PodCraft | How to Make & Run a Great Podcast

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience A montage episode is a piece of audio content, made up of clips from different contributors.A tried and tested way of creating one is to build the episode around a single topic or question. Each participant records their answer to the question, and sends over their audio to the creator.You can collect clips from anyone from the general public, to your podcast listeners. In this particular instance, we want to create one with fellow podcasters in our niche. Type: Big StrategyTime Required: Around 3 months, from planning to publishing Podcast Level: About 10 episodes, or at the end of a seasonFirstly, you need to decide on a topic for your episode. Choose something that's going to be interesting and useful to the audiences of all involved. Some examples of montage episodes could includeAn episode of a travel podcast, where contributors talk about their favourite holiday destinationAn episode of a sound design podcast, where contributors talk about their favourite audio production softwareAn episode of a health podcast, where contributors talk about their morning routinesYou may be asking a single question, but it's a good idea to have some prompts alongside it.Imagine the hypothetical travel podcast creates a montage episode titled “The World's Best Holiday Destinations”, and one of the clips is someone simply saying “Jamaica”. That would be a pretty dull and pointless episode.When asking for contributions, you might expand on the question “what is your favourite holiday destination?” with any of the following;Why did you choose to go there?What's your favourite memory of the place?What's something that surprised you about it?What's your top tip for someone planning to go there in the future?This will help give yourself the best possible chance of gathering great, insightful content.Decide too, if you'd like to put an approximate time guide on answers. Between 3-5 minutes is always a good sweet spot. But don't be too strict with this, or you'll discourage folks from participating.You'll want to set a deadline for getting the clips back, so you can begin production. Lay out specific instructions in an easy-to-skim manner. These are things likeWhen you need the clip sent over byWhere or how to send itAny file format or naming preferences Once you have the clips together, assemble them in a good running order. You can then script your own parts in the episode - the intro and outro, as well as any commentary you'd like to add in between clips. When you've published a montage episode, be sure to reach out to everyone involved and ask them to share it with their own listeners. Everyone's podcast can grow with this strategy, on top of it being great content for the collective audience. Everyone wins! Task List: Identify the podcasts you'd like to collaborate withCome up with a useful and interesting episode topicReach out to them with your proposalSell the benefits to them - this can help grow their reach!Lay out your specific instructionsGather in audio clipsRecord and intro and outro, and any commentary Mix episode togetherPublish Share with all involved - ask them to share it tooCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast AudienceSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Nope, it’s not a new breakfast cereal. It’s a journalism and/or marketing strategy. The name comes from vox populi, or voice of the people. It’s a way of sketching out public opinion at a particular place and time. By asking a lot of different people the same question, you can get a lot of perspective on a bit of truth. This is also often used for comic effect by Jimmy Kimmel, and parodied by A Bit of Fry and Laurie. If you watch television, you have seen vox pops. Type: Short TaskTime Required: A hour to record, an hour to editPodcast Level: 5-10 episodesHow to Do ItCome up with a good episode topic, and one or maybe two related questions. Put together a remote recording rig which you can carry easily, such as a hand-held digital recorder and a pair of headphones. Go to a place with good foot traffic, but not so crowded that you’ll have to shout to be heard. Think about places where your podcast topic would be relevant. If your podcast is about fly fishing, try the parking lot of a fishing spot, or partner with a bait and tackle shop. If your podcast is about quilting, check out a fabric shop. Bring some of your podcast business cards with you so you can easily share details of where to find the show. Participants do have to give you permission to record them. But you don’t have to fill out a contract, just keep a recording of them saying “yes, you have my permission to record me.”If you see people who look like they might be interested, ask if they’d be up for participating in an interview for a podcast. Be aware that people might not be, and that has nothing to do with you: they might be on their way to work, headed home, or simply wanting privacy. Some people will want to participate. Keep it light, keep it quick, and give them a card so they can listen later. Task List: Come up with a good episode topic, and one or maybe two related questions. Practice working with your remote recording rig, and saving the sound files. Get some business cards with your show information on them. Take your recording rig to a local spot with a reasonable amount of foot traffic. Bring a friend. Ask people if they’d be interested in participating in an interview for a podcast.Tell them about your podcast and offer them a card right away. That way, even if they say no, they’ve heard of your podcast. After you record them, thank them. Remind them that they’ll be able to hear themselves on your podcast, and they should tell their friends. Also MentionedThe Best Podcast Digital Recorders on the MarketShure SM58 MicSamson Q2U MicZoom PodTrak P4 Podcast RecorderCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Nope, it's not a new breakfast cereal. It's a journalism and/or marketing strategy. The name comes from vox populi, or voice of the people. It's a way of sketching out public opinion at a particular place and time. By asking a lot of different people the same question, you can get a lot of perspective on a bit of truth. This is also often used for comic effect by Jimmy Kimmel, and parodied by A Bit of Fry and Laurie. If you watch television, you have seen vox pops. Type: Short TaskTime Required: A hour to record, an hour to editPodcast Level: 5-10 episodesHow to Do ItCome up with a good episode topic, and one or maybe two related questions.  Put together a remote recording rig which you can carry easily, such as a hand-held digital recorder and a pair of headphones. Go to a place with good foot traffic, but not so crowded that you'll have to shout to be heard. Think about places where your podcast topic would be relevant. If your podcast is about fly fishing, try the parking lot of a fishing spot, or partner with a bait and tackle shop. If your podcast is about quilting, check out a fabric shop. Bring some of your podcast business cards with you so you can easily share details of where to find the show. Participants do have to give you permission to record them. But you don't have to fill out a contract, just keep a recording of them saying “yes, you have my permission to record me.”If you see people who look like they might be interested, ask if they'd be up for participating in an interview for a podcast. Be aware that people might not be, and that has nothing to do with you: they might be on their way to work, headed home, or simply wanting privacy. Some people will want to participate. Keep it light, keep it quick, and give them a card so they can listen later. Task List: Come up with a good episode topic, and one or maybe two related questions.  Practice working with your remote recording rig, and saving the sound files.  