Podcast Producers: Who Are They and Why Do You Need One?

Did you know the growth rate of podcast popularity holds at a steady 10 to 20% year-over-year? It’s no wonder why so many smart entrepreneurs and business owners are turning to podcasts in their marketing efforts.

This intimate format resonates with your audience while offering an immense amount of value. Hosts who bring on guests also build their personal network and gain access to new audiences.

However, creating high-quality podcasts isn’t as simple as plugging in a mic and talking. There is an immense amount of planning, preparation, and promotion that goes into a successful podcast. Because of the work involved, many enlist the help of a Podcast Producer to strategize and manage the intricacies of production.

What is a Podcast Producer?

Professional Podcast Producers manage, record, edit and transmit podcasts for clients. Although some podcasters are also including vodcasts (video podcasts), most Podcast Producers focus specifically on the planning, sound quality, and conversation of an audio-only file.

Ultimately, the Producer’s goal is to take on the responsibility of technical and administrative details for getting the show launched. Most podcasts are small teams, so producers often wear a variety of hats to ensure the show goes off without a hitch. If you have a budget and want to deliver the highest quality podcast possible, you’ll want a Podcast Producer on your team.

Do I Need a Podcast Producer?

Should everyone want to hire a podcast producer? Absolutely. However, you may not be quite ready to take this leap. Whether you truly need one depends on your goals and resources. There are three main issues to consider:

1. Your Podcast’s Style. What message are you trying to send through your podcast quality? Are you ok with a more laid-back vibe? Then you may not need to hire a producer. However, if you want to be perceived as polished then a professionally produced podcast is your best option.

2. Your Availability. Researching guests lists, scheduling interviews, editing the podcast, syndicating it and promoting the show drains time and energy. If you’re pressed for either, you need to bring a producer onto your team.

3. Your Technical Skills. There are a variety and tools and systems in place to help you produce the best show possible. Most of the time, it’s not feasible for busy hosts to learn the intricacies of technical production.

Key Responsibilities of Producers

The behind-the-scenes of podcast production has many gears turning. Producers are constantly working to plan, direct and tweak the show for optimal performance.

Producers often work on all (or some) of these tasks:

1. Guest research - We use tools to help you find podcast guests who will deliver value, offer engaging conversation and open the door to a wider audience.

2. Guest booking and scheduling - It’s not enough to know who you want to interview, you need to get them to agree to it. We make that happen.

3. Editorial ideas for your podcast - With a background in traditional production, we know how to think in an overarching series of episodes. This makes for a much more strategic approach.

4. Series production - We’ll set the stage with sound effects, notes about the guest, and help create a comfortable environment from the first episode to the final cut.

5. Post-production, mixdown, and music - Once it’s recorded, we polish the audio and get it ready for publishing. This requires technical know-how and will save you from lots of work.

6. Podcast graphics - Cover art makes you stand out from the crowd and appear professional. Producers employ expert designers to create art that communicates your brand.

7. Posting to Soundcloud - We use Soundcloud as the initial platform for publication. From here, we can syndicate and promote the episode.

8. Syndication to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, and PRX - More channels means access to a larger audience. We syndicate your content to multiple platforms for greatest reach.

9. Promotion - Once it’s live, the work doesn’t end. Now it’s time to plan social media, emails, and follow-ups with guests to request they promote the episode too.

As you can see, launching a successful podcast takes a lot of planning and collaboration for your team. Hiring a Podcast Producer streamlines some of these takes, while taking a lot of pressure off you as the host. It’s your job to cultivate intelligent, engaging conversation. Let a producer worry about everything else.