Podcast Launches
So you are pumped about launching a podcast – and so you should be! A whopping 54 percent of podcast listeners are much more likely to consider buying from a brand after hearing its advertisement on a podcast. And listeners are more likely to work with a business that has a podcast, or they heard on a podcast. It’s that know, like and trust factor that speeds up the buying cycle.
BUT not every business should start a podcast. In fact, depending on your goals, guesting on podcasts (or doing both hosting and guesting) might gain you better results. Ask yourself these questions to see if launching a podcast is right for you and working with Smooth Business Podcasting is a good fit.
Who We Work With On Podcast Launches.
As a more boutique firm, we look to partner with select entrepreneurs, to ensure that our content marketing and authority building strategy will help you get the best results.
- You already have a successful business established with clients/customers.
- You have the start of a sales funnel – ie you already have a lead magnet in place and an offer.
- You know who your client ‘avatar’ is and what solution you provide for them that sets you apart.
- You are prepared to give this podcast your all and know that it’s a long term strategy that gives back.
- You want to be seen as an industry leader and build your authority platform.
- You want to build strong relationships, network and collaborate.
- You want to create more exposure and visibility for your business.
>>>> If you aren’t sure if hosting or guesting is right for you, book a 20 Minute Consultation HERE. We’ll talk about your goals, your business and see which path makes sense for where you are right now.
What Does A Launch With Smooth Business Podcasting Look Like?
If you are a fast action taker, you can launch a podcast in 30 days! We have a tight system that steps you through the process without the overwhelm. We help you make decisions and implement all the moving pieces.
Our package includes…
- One 60 Minute Coaching Call to make foundational decisions
- One 60 Minute Onboarding Call to review logistics, and the moving pieces
- Podcast Cover Art – fully designed with your branding
- Podcast Episode Art Template to use in Canva for future episodes
- Intro and outro audio file creation
- Intro and outro script templates and editing
- Set up your podcast hosting (ex: Libsyn)
- Soft Launch to iTunes via Podcast Connect
- Connect multiple directories
- Set up website for podcast posts (including player)
- Podcast Guest Templates (to use when booking guests on your show *calendar form, reminders)
- 30 Minute Pre-Launch Meeting
- Launch Promotion Guide to help create the buzz before official launch
We recommend launching with at least 4 episodes (production, show notes, website publishing, promotion and leveraging is separate).
One Time Fee of $1750
>> Or keep scrolling down to read our free launch guide and tips below <<
Creating a Launch Strategy
To launch a podcast, first you need to make it, right? Try not to overthink this process and just press that record button. Even if you make a mistake, you can fix it in post-production. Before recording, of course, you need to create the concept of the show, from content to design.
After you finish recording and editing the episode, find a media host to store it. If you don’t have a podcast host, you can’t get your podcast in major directories such as iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, and others. As I said, we use Libsyn for hosting because it’s reliable and a well-known company in the podcasting industry.
When you choose a host, you can get your podcast to the directories. Just submit your RSS feed that’s provided by the media host to the directories you want. I suggest you get your podcast to every major directory to expand your reach.
Note that each podcast directory needs to approve your podcast. This process might take a few days, and there are some criteria you will need to meet before submitting your podcast. For example, to submit to Apple Podcasts, you need to create an Apple ID, convert your episodes and artwork into the right format, create a unique title, and find a fitting category for your podcast.
You need to submit your RSS feed to the directories only once (when submitting for approval). The directories will continue to pull the episodes from your feed directly, so you don’t have to submit each episode separately.
And that’s basically it. Your podcast is live and ready for the audience! Add your podcast to your website by creating a podcast page. You can also create a new website just for your podcast. In that case, you’ll need:
- The home page, where the listeners can subscribe for new episodes and see what kind of topics you’re covering. Building an email list can help you spread the word about new content more easily.
- The episodes page with the podcast player (so the listeners can catch the episodes directly on your website) and the show notes. You can have a complete transcript or just a brief summary of each episode.
- The contact page, so people can find and reach you more easily.
This is just the bare minimum to get started. As your podcast grows, you can add additional content to your website. One great addition can be a resources page where you can share relevant content that might be interesting for your listeners.
FREE Podcast Launch Checklist
Take the confusion out of podcast launches and learn the top 10 things you need to launch your own podcast show faster.
Marketing Strategy
Once you cover the steps mentioned above, start working on your promotional campaign and get your podcast heard. Use social media for marketing and join various online communities to spread the word.
Your marketing campaign can even start before the podcast is online! Get that hype going and get as many people interested as you can. Use Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other platforms to establish your brand.
Don’t spam the link to your website, of course, because that can deter people from checking out your content. Just join in discussions and provide new and noteworthy insights. As people become more interested, they’ll check you out themselves. Once the podcast is live, you can scale up your promotional game. Find the greatest lead generator you can think of and attract new listeners!
Make a big deal out of your podcast launch. Invite everyone on your email list to tune in and also ask your friends and family for support. Maybe they could leave you a well-written review of the show so new listeners will have a point of reference.
