Did you know that only 20% of all podcasts make it past the one-year mark? And while there are plenty of reasons for this, one major factor is that too many podcasters are trying to do everything on their own.
If you’re an entrepreneur or creative who decides to start a podcast, you’re probably used to relying on your own skills. But the truth is, you can’t do it all. And even if you think you can, you probably shouldn’t.
By outsourcing parts of your podcast, you can find the freedom to focus on the things you do best: the unique things that only you can do.
But knowing you want to outsource isn’t enough. It’s also important to act strategically and make the right hires at the right time. In this article, we’ll talk through the process of building a top-tier podcast team, along with the benefits of outsourcing each role and some signs you may be ready to take the next step
Identifying Areas for Outsourcing
If you’re trying to figure out what to outsource and when, here are a few key questions to ask yourself:
How much time am I spending every day on tasks I don’t enjoy or don’t excel at?
What are the things I’m an expert at or the things only I can do? What might change if I had more time to focus on those things?
How many of my daily tasks could be offloaded to someone who can do them better and faster?
How much is an hour of my time worth to me?
Too many podcasters get hung up on that last question, but it’s an important one! Your time is not free, and anything you’re doing outside of your skillset is taking away time from the things you could be doing inside your expertise.
When you know how much your time is worth to you, you’ll realize the the value of paying someone to get back time for yourself. And if you’re not in a position to pay someone or make a full-time hire right now, that’s OK too! Look for opportunities to trade service, offer sweat equity in your business, or hire an intern or contract employee.
Hiring a Podcast Editor
So, you’ve decided you’re ready to outsource. Who do you bring on first? We recommend starting with a podcast editor — preferably one who can handle both audio and video.
Here’s why you should be recording video in 2024.
Editing is not only one of the hardest podcasting skills to learn, but it’s also incredibly time consuming. Here are the top 3 things you can gain by outsourcing your podcast and video editing:
1. Achieve Expert Sound Quality
Poor audio quality is the number one reason audiences give for not listening to a podcast. When you hire an expert editor (hint, not someone from Fiverr or Upwork), you’ll see your audio quality improve significantly. This will make you sound more professional and also make it easier for listeners to stay engaged with your show.
2. Maintain Consistency
People like to know what to expect when listening to a podcast. An expert editor will help make sure every episode sounds the same, from adding the perfect intro/outro music to creating seamless transitions between sections to adding sound effects and ad placements. Plus, with all the time you’ll save on editing, you’ll find it much easier to stick to a consistent release schedule.
3. Provide a Seamless Listening Experience
If you’ve ever listened to a poorly edited podcast, then you know how distracting it can be when verbal tics like “umm,” “like,” and “you know” are not removed. An experienced podcast editor can edit out awkward pauses, verbal fumbles, cross talking, and other errors — and do it seamlessly.
Want to see an example of how big a difference an experienced editor can make? Check out this video:
Outsource Your Podcast Marketing
Putting out a great podcast is not enough; you also need to market yourself to attract listeners.
And while promoting your episodes may seem as simple as posting a few times on Instagram or LinkedIn, there’s actually so much more that goes into effectively marketing a podcast.
Here are the top 3 benefits of outsourcing your podcast marketing:
1. Save Time
We’ll say it one more time in case you forgot: your time is worth something. Many of the most effective podcast marketing strategies involve time-consuming tasks, like:
Editing and posting scroll-stopping video clips
Optimizing your show notes with keywords and resources
Sending engaging email newsletters
If you’ve been doing any of these tasks on your own, outsourcing your marketing is a great way to get some time back in your schedule.
2. Maintain a Compelling, Consistent Brand Voice
You may not realize just how much copywriting is required for a podcast. But with your podcast description, show notes, intro and outro scripts, ad scripts, and social media and email marketing, the writing needs add up, fast.
When you hire out copywriting and marketing you can ensure that you’re getting compelling copy, along with a consistent brand voice. And if you’re not sure what your voice is yet, a great marketer can help you identify that, too.
3. Start Seeing Improved Results
We all want our podcast to win. And chances are, you’re not a professional marketer. By outsourcing to someone who lives and breathes podcast marketing, you can start seeing your listenership grow and your current audience become even more engaged with the content you’re creating.
Bring on a Producer and Content Strategist
People often think of the podcast producer as the person who edits your podcast, but that’s not always the case. A podcast producer is someone who:
Facilitates regular planning sessions to brainstorm topics, guests, and ad campaigns
Researches episode topics and delivers a one-sheet hosts can reference during their recordings
Builds a shared content calendar to document all upcoming episode titles, recording dates, and release dates
Coordinates scheduling with guests, audio/video personnel, and studio time (if needed)
Provides guests with everything they need to feel prepared for the interview
Works with your editor and marketer to ensure all content is created on schedule
When you’re starting out, you are most likely your own podcast producer. You’re coming up with ideas, you’re booking your own guests, you’re directing your own content and strategy, you’re really doing it all.
Here are the top 3 things you can gain from hiring an experienced podcast producer to support you:
1. Peace of Mind
Imagine how much less stressful podcasting would feel if you didn’t have to handle all scheduling, interview prep, and coordination with your editor. A podcast producer can bring you the peace of mind that someone has the details handled, so you can focus on recording great episodes.
2. Strategy
A podcast producer wears two hats. They have to have the 10,000 ft view and the 5 ft view. Looking holistically at the story your podcast is telling, a great producer can bring order to the chaos of brainstorming and make sure every episode is getting you closer to your goals.
3. Consistency and Processes
Can you imagine if your podcast ran like a well-oiled machine? That’s what a podcast producer can bring! Part project manager, part ninja, a producer’s job is to ensure that the show gets published consistently. They are responsible for the quality of the show, and they manage the process of getting a show out.
Build Your All-Star Podcast Team
If you’re ready to stop doing it all on your own and start outsourcing your weaknesses to a team of experts, Podcircle has you covered!
We’re here to help you do less of the things you don’t enjoy, so you can focus on the parts you love and are best at. Our suite of services includes audio and video editing, social media, show note riding, launch packages, and producing.
To learn more, schedule a strategic discovery call at this link. Whatever your podcasting goals might be, we want to help you reach them!
