Thread by @DrDotun

1/ One of the best long-term business decision I made last year was to start Building the Future Podcast - bit.ly/btfstarta. Gave me significant ROI for all the effort, money and emotion I invested into it.
Here is a *long* thread on why I’m doing it, and how you can too

2/ Building the future podcast multiplied the reach and quality of my network. It created a perfect excuse for me to have deep conversations with very busy smart individuals, who otherwise would have found it difficult to sit with me for that length of time outside the show.

3/ Podcasting created an inherent virality in my business networking. Each podcast guest often introduces me to other smart people like themselves, enabling a super cool virtuous cycle.

4/ It has enabled me to exchange significant monetary value based on the relationships that were developed on the back of the podcast

5/ I believe a lot of learning is done via conversation and the acute ability to ask good questions. Podcasting enables me to hone that skill.

6/ I enjoyed the conversations I’ve had with my guests on varying topics, from business models, raising capital, learning from failures to serious conversations on how to run a national government. The value of those conversations to me is priceless

7/ Also, from a self-gratification point of view, having a podcast is a cheap way for me to have a legacy that my great grandchildren can brag about. For they can listen to my voice and know how I sounded like even if I’m not a screen actor or a recording musician.

8/ If you are thinking of starting something worthwhile in 2019, consider a podcast. The barrier of entry is low and the ROI is high if you are consistent, unique and you can get over the embarrassment of listening to your own voice.

9/ To start a show you need to have 5 major things;
first - you need to have a point of view. A unique angle. Without this, you are just another voice on a mic.

10/ You need to be sure about the story or argument you want to make. It doesn’t matter if you know a lot about the subject or not. What matters is that you care enough to explore the issues and you are passionate to talk about it

11/ second, you need to decide how you want to share the story and make the argument. Interviews? Conversations? Monologue? Documentary? Drama? Combo? Live events? There are a number of ways you can run your podcast. It's your show, don’t be boxed into what is ‘normal’.

12/ third, invest in good equipment. They don't have to be expensive, but recording on your mobile phone or inbuilt PC microphones will get you nowhere. You don’t need an expensive hardware to start a podcast, you just need the most important ones, and know how to use them.

13/ Essential hardware you need are microphones and recorder. For entry/mid-level try ATR 2100, Samson Q2U. High/pro try Rode podcaster, Shure SM7b. Also get a good recorder if you can. I use Zoom H5. Thanks to @mohinii_u for pointing me in the right direction in the early days

14/ Other hardware you’ll need include
* Headphones
* Mic stands
* Pop filters
* External hard drive
* SD cards (lots)
* Storage bag w/ lots of compartment

15/ For software, you’ll need
* Recording - Quicktime player, Audacity, Garageband, Adobe Audition
* Editing - Audacity, Garageband, Adobe Audition
* Interviewing - Skype (w/ eCamm), Zoom, Google Hangout
* Files Storage - Dropbox, Box, Google Drive

16/ Fourth, you need to decide where you’ll publish your podcast. To publish on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify, you can only do so via 3rd-party publishing platform to PUSH your podcast - you can’t just load into iTunes.

17/ There are quite a number 3rd-party publishing and hosting platforms
* Libsyn
* Iono.fm
* Soundcloud
* Buzzsprout
* Megaphone
* Backtrack
* Zencast.fm
And many more. Decide the one you want based on your budget and unique preference.

18/ Lastly, you need to build an audience. There is no point having a podcast if no one is listening to you. Building an audience is the most important aspect of this project. For me, I had a huge newsletter subscriber audience before I started my show. It helps.

19/ But the most important thing about podcasting - like any form of content marketing - is this. You’ve got to be consistent.
Consistency is more important than quality.

20/ Your audience will forgive you even if you are average, but you are consistently delivering value. It shows you care. Its better than being an erratic genius.

21/ The way I addressed this is to record more than 20 episodes before I launched. It gave me a long runway to produce the show on a weekly basis despite my busy schedule and gruelling travel itineraries. You don’t have to do as much as I did, but find a way to be consistent.

22/ I'll like to see more African-focussed podcasts. I will like to see individuals, businesses and even governmental organisations telling their stories through this medium. If you need any help on this …holla at me. But I’ll charge for the consultation. By the hour.😀

Meanwhile, you should subscribe to Building the Future Podcast on
Itunes - bit.ly/btfitunes pxlme.me/lblpm-CA
Stitcher - bit.ly/btfstitcher
Starta blog - bit.ly/btfstarta
Soundcloud - pxlme.me/hlOgercU
Spotify - pxlme.me/zOZ5IeAS