Starting a podcast can feel challenging because of all the things that have to happen. But the biggest hurdle is often getting over your own negative thoughts about what to say, how to say it, and what to do next.
I’ve found that the sheer overwhelm of trying to figure out what to podcast about and all the other pieces is the biggest part of that negative self-talk. So this week on the podcast I’m walking you through how to find your voice so you can finally get it out there to your audience.
You DO have something to say and there IS space for you to say it. It’s time to do just that.
Mentioned In This Episode
Transcript:
Welcome to episode 192 of the Content Experiment Podcast, a podcast for podcasters that supports the idea that content and marketing are ever-moving targets in any business, and it’s okay if you don’t feel like you’re doing it all right, all of the time.
This is the second episode of a 10+ series all around bringing more ease into your podcast. Podcasting CAN be time consuming and it can feel really challenging, especially if you’re DIYing most or all of it.
I had some help when I started this podcast, and that allowed me to launch with some confidence. But it was the weeks and months early on where I really struggled. I didn’t feel like I had a go-to resource to help navigate some of the early challenges. Thankfully, I have a background in content marketing so I was able to work through a lot of the challenges with ease…but I know not everyone is in the same situation.
So I wanted to bring you this series to help, leading up to the three year anniversary of the podcast AND the 200th episode.
But there’s only so much I can cover on a single podcast episode. AND I know that your business and your podcast are unique. You might have more questions after listening. So I’m inviting you to my weekly Podcast Ease Q&A sessions. We got started on July 28 but it’s not too late to join us because we’ll continue through late September. We get on a Zoom call and you can ask me any questions you have about podcasting for the next hour. All calls will be held at 8 a.m. Pacific and they’ll be recorded if you can’t make the call life or want to go back and re-listen.
Are you in? Want to make your podcast feel a little easier? Join me for only $99 for the entire 10-week series at thecontentexperiment.com/ease and you’ll get access to the recordings of previous sessions too.
This week, in the second episode of the series, we’re going to focus on finding your podcasting voice. If you’re feeling fear around starting to record or hitting publish, or even knowing what to talk about, this is the episode for you.
So what IS holding you back from publishing your first or next episode? Finding your voice just might help you out.
And I don’t mean your actual voice, your vocal cords. I mean your message, the things you’re saying.
Though your actual voice might be holding you back too. Because who wants to listen to a recording of themselves? I sure don’t! Know that how you hear your voice is different from how others hear it. And you’re your own worst critic.
But what about your voice, relating to your messaging, the things you want to say?
- You have something to say. Just because someone else has a podcast similar to yours doesn’t mean they’ve said it all. We all have our own unique ways of teaching and sharing and talking.
- Know what your audience needs and wants. Knowing that you’re sharing something that your audience has asked for or is challenged with might help you feel more comfortable sharing it. So survey your audience! thecontentexperiment.com/ask
- Understand your zones of genius. Know what lights you up and is aligned with your business
- Have a strategy, a plan in place so you can see how everything fits together
- Imagine ONE listener – that perfect person you want to work with
- Have an outline or a script
- Let someone else edit for you – or edit as you go
- Just hit publish
- Keep hitting publish; you’ll polish things up as you go – no one is perfect the first time
- Re-listen to your older episodes and see how far you’ve come
If you found value in what you learned here today, be sure to share it on social media. Take a screenshot of the episode on your phone and share it over on Instagram stories. Tag me at thecontentexperiment. The more you share, the more we can get the podcast into the hands of more business owners, just like you, who need to hear the message that they are not alone.