Get some business cards with your show information on them. Take your recording rig to a local spot with a reasonable amount of foot traffic. Bring a friend. Ask people if they'd be interested in participating in an interview for a podcast.Tell them about your podcast and offer them a card right away. That way, even if they say no, they've heard of your podcast. After you record them, thank them. Remind them that they'll be able to hear themselves on your podcast, and they should tell their friends. Also MentionedThe Best Podcast Digital Recorders on the MarketShure SM58 MicSamson Q2U MicZoom PodTrak P4 Podcast RecorderCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Despite the many hundreds of ways listeners can consume podcasts these days, Apple Podcasts/iTunes is still comfortably the biggest platform in the world. Over 60% of podcast listening happens there. We know from our own data that when listeners want to find new content to listen to, around 40% of them take to searching their podcast listening app first. Looking at those two stats, it isn't hard to conclude that if you were listed by Apple as a “featured” podcast, you'd likely pick up a few new listeners.  In fact, we know this ourselves first hand. In August 2017, one of our shows – Hostile Worlds – was featured on the front page of iTunes and Apple Podcasts. We'll link to the article where we break down our listening numbers from that period in the Further Reading section. Type: Big taskTime Required: Months of planning - 10 minutes to submit your podcastPodcast Level: 4 episodes or moreHow to Do ItIt's important to stress that there's no way to guarantee getting featured there. You need to show Apple you'll be publishing content that they reckon is feature-worthy. It's also important to stress that said episode is not yet published. Apple will consider featuring a podcast on their front page if it's something topical or noteworthy. For example, if a show is going to have a famous guest on their show. This person must be widely famous – “someone your mum has heard of” – and not just “niche famous”. This might be an author or musician with a new book or album. Apple sells these products, so they like to help market them.A famous guest could also be a sports star ahead of a big final, or an actor around the time of a movie premier. It doesn't need to be due to a guest though. It might be because your episode will focus on a major event or news story. That was the case with Hostile Worlds, and the Cassini Mission to Saturn.Apple Submission FormYou'll find the Apple submission form at thepodcasthost.com/appleformThey're looking for at least 2 weeks lead time here, prior to the publishing of your noteworthy episode. They'd also like to know how you're going to promote and market this episode on their platform. This might include things like linking to your show in Apple on your episode post, and tagging them in social media posts around the episode. Task List: Plan an episode that Apple may be interested in featuringFill out the submission form at least 2 weeks prior to the episode going liveLet Apple know how you'll be promoting and marketing the episode on their platformFurther Reading: Apple Submission FormPodcast Discovery StatsHow Many Downloads Did We Get on the Front Page of iTunes/Apple Podcasts?Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Despite the many hundreds of ways listeners can consume podcasts these days, Apple Podcasts/iTunes is still comfortably the biggest platform in the world. Over 60% of podcast listening happens there. We know from our own data that when listeners want to find new content to listen to, around 40% of them take to searching their podcast listening app first. Looking at those two stats, it isn’t hard to conclude that if you were listed by Apple as a “featured” podcast, you’d likely pick up a few new listeners. In fact, we know this ourselves first hand. In August 2017, one of our shows – Hostile Worlds – was featured on the front page of iTunes and Apple Podcasts. We’ll link to the article where we break down our listening numbers from that period in the Further Reading section. Type: Big taskTime Required: Months of planning - 10 minutes to submit your podcastPodcast Level: 4 episodes or moreHow to Do ItIt’s important to stress that there’s no way to guarantee getting featured there. You need to show Apple you’ll be publishing content that they reckon is feature-worthy. It’s also important to stress that said episode is not yet published. Apple will consider featuring a podcast on their front page if it’s something topical or noteworthy. For example, if a show is going to have a famous guest on their show. This person must be widely famous – “someone your mum has heard of” – and not just “niche famous”. This might be an author or musician with a new book or album. Apple sells these products, so they like to help market them.A famous guest could also be a sports star ahead of a big final, or an actor around the time of a movie premier. It doesn’t need to be due to a guest though. It might be because your episode will focus on a major event or news story. That was the case with Hostile Worlds, and the Cassini Mission to Saturn.Apple Submission FormYou’ll find the Apple submission form at thepodcasthost.com/appleformThey’re looking for at least 2 weeks lead time here, prior to the publishing of your noteworthy episode. They’d also like to know how you’re going to promote and market this episode on their platform. This might include things like linking to your show in Apple on your episode post, and tagging them in social media posts around the episode. Task List: Plan an episode that Apple may be interested in featuringFill out the submission form at least 2 weeks prior to the episode going liveLet Apple know how you’ll be promoting and marketing the episode on their platformFurther Reading: Apple Submission FormPodcast Discovery StatsHow Many Downloads Did We Get on the Front Page of iTunes/Apple Podcasts?Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Podcast-themed beer mats or coasters! This is a “helpful” way of distributing your podcast logo or branding around pubs and bars in your area. A little cardboard coaster is a useful thing in these places. They help keep the table dry, and some folks even collect them. If your design is intriguing enough, a person resting their glass on one may pull out their phone and subscribe to your podcast there and then. Type: Ongoing taskTime Required: One month from design through to creation and delivery. Ongoing strategy to distribute. Podcast Level: At any timeThe starting point is your coaster design. What are you going to put on there to catch people’s eye? Your podcast logo can be a good choice here, just like with stickers or magnets. But, unlike those, you have a bit more time with the person looking at your coaster. They’re also up close to it, so it doesn’t need to work in an at-a-glance sort of way. I actually recommend getting yourself 2-4 different designs. A typical bar or pub table sits 4 people, so you can leave 4 different coasters which could even spark some discussion amongst the folks who sit there next. Could you create one using a quote from a podcast review? Or, from yourself or an interview guest on the show? You can use humour or intrigue to make the person looking at it want to find out more. As always, it comes down to your own brand and tone, as well as your target audience. You should always have your podcast’s name on each coaster. Get your URL on there too. Make sure the people who want to find out more, actually can. Cardboard coasters are relatively cheap to have made. Many online printing services offer this service, and you’ll generally pick up bundles of 100 to 250 with each design. Next comes the distribution. I use this guerrilla marketing tactic myself; I’ll shove a stack of them in my jacket pocket if I’m heading on a day out somewhere. Each time I’m in a pub, I’ll stick coasters under all of our glasses at the table. When we leave, other folks will sit there, and who knows? One might even go on to become the show’s biggest fan. You can also harness the power of your listeners by running a competition. Ask them to take a picture of their drinks proudly sitting on your coasters when they’re out somewhere. You can run a hashtag for this so everyone can see each other’s pictures, too. This is a fun way to market your podcast, because you never know who’s going to sit down and start studying your “ad” next. Also, it’s a great excuse to get some friends together and go for a drink one weekend! Task List: Have 2-4 different types of coaster design made. Use your logo, but also consider things like quotes from reviews or from the show itself. Remember to have the podcast name, or even a URL on them. Each time you’re going to be in a