Shownotes
Have you ever found yourself in a pinch, needing to produce a podcast episode, but feeling overwhelmed by time constraints?
Worry not!
This episode is here to guide you through the process of creating a minimum viable product (MVP) podcast episode when you're short on time. Also, learn how to record episodes on the go, without your usual podcasting setup, so you can keep the momentum going no matter where you are.
Struggling to fill an episode with content? There are various strategies for creating podcast episodes on the fly. One of these strategies includes breaking an episode into micro-episodes, recording one-off intros (so you can reuse old content in a coherent way), and using pre-selected segments. This way, you can create an MVP podcast episode that still provides value to your listeners (while avoiding the need to ‘skip the week’).
Furthermore, it is crucial to understand how to break down your content into manageable chunks and craft engaging episodes. This will prevent you from spending precious time if you’re getting stuck in the planning phase, or re-recording multiple times.
Let's delve into each of these strategies in detail.
Valuable Podcasts Under Time Constraints
When faced with time constraints, it's essential to focus on creating an MVP podcast episode. This means delivering a valuable episode without feeling overwhelmed. You can record an episode on the go, without needing your usual podcasting setup. This flexibility can help keep the momentum going. Remember, your listeners don't know if you didn't plan the episode, so don't overthink it.
Consider that perhaps creating an audio-only episode, or promoting it only on one or two platforms that week (instead of three) is better than releasing none. Be realistic!
Creating Shorter Podcast Episodes
One strategy for creating podcast episodes on the fly is to break an episode into micro-episodes. This strategy involves focusing on one topic and providing valuable insights on it. It's crucial to choose a topic you're comfortable talking about so that the recording process becomes easy and natural - you don’t want to be second-guessing yourself when you’re tight on time!
Another strategy is to record a standalone intro. This intro can be a versatile tool in your toolbox, allowing you to introduce podcast replays, replay series, or episode takeovers. Remember to keep it short and generic so that it doesn't clash with the regular episode.
Practical Content Strategy Tips
Finally, it's important to break down your content into manageable chunks and craft an episode that is both practical and engaging for your audience. This will help prevent you from getting stuck in the early stages of planning - you can ask yourself:
- ‘If the one takeaway from this episode was a quote from the internet, what would it say?’ Work backwards from there.
- Don’t obsess over what your peers ‘may think or say’. What matters is your commitment to being there for your listeners, when you promised you’d be there. Who knows, by getting creative, you may realize you actually enjoy the podcast doing things in a different way!
Remember, it's not about the amount of content you produce, but the value that content provides to your listeners.
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 - Intro: What to Do When You're in a Podcasting Pinch
- 01:32 - The Mindset Shift: Creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Episode
- 05:33 - Idea 1: The Micro-Episode (One Topic, High Value)
- 07:22 - Idea 2: The Standalone Intro (A Versatile Tool)
- 10:15 - Idea 3: Replaying High-Value Segments
- 12:17 - Reminder: Shorter Episodes Are Still Valuable
- 12:53 - Recap: 3 Easy Episode Types for a Time Crunch
- 13:20 - Outro & How to Connect
Resources mentioned in the episode:
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Episode 9: Podcasting on the go
Episode 8: A quick guide to micro episodes
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Transcripts
When you want to go on vacation or maybe work is taking all your time and energy, or you're realizing that you have to be out of town and you have to record some sort of episode because you realize that you either have nothing in the bank or that all the episodes that you were thinking about, nothing will line up well, this episode is for you because, well, these are going to be the three types of episodes that you can record instead of deciding to skip a week or two, because we've all been there.
Speaker A:When we realize that, you know, as much of a planner as we may be, some things get out of hand.
Speaker A:And that happened to me.
Speaker A:I miscalculated the weeks that I was going to be gone for, and I thought, sure, I have all the solo episodes that I need in the bank, but kind of didn't.
Speaker A:So I had this topic in my head about what to record or types of episodes that you want to record when you have very little time.
