Why Now Is NOT the Best Time to Start a Podcast

COVID-19.

If you’re like me, you still get up every day and wonder if this is all for real, or just a bad dream.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you woke up tomorrow and heard the squeaky brakes of a school bus with noisy children getting onboard?

Wouldn’t it be nice to turn on the radio and hear about rush-hour traffic backups?

Unfortunately, not only is it not a dream, but there is no end in sight to this pandemic nightmare.

On the Other Hand, This Can Be a Blessing For Business Owners

There is no doubt I have immense empathy for those that are suffering, or have lost loved ones, as a result of the CoronaVirus. But this downtime has provided a reset for many of us in our lives.

Especially if you own a business.

You have thought about where you want to be, and what additional systems you want put in place for your business, when this passes. You may be reading business and productivity books or are taking an online course, like the VideoLegend 30 Day Challenge that my company is in the middle of right now.

This is the time to play catch up. To learn something that will provide value for your customers. The best value you can provide right now is communication, and lots of it.

I recommend increasing your social presence. I recommend using more video for recorded updates or live presentations. And I do recommend reaching out more to your customers through email and blogs.

Now May Not Be the Right Time For a Podcast?

It’s not that I don’t believe in the power of podcasting. In fact, I think podcasting, with consistency, will bring you more organic growth than any other form of digital media.

Why do I caution you against it?

Podcasting is like a puppy that always needs attention. It needs to play, the fun part, like recording an interview. But it also needs to eat, poop, and learn to stop chewing your shoes, and that’s scheduling, editing, posting, promoting, and building an audience.

I really want you to host your own podcast. The benefits are tremendous if done correctly.

What I don’t want you to do is dive in the deep end while you have the time to learn, start, and produce the podcast. One day we will get back to normal, and you will be back in the thick of work. And all that work on your new podcast will get pushed to the side.

You may be thinking, “I get what you’re trying to do, Dave. Your company produces podcasts for businesses. You’re just trying to sell your service.”

To that, I say there’s a reason my company is growing, and that’s because smart business owners realize the value of their time, the value of digital media, and the value of having professionals take care of everything around actually hosting the show.

So yes, we do offer that service.

But, before starting this business, I have had more than a few friends start podcasts only to watch them fade away because of the lack of time. It’s so sad, too, because if they would have kept it going, most of their organic traffic (customers) would have come through that podcast.

So what’s involved and is a podcast right for you?

Here’s who SHOULD do a podcast:

*Anyone that owns a business.
*Anyone that is a little tech-savvy
*Anyone that can devote an hour per week sending and responding to requests for interviews.
*Anyone that can dedicate at least 30 minutes per week preparing notes for a show
*Anyone that can dedicate at least an hour per week recording the show
*Anyone that can dedicate 1 to 3 hours per week editing the show
*Anyone that can dedicate :30 minutes per week writing show notes
*Anyone that can dedicate an hour a week constructing and posting social media promotionals

Oh, and then there’s updating thumbnails, uploading the show, and answering comments on your social media pages. I tell my clients before we go down the podcast journey that, even with our help, podcasting is work.

It’s fun work!

But it’s work.

And you really don’t realize that until you get past show 5. By then the novelty has worn away and the grind of cranking out shows has started.

Again, I’m not talking you OUT of it, I’m just asking you if you will promise, PROMISE, to show love for your podcast once we are all back to work.

PROMISE?

Good. Then start your podcast. Let me know if you have any questions or need help.