February 23, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode of Her Business Elevated, I’m diving into the ultimate podcast strategy to help you grow your online presence with purpose and impact! I’ll walk you through the essential steps to crafting a strong content strategy for your podcast, from defining your goals and knowing your audience to creating content pillars and promoting your episodes like a pro. You’ll learn how to stay consistent, engage your listeners, and use your podcast as a powerful marketing tool for your brand. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with actionable tips to take your podcast to the next level. Don’t forget to check out the show notes for additional resources, including my free Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist and a chance to book a coffee chat with me!
- Pick up your copy of the Launch Confidently Podcasting Checklist: https://herbusinesselevated.com/launch-confidently-podcasting-checklist/
- Need a podcast audit? Inquire here.
- Check out Soul Podcasting Podcast
- ☕ Book your 1:1 Coffee Chat
- Support My Podcast- Buy Me a Coffee
- 📚 Content with Confidence Course: Purchase Here
- 🎥Create Your Podcast Launch Strategy VIDEO: https://youtu.be/91mOfMngMug
- Join My Mailing list at https://herbusinesselevated.com/9-step-content-creation-guide/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Hey there, I'm Demitria. I'm your friendly content strategist and
I've been a podcaster for two decades and so I'm
really glad that you're tuning in today because we're going
to be talking about that ultimate podcast strategy to grow
your online presence. But before we dive into today's topic,
I wanted to invite you to book a coffee chat
with me if you are interested as a solopreneur or
(00:37):
a content creator that's just trying to figure out your
next steps in digital marketing. This is a casual, no
pressure way for us to connect, so check out the
link in the show notes to grab us by. Also,
if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, make sure to check
out my YouTube channel where I drop even more content
on content strategy and marketing. And if you're watching on YouTube,
don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.
(00:58):
I've got some amazing course for solopreneurs in the show notes,
so be sure to take a look. In this episode,
I'm going to walk you through the essentials of developing
a content strategy for your podcast, helping you not only
to create great episodes, but also market them effectively. Now
I have another podcast called Soul Podcasting that's all about
helping beginning podcasters to podcasts with confidence. But I wanted
(01:21):
to bring that topic over here at her Business Elevated
for you guys as well, because I know how important
it is to use different facets of marketing to promote
our solopreneur endeavors, our ventures, our businesses, and we can
use so many different tactics, not just our YouTube channel
or a blog post or social media, but we can
(01:41):
also use podcasting. So I just wanted to bring that
topic here today because it's been something I've been thinking
about a lot and I want to share with you.
So I hope you're ready, Grab your favorite drink, your
favorite beverage, and we're going to get into the topic.
(02:12):
So why do you need a content strategy for your podcast? Now,
before we get into the nitty gritty of podcasting, let's
talk about why having a strategy is essential. I do
talk about content strategy on several episodes, so you can
go back in the archives and see what I've been
talking about the past couple of shows. But whether you're
running a podcast or a YouTube channel, or a blog
(02:32):
or social media, everything you create should be driven by purpose, purpose.
When you understand your why, you'll have clarity on your
message and a clear direction for your content, no matter
what's happening in your life. And I know that we're
all very busy people, super busy solopreneurs. Whether you're a
full time employee and this is your part time gig,
(02:54):
you have things to do at home. There's housekeeping stuff
that we have to do. I know I'm talking predominantly
to women on this podcast, so I know that your
life is super busy. Just being a woman inherently comes
with the idea that we are loaded with responsibilities. We
are nurturers and we are oftentimes helping not only ourselves
(03:14):
and our families, but those in our community. And typically
we're involved in all types of outreach programs. We're helping
so many people, do so many things, helping others to
fulfill their dreams and to reach their goals in addition
to us trying to reach ours, which sometimes we end
up putting ourselves in the back burner. So that's something
that we often find ourselves doing as women because just
(03:39):
possibly how we were wired and societal expectations and that
kind of thing. But because you're busy, we can often
get caught up in the actionable steps that we want
to take, but sometimes forget the purpose of why we
created what we did. So, if you're creating a business
online in addition to all the millions of other tasks
that you have to do, the thing that's going to
(04:01):
keep you motivated for sure is your purpose. And whether
you're starting or launching a podcast for the very first
time or continuing a project that you've been working on
for some time, a solid podcast strategy helps you to
identify your audience's pain points and provide them solutions. It
helps you stay consistent and intentional with your content, and
it increases engagement as you start to build community, you're
(04:24):
going to also use your podcast as a powerful marketing
channel for your business. So I'm going to break down
these steps to helping you create that ultimate podcast strategy
so you can maximize your impact. And the very first
tip I want to give you is to define your
podcast goals. So I'm going to say congratulations on stepping
into this world of podcasting, but before you hit that
(04:45):
record button, let's clarify your goals. You're going to ask yourself,
do I want to grow my audience? Do I want
