Category: Uncategorized

Blog title Podcasting formats

Podcast Formats – Which One Should You Choose?

What is a podcast format?  When you choose to do a podcast you need to decide how you will configure your episodes. Your podcast format is the way you’ll present your information to your listener in each episode.

Below I will tell you about the 6 most common forms and give an example of a show with that format.

Solo Show.

You are the sole voice on your show. Your listeners will tune in each week to hear your take on whatever topic you’ve chosen in your niche. 

Pros: Simple to create 

Cons: Be careful not to speak in a mono-tone your listeners may get bored and not return 

Solo shows I’m enjoying at the moment are: Affirmation Pod. I have been a loyal listener for years!!

The Traveling Introvert

Interview

You talk to a different person in each episode. You ask questions and take them through a story that will either educate and/or entertain your audience.  

Pros. A popular format that is easy to set up.   A great tool to conduct interviews remotely is Squadcast. I wrote a how – to use guide here . If you want to try Squadcast you can sign up here. (Please read my affiliate statement at the bottom of this article.

Cons: Finding the right guests can take a little time, asking incisive questions is a skill that improves with time. Your first few interviews might be a little rough in terms of technique, it will get better. 

Visible at Work

Making Sense with Sam Harris

Roundtable : You host a discussion on a topic and debate it with a group of people

Example Sips of Truth 

Documentary.  Also called non-fiction storytelling, with this format, you will be telling a story that is based on facts. 

This American Life

Think about the sentence this film was based on real events, this bring us to the docu-drama

Docu-drama: A fact-based podcast mixed with elements of storytelling. Best example SERIAL

Audio Drama  A fiction story telling podcast

Past Due 

A podcast I’ve discovered recently that’s got 200, 000,000 downloads and is addictive We’re Alive

Hybrid : A mix of the formats above. The most common mix is interviews and solo-shows. 

Why you need to choose a style and how to do it

Choosing a format will help you create your content. Putting your ideas into a consistent format each week/fortnight/month will help you create structure around your podcast efforts.

 When you know what you need to do for each episode you will be able to create elements of your podcast in advance like your quick fire round if you do interviews or your different calls to action.  Need some help with these?

Would you rather have a visual for all this info ?

Podcast Formats

Heads up! My articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of my links you won’t pay more but I will get a small commission. Thanks.

5 Tips to Avoid Podfade

Title of post. How to avoid podfade.
How to avoid podfade

What is Podfade?

When you suddenly stop creating and producing podcast episodes, and never get back to it.
Yes, this is a real “thing” a lot of people become overwhelmed with the amount of work or time commitment that it takes to produce a podcast.

Many podcasters stop producing episodes after episode 6.

Today 5 Quick Tips to Help You Avoid Podfade.

  1. Plan. Have you planned your podcast to the last detail? Do you have a clear podcast “why”. Can you identify the person your podcast is supposed to reach? Who is your podcast for?
  2. Time. Don’t underestimate in the beginning how long it will take. No just recording straight into your app isn’t the answer. How long does it take to do each piece? I’ve built this business out of the part ppl find the most time consuming-podcast editing.
  3. Schedule it. What will you do when? When will you record? When will you edit, do your scheduling? When will you plan social media and promotion and execute it?
  4. Batch record. If at all possible this is a lifesaver. Have your episodes ready to go.
  5. Be patient with yourself. There’s a learning curve for everyone. I’m a better editor than I was last year. You will get better at recording, interviewing and creating content. You need to be patient and kind to yourself.

What’s holding you back from starting a podcast?
Pop your question below.

I’m going to be on a Podcast Panel!!

I am so excited and if you receive my newsletter you know why!

I’m going to be taking part in the Outlier Festival in January 2020!

Speaker badge for The Outlier Podcast Festival.
http://outlierpodfest.com/

The Outlier Podcast Festival is an opportunity for smaller independent podcasters to meet one another and also connect with bigger names in the industry. If you are on the fence about attending please read my last article about why you should attend “smaller” podcast conferences.

One of my goals for 2020 is to speak at more podcast conferences so that I can really encourage more women to start their podcasts. I want to know what’s holding you back and give you effective, actionable advice to move you forward. That’s one of the reasons I love smaller podcast conferences, everything is made is easier. The information is more accessible and people have more time.

