When it comes to podcast management there are many challenges. There are several elements to running a podcast, such as how to record, edit, publish, and market your podcast. However, with limited time and resources, it can be challenging to manage your podcast without outside help. That is why you might have to hire a podcast manager to help you.
In this article, we look at the pros and cons of hiring a podcast manager. We also look at the different types of podcast manager you could hire for your brand and what their advantages and disadvantages are.
Why You Should Hire a Podcast Manager
There are several reasons why you might consider hiring a podcast manager for your podcast. These include the following:
Improved Quality
Utilizing the experience and expertise of the podcast manager, you can improve the quality of the episodes you release. From better editing to higher quality social media to promote your podcast, the output will look more professional. As a result, you’ll attract a larger, more relevant audience to your podcast.
It can also help you with awards and attracting sponsors. The more professional your episodes, the more accolades you’ll collect and this will be reflected in your reviews.
Reduced Costs
A professional podcast manager will be looking after several shows, so will be able to spread the costs of software and equipment over several clients, making it cheaper for you.
In addition, the hourly rate for the podcast manager might be less than it would be for you to do the work. For example, if your hourly rate is $60 per hour, and the podcast manager is $30 per hour, you’re cutting costs by about 50%.
Reduced costs mean that it takes less to profit from your podcast, and you can earn more profit from your sponsors.
Rely on Experience
If you’re not used to producing a podcast, then you’re going to be at a disadvantage. There are numerous mistakes made by newcomers to podcasting. For instance, you might not have a schedule to get content published on time or make basic marketing mistakes.
When it comes to a podcast manager, they’ve been through it all before. So, they know the potential common mistakes and can help you to avoid them with ease. They’ll also be able to work within a budget and help you build a better process for getting content published for audiences.
Free Up Your Time
Your time is the most precious resource you have. You might think that doing all the work yourself can save you money, but it doesn’t save you hours. You can easily lose 10-15 hours a week on your podcast, and if you have other work, it’s going to mean that the work isn’t done or you’re working longer hours.
And with more time to complete your other work, it allows you to focus more and not feel rushed.
Easy Management
There might be many people involved in the production of your podcast. You have those looking for guests, working with sponsors, editing, recording, equipment experts, and marketing. Some of these might be the same person, but you could easily have three or four people working on different elements of your podcast.
Managing these people yourself can be very challenging. A podcast manager allows you to have a single point of contact. You relay what tasks you need to have done. Then they can organize the team as required to complete the task. And you don’t have to worry about chasing numerous people up, you just have one person to talk to.
The Right Setup
A good podcast manager will have experience with what equipment can help you produce the best equipment. At Produce Your Podcast, a sound engineer will help you set up your equipment. A diagnostics session will test your current setup, as well as your internet connection. The engineer will then recommend the best equipment, upgrades, or new equipment you need.
The team can also order your equipment for you and track the equipment to your office.
Once the equipment has arrived, you will have a second session to check that your equipment is set up correctly.
The Disadvantages of Hiring a Podcast Manager
There are also some disadvantages to hiring a podcast manager. These include:
Loss of Control
It might be that you lose control of some elements of your podcast. This is more true when working with a podcast manager who doesn’t work closely with their clients. However, there might be times when you want something done that isn’t possible.
And control is sometimes lost if you’re not engaging with your podcast manager significantly. For instance, you should have regular discussions about the marketing plan, upcoming episodes, and more. If you don’t have these, the podcast manager might have deliverables to provide, but no direction.
If you hire a podcast manager, ensure that you’re working with them. Set up regular meetings and make sure everything is agreed upon.
Another loss of control you might have is who is working on your podcast. For example, you might hire the podcast manager, but they hire the editor and social media marketer. You might not have any control over that, but you need to trust in the person you’re hiring to do their job.
Loss of Priority
When you’re looking to make your podcast a vital part of your brand, it can be hard to hand over the reins of your podcast to another company that might have several different podcasts on its list. Therefore, you might not feel your podcast is as important to them as it is to you.
However, it is critical to remember that your success is their success. And most podcast managers have a great passion for the work. It is more likely that your podcast’s marketing and editing will demonstrate more energy and passion than if you’re assigning it to a team in your own company who don’t have the experience or the drive to produce a podcast.
The Different Types of Podcast Managers You Could Hire
There are different types of podcast managers you could hire. Here are some of the options available to you.
Employee (Part-Time/Full-Time)
You might want to hire someone in your company to manage the podcast for you. Some large brands certainly have this as a position within their organization. And it can work.
