While keeping the episodes coming is another problem, taking the first step to start a podcast is likely the most obvious stumbling block. It is easy to get confused about all the details, not to mention the amount of information -- and misinformation -- available out there!
In this article, I am going to talk about getting the first momentum. These steps are also important to avoid podfading, i.e. a podcast that is slowly fade away.
1. "Strategize"
This is not a word but you know what I mean. Having a strategy in place is very important, especially for podcasters who start this venture not only for fun.
How does the podcast fit into your business? You also need to get the big picture of the whole sales and/or marketing process and how a podcast can help. This is the "why" part of business podcasting.
2. Produce and Publish
Get your hands on the "how to" on producing and publishing a podcast. It involves some learning curve, especially if you are technophobe. The solution to this is to start simple.
A simple recording device or a mic and recording software is all you need to record a podcast. When it comes to publishing, you know almost enough on how to do that if you have a web site. The procedures are more or less the same.
3. Promote
After having the infrastructure in place, all you need is promote like crazy. All things set aside, getting listeners to consume and listen to a podcast is what makes success or failure of a business podcast.
This is the same as other marketing activities. If you get 100 prospects from writing an article in an online publication, you can write more in a variety of publications to get even more prospects. This actually translates into more business for you.
The same effort is required to write one article that is read by 10 people or 100,000 people, so reach far and wide. The only thing you can do it is through promotion.
4. Get feedback
A customer-centric businesses realize that if they look back a year from now, what they produce is often very different from what they have planned earlier.
Listeners feedback is important. Nothing is more important than adjusting the product, in this case the podcast, to what's the listeners like. Doing this will help you accelerate the chance of listeners spread the word about the podcast.
Satisfied listeners come back again for more, which is very critical to your business.
5. Improve
Based on the feedback in previous step, see how you can improve your podcast. Often in the process you will learn a lot about your market, perhaps ideas about new products and get more sales more often from them.
Starting a business podcast is about doing rather than planning. Although planning is important, taking action is the first thing to do to get the momentum going. No matter how well you plan, things can get far from what you predict in the first place.
Listening to the audience and adjust accordingly is the only way for you to get business in the real world. So get started now so you can begin to get feedback.