Welcome to Systems Sunday. Today we kick off our new theme of Podcasting Pre-Launch.

I’ve been toying with the idea of podcasting for a while now. It seems natural given that I have more than a hundred Systems Sunday episodes and 1) I love to repurpose content and 2) podcasting would open up a whole new medium and possibly audience, so it’s definitely something I’m strongly considering. If this is you and you are also thinking that podcasting sounds great, but you are so overwhelmed by all the moving parts, then this “Podcast Pre-Launch” series is going to be for you.

In today’s episode, we start with brainstorming your podcast theme in which I give you examples of how to create a strong series identity so that you will not only stand out, but you will always have the confidence to choose the right guest at the right time, for the right episode.

Welcome to Systems Sunday, today we kick off our new theme of Podcasting Pre-Launch. I am Lisa Wells, your Virtual Assistant Trainer.

In today’s episode, we are going to get started with brainstorming your podcast theme. 

I’ve been toying with the idea of podcasting for a while now. It seems natural given that I have more than a hundred Systems Sunday episodes and 1) I love to repurpose content and 2) podcasting would open up a whole new medium and possibly audience, so it’s definitely something I’m strongly considering. If this is you and you are also thinking that podcasting sounds great, but you are so overwhelmed by all the moving parts, then this series is going to be for you.

This month we’ll focus on the pre-launch stage of podcasting – brainstorming your theme, your podcasting equipment and gear list, legal questions, and setting up systems to get guests.

So let’s get started with brainstorming your podcast theme. In a nutshell, what is your podcast about? Can you sum it up in one word or phrase?

This alone may send people running because they want to talk about all the things and don’t want to be constrained to just one topic. On one hand, you don’t want to have a haphazard collection of topics that don’t make sense and on the other hand, you don’t want to have too narrow a scope. Trust me, there is a happy medium, let’s talk examples.

Let’s start with if you have a miscellaneous collection of topics, try to arrange them into a collection of series all dealing with your general overall focus.

For example, if you are a business coach, you could break down your episodes for the year into eight series, each consisting of approximately six episodes on a specific topic. You could present “Leadership Series: Part One,” “Leadership Series: Part Two,” and so on until you reach the end of your six episodes dealing with leadership issues.

Then you could segue into your “Social Media Savvy” series: “Social Media Savvy: Part One-What Can Social Media do for You?” followed by “Social Media Savvy: Part Two—Uncovering the Secret Power of Groups,” and so forth.

And even if your guests are a seemingly random bunch, each one dealing with wildly different areas of your niche, they should all fit into a specific theme and series. You need to look for the theme and series to fit them into.

John Lee Dumas does this superbly in his Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast, presenting expert guests like Storybrand’s Donald Miller, internet pioneer Joel Comm, and heavyweights like Tony Robbins and Seth Godin under the umbrella of his series of inspiring those who are on an entrepreneurial journey.

And then take my own Systems Sunday. Each month I have a different series that focuses on a specific topic, but my overall umbrella theme is simple systems for online business owners. Also, the fact that it contains “Sunday” gives it an additional way of making it memorable and creating recognition.

Ideally, I’d love it if my subscribers thought, “Oh it’s Sunday, that new episode comes out today.” Why do they think that?
It happens every week on the same day, it was entertaining, helpful and valuable, and it’s easy to remember.

What it all boils down to is this: You need to create for your podcast series a strong identity, so that people (and potential guests) hear the series name—and instantly know what you’re all about.

And the stronger your series’ identity, the more valuable it will appear to your guests, as well as to your audience!

So get clear on your theme and create your series plan first: And only then can you look for experts who will fit right into place.

Take this approach and not only will your podcasts stand out, but you will also always have the confidence to choose the right guest at the right time, for the right episode.

Another thing to think about is what is the vibe of your show? Is it serious or upbeat? Do you want music?

By outlining your show’s vibe and thinking about its atmosphere, you’ll also have a guideline for what kind of guests to interview – if that’s a part of your plan. Knowing your target audience and the show’s vibe will prevent you from just saying yes to everyone who asks to be a guest.

Here are some prompts to help you craft what you want your audience to learn, the outcome you want, how you want the show to feel, the vibe, etc.

• What is your goal with each episode?
• What should your audience learn?
• What action steps to outcome do you want with each episode?
• Describe the “vibe” or atmosphere of your show
• Describe your ideal guest

Just as you want to offer the best products that your target market will find valuable, the same is true with your podcast guests. You want relevant guests who can serve your audience by providing valuable information.

If you’d like even more resources, check out my Podcasting Template Pack. I have email templates, swipe files, best practices, printables, and more. Check it out at VirtualAssistantTrainer.com.

Join me next time for more Systems Sunday, have a great week!

Catch up on other Podcast Pre-Launch episodes:

• [Video] Podcasting Gear, Tools, & Equipment
• [Video] Podcast Legal Issues and What You Need to Know
• [Video] Podcast Guest-Getting Game Plan

Did you enjoy this episode and want to put it into action? Grab this kit!