Reliable Podcasting Strategies for Service-Based Business Owners

In this article, you’ll learn how even the busiest, highest achievers can make podcasting work for their service-based business – spoiler alert! – the solution lies in outsourcing the most time-consuming functions, such as post-production editing, scheduling, and promoting your show, so you can stay in your zone of genius and ENJOY being the host of your show.

A successful podcast takes planning and preparation, but don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand through the process of using podcasting as a potential growth strategy for your business.

Podcasting is a Long-Term Investment in Yourself and Your Business

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: podcasting isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. It requires a hefty investment of time and energy with consistent effort over an extended period – typically producing regular content for at least 18 months– to begin to see listenership in the thousands.

A commitment of this magnitude often leaves business owners like you feeling a little overwhelmed since you’re already juggling various tasks. Running a service-based business generally requires at least 20 hours of deep work each week, and the thought of fitting in an additional intensive marketing project can feel daunting.

Being aware of this long-term commitment at the outset can steady your mindset and keep expectations realistic. The results from leveraging your podcast as an evergreen marketing arm won’t be immediate, but with persistence, podcasting has the potential to become a powerful lead generator for your business.

There are a few scheduling and batch-production tricks I have up my sleeve that will make producing a weekly or bi-weekly show MUCH easier and more sustainable over the suggested 2-3 year podcasting commitment. It’s also important to note that the commitment periods mentioned here are a commitment to yourself, your personal growth, your community, and your business. You’re not required to announce your commitment out loud. 😏

Overcoming Common Podcasting Challenges

As mentioned in my other blog posts, the number one reason podcasters quit their show is that they underestimate the amount of time and attention the process demands. From detailed editing to scheduling interviews, strategizing for keywords, handling social media posts, and publishing repurposed content – all of these tasks require time and a high level of focus. (Which is why all of those are part of the packages I offer 🥰)

Here’s a reality check: podcasting is not a plug-and-play game. It needs thoughtful planning and a systematic approach. If these tasks were as simple, everyone would be a successful podcaster! But that’s not the case, is it?

One of the most vital parts of the podcasting process is the editing. Without pleasant-sounding audio, you’re going to lose listeners right away. But It’s not just about removing background noise or making the audio sound perfect; it’s also about creating an engaging narrative that hooks the listener.

Then, there’s the challenge of keyword strategizing. It’s essential to ensure that your content reaches the right ears, and for that, effective keyword selection is the name of the game. You need to know which keywords or phrases you’re targeting and, just as importantly, where you need to use them to get your show found in podcast platform searches and on Google.

Finally, there’s the daunting task of managing your social media posts and emails to engage repeat listeners and attract new followers, which can feel like a job in itself!

I created Podcast Abundance to remove all of these to-do’s from your list! Back in 2019, when friends and professional connections began approaching me for advice on producing their podcasts, I knew I could help. I’d learned the ropes with my show and was hooked!

Design Your Podcast to Fit Your (Desired) Lifestyle

One key aspect of consistently producing a great podcast over time that most business owners miss is the show design process. Thoughtful podcast design takes into account the length and frequency of episodes, whether episodes will be co-hosted, interview-based, or solo recordings, and whether your ideal audience would prefer audio, video, or both.

As you determine the components and features of your show, it’s important to note the “complication factor” of each choice.

The other big consideration is your time commitment. Most business owners require a particular efficiency level, even during a “podcasting time block.” First, you have to identify which blocks of time you have in your current schedule that can be used to work on your podcast.

It’s easy to think that you have more time and an open calendar in the future, but when you get to that date, inevitably, you’ll be booked up. This type of thinking leads to missed opportunities and procrastination of key endeavors.  So, look at this and next week’s schedule. You must immediately establish an hour every two weeks (better if it’s more!) out of your schedule.

What time block do you already have available during which you could work on your podcast? If the answer is none, evaluate what tasks can be moved permanently to free up a dedicated time block.

That newly established time block for podcasting determines acceptable complication factors. The more time you have blocked, the more forgiving you can be to complications.

If you’re ultra-tight on time and only have 1 hour per week, then an audio-only solo episode will be the best way to start. Adding video, a co-host or interviewee, and even excessive preparation like scripting will eat up too much of your time.

A video podcast requires lighting, background decor, makeup, a 4K camera, and outfit changes, whereas an audio-only podcast simply requires your voice. If your only recording availability is at night or on weekends when you’d prefer not to get fixed up, then audio-only is the best way to get started.

Alternatively, a co-hosted or interview-based show requires coordination with someone else’s schedule. If your schedule is already packed, and you’ll have limited windows during which you can record, what is the likelihood that the interviewee’s or co-host’s schedule will align? That hour needs to be spent recording so you can just get the content out!

Design Your Episodes to Fit the Time You Have Allotted

Beyond designing your SHOW to fit your current or desired lifestyle, it’s also important to design each episode to fit. This means intentionally choosing a simple show structure that’s easy for you to execute – Especially as you launch and mature as a podcast host through about episode 20.

Some segments you might consider including in your episodes are market reports, fast-fire questions, games, online or in-person interviews of any length, quote excerpts, book reviews, or current event discussions. These all sound fun and engaging, but before you start complicating your episodes with multiple segments, I challenge you to think thoroughly about the difficulty level of execution.

The more segments, the more mental space each takes to create and the more time it takes to execute each one. It’s best to start your podcast with only 1-2 segments and add others at milestones down the road.

