky burger laced place
with
a food rating of 83%. You are judged by what’s listened to in the
moment. The moment it drops then you’ve got to know in your masterful
soul that this is a new podcast that will have lots of episodes.
Don’t
quit it before it’s time because its evolution no longer matches the original
vision.
Truth
number four. Don’t let your friends critique your podcast. The
further you keep your art away from those who love you most the more fun you’re
gonna have putting it out there. Friends try to be nice.
Friends
think you can handle the truth. Friends will lie when something is out of
tune or over baked. If they want to hear your craftsmanship let me locate
it on their own. Google is a wonderful tool. If they
bring
it up in a conversation do all you can to break free of it. Save your
friends for other occasions such as crashing a new Cheesecake Factory.
Truth
number five. Weekly versus daily episodes. I do them both.
That doesn’t mean I like it. Two truths already discussed come into
play. You are your own story and practice, practice, fail,
practice. I come
from
terrestrial radio. We do shows everyday! You get used to the
energy. I have three podcasts that get attention once a week. The
numbers are high but individually they aren’t generating enough steam
to
keep this engine on the tracks. I grasp the idea of why so many prefer to
use the once a week approach. I do love it though when I go to Marc Maron
and Dax Shepherd and the boys have brought me
some
quality content and conversation several times during the week. What do I
do? I keep going back to them. The more we listen the more
advertisers enjoy sponsoring them.
Truth
number six. Never too early to start but you’re fifteen years
behind. Think about that for a moment. When I first jumped into
podcasting in 2012 it was already in forward motion. No matter how hard
I
worked on developing my own voice and style I was still fifteen years
behind. I totally respect those that took huge chances in the years
before me. It prepared my 2012 stage. This was way before
iHeart
Radio began to support it. Long before Spreaker and Anchor.fm.
Before those platforms began to unfold I spent a ton of time searching for
radios to post the interviews and features. I gave my stuff
away
just so I could learn how to play.
Today’s
new podcasters have it a little sweeter. Everything you need is right
there for the taking. Oh wait. That brings me to a truth.
Easy to start. Easier to quit. I’ve always looked at this cool way
to share
conversation
as being our KDKA in Pittsburgh. That little torch knew it could and
proved it. It hit the air in 1920. Alan Freed, The Real Don Steal,
Wolfman Jack, Casey Kasum, Dick Clark, Howard Stern and
every
local small town hero wouldn’t have been heard if someone hadn’t planted the
seed.
Truth
number seven. The very second you begin a podcast your longterm vision is
to reach 100 plus episodes. You have to think like this! You aren’t
going to get valuable advertisers by sluggishly playing
along.
Someone’s gonna ask, “How many episodes have you posted? What’s in your
catalog? How long did you say you’re going to do this?” They always
told us in martial arts that we can’t master the
punch,
kick or block until we’ve done it 100,000 times. There was a time in
radio when the old timers would tell the young bucks, “You’ll never be looked
at as a pro in radio until you’ve been fired three
times
and divorced just as many.” The longer you spend in between these sheets
the more you’ll understand what they mean.
There
you have it! Seven podcasting truths. Grab your light sabers and
take up sides during this battle in the galactic core of a universe that looks
brighter than the Northern Lights.
I’m
Arroe and that’s pod-crashing
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