10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started A Podcast...

Ever dreamt about starting your own podcast – but not really sure where to begin? Trust us, most podcasters have been there.

That’s why we tapped Dale Crossar, host of the Bulletproof Mindset, with 193 episodes over the span of 18-months, to share his hard-earned wisdom.

So here is what Dale REALLY wished he knew before diving head first into the world of podcasts… 👊

1. Unlike short form content, podcasting can be a slow burner

Don’t expect growth overnight, it can take time to build your audience and it can seem tricky to do at first but be patient with it and watch it progress. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!

(P.S we have some great tips on growing your podcast audience on our blog page – check it out).

2. Consistency is key!

Think of listening to podcasts as a habit. But committing to a regular schedule, say one episode a week released on the same day and time, you’ll train listeners to know when you expect new content. This will help you build a following and ultimately a community of listeners.

3. It’s a great way to connect with a community

At first, I didn’t realise how  great podcasts are for providing a platform to connect with my existing audience on a deeper level. Showcasing more of my personality, expertise and diving into topics that simply isn’t possible with shorter form content.

4. Don’t be afraid to be controversial or share your true opinion

Now I’m not saying say something crazy just for the likes/engagement… but unlike short form content you have the space to fully explore tour views, explain your reasoning, and show both sides of the story.

5. Don’t sweat the small stuff – especially at the start

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have a plan and a structure of what you want to talk about in your first few episodes. But don’t get too in your head with this and let it paralyse you. Give it a go and just see how you get there, you’ll find that you’ll probably refine your approach about 100 times during this journey.

Trust me your podcast will make at the start will be different from the podcast you make a year down the line – so really don’t sweat it. Take the plunge, experiment and learn from the experience.

6. Figure out the WHAT and the WHY

Ask yourself WHY do you want to start a podcast in the first place? Is it to share your expertise? Build your brand? (We have a whole blog post on 10 reasons to start a podcast, check it out for inspiration!)

Once you understand your why you can refine your what – the specific content and format of your podcast. But remember point 5 – this shouldn’t stop you from starting the podcast, have fun with it, there is no right or wrong way of doing it – only your way.

7. If you can – offload the editing to someone else

Editing can be a time-consuming beast. I’ve had countless of late night hunched over the computer wresting with editing software. Unless you genuinely enjoy it or want to invest time into learning the ropes, consider outsourcing this part.

So, if you can, free yourself up to focus on creating fantastic content and let someone else handle the technical aspects. (And not to brag, but Bulletproof Studios are pretty great at doing this – just saying).

8. Think about the impact guests can have on your podcast

Brining guests onto your podcasts can be  great way to attract new listeners and add fresh perspectives. Just make sure you choose guests who align with your theme and target audience.

Don’t just choose Jo the Influencer because he has 100k followers on Instagram but actually doesn’t align with anything you or your podcast stands for – choose carefully!

9.  It’s a learning journey…

Podcasting is a constant learning process. Be open to feedback from listeners, guests, experiment with formats, and adapt your approach based on what works well and what works not so well.

10. Final and most important one – have FUN

Final and most important one – have FUN

Check out Dale’s podcast ‘Bulletproof Mindset’ out to hear him live in action and share his expertise on health, fitness and general entertainment to help you become the healthiest version of yourself. New episodes live every Monday and Thursday at 6AM.

For more hints and tips to help you on your podcasting journey, check out more of our blogs.

And if you need a studio to record or a team of pretty cool people to edit it for you – you know where we are…

Find out more about podcasting at Bulletproof Studios.