Is it ok to take a Hiatus from your Podcast?

It is not only OK to take a hiatus from your podcast now and then, I think it’s a great idea!

I’ll admit that this is a relatively new opinion for me and that I’ve never taken a hiatus from Work at Home Moms Talk Radio in the four and a half years I’ve been hosting it.  But still - I see great value in occasionally taking a breather.

You don’t have to let your podcast feed go silent.  My friend Tara of Army Wife Talk Radio re-broadcasts popular episodes when she needs to take some time off.

If need a break - take it :)  Just let your listeners know in advance when the hiatus will begin and how long it will last.  They’ll be waiting for your return to action with smiles on their faces :)

Build A Community Around Your Podcast

If you’re podcasting (or if you’re a pre-podcaster at this point) you want to have an active, responsive listening audience, right?

Of course you do! No one wants their podcast to be a one way conversation. We want interaction!

Jason Van Ordon (Author of Promoting Your Podcast: The Ultimate Guide to Building an Audience of Raving Fans) is creating a series of videos/audios that talk about building a community around your podcast. I’ve watched the first segment and I’m listening to the second segment right now.

It’s good stuff.  He’s sharing what he calls the ‘Laws of Magnetism’ in this audio.

They’re available to you free, just click here to start :)

Podcasting Alphabet: P, Q & R

Continuing my Podcasting ABC’s from here.

P is for Profit

You know I have to get the issue of making a profit in here.  All podcasters are not in it for a profit but most that I know are.  Have you thought about what your profit goals are?  Think it through and write it down.  Break your numbers down until you have a per episode profit goal - then start building income avenues to get you to that number.

Q is for Quality

You don’t have to use expensive equipment or spend a fortune on high end audio production work to give your audience a quality listening experience.  However, be careful that you don’t go too ’shoestring’.  Little audio annoyances like humm or static from the phone line can wear down a listener and keep them from concentrating on your message.

R is for Repurpose

The interviews and content shared on your podcast could easily be repurposed.  Start by having someone transcribe your program and then see about sorting the text into articles, blog posts, special reports or ebooks.

Podcasting Alphabet Soup: M, N & O

Continuing my Podcasting ABC’s from here.

M is for Motivation

A podcast is a powerful motivational tool.  You can and should use some of the time you have in each show to motivate your listeners to take action.

N is for New

Every episode is an opportunity to do something new.  It’s good to have a routine or pattern to follow but it is also sometimes very good to throw your routine out the window and just let your hair down.

O is for Objective

Do you have an objective for your podcast as a whole?  You should.  If you don’t know what you want to achieve by podcasting you will soon falter for a reason to continue.

Do you have an objective for the episode that you are planning right now?  You should!  If you don’t have a purpose for the show - why would anyone want to listen to it?

Podcasting Alphabet Soup: J, K & L

Continuing my Podcast ABC’s from here.

J is for Joint Venture

A Podcast is a great Joint Venture project for people who reach a similar target market.  By bringing on Co-Hosts you can share the work load as far as developing content for the show.  Having multiple venues to promote the show helps too.

K is for Knowledge

Hosting a podcast is a fantastic way to demonstrate knowledge and confidence about your area of expertise.

L is for Link Love

A good podcast attracts inbound links and a smart podcaster shares a lot of link love through their show notes.   Be sure to provide a permanent link for your guests to use to link to their archived appearance.

Podcasting Alphabet Soup: G, H & I

Continuing my Podcasting ABC’s…

G is for Guests

Your podcast format doesn’t have to include guest interviews but having guests on your show does more than provide interesting content for your listeners.  It opens doors for promoting your program to your guest’s mailing list or blog.  Don’t be shy about asking guests to promote their appearance on your show to their circle of influence.  Give them a permanent link to the archive of their appearance for their media page and offer them open ended permission to use their interview audio (with credit to your podcast) on their site.  Have a graphic made that they can display that says ‘Listen to me on _____ Podcast’.

