A podcast planning template can save the day in terms of having your podcast project succeed. But it is important to consider its important elements.
Choosing a podcast planning template is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. A podcast planning template is a format that can help you organize the content of your show. Many delivery methods will give your show structure, and it will make sure your content is organized and accessible to all your listeners. Without picking a strong podcast planning template, your show will be messy.
What Is a Podcast Planning Template?
Your podcast planning template will help you have consistency for your listeners. A good format will also enable your listeners to describe your podcast to other people well. Having a podcast planning template will help you accomplish regular tasks, such as carrying out your interviews, editing your episodes, and sourcing people to guest on your podcast. And most importantly, it will help you save more time when you are shaping all your future episodes.
Podcast Planning Template Elements
Here are some things to keep in mind when planning your podcast.
Length
The length of your episode is an element your audience wants to predict. If you follow a podcast planning template, you can keep all your episodes the same length. Whether you plan your podcast to be 30 minutes or two hours, it’s all up to you. If you have a reason to make an exception with your podcast length, it’s totally fine but explain to your listeners why the episode is longer than usual. You may also split a very long episode into two parts.
Three structures
The three-act structure is something many podcasters follow. It’s not only applicable for movies, tv shows, and other types of media. Sticking to a proven and tested narration plan like this will be great for your show.
The first part could be your introduction to your main theme. This is the part where you give your listeners a background for what’s about to happen. For the second part, it could be where you will attempt to deal with the topic. The last part could deal with the climax of your story.
You will experience problems with your podcast’s pacing if you do not follow a good podcast planning template. When you are struggling with pacing, your podcast episodes will sound very chaotic. Following a structure and moving between your points will solve all your pacing issues. This will also ensure that your podcast storytelling will be smooth.
Theme
A theme is more than a topic for your podcast. It could be the general backdrop of your episode or the specific lesson you want to share. When you are planning your episode, make sure to stick to your theme so everything you say won’t be chaotic.
Promotion
The goal of every podcast episode is to inspire your audience to check out your other content. During your episode, you may reference an old podcast. You don’t need to give your listeners too much information. It’s enough to simply mention it. Next, you can also mention your website or blog to increase its traffic. Make sure to give them a legitimate reason to visit your website such as checking out your transcript, or even joining a giveaway. You can also partner with brands to give your listeners a discount code.
Podcast Planning Template Stages
These tips will help you make your podcast planning more efficient.
Outlining stage
To improve your podcast, try outlining the structure of your show first, then editing the phases you are not contented with. Writing is a very creative task, so do not try to think about editing while you are in this phase. When you’re still in your first draft, do not edit as you go. Just revisit your output later on and then assess its merits.
Writing the outline is a very critical stage of your process since this is where you will map out all the parts of your podcast, including your introduction, outro, and format. All these will be the building blocks of your episode. You can save this as your podcast template and just fill it later on when you’re planning future episodes.
Not only will creating an outline make you a better podcaster, but this will also make sure that your show’s structure will work. There are many types of outlining you can follow.
First, you can use any word processor to make a podcast planning template for your show. If you want to take the simple route, simply write a bullet list of all your points.
The second outlining choice is perfect for people who are traditional and prefer writing in pen and paper. You can have a dedicated notebook for planning your podcast template or simply use a sheet of paper. If you want to take the extra mile, you can use index cards and allot each topic for each card. This technique can offer you the benefit of being able to shuffle the deck and experimenting with the order of your podcast.
The third way of writing an outline is to use mind maps. You can sketch this out by hand or get an application to make it more efficient.
Writing stage
When writing your script, use any distraction-free application or method. This means that the interface you should use needs to be stripped down to simply a cursor or a black screen. For complex podcasts, this tip is essential to help you become more focused.
As you write your draft, do it with complete freedom, and do not hold yourself back. This is what the editing process is for. Whatever you don’t like in your first draft, you can delete it another time.
Your first draft should perfectly capture your personality and your big ideas. Editing should not be an issue. This time, simply write.
Editing stage
After your writing stage, you’re still not done. Editing is a step of your podcasting process that you should not forego. During this stage, you need to scratch out all the parts that are not aligned with your topic. You have to look at your podcast rationally if you want to refine it. Editing your podcast is more about mitigating any distractions. Think of it as a subtractive process where you will trim down your raw script and recording to make it compelling.
Podcast Formats You Can Try
Before you start your podcast, you need to pick a category. Here are some formats you can try.
Interview
This is one of the most common podcast formats because it’s one of the easiest to do. All you need for this podcast is an internet connection, a good microphone, and editing software. It features a consistent host and a brand new guest for each podcast episode. These podcasts give your audience a chance to know more about other topics and information, and it’s very successful when the topic is a part of a niche.
The best interview shows have a common thread among the guests. For example, if your podcast is about music, you can interview singers or band members and talk to them about their experiences. If your podcast is about advertising, you can talk to freelance writers or email marketing experts. When it comes to this format, consistency is very important because your audience wants to be introduced to something new each week.
Conversational
Listening to a podcast format like this is like hearing a conversation between two or more people. Conversational podcasts usually have two or more hosts, and each episode could center on one topic, such as a review of a new album. These shows are very easy to listen to and only tend to be an hour long. Listeners usually get hooked by the personality of the hosts and they will feel as if they are connected to them.
Educational
Educational podcasts have two or more hosts. This podcast format is more structured than other podcasts, and each episode will feature a single lesson or takeaway. Listeners are more likely to tune in for hours because it’s a topic they want to know more about. This type of podcast format is a favorite of many people because it makes their downtime more productive. This is important because 67 percent of podcast listeners say podcasts increase their intellectual growth. This content is also great if you want to make evergreen content in whatever field.
Solo cast
Don’t want to have a co-host? No problem! You can try this podcast format which usually features monologues on topics that you are passionate about. This podcast tends to center on your experience, and it could be advice-based. You can also choose to have a guest now and then if you want to increase your audience’s interest.
Stories
Storytelling podcasts report stories from people or events. It could be fiction or non-fiction, and its depth can also vary. My Favorite Murder is one of the most popular podcasts in this category.
You can tell a story through 10 episodes and make it a saga, or finish one story per episode. If your topic is interesting, people will surely finish no matter how long the episode is since around 80 percent of podcast listeners complete an episode. This high engagement rate is something you should take advantage of.
These podcasts are very addictive. However, listeners expect a higher production value, so if you’re still starting, you may experience a learning curve. This is not the type of podcast form where you just press the record button and talk without planning.
Following A Podcast Planning Template Is Essential
Now, it seems like everyone is releasing a podcast, but that does not mean podcasts materialize out of thin air. If you want to stand out, you need to make an effort to plan it through a podcast planning template. We can help you to create or improve your podcast! Submit your project now.