to establish my brand as an authority, or do I
want to drive traffic to my website. Now, you can
have either of these goals, be your ma or all
of them, but you want to focus on the one
or two specific goals that you have for your podcast
(05:08):
so that you can focus on that. For example, each
time I created a show, I had to ask myself
what my goal was, and typically my goal was to
grow an audience in the very beginning, and not so
much to drive traffic because I knew that it took
time to drive traffic, so I was looking to grow
an audience to grow listeners. My second goal was to
(05:28):
establish my brand as an authority, because I wanted my
topic to be something that is trustworthy, something that's dependable,
that it's a resource that my listeners can come back
to and realize that this is something that can help
them in their journey. Lastly, my goal was also to
drive traffic, but again that for me was a long
term goal because I was depending solely on organic growth
(05:52):
such as SEO tactics and not paid advertising. So maybe
for you it's a combination of all three. But knowing
your objective upfront, it's going to help you shape your
content and your marketing approach. Your second step, I think
would be to know your audience, because your podcast isn't
just about what you want to share, it's about who
you're serving. Clearly defining your audience will shape the way
(06:14):
that you deliver your message, So you'll want to consider
who you're speaking to and what challenges they face and
how can your podcast solve their problems? And I talk
about this in all of my content strategies support for solopreneurs,
because no matter what you're using as your platform to
deliver your message, whether it's a podcast or a video
(06:36):
or a blog or socials, whatever you're choosing to do,
you still have to go through these three steps and
ask yourself what you know about your audience and what
your goals are in reaching your audience. You have to
know who you're serving no matter what platform you're using,
so you still have to ask yourself, even with the podcast,
who are you speaking to? Of course that is going
(06:56):
to be kind of obvious, right, but then you need
to know what challenges they face so that you can
start addressing those challenges through your content, and then ask
yourself how your podcast actually helps them solve those problems,
For example, if your podcast is for aspiring authors, your
content should provide guidance on writing or publishing or maybe
(07:17):
even marketing their books. Right. So the more specific you are,
the stronger your connection will be with your audience. Thirdly,
you'll want to develop your podcast content pillars. So these
pillars are the core themes of your podcast, and you're
going to develop this for your strategy no matter what
tactics you use, but for your podcast, think in terms
of those pillars and think of them as the backbone
(07:40):
of your podcast show. They should align with your expertise
and the interests of your audience, that intersection between what
you're good at and what your audience wants to hear.
For example, on this show on the HERB Business Elevated podcast,
my pillars are content strategy, podcasting tips, a little bit
of marketing for solopreneurs, which kind of falls into the
(08:01):
content strategy for me, and then I do a bit
of solopreneur lifestyle, and faith and inspiration. So I have
about five pillar content, but my faith and inspiration is
interwoven throughout all of the other content strategy topics, so
it's not a standalone topic on the show, but it
is something that I consider kind of a backbone or
(08:23):
a pillar. So defining your pillars helps keep your content
focused and it prevents you from being scattered. So whenever
you show up to create a show, you know exactly
what your purpose is, what you come to bring to
the table, and how you want to show up. Step
number four is to brainstorm your podcast episode ideas. Now
this is the fun part for me. It's brainstorming. I
(08:45):
love coming up with ideas. And so whether you're running
a solo podcast or interviews or maybe roundtable discussions, however
you want to do your show, your topics will drive
the energy of your show. And here's how you want
to generate those ideas. You want to gener them through
keyword research, which is using tools that I mentioned many
times on this podcast, such as Google Keyword Planner or
(09:07):
Answer the Public and Google Trends. And this will help
you to see what people are searching for in your
industry or your niche. And then you'll want to ask
your audience. That is the biggest thing for me, So
besides your keyword research, just asking the people that listen
to you what they want to hear. Right, if you
already have an email list, or social media following, just
ask them what they'd love to hear. It's as simple
(09:29):
as that, really, And then you can also continue to
look at the trends in your industry, again looking at
Google trends, staying ahead of the game by keeping up
with hot topics that are in your niche. And then
what I would do is create a document either in
Google Docs or notion or whatever wherever you take your notes,
even in old fashioned, good old pen and paper notebook,
(09:50):
and write down your ideas as they come up. So
sometimes you might be in the middle of grocery shopping,
or you may be driving down the road and suddenly
this idea h to you about what you want to
add on your show, So make sure you have a good,
handy and convenient way of creating a list of topics
as you come up with them. Step five is to
(10:11):
create a podcast content calendar. If you know anything about me,
content calendars is something that I talk about so much
because it's what I love to keep organized, and I
believe in staying as organized as possible. I'm not always
great at it, but any bit of organization that I
can add into my work week helps me tremendously to
(10:31):
stay on top of things, or at least to keep
up without feeling like I'm falling behind. So once you've
brainstormed your topics, it's a great time to get organized.
