​Hey Reader! 👋​

Let me introduce you to a system for podcasting that works. It’s one that I'm sure will help you no matter where you are in your podcasting journey, whether you're just starting out or are 100 episodes in.

It’s called SCEME and it's an acronym for;

• Start small
• Consistency
• Evaluate
• Make changes
• Evolve

Think of each of these as a phase to work through that will get the flywheel of your podcast turning. It’s a cyclical process that doesn’t end and keeps you moving from one phase to the next.

To begin with start small. This is straightforward enough. All habit building advice says if you want something to stick then it has to be achievable. That doesn’t mean scaling back your ambitions but rather means thinking about the minimum version of the change you’re making or the show you’re starting.

Let’s say you want to start a podcast. Start with a five minute episode where you share a fundamental belief you hold in your work. Start here before doing ten hour-long interviews.

The second phase is about achieving consistency. I’ll consistently repeat this point whenever possible.

Consistency isn’t just releasing an episode on the same day each week. It’s found in all the processes that you go through to make your podcast from planning, recording, marketing, and growing. By having a consistent, systematised approach to each of these stages you’re reducing any friction in making each episode.

After the first five minute episode, try another. Then another. Then a ten minute episode. Generate momentum.

Thirdly, evaluate. It’s time to take a step back and see what’s working and what isn’t. If you have data, review it. If you’ve got feedback, listen to it. Aim to understand what’s working and what isn’t because it leads into the next phase.

Combining data and feedback will allow you to make changes that will have an impact on the direction of your podcast. It’s no use jumping from one idea to the next. That’s akin to starting from a new zero each and every time. To move forward change needs to happen.

Perhaps your analytics are telling you that the five minute episodes are more popular than the subsequent ten minute episodes. Maybe longer episodes have a higher retention. Are listeners skipping over the prerecorded intro? Change accordingly.

Finally, evolve. You’ve started small, been consistent, evaluated your work, and made changes. Your podcast is now evolving. You followed the data and feedback to consistently create episodes that are well received by your listeners.

Now, you can repeat the SCEME cycle at any time to bring about any new changes you want to make in the future.

Just remember to start small.