cafe, pub, or bar, take some with you. Put them under the glasses or cups on your table as you drink. When you leave, leave them for the next people who’ll sit there. Consider running listener competitions to see how many bars around the world you can get photos of your coasters “in action”. Further Reading: thepodcasthost.com/guerrillaCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Podcast-themed beer mats or coasters! This is a “helpful” way of distributing your podcast logo or branding around pubs and bars in your area. A little cardboard coaster is a useful thing in these places. They help keep the table dry, and some folks even collect them. If your design is intriguing enough, a person resting their glass on one may pull out their phone and subscribe to your podcast there and then. Type: Ongoing taskTime Required: One month from design through to creation and delivery. Ongoing strategy to distribute. Podcast Level: At any timeThe starting point is your coaster design. What are you going to put on there to catch people's eye? Your podcast logo can be a good choice here, just like with stickers or magnets. But, unlike those, you have a bit more time with the person looking at your coaster. They're also up close to it, so it doesn't need to work in an at-a-glance sort of way.  I actually recommend getting yourself 2-4 different designs. A typical bar or pub table sits 4 people, so you can leave 4 different coasters which could even spark some discussion amongst the folks who sit there next. Could you create one using a quote from a podcast review? Or, from yourself or an interview guest on the show? You can use humour or intrigue to make the person looking at it want to find out more. As always, it comes down to your own brand and tone, as well as your target audience. You should always have your podcast's name on each coaster. Get your URL on there too. Make sure the people who want to find out more, actually can. Cardboard coasters are relatively cheap to have made. Many online printing services offer this service, and you'll generally pick up bundles of 100 to 250 with each design. Next comes the distribution. I use this guerrilla marketing tactic myself; I'll shove a stack of them in my jacket pocket if I'm heading on a day out somewhere. Each time I'm in a pub, I'll stick coasters under all of our glasses at the table. When we leave, other folks will sit there, and who knows? One might even go on to become the show's biggest fan. You can also harness the power of your listeners by running a competition. Ask them to take a picture of their drinks proudly sitting on your coasters when they're out somewhere. You can run a hashtag for this so everyone can see each other's pictures, too. This is a fun way to market your podcast, because you never know who's going to sit down and start studying your “ad” next. Also, it's a great excuse to get some friends together and go for a drink one weekend! Task List: Have 2-4 different types of coaster design made. Use your logo, but also consider things like quotes from reviews or from the show itself. Remember to have the podcast name, or even a URL on them. Each time you're going to be in a cafe, pub, or bar, take some with you. Put them under the glasses or cups on your table as you drink. When you leave, leave them for the next people who'll sit there. Consider running listener competitions to see how many bars around the world you can get photos of your coasters “in action”. Further Reading: thepodcasthost.com/guerrillaCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience When you’ve published a decent amount of episodes, you might consider re-writing your scripts and notes from each one into an ebook. You can give this away as an incentive to people who contribute to you through a fundraising campaign, or as a reward for signing up for your mailing list. You can even publish it and offer it for sale through Amazon’s self-publishing channels. It’s a good way to encapsulate your information, while also rewarding your audience for their commitment. Type: Big StrategyTime Required: One month to plan, compile, re-write, and publishPodcast Level: At least ten episodesSo, you have a basic script of talking points for each episode (or, better yet, you have transcripts). You have your show notes, and you also have any blog posts or visual aids. You also have an audience that’s interested in your show’s topic. For each episode, put together any notes or talking points you used, your transcript if you have one, any visual aids that you might have posted on your website or Instagram, and your show notes and blog post for the episode. Look at this information as a whole. What’s the cohesive narrative? What did you learn about your podcast’s topic, as you went through the process of making this podcast? What have you learned about it from your audience and your guests? This is a good time for you to encapsulate what you’ve learned so far, and what you can share with others. Edit this information into one cohesive document. A reasonable ebook usually runs about 7,000 to 10,000 words. As long as you’re covering the most important points in your information, explaining them clearly, and giving your audience value, length doesn’t matter. It’s always a good idea to have someone unbiased and skilled proofread your document before sending it anywhere. You can find someone who does book editing services on Fiverr, or trade services with a friend. A good designer can make sure your ebook is pleasing to the eye and enjoyable to read. If you prefer the DIY route, you can make a pretty good book cover in Canva. You can save this as one PDF, and give it to your supporters directly. This makes a great gift for the people who have supported you, as well as a good enticement for a new audience. You can also publish it through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. This lets you set the price, earn royalties, and publish in either digital or paperback. Task List: Organize your show notes, scripts/talking points, transcripts, visual aids, and blog posts for each episode. Take note of what you’ve learned through this process. Write a book, using the information you’ve compiled. Get an unbiased, skilled editor to proofread and edit your book. Have a designer make sure your fonts and layout look good, and design a quality cover. Share this book with your supporters. Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience When you've published a decent amount of episodes, you might consider re-writing your scripts and notes from each one into an ebook. You can give this away as an incentive to people who contribute to you through a fundraising campaign, or as a reward for signing up for your mailing list. You can even publish it and offer it for sale through Amazon's self-publishing channels.  It's a good way to encapsulate your information, while also rewarding your audience for their commitment. Type: Big StrategyTime Required: One month to plan, compile, re-write, and publishPodcast Level: At least ten episodesSo, you have a basic script of talking points for each episode (or, better yet, you have transcripts). You have your show notes, and you also have any blog posts or visual aids. You also have an audience that's interested in your show's topic. For each episode, put together any notes or talking points you used, your transcript if you have one, any visual aids that you might have posted on your website or Instagram, and your show notes and blog post for the episode. Look at this information as a whole. What's the cohesive narrative? What did you learn about your podcast's topic, as you went through the process of making this podcast? What have you learned about it from your audience and your guests? This is a good time for you to encapsulate what you've learned so far, and what you can share with others. Edit this information into one cohesive document. A reasonable ebook usually runs about 7,000 to 10,000 words. As long as you're covering the most important points in your information, explaining them clearly, and giving your audience value, length doesn't matter. It's always a good idea to have someone unbiased and skilled proofread your document before sending it anywhere. You can find someone who does book editing services on Fiverr, or trade services with a friend. A good designer can make sure your ebook is pleasing to the eye and enjoyable to read. If you prefer the DIY route, you can make a pretty good book cover in Canva. You can save this as one PDF, and give it to your supporters directly. This makes a great gift for the people who have supported you, as well as a good enticement for a new audience. You can also publish it through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. This lets you set the price, earn royalties, and publish in either digital or paperback. Task List: Organize your show notes, scripts/talking points, transcripts, visual aids, and blog posts for each episode.  