As you may recall from a previous email, I've been consuming all things podcasting and have been loving it! Podcast management is a much-needed service and I’ve realized how much I enjoy the aspects of being a podcast manager.
Being a virtual assistant to online educators means I get experience in many different areas: social media, blogs, landing pages, project management systems, scheduling platforms, graphic design, and the list goes on. All of these pieces are used in podcast management. When I started my business I wasn’t sure what niche I wanted to get into so I started out as a general virtual assistant and I’m glad I did. So many times I heard and read, “You have to niche your services.”, “The riches are in the niches.” I do believe that this is true but starting out, you just need experience. You need to see what entrepreneurs need help with so you can see which tasks you like and which ones you don’t and then you can niche.
I was introduced to some parts of podcast management while working with a client and it piqued my interest. I enjoyed doing guest management and podcast graphics. In August, I onboarded my first podcast launch and management client. I was super nervous about taking on this step as previously, I took on pieces of the management. Now, it’s all on me. How do you launch a podcast? What information do I need to get? Who does what? All the questions.
After I got myself together, lol, I dug in. I wanted to make this process as easy as I possibly could for my client as well as make sure her podcast is amazing! 🤩 So I invested in an awesome course to ensure I could provide the best service possible for her. This will also set me up for success when onboarding future clients.
The main points of what I’ve learned in the last month are:
Solid Communication is key!
A Project Management System is very necessary.
Your Time Management must be on point.
Editing has to be done, right?
I knew there were many moving parts in managing a podcast but I had no idea what it really was. There were so many moments where I had to stop my course because I was so overwhelmed with all the information (great information but a lot of it). Here’s my breakdown of these main points:
Solid Communication
Good communication is important in every client relationship. During the launch of a podcast especially, you have to make sure the lines of communication are open. There are a lot of logins needed, questions regarding strategy, who is going to do what, etc. Most of these things can be done on the discovery call but sometimes it may require a second call to get things done, especially for the logins and verification codes.
Project Management System
Listen, if I didn’t have a project management system to house the launch and management project and all the intricate pieces that need to be done, I would be a disorganized mess. I started using Asana a couple of months ago and I love it. I use it to brain-dump any and everything that needs to be done for the project as well as important links or SOPs. You can add a due date to your tasks so you don’t have to think about when something needs to be done. As you grow your team, you can onboard them and assign tasks to them. It’s the hub for my business and I feel so much more organized with it. With all the tasks that come along with launching a podcast and managing it, Asana makes it easy to stay on track.
Time Management
Time management is a valuable skill for virtual assistants and it's vital for podcast launches and management also. It’s important to be able to prioritize your tasks and have an idea of how long they will take, after all, you want to give your client a realistic timeline and you want to make sure tasks don’t slip through the cracks. (Another example of how great Asana is 😉) Setting clear goals and establishing a structured schedule will help both my clients and I optimize our time and be more productive.
Editing
Editing! I've had a fear of editing since I started my virtual assistance journey. I always thought it required a separate skill set and was just downright hard. But after my first month as a podcast manager, I've learned that so far, it's not that bad. I've learned a new platform to help with editing and it has been a game changer!
All in all, I’m loving podcast management! It’s definitely a different perspective from being a virtual assistant. There are challenges that come along with it as with any new adventure but they get easier with time. And the tech available to help make this easier for all involved is awesome! So if you’re thinking about starting a podcast, go for it! It’s absolutely worth it!
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