Speaker A:Some sort of an mvp.
Speaker A:So a minimum viable product.
Speaker A:And I decided to pick that topic a bit sooner.
Speaker A:And also, thanks to my friends at Indigor here in my hometown, I reach out to them, and they were so kind to lend me some space and some time to record this episode.
Speaker A:Well, without further ado, I'm annexavier, and this is the podcast space, a practical podcast that will help elevate your podcast journey.
Speaker A:Let's go.
Speaker A:All right, so by now you realize that, yep, not calculating all the content in a year, or maybe you're just in a pinch and you can't get to it, and it will just happen.
Speaker A:Just know that it happens.
Speaker A:It happens to me.
Speaker A:I do content planning for a living, and sometimes it's just, you know, the thing flies out of your mind and you forget about it.
Speaker A:So this episode is going to be very practical.
Speaker A:I'm going to talk you through exactly what my process has been for this episode, what I normally advise clients, and really what you need to consider.
Speaker A:So before we delve into the three types of episodes that you're going to be considering for this situation, I want you to think about a few things.
Speaker A:Now, this is probably the most important one.
Speaker A:What is what you will consider a minimum viable product that you can create, keeping the value, but also not overwhelming yourself.
Speaker A:I want you to consider something like a quote and start your episode about that.
Speaker A:Like, what's the one idea that you want to pass along for me in this episode?
Speaker A:Is that you will be able to create a valuable episode in a pinch.
Speaker A:And I'm going to break down exactly with a few examples how you can get that done.
Speaker A:But I don't want you to overthink it.
Speaker A:I want you to think about when you're creating this type of episode, nobody really knows that you didn't plan it right.
Speaker A:Like, I am telling you that this happened to me.
Speaker A:But your listeners, they don't know.
Speaker A:They have no idea.
Speaker A:So I don't want you to consider that, like, oh, my God, they will find no value in this because, you know, I didn't sit down to plan it as normally as I do.
Speaker A:Or maybe you're feeling less than because it just, you're kind of doing it on.
Speaker A:On a whim.
Speaker A:So that's kind of like the first mindset thing that I want you to stop worrying about.
Speaker A:And second is to consider what is the most impactful, kind of like, top three tasks that I need to do for this episode.
Speaker A:So normally, let's say you, every time you do a podcast episode, you publish about like, seven social media posts, or maybe you do a newsletter and you do a blog post and you do a video.
Speaker A:I want you to consider what normally gets the most traction and focus on those things.
Speaker A:Later down the year, you can promote this episode.
Speaker A:Again, there's so many things that you can do.
Speaker A:But for this one, what is the minimum thing that you can do?
Speaker A:Because I don't want you to overthink that.
Speaker A:Perhaps this value isn't good enough because you didn't promote the episode five times.
Speaker A:Maybe you only do it in two.
Speaker A:It's not about the amount of things that you do, but focusing on the ones that will definitely get you the reach that you're looking for.
Speaker A:So is it maybe doing only a post on Instagram, if that's your main platform, or it's just ensuring that you're sending people the newsletter?
Speaker A:What is it?
Speaker A:So take note on that.
Speaker A:But also I want you to consider episode nine, podcasting on the go.
Speaker A:Because sometimes you don't need to do the episode in your office with your regular setup.
Speaker A:Like, I'm recording this in my friend's place.
Speaker A:I think that it's important to know that there's still value in what you're saying.
Speaker A:What matters is the content, not necessarily the whole process.
Speaker A:And sure, you may say, well, Anna, how is it that I can create the same value in a different environment?
Speaker A:Well, when I tell you that I actually fine tune the layout of this episode here, sitting here in my friend's studio, I'm not lying.
Speaker A:And the value is just making sure that I'm hitting all those Things that I promise you, practical tips, things that I know that you can follow along.
Speaker A:And so episode nine really takes a different approach on podcasting.
Speaker A:So when you're more mobile, things that you want to consider.