Without a content calendar, it's easy to fall behind or
lose momentum. So you'll want to plan out your episode
themes for each month. If you are doing themes or
just even episode titles and ideas that you have, then
(10:54):
you'll want to make sure you have a recording schedule.
So I've talked about batch recording your videos, batch recording
your content. Same thing for your podcast, batch record them
because this saves you time. Right now, I am actually
batch recording this podcast. I have already recorded a few
that will be on my publication queue for the next
(11:14):
couple of weeks, and this one is going a couple
of weeks out. And so I also know that I
have a podcast course that will be launched really soon
that I want to integrate with this podcast, So I'm
going to be releasing this show at the same time
as the release of that podcast course. So this is
why for me, it's important to stay on a batch
(11:36):
recording schedule so that I can release my shows at
the same time. As products that I'm creating. And this
is just an idea of one way you can look
at batch recording as a way to kind of sync
up your products and services that you're offering with your
audience at the same time as you're publishing your content.
You want to make sure that your content is working
in conjunction with your business, with your products, your digital products,
(11:59):
or your services. Your publication dates will help you to
stay consistent, so make sure as you're recording that you
know when you want those episodes to be scheduled. A
well planned calendar keeps you accountable, and it helps you
maintain consistency in your publishing, so you don't have to
publish something every single week if that is not what
(12:19):
works for your lifestyle. But being consistent is still important,
so figure out what that routine is for you and
then just go for it. My step number six for
you is to record an edit like a pro without
breaking the bank. Of course, solopreneurs often operate on shoe
string budgets, and I totally get that because that is
how I started, and I am still working on kind
(12:42):
of a shoe string budget at the moment. I'm taking
whatever income I received from the business and putting it
back into the business. So I'm really not operating at
a high level of margin just because that's where I
am in my business at the moment. And that's just
full transparency. So when you're operating your business, sometime you
may have a bit of a dry season. Other times
(13:03):
you may be in a better season where things are
flowing better for you financially. So that's another topic for
another day. But seasons do come and go, seasons do
wax and wayne, and no matter what's happening in the
financial picture of your business, if you just remain consistent,
keep putting one foot in front of the other, at
(13:23):
some point you'll see yourself rising above the tide so
that you can get where you need to go. So
I totally understand shoe string budgets. The good news is
that podcasting is one of the most budget friendly ways
to build your brand. And here's what you need. You
need your podcast hosting, which is a service like podbean
(13:43):
or Captivate or a bus Sprout or for me, I'm
using Spreaker. You just need a microphone, starting with an
affordable USB mic. You can use something like the Blue Yetti,
which is what I use. And then there's audio editing
software such as Audacity, which is absolutely free by the way,
so if you are on a budget, then Audacity is
(14:05):
something you can start with at no cost. Or Adobe Audition,
which is paid and there's a paid subscription that my
husband and I are tapping into right now to access
the Adobe Creative Cloud, so we get auditioned in Premiere.
I do use Premiere a lot for my editing my
YouTube videos, but choose your editing software. And then you'll
need graphics and branding, so using tools like Canva to
(14:28):
create your podcast cover art or any other images and
artwork that you need done. Camva is excellent and there
is a pro version, but there's also a free version.
You don't need it fancy equipment. You just need to
focus on good content and consistency. Step seven is to
promote your podcast like a pro. You want to promote, promote, promote.
So we talked about recording like a pro. Now we're
(14:49):
going to promote like a probe So a podcast without
promotion is like a hidden gym. No one's going to
find your podcast if you don't talk about it. So
marketing your podcast is just as important as creat So
how to spread the word is you want to get
on Instagram and TikTok and LinkedIn and share, share Share.
You want to talk about your podcast on social media.
(15:11):
You want to repurpose those key points into social media posts.
You want to create a blog post from each episode,
like this one. I'm creating a blog post from this
podcast episode. I'm also going to be sharing the content
from this on my Instagram and on my LinkedIn. You'll
want to email your subscribers with updates and upload your
episodes even to YouTube, because we know that YouTube now
(15:34):
allows podcasts uploads through the connected RSS feeds, so it's
a very automatic way to make sure that each and
every one of your podcast episodes are also uploading to YouTube.
So a huge game changer is building your email list
and you can directly notify your audience about every new episode.
And these are people who have opted in and said
(15:55):
I want to hear from you. So if you haven't
started your list yet, get on it asap. I recommend
any mailing list service that is within your budget that
you feel comfortable with, such as flow Desk or Kit
formally known as convert Kit. I've used both of these.
I've also used other services like Mailchimp and a Weber
and a lot of other things get response. But I
(16:17):
recommend flow Desk just for its easibility and also because
it has lots of great, beautiful templates, eye catching templates
you can use. I also am currently on Kit, which
I really like for just all the services it provides.
