Can you podcast? Yes you can!

Podcasts – you may have noticed that they are increasing in popularity. You’ll find there’s a podcast on virtually any subject you have an interest in. They may sound like they are produced by experts, but many are created by ordinary folk like you and me!

In simple terms, a podcast is an audio presentation streamed over the internet. It requires a simple piece of kit to make a good quality recording, and a content plan.

For many though, the technical side is too big a hurdle to conquer, and this could be why others are doing it and not you – am I right?

So, let’s assume for a moment that the technical side is taken care of, so that you can focus on the content. Do you have knowledge, a passion or inside info that you want to share? Could a podcast help you reach an audience that could turn into paying clients?

Start with a plan

Podcasts aren’t just one offs – plan a series of episodes to help you gain a following that grows over time. Create a content plan from the start, so you maintain momentum with quality, relevant content that is put together in the right order.

Think about your target audience – who will your listeners be? What are their interests? Do they have pain points or concerns that your podcast will answer? What do you want them to do when they’ve listened to the podcast?

Question – will you be doing all the talking or will you include interviews, vox pops or guest presenters? Plan the mix of content carefully so that you have a coherent strategy from the start.

Have a structure for each show, with a beginning (intro), middle, and most importantly, a clear ending with signposts to more content and/or a clear call to action.

Branding and Production

Music, branding, sound effects, intros and outros, all pull together to create your recognisable brand and help you to create a relationship with your audience. Don’t be put off, this is where you can get creative and is part of the technical bit, something a great podcast producer can sort for you (ask me, I know one!).

Presenting technique

Remember, when you record you can stop, pause, and re-record, so don’t try to make it perfect first time, and don’t try to record the whole podcast in one go. Pauses and breaks can be edited out later. Speak clearly, purposefully, and stay on topic. Be somewhere quiet, make sure you can’t be disturbed (switch off your mobile!) and have a glass of water nearby.

Remember you can only be heard, not seen, so no sign language. Do smile though and allow yourself to relax, this will translate nicely to those who are listening.

If you’d like to talk further about making your podcast dreams a reality, I’d be happy to have a chat. We can help produce high quality podcasts, including editing and hosting, so that you can focus on the important bit – the content. We’ll advise on marketing too, to grow your following using podcast platforms and social media.

For more information, please get in touch.

You may also like to take a look at a series of podcasts we have produced for our client Halcyon Education, available here.

I wanna tell you a story…

For those of you too young to remember Max Bygraves, this isn’t gratuitous use of slang, more a reference to an old phrase of the past, used by a once famous singer – yet it’s a phrase that has considerable relevance to today.

Because marketing people talk a lot about telling the story of your brand. It helps to promote buy-in, loyalty and understanding of what your company is about.

And I’d like to reference a couple of instances in pop culture where story telling has won the day.

The 1st and 2nd best selling singles in the UK of all time relate to real life events – Candle in the Wind by Elton John and Do they know it’s Christmas by Band Aid, they’re kind of real life stories. The 3rd best selling single is Bohemian Rhapsody, it tells a story of a guy that just killed a man, you might remember it!

And in a poll by Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine to find out the best song lyrics of all time, listeners voted for Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon.

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walkin’ through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was lookin’ for the place called Lee Ho Fooks
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein

Do these words conjure up a picture for you, set a scene, even give you a tangible feeling? They take you on a journey, and that’s the point I’m trying to make.

These words are clever, and they work, and songs like these appeal to our human instinct to want to know more.

The people that love these songs are highly likely the same people that you’re trying to sell to. So, now you know what they like, use this as a guide to help you create your next blog or website content, promotion or presentation. Tell a story and you’ll have a captive audience.

The Innocent brand famously tells the story of their start-up. The founders sold their new smoothie fruit drinks at a London music festival, and asked customers whether they should give up their day job and make their smoothies a full time commitment.

Customers voted with their empties – filling the ‘yes’ bin (yes they should give up their day jobs) in vastly more quantities than the ’no’ bin, giving an overwhelming thumbs up to the product.

It’s a twee story, some might say, but it’s worked wonders for their profile.

So what’s your story? Think Richard Branson selling magazines at school, to Alan Sugar selling car aerials and electrical items out of a van with an initial investment of just £50. Do you have a start-up story that explains how to got to where you are today?

And my story? From my first job in an advertising agency I started writing copy. I didn’t even have a computer then so I’m not sure quite how I did it. Then I got a computer, and several models later, I’m still writing and still helping clients to articulate the features and benefits of their product or service, with some business wisdom and advice thrown in for good measure!

Stories take people on an emotional journey. They help consumers engage with your brand. If you’d like a chat about how we can create a story around your brand, I’d be pleased to help.