Before starting a podcast making sure that you have goals is one of the best ways to ensure your podcast will succeed. When I started a podcast, I created a short goal statement for my podcasting by writing about the topics I would include in my show and what kind of people I want to attract. You can set goals for yourself, your podcast topic or even your episodes if you’ve been going for a while and need to refocus.
Here’s an example of a goal statement I use for each new season of Wanna Be:
The Wanna Be podcast is created for women of colour who want to break into creative and entertainment in the UK or internationally. The goal is to give women hope, reassurance, strategies on building their network, increasing their exposure/visibility, inspiration and advice through a series of interviews with high-profile creative professionals who have broken into creative fields.Â
It’s not perfect, and some might argue it’s trying to do too much. But I’m an overachiever, so doing a lot is my goal. This statement has evolved and adapted over the years. If you’ve listened to Wanna Be, you’ll instantly hear how the above statement has been translated into the episodes. Check out this episode with Elaine Welteroth, for example.
Create your own goal statement
What’s your podcast goal? Are you seeking subscribers, interviews, reviews, or something else? Whatever it is, put pen to paper and write it down. Writing your goals ensures that they are clear in your own mind and clearly understood by others (which could be a big step towards achieving them).
Setting a goal for podcasting will allow you to focus on what you or your podcast will become. This gives your podcast a clear direction and allows followers to understand better what your message is. The following steps will show you how to set up a goal statement.
Here are some examples of podcast goal statement templates that you can use as a starting point:
- My name is _____ and this is my podcast, _____. Our goal is to help you overcome ______ through unbiased, researched information. Each week I’ll/we’ll _____ [e.g. take on a new topic, share personal stories] to connect with you, offer ideas to solve _____
- My podcast is for people who feel ______. I want to ______ [e.g. inspire] and ______[e.g. educate] listeners about ______. I’m especially passionate to help _________ with this content.
- The goal of this podcast is to _____ [e.g. motivate]Â Â _____ [your target audience] to share their stories without worrying about _________ [insert your target audience’s fears or worries].
Write down what you’d like your podcast to help you accomplishÂ
Where will your podcast take you? While you’re planning out your podcast, it’s smart to look ahead. Are you trying to leave your job and become a full-time podcaster eventually? Maybe you want to do this to promote the business that comes before your podcast. Either way, all of these scenarios call for different goals and different purposes for starting a podcast in the first place. Write them down! This is an important part of the planning process. If you write them down (and stick them on the wall or to your recording desk), you’re less likely to abandon your podcast. I speak from experience here — planning out your goals is a must if you want to stay consistent.
Knowing these details will help you create your podcast episodes and decide what your content should be. If you can’t come up with these types of details ahead of time, writing them down as you answer the following questions will help clarify your podcasting goals.
Takeaway:
Having realistic podcast goals will help you succeed long term, so be specific. Think about your own needs, do your research, and list some priorities to create goals that you can realistically achieve within the next year. Also, you might find it helps to set some monthly goals to keep yourself accountable.Â
Take action: Using one of the examples above, create a podcast goal statement. Read it out loud and edit as needed until you’re happy. Tweet it and tag @ContentisQn so we can feedback and reshare it.
