068: How to Uplevel Your Podcast (and Save Time) by Hiring Support
Does your podcast take up a lot more time and effort than you thought it might? This is a common thread that we see for both newbie and veteran podcasters.
Whether you’re looking to free up space on your calendar to do something else or just don’t want to be in charge of all the techie and administrative parts of upkeep for your podcast, this episode is one you’ll definitely want to hear.
I uncover how you can find the right person for you when you’re looking to outsource podcast tasks. I share a few common misconceptions about hiring help for your podcast plus how investing in your podcast can help you in the long run.
What’s in this episode:
Misconceptions of podcast editing and management
Tips for finding the right fit for outsourcing podcast tasks
What you gain back by outsourcing your podcast editing and management
A breakdown of investing in your podcast (and how it helps you)
The benefits of having a podcast editor or manager
Ready to gain back some of your time, uplevel your podcast and focus on creating content?
We have openings for monthly management! Click here to learn more!
The Transcript:
068: How to Uplevel Your Podcast (and Save Time) by Hiring Support
You've had your podcast for a while and you're thinking, I'd really love to get this off my plate, but I don't know if I'm quite ready to hire a podcast editor or manager because I have so many questions about what that would look like. I hear you. I totally get it. I totally understand. So today, what I wanted to do is break down some of the common misconceptions about podcast editing and management, why it's important to find someone who cares about your podcast as much as you do, and the investment and value that you will find in hiring someone to edit or manage your podcast. Welcome to the Wild Home Podcast, where we talk about podcasting life and all the wild in between. Join me, Caroline. Every week I share a peek into the world of podcasting and my wild life as well. Ready? Let's get into it. Hey, guys, welcome back to the Wild Home Podcast. Today, we're going to be talking about one of my favorite topics, and that is podcast editing and management. And specifically, I want to talk about why you haven't hired a podcast editor or manager yet. So if you are like me, you are a do it yourself type of person. And, you know, I'm not always the type of person, but I always just feel like I can do it better. It's not necessarily that I can do it better. I just feel like sometimes the explaining is harder than the doing, if that makes any sense. And as I'm recording this episode, I still actually edit my own podcast episodes and I have a whole team of editors. So maybe this is an episode that I'm doing for myself. Who knows? So let's just dove in. The first thing I kind of want to talk about are some of the common misconceptions about podcasts, editing and podcasts, management. When people come to me and they're thinking about outsourcing, kind of one of the things that they're really worried about is if the episode is actually going to get edited. And so I think, you know, because there are so many variations of podcasts editors out there, you could kind of come across a lot of different approaches. There's really not like a standardization. And there are editors out there who you can pay a lower fee and they will just put the intro and outro on whatever you send them and export it. And that's not what we do here at Wild Home Podcast. And so I think one of the common misconceptions is that editors are not actually listening to the episode. I think one of the other really big misconceptions, especially when it comes to the difference between an editor and a podcast manager, is that you're going to hire an editor. But there's still a lot of things that you have to do yourself. And now the way that the industry is kind of shaping in the way that services are being provided, we are doing so much more for our clients, I would say, even than when we first started. You know, initially editing somebody's episode was enough and that was all they needed. But there's a whole lot more that goes into that. And especially, you know, now we help people with scheduling and managing their feed and making sure that they get to the proper destinations. And so I think kind of one of the big misconceptions is all I need is an editor. And I think if you're having a podcast for your business and you really want someone to partner with to help you grow your podcasts, you might need somebody that is doing more than just editing, right? You might need somebody who is scheduling, who is keeping track of your schedule, who is watching download numbers, who is making sure that if a new destination comes available, that you are getting submitted to it. So there's kind of a lot of things to think about when you start to look for editors and managers. I think another really big misconception about podcasts editing is the price. And they kind of want to talk about that a little bit and the value. There are so many levels of editors that you can find out there and you can find anything from somebody who will do an episode, you know, for 10, 20 dollars, up to two hundred and fifty dollars an episode or more. Right. There's such a huge range and one size does not fit all. I don't know if I'm making sense, but the work that we do isn't necessarily the same as a three hundred dollar per episode or ten dollar per episode service provider. Right. So like you, there is no I guess what I'm trying to say is there's no measurement where you can say, like, you can stack everybody up against each other. You know, we have our own standards and practices and other editors have their own standards and practices. And so when you're starting to talk to editors and managers, it's more about finding somebody who aligns with you and who is getting the episode ready in a way that makes you feel good and makes you feel aligned for what you're trying to do with your podcast. Right. And so, like, we are not necessarily going to edit a podcast about like a drama or a documentary style podcast. That's