However, there are some disadvantages to this plan.
One is the cost. You’re going to be paying out more for an employee than some of the other options here. You’ll have to pay their wages, employment tax, insurance, equipment, find space for them to work in, and other benefits. The costs can add up considerably.
Then there is the structure. It is likely the podcast manager won’t be the marketing manager, though they might be. So the podcast manager might be reporting to the marketing manager and not to you. It could cause some confusion.
Another problem is the potential failure rate of an employee. About one in two hires fail. Therefore, you might end up with a podcast manager during a production run which could cause you to lose steam and your reputation. And this disruption can be hard to overcome.
And while you might hire someone who doesn’t leave, that doesn’t mean you have the best talent. The best talent tends to be hired by agencies or run their small businesses because there are so many advantages to them.
You might also not get so much wider knowledge. When working with an agency, you can collect the experience and talents of numerous individuals. And this can lead to the formation of many great ideas.
Another disadvantage might be that when you’re hiring a podcast manager they might not have all the skills required. They might lack editing skills or marketing skills. Therefore, you either need to hire more people or outsource these roles through your podcast manager.
However, there are some advantages. Employees are completely focused on your podcast, not distracted by other brands. And you have complete control of the equipment, software, and formats.
Freelancer
Freelancers are a typical way that some smaller brands get their podcasts running.
Freelancers are a great way because they can be relatively cost-effective. They often have lower rates than employees or agencies and are often people who’ve worked with podcasts for a long time.
Using freelancers also means that you’re only going to pay for the hours that they put into your podcast and at your budget levels.
You can find freelancers on numerous sites including Fiverr and UpWork. You can see other projects they’ve run, look at client testimonials, and even have payment systems that are transparent and protect you.
You can also use the freelancer to manage the entire process, hiring tasks to subcontractors if necessary.
As costs are lower, you might be able to invest more into your ad budgets or into other production elements to improve the quality and quantity of your episodes. You might also be able to use the additional budget to help you improve your equipment.
There are some disadvantages to freelancers. For one, they will have their own schedules and it can be hard to align schedules for meetings and production processes at the beginning. However, with some effort, this can be easily overcome.
Another disadvantage is their commitment. As they will have numerous clients, they won’t be instantly available to discuss something if you have a good idea. Or if there is something that needs to be done urgently.
Therefore, some opportunities might be missed.
And the skills of the freelancer might not be as up-to-date as you would get with an agency. They might have learned their skills five years or more and things have moved on. With agencies and employers, there is always a drive to keep up to date with the latest trends.
But this isn’t the case with all freelancers. Some continuously improve their skills and can be great assets to your business.
Podcast Production Agency
A podcast production agency, such as Produce Your Podcast, is an excellent choice because you get the benefits of the freelancer and the employee without any of the corresponding negatives.
A team at an agency will have all the latest knowledge and skills to get you the best quality for your podcast. They will also have the equipment and software costs managed so you’re paying a minimal amount.
A good agency will also have a dedicated team member who will be a point of contact.
Anything you need or want can go through them and they will see that the schedule runs smoothly and on time.
While the costs can be slightly higher than with a freelancer, their network and knowledge can help you attract better sponsorship deals that will earn you more in revenue, more than enough to cover the additional costs.
Plus, you’re going to have a team with a diverse set of ideas that can help you build your business’ brand in podcasting. They will have experiences with your niche and also have ideas that have worked with other clients.
FAQs
Is a podcast production company expensive?
Compared to an employee, the costs of a podcast production company are relatively cost-effective. And the benefits can more than pay back the investment you make.
Can you mix the different podcast manager solutions?
Yes, you could have an in-house podcast manager who works with a podcast production company.
Could I manage a podcast myself?
Yes, you might be able to manage a podcast yourself. However, those new to podcasting often don’t have the skills or knowledge to ensure high-quality content is produced regularly.
Final Word: Should you Hire a Podcast Manager to Run Your Podcast?
Should you hire a podcast manager? There are endless benefits to ensuring your podcast is effectively run by a professional. However, you will need to ensure that the right person is in control of your podcast. Otherwise, your show might not reach your intended audience or at a cost that allows you to earn profit from it.
Produce Your Podcast is a full-service podcast production, editing, and marketing agency specializing in helping brands launch, grow, and monetize successful podcasts that impact their bottom line. With 30+ years of experience in broadcasting and business development brought to every project we work on, our team of experts is a reliable partner to help you achieve your goals with your show.
Click here to schedule a conversation with our team today and let’s bring your show to life!
