As with so many of my episodes, the answer is, it depends. 

I’ve recently seen some pretty good Instagram Reels that show someone working and asking the question, “reasons why you shouldn’t do xyz…” and of course there are no reasons. 

However, I do think there are times and situations when hiring a podcast manager may not be the right fit. Listen in to learn why!

First off, let me just say that there are very FEW reasons why you might not want to hire a podcast manager. Most of them have to do with situations within your business and in conjunction with your overall goals. But they do exist. 

Before we really dig in though, I want to talk about what a podcast manager is, what they do, and the range of different things to expect depending on the type of podcast manager you’re looking to hire. 

So what IS a podcast manager? 

A podcast manager is someone you hire to manage the details of your podcast. They can handle everything from content strategy, to editing and uploading, to guest management and pitching, to social promotion and marketing… 

or all of the above… 

or a combination of the above. 

Essentially they’re there to keep your podcast organized and running smoothly in accordance with the overall goals of your business and the show itself.

It all depends on what you need. 

Now, why wouldn’t you want to hire a podcast manager? Honestly, if you don’t already have a team and have never hired any kind of help before, then I don’t think I would start with a podcast manager first. Unless you’re essentially hiring a marketing team along with them OR they become your one person marketing team and they already have all their own systems and processes. 

Also, I don’t know that I’d hire a podcast manager if all you really want is an editor. There is a difference between a podcast manager and a podcast editor. One manages the whole show and the other makes sure your episodes sound fantastic. A podcast manager can 100% also be a podcast editor, but someone who labels themselves as an editor is very unlikely to handle other aspects of the show. 

I also think there’s something to be said for digging into the entire process for the first several episodes so that you’re forced to hear yourself speak and work on your own verbal crutches. If you do interview episodes, listening to your interviews will give you insights on how you can become a better interviewer. 

There’s no better way to do this than to be the one to edit your show for the first little bit because if you are listening to the finished product you’re likely listening to something that has been significantly fine tuned. 

Alright, when SHOULD you hire a podcast manager. 

Honestly, when you’ve reached a point where managing all the bits and pieces of your show has started making the process less fun for you. 

I 100% view a podcast as a marketing tool for your business and a great way to create a pillar piece of content each and every week, but it should also be fun. 

If you’re not having fun but your podcast is your main content driver, then it may be time to hand over the reins so that you can stay in your zone of creative genius. 

Additionally, if you’re looking to take your podcast to the next level, bringing on an expert to help you test, tweak, and optimize your show could be the next right step for you. 

There are so many reasons to hire a podcast manager, but only if you’re ready to take that step. 

Part two of this conversation will be Agency versus one person show… which is right for you! Stay tuned for that one in the future. 

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

What is a podcast workflow you ask? 

It’s the series of steps you have to take in order to plan, record, edit, and release your podcast episode. 

Here’s the thing, there are a LOT of steps between idealizing an episode and actually releasing it into the world. In order to be sure you don’t miss any of those steps, I recommend creating a podcast workflow that works for you and your team!

First things first, do you currently use any kind of task management tool? 

If your answer is no, I’m going to need you to get one stat. Because even as a one person show, you don’t want to miss a vital step in your process and release an episode that doesn’t adhere to your standards for your business. 

And if you have a team… I have no idea how you’re running your business without one 🤣!

My preferred project management tool is ClickUp but I’ve worked in Asana, Monday, Trello, Notion, and more. They all have the ability to create recurring tasks from a template so that you’re not remaking the wheel each time. 

The reason I love ClickUp is that I can assign one master project manager to an episode, and then delegate the individual tasks to all the appropriate people. This is also true in Asana and Monday, but I like ClickUp’s task automations better. 

So now that we’ve covered the fact that you need to have a task management tool, let’s talk about setting up a podcast workflow that keeps your podcast tasks on time and your show consistent. 

Always build in time to plan, research, and outline your episodes. This doesn’t have to be a ton of time. In fact, I typically give myself about ten minutes unless I need to do real research for the episode and then I’ll give myself about thirty. 

Once you’ve planned out your episode, schedule yourself time to record. I recommend batch recording when possible but you’ll always want to be sure there are actual tasks with due dates for you to do these steps. PUT THE TIME ON YOUR CALENDAR so that you don’t forget to sit down and do the oh so important task of recording the episode. 

Pro tip: if you do episode intros like I do, be sure to record them at the time of your recording. If you’re doing an interview episode, record your intro right after your interview. That way it’s fresh on your mind for the intro!

Next, you’ll want to transcribe your episode, get it over to your editor (or schedule yourself some editing time), and get all your graphics ready. 

Once it’s edited, have your show notes written. 

Then you’re ready to release it into the world. Get the episode into your podcast host and schedule it and then schedule the post on your website as well. 

Before it actually releases, put together your marketing materials, get those materials over to your guest if you had one, and schedule out your social media posts and email to promote the episode. 

SO MANY STEPS!

