Why We Started a Podcast (and You Should Too) – WPCAST010

For our 10th episode, we talk about why we started our podcast, the other podcasts we listen to, and our future plans for this podcast.

The Changelog

• David:
  • Redesigned Fatcat Apps blog, more content marketing
  • Book recommendation: 40 Rules for Internet Business Success (Amazon)
• Doug:
  • Went to WordCamp NYC
  • New design on WPcast.fm
• Thanks Patrick Rauland from Speaking In Bytes for the voicemail
  • In response to episode 8 where Travis asked about WooCommerce reports
  • WooCommerce Google Analytics Integration plugin
  • Smart Reporter for WooCommerce and WP eCommerce plugin
  • KissMetrics
  • Patrick’s blog post has more details

The Core

• Why podcast?
  • Higher friction, thus more ‘unique’ than blogging.
    • WPTavern wouldn’t have written us up if we were yet another blog
  • More intimate relationship with listener than with reader, more trust
  • Personal reasons:
    • Doug: giving back, sharing our knowledge / experience
    • David: get more involved with WP community as a whole, networking / relationships
    • Dan Andrews said that everyone should be podcasting
  • Business reasons:
    • Doug: get podcasting experience and credibility for PodWP, use this site for portfolio
    • Monetization – affiliate links, sponsors, memberships
• Our format
  • We don’t want to be “just another interview podcast”
  • Topics are based on what people are interested in – please make suggestions!
  • We want to give specific actionable tactics, more technical
  • We are going to be talking about our own businesses, not as sales pitches
• Podcasts we listen to
  • Business
    • TropicalMBA
    • Startups for the Rest of Us
    • Think Act Get
    • This Week in Startups
    • Web Agency Podcast
  • WordPress
    • Apply Filters
    • Matt Report
  • Non-business
    • Hardcore History
    • Planet Money
    • Freakonomics Radio
• What’s involved?
  • Cost: $50/episode in editing, plus domain name, website hosting, media hosting
  • Time: around 2 hours per episode each (preparation, recording, posting, promoting)
  • Initial time investment: lots of work (website, iTunes, artwork, recording and editing)
  • Commitment (weekly) – accountable to each other and our editor
• Plans for the future – definitely continuing!

Tips & Tricks

• Doug:
  • Assistant.to for scheduling calls/meetings and adding items to your calendar
  • Another option: ScheduleOnce
• David:
  • Fantastical calendar app for Mac, shows an overview of your schedule in your menu bar