We're lucky enough to bring in some of the brightest stars of the podcasting community to our weekly webinars, and the week we featured Danielle and Madeline from WOC Podcasters was no different! Couldn't make the webinar? No worries, we've rounded up some of their best advice about community building below.
Since podcasting can be a solitary endeavor, surrounding yourself with people with similar interests can make a huge difference in improving the solo experience of podcasting. Building and cultivating a community of like-minded individuals is essential for sharing information, collaborating, and so much more. This is especially true in the case of Women of Color Podcasters. Today, this group of women helps inspire and engage other podcasters around the world. Finding people with the same goals, challenges, and interests as you can make all the difference!
Getting started in podcasting looks different for everybody. Danielle applied for a Women of Color podcasters competition through Spotify with no podcasting experience. When she wasn't accepted, she started a Twitter and Facebook group for other women who applied. After this, she began attending in-person events with members of the community. Madeline joined the WOC Podcasters Facebook group and, with her background in digital design, helped to launch their website. There's no typical way to get started podcasting, and you community may not be th eone you'd initially see yourself in–but that's totally okay! Through the website’s blog, folks submit articles on how they got started and their inspirations surrounding podcasting.
So you want to find a community–but what if you don't live in an area with an active podcasting scene? The internet is there for you! Danielle engages with the WOC Podcasters community through Facebook Live, which allows folks to put a face to her personality. She also recommends making use of hashtags on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When people ask questions in the Women of Color Podcasters Facebook group, it helps to add to the file of resources for new podcasters found on their website.
The old saying about good fences making the best neighbors is doubly true when you're running an online community. If you're running a community, make sure to set clear guidelines and expectations on the members there, and make sure those rules are publicly available. By setting clear guidelines and rules, you will help make your community feel valued and reduce the number of uncomfortable conversations and disagreements.
Emotionally supporting creators and moving conversations forward aren't the only things possible through strong, supportive communities. For example, Relay FM was able to raise over $100,000 for children’s cancer treatment through crowdfunding. She Podcasts was able to fund their Kickstarter twice just by cultivating the community behind their shows. While that might not be the main aim of your community, there are plenty of ways it can help you achieve tangible goals.
If you’re looking for inspiration and resources for getting started and growing in podcasting, be sure to check out the Women of Color Podcasters website and Facebook group! Also feel free to ask questions, as there are tons of folks out there who will be more than happy to help you.