Are you thinking of jumping into the podcast trend?
When seeking a work-life balance later in their career, many boomers have begun exploring ways to share their life and passions with the world. This can result in artistic pursuits like writing, but with the technology of the day, there now exist more opportunities for anyone to share their stories. And one of the biggest methods that is emerging is the podcast.
Podcasts are privately made radio-type programs that are then made public to the world at large. You can find podcasts on just about any subject these days and many are produced as a hobby. Though it takes some work, it is something anyone can do on their own. So if you are interested in entering the world of podcasting.
Know what you’re doing.
Though you may approach it as a hobby, if you want to be successful with your podcast, it will require some effort and investment. A decent microphone is a good first step — no sense in having a podcast if people can’t hear you. From there you’ll need to do some research into what it takes to make a podcast work. Some basic sound editing skills, knowing where and how to host the shows and where to find your audience are all essentials for getting your podcast off the ground.
Plan your shows.
Coming up with an idea and starting to build your podcast can be exciting. That excitement can cause you to jump in head-first without much of a plan. You might have a lot of passion and knowledge for your subject, but that’s not always enough. You want to make a compelling and worthwhile show, so create a structure to keep things in line. It can still be loose and fun, but without any structure at all, the whole thing could turn into a mess of ideas.
Focus your content.
Again, what you choose to discuss on your podcast is totally up to you, but it’s important that your material is at least a little focused. Pick a subject, even a very broad one. It could be movies, history, current events – not need to narrow it down too much but just talking about whatever happens to be on your mind that particular day might be hard for other to get attached to.
Offer your audience something special
There are thousands and thousands of podcasts out there on just about any subject you could imagine. If you want to draw an audience you’ll have to offer them something they can’t get elsewhere. Whatever subject you want to tackle, think about how you can approach it in a unique and exciting way. What would make audience sit up and take notice of your show amongst the crowded field?
Be yourself.
In the end, what is the point of doing the podcast if you can’t express yourself freely. Keeping in mind all the advice and caveats we’ve explored here, the podcast is your own and you should use it as a venue for your own voice to be heard. As long as you are respectful of others and listen to the other opinions out there, you have the right to be yourself and be comfortable doing it. Have fun!