7 Top Tips To Help You Start A Podcast (Without Giving You A Headache) By Doug Bennett (aka The Goals Guy®)

Over the past year I’ve interviewed more than 85 inspiring people on the Goals Do Come True  podcast and celebrated 5,000+ downloads!

Each week my podcast guests have proven that setting goals, creating a formula to get there, and taking consistent action will get you results.

However, it also saddens me that I see so many people wandering around as “meaningless generalities” rather than “meaningful specifics”; in other words, the vast majority of the population doesn’t know, or go after, what they want.

What about you?

Are you a goal-getter or do you feel a bit blasé about it all? Are you just scraping the frosting on the snow at the top of the iceberg of your capability and potential? Are you passionate about directing your life and business and want to achieve more?

I am committed to helping more people to feel excited about life and to get involved in this “goal-setting malarkey”, because setting an intention at New Year then ditching it is a good recipe for an unfulfilling life.

In this blog, I’m going to share two key lessons I’ve picked up from speaking to more than 80 successful entrepreneurs about how to achieve goals; and if being a podcaster is on your goal list, I’ll share seven top tips to support you to get a podcast out there! 

2 key lessons to consider when setting goals

Two essential lessons I’ve learnt along the way are:

• Always have a financial goal

As American thought leader Zig Ziglar once said, “Money is not everything but it ranks right up there with oxygen.” Money helps you bring out more of who you are, and gives you access to new opportunities. It will support your other goals, so whether you have an earning target or a savings target, it’s important to have at least one goal that revolves around financial resources (spoken like a true financial adviser!). Irrespective of how much you love what you do for a living, who doesn’t want to make work optional and enjoy more free time?

• Create harmony

Achieving your goals will take time and effort and might mean spending more time away from your partner, spouse or family. Prioritise your relationships and your goals, and do your best to ensure that your loved ones understand why your goals matter to you. If you don’t have their support, you have a major obstacle to deal with.

I know people who have lost their marriages because they became work-obsessed. Overworking was definitely a contributing factor to the breakdown of my first marriage, and now, having remarried, my wife Bonnie and I prioritise time for “us” as well as time to focus on our individual pursuits.

One of my pursuits is hosting a podcast, which gives me great personal and professional fulfilment (though I’m still waiting for Bonnie to tune in!). Is one of your goals to become a podcaster too? 

7 tips to help you get your podcast out there

If you’d like to start your own podcast, my seven top tips are:

• Don’t overthink it

If you spend too much time thinking about starting a podcast, you’ll likely become overwhelmed and keep putting it off. You can always commit to a series of podcasts that will consist of ten episodes, and then take a break if you need to refuel or build up a new bank of content.

• Consider the duration

You know your target audience better than anyone, so create a podcast that’s the right kind of length for them. My podcast episodes are usually between 20 and 40 minutes in duration, which works well for my crowd, but some podcasters deliver episodes that are only a few minutes long! It’s your choice. If you create a really long one, you can always split it into two episodes and keep your audience eager for more.

• Decide if you need professional support

I know people who do all of their own post-production and marketing, but I know that I’d never record a podcast if it involved all that additional work. I simply record my podcast, and the next time I hear it, it’s been edited, has an intro and outro, contains show notes and is available to listen to on my website, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

If you don’t have the funds for professional support, make sure you factor in the time for all of this, so that you set yourself up for success.

• Let your personality shine through! 

On a podcast, people can’t see you, so it’s important that your enthusiasm and personality come across in your tone of voice. 

• Be consistent

Deliver your content when you say you will, even if it’s only your parents who are listening!  

• Remember that you will improve with time and practice

It can feel daunting to start a podcast; many people hate the sound of their own voice. However, the more episodes that you produce, the more you will relax into it (and the better your delivery will become).

• Focus on your end goal

If your enthusiasm wanes, think about why you started a podcast. It will help spur you on. One of the reasons that I was so passionate about interviewing all these amazing people about their goals is because I wanted to call myself The Goals Guy®, and having written two books and interviewed 85+ people about their goals on my podcast, I now feel like I’ve earned the moniker! Setting goals is my “thing”, so I’m naturally driven to dig deep into what it really takes to achieve what you want.

I’ve enjoyed reflecting on my year as a podcaster, and I hope you’ve found some useful tips if you’re planning to take your message to the world.

If you’d love my expert goal-setting support, book in for a chat (I’ll be charging for these calls soon, so grab a complimentary one while you still can!).