not what we do. What we specialize in is podcasts for business owners. Right. And so you kind of have to when you're trying to find somebody to work with, to partner with, you kind of have to really do your research because there is so much. The other thing I kind of wanted to talk about for a second is podcasts agencies. There is a huge misconception that if you are a podcast agency, you are not providing any kind of high touch value. And I just want to like I just want to scratch that off right now. Let's erase that thought completely, because I think the model of a podcast agency is really evolving. And I know for us it's about having an agency. Right. I have meaning that I have editors on my team. I have a team that is helping me support podcasters. It's not just me, but that does not mean that we do not provide high touch. And a lot of times there's so much going on in the background that you are not necessarily aware of. And so I think when you go into a situation where you're interviewing a podcast agency and the prices are a little bit higher and that throws you off because you're thinking, well, podcast agency, that should be cheaper because there's more people doing the work and, you know, really look at the services they offer and the kind of customer service they offer. Because for us, like I said, there's a lot going on behind the scenes to take care of your podcasts. And that's kind of different than I think what we think of as a traditional podcast agency model. And so I've always been really cautious to not call Wild Home Podcast an agency, because I do think sometimes there tends to be a negative connotation with that. But I think I'm going to embrace it and just like, say, we need to kind of rethink what we think of when we hear the term agency. So there are some common misconceptions I just wanted to touch base with. Let's say you're thinking about hiring somebody. Like, how do you know that they're the right person? And this may be why you haven't hired somebody yet is because there are a lot of people out there who do what we do. But how do you know, like if they're going to do a great job, if you're going to get the value. So I want to talk a little bit about that. The first thing I'm going to tell you, and I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in a recent episode, is that you really have to find someone who cares about your podcast as much as you. And that is something that we really pride ourselves on here. I mean, I don't think this is really something to brag about, but like, I will wake up in the middle of the night and check people's podcasts because I want them to be perfect and to go out. Well, you know, but that's the level of care and love that we have for the podcast that we serve. And I think that's really, really key. You want somebody on your team who is. Hold it and understand the value of it and how precious it is to your business and to you as much as you do, and so as you start to interview people, see if there is that connection, see if there is that, if you can tell that there's that level of care and don't be afraid to ask for samples. What are some podcasts they've worked on? Can you hear some samples? Can you see some examples of those kinds of things? But I think for the most part, most editors are going to talk to really know what they're doing. And so it's more about just making sure that you guys click and that they understand what you're trying to achieve with your podcast. And I think that's really, really key. And it's not something that we take lightly. You know, we always say that it's such an honor to help get people's voices out into the world. And we really, really do mean that a hundred percent. There are a couple of things I want you to think about if you're thinking about investment. So I know, like, it can be really hard to offload something this huge to somebody, especially because the amount that it costs with a podcast, you're putting an episode out every week potentially. Right. And that can really add up. And so that can feel that can feel big. Right. And so a couple of things I want you to think about. One is the time that you were going to get back. I think when you first start outsourcing things, you quickly discover that time is like one of the most precious things ever. And so with podcasting, it's kind of the same thing. A lot of the clients that we work with, what they really value is the ability to be able to record and just hand it off to us. That way, they don't have to deal with it because they have so much else going on. I mean, I am the same way. So I have outsourced parts of my podcast and it's been such a huge time saver for me because I was spending so much time. And as you go further into your business, you realize that your time is better spent in certain areas. Right. Or you may have kids like me and your time is just really short and precious and so. You know, really think about how much your time means to you and what you could do with the time back that you spend on post-production for your podcast. And I can guarantee you that if you start to really think about it, it will make a lot of sense for you to hire somebody to help you with the editing and the management of it. The other thing is I really want you to think about investment. So earlier I kind of talked about how there's a really wide range for the price of podcasts services. And it's really important to understand what you're paying for and what you're getting for it. And that's the investment piece that I'm talking about. And so as you start to look at podcasts, editors or agents or podcasts, management agencies like ours, you don't really see what is included and and, you know, understand what goes on in the background. And I think that a lot of times people don't understand the amount of time that we spend on podcast episodes. And I'm saying we like it as an industry. Right. And so really understanding like that investment and why it is important to to pay what it is worth and to make sure that you're getting the services that you want and that you're investing in them. So a really good example of