Sam Laliberte is the Host and Producer of the Freedom Lifestyle podcast - a show that is empowering the movement and entrepreneurial shift towards flexible work. Sam has been working remotely and traveling the world as a Digital Nomad for the last two years and throughout her journey, created "Launch a Podcast on a Budget". She has been running this workshop for aspiring podcasters in Toronto and also offering it online.
We interviewed Sam in this latest blog post to uncover some of the podcasting tips you can expect from her course.
A: I launched my podcast in November of 2017 and for the last year I have been helping aspiring podcasters online and in Toronto launch shows of their own!
A: No topic is too niche – seriously! There are podcasts about EVERYTHING. Find a topic that’s going to keep you engaged as the key to success with podcasting is consistency and sticking with it.
What are the topics you want to learn more about? What do you love talking about or sharing? What’s something unique you could bring to a podcast listening experience? These are the questions I would start with and then follow up with some market research to know what other shows exist on this topic. For a few more tips, you can check out TalkShoe’s recent blog post on this subject!
A: Personally, I like to mix it up and create different types of content! While the majority of my episodes are interview style, I’ve also recorded solo ones that focus on my own story and insights. What’s great about having guests on your show is that you’re always offering your listeners a new perspective and can diversify your content more. When it comes to recording solo episodes though, the responsibility falls on you to create compelling content each time.
Q: Do you need professional recording equipment in order to record a podcast?A: I like to refer to podcasting equipment as the “core four” needed to produce a show. You’ll need: a mic, editing software, a hosting provider and distribution channels.
Most of these you can get for free - like through TalkShoe’s all-in-one podcasting platform - but the one thing I always recommend is a professional microphone to capture quality audio.
The type of microphone you need will depend primarily on whether you’ll have guests on your show (versus a solo podcast) and if so, whether you’ll interview them in person or remotely.
For in-person interviews, it’s important that you find a bi-directional microphone (records audio from both ends of the mic) so you can place it in between you and your guest(s). I personally use and recommend the Yeti ($150). It comes with a built-in stand and has a USB cable for connecting directly to your laptop.
If you’ll be doing a solo podcast or plan to conduct your interviews virtually, then you can get away with a slightly cheaper option. In this case I would recommend the Snowball (~$70).
A: There’s no black or white answer here as it’s going to depend on the type of episode you’re creating and for whom. For example, interview episodes that cover someone’s story and various pieces of advice tend to be longer than a solo episode which might be focused on simply one topic. If you try making all of your episodes the same length you might find yourself having to cut out great parts of your conversations to save time or adding in lower quality content to fill it.
Q: What is the best way to increase exposure of my podcast?A: Lean on your guests! Make it super easy for your interviewees or special co-hosts to promote the episodes they’re on by giving them all the promotional material ahead of time. Let them know when the episode will be going live and follow up that morning so that they feel like part of its release.
Don’t assume your guests will share the episode just because they’re on it - unfortunately not everyone will! By making the process simple for them and actually asking them to share, they’re much more likely to. This is a great way to tap into diverse audiences and attract new, loyal listeners.
A: I’m saving that one for the workshop! You’ll have to join us in Toronto on Nov 26 or online at launchapodcastonabudget.com.
Come check it out!
Want to learn more tips and tricks from podcast expert Sam Laliberte? You’re in luck! On November 26th she is hosting a ‘Launch a Podcast on a Budget’ workshop in downtown Toronto! You do not want to miss this. Click here to register and use code “talkshoe” to save 20%!