So between Flowdesk and Kit, I recommend those, and make
sure you go ahead and get an account and start
your list if you haven't already, and start promoting your shows,
(16:40):
promoting your content to your list every week if possible.
This is going to help you promote your podcast like
a pro. Step eight is to adjust and refine your
show as you grow. Your podcast strategy is not set
in stone. It will grow, your podcast will grow, You
will transition, and as you grow, you need to tweak
your approach based on your audience feedback. Right, whatever they're
(17:05):
telling you that they like or don't like, or would
recommend that you do more of or less of, you'll
want to look at your analytics and you'll want to
look at your industry changes. So for me, I see
that in my analytics that my audience is growing, but
that they're wanting to hear a specific type of content
from me. I'm seeing more peaks in my downloads for
certain topics than other topics. I also have received some
(17:27):
feedback about the length of my shows, and so some
people prefer the really short shows where it's just me talking.
Others are really enjoying the interviews. So there's kind of
a wide range of the types of people that enjoy
my content. So I have to be aware of the
types of content I choose to put out there and
(17:47):
when I'm comfortable delivering as well. But based on what
my audience has told me, it's going to help me
refine this show, which allows me to see what are
people listening to. At what point during the podcast episode
are they drying off and not listening any longer? How
long is too long, and that kind of thing. So
that's why I'm starting to offer more shorter shows here
(18:08):
and there for those who just want a quick seven
to ten minute show. Of course, this one is not
one of those, but as my podcast grows, I can
offer those different things to my different types of listeners.
So you'll want to be flexible and just experiment and
then refine your strategy over time. So here's some action
steps I'm going to give you now to implement your
(18:29):
new podcast strategy. So to get started with your strategy today,
follow these simple steps you'll Number one, want to define
your goals. So identify your podcast objectives and determine what
success looks like for you. Next, understand your audience. Research
your target listeners, and tailor your content to their needs.
(18:50):
Number three, plan your content pillars. Establish those key themes
that will structure your podcast for create a content calendar
schedule you're recording, your editing and your publishing dates. Five,
optimize your equipment and your tools, so invest in a
reliable microphone and editing software without breaking the make six
(19:11):
promote consistently share your episodes across your social media, your
email lists, and your YouTube to maximize your reach. And
number seven, refine and adjust, monitor your analytics, listen to feedback,
and tweak your strategy as you need. So are you
ready to take your podcast strategy to the next level.
I hope this episode gives you a strong foundation to
(19:31):
create and grow your podcast with confidence. And if you're
looking for some personalized coaching or you need an audit
of your current podcast strategy, I love to connect with you.
I do offer podcast audits. You can find all that
information of the services I offer at her business Elevated
dot com. I also have a free resource for you,
which is your Launch Confidently Podcasting checklist in case you
(19:53):
haven't already begun and you would love to start your show,
but you just would love to know what exactly do
you need to launch with confidence and to launch in
a way that all your ducks are in a row
and you can check all the boxes. I have a
checklist for you, and it is not just a one pager.
This is truly a checklist. It's a workbook and you'll
(20:16):
get everything you need to get started. I share how
to plan, produce, launch, and grow, which is kind of
my signature step to your podcasting strategy. I take you
through a brainstorming checklist. I help you through discovering your
podcast purpose, planning out your show, discover your listener, your
podcast style, and then we just go through more planning
(20:39):
in the workbook. I also share about equipment that you
might want to consider using, and I give you just
a couple of different ideas for types of hosting options.
And then lastly we talk about planning your show for
the year. We go through a recording checklist and talk
about your show notes and launching. So all of this
(21:00):
is completely free for you to download over at her
business Elevated dot com. I will leave the direct link
to the specific download for you in the show notes
as well. If you just want to sit and chat
with me about your strategy, whether it's for your content
in general, any video content that you might be thinking
about creating, or your blogs, or even how you want
(21:22):
to go about doing your socials. In addition to your podcast,
you can book a coffee chat with me, and that's
where I'm offering twenty minute free coffee chats. Again. This
is your cozy virtual coffee chat with me and will
brainstorm and tackle your burning content questions. This is a relaxed,
(21:43):
no pressure environment and all you do is head over
to my buy me a Coffee page which you can
find at her business Elevated dot com slash coffee dash chat.