The good thing about a project management system is that you can create a true workflow that notifies each subsequent person in the process that they are now able to work on their piece when the tasks before them are completed. You can automate statuses, notifications, and task creation and it takes a lot of the time out of the administrative side of your podcast. 

Another great reason to have a project management system for your podcast workflow is that you can create workflows for all aspects of your podcast to include guest management, social promo, email announcements, and more. 

So, after you listen to this episode, write out all the steps you take from start to finish to get a podcast episode out into the world. That is your podcast workflow! Make sure that it’s set up in your project management system and voila! You’re ready to streamline your podcast content creation and promotion. 

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

There are seriously so many ways to podcast it’s not even funny. The best thing for you to do is to set up your show in such a way that it’s easy and fun for you to create! But what does that mean? Should you templatize your show or customize it? Listen in to learn more!

So first things first, let me tell you what I mean by this, because it’s not an industry standard for discussing show structure. 

When I think of templatizing your show I mean having a pre-recorded intro and outro that you use in every episode. So all you have to do is record your next episode, clean up the audio, slap on that intro and outro, and upload it to your podcast host to share it with the world. 

For some, that makes the most sense. Either because they’re short on time or short on help or both. But so many of my clients have found value in doing a little customizing as well.

To have a fully customized show you would record a new intro and outro for each and every episode. There are a lot of people who find this to be easiest. They can say what’s on their mind, they don’t have to over think what they’re doing and they just continue their riff right on through asking you to follow or subscribe. 

If you’re a creative entrepreneur looking to break out of the status quo of podcasting, this could totally be the right style for you. But I don’t necessarily recommend it for brand new shows. 

Why?

Because the purpose of those pre-recorded pieces is to establish consistency for your episodes. It also helps introduce your show in a consistent way to new listeners. Plus it takes some of the heavy lifting off of the strategy behind your show. 

What I find works best overall though, is to do a little bit of a hybrid model. Creating episode intros to introduce your topic or guest, then moving into the pre-recorded intro to remind everyone what your show is all about and who you are, then diving right into the episode.

Then the last piece is the pre-recorded outro that reminds your listeners where else they can follow you and to ask for ratings and reviews. 

Now, you may be wondering, where do I fit ads into this? That’s going to be a topic for another episode because it really requires more of a deep dive, so tune in for that one!

Which do you prefer, fully templatized, fully customized, or a mixture of both?

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

Choosing the right podcast host isn’t necessarily a requirement right out of the gate, but man does it make life easier! (Moving a podcast from one hosting platform to another can indeed be a beast… IYKYK!!)

That’s why it’s so important to do some of those foundational strategy steps first. Really honing in on the purpose behind your podcast, how you want to monetize it, and how you want to utilize it is definitely key to picking the right podcast hosting platform for you!

Please note: This episode is not a review of the top podcast platforms! Honestly… I like them all. They all have good and bad things about them and they all require a bit of time to learn, but they won’t all work for your podcasting needs. 

For instance, do you plan to use affiliate marketing in your podcast? If you do, using a podcast host that allows you to easily insert dynamic content into your episodes in designated spots is extremely important.

Why? 

Because the affiliate offer you have this week will very definitely not be the same offer you shared a year ago. With dynamic content, no matter what the offer is, every single episode you have will have that information flowing through your listener’s earbuds. 

Listen in to hear some other things you should take into account as you research which podcast hosting platform is right for your show!

*May Contain Affiliate Links*

Captivate*

Libsyn

Buzzsprout

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

That’s right… I said it. Feel free to structure your podcast in whatever way works for you and your audience. As long as you are creating valuable content that meets the needs of your audience, your podcast will do just fine. (Plus, think about it. Does every podcast you listen to have the same structure? Probably not!)

Something that you’ll notice about my podcast is that so far, I have only done solo episodes. Why? Because I’m creating a bank of episodes to be used specifically as a resource for anyone looking to launch a podcast. I haven’t decided how I’m going to use this bank, but I WILL be repurposing it for other things.

Why?

Because when launching a podcast, these are the questions I get asked most frequently. (..and some of these episodes address questions that many people don’t even know to ask!)

I wanted to provide my audience with episodes to meet them where they’re at AND give myself an easy way to point back to the podcast when someone has a question. Two birds… one stone… as they say!

However, this structure wouldn’t work for someone who was trying to use their podcast to create relationships in and around their niche. Why? Because I’m not interviewing anyone. I’m not connecting with people and helping them share their stories while providing valuable insights for my audience.

If my goal, currently, was creating business connections, then my podcast structure would not be serving that goal. (Thank goodness I have other goals in mind 😜!)

Your podcast structure in essence should directly reflect and work toward your overall goal for your business and podcast. (Wondering about that? Check out the episode I did all about that here!)

Listen in to hear all the things you should consider as you begin planning out your overall podcast structure and why you are 100% allowed to change that structure as your podcast and business grow and evolve.

Links & Resources:

Episode 4: Goal Setting for Your Podcast

Connect with me on:

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Book a Call:

Scheduling Link

YPS013 - I’m Baaaaack!

