Crush Your Podcast Goals this Year!

So you want to start a podcast. Great! Before you begin dreaming about what kind of show you want, format, and style. Ask yourself this crucial question first- what are my podcast goals? 

Both newbie podcasters and seasoned podcasters alike should create podcast goals. Start with your podcast why. Understand the mission and vision of your podcast. A good why will outweigh all the why nots, and it will guide and direct your goal setting. It will also help you to be motivated on difficult days. 

"Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." - Proverbs 29:18

As a Kingdom-minded podcasters, we need to have vision, and the vision for our podcast may will look different from the world. 

To crush our goals, we need to spend some time praying and in the word. I love thinking through my one-word and scripture for the year. I've been praying about my one word for 2022, and I've narrowed it down to three. 

Do you choose a “Word of the Year” or participate in the One Little Word project?

I have been doing this for several years. In 2021 my word was Dream,  Spark in 2020, Advocate in 2019, Presence in 2018, and in Contentment 2017.

This year I've put a lot of thoughtful prayer into my word. I've looked at definitions and scripture, prayed, and sought the Lord. I've narrowed it down to these three words.

Wisdom, Alignment, and Faithful

The definition of wisdom is knowing what is true or correct coupled with just judgment. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Be careful then how you live not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil."

Alignment is defined as a potential statement of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, and nations with a common cause or viewpoint. Psalm 16:3 says, "Commit your works to the Lord and, your plans will be established."

The definition of faithful is true to one's promises. Proverbs 31:26- she opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. As a Podcaster, I don't want to speak into the air; I want my words to be filled with meaning and purpose to edify, build up, be life-giving, and be God-honoring.

My prayer is for wisdom and to be strategically aligned in building the Kingdom of God and faithfully walking out my calling with perseverance! With have the privilege of sharing the gospel and message of hope to make a global impact!  

Here are a few other goals you may have for your podcast.

Build Brand Awareness 

This concept has to do with how familiar people are with what you do. People invest in people or brands they know, like, and trust. Specific ways you can build brand awareness with your podcast are to be authentic, have a unique voice, and create memorable tag lines that encompass your mission, vision, and purpose. 

Showcase Your Expertise

Do you have a unique set of skills that you can teach others? Sharing your expertise on a podcast is a great way to provide value to potential clients and customers. Think about what sets your podcast apart from your competitors. Do you have a unique angle? You may share the same information others share, but how can you share it uniquely? 

Thought Leadership

As a thought leader, you have the opportunity to influence and to shape and mold the beliefs and behaviors of others. #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Brendan Burchard shares how to gain influence in his book High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way. "To gain influence with others, (1) teach them how to think about themselves, others, and the world; (2) challenge them to develop their character, connections, and contributions; and (3) role model the values you wish to see them embody. 

Lead Generation & Sales

You can use a podcast to generate leads for your business or create sales by directing your listeners to join your email list, products, or services. Podcasts are a critical marketing tool because of their popularity and the ability to create a podcast around a specific topic. 

Build Community

Podcasts are a very personal medium where you can build a community around an idea and create a movement. 

Begin with the End in Mind

Other goals may have to do with increasing listenership, growth, creating or expanding a marketing strategy, or monetizing your show. 

Begin by praying and seeking God for wisdom about what you should focus on. Then begin brainstorming ideas about what finishing this year well would look like for you, your podcast, and your business. Then work backward to create a plan. 

Do you want to reach a certain number of downloads?

Do you want to book a dream guest?

Do you want to generate sales?

Whatever your podcast goals are, you can use the S.M.A.R.T method to make incredible podcast goals. 

Create S.M.A.R.T Podcast Goals 

Specific- Make your goals specific. Instead of saying I want to grow the size of my audience, say I want X number of downloads by the end of the year, or I want to monetize my show. Instead, say I want to earn X amount of dollars a month on my podcast. 

Measurable - Determine how you will measure success in achieving your goals. Track your progress. Accountability is key. If you want to grow your podcast, you need to chart your stats to measure growth and to see what is working and what is not working. 

Attainable - Is your goal realistic? Create goals that are both reasonable and attainable. I may want to make a million dollars podcasting, but is that actually attainable?

Relevant - What goals make sense for your niche? Do your plans fit your audience, your content, and your niche?

Time-bound - Failing to plan is planning to fail. Create deadlines for yourself. This helps you to create actionable steps to meet your goals. I don't know about you, but I need a deadline, and I work well under the pressure of a deadline. 

Grab your copy of the Spark Media Planner and start creating your plan!

Break your big, bold, audacious goals into smaller goals that follow the S.M.A.R.T. process. Make sure you schedule time on your calendar to work on your goals. We should do this yearly, quarterly, monthly, and weekly. Review your progress often and make adjustments as needed. Review your goals each day and track your progress if you struggle with achieving your goals. Use productivity apps to keep you focused. 

Eliminate distractions to create deep work that will serve your audience well. Turn on your do not disturb, or make office hours to keep distractions at a minimum. Time block and batch create podcast episodes, graphics, copy, and promotions for workflow continuity.

What would make the most impact on your goal if you achieved them? What steps can you take this year to crush your goals? Focus on how you can move the needle forward today. Daily steps in the right direction keep us on track and take us where we want to go. 

Thank you for joining us on the Spark Media blog today. For more Christian podcasting resources join our Spark Collective Membership community today!