This way you can support the show with any donation
of your choice to buy a coffee for me, and
then you can book your spot on my calendar. It's
really that simple. This is a twenty minute chat where
(22:05):
we can talk about whatever your goals are. You can
pick my brain and ask me any questions you want
and I'll help get you started in the right direction
for your content. And don't forget I have even more
resources for you, courses and trainings, all kinds of things
that I think would help you out. So you can
find a link in my show notes for that. And
also watch my latest YouTube videos over at YouTube dot
(22:28):
com slash at Dimitria Zinga. Stay tuned for more interviews
solo preneur, business advice and content strategy tips in upcoming
episodes of this show. And if you love this kind
of content, be sure to check out my other show,
which is Sole Podcasting, where I dive even deeper into
podcasting strategies and tips. And once again, don't forget to
grab your copy of the Launch Confidently Podcasting checklist. This
(22:52):
link is also in the show notes. And until next time,
my friend, I want you to keep creating, keep showing up,
and keep elevating your business to your online business success
Hey there, I'm Demitria. I'm your friendly content strategist and
I've been a podcaster for two decades and so I'm
really glad that you're tuning in today because we're going
to be talking about that ultimate podcast strategy to grow
your online presence. But before we dive into today's topic,
I wanted to invite you to book a coffee chat
with me if you are interested as a solopreneur or
(00:37):
a content creator that's just trying to figure out your
next steps in digital marketing. This is a casual, no
pressure way for us to connect, so check out the
link in the show notes to grab us by. Also,
if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, make sure to check
out my YouTube channel where I drop even more content
on content strategy and marketing. And if you're watching on YouTube,
don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.
(00:58):
I've got some amazing course for solopreneurs in the show notes,
so be sure to take a look. In this episode,
I'm going to walk you through the essentials of developing
a content strategy for your podcast, helping you not only
to create great episodes, but also market them effectively. Now
I have another podcast called Soul Podcasting that's all about
helping beginning podcasters to podcasts with confidence. But I wanted
(01:21):
to bring that topic over here at her Business Elevated
for you guys as well, because I know how important
it is to use different facets of marketing to promote
our solopreneur endeavors, our ventures, our businesses, and we can
use so many different tactics, not just our YouTube channel
or a blog post or social media, but we can
(01:41):
also use podcasting. So I just wanted to bring that
topic here today because it's been something I've been thinking
about a lot and I want to share with you.
So I hope you're ready, Grab your favorite drink, your
favorite beverage, and we're going to get into the topic.
(02:12):
So why do you need a content strategy for your podcast? Now,
before we get into the nitty gritty of podcasting, let's
talk about why having a strategy is essential. I do
talk about content strategy on several episodes, so you can
go back in the archives and see what I've been
talking about the past couple of shows. But whether you're
running a podcast or a YouTube channel, or a blog
(02:32):
or social media, everything you create should be driven by purpose, purpose.
When you understand your why, you'll have clarity on your
message and a clear direction for your content, no matter
what's happening in your life. And I know that we're
all very busy people, super busy solopreneurs. Whether you're a
full time employee and this is your part time gig,
(02:54):
you have things to do at home. There's housekeeping stuff
that we have to do. I know I'm talking predominantly
to women on this podcast, so I know that your
life is super busy. Just being a woman inherently comes
with the idea that we are loaded with responsibilities. We
are nurturers and we are oftentimes helping not only ourselves
(03:14):
and our families, but those in our community. And typically
we're involved in all types of outreach programs. We're helping
so many people, do so many things, helping others to
fulfill their dreams and to reach their goals in addition
to us trying to reach ours, which sometimes we end
up putting ourselves in the back burner. So that's something
that we often find ourselves doing as women because just
(03:39):
possibly how we were wired and societal expectations and that
kind of thing. But because you're busy, we can often
get caught up in the actionable steps that we want
to take, but sometimes forget the purpose of why we
created what we did. So, if you're creating a business
online in addition to all the millions of other tasks
that you have to do, the thing that's going to
(04:01):
keep you motivated for sure is your purpose. And whether
you're starting or launching a podcast for the very first
time or continuing a project that you've been working on
for some time, a solid podcast strategy helps you to
identify your audience's pain points and provide them solutions. It
helps you stay consistent and intentional with your content, and
it increases engagement as you start to build community, you're
(04:24):
going to also use your podcast as a powerful marketing
channel for your business. So I'm going to break down
these steps to helping you create that ultimate podcast strategy
so you can maximize your impact. And the very first
tip I want to give you is to define your
podcast goals. So I'm going to say congratulations on stepping
into this world of podcasting, but before you hit that
(04:45):
record button, let's clarify your goals. You're going to ask yourself,
do I want to grow my audience? Do I want
to establish my brand as an authority, or do I
want to drive traffic to my website. Now, you can
have either of these goals, be your ma or all
of them, but you want to focus on the one
or two specific goals that you have for your podcast
