Is Podcasting a Promising Career?
Have
you ever wondered how the trend of podcasting came into existence? I was
curious too, so I Googled it. Apparently, the credit for this invention goes to
two guys named Adam Curry and Dave Winer; they are known to make the very first
podcast ever, back in 2004. Not long ago making podcasts hardly meant more than
a hobby or a means to express yourself, like art and writing. Now it has gained
commercial value and people are earning good money doing it.
If
you ever considered doing podcasts fulltime to make a living, I’m guessing you
already have a channel and maybe a reasonable fan following. Despite the fact
that podcasts have gained considerable recognition in recent years, the
competition is becoming tougher by the second. There are dozens of amazing
podcasts series out there, and thus bringing something truly original and
exceptional is a challenge. Surprisingly, we have reached the point in time
where job openings for podcasters are available on websites like Indeed,
although they are still scarce.
You
may possess raw talent when it comes to creating podcasts and I assume an
audience appreciated a couple of your masterpieces. Even though that works in
your favor, it does not mean you are ready to make it your sole source of
income. Many people have optimistically quit their 9 to 5 jobs and to pursue
podcasting, but then took a sharp U-turn when they were driven to the verge of
filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Before
you make the life-changing decision of turning podcasting into a fulltime
career, you need to stabilize your finances. Build a savings account that
should cover at least six months of your living expenses. Next, you need to
orchestrate what your podcasts will showcase, and arrange for a backup plan in
case your first instinct backfires. If you previously did podcasts as a part-time gig and earned more from it than your 9 to 5 job salary, there is hope.
Whatever subject or strategy you are implying must be working for you. The
question is ‘will you be able to maintain that for many years to come’? Jokes
that become old lose their humor and stories told over and over again lose
their charm.
The goal is to keep your audience captivated and remember that one amazing podcast
will heighten the expectations for the next. Do you have what it takes to
preserve your prestige in the face of new competition that never ceases? Making
podcasts is an activity that involves a lot of creativity, and creative people
are always full of ideas. A surplus of ideas can become an obstacle if you have a
hard time committing to one concept at a time. If you are a person who has
multiple podcasts in the making and several abandoned projects, all I can say
is Yikes!
In
order to make a career out of podcasting, it is very important to be
consistent. As a professional, you shall be obliged to release weekly content
or follow a schedule. Delay or long gaps will have a negative impact on your
image and your fan base may deteriorate. Moreover, you must be at home with the
content you publish. If your podcasts lack passion or a genuine voice,
listeners will certainly detect the detachedness.
Scoring a podcasting job is certainly a great start as compared to self-publishing. It will provide a great deal of exposure, a steady learning ground, and prepare you for an independent career later in life. As jobs in this field are limited, you need a stunning portfolio to convince employers to hire you. More than often, a person has all the qualifications for becoming a star podcaster, yet lacks the tools. That is where agencies like ‘All Things Comedy’ and ‘At Will Media’ can help you live your dreams, and reach for the stars.
Author Bio
John Adams writes about career development,
mostly in the areas of mass communication, entertainment, and journalism. He
encourages readers to live their dreams but also teaches them to be realistic
and practical. He aims to help individuals overcome the obstacles holding them
back and improve the quality of their lives. John loves to share his insight on
life experiences and contributes to various online platforms in the same
niche.
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