Podcasts are an excellent way to share your message with potential customers, but they are time-consuming to produce on your own. That’s where a podcast virtual assistant (VA) comes in!
So, what is a podcast virtual assistant and why do you need one?
A podcast VA takes care of all the pesky administrative and technical tasks associated with podcasting for their clients. Whether it’s editing the show, repurposing content, or promoting it, they can help with it all!
Read on to learn more about how a podcast manager can help you take your podcast to the next level while saving you time.
What is a podcast virtual assistant?
A podcasting virtual assistant is someone who helps business owners create, manage, market, and distribute their podcasts. Podcast VAs are also known as podcast marketing assistants, podcast producers, and podcast managers.
Podcast virtual assistants help with tasks that range from simple to more complex. They take care of all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing your podcasts. Some of the tasks include managing guests, editing audio files, transcribing recordings, and posting to social media.
Why do you need a podcast VA?
A podcast virtual assistant can relieve some of the pressure that comes with running a successful show. It’s very easy for podcast hosts to become overwhelmed, especially if they’re just starting and don’t have a lot of time or resources. Having someone who helps with tech-related stuff will free up more time for you to focus on your small business.
In 2021, there were an estimated 120 million podcast listeners in the US. With this growth comes new opportunities. If you want to get ahead of the curve, it’s time to start thinking about hiring help from a podcast manager.
Here are some of the benefits of adding a podcast VA to your team.
· They save you money by taking care of things like scheduling, repurposing content, and other technical aspects of podcasting.
· Virtual assistants help business owners grow their audience by building relationships with influencers, bloggers, brands, and more.
· A podcast manager helps you build credibility with your audience by offering a professional look and feel to your podcast.
· They give you the freedom to focus on what you love most doing most in your business.
· Your podcast episodes will sound better because they know what equipment works best for each guest.
· Podcast assistants help you promote your podcast by helping you increase your reach through social media, email lists, and so much more.
What can you outsource to a podcast virtual assistant?
You can outsource many common technical and administrative tasks to your podcast virtual assistant. They can help with pre- and post-production.
Here are a few examples of podcast virtual assistant services:
Launch
Ready to start a podcast? A podcast VA can help you launch your show. This includes setting up your podcast hosting service, editing episodes, uploading them, researching podcast topics, and more.
Editing
Once you launch your podcast, you will likely find yourself wanting to make edits to episodes. You may want to add an intro, remove irrelevant sections, or get rid of dead air. Maybe you say “um” and “like” too much and want them removed. Your podcast VA can perform these types of edits. They can even send you the final version to review before publishing and promoting it.
Transcripts
A written transcript of each episode is a valuable asset for people who prefer to read your content and individuals with disabilities. It also improves engagement and SEO. Your podcast VA can transcribe episodes and create transcripts for you to use on your website.
Show notes
Show notes allow your listeners to connect with you and learn more about the topics discussed during the episode. Everything mentioned during the show including links to relevant articles and websites can be included in the show notes.
If you’re overwhelmed by writing show notes for each episode, don’t worry! A podcast VA can assist with that too.
Scheduling episodes to hosting site
When launching your podcast, you need to think about how you’re going to host it. There are many different options available from free services such as Anchor to paid platforms including Libsyn. Most podcast virtual assistants offer recommendations on the type of hosting plan that would work best for your podcast.
Your podcast VA will configure your RSS feed and get it approved for distribution. They can also upload and schedule your podcast on hosting sites so listeners can find your show.
Content repurposing
Turning your podcast into other forms of content can help you reach new audiences. A podcast virtual assistant can repurpose podcasts into blog posts, emails, social media quotes, and eBooks.
Promoting your podcast
Many podcast creators have found success using their podcasts to market their business. But it’s easy to get lost in a sea of thousands of podcasts.
Podcast virtual assistant services can promote your show and grow your audience. Your VA can create audiograms, graphics, and social media content. They can also design press kits and pitch you to other podcasts.
Guest sourcing and follow up
Podcast interviews are one of the most effective ways to build relationships with influencers and experts in your niche. However, they take time to plan and record.
A podcast VA can help you find potential guests and provide guest management. They can communicate and follow up with podcast interview guests. They can also research and recommend appropriate interview questions to ask your guest.
Monthly podcast management
If you don’t have time to manage your podcast every month, a podcast virtual assistant will take care of all your technical and administrative tasks. Monthly podcast management includes editing episodes, publishing to your host, creating show notes, marketing, and more. Podcasts managers work with their clients to create a custom package that’s right for their business.
What skills should a podcast virtual assistant have?
The skills a podcast virtual assistant needs will vary depending on their role. Some essential skills include strong communication and organization skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Additionally, a podcast virtual assistant should be comfortable with technology and be willing to learn new things.
Communication skills
It’s important that you feel comfortable communicating with your podcast virtual assistant. As part of your interview process, make sure you discuss preferred methods of contact and response times.
Podcast knowledge
Find out what the potential VA knows about podcast production. This includes how much they know about audio editing, SEO, and podcast promotion. You don’t want to spend money on someone who doesn’t know enough to help you or charges too much for lackluster results.
Editing skills
Having an experienced editor is the difference between a great episode and a mediocre one. Hire someone who can clean up your audio and make suggestions on how to improve the content. Ask to listen to samples of their work if possible.
Podcast promotion skills
It’s important to find someone with strong podcast promotion skills. Find a podcast VA that understands how to leverage social media, email campaigns, and other online advertising.
Critical thinking
Podcast virtual assistants need to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions to problems. They also need to think strategically about how to improve the podcast and make it more successful. This involves identifying trends and coming up with ideas for new content.
Time management
A successful podcast requires a lot of time and effort. Podcast VAs need to be able to manage their time well. This includes being able to work independently, stay on track, and meet deadlines.
Willingness to learn
Technology is constantly changing and evolving. Your podcast VA needs to keep up with those changes. They need to be willing to learn on the fly and adapt as needed.
How much does a podcasting VA cost?
You can find a podcast virtual assistant on UpWork or by searching Google. The cost of a podcast VA will vary depending on their experience, location, and task. Although there is no one-size-fits-all rate, you can expect to pay between $30 – $50 an hour.
When is the best time to hire a podcast virtual assistant?
The simple answer is as soon as possible. Many podcasters find that they can’t keep up with all the work involved in their show and end up losing steam. That’s when it’s time to bring someone on board!
Having an assistant frees up your time and makes your life easier. The sooner you hire someone, the sooner you can focus on what you truly love doing in your business.
Should you hire a virtual assistant for your podcast?
If your podcast is gaining traction and getting more listeners, then the answer is YES!
Hiring a virtual assistant can take your podcast to the next level. They can ease some of the burdens of running your show. You’ll have more free time to do other things in your business.
What are you waiting for?
Book a free discovery call today and find out how I can help you produce your podcast while giving you back time so you can focus on your business.