(05:08):
so that you can focus on that. For example, each
time I created a show, I had to ask myself
what my goal was, and typically my goal was to
grow an audience in the very beginning, and not so
much to drive traffic because I knew that it took
time to drive traffic, so I was looking to grow
an audience to grow listeners. My second goal was to
(05:28):
establish my brand as an authority, because I wanted my
topic to be something that is trustworthy, something that's dependable,
that it's a resource that my listeners can come back
to and realize that this is something that can help
them in their journey. Lastly, my goal was also to
drive traffic, but again that for me was a long
term goal because I was depending solely on organic growth
(05:52):
such as SEO tactics and not paid advertising. So maybe
for you it's a combination of all three. But knowing
your objective upfront, it's going to help you shape your
content and your marketing approach. Your second step, I think
would be to know your audience, because your podcast isn't
just about what you want to share, it's about who
you're serving. Clearly defining your audience will shape the way
(06:14):
that you deliver your message, So you'll want to consider
who you're speaking to and what challenges they face and
how can your podcast solve their problems? And I talk
about this in all of my content strategies support for solopreneurs,
because no matter what you're using as your platform to
deliver your message, whether it's a podcast or a video
(06:36):
or a blog or socials, whatever you're choosing to do,
you still have to go through these three steps and
ask yourself what you know about your audience and what
your goals are in reaching your audience. You have to
know who you're serving no matter what platform you're using,
so you still have to ask yourself, even with the podcast,
who are you speaking to? Of course that is going
(06:56):
to be kind of obvious, right, but then you need
to know what challenges they face so that you can
start addressing those challenges through your content, and then ask
yourself how your podcast actually helps them solve those problems,
For example, if your podcast is for aspiring authors, your
content should provide guidance on writing or publishing or maybe
(07:17):
even marketing their books. Right. So the more specific you are,
the stronger your connection will be with your audience. Thirdly,
you'll want to develop your podcast content pillars. So these
pillars are the core themes of your podcast, and you're
going to develop this for your strategy no matter what
tactics you use, but for your podcast, think in terms
of those pillars and think of them as the backbone
(07:40):
of your podcast show. They should align with your expertise
and the interests of your audience, that intersection between what
you're good at and what your audience wants to hear.
For example, on this show on the HERB Business Elevated podcast,
my pillars are content strategy, podcasting tips, a little bit
of marketing for solopreneurs, which kind of falls into the
(08:01):
content strategy for me, and then I do a bit
of solopreneur lifestyle, and faith and inspiration. So I have
about five pillar content, but my faith and inspiration is
interwoven throughout all of the other content strategy topics, so
it's not a standalone topic on the show, but it
is something that I consider kind of a backbone or
(08:23):
a pillar. So defining your pillars helps keep your content
focused and it prevents you from being scattered. So whenever
you show up to create a show, you know exactly
what your purpose is, what you come to bring to
the table, and how you want to show up. Step
number four is to brainstorm your podcast episode ideas. Now
this is the fun part for me. It's brainstorming. I
(08:45):
love coming up with ideas. And so whether you're running
a solo podcast or interviews or maybe roundtable discussions, however
you want to do your show, your topics will drive
the energy of your show. And here's how you want
to generate those ideas. You want to gener them through
keyword research, which is using tools that I mentioned many
times on this podcast, such as Google Keyword Planner or
(09:07):
Answer the Public and Google Trends. And this will help
you to see what people are searching for in your
industry or your niche. And then you'll want to ask
your audience. That is the biggest thing for me, So
besides your keyword research, just asking the people that listen
to you what they want to hear. Right, if you
already have an email list, or social media following, just
ask them what they'd love to hear. It's as simple
(09:29):
as that, really, And then you can also continue to
look at the trends in your industry, again looking at
Google trends, staying ahead of the game by keeping up
with hot topics that are in your niche. And then
what I would do is create a document either in
Google Docs or notion or whatever wherever you take your notes,
even in old fashioned, good old pen and paper notebook,
(09:50):
and write down your ideas as they come up. So
sometimes you might be in the middle of grocery shopping,
or you may be driving down the road and suddenly
this idea h to you about what you want to
add on your show, So make sure you have a good,
handy and convenient way of creating a list of topics
as you come up with them. Step five is to
(10:11):
create a podcast content calendar. If you know anything about me,
content calendars is something that I talk about so much
because it's what I love to keep organized, and I
believe in staying as organized as possible. I'm not always
great at it, but any bit of organization that I
can add into my work week helps me tremendously to
(10:31):
stay on top of things, or at least to keep
up without feeling like I'm falling behind. So once you've
brainstormed your topics, it's a great time to get organized.
Without a content calendar, it's easy to fall behind or
lose momentum. So you'll want to plan out your episode
themes for each month. If you are doing themes or
just even episode titles and ideas that you have, then
(10:54):
you'll want to make sure you have a recording schedule.