Take note of what you've learned through this process. Write a book, using the information you've compiled. Get an unbiased, skilled editor to proofread and edit your book. Have a designer make sure your fonts and layout look good, and design a quality cover. Share this book with your supporters. Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Overcast is one of the most popular podcast listening apps in the world today. And with good reason – it's a superb app, packed with useful features.Overcast is built for podcast listeners. But, they also provide the tools for podcasters to advertise their shows in the app. These ads appear as unobtrusive little banners, which the app’s users see at the bottom of their screen. On these banner ads, you’ll see a podcast’s name, cover art, and a little snippet description tempting the listener to click it. With Overcast ads, 100% of the folks that you reach are podcast listeners. That's why they're looking at Overcast when they see your ad. They're likely either listening to a podcast, or about to hit play on one.This means they're literally one click away from browsing your podcast inside their chosen listening app. And one more click away from hitting Play or Subscribe.There's no education needed here. There's no “what is a podcast?”, no “find us at…”. It's simply down to the snippet you write when you create your ad. The ads are unobtrusive, yet clearly visible to the user. Costs vary on topic, and on-demand, but you can usually start advertising on Overcast from around $300.Type: Short TaskTime Required: 15 minutes to set up. Runs for 1 month. Podcast Level: 3 episodes or more.You need to sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Overcast is an iOS-only listening app, but anyone can sign up for an account on their computer.Once you're in, go to overcast.fm/ads where you'll see the full details. This includes info on current pricing and estimated reach.As you'll see, ads are broken out into different categories. Naturally, the cost is higher for the more popular ones. You can see how many slots are available, and which ones are currently sold out. If it's one of the sold out ones you're after, you can ask to be notified when they become available.Once you select a category, you'll click through to a page where you can customise your snippet. You’ll want to write a sentence or two that acts as a ‘hook’, to be displayed alongside the podcast name and cover art. If you leave this blank, Overcast will use the start of the description in your feed. It’s much better to write something in there that doesn’t cut off. Try adding “Click here to get started”, if you have the room. Then, you can preview your ad, before reviewing your purchase, and making the payment. It's really simple.Task List: Sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Select your targeted podcast category.Customise your snippet.Preview your ad.Complete your purchase.Further Reading: Promoting Your Podcast on OvercastCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Overcast is one of the most popular podcast listening apps in the world today. And with good reason – it's a superb app, packed with useful features.Overcast is built for podcast listeners. But, they also provide the tools for podcasters to advertise their shows in the app. These ads appear as unobtrusive little banners, which the app's users see at the bottom of their screen. On these banner ads, you'll see a podcast's name, cover art, and a little snippet description tempting the listener to click it. With Overcast ads, 100% of the folks that you reach are podcast listeners. That's why they're looking at Overcast when they see your ad. They're likely either listening to a podcast, or about to hit play on one.This means they're literally one click away from browsing your podcast inside their chosen listening app. And one more click away from hitting Play or Subscribe.There's no education needed here. There's no “what is a podcast?”, no “find us at…”. It's simply down to the snippet you write when you create your ad. The ads are unobtrusive, yet clearly visible to the user. Costs vary on topic, and on-demand, but you can usually start advertising on Overcast from around $300.Type: Short TaskTime Required: 15 minutes to set up. Runs for 1 month. Podcast Level: 3 episodes or more.You need to sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Overcast is an iOS-only listening app, but anyone can sign up for an account on their computer.Once you're in, go to overcast.fm/ads where you'll see the full details. This includes info on current pricing and estimated reach.As you'll see, ads are broken out into different categories. Naturally, the cost is higher for the more popular ones. You can see how many slots are available, and which ones are currently sold out. If it's one of the sold out ones you're after, you can ask to be notified when they become available.Once you select a category, you'll click through to a page where you can customise your snippet. You'll want to write a sentence or two that acts as a ‘hook', to be displayed alongside the podcast name and cover art. If you leave this blank, Overcast will use the start of the description in your feed. It's much better to write something in there that doesn't cut off. Try adding “Click here to get started”, if you have the room. Then, you can preview your ad, before reviewing your purchase, and making the payment. It's really simple.Task List: Sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Select your targeted podcast category.Customise your snippet.Preview your ad.Complete your purchase.Further Reading: Promoting Your Podcast on OvercastCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Audiograms combine images, text, and audio to create a social media post. they are as memorable and attention-grabbing as video, without being as time-consuming or data-heavy. WNYC created an open-source code to accomplish this means of podcast promotion, and there are other options available to you now, too. Type: Short TaskTime Required: One hourPodcast Level: From the beginning The open-source code that WNYC created was intended to be a free resource for podcasters to use to promote their work. It’s great, but it can be confusing for people who don’t know how to code. Fortunately, Headliner has created an app which guides you through the process. The free version lets you make a certain number of audiograms per month. Depending on the social media platform for which you intend to make your audiogram, the size constraints vary. However, you can use the same content with different aspect ratios or time limits for different platforms. Figure out what section of your podcast you want to highlight. Much like quote images, an audiogram is a sample of a moment from your podcast. In this case, instead of a line or two of text, you’re using a few seconds to a few minutes of audio. Decide on the art you want to use. For consistency, you probably want to use your podcast logo. However, you can certainly use whatever art you want, as long as it fits with Headliner’s size requirements. Including closed-captioning is a wise choice. Many people browse social media with the sound turned off, and don’t turn the sound on unless they’re curious about a particular post. If you include closed-captioning (well done: you make your post more accessible), go through and edit it for accuracy. Headliner’s mobile app honestly makes it easy for you to promote your show from your phone. You could do this while you’re waiting for a coffee order or sitting in a park Task List: Go to Headliner’s website and sign up for a free account. Use the Audiogram Wizard and type in your podcast’s name or RSS feed.Select the portion of your podcast episode that you want to share.Follow the Audiogram Wizard instructions to create your audiogram. If you use closed-captions, proofread and edit them for accuracy. Check the audiogram to make sure it’s just right. Download a copy for your archives. Post the audiogram to social media. Make sure that the post includes a link to your podcast website. Encourage your followers to share the post. thepodcasthost.com/audiograms - How to Make and Use Audiogramsthepodcasthost.com/publishtoyoutube - Publishing Your Podcast on YouTubeNext season we are running some Q&A episodes - submit your questions here!Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Audiograms combine images, text, and audio to create a social media post. they are as memorable and attention-grabbing as video, without being as time-consuming or data-heavy. WNYC created an open-source code to accomplish this means of podcast promotion, and there are other options available to you now, too. Type: Short TaskTime Required: One hourPodcast Level: From the beginning The open-source code that WNYC created was intended to be a free resource for podcasters to use to promote their work. It's great, but it can be confusing for people who don't know how to code. Fortunately, Headliner has created an app which guides you through the process. The free version lets you make a certain number of audiograms per month. Depending on the social media platform for which you intend to make your audiogram, the size constraints vary. However, you can use the same content with different aspect ratios or time limits for different platforms. Figure out what section of your podcast you want to highlight. Much like quote images, an audiogram is a sample of a moment from your podcast. In this case, instead of a line or two of text, you're using a few seconds to a few minutes of audio. Decide on the art you want to use. For consistency, you probably want to use your podcast logo. However, you can certainly use whatever art you want, as long as it fits with Headliner's size requirements. Including closed-captioning is a wise choice. Many people browse social media with the sound turned off, and don't turn the sound on unless they're curious about a particular post. If you include closed-captioning (well done: you make your post more accessible), go through and edit it for accuracy. Headliner's mobile app honestly makes it easy for you to promote your show from your phone. You could do this while you're waiting for a coffee order or sitting in a park Task List: Go to Headliner's website and sign up for a free account. Use the Audiogram Wizard and type in your podcast's name or RSS feed.Select the portion of your podcast episode that you want to share.Follow the Audiogram Wizard instructions to create your audiogram. If you use closed-captions, proofread and edit them for accuracy. Check the audiogram to make sure it's just right. Download a copy for your archives. Post the audiogram to social media. Make sure that the post includes a link to your podcast website. Encourage your followers to share the post. thepodcasthost.com/audiograms - How to Make and Use Audiogramsthepodcasthost.com/publishtoyoutube - Publishing Your Podcast on YouTubeNext season we are running some Q&A episodes - submit your questions here!Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show

Podcasting news has been hard to keep up with this past year or so. Each week seems to bring a new development in the Apple Vs Spotify saga, a new "must use" tool or platform on the market, or a company buying another company for multiple zillions. In this episode, we have a chat about what all of this actually means for the average podcaster. It can be hard to keep up with all of this stuff, after all. You can start to think that if you're not totally on the ball with all of this, your podcast is going to vanish into the ether whilst everyone else moves on without you. But the same principles apply in podcasting as they did 15 years ago. Know why you're doing it, know who you want to reach, and show up on a consistent basis for your listeners. Resources MentionedAlitu - The Podcast MakerHow to Sell Podcast EpisodesHow to Create a Private Podcast FeedPodcast Industry StatsPodland PodcastDeep Questions PodcastSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Podcasting news has been hard to keep up with this past year or so. Each week seems to bring a new development in the Apple Vs Spotify saga, a new "must use" tool or platform on the market, or a company buying another company for multiple zillions. In this episode, we have a chat about what all of this actually means for the average podcaster. It can be hard to keep up with all of this stuff, after all. You can start to think that if you're not totally on the ball with all of this, your podcast is going to vanish into the ether whilst everyone else moves on without you. But the same principles apply in podcasting as they did 15 years ago. Know why you're doing it, know who you want to reach, and show up on a consistent basis for your listeners. Resources MentionedAlitu - The Podcast MakerHow to Sell Podcast EpisodesHow to Create a Private Podcast FeedPodcast Industry StatsPodland PodcastDeep Questions PodcastSupport the show

In this episode of Podcraft, Matthew and Colin talk about podcasting and parenting. They discuss the joys of being a new dad, from early morning buggy walks, to "having a good moan" about one's kids. Brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker and The Podcast Host PlannerParents always think they're organized and resilient. The same's true for podcasters. Kids are unpredictable, and podcasting can be the same way. The key takeaway from this discussion about podcasting and parenting is to be honest with your audience. Colin recommends that new parents who make podcasts should plan ahead, but stay flexible, and be kind to themselves during this time. They discussed episode release schedules, such as podcasting in seasons, as opposed to publishing episodes at random intervals. Colin recommends lining up some episodes in advance of your child's arrival, then publishing each over time. For parents who can't leave their child unattended, don't try to multi-task. It's better to do one thing well, instead of multitasking a few things, poorly. Don't Wish It AwayThis is a big milestone in one's life. It's worth not trying to do too much for your podcast. When babies are unpredictable and need a lot of care, there's a tendency to, as Matthew says, "wish things forward until the dust settles." Colin adds that parents should try to enjoy the early days while they can. In 13 years or so, your kids will want to do their own thing. You'll have plenty of time for podcasting then. As a dad to two kids, Colin says, "the first year, especially the first three months, are hell." Plus, every kid is different. This isn't a good life stage for the results-oriented. But, he adds, the first six months are when babies sleep the most. Use this to your advantage: grab time for sleep and/or work when you can.  Colin adds that when babies are six to twelve months old, since they're more mobile, they need more supervision. They're more likely to grab things, like mixing board sliders. This is the age to child-proof your recording gear. Be realistic about your plans. Think of this time as maintenance mode. Again, communicate clearly and positively with your audience. It's not going to kill your show if you miss an episode.Work sessions with shorter periods of time can force you to really focus. Be accepting of the work that you can get done in a shorter amount of time. Colin says, “a task will always expand to fill the time allowed.”  If you only have forty-five minutes while the baby's out for a walk or napping, you can't procrastinate, overthink, or be too much of a perfectionist.Rethink your show's format. How can you bring value in less time, while still being yourself and making the same kind of show?  For example, instead of hour-long interview episodes, can you make fifteen-minute episodes of productive tips? Support the show (https://pod.academy)

