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(By Robin Kinnie) Most articles about podcasting concentrate on the best equipment, how to increase your listening audience or ways to make moolah. The most important aspect of a podcast is the content. But, what do you do if you know you want to podcast but, are unsure as to what exactly you want to talk about? Here are three tips on how to find your voice in the podcasting game.
What are you passionate about? The secret sauce always lies in what excites you. What do you find yourself tweeting about or shouting at the TV? Whatever that subject is; start there. It may be numerous subjects. It doesn’t necessarily have to be what you do for a living. You may have a hobby that no one knows about but, you’re an expert in. No one wants to listen to someone who isn’t excited about the subject they’re talking about. With hundreds of thousands of podcasts, the audience has plenty of choices. If you’re not pumped about the subject, how do you expect your audience to be? Listeners may not be able to see you but, they can hear you. And the tone of your voice is sure to resonate if authentic. If you’re stuck, ask your friends and family for their opinion. You may be surprised by their answers.
Write it down Now that you’ve identified the theme of your podcast, the next step is to get organized. I like to keep notepads all around my house. If a cool idea pops into my head; I can quickly get it down on paper. Have a notepad handy or use an app to start recording possible episode subjects. My recommendation is to start with your core theme/subject and list possible episodes. For example, let’s say your theme is on women’s empowerment. Instead of doing the typical profiles of women leaders, consider bringing in a bit of pop culture. You may dedicate an episode to the non-traditional roles of women in Game of Thrones. Given the proper marketing, you could reach a new audience and expand your existing one. Challenge yourself to think outside of the box while maintaining alignment with your core theme.After brainstorming approximately ten episodes, create an outline of the three main points for each episode. With this general template, you can start identifying guests who can add to the conversation or a special co-host.
Do you, boo After nailing down the subject of your podcast and possible episodes, now you can move on to the fun stuff. It may be tempting to craft your podcast after a more popular one but, don’t do it! Make your podcast unique by incorporating what makes you unique. Your personality should be interwoven in everything ranging from your cover art to how you speak. So many podcasters miss the opportunity of creating a masterpiece when they try to be something they are not. That quirky laugh? Don’t edit it out! Your obsession with saying, “am I wrong?”, and anything else can become your calling card. True success comes from being yourself and having fun. Be real. Believe me, there is an audience just waiting for your subject area combined with your special way of delivering content.
Have you had success in finding your voice? I would love to hear from you! Tweet me @RobinKinnie or email robin@motorcitywoman.com.
Robin Kinnie is an experienced podcast producer, entrepreneur and #womanowned advocate. As the President of Motor City Woman and Audio Engineers of Detroit, her goal is to amplify the voices of women. Robin also serves as the head of Soundgirls.org, Detroit Chapter. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @RobinKinnie.