So I've talked about batch recording your videos, batch recording
your content. Same thing for your podcast, batch record them
because this saves you time. Right now, I am actually
batch recording this podcast. I have already recorded a few
that will be on my publication queue for the next
(11:14):
couple of weeks, and this one is going a couple
of weeks out. And so I also know that I
have a podcast course that will be launched really soon
that I want to integrate with this podcast, So I'm
going to be releasing this show at the same time
as the release of that podcast course. So this is
why for me, it's important to stay on a batch
(11:36):
recording schedule so that I can release my shows at
the same time. As products that I'm creating. And this
is just an idea of one way you can look
at batch recording as a way to kind of sync
up your products and services that you're offering with your
audience at the same time as you're publishing your content.
You want to make sure that your content is working
in conjunction with your business, with your products, your digital products,
(11:59):
or your services. Your publication dates will help you to
stay consistent, so make sure as you're recording that you
know when you want those episodes to be scheduled. A
well planned calendar keeps you accountable, and it helps you
maintain consistency in your publishing, so you don't have to
publish something every single week if that is not what
(12:19):
works for your lifestyle. But being consistent is still important,
so figure out what that routine is for you and
then just go for it. My step number six for
you is to record an edit like a pro without
breaking the bank. Of course, solopreneurs often operate on shoe
string budgets, and I totally get that because that is
how I started, and I am still working on kind
(12:42):
of a shoe string budget at the moment. I'm taking
whatever income I received from the business and putting it
back into the business. So I'm really not operating at
a high level of margin just because that's where I
am in my business at the moment. And that's just
full transparency. So when you're operating your business, sometime you
may have a bit of a dry season. Other times
(13:03):
you may be in a better season where things are
flowing better for you financially. So that's another topic for
another day. But seasons do come and go, seasons do
wax and wayne, and no matter what's happening in the
financial picture of your business, if you just remain consistent,
keep putting one foot in front of the other, at
(13:23):
some point you'll see yourself rising above the tide so
that you can get where you need to go. So
I totally understand shoe string budgets. The good news is
that podcasting is one of the most budget friendly ways
to build your brand. And here's what you need. You
need your podcast hosting, which is a service like podbean
(13:43):
or Captivate or a bus Sprout or for me, I'm
using Spreaker. You just need a microphone, starting with an
affordable USB mic. You can use something like the Blue Yetti,
which is what I use. And then there's audio editing
software such as Audacity, which is absolutely free by the way,
so if you are on a budget, then Audacity is
(14:05):
something you can start with at no cost. Or Adobe Audition,
which is paid and there's a paid subscription that my
husband and I are tapping into right now to access
the Adobe Creative Cloud, so we get auditioned in Premiere.
I do use Premiere a lot for my editing my
YouTube videos, but choose your editing software. And then you'll
need graphics and branding, so using tools like Canva to
(14:28):
create your podcast cover art or any other images and
artwork that you need done. Camva is excellent and there
is a pro version, but there's also a free version.
You don't need it fancy equipment. You just need to
focus on good content and consistency. Step seven is to
promote your podcast like a pro. You want to promote, promote, promote.
So we talked about recording like a pro. Now we're
(14:49):
going to promote like a probe So a podcast without
promotion is like a hidden gym. No one's going to
find your podcast if you don't talk about it. So
marketing your podcast is just as important as creat So
how to spread the word is you want to get
on Instagram and TikTok and LinkedIn and share, share Share.
You want to talk about your podcast on social media.
(15:11):
You want to repurpose those key points into social media posts.
You want to create a blog post from each episode,
like this one. I'm creating a blog post from this
podcast episode. I'm also going to be sharing the content
from this on my Instagram and on my LinkedIn. You'll
want to email your subscribers with updates and upload your
episodes even to YouTube, because we know that YouTube now
(15:34):
allows podcasts uploads through the connected RSS feeds, so it's
a very automatic way to make sure that each and
every one of your podcast episodes are also uploading to YouTube.
So a huge game changer is building your email list
and you can directly notify your audience about every new episode.
And these are people who have opted in and said
(15:55):
I want to hear from you. So if you haven't
started your list yet, get on it asap. I recommend
any mailing list service that is within your budget that
you feel comfortable with, such as flow Desk or Kit
formally known as convert Kit. I've used both of these.
I've also used other services like Mailchimp and a Weber
and a lot of other things get response. But I
(16:17):
recommend flow Desk just for its easibility and also because
it has lots of great, beautiful templates, eye catching templates
you can use. I also am currently on Kit, which
I really like for just all the services it provides.
So between Flowdesk and Kit, I recommend those, and make
sure you go ahead and get an account and start
your list if you haven't already, and start promoting your shows,
(16:40):
promoting your content to your list every week if possible.
