How to Create your Passion Podcast with a Full-Time Job
Wouldn’t it be nice to kick the 9–5 and podcast all day? Yeah, we think so too. But, alas, bills need to be paid. And at least at the beginning, podcasting won’t cover them all. So you might find yourself working during the day and editing in the evenings. “I think those of us who podcast are inherently busy people,” says Sarah Rhea Werner, podcast host, and Forbes contributor. “We’re workhorses who get stuff done…” It’s true. There are a lot of moving parts to produce a solid podcast and it takes an organized, passionate creator to face them all head-on.
Of course, keeping your life afloat is important too. We’ve broken down five easy steps to organize your free time and leverage your resources in order to produce your passion podcast AND get your laundry done. Just know, you’re not alone in this hustle. Podcast Insights reports that there are currently 750,000 global podcasts with over 30 million episodes. Simply put, busy people want to hear tips and ideas from other busy professionals. Here’s how to have fun, stay sane, and produce a kick-ass podcast with a full-time job.
1. Plan Reasonably
A shorter podcast full of value is better than a longer one full of tears.
Planning is essential to a smooth-running podcast, so get yourself an agenda planner or add a section to your preferred digital calendar. Let’s say you get home around 6 pm and need to walk the dog, hit the gym, and cook dinner. That leaves maybe 1–2 hours to dedicate to your podcast (assuming you don’t roll onto your couch in a blanket burrito). Block off this chunk of time in your daily calendar so you’re less likely to wave it off.
Be wise with these precious hours. When are you going to research? Record? Edit? Prep social media content? Write it all out, so when you sit down to work, you know exactly what to tackle. The goal is to break down production into small chunks and get into a routine. Speaking of routine, nail down your intro, music, and transitions within the first 1–5 episodes and stick to it. Fiddling with these brand details can be fun but time-consuming. Plus, listeners expect consistency.
With limited time, your show should aim for quality over quantity. Consider producing weekly episodes between 15 and 30 minutes long. Why? You’ll have more time to research, edit, and share your content. Plus, the average commuting time in the US is 26 minutes, so a shorter show is likely to fit into your listener's lives better. When asked by Edison Research, 50% of participants who were familiar with podcasts didn’t listen to them because they said they’re just too long. So statistics, and time, are on your side.
2. Work Smarter, Not Harder
You don’t wash every article of clothing one by one. The same is true for your podcast production.
You may have heard podcasting savant Tim Ferris explain a technique called batching. It basically means batch similar tasks into one work-session, either weekly or monthly. Let’s look at recording as an example. Instead of meeting with a co-host or recording a solo show every Sunday, plan to record a month’s worth of episodes in one weekend. This will help you be efficient with your time and free up your social schedule.
The same goes for planning, researching, editing, admin, and social media. Once your shows are all recorded, try batching the creation of social media content. Say you dedicate Tuesdays to design graphics and write captions. You can even schedule posts ahead of time with free tools like Hoot Suite to free up time on the day your show airs.
While we’re on the topic of social media, another way to work smarter is to tap your audience for episode ideas. Get them involved in the planning and creation of your podcast. Ask them what they like, what topics they want to hear, or if they have any suggestions for future guests. Your host’s analytics is a great place to start, but engaging your listeners helps build community around your brand and save time in the planning stage.
Put your content to work. Starting a blog is a great reach tool, but you don’t have to spend loads of time writing. Simply edit your transcribed shows into a blog format, by adding heads and photos. Transcriptions are also useful for newsletters, show notes, and marketing material. Be scrappy!
3. Choose A Smart Podcasting Host
One that’s supportive, fun, and totally free.
The right podcast host will allow you to easily manage, market and distribute your show. It should work with you, not against you. Take a look at how Sounder saves you time and boosts productivity.
When it comes to analytics, Sounder gives you free, detailed insight about each episode to determine who’s listening, where they’re from, and more to help you create content they enjoy. Remember, performance matters and analyzing data will help you redefine your weak areas and grow with ease.
Another time-saving Sounder feature is distribution. Instead of logging into multiple listener platforms, like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, Sounder makes it easy to push out episodes from one place. After adding your RSS feed to each site, any changes you make in Sounder will automatically update in the listener. Check out other free time-saving Sounder features, like transcription, and pinpoint audio search.
Almost forgot— no matter what host you choose, check out their Support team. Are they responsive? Helpful? Will they be able to troubleshoot on the fly? Think of their support staff like your virtual team.
4. Engage Your Existing Community
You probably have more fans than you realize.
We’ve talked a lot about social media because it’s FREE marketing for your show. Plus, it captures and retains your community’s attention. But, we hear you, growing a social following can be time-consuming.
If your podcast stems from a personal passion, you’re more than likely already part of your target audience. Consider transforming your personal pages into your podcast pages. Our social media director always says that people follow people, not brands. So keep that adorable photo of your cat! If your followers already love you, they’ll love your podcast too.
To extend your reach, get cozy with your niche podcast community. Start a Facebook group so everyone can communicate and share ideas. Don’t be shy! Ask a podcaster in your niche for a shout out or a guest spot on their show. Consider partnering with other popular podcasts or promoting a giveaway.
5. Make It About Having Fun
And making friends, and learning a new craft, and getting your ideas out into the world!
It seems like everyone today has a pet project, be it a small business or creative pursuit, like a podcast. Some passion they dedicate weeknights and weekends too. It sounds nuts, given the already busy schedule of working a full-time job, but Tess Allen, writer for Twin Cities Business, explains, “In an age where passion for the job is becoming as important as the paycheck, many business people are turning to podcasts as ways to engage in conversations, build communities, and enrich both their own lives and the lives of others.”
Podcasting is a lot of work. We’re not going to sugar coat it. So go in knowing exactly why you want to create. At least to start, money should be low on the list. “And because these podcasts are labors of love, the podcasters are measuring success, not through numbers or sponsorship dollars, but through perceived impact and relationships gained,” adds Allen.
Consider measuring your podcast’s success in community, love, connection, and friendship. Is this enough to fule you during those late nights of editing? Our guess is yes.