what I'm trying to say is for me, having really good Chernow's is important because I'm going to use them in many, many places. And so that is something that I am willing to invest in. I know that, like for me, editing my podcast probably doesn't take as much time as it does an interview or something like that. And so maybe that's something I don't want to necessarily invest in right now, although I really do. So I'm probably going to offload it pretty soon. So, you know, just really understanding that there is a lot that goes into this. So there's a lot of experience. Our editors listen to an episode in its entirety. And the way that we work is I have an editor and she will work on one person's podcast consistently. So she really gets to know them and their voice and what they like and don't like in their episodes. And that makes a huge difference. And so that right there being is value. Right. The other thing, too, is, you know, it's not just the editing. So even if we are just editing your podcasts, we're also adding intros and outros and adds. We are also listening to the file once it's been exported. We are, you know, moving around files, which takes time. If we're scheduling, we're checking your feed, we're managing the feed. We're making sure that everything looks good. So there's all these other things that kind of add up to the time. And so just kind of keep that in mind as you're thinking about what you're willing to invest in and podcast editor or manager. Here's the thing, a lot of times when people are hesitant to outsource their podcast, one of the things that I've really come to realize is because they know that once they outsource it, they have to commit to doing it. And so this kind of goes back to some of the basic concepts that I talk about. A lot of understanding that podcast is a long game. And that, you know, consistency is key, right, there are some things that are built in that you need to do to make sure that your podcast grows, but also understanding that, you know, what is the goal of your podcast? Why are you having a podcast and making sure that you are honing in on that and so that the value of the podcast goes up? Right. So if you're getting leads and customers from your podcast, the value of that podcast increases. And so keep that in mind as you're thinking about hiring somebody to work on your podcast because they are working on this thing. That is a lead generator for you. Right. Or an email list builder or whatever, whatever the goal is for you and your podcast. And so. There's a lot of value in that, and so remember that when you're thinking about I'm having to pay for somebody to do this thing that I'm not necessarily making money off of. But you are making money off of your podcast if you have the right strategy in place. And so I think this kind of just brings us back to the idea that it's really, really important to have somebody on your team who is on the same page as you. And so if you are a podcast or who is wanting to do a podcast, documentary type thing, look for someone who has expertise in that if you're wanting to do a podcast for your business, look for somebody who has expertise in that because you want to make sure that it doesn't become complacent. Right. You're not just putting out an episode every week that what you're doing has intentionality and is there to help your business grow and your podcast grow, obviously, to help your business grow. And so it's just really important to, again, find somebody who cares about your podcasts as much as you do. And here's the thing. The podcast industry has grown so much, not just the number of podcasts, but also the number of podcasts service providers. And I've met quite a few recently who are amazing and doing amazing things. And so if we are not the right ones for you, there are other people out there who are doing amazing things as well. And so if you feel like you're having trouble finding someone who aligns with you, I just want to encourage you that there are so many out there. And I think the definitions are kind of changing and evolving. And like I said, here I am kind of building my own model of what I want, you know, a podcast agency to look like. And so it's just there's so much opportunity out there and there's so much opportunity to support a business that, you know, you can be proud of that will also help you have a podcast that you feel really, really great about. So if you're thinking about hiring somebody, I would say give it a try. You may be just completely shocked by how good it feels to have that off your plate. And so whatever hang ups or misconceptions are still working through, you know, try and push through them and bring somebody on board to help make your life and your podcast life a whole lot easier. I hope this episode landed with you today and helped you. If there's a misconception or maybe there's some other roadblock that you're hitting in hiring a podcast ed manager, I would love it if you would let me know. You can follow me on Instagram or send me an email hello@wildhomepodcasting.com, because I think it'd be kind of fun to do a series of Igby videos or something talking about these things. I did a series before on the roadblocks to launching, but I think it would be interesting to do one on the road to hiring out. So I would love to get your feedback. And that is it for me today. This was episode forty seven. I am getting close to Episode 50 and then I'm actually going to take a small, tiny break, which I'm very excited about because content creation will get a little exhausting. So I hope you have an amazing day. And if you are interested in podcasts, management services, we actually have openings available at Wild Home Podcast for monthly retainer services and you can just find more information about that at Wild Home Podcast dot com, or you can send me a message directly and I will send you some information. I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you so much for listening to the podcast this day and now has a Wild Home Podcast in dotcom. And be sure to connect with me on Instagram at Wild Home Podcast in the next week.