H is for Hosting Habits

Before I started to host my own podcast there were very few things I had to do for my business on a strict weekly basis. I soon learned though that one of the worst things a new podcaster can do is be unreliable.  Nothing aggravates a listener more than having to wait for your show to publish.  You have to develop a good weekly schedule and adopt a habit of posting your shows on time.  Of course, if you’re good at planning, you can prepare several shows in advance and have to think about your production schedule less often.

I is for Ideas

Before you launch a podcast you should sit down and brainstorm a big list of show topic ideas.  If you want to publish a weekly show, shoot for a full 52 episode topics.  The farther out you plan the better you can spot opportunities for series and seasonal promotions.  I find ideas for shows through article directories, forums, ezines, magazines, books, television, movies, blogs, internet surveys, etc.

Add your own G, H or I in the comment section below :) 

Podcasting Alphabet Soup: D, E & F

Continuing on through the Podcasting Alphabet…

D is for Demand

Before you launch a new podcast you should do market research to determine if demand exists for content on your topic of interest.  Generally, if there are books, magazines and websites built around the topic, a podcast has a good chance of attracting listeners as word spreads.

E is for Editing

Try as you might to do everything right the first time, you will have audio quirks and verbal flubs to clean up in the editing process.  I don’t believe that you have to remove every ‘um’ and ‘ah’ from your speech, but repetitive ‘filler’ sounds are quite annoying for listeners and should be taken out.  Volume disparity between you and a guest (one of you being louder than the other) should be corrected.  If you recorded with the telephone you may also have some background humm or buzz to remove or your guest may have had to pause to take care of an unexpected intrusion.  Do take the time to do a good job of editing your podcast audio.  It is worth the effort to present the best audio you can as listeners can forgive an occasional audio issue but will soon grow tired of having to work so hard to listen to your content.

E is for Energy

Your listeners will sense your level of energy and excitement when they listen to you.  Make sure that you sound awake and enthusiastic when you record your shows.  Nobody wants to listen to someone who sounds down in the dumps or tired.  One trick to make sure that you sound alert and happy is to have a mirror to look into as you speak.  Note your expression.  If you look bored, you will sound bored.  If you look cheerful and bright, you will keep their attention longer.   If you are tired or feeling sluggish - just don’t record!  No show is better than a bad one.

F is for Fun

Have fun and be fun!  Your listeners will recommend you more and come back every week when they enjoy the time they spend listening to your program.  You may have a podcast dedicated to a pretty serious topic but you can still open or close the show on a light note.  Don’t be afraid of a little levity and humor.

Have a D, E or F idea to add?  Use the comment form below :)

Podcasting Alphabet Soup: A, B & C

There has been a noticeable upswing in requests in my email box for help in getting started with a podcast. Must be the Spring air? Whatever the reason, I’m thrilled! I especially enjoy coaching new podcasters through a launch. It’s an exciting time and an important step in reaching out to your target market.

In order to have some fun and celebrate the spring launch season, how about we partake of some Podcasting Alphabet Soup?

In this multi-part blog series, I’ll share some tips and ideas for each letter of the alphabet - and you can join in too by leaving a comment :)

Today we’ll cover A, B & C.

A is for Attitude

This ‘A’ is twofold. I believe the best podcasters approach the process with a real ‘can do’ attitude. They’re willing to tackle learning new technology and learn new skills. Great podcasters also sport a bit of a ‘tude’ in that they have opinions and aren’t afraid to share them.

A is for Archive

If you are able, archive your podcast episodes long term and keep them available for download. When new listeners find you they often love devouring these past programs - and that’s more opportunity for you to develop a relationship with them. Some podcasters actually find success in charging for access to their archives.

B is for Blog

A Podcast goes with a Blog like Hot Fudge goes with Ice Cream. Not only is a blog the perfect way to deliver the podcast RSS feed, it provides an easy way for your listeners to comment on your episode. There are several useful podcasting tools out there that allow you to create a podcast feed without a blog - but I don’t personally like to use them. By blogging your show notes, you’re making yourself more findable in search engines and blogging in between your episodes helps to keep your audience engaged too.