Speaker A:So make sure that you listen to that.
Speaker A:Everything will be linked in the show notes.
Speaker A:And then it's time for you to learn about the three types of episodes that you can record when you are in a time crunch.
Speaker A:So, number one, it's micro episodes.
Speaker A:This I've kind of covered already.
Speaker A:It's episode.
Speaker A:Oh, it's episode eight, and it's called A Quick Guide to Micro Episodes.
Speaker A:But this episode really covers a lot more.
Speaker A:I'm not going to go into detail because again, remember, it's about making sure that this episode is out.
Speaker A:But micro episodes can be under 8 minutes.
Speaker A:Heck, it can even be like 3 minute episode as long as it's valuable.
Speaker A:And what kind of things does it need to be?
Speaker A:It needs to be only about one topic.
Speaker A:Don't try to overcomplicate it.
Speaker A:Again, think about something like maybe a listener question or a client question that you get all the time that you know really well.
Speaker A:You're very comfortable talking about it and so that you're not kind of like dwelling on like, okay, what else is it?
Speaker A:It just comes out naturally to you because if you mess up on the recording, you will take forever to edit.
Speaker A:You will second guess yourself.
Speaker A:You maybe want to record it again.
Speaker A:So just make sure that it is something that you're just so comfortable talking about, you're not even overthinking it.
Speaker A:So how would you organize this?
Speaker A:You would go through, you know, one, the, the pain point.
Speaker A:You provide context around that pain point.
Speaker A:Like for instance I did in the beginning, where I say, hey, if you are going on vacation, if you don't have a lot of time, what are things that you can do?
Speaker A:And then give you the solution, right?
Speaker A:You can talk about how you do it or how you help clients go through that.
Speaker A:And then at the end, you're kind of wrapping it up.
Speaker A:Make sure that it is a relatable episode because you want to make sure that your listeners feel like you're like, okay, even though this is a short one, I can implement it.
Speaker A:All right?
Speaker A:And then another type of episode that you can do is record a standalone intro.
Speaker A:And you're like, anna, why is a standalone considered an episode?
Speaker A:Well, because that intro can be a versatile tool in your toolbox.
Speaker A:So there are three types of standalone intros that you can use.
Speaker A:You can use those for podcast replays.
Speaker A:You can do them for replay series and also episode takeovers.
Speaker A:I'm going to break down exactly what are the types of kind of like the content that you would have on those.
Speaker A:But just know that they need to be short and generic.
Speaker A:You need to ensure that the regular episode won't clash with this intro that you're not talking about.
Speaker A:For instance, like you know, summertime and you're using and you need to use that for like maybe a Christmas period.
Speaker A:So make sure that is super generic and as little information as possible.
Speaker A:So here are a few examples.
Speaker A:Hey friend.
Speaker A:As my team and I are taking a well deserved break, we are replaying the most impactful episodes of the year.
Speaker A:And so with that, for the upcoming five weeks, I'm going to break down a few episodes that have been just my favorite.
Speaker A:I hope you enjoy them.
Speaker A:And I'm still going to be available on social media, so make sure that you tag me with your ahas.
Speaker A:Alright?
Speaker A:Enjoy the show.
Speaker A:So that was number one and then you can do number two.
Speaker A:So make it theme.
Speaker A:This can be for those replay series, right?
Speaker A:So we can say something like as we close the year, we are republishing the most played episodes featuring the most innovative guests.
Speaker A:And I know you will enjoy re listening to them if you miss them this year.
Speaker A:This series is a must listen if you're stuck and you want to move forward.
Speaker A:All right, that's all for me.
Speaker A:Enjoy the episode.
Speaker A:So that's another one.
Speaker A:For instance, I'm going to do this summertime.
Speaker A:I'm going to use really short episodes.
Speaker A:I'm going to provide the context.
Speaker A:So for instance, talking about how the summertime is great for pondering on topics, maybe do a few changes.
Speaker A:So that's another one that you can use.
