Good, Bad, and Ugly Reasons to Start a Podcast
Last month, Anchor announced a new platform for sponsoring podcasts.
While profit is an okay reason to do anything, here are good, bad and ugly reasons to start a podcast.
Ugly reason: Conversation
It shouldn’t just be an hour of you and pals talking. “Oh but we’re funny!” Still not enough.
Bad reason: Information
You want to inform a general audience about something. This will only get uglier as you “try” to find your audience.
Good reason: Expertise
You know who your target audience is, you have access to them and can inform them about your podcast. Does listening to an hour audio recording help this particular audience in their lives? Then yes, start a podcast.
Ugly reason: You want to change the world
You won’t change the world.
Bad reason: The world sucks
Positivity rules the day. You are directly in people’s ears. They can’t cover their ears with headphones on. Ultimately you’ll be a success by being a fun, pleasant and nice person.
Good reason: Therapy
Instead of paying $100 a week to have someone listen to you. If you have something to say and just want to get some issues out of your system, sitting in front of a mic is a good way. Also, you don’t want to worry about the numbers of people listening to you. An old friend from college did this and I think it helped him get through a few rough years in Hollywood. Casey Neistat named his podcast with his wife: Couples Therapy.
Ugly reason: People should spend more time with you
Just a little note here, that if you aren’t humble and pleasant, it’ll be hard to convince people to be on your podcast and listen to it.
Bad reason: You want a larger audience
Bad news — podcast discovery is still a sore subject. It’s hard. You’ll need to tap your current resources to gain an audience.
Good reason: You want to spend more time with people
I think this is a wonderful reason, and one of the reasons I’ve been contemplating starting a podcast myself. If you have about a dozen people in mind that you’d like to spend at least 1 hour with over the next month. A podcast is a great reason to sit down with them. And they might agree with more vigor.
Great example: Fruitful
While it’s still “small,” Fruitful combines all the elements. Comedian and Master Fruitsman, Zach Huddleston sits down with funny friends and talks about one single fruit. Disclosure: I’m in an episode. He’s got a master’s degree in Agriculture and Food Economics. He knows what he’s talking about. Also, he does fact checks. Also, he’s professionally worked over 10 years in comedy so he’s got that over every single “comedian.” His expertise in Agriculture and Comedy combine for one hell of a podcast. My episode we ultimately change my behavior from eating “fruit snacks” each day to never touching a bag again.
Originally published in Grow: For Influencers, a weekly newsletter in which the author shares one great tip on growing an audience or growing revenue for online creators. Get weekly emails here at influenceweekly.co/#grow
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