In this episode of Podcraft, Matthew and Colin talk about podcasting and parenting. They discuss the joys of being a new dad, from early morning buggy walks, to "having a good moan" about one's kids. Brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker and The Podcast Host PlannerParents always think they're organized and resilient. The same's true for podcasters. Kids are unpredictable, and podcasting can be the same way. The key takeaway from this discussion about podcasting and parenting is to be honest with your audience. Colin recommends that new parents who make podcasts should plan ahead, but stay flexible, and be kind to themselves during this time. They discussed episode release schedules, such as podcasting in seasons, as opposed to publishing episodes at random intervals. Colin recommends lining up some episodes in advance of your child's arrival, then publishing each over time. For parents who can't leave their child unattended, don't try to multi-task. It's better to do one thing well, instead of multitasking a few things, poorly. Don't Wish It AwayThis is a big milestone in one's life. It's worth not trying to do too much for your podcast. When babies are unpredictable and need a lot of care, there's a tendency to, as Matthew says, "wish things forward until the dust settles." Colin adds that parents should try to enjoy the early days while they can. In 13 years or so, your kids will want to do their own thing. You'll have plenty of time for podcasting then. As a dad to two kids, Colin says, "the first year, especially the first three months, are hell." Plus, every kid is different. This isn't a good life stage for the results-oriented. But, he adds, the first six months are when babies sleep the most. Use this to your advantage: grab time for sleep and/or work when you can.  Colin adds that when babies are six to twelve months old, since they're more mobile, they need more supervision. They're more likely to grab things, like mixing board sliders. This is the age to child-proof your recording gear. Be realistic about your plans. Think of this time as maintenance mode. Again, communicate clearly and positively with your audience. It's not going to kill your show if you miss an episode.Work sessions with shorter periods of time can force you to really focus. Be accepting of the work that you can get done in a shorter amount of time. Colin says, “a task will always expand to fill the time allowed.”  If you only have forty-five minutes while the baby's out for a walk or napping, you can't procrastinate, overthink, or be too much of a perfectionist.Rethink your show's format. How can you bring value in less time, while still being yourself and making the same kind of show?  For example, instead of hour-long interview episodes, can you make fifteen-minute episodes of productive tips? Support the show

There's no shortage of things to focus on when it comes to planning, launching, and running your own podcast. From buying the right mic and choosing a hosting platform, to coming up with a show name and sorting out your cover art, these all fall under the umbrella of "podcasting". But all podcasting tasks aren't created equally. Some of the things you do can have a huge impact on your show's success, whilst others can be little more than a distraction. On this episode of Podcraft, we decided to reflect on a combined 20+ years of podcasting. Of all the podcasts we've launched and ran between us in that time, which factors do we feel helped move the needle? Also mentioned on this episode were our Podcraft community and the Portuguese translations of some of our top articles. Podcasting Factors That Move the Needle (Or Don't)We both scored each of the following out of 10 (10 for very important, 0 for not important at all), added up the scores, and ranked them into an overall list. The aim was for new and aspiring podcasters to help decide whether they were spending too much time on one thing, or not enough time on something else. 1. Defining Your Target AudienceThe most important factor was identifying who you want to reach, and why. Not spending some time nailing this down in the planning stages can lead to your content being directionless and vague. You want new listeners to hear your podcast and think "this is exactly what I've been looking for." For more help with this, check out the following articles:What's Your USP?Demographics Vs PsychographicsHow to Create a Value PropositionHow to Create Your AvatarHow to Come up With a Unique Topic2. Deciding on Your Podcast's NameNaming your podcast can feel like a tricky barrier to overcome. It's also a very important one. If potential listeners don't immediately know what your show's about when they see it, then many of them will skip past it without even reading the description. With podcast names, there's no such thing as "boring". If you come up with an ultra-descriptive "as it says on the tin" name and it isn't already taken - grab it. For more on this, check out How to Name Your Podcast. 3. Your Episode TitlesThis is another huge factor in turning traffic (your target audience, searching for your topic) into listeners. Descriptive and compelling episode titles will help your show be found, and they'll also encourage those searching to hit play. Don't waste this important space by putting the word "episode" in there. You don't need to write your podcast name beside every episode title either. For more on this, check out How to Title Your Episodes. Want to See the Full List?Head on over to the shownotes at ThePodcastHost.comSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

There's no shortage of things to focus on when it comes to planning, launching, and running your own podcast. From buying the right mic and choosing a hosting platform, to coming up with a show name and sorting out your cover art, these all fall under the umbrella of "podcasting". But all podcasting tasks aren't created equally. Some of the things you do can have a huge impact on your show's success, whilst others can be little more than a distraction. On this episode of Podcraft, we decided to reflect on a combined 20+ years of podcasting. Of all the podcasts we've launched and ran between us in that time, which factors do we feel helped move the needle? Also mentioned on this episode were our Podcraft community and the Portuguese translations of some of our top articles. Podcasting Factors That Move the Needle (Or Don't)We both scored each of the following out of 10 (10 for very important, 0 for not important at all), added up the scores, and ranked them into an overall list. The aim was for new and aspiring podcasters to help decide whether they were spending too much time on one thing, or not enough time on something else. 1. Defining Your Target AudienceThe most important factor was identifying who you want to reach, and why. Not spending some time nailing this down in the planning stages can lead to your content being directionless and vague. You want new listeners to hear your podcast and think "this is exactly what I've been looking for." For more help with this, check out the following articles:What's Your USP?Demographics Vs PsychographicsHow to Create a Value PropositionHow to Create Your AvatarHow to Come up With a Unique Topic2. Deciding on Your Podcast's NameNaming your podcast can feel like a tricky barrier to overcome. It's also a very important one. If potential listeners don't immediately know what your show's about when they see it, then many of them will skip past it without even reading the description. With podcast names, there's no such thing as "boring". If you come up with an ultra-descriptive "as it says on the tin" name and it isn't already taken - grab it. For more on this, check out How to Name Your Podcast. 3. Your Episode TitlesThis is another huge factor in turning traffic (your target audience, searching for your topic) into listeners. Descriptive and compelling episode titles will help your show be found, and they'll also encourage those searching to hit play. Don't waste this important space by putting the word "episode" in there. You don't need to write your podcast name beside every episode title either. For more on this, check out How to Title Your Episodes. Want to See the Full List?Head on over to the shownotes at ThePodcastHost.comSupport the show

