Entrepreneurial life is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot to get done, and that’s before you even begin to factor in all your responsibilities outside of your business as a mom, wife, friend, and everything else. If you want to start a podcast but are wondering how on earth you could possibly fit it into your already crammed schedule, this podcast launch guide is the place to start. We’re walking you through the basics of launching a podcast and sharing our insider time-saving tips to help you get it all done. Welcome to the ultimate podcast launch guide for busy coaches and consultants!
Choosing Your Podcast Topic
It all starts with an idea. Anyone with an interesting concept and a unique take can start a podcast. If you’re in the coaching and consulting space, it’s likely that you already have both of those down. As you’re trying to come up with your podcast topic, think about what it is your clients come to you for. That’s your sweet spot and it’s where you’ll find the best topic ideas. Your audience doesn’t want another podcast that sounds just like the hundreds already out there. They want to hear from you. Your perspective, your expertise, your knowledge.
Time-Saving Tip: Write all your ideas down in one place and then circle the ones that are similar or just different versions of the same thing. This will help you see if you have one or two themes coming up again and again that you can hone in on.
Getting the Right Equipment
You don’t have time to be spending hours and hours researching and tracking down podcast equipment. When you’re looking at equipment online it’s easy to get lost in the endless reviews and recommendations, but there are really only a few things you need to get started. Check out our resources page to see our equipment recommendations with links! For the sake of saving time, start small and then you can add more to your studio setup later if you want to. Working with a podcast manager means you don’t have to worry about things like editing software and podcast hosts—we take care of all that!
Time-Saving Tip: You might be tempted to cut corners and start recording on your phone or computer, but trust me, getting a decent mic and set of headphones now will save you time and headaches in the long run.
Planning Your First Episodes
You’ve got your podcast topic and hopefully a title, now it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard…) and plan your first episodes. Some people like to script their episodes while others prefer to work from an outline. There’s no right or wrong way to write your episodes, but it is a good idea to have a plan before you start recording. An outline will help you stay on topic and remember everything you want to cover. Your outline might include: an introduction to what you’ll cover in the episode, a guest intro if it’s an interview, each point you want to cover, a recap or conclusion, and a call to action.
Time-Saving Tip: Create a template for your script or outline that you can reuse again and again. We have a solo and guest show outline we share with our clients and this really helps them with the planning process. The outline makes it faster and easier so they’re not starting from scratch every time. This also helps you establish a consistent format and foster a sense of familiarity among your listeners.
Choosing Your Launch Strategy
Launching on your own or working with a team like ours is a big decision. When it comes to saving time, there’s a clear winner. Getting your episodes ready to reach listeners involves a lot of technical steps like creating podcast artwork, choosing a hosting platform, uploading your content, and submitting your podcast to directories such as Apple and Spotify. Working with a podcast manager is the simplest way to save time without compromising quality. With a team of experienced professionals dedicated to launching your podcast, you could have your concept out in the world in a matter of weeks.
Time-Saving Tip: Schedule a call to find out more about what’s included in our launch consulting package and how we can help you launch with the smallest time commitment possible!
Growing an Audience
This wouldn’t be the ultimate podcast launch guide if we didn’t talk about how to grow your show. Once you’ve started releasing episodes, it’s time to get more people tuning in. Start by sharing your podcast with your existing audience on social media or an email list (or better yet, both!). Let your followers know what you have going on and why they should check it out! Next, engage with your listeners. Encourage them to leave a rating and review, and take time to respond to questions and feedback. Engagement is great for boosting visibility. Finally, don’t forget to monitor your analytics. You can track stats like downloads, listener demographics, and engagement trends to see what resonates most with your audience, and then adjust your content strategy accordingly.
Time-Saving Tip: Repurpose your content for different platforms. Share short video clips as teasers on Instagram Reels, turn your script into captions, or highlight key takeaways in an email newsletter. This is an effective way to share your podcast and save time on content creation.
Want to learn more about podcasting as a coach or consultant? Read more of our favorite posts here:
The Power of Podcasting for Coaches: How to Attract and Convert Ideal Clients
Top 5 Mistakes Coaches and Consultants Make When Starting a Podcast
What Is a Podcast Production Agency and Why Do You Need One?
