To celebrate 300 episodes of The Audacity to Podcast, I'm drawing lessons from this show's first episode to help you launch your podcast better, or learn how you can improve.

I published the first episode of The Audacity to Podcast, “You Need Passion, Organization, and Dialog (POD) to Podcast (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/tap001-you-need-passion-organization-and-dialog-pod-to-podcast/),” on June 17, 2010. It's launch coincided with the launch of Noodle Mix Network.

1. Serve your audience

In my first episode, I spent too much time talking about what a podcast is. (Even as far back as 2010, I addressed the debate over the word “podcast”!) But my target audience was existing and want-to-be podcasters, so it's reasonable to assume they know what a podcast is.

First, why are you podcasting? If serving others isn't part of that answer, then you may need to re-evaluate your reasons for podcasting.

Second, whom are you podcasting to? What do they actually need? Understand and get to know your audience by asking them questions.

Third, what expectations are you setting up for your podcast? A lot of people came to The Audacity to Podcast looking for information on the Audacity software, which I didn't directly discuss until several episodes in (a point Dave Jackson (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/sop) even made when he first discovered my podcast). Deliver what people came for, and they'll often stay for more.

2. Respect your audience's time

I cringed when I discovered that my first episode of The Audacity to Podcast started with an ad! It was an ad for my own (now retired) graphic and web design business.

I also spent too much time talking about myself and talking about the podcast instead of simply giving the podcast.

In fact, that first episode took nearly three minutes to get into the actual content!

While some people may not mind much if you waste a little of their time, I'm confident no one will hate you for respecting their time.

Don't worry about making your episodes an “ideal length.” Make every minute count, and your audience will most likely not care how many minutes you give them.

3. Plan your show's future

Before I started The Audacity to Podcast, I made a list of 35 topics I wanted to cover. That simple plan gave me direction for the future and that approach continues to help me consistently create new content.

Whether you're launching your podcast or you've been podcasting for a while, try brainstorming a list of future topics (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-to-brainstorm-future-podcast-topics-tap195/): themes, guests, stories, reviews, and more.

The first iTunes review I ever received was from Erik Fisher (now a great friend and the host of Beyond the To-Do List (https://beyondthetodolist.com/), which is on my network) and it demonstrates the perceived value in having and following a plan:

Let me be the first to say that this show will be around a while. I say that not just because Daniel has it planned out, but because even after just two episodes, it's that good. This show will empower you to podcast through information and motivation. Great job!

4. Prepare your content and presentation

I don't remember exactly how long I spent preparing my first episode, but I have a feeling it was only as long as it took to come up with “POD: passion, organization, and dialogue.” I probably spent no time preparing how I would communicate that message.

The better you prepare, the fewer mistakes you'll make (and thus fewer things you may want to edit out).

5. Be yourself

When I started The Audacity to Podcast, I was still finding my voice. I was not necessarily trying to be anyone else in particular, but I was trying to be “bigger than life” in a way that didn't actually fit my own life. I could hear in my voice how I was trying to sound like a radio DJ or voiceover artist.

Masking or inflating your personality takes extra energy and can wear off,