For example, if you really want to have a game segment toward the end of your episodes, I suggest adding that at episode 20. Then, don’t make any other additions or changes until episode 50. This way, you’re stair-stepping your way into a more demanding production level as part of your journey, which is way better than getting overwhelmed and calling the whole thing quits before it ever takes off!

Here are some common show structures and lengths to get your mind jogging:

It helps to have a professional talk you through the design and decision-making process for your podcast. So don’t let your availability or your fear of making the wrong decision derail your podcast dreams. Use one of the buttons on this site to book a call with me, where I’ll gladly walk you through this.

The Power of Outsourcing for Service-Based Business Owners

As a service-based business owner, your to-do list can often seem never-ending. At first, you probably began serving clients by executing every piece of the work yourself. That’s how I began in 2019, too! No shade. 🤗

But within a year or two, it’s important to start delegating to an online assistant, to contractors, or to parallel service providers you’ve hired as contractors ( <–super smart move, that one, BTW) so that you’re no longer responsible for every single role in your business.

If you try to maintain control of every tiny detail by doing it yourself, it’s only going to end one way…in BURNOUT.

Instead, I want you to think about what you could outsource in your business to keep you feeling healthy and balanced and ensure your business is moving forward. Start by assigning simple, tiny tasks that you COULD teach or explain easily with a set of written instructions or a how-to screen recording.

By delegating non-core tasks like podcast editing and management to an expert, you free up significant amounts of your valuable time and mental space. Wouldn’t it be great not to worry about an entire sector of your business? This is where specialist podcast management service providers like Podcast Abundance come in, professionally editing, branding, and scheduling your show to publish FOR YOU so you can focus on growing your business.

The key to outsourcing is that you’re doubling or tripling your return on time investment. Think about it like this: There are $10 per hour tasks in your business, $50 per hour tasks, and $1000 per hour tasks. You need to spend your time on those high-ticket tasks that ONLY you can do to take your business to the next level.

Outsourcing is a strategic move aimed at making your workflow more efficient. You’re the CEO of your business, and you need to use your time where it matters the most — like building relationships with clients and focusing on your core services.

When you outsource tasks such as podcast management, blog writing, social media content creation, and  – you create space for your business to grow. You will find more room for strategic planning, more energy for client meetings, and, most importantly, more time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

⚡Newsflash: You CAN take a day off, even if you’re a business owner!

Finding High-Quality Done-For-You Podcast Production Services

Podcast Abundance is my primary focus, and since my very first successful podcast production, clients have found huge success with their shows. I thrive on providing aspiring podcasters with a done-for-you podcasting service that makes their marketing efforts a breeze. I understand the challenges you face as a business owner and the struggle to balance existing workloads with new marketing initiatives like podcasting.

I’m figuratively throwing you a lifeline so you can keep your hands on the wheel of your business and take advantage of adding an epic evergreen marketing channel.

I’ll take full control of all your post-production obligations — I’m talking editing, scheduling, description and title drafting, and the often confusing but crucial repurposing tasks off your shoulders. Basically, I aim to give you the freedom to focus on creating compelling content without having to worry about the techy side of it.

Just imagine: No more stressing over getting the podcasting tech right. No more staying up late agonizing over how to make the editing software do what you want or worrying about whether your edits will be done in time to go live as you’d promised. Instead, you’ll have the much-needed space to do what you do best: running your service-based business.

Oh, and that marketing endeavor? 😌 Your podcast runs “automatically” in the background FOR YOU, ever-expanding your audience and establishing credibility with your listeners.

Sure, you may not even know where to start – that’s okay too. I’ve done this hundreds of times. I’ll guide you through step-by-step, clearly telling you what you’re responsible for while my team does the rest. So, let Podcast Abundance take the weight of your podcasting tasks while you remain the face of your brand and concentrate on the strategic side of the business.

The Art of Successful Podcasting

The number one reason podcasters quit is underestimating the time and attention required for crucial tasks such as editing, strategizing for keywords, scheduling interviews, and producing related content. Balancing an existing workload with a new marketing venture like podcasting can pose a significant challenge for most business owners.

But, outsourcing these tasks is THE key for service-based business owners to achieve more productivity and spend less time on operational management, allowing you to focus on being the CEO of your company.

With the help of an experienced, Done-For-You podcast management provider like Podcast Abundance, service-based business owners can strategically approach podcasting, capitalize on its benefits, and gracefully overcome potential hurdles.

So grab your mic, step into the spotlight, and let’s share your message!

Podcasting as a Service-Based Business Strategy FAQs

What is the significance of podcasting for a service-based business?

Podcasting offers service-based businesses an opportunity to connect with their audience more personally. The conversational style often associated with podcasts helps build a deeper relationship with listeners, often leading to improved brand loyalty and customer engagement.

Why is podcasting considered a long-term strategy?

Podcasting is a long-term strategy because it typically takes about 18 months of consistent output to determine whether your podcast is gaining traction. This necessitates a commitment to producing regular, quality content over an extended period, potentially leading to greater brand exposure and increased subscriber count.

How do ‘Done-For-You’ podcast services help?

Done-For-You podcast services, like Podcast Abundance, help business owners by taking care of post-production, editing, scheduling, and repurposing tasks. This allows business owners to focus on core operations and responsibilities while still benefiting from a podcasting strategy.

What are the benefits of outsourcing podcast duties?

Outsourcing podcast duties saves time and allows business owners to concentrate on their main tasks. It allows for higher productivity and less time spent on operational management, thus enabling the business owner to focus on decision-making roles.