Most content creators would agree that the best part of podcasting is talking about topics you're passionate about. However, although rewarding, many aspects of running a podcast can be quite demanding, such as planning your content, building your recording setup, writing a script, or optimizing your marketing strategy.
Therefore, if you want your show to be a success, you'll probably need some help. Building the right podcast team is key. A good team will make everything run smoothly and enrich the creative process.
Whether you’re starting a podcast, or you already have some experience in the field and want to take your show to the next level, this post is for you.
Today, we’ll discuss:
- Why your podcast needs a team
- How to build a podcast’s dream team
- An overview of a podcast team's structure and roles
Ready? Let's start!
Why You Need a Team
Imagine you own a small business making artisanal apple sauce. In the beginning, you would probably buy the apples, chop them, put them on the stove, print labels, prepare them, and go out to sell them at a local market. But, as the demand for jams increases, you wouldn't be able to carry all the apples anymore. Nor would you have time to chop or pack them since. You’d have other tasks, such as going out to deliver orders. A single person could no longer fulfill all tasks. In this imaginary case, that’d be the time to hire some help.
The same goes for a podcast. Initially, one person is enough to do all the work. Especially, if you have fresh content ideas, no need for regular uploads, and an undemanding and small audience. In that case, your show doesn't have to be perfect. However, if you want to scale your podcast, reach a wider audience and make money with it, you’ll need a good team. Why?
By hiring a team, you would be able to:
- Optimize production time by dividing tasks and efforts
- Delegate different aspects of your podcast to specialists with broad experience in their field
How to Build a Podcast’s Dream Team? The Key Roles
The first step is to choose the roles you will need in your podcast.
As a starting point, every production needs these key positions:
- A producer
- A host
- An audio engineer
- A writer
- A marketing specialist
- An administrator
Let’s take a closer look
What Does a Podcast Producer Do?
The producer is the one in charge of making things work. They are responsible for:
- Getting equipment
- Coordinating the efforts of the team
- Finding and contacting sponsors
Additionally, in smaller podcasts, they also tend to be in charge of finding guests for the program.
In short, the producer makes key decisions to guarantee that the podcast:
- Delivers high-quality and relevant content
- Remains profitable
- Gets the most value out of every team member
Why a Good Host Is Key
The host is the face (or rather, the voice) of the podcast. Much of the show's success depends on the host's charisma.
It is important for them to:
- Speak with confidence
- Communicate eloquently
- Be able to successfully navigate unprecedented situations while recording
- If the podcast requires it, sound relatable and down-to-earth
For example, if an interviewee loses their train of thought while speaking, you can always edit it out later. However, a good host can smoothly lead the interviewee back to the main topic and save yourself the extra work. Many day-to-day inconveniences can be avoided with the help of a good host.
The Key Role of Audio Engineers
Sound is the raw material of every podcast, and getting the most out of it is harder than you think. A good audio engineer will ensure that the host, music, and pre-recorded segments sound harmonious and clear.
Why Writers Are Essential
The writer is in charge of creating the script and preparing announcements and advertising segments. Writers are the foundation of your podcast's narrative and content. It is their job to give your host confidence, providing the right words at the right time.
How Marketing Specialists Make a Difference
Marketing specialists are key for expanding your audience and keeping them engaged between episodes. This role may involve different tasks depending on your podcast’s topic, target audience, and goals.
Some common tasks include:
- Managing social media activities
- Establishing a network of contacts
- Partnering with the producer on sponsorships
- Managing your podcasts’ visual identity
- Creating a clear line of communication with your audience
- Helping you rank in search and reach your target audience
Why Your Podcast Needs an Administrator
To avoid overspending and keep your podcast profitable, someone has to be in charge of the numbers. Here’s when a good administrator enters the picture.
They will help you:
- Foresee potential financial problems and future expenses
- Come up with new financing methods
- Plan your budget and stick to it
How to Find the Right Team
Now you know which key roles you need to fill. At this point, you may be wondering where to find the right people for these positions.
Here are a few options:
Word of Mouth
An oldie but a goodie. The main advantage of this method is that candidates come with recommendations, and there is a higher degree of mutual trust. Ask your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances if they know anyone who can fill the role you’re looking for.
Ads
A good place to start may be local online communities for audio or marketing experts. For instance, you could post about your job opening on a local Facebook group for audio experts.
Social media can be a key tool for sourcing your team. To power up your search, post your job ad on your social profiles and allocate a small budget to promoting it. That way, you can make sure it reaches as many people as possible. Social media ads also allow you to finetune your targeting. So, for instance, you can choose to only show your ads to people in a certain area who have certain interests, (for example, “marketing”, “podcasts”, and your podcast’s key topics).
Although it may sound antiquated, you could also consider printing flyers and distributing them to local colleges, community centers, or clubs.
Key Takeaways
In this post, we discussed how to build a team to help your podcast thrive. However, as you get started, you’ll probably not be able to recruit everyone on this list. If that’s your case, you’ll have to be selective on who to get first. We recommend you make your decision based on your soft skills and knowledge. For example, if you’re good with numbers but you don’t know much about audio, then maybe you should try to find an audio engineer first, and put off finding an administrator.
Plus, many tools can also help you along the way. Audiotease is one of them. With this tool, you can easily create videos highlighting your podcast’s best moments. No editing skills needed. Try Audiotease today and make the most out of your content.