How to Prepare Content Better

The biggest part of making better content is preparing content better. Here are 7 ways to improve your content preparation.

1. ABC: Always be capturing

Whenever and wherever you have an idea, capture it. Don't trust your memory!

It's best if your system allows you to access, add, and edit your ideas from anywhere. This is why so many people like Evernote so much. The system you use doesn't matter as much as your using the system.

2. Focus on the profit

Remember that “profit” doesn't mean “money.” Instead, profit is about the value your podcast brings to your and to your audience.

If your goal is simply to have fun, then have fun and focus on choosing and refining the content that supports that goal.

The same applies for any other profit—whether you're helping or entertaining your audience.

3. Set aside time to prepare

Merely jotting down some ideas in a couple minutes and then podcasting from them only works for highly skilled and experience people. That's why interviews can often be so easy; they allow a guest to speak from their vast skill and experience.

US President Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Regardless of the format for your podcast (even if it's an interview format), the time you use to prepare is an investment in your podcast's success. More time in preparation usually improves your content and your presentation of that content. With better content and presentation, you probably won't need as much production.

4. Collaborate with your cohosts

If you have cohosts, work together on your preparation. Yes, there are times when surprise is an important part of sharing your content with your cohost. Even then, you need to prepare each other and know who has what responsibilities.

Evernote and Google Docs are popular online document-sharing and collaboration tools. Also consider Workflowy, a task-manager (like Asana, Todoist, or Trello), or a communications tool (like Slack).

5. Write show notes before you record

Show notes are one of the most-dreaded tasks for podcasters (next to editing). Instead of seeing your show notes as something you have to do before you can publish, look at your show notes as a way to prepare, organize, refine, and even practice your content.

I don't suggest you read directly from your notes in your presentation, but you can glance at them for cues and reminders.

6. Try scripting

As a form of writing show notes, or as a completely separate practice, it may help for you to script what you want to say. All the great comedians do this because it allows them to perfect the material.

I've scripted a couple of the stories in my clean-comedy podcast before, and I found that those stories was far funnier than when I only prepared by thinking about the story.

The only times I recommend actually reading from the script are when you're really good at not sounding like you're reading, you have something you must communicate verbatim, or you're recording video with a teleprompter.

7. Rehearse

Practice all or parts of your content, especially the transitions and important points. This form of rehearsal will certainly help your presentation go more smoothly. Plus, because you are the content creator, rehearsing helps you find what changes you may need to make and content you should add or remove.