#1: I Enjoy What I’m Doing

Let’s face it, even if you are doing well (refering to income) from something you do, but find it a chore, repetitive, boring, etc, you’d bound to quit doing it after a period of time (depending on the financial return, it could be weeks, months or years). Which is why you hear of bankers, lawyers and even doctors becoming actors, singers and sometimes even internet marketers!

If you’re contemplating starting a podcast or a vidcast, consider the fact that you might have few (or possibly no) listeners/viewers while you’re starting up. Do you keep going? Or do you write it off as something that “doesn’t work”? (There’s a number of parallels with internet marketing and affiliate marketing here…)

Choosing something you enjoy means it’ll bring you intrinsic joy (you get pleasure from doing the activity itself) vs doing it for money or free stuff.

#2: Being Prepared

A carryover from my days as a journalist, it takes a couple of hours to prepare for each call before I get on the conference with the guest. This time is spend researching the guest, reading their blog, forum posts, checking out their speaking gigs at events, conferences, other podcasts.

This boils down to “knowing your shit”.

Some podcasts can go on an ad-hoc, free wheeling, stream-of-consciousness style. I’ve noticed they tend to die after a couple of weeks or 6 months down the road, where the folks feel they have said all they’ve had to say.

Planning is important, especially if you’re seeing podcasting as a long-haul effort, vs just pumping out 1-2 podcasts, then trying to figure out what to do next.

#3 Create Value and Paying It Forward

You may publish a free podcast, but it costs you time, effort and some cash to put it together.

Likewise, listeners also “pay” with time spent listening to the call.

Aiming to give value to the listeners should be a priority for any current or potential content publisher. Do listeners leave feeling good, feeling like they’ve learned something? That they can apply something in their life or business?

If you delivered on those aspects, you’ve succeeded in your mission.

–

Of these principles, I consider having fun to be the most important. Because if you aren’t, chances are that others won’t either.

Live long and prosper.

Download audio file (WhoIsAndrewWee.com-friday-podcast3.mp3)

For session notes, click more:

The podcast content issue:

3 components:

• News/Information
• Analysis/application
• Color/personality

The 3 Factor Content Breakdown:

News: to the minute. on site even better

Analysis: how does certain news affect how you are doing things now. what does it mean? how can you benefit?
application: how to apply information, get value out of it.

Color: on-site at event. Capture mood, talk to people who are there.
Tend to be less content heavy, give flavor and mood.

• Other pointers:

Keep it interesting!
Helps if you speak well, speak clearly. You need to be understood
Depending on your personality: Energetic helps. listen to motivational speaker, even thousands of miles away, just a voice coming out of your speakers, still manage to feel energized.

The X-factor?

In summary, 3 points to take note for podcast content:

• Content itself/factual
• Analysis/apply
• Color/personality.

You can include elements of all 3 (ideal).
But if you are new podcaster, focus on mastering each element first.