How to Define the “Why” for Your Podcast and Write a Mission Statement
For many of us, when you hear the phrase "mission statement," you probably get the same chill down your neck as the thought of a networking event. But a good mission statement doesn't have to be some stuffy business document--in fact, it shouldn't.
You don't want to gloss over your podcast mission statement, though, because it can serve as a lighthouse when you find yourself lost in the weeds of podcasting. Too many thoughts about how you're supposed to edit audio, market an episode, integrate SEO-writing, and suddenly you're asking yourself, "Why am I doing this again?"
A mission statement can answer that for you and remind you when the going gets tough, just why you're doing this. And during the good times, it helps guide you to better serve your audience. Sold yet? All right, let's craft your mission statement.
✴ Why did you start your podcast?
It's essential to go back and ask yourself why. Not the pull-your-hair-out why running through your head as you deal with audio levels, but the deeper why. The reason you were moved to create a podcast in the first place.
Maybe you wanted to create a space for more women in science. Or perhaps you wanted to explore lesser-known artists and bring them to people's attention. Maybe you just wanted to have a gab sesh with your best friend over politics because it feels like you just needed to get. It. All. Out.
Whatever your reason, think back to that and hold onto it. There are no wrong answers here, so long as you're being truthful. Because there was a reason you felt compelled to make a podcast instead of a blog post.
So ask yourself, why? You might be a great person who only has altruistic values, but I'm guessing that deep down, there is something that this podcast is doing to provide you with something. You are, after all, the very first audience member. So, what was it that made you want to do this?
Related: How to Turn Your Interests Into a Podcast
✴ How are you adding value to the world?
Okay, now think about what you hoped this podcast would do for others. Maybe that's all you really cared about all along. Still, it's necessary to recognize what matters to you so you can help share that with the world at large.
Are you imbuing the world with knowledge about the art scene? Are you bringing attention to cool women in science? Or maybe you're dissecting books for fellow readers?
Answer "what" and then dive deeper and answer "how."
This is a crucial point. The "how" is your mission statement, but you can't get there without the "why" and the "what."
But now that we're here, and the question remains: how are you accomplishing your goal with this podcast?
There are a lot of potential answers to that question, and they'll all depend on the type of podcast you're running, the topics, and your personality. Are you all about finding the truth in things? Are you about embracing differences of thought? Are you all about exploring well-researched history through the facts?
Take some time to really think about your approach. Write down a few ideas. It's okay if this takes you some time. It can feel hard to define until all of a sudden, you write something down that makes it all click. So go ahead, write until you feel that click.
✴ Mix together the why, what, and how
Now that you've taken some time to reflect on all three aspects of your mission statement, you can actually write your podcast's mission statement. Don't worry! This doesn't have to be complicated.
In fact, think of it as something you get to do, not something you have to do. This is your chance to define your podcast clearly in your head, so you never lose sight of it. This is your Grey's Anatomy post-it note. And for those of you who aren't diehard Grey's fans, that means this is the little piece of paper you stick up somewhere you see every day that reminds you of what matters.
Got it? All right, let's try it together.
Let's say your podcast is a book club where you discuss classic literature. Okay, so now let's answer our three questions:
Why did you start this podcast?
What exactly is the podcast covering?
How are you approaching your podcast's topic?
If you're hosting a classic lit book club, then your "why" might simply be because you're a bookworm who wants to share your love of reading with the world.
Number two is similarly easy: it's a book club, maybe with a couple of weekly guests, who dissect the classics. Great!
And finally, the "how," or the approach. Maybe this book club is all about revisiting the classics, yes, but it's about making them approachable and fun. So there's lots of wine, there are dramatic retellings, and there are honest and simple breakdowns of what's going on because you believe all literature should be accessible.
That's sounding awfully like a mission statement. Let's put it all together, and it might look something like this:
Join Pours & Pages for our weekly book club, where we break down a classic story you probably hated from high school. Think A Tale of Two Cities or Jane Eyre. There's lots of wine, a few dramatic retellings, and honest and straightforward discussions. Because we believe all literature should be accessible. It's the English class you wish you had in school.
Well, hey there. That's a pretty good mission statement. Now, you try with your podcast.
✴ Remember the purpose of the podcast mission statement
While you may use the mission statement throughout some of your podcast copy, its primary purpose is for you. The mission statement is your reminder of why you started this crazy journey in the first place, and it's something for you to look back to whenever you begin to doubt yourself.
So be honest as you breakdown your reasons. That's the only way you'll be able to stay true to yourself as you continue through the process. Plus, the more authentic you are, the more your audience will respond. At the end of the day, we all just want to connect with honest people, after all.
So go ahead. Craft that gorgeous mission statement. And then pin up the post-it note by your computer, so it's never too far out of reach.
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