Is Hiring a Podcast Coach Worth It? Here’s How to Decide

Stuck at the ideas stage? 100 episodes in and frustrated at your lack of growth? Been asked to launch a podcast for your employer? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it might be a good idea to hire a podcast coach.

If you’re considering hiring a podcast coach but wonder whether it’s worth it, fear not—the 6Cs Decision Framework will help you make up your mind quickly!

6Cs Sounds a Bit Like “Success”… Doesn’t It!?

The 6Cs Decision Framework sounds fancy and well-thought-out, but it’s really just a collection of subheadings starting with the same letter. However… if you say it aloud and in a specific accent, it can sound a little like “success”.

Now, you’re impressed eh?

No? Well, you’re here now anyway, so let’s get into it. What do you need to consider when weighing the pros and cons of hiring a podcast coach?

Cost

The first consideration is cost. Hiring anyone means parting with some cash, and podcast coaches are no alternative.

You might expect to pay in the high hundreds to low thousands for regular one-on-one coaching or mentorship. This means it’s obviously not for everyone.

Don’t worry; there are more affordable (and free!) alternatives to podcast coaching, and I’ll get to those in the “Compromise” section. But first up, another benefit is…

Clarity

There are some big questions worth asking before you ever hit record. Questions like “Why am I doing this?” “Who is this for?” and “What does success look like to me?”

A podcast coach helps you refine these answers early, ensuring your show is built on solid foundations. This can go a long way towards preventing you from realising something isn’t quite working. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to 6-7 episodes and having to pivot or start all over.

Even if you’re well past the launch stage and looking for a podcast coach to help you take things to the next level, they are someone who can answer all of your questions. This means you never get stuck or confused about what to do next.

Confidence

Impostor syndrome affects all creatives, and podcasters are no different.

Confidence feeds into almost all aspects of podcasting, from getting behind the mic (or camera!) to the assurance that your opinions, questions, or commentary are engaging, relevant, or useful.

It’s no big revelation that there are emotional and psychological benefits to having a mentor. Accountability is a big factor, too—you have more confidence in executing a task when you know you’ve promised someone you’ll do it!

Control

If you run a podcast, there are a hundred different tasks you could be doing at any one time.

From updating your website and posting on social media to sound-treating your room and shopping for a new audio interface, you’ll often default to what feels easiest in the moment. Or, worse still, you’ll get overwhelmed and procrastinate on everything.

However, a podcast coach will set you achievable tasks after each session, which will be structured to keep you moving forward in a logical and sustainable manner.

Whether you’re an aspiring podcaster or an established creator looking to kickstart your growth, this type of structure and the accountability that comes along with it have huge benefits.

Competence

Improvements in technology make podcasting more accessible with every month that passes. But it’s still a “techy” medium.

If you’ve never done it before, recording, editing, and publishing audio or video can feel complicated and intimidating. Even AI tools that can write show notes for you are no use if you’ve never really used AI before.

No matter what tech stands in your way, a podcast coach will show you the ropes in person, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you pick it all up.

Compromise (Podcast Coaching Alternatives)

Alright then, the fifth C is essentially the “why you don’t need a podcast coach” bit.

Of course there are loads of benefits of having a mentor in your corner, but it isn’t essential. The vast majority of podcasters have never worked with a coach, and many of them do just fine.

Unsurprisingly, the big con of hiring a podcast coach is the financial aspect. Many podcasters simply can’t afford it.

Remember though, you can pay in time instead of money. All the knowledge you need to podcast is out there freely on the web; it’s just a matter of finding the good and credible stuff (hint: we try our best).

An alternative to coaching is podcast courses. These still cost money but rarely as much as one-on-one mentorship.

Cheaper still (but no less valuable) are books about podcasting. And you can learn a ton listening to podcasts about podcasting, which won’t cost you a penny.

Then there are free communities, like IndiePod—a great place to get advice, feedback, and motivation and harness collaborations with like-minded creators.

Finally, if you have some podcasting pals, then they might be up for helping you out if you ask nicely enough. You can even offer to help them out. “If you teach me how to edit, I’ll do it for you” could be a trade-off worth proposing.

Should You Hire a Podcast Coach?

So, is podcast coaching a good fit for you? Only you can decide. But hopefully, the 6Cs framework has helped you reach a conclusion. And if not, at least it was a pretty clever acronym and tenuous play-on-words combo, eh?

By the way, if you are looking to hire a podcast coach, then we can help. Get in touch to let us know your exact needs, wants, and ambitions, and we can take it from there!