This is going to help you promote your podcast like
a pro. Step eight is to adjust and refine your
show as you grow. Your podcast strategy is not set
in stone. It will grow, your podcast will grow, You
will transition, and as you grow, you need to tweak
your approach based on your audience feedback. Right, whatever they're
(17:05):
telling you that they like or don't like, or would
recommend that you do more of or less of, you'll
want to look at your analytics and you'll want to
look at your industry changes. So for me, I see
that in my analytics that my audience is growing, but
that they're wanting to hear a specific type of content
from me. I'm seeing more peaks in my downloads for
certain topics than other topics. I also have received some
(17:27):
feedback about the length of my shows, and so some
people prefer the really short shows where it's just me talking.
Others are really enjoying the interviews. So there's kind of
a wide range of the types of people that enjoy
my content. So I have to be aware of the
types of content I choose to put out there and
(17:47):
when I'm comfortable delivering as well. But based on what
my audience has told me, it's going to help me
refine this show, which allows me to see what are
people listening to. At what point during the podcast episode
are they drying off and not listening any longer? How
long is too long, and that kind of thing. So
that's why I'm starting to offer more shorter shows here
(18:08):
and there for those who just want a quick seven
to ten minute show. Of course, this one is not
one of those, but as my podcast grows, I can
offer those different things to my different types of listeners.
So you'll want to be flexible and just experiment and
then refine your strategy over time. So here's some action
steps I'm going to give you now to implement your
(18:29):
new podcast strategy. So to get started with your strategy today,
follow these simple steps you'll Number one, want to define
your goals. So identify your podcast objectives and determine what
success looks like for you. Next, understand your audience. Research
your target listeners, and tailor your content to their needs.
(18:50):
Number three, plan your content pillars. Establish those key themes
that will structure your podcast for create a content calendar
schedule you're recording, your editing and your publishing dates. Five,
optimize your equipment and your tools, so invest in a
reliable microphone and editing software without breaking the make six
(19:11):
promote consistently share your episodes across your social media, your
email lists, and your YouTube to maximize your reach. And
number seven, refine and adjust, monitor your analytics, listen to feedback,
and tweak your strategy as you need. So are you
ready to take your podcast strategy to the next level.
I hope this episode gives you a strong foundation to
(19:31):
create and grow your podcast with confidence. And if you're
looking for some personalized coaching or you need an audit
of your current podcast strategy, I love to connect with you.
I do offer podcast audits. You can find all that
information of the services I offer at her business Elevated
dot com. I also have a free resource for you,
which is your Launch Confidently Podcasting checklist in case you
(19:53):
haven't already begun and you would love to start your show,
but you just would love to know what exactly do
you need to launch with confidence and to launch in
a way that all your ducks are in a row
and you can check all the boxes. I have a
checklist for you, and it is not just a one pager.
This is truly a checklist. It's a workbook and you'll
(20:16):
get everything you need to get started. I share how
to plan, produce, launch, and grow, which is kind of
my signature step to your podcasting strategy. I take you
through a brainstorming checklist. I help you through discovering your
podcast purpose, planning out your show, discover your listener, your
podcast style, and then we just go through more planning
(20:39):
in the workbook. I also share about equipment that you
might want to consider using, and I give you just
a couple of different ideas for types of hosting options.
And then lastly we talk about planning your show for
the year. We go through a recording checklist and talk
about your show notes and launching. So all of this
(21:00):
is completely free for you to download over at her
business Elevated dot com. I will leave the direct link
to the specific download for you in the show notes
as well. If you just want to sit and chat
with me about your strategy, whether it's for your content
in general, any video content that you might be thinking
about creating, or your blogs, or even how you want
(21:22):
to go about doing your socials. In addition to your podcast,
you can book a coffee chat with me, and that's
where I'm offering twenty minute free coffee chats. Again. This
is your cozy virtual coffee chat with me and will
brainstorm and tackle your burning content questions. This is a relaxed,
(21:43):
no pressure environment and all you do is head over
to my buy me a Coffee page which you can
find at her business Elevated dot com slash coffee dash chat.
This way you can support the show with any donation
of your choice to buy a coffee for me, and
then you can book your spot on my calendar. It's
really that simple. This is a twenty minute chat where
(22:05):
we can talk about whatever your goals are. You can
pick my brain and ask me any questions you want
and I'll help get you started in the right direction
for your content. And don't forget I have even more
resources for you, courses and trainings, all kinds of things
that I think would help you out. So you can
find a link in my show notes for that. And
also watch my latest YouTube videos over at YouTube dot
(22:28):
com slash at Dimitria Zinga. Stay tuned for more interviews
solo preneur, business advice and content strategy tips in upcoming
episodes of this show. And if you love this kind
of content, be sure to check out my other show,
which is Sole Podcasting, where I dive even deeper into
podcasting strategies and tips. And once again, don't forget to
grab your copy of the Launch Confidently Podcasting checklist. This
(22:52):
link is also in the show notes. And until next time,
my friend, I want you to keep creating, keep showing up,
and keep elevating your business to your online business success
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!