After the launch, you can use the standard promotional methods such as targeted ads, podcast guesting, networking with other podcasters, etc. Social media marketing is by far the most useful tool for spreading the word about a new podcast and receiving publicity.
Try to create engaging posts, open discussions, and overall work on raising your brand awareness. You can also do a Facebook or Instagram live and encourage people to ask questions about the show or organize a giveaway to attract new listeners.
Getting the First Podcast Episode Online
As I previously mentioned, the podcast directories will pull your recent episodes from your media host, but you need to have at least one episode online to start submitting to directories. In fact, for your podcast launch, you should have a couple of episodes ready.
If you have more than one episode ready on day one, listeners can decide whether they should continue following you or not. If you have only one episode, most people will just move on and forget about the show.
Feel free to also create an introductory episode so the audience can get to know you. The “pre-launch” episode (usually called episode 00) should set the mood of the show and motivate new listeners to check out your other content.
After you publish three (or more) episodes, make sure to keep the momentum going by sticking to a consistent publishing schedule. If you want to publish one episode per week or once per month, you need to create a system so you’ll be able to prepare those episodes on time.
When you’re just starting a podcast, it’s good to have a reserve of at least 5 episodes. This will give you enough time to establish a rhythm for recording, editing, and uploading podcast episodes on a regular basis.
What Is the Best Time to Release a Podcast?
As you can see, uploading one (or a couple) episodes is somewhat simple, but planning on when to publish might be a bit harder. Your publishing schedule needs to include not only the frequency (how often will you post) but also the exact time of the posting. Your audience needs to know when a new episode is expected so they can tune in or download it as soon as possible.
Consider the most optimal time to publish the episodes to maximize the number of downloads. You can start by checking out when your listeners are most active. Weekdays are usually the best time to publish a new episode since people are listening to podcasts more during a week than on weekends.
Releasing the episodes early in the morning is also recommended since it increases your chances to appear at the top of your subscribers’ lists on podcast directories. Then, you can promote the episodes during the day.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast?
One can argue that it’s not very expensive to start a podcast. You can create a good quality podcast with less than $500 and might even spend less than $200 if you already have the equipment and software you need.
You can create a podcast with any budget limit. However, to increase the quality of your show, you need to invest a few more bucks. Start “small” and cover the basics (equipment, hosting service, marketing efforts, design, and music), then slowly improve your show with additional features.
You could get better equipment to improve the sound quality, get talented artists to design the show’s cover, hire marketing experts to increase the number of downloads, etc. Everything you decide to do will add to the total cost, so make sure to properly plan your budget.
How Do You Start a Podcast With No Money?
Unfortunately, you need to invest some amount in getting the most basic equipment. You probably have a computer, and you can find the editing software for free online, but, still, you have to pay for a microphone. Luckily, you can buy a decent mic for around $50.
Hosting services are also not free, but they are affordable, starting at $5 a month. As you grow your podcast, your needs might become greater, so you would need a more expensive hosting plan.
The same is true for equipment. You could use so many things such as sound filters, mixers, amplifiers, mic stands, and a shock mount, but you don’t need them to start podcasting. Those are only extras that can help you create better episodes.
So the truth is: you can launch your podcast with almost no money, but to grow it, you need to make some investments.
Outsource Your Podcast Launch
Now you see how launching a podcast should go. Are you anxious to get rolling? Or maybe you don’t want to do this alone and figure it all out yourself? That’s okay! You don’t have to do any part of it alone.
Maybe implementing a launch strategy isn’t your strength. Or perhaps these steps and moving pieces may seem overwhelming – hey, I get that! It can be a lot for one person to take on, especially while trying to grow their business in other avenues as well!
There are so many reasons why you may want to outsource your launching efforts.
- You’d rather focus on revenue-generating tasks.
- You’d rather focus on your passion (your coaching/practice/clients etc.).
- It makes more financial sense to hire someone to set up and coordinate this for you, while you make more profits doing what you do best.
- You don’t want to take the time to figure out some of these elements.
- You don’t like the technical elements.
- You don’t have any support staff or someone on your team that you feel can take this on.
- You don’t want to waste precious time – and just want to get started NOW.
- You want less stress and peace of mind; it would be better if it was just “taken care of.”
We can be the people to take this load off your shoulders and take care of everything for you. Yep, that’s right: we will project-manage and handle all elements of a podcast launch, including:
- Coaching your approach, strategy, title, description, format, and promotion strategy
- Setting up your host account
- Setting up your distribution channels
- Setting up your website podcast post pages
- Configuring your website’s audio player
- Submitting your podcast to iTunes using Podcast Connect
- Editing and helping to create your intro and outro
- Creating podcast and episode art
- Editing and producing 4 episodes to launch
- Publishing 4 launch episodes to channels and on a website
- Promoting your launch and episodes
Our promotion plan can also include social media, quotes, audiograms, emails, and LinkedIn Articles. Feel free to contact me, and I’ll explain how we can leverage your podcast further!
