How Much Prep Is Too Much? Podcast Struggles – Episode 196

How Much Prep Is Too Much? Podcast Struggles – Episode 196

I recently asked my tribe about the one thing they are struggling with most. This week, we are going to answer the questions and help you get over a few hurdles.

RELAUNCH

What giving me the most headache is relaunching my podcast after a long time not producing because life took a turn. My gear has been in storage after some life changing events and I'm starting from scratch.

Have a great day!

- Dan

The Coffee Couch

EKJ:

What part of starting is giving you a headache, Dan? If we got together in a coaching session, this is where we would start. If we can determine where the aggravation lies, we could work our way around that piece.

Podcasting is a lot of work. You need to create your subject and notes. You need to record the show. Edit the show and create the show notes. Post the episode to your media host. Create the post on your website. Then, you need to attract the audience.

Each step comes with its own unique headaches. You are also starting at ground zero, which looks like a true uphill battle.

Let's assume you enjoy the process of creating a podcast, but dread the fact that you have no audience. Starting from scratch and building it up again feels like a lot of work.

The first thing we need to do is accept the fact that it doesn't just seem like it is a lot of work. It is a lot of work.

It isn't the destination, it is the journey. You don't want to be the dog that catches the car. Enjoy the run.

Remember when you launched the first time around? Remember the excitement when you got your first few downloads? Do you remember how it felt with you hit the 100 download mark? How about when you received your first e-mail from a listener or comment on an episode?

Here is your chance to experience that excitement all over again. But this time, you have experience from the first time around. You won't experience the frustration trying to figure things out for the first time.

More joy. Less frustration. Get started and enjoy the journey.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

I think my biggest concern is Imposter Syndrome and then closing the deal on scheduling an interview. I took so much time in planning and pod-crastination that potential guests (50) may have forgotten that they agreed to a chat. I took too much time to learn the technology. You and I chatted on your show about my beginning process MORE THAN A YEAR AGO!

MY QUESTION: How much Show Prep is TOO MUCH PREP?

Being totally nervous about asking for interviews, I wanted to answer EVERY POSSIBLE question and objection, upfront. I prepared a SUPER-detailed show prep sheet to send to potential guests.

- David Freeman

EKJ:

50 guests!?! David, let's get rolling. Start recording.

I completely understand the Impostor Syndrome. The unknown of getting started is the scariest part.

"What if I mess up the interview?" "What if I come off as an amateur?" "What if people find out I don't know what I'm doing?"

You know more than you realize.

Your interview is simply going to be a conversation. Walk into the interview being curious and you'll be just fine.

When he interviewed authors, Larry King said that he would not read their book in advance, so that he would not know more about the book than his audience. He was simply curious and asked great questions.

It is just like a cocktail party. Know enough about the person to start a conversation and go from there.

What is the goal of the interview? You want the person on your show for some reason. How will your audience benefit from this conversation?

Once you know that, you will understand which questions are important. You will use your target listener as a filter for your questions and let it roll.

Get over your fear of starting by taking the first step. Make it a small, easy step. Get a mic and a computer. Install Skype.

Once you have that done, schedule and record an interview. Make this someone lower on the list. This will be a test run to make sure all goes well. Knowing this will take the pressure off of you to make it a home run. We are just looking for a little success.

When show prep is becoming an excuse for not launching, it is too much prep.

When you are asking for an interview, what is the worst that could happen. They might say, "Sorry, David. I don't have time right now." If that happens, move on to the next.

A decline is never a judgement on you or your character. The interview just doesn't make sense for them right now.

If you position your request from your guest's point of view and explain how it benefits them, that is about all you can do. They either say yes or no. Don't be embarrassed about asking.

Some will be flattered that you asked. If you have done your homework and know what is important to your potential guest, very few will be offended if you ask. If they are offended, that individual is probably not somebody you want on your show anyway. Move on.

With regard to the show prep sheet you send your guest, make it easy. Nobody wants to volunteer to be on your show and then spend 2 hours filling out forms and doing homework before the interview begins. Cover the important subjects, like time, room noise, profanity and expectations. Then, get rolling.

You cannot possibly predict every scenario that might happen during the interview. So, stop trying. You won't know how warm the water is until you jump in. Give it a try.

RELATIONSHIP SUCCESS

You had a longer segment on sharing content or teaming up with other podcasts on a previous episode. I focused a lot of effort on that, and like you advised, I didn't fear losing my listeners to these other friendly shows.

The plan didn't work at first, but then we found the right partner. They engage on our Facebook and share our content and we do the same for them. Not only did our average downloads jump 25% overnight, but we made some great friends at the same time.

We are currently planning a joint episode and we are both hoping it will be a success. This is a great strategy to gather new listeners. And if you are fun, engaging and creative, these new listeners will stick around.

- Andy Gonzales

EKJ:

I love when a plan comes together.

In Episode 176, we talked about various ways to grow your audience by 10x. One of the suggestions is connection.

You need to reach out to others in your space. You need to increase your circle of influence. You need to take some chances and make some noise.

So many podcasters see the pie as limited. If you get more pie, I must get less. They act like there is only so much pie to go around.

Podcasting is more like fire or ideas. If I have fire and I give you some of that fire, you gain and I lose nothing. If I have knowledge and I share that with you, it is the same situation. You gain and I lose nothing.

Just because someone listens to your podcast, that doesn't mean they cannot enjoy another. There are 168 hours in the week. You are probably awake for 112 of those hours. If you release on 60-minute podcast a week, there are 111 more hours to enjoy other shows.

Find great partners and help each other. As Andy says, you need to find the right partner.

If partnering with someone in your direct niche still makes you a bit uncomfortable, find someone who might make a great compliment to your content. Look for a podcaster who offers something that goes hand-in-hand with your stuff.

Dave Jackson and I are a good example. We are both podcast coaches and consultants. However, Dave's expertise is teaching the technical side of podcasting. My expertise is content and personality. We overlap here and there. But, we also compliment the strengths of each other as well.

If you do a podcast on coaching baseball, find a podcaster who has a show on playing baseball. If you do a business-to-business podcast, find someone who is business-to-consumer. If you are small business marketing, find someone who is small business accounting. There are a million possibilities. Help each other.

Here are some tips to grow your audience.

TEN TIPS TO GROW

1. Reach out to super-fans and begin the interaction.

2. Help people meet and create community.

3. Host events to create community.

4. Get interviewed on other shows. Make it easy for hosts to find you.

5. Give. Leave feedback for other shows. Ask great questions on other shows.

6. Promotion is the exploitation of great opportunities. Find great opportunities.

7. Buy a contest insurance policy.

8. Collect birthdates in your database and call listeners on their birthday.

9. Create a lead magnet for every episode.

10. Find people who can help you and invest in yourself. Mastermind, coach, peers.

You can get my entire list of 52 ways to create engagement with your show here:

[GET THE LIST OF 52 TRAFFIC TIPS FOR FREE]

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let's see what we can do.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let's turn your information into engaging entertainment.