We talk a lot about audience growth in our articles. In fact, promotion and growth is the number 1 thing podcasters struggle with, according to our recent podcaster problems survey. One of the tips we've recommended for years is to see the other podcasters in your space as collaborators, rather than competition. Cross-promotion is a great example of the old saying "a rising tide lifts all boats". After all, this medium is on-demand, and it isn't like your listeners have to choose between your show and someone else's. We had the opportunity to get involved in a podcast episode swap recently with the excellent Evo Terra and his industry essential Podcast Pontifications show. It's a show I'm sure you'll love, and this episode is an ideal taster of what you can expect to hear, 4 days a week, if you hit the subscribe button. Here's the episode of Podcraft that was featured over there too - it was all about question research and how this strategy can help you create episodes to pull in new listeners. Podcast PontificationsBefore we jump into the episode content, let's take a quick look at the show's description so you can get a better idea of what it's about and who it's for. "Where plenty of podcasts about podcasting (PAPs) tell you what to do, Podcast Pontifications gives you what to think about in podcasting. These daily, insightful forward-looking episodes have one central tenet: Podcasting needs to be made better, not just easier. Designed for the working podcaster, these short-form episodes get you thinking about the future of podcasting and how you can better prepare yourself -- and your shows -- for the future. The goal is simple: help you develop critical thinking skills needed to make the best future-proofed podcast you can with the tools of today. Plus a few sneak previews of what might be coming tomorrow."And now to the episode itself, here's the question that Evo is pontificating on... "Nearly twenty years in, and many podcasters still have trouble thinking of podcasting as an industry. But our problem does not plague cash-flush brands looking to enter our industry. Who's perspective will win out? "Key Links2021 IAB podcast advertising revenue $1B2021 global podcast advertising revenue $1.37B2021 overall podcast industry marketing size $1.4BSupport the show

We talk a lot about audience growth in our articles. In fact, promotion and growth is the number 1 thing podcasters struggle with, according to our recent podcaster problems survey. One of the tips we've recommended for years is to see the other podcasters in your space as collaborators, rather than competition. Cross-promotion is a great example of the old saying "a rising tide lifts all boats". After all, this medium is on-demand, and it isn't like your listeners have to choose between your show and someone else's. We had the opportunity to get involved in a podcast episode swap recently with the excellent Evo Terra and his industry essential Podcast Pontifications show. It's a show I'm sure you'll love, and this episode is an ideal taster of what you can expect to hear, 4 days a week, if you hit the subscribe button. Here's the episode of Podcraft that was featured over there too - it was all about question research and how this strategy can help you create episodes to pull in new listeners. Podcast PontificationsBefore we jump into the episode content, let's take a quick look at the show's description so you can get a better idea of what it's about and who it's for. "Where plenty of podcasts about podcasting (PAPs) tell you what to do, Podcast Pontifications gives you what to think about in podcasting. These daily, insightful forward-looking episodes have one central tenet: Podcasting needs to be made better, not just easier. Designed for the working podcaster, these short-form episodes get you thinking about the future of podcasting and how you can better prepare yourself -- and your shows -- for the future. The goal is simple: help you develop critical thinking skills needed to make the best future-proofed podcast you can with the tools of today. Plus a few sneak previews of what might be coming tomorrow."And now to the episode itself, here's the question that Evo is pontificating on... "Nearly twenty years in, and many podcasters still have trouble thinking of podcasting as an industry. But our problem does not plague cash-flush brands looking to enter our industry. Who's perspective will win out? "Key Links2021 IAB podcast advertising revenue $1B2021 global podcast advertising revenue $1.37B2021 overall podcast industry marketing size $1.4BSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Daily podcasts are a lot more common than they used to be. You might find the thought of running one appealing but also think to yourself "there's no way I'd have time to podcast every single day". Well, the good news is that you don't have to. You can actually create a short sharp 1-2min episode a day podcast in only a few hours a week. We've found that the scripting, recording, production, and publishing take us approximately 3 hours for a week of content (a week being Monday-Friday). As these tasks are "batched" we're not tending to this podcast every single day, even though new episodes are always dropping. There are a lot of benefits of doing short daily episodes. If you teach something then it'll give you the ability to deliver your lessons in bite-sized (or pocket-sized!) chunks. You can take a real deep dive over a period of time, rather than trying to pack together one huge lesson or talk. You might even turn your daily podcast into an Alexa Flash Brief. Short episodes are also great for repurposing. This works well if you're active on YouTube, social media, or taking a Content Stacking approach to your show. On this episode of Podcraft, we talk more about the benefits and workflows of running a daily podcast. We'll also help you answer the question of whether you should make one yourself. And as for our own case study, it's something you'll hopefully be interested in checking out, too... Our Daily Podcast - Pocket-Sized PodcastingPocket-Sized Podcasting is the ‘how to podcast' series for busy people. You'll get one short sharp tip delivered to your feed Monday through Friday, all aimed toward helping you build and grow your own life-changing show. Brought to you by Alitu, the Podcast Maker, it's our aim to make the entire process of podcasting as simple and accessible as humanly possible. Find us anywhere you get your podcasts, and be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode! Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Daily podcasts are a lot more common than they used to be. You might find the thought of running one appealing but also think to yourself "there's no way I'd have time to podcast every single day". Well, the good news is that you don't have to. You can actually create a short sharp 1-2min episode a day podcast in only a few hours a week. We've found that the scripting, recording, production, and publishing take us approximately 3 hours for a week of content (a week being Monday-Friday). As these tasks are "batched" we're not tending to this podcast every single day, even though new episodes are always dropping. There are a lot of benefits of doing short daily episodes. If you teach something then it'll give you the ability to deliver your lessons in bite-sized (or pocket-sized!) chunks. You can take a real deep dive over a period of time, rather than trying to pack together one huge lesson or talk. You might even turn your daily podcast into an Alexa Flash Brief. Short episodes are also great for repurposing. This works well if you're active on YouTube, social media, or taking a Content Stacking approach to your show. On this episode of Podcraft, we talk more about the benefits and workflows of running a daily podcast. We'll also help you answer the question of whether you should make one yourself. And as for our own case study, it's something you'll hopefully be interested in checking out, too... Our Daily Podcast - Pocket-Sized PodcastingPocket-Sized Podcasting is the ‘how to podcast' series for busy people. You'll get one short sharp tip delivered to your feed Monday through Friday, all aimed toward helping you build and grow your own life-changing show. Brought to you by Alitu, the Podcast Maker, it's our aim to make the entire process of podcasting as simple and accessible as humanly possible. Find us anywhere you get your podcasts, and be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode! Support the show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.And on this episode, we're asking the question “Why?”Why do you want to make a podcast?Are you a freelancer?  