C is for Cooperation

I don’t believe in competition, I think there is a way to cooperate with everyone that shares an interest in my target market and that is definitely true in podcasting. When I launched Work at Home Moms Talk Radio I was the only one out there, but now there are many WAH related podcasters. Work at Home Moms have more than on hour a week available to listen to great audio content so I’m glad there are others offering quality interviews and resources. Rather than view them as probable problems, I see them as potential partners. Who better to co-promote with?

C is for Champion

Use a podcast to champion a cause and build awareness and support for something you care about. This could be a limited edition podcast built around an event. (Limited edition just means that you don’t intend to keep adding new episodes long term.) For example, you would like to raise money and awareness for breast cancer so you’re participating in the big walk event in your area. Create a podcast that chronicles your preparation efforts, the event and some reflection when it is over.

Do you have any additions for A, B or C? Please do share them!

And stay tuned for D, E and F to come soon :)

Special Challenges for the Single Work at Home Mom

I received a new question from single mom Sheila:

I just want to say that I enjoy WAHM Talk Radio and the Mom’s Morning Show. My question is about starting a business when you are a single mom. I am a single mom with not enough income to make the bills. I have come
to realize with the help from my dad that the only way that I’m going to get ahead of the money game is to build up my business. I just can’t seem to find the resources for a single mom starting the business. I know that there are single WAHMs but how did you start and is there a site with other single WAHM for resources?

I have a bacholers in graphic design, I just don’t know were to start. Thank you for your time.

- Sheila

From one Single Mom to another - I agree that starting your own business is a great way to develop extra income and build the future you hope for. (I don’t know about you… I’d love to find a great man someday - but I’m not holding my breath so that means I’m working out my future financial security on my own!)

We do face special challenges when compared to other moms who want to build a full time home based income.

• We have to have an income NOW and there’s no hubby in the household to cover the mortgage while we get things rolling so that means working full time while starting a business.
• Unless there is an equal custody arrangement, we are also providing the lion’s share of child care.

Beyond these two hurdles, the challenges we face are pretty much common to the wider WAHM experience.  Married or Single, budgets are tight, start up money is scarce, skills vary and learning curves loom large.

With that in mind, while I do think it’s a blessing to find other Single WAHMs to share stories and encouragement with - I think that for the most part, you’ll do best to simply dive into the WAHM community and learn everything you can from successful moms, married or single.

I’ll specifically invite you to join us for a 7 Day Preview over at Mom Masterminds. 

Let me encourage you straight away and tell you about a few fab single moms who are making it as full time work at home moms:

• Tishia Lee, Tishia Saves Time
• Lynn Terry, ClickNewz
• Angela Wills, Star VA

Add your name and link to the comment area if you’re a full time Single Work at Home Mom…

How Long To A Living Wage?

A great guestion from Cathy:

“Hi Kelly, I’m a member of Mom Masterminds and have been listening to your podcasts for several months. I know you are a single mom. How long did it take you to get to a full time living wage in wah career?”

I started my first internet effort in early 2002 but I mostly stumbled around bumping into things for the first year.

My first goal in having a home business was to make ends meet.  My day job paycheck wasn’t cutting it and I was $14,000 in debt with little hope for every getting out.

Do you know that I only wanted to make $200 a month?

Oh how small I thought about things back then!

The good report is this:

Between 2002 and September of 2005 - I paid off that $14,000 in old debt!

Then, when I didn’t have to send every spare dollar to some bill collector I realized that I was making quite a bit of money online - more than I had imagined… more than I made at my day job!

So in 2006 I quit the day job and came home full time.  Now I earn more than I have at any other time in my life and enjoy the freedoms that come from being self employed.

I guess the answer then is: Five Years

For some more inspiration:

I blogged over at Work at Home Moms Talk Radio last week and shared about how my residual income has grown over the years.

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