Hey y’all! It has been nigh on forever at this point and I am so sorry about that. Basically, my business took a bit of a backseat as life came to the fore, but I’m back! And I’m so excited to continue sharing valuable tips and advice on the podcast.

Nothing much else has changed. I’m still hella passionate about all things podcasting, marketing, and growing businesses.

Listen in to hear what I’ve been up to and what I’m looking to share in the coming weeks and months.

Links & Resources:

Connect with me on:

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Book a Call:

Scheduling Link

I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again, because I am 100% on the “Podcast Trailer” train. There are so many benefits of having one, and I can’t even think of a downside. Here are my top 3 reasons why you should have a podcast trailer!

Reason #1: It makes launching your show MUCH less stressful. 

Why? Because you don’t have to worry about whether or not your listeners will be able to find it on their favorite podcast players. Some players take up to two weeks to add new shows to their listings. 2 WEEKS! If you plan to release your first episodes ON launch day, your listeners may not be able to find it.  

Reason #2: You’ll have a true call to action while promoting. 

That’s right. Because your show will actually exist, you’ll be able to point your potential listeners to a place where they can follow or subscribe. Rather than letting them know to “keep an eye out” or “check back” or something equally as vague, your CTA will be: “Click here to follow or subscribe and be notified when our first episodes drop.”

This is MUCH stronger and will result in more people subscribing before your show ever launches. 

Reason #3: This is a great way to share the purpose behind your podcast and introduce new listeners to you, your brand, and your message. 

The goal is to bring new people into your sphere and provide them with super valuable content that will keep them coming back for more. When you introduce your show with a trailer, you can then use that content over and over again in ads, promotions, etc. 

This is a great way to diversify your launch strategy AND your ongoing promotions strategy. 

Listen in to hear it all! 

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

This is a super simple episode. 

You need show notes. That is all!

…

….

…..

JUUUUST kidding!

I mean yes, you do need show notes, but there are also some best practices you can follow to help them do some heavy lifting for you from an SEO perspective. Listen in and I’ll share some of the things to consider as you write your show notes. 

First things first, my own personal opinion is that you should put your full show notes in your podcast host as you schedule your episode. Not everyone feels this way, but here’s my thought process. 

Your listener is already in their podcast player, listening to your show, likely on the go and unable to do a whole lot of searching. Why would you make them click out of their app to find the link to the resource you cited? 

They don’t have time for that. (Ain’t nobody got time for that…)

So aside from really first, you need to have show notes, you also need to make them easy to get to. 

Next, be sure that you have a keyword in mind that you’re trying to rank for. This can fall into a separate strategy that is specific to your podcast OR it can tie into the overall keyword and SEO strategy you have for your site. Either way, focus on your keywords and be sure to include them.

The whole point of show notes is to make your episodes searchable on the Googler. If you’re not trying to apply basic SEO, then you’re not using them to the best of their ability. 

Want some additional pointers? Listen in to hear them all!

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

#unpopularopinion: every person who has a podcast should go through the process of editing their show. At least in the beginning. Listen in to hear my thoughts on some best practices you can use to make the editing processes a touch easier. 

First things first, pick an editing tool that you can learn and grow with. I’ve been using Audacity and I love it. It’s a free, open-source platform that is updated continually. At this point it’s definitely a contender with other bigger name platforms.

Next, as you’re listening through your episode, start to note your verbal crutches. What unnecessary words and phrases do you use frequently? 

Now, don’t go taking all those words and phrases out. You want to sound natural but also knowledgeable! 

Oh! Speaking of not taking things out, don’t take out all of your breath sounds. We’re human. We breathe. To take out all of your breath sounds would make your cadence of speech sound extremely unnatural. 

Listen in to hear all of my tips and tricks for starting on your editing journey. This is definitely not an in-depth masterclass on editing, but instead an introduction on what to listen for as you edit.

PLUS - I added a few more notes for recording best practices! 

Audacity

Auphonic

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link

Are you struggling with your post-production and editing time? Does it seem like you just can’t get your recordings to be “right” from the get go? Listen in to hear some of the things you should consider before you hit record and then while you’re on the mic! This is the first in a series all about best practices when it comes to various areas of your podcast!

Recording your episode SEEMS like it should be the easiest part right? I mean you’re sharing your knowledge with the world. You ALREADY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE! So why is it so hard for you to get the recording to sound good? 

Here are some of the most important things to consider: 

💥 Your recording environment

💥 Mic placement

💥 Mic settings

💥 Overall, being familiar with your mic

💥 The cadence of your speech

💥 Remembering to stop and restart when you make a mistake

💥 Letting your guests know to do the same

💥 Not moving around as you speak

These are some of the most important factors to consider, but another good thing to do is to sit down and write out the talking points you want to be sure and hit when you begin recording. (I could DEFINITELY be better about doing that… 🤦‍♀️) 

Writing things out and giving your episodes some structure will keep your podcasts engaging and help you with editing them because you won’t have as many flubs while you speak. 

What are some of the things you struggle with as you record? 

Samson Q2U

Zoom H4n

KWells Companies

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Scheduling Link