If you want to know what’s going on and want to see updates use you can tag Outlier @Outlier_HQ on Twitter, @OutlierHQ on Instagram, and OutlierHQ on Facebook.

I would love to meet you in person, please come up and say hello if you are still on the fence about attending I have a discount code for you.

Use the discount code “Outlier” for 15% off your ticket.

Will I see you there?

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!!

Thank you to every one of you that commented, sent an email or just read the blog. I hope you celebrate the way you want to tonight. If that means going to a party or staying in with the dog (my personal favourite).

I would love to hear what podcast goals you have set for 2020. Leave me a voice note let me know!

You can follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_podcast_maven/?hl=en

On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PodcastMaven/

Let’s Chat book an obligation free call here

Your Podcast Needs A Newsletter

Your Podcast Needs a Newsletter

I think each podcast needs a newsletter.  Why?

You always want your audience to know what’s happening in your pod world and with your show. When people give you their email, you can be sure they want to hear from you and support you.

What really prompted this post was the “dark day” when I couldn’t post to my IG account (www.instagram.com/the_podcast_maven) and I was totally locked out from FB.

I could see other people’s posts on IG but I couldn’t log in to my account, it was annoying. I run an online business this is how people find out about me and what I do.

No matter how small your list it’s important to keep in contact with people who have asked for your content.

What To Put In Your Newsletter

This is the part I find tough as I don’t consider myself a content creator but of course tell them

  1. What’s coming up in your show.
  2. Can you link to content that they can only access if they are on your list?
  3. A training they might be interested in
  4. An opportunity to participate in your show
  5. They can have a question answered on your show
  6. Have the chance to get a shout-out
  7. A member-only competition for your subscribers

You can also include snapshots from your life if that’s appropriate when I post pictures of my dog she gets far more likes than I do!!!

Don’t just use as an opportunity to promo and run think of it as another thread of the conversation. One that you have real control over.

Before You Pick Your Microphone

5 Tips To Plan Your Podcast Properly

As a Podcast Coach l like to tell people to plan their podcast first before going out and buying the microphone you saw on Social Media.

That’s a gripe for another post!

For me, it is so frustrating to see a great podcast description and then see that the last episode was released in March 2017.

 Where should you start?

So here are a few tips when you are at the planning stage to get clarity on what you are really trying to achieve and an outline plan of action.  I had feedback on a Get Your Podcast Started Virtual Summit that I was a speaker in. What was said is that we all want to run with our shiny new idea, but two (2) months down the line after editing each episode for 2 hours. Having a guest that you thought was a great fit be a great dud and looking at the slow growth of your download numbers. You decide that you’ll not put out an episode this week, then next week you are busy with…..

Let’s put some structure around your great podcast idea.

Here are my 5 tips

  1. Podcasting is personal: Tell people who you are and what’s your story.
  2. What is your podcast about?
  3. What’s the end goal of your podcast? Do you want to connect with people who love the same horror films like adore? Do you want podcasting to be your full-time job? Are you doing this for personal development? Is it a project for you and your kids?
  4. What topics do you want to cover?
  5. What will keep you consistent?

If you need help creating a solid plan for your podcast I’d love to chat with you. Book an obligation Free Discovery call here.

If  you want to move forward and have committed 2019 to launching your podcast then ask me about Maven Podcast Coaching. I will take you from idea to launch.

P.S. My podcast is launching at the end of this month I would love it if you would rate and review. Follow the IG page @theenterprisingexpat to know when I launch.

Listening List

Headphones on a pink background
What are you listening to?

This is what’s playing in my earbuds this week. Let me know what you are listening to. Please when you are listening Rate and Review!!! This will help smaller podcasts be seen.

  1. Blackwood
  2. Affirmation Pod (there’s no better way to get a dose of positive uplifting energy for the day)
  3. Expat Happy Hour Sundae chats with a great mix of guests who are Expats and her solo shows always provide great tips.)
  4. Immunities
  5. Learn Spanish   This is quite old but I want to learn to speak Spanish).
  6. Tea and Tattle