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You’ve got podcasting questions, and Traci Long DeForge is here to answer them. Traci is the founder of Produce Your Podcast and a member of the PBJ Editorial Board. Today Traci answers questions about guest forms, business podcasts and how often you should release your show.
QUESTION: Hello! I run a small podcast all on my own. I was wondering what type of forms should I have guests sign, if any? I would love advice on this topic. TRACI: The guest management process can be more streamlined by creating a form for them to fill out before their appearance on your podcast. Content requested in the form is dependent upon how you decide to use the form. The primary use would be to ask them for all the materials you need for your interview and for your show notes. For example, request a Headshot, Bio information, Links to any social media, websites or any articles or blog posts they’d like you to promote. It’s also important to make their contact phone number and email a required field so you can quickly have them at your finger tips on the day of recording.
You can also use the form as a way to gain permission to use their content and images in your promotional materials. You may find different schools of thought on whether this is necessary or not but I personally recommend that you capture the permission in the form or by using a separate media release form. Sample templates and language are available online. I would recommend you have it reviewed by an attorney before placing it on your form or your website.
One way to create the form would be as a word doc or editable PDF to email them and ask they send it back to you in advance of the scheduled recording. You can also integrate a form into the back end of your website. We have a wordpress site, and we use the Gravity Forms. We typically get quicker responses with less follow up needed with the web form.
QUESTION: I just started a podcast to help market my business and I feel like I’m talking about myself the whole time. Should my podcast content be more focused on my prospects or on me? TRACI: When it comes to branded podcasts the focus of the content needs to be educational and engaging. Content people can relate to is key. Businesses can create that content on a podcast without it sounding like an infomercial. Remember, People are investing their personal time when they choose to listen to your podcast so make it a valuable use of this time they’ve chosen to spend with you.
QUESTION: Is releasing a podcast outside of weekly or daily even worth it? Do people even do bi-weekly? TRACI: Yes! Podcasters release their shows on all kinds of different schedules. Some daily, weekly, seasonally or in a series. You can build and grow an audience with a more sporadic schedule as long as you tell your audience when they should expect a new episode and you consistently release on that schedule. One of the most important factors at play is to be sure you market the episodes between releases. Post quote graphics, create audiograms and even promote older episodes so you can keep the momentum going. This will also give you the advantage of giving new listeners a chance to discover you show no matter how often you release it!