A good organization is key to successful podcasting

A good organization is key to successful podcasting

A great podcast starts with good planning. The better organized you are, the more time and creativity you can invest in the show itself. And that pays off in high-quality episodes that are heard by more and more people.

Ideas come when and where they want

The best ideas often come unexpectedly and at the most impractical times. Just before falling asleep, during a train ride or while queuing at the supermarket checkout. If the thought is not written down immediately, it is lost. That's why it's important to always have a tool at hand that makes it easier to write down ideas. Evernote or SpringPad are good solutions that also allow you to create audio files, images and web links.

Create a folder for each episode

Start each episode by creating your own folder that is only for this show. This way, all notes and background information can be collected and stored thematically for each show. This simplifies the work process and helps to keep track at all times. Especially when the number of episodes is constantly increasing.

Discipline goes above all else

The editorial plan is ideal for long-term planning. In the hectic daily business, however, it is helpful to create a more detailed schedule. Maintain a weekly schedule by blocking fixed time slots for your podcast. And stick to it. Because if you ever fall behind, you'll lag behind with the entire production and it'll be difficult to make up for lost time. That's why realistic planning is important. Don't overdo it in the beginning and start with one show a week. Which you consistently realize. Don't forget to allow enough time for recording and editing. If you have more practice, you can increase the frequency of your episodes at any time.

Sketch your episodes

After you've created both the editorial and weekly schedules, start filling your shows with life. Create a draft for each episode, outlining the content. What are the must-have themes you want to address? Are there any date-dependent events that fit well into the episode? Be sure to include all your Evernote or SpringPad notes in this process and include them when appropriate to the theme.

Managing the process

In addition to disciplined adherence to the weekly schedule, pre-production of episodes is the best way to avoid unnecessary stress. This is how you create a buffer if it should not be possible to adhere to the weekly schedule. The Trello project management software is ideal for this, as it allows you to keep track of your podcasts at all times. It is advisable to create a separate board for each podcast and a separate card for each interview guest. This can then be moved from one board to another as needed. 

Save time with templates

When producing podcasts, repetitive work is being created. The creation and use of templates is an enormous help. Do you use the same intro for each episode? Then don't rewrite it each time, but create a template that you can easily copy. This way you achieve content consistency and recognition with your audience and save time.

Find the right work process for you

The possibilities mentioned here for a better structuring of your work process are suggestions. It is important that you find a way of working that suits you, that takes your abilities and your environment into account. A good organisation should in any case be a relief and not an additional hurdle.