How much time do you need to produce your own podcast?

One of the biggest barriers to starting a podcast is time. With Podcastle reporting that 2.5 million podcasts are dormant, maintaining a successful and engaging podcast takes a good deal of commitment. However, when you allocate enough time, it is very rewarding to release your podcast into the world. 

Read on for 10 time considerations to factor into producing your own podcast. 

1.Concept 

When looking to launch a podcast, you will need to allow plenty of time to develop a robust, interesting and engaging podcast concept. What will you talk about? Will you invite guests? How long will your episodes be? These are important elements to consider at the concept stage and take time to get right. 

2. Artwork

Once you have determined your podcast concept, you will need to create engaging artwork that offers your podcast a professional image. Will you create the artwork yourself? Will you create a brief and then request and review proposals? Ensure you build plenty of time for this into your podcast timeline. 

3. Project management

Each podcast episode is a culmination of more than 50 small tasks. To manage this, you will need to create a tracker spreadsheet to tick off each task, or use project management software to lay out each of the steps. Take time to consider and then build the most appropriate system for your needs. 

4. Guest management

Who will you invite to your podcast? Who will liaise with their teams to arrange bookings? Will you provide them with editing rights? Guest management can take time so it’s important that you budget for this when you begin creating your podcast. However, securing the right guests will really increase your following. 

5. Episode research

What are your guests’ notable achievements or key talking points? Before you interview your guests, you need to have completed enough research to confidently hold a conversation with them and tease out the most engaging and relevant messages your audience will want to hear. 

6. Editing 

Editing can often be the most time-consuming element of creating a podcast. Who will edit your podcast? What software will you use? How long will you need to spend editing each episode? Being clear about each of these considerations will make the process a lot more efficient and free up more of your time for podcast promotion. 

7. Copywriting

When it comes to releasing your episodes, you need to spend time drafting copy for articulate show notes and SEO-optimised episode titles. This increases the likelihood of your podcast being discovered via search engines and adds value for current listeners and new listeners who have only just discovered your podcast.

8. Publishing

Who will be responsible for listing your podcast in all the required directories? This is a crucial element of the podcasting process as it ensures your podcast is discoverable by as many people as possible on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. Therefore, you will need to identify someone with the time to manage this.

9. PR & promotion

Having created a strong podcast with engaging content, you need to promote it so as many of your target audience as possible discover it and ultimately become loyal listeners. Who will be responsible for creating a PR & promotion plan? Will this person also be responsible for the implementation and execution of the plan? 

10. Tracking & analytics

Once you have published your episode, you will need to track and analyse your download numbers to determine whether your content is resonating with your target listeners. Who will be responsible for reviewing your podcast data and making judgements on how to increase your listenership? 

FF&M offers end-to-end podcast production. Or, join our new podcast training course where you’ll learn how to produce your own podcast from scratch. Book your place here.