IndiePod Manifesto
Indie Podcaster [ˈɪndi ˈpɔdˌkæstɚ]
compound noun
1. An audio creator who independently produces and manages their own podcast, free from major networks or corporations.
Indie Podcaster [ˈɪndi ˈpɔdˌkæstɚ]
compound noun
1. An audio creator who independently produces and manages their own podcast, free from major networks or corporations.
We asked 1,200 indie podcasters what drives them, and what holds them back.
The result is a guide. Ten pillars to follow, or at least be aware of. Follow them, and you'll not just survive - you'll thrive.
1. Embrace the fact that there’s no overnight success in podcasting. This is a fantastic opportunity to personally get to know your early core of listeners.
2. “Playing the long game” doesn’t mean waiting months or years to have fun. Enjoyment can start right away. It’s not about being busy or frantic, so take things at your own pace.
3. The only thing to obsess over is quality. How can you best serve your listeners and deliver value for them in that next episode?
1. Think carefully about your “Why” in the early days. Setting goals and motivations can help guide you, especially when the week-to-week tasks begin to cloud out the big picture.
2. Don’t be afraid to go narrow. If your podcast is “for everyone”, it’s for no one. Even if you think you have a niche, is there another niche within that niche?
3. Enjoyment, fun, and creativity are not at odds with making money. If your enthusiasm and consistency generate a loyal following, you’ll have no shortage of opportunities.
1. Indies deliver quality content consistently by working smart.
2. Outsourcing and prioritisation are key strategies for indies.
3. Indies make decisions that fit their content strategy, budget, and workflow.
4. Indies prioritise finding the most suitable gear and software, not the most expensive.
5. Focusing on fewer tasks can positively impact consistent, long-term quality.
1. Indie podcasters' formats are always evolving and never set in stone.
2. Starting out on a solo basis allows indie podcasters to have full ownership and control of the content, and shine the light fully on their own experience or expertise.
3. Many indie podcasters will eventually branch out from their solo roots to experiment with different perspectives, chemistry, and recording styles.
1. Indie podcasters prioritise conversations with their listeners over delivering sermons.
2. Most indie podcasters want more feedback from their listeners but struggle to receive it, as podcasting as a medium has yet to fully address the issue of providing a clear place for listeners to leave comments and replies.
3. Organisations and movements such as The Podcast Index and the Podcast Standards Project are working to address this feedback issue by advocating for features like cross-app comments.
1. You don’t need to be formally trained in podcasting. You can learn at your own pace, through your own experience, and from trusted free resources out thereon the web.
2. You don’t need to join up with networks, sponsors, or partners to make your show a success. These are all options, but you can make it work without them.
3. Embrace and own your voice, your background, and your perspective. You are truly unique.
1. There’s no “success genre” in podcasting. Don’t opt for a topic purely because you think it will be more popular than another you’re more passionate about.
2. Likewise, your podcast won’t live or die on factors like format and episode length. What enables you to get quality episodes out on a consistent basis?
3. Build relationships with podcasters of different backgrounds who’re podcasting about completely different topics. This is how we learn and grow.
1. Make peace with your doubts and perceived limitations. They are completely natural. Always remember your “Why”.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others. There will always be someone out there with a bigger audience or more experience. You can never be them- but, more importantly - they can never be you.
3. Wear each challenge you overcome as a badge of honour. Look at everything you’ve been through in life sofar, and you’re still here!
1. You might sometimes feel like you’re talking to yourself when you get behind the mic, but remember that someone is always listening. And they’ve deliberately chosen to listen to you.
2. Recording comes with responsibility. This shouldn’t hold you back or subdue your authenticity, but it’s important to remember that words have power. What you say can have a profound impact on someone, for better or for worse.
3. Embrace the privilege of creating such intimate content that’s so widely accessible. Push the boundaries of what’s possible with sound, and keep your listeners wanting more.
1. Ambitions and aims to make money in podcasting are fine, but they can’t be your primary motivation.
2. It takes time to grow an audience, let alone monetise it. Without a compelling “Why” in place, quitting is easy once you don’t see immediate results.
3. If you turn up consistently for the long haul with the same enthusiasm and passion in episode 100 as in episode one, then you’ll have no shortage of monetization opportunities.
Long may your voices ring.