A business? Or working for a company? Whatever you do, you'll know that podcasting's a great way to build trust and authority. Plus, of course, give your customers or your audience a whole bunch of valuable and entertaining content.The other option is that you're in podcasting as a hobbyist? That could mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time, and on a subject you're passionate about. Anything from knitting, to craft beer, to horror movies.Either way, figure out your why. It could be making more sales. Or growing a community. Or getting famous! They're all valid. And they're important to keep in mind so that you can stay motivated, even when life throws you those inevitable curveballs. Podcasting isn't always easy, but if your “Why” is worth it, you'll push on through.New episodes of Pocket-Sized Podcasting will be released daily, Monday through Friday. Subscribe on your listening app of choice so they're delivered to you automatically. Thanks so much for listening.Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.And on this episode, we're asking the question “Why?”Why do you want to make a podcast?Are you a freelancer?  A business? Or working for a company? Whatever you do, you'll know that podcasting's a great way to build trust and authority. Plus, of course, give your customers or your audience a whole bunch of valuable and entertaining content.The other option is that you're in podcasting as a hobbyist? That could mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time, and on a subject you're passionate about. Anything from knitting, to craft beer, to horror movies.Either way, figure out your why. It could be making more sales. Or growing a community. Or getting famous! They're all valid. And they're important to keep in mind so that you can stay motivated, even when life throws you those inevitable curveballs. Podcasting isn't always easy, but if your “Why” is worth it, you'll push on through.New episodes of Pocket-Sized Podcasting will be released daily, Monday through Friday. Subscribe on your listening app of choice so they're delivered to you automatically. Thanks so much for listening.Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we're asking a big question: Who are you making your podcast for?The thing is, unless you know exactly who you're making your show for, and why you're doing it, you've got no chance of growing an audience.Let's imagine a personal trainer who's making a health and fitness podcast to market their business. Their target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, or HIIT training, or bodybuilding.Or, let's imagine a hobbyist who loves zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction. Their target audience would simply be folks with the same really specific passion. They might be fans of TV shows like The Walking Dead, and video games like Resident Evil.It's a good idea to sketch out what's known as your “avatar”. An avatar is a made up person that represents your ideal listeners in the real world. You make this detailed - with a name, age, job, background, likes, dislikes. You make this as real as you can, so it's someone you can know, deeply. The benefit then is that, with each episode you plan out, you can ask yourself the question “would Jane (my avatar) like this?” Asking that question is the key to making really compelling content, every time.For a really detailed look at how to create your avatar, and a bunch of examples, go to ThePodcastHost.com/listenerSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we're asking a big question: Who are you making your podcast for?The thing is, unless you know exactly who you're making your show for, and why you're doing it, you've got no chance of growing an audience.Let's imagine a personal trainer who's making a health and fitness podcast to market their business. Their target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, or HIIT training, or bodybuilding.Or, let's imagine a hobbyist who loves zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction. Their target audience would simply be folks with the same really specific passion. They might be fans of TV shows like The Walking Dead, and video games like Resident Evil.It's a good idea to sketch out what's known as your “avatar”. An avatar is a made up person that represents your ideal listeners in the real world. You make this detailed - with a name, age, job, background, likes, dislikes. You make this as real as you can, so it's someone you can know, deeply. The benefit then is that, with each episode you plan out, you can ask yourself the question “would Jane (my avatar) like this?” Asking that question is the key to making really compelling content, every time.For a really detailed look at how to create your avatar, and a bunch of examples, go to ThePodcastHost.com/listenerSupport the show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we're talking about giving your audience a no-brainer reason to listen.This, my friend, is all about supplying value in your very own unique way.But what does that actually mean?Well, let's take the example of our personal trainer, I mentioned last time. If they're serving up content that helps their listeners to, let's say, complete a couch to 5k, then they're providing value. If they can help a listener lose a few stone, or run a faster race, then that's a LOT of value!Or what about our zombie podcaster? They might do an in-depth interview with a top author in the space. They'll dig in to unearth some anecdotes and insights that you've never heard anywhere else before from that writer. In that, they're providing some really unique value.If you do something similar on your show, not only have you given your audience a reason to listen, you've also given them a reason to come back for more, every week.This is absolutely vital for you to think about in the planning stages. So can you write down 10-15 potential episodes that you think your target audience would love to listen to? If you're teaching, it's often about considering the most common problems you can help them solve. And if it's entertainment, it's finding new content, or entertainment that scratches that person's personal itch.And, for a more detailed look at giving them a reason to listen, go to ThePodcastHost.com/uniqueSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we're talking about giving your audience a no-brainer reason to listen.This, my friend, is all about supplying value in your very own unique way.But what does that actually mean?Well, let's take the example of our personal trainer, I mentioned last time. If they're serving up content that helps their listeners to, let's say, complete a couch to 5k, then they're providing value. If they can help a listener lose a few stone, or run a faster race, then that's a LOT of value!Or what about our zombie podcaster? They might do an in-depth interview with a top author in the space. They'll dig in to unearth some anecdotes and insights that you've never heard anywhere else before from that writer. In that, they're providing some really unique value.If you do something similar on your show, not only have you given your audience a reason to listen, you've also given them a reason to come back for more, every week.This is absolutely vital for you to think about in the planning stages. So can you write down 10-15 potential episodes that you think your target audience would love to listen to? If you're teaching, it's often about considering the most common problems you can help them solve. And if it's entertainment, it's finding new content, or entertainment that scratches that person's personal itch.And, for a more detailed look at giving them a reason to listen, go to ThePodcastHost.com/uniqueSupport the show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.And on this episode, we're talking about niches (nitches?) and narrow topics.There's a bit of a misconception in podcasting that, the wider and more open your topic, the bigger your audience will be.I know, it makes sense because covering lots of ground means there's loads more people who might be interested in your show.The reality, though, is that listeners love podcasts that feel like they were made just for them.So instead of our personal trainer doing a podcast about general health, diet, or exercise, it might be “the fitness podcast for single parents”, or “the keto