Should I start a podcast?

Are You Thinking… Should I start a podcast?

Everywhere I turn, I hear that I should host my own podcast. I mean, it must be a good thing if everyone is talking about it, right?

Do those words flow through your head? Have you said a variation of them out loud?

For me, not a week goes by when I don’t get asked: Should I start a podcast? My answer: Maybe … and it’s a HUGE maybe. According to PodcastHosting.org, as of September 2021, there are over 2,000,000 podcasts and over 48 million episodes. You can tap into the Global Podcast Statistics, Demographics & Habits HERE

The truth is: most podcasts limp along. Or eventually, fizzle out. You must ask yourself: Will I commit to supporting it? Will I promote it? Will I provide interesting content? Will I do a podcast regularly?

During one month of 2021, the six-year-old AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast enjoyed 1.5 million downloads alone.

That’s huge … and it didn’t happen overnight. It can be accessed on at least ten podcast platforms: iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, IHeart Radio, Stitchers, Player FM, Blubery Podcasts, Mixcloud, Google Podcasts, and TogiNet Radio.

So … is there a podcast in your midst? If it’s a maybe or a definite yes, before you put your toe into the airwave waters, it’s time to ask, and answer some questions. You need to know what your expectations are and what you are willing to commit to meet them. Mine were:

I wanted to create a publishing and author loaded content program.
I would do it weekly and I wouldn’t do “repeat” plays—every show would be new.
There would be 52 fresh shows a year, even when Holidays fill on my show day.
I would have guest experts in the publishing and writing fields.
I would sometimes just be the host and guest.
I would have no guest hosts … it was my vision and experiences that would guide each show.
I would book all guests.
I would create it as a DIY project. I would get tech help and have a producer when I was on the air.

Over the six year’s Nick Zelinger’s NZ Graphics designed the logo for the show. Over time, it has evolved.

from this

to this

and in 2021, to this…

The show started in 2016. I never put numbers of listeners on my back. It wasn’t until five years later did I know that a podcast was deemed successful if there were 2,400 downloads a month. In yy first month, I passed 3,500 downloads—I’ve never looked back. Now, downloads range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 plus every month.

If can answer YES to all the questions I posed above, go for it.

Will I commit to supporting it?
Will I promote it?
Will I provide interesting content?
Will I do a podcast regularly?

Otherwise, take a pass. What say you?

Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 37 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences.

Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the “AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing” podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE.

Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact me.