Speaker A:But then here's the exception.
Speaker A:So there's one that I was talking about these three types of intros and this is a very specific one.
Speaker A:But it's still worthwhile considering because I will be doing one very soon and so you'll be able to recognize that one.
Speaker A:So here it goes.
Speaker A:Hey friend.
Speaker A:Anna here.
Speaker A:This week I want to introduce you to my friend, Lloyd George.
Speaker A:I absolutely love Lloyd's podcast creator Hub.
Speaker A:It's a must listen to anyone who is aspiring to become a full time creator.
Speaker A:And because I know so many of my listeners, just like yourself, want to get into the creator economy, I wanted to introduce you to his podcast.
Speaker A:So I asked Lloyd if you wouldn't mind that I play his podcast for you here on my show and I will see you on the next week.
Speaker A:But for now, enjoy Lloyd's show.
Speaker A:So simple, to the point.
Speaker A:If you have people in your industry related topics, you can ask them way ahead of time and record a quick intro to this episode and just play that right before their episode plays.
Speaker A:And then lastly, playing segments of episodes that you have been pre selecting already.
Speaker A:So I do this with a few clients already.
Speaker A:Sometimes we are going through content strategy and I'm listening to their show and I already identify some segments.
Speaker A:Maybe they're 20 minutes long or maybe they're 15 minutes long, but they really are themed.
Speaker A:And what we normally do is I advise the client to clip that segment, put it on a folder, and record a quick intro, just like I've done before.
Speaker A:And so you want to make sure that that segment plays well by itself.
Speaker A:And what that means is that if you create an intro that is really providing enough context for the episode that you're gonna be sharing, you're looking at that and thinking, okay, what do they need to to know about before I delve into this episode?
Speaker A:And again, you can definitely say things like, hey, this episode is part of a much bigger episode that I recorded with, you know, so and so.
Speaker A:But I thought this part of the conversation was so impactful that you needed to listen to it again.
Speaker A:So if you actually want to listen to the full episode, that's episode, you know, like 18 or whatever it is, I'll make sure that I include all show notes and links to that episode in case you want to delve more into the topic.
Speaker A:But I do think that you need to listen to it.
Speaker A:All right, enjoy the episode.
Speaker A:And then you play the episode itself, but make sure that you record an outro.
Speaker A:So you want to make sure that the segment is fully finished.
Speaker A:Obviously you don't want to include questions that are not part of that segment, but as you close the show, there's enough context for them to just kind of like, ponder on the episode or, you know, like the call to action is related to what's been spoken about.
Speaker A:And again, I'm reminding you again that just because you either forgot to record an episode or you just didn't have as much time as usual, or even if you're just not going through your same process, it does not mean that this episode will not be as valuable as usual.
Speaker A:If a quote can hold value, if a quote can change behavior, you can do the same with a shorter podcast episode.
Speaker A:All right, go and check episode eight and episode nine that I mentioned on this episode.
Speaker A:It sounds so meta.
Speaker A:Yeah, and let me know if this type of episode will give you permission to create content in a less structured way while ensuring that you're not skipping a week, that you're not overwhelmed or burned out.
Speaker A:So just before we wrap up.
Speaker A:So the first type of episode that I talked about is going through the micro episodes.
Speaker A:Number two is to record a standalone intro that you can repurpose for many different ways and then last but not least is playing a segment of an episode that you had already preselected, and for that you need to create a dedicated intro to that episode.
Speaker A:Was this something that you'd never considered if you didn't?
Speaker A:Please let me know.
Speaker A:I love hearing from you.
Speaker A:I'm the podcast space everywhere on the Internet but on Instagram for sure.
Speaker A:All resources mentioned in this episode will be available@thepodcastspace.com podcast I've been Anne Xavier and this was the podcast space podcast that is practical to get you unstuck on your podcast journey.
Speaker A:Keep creating content that is imperfect, that moves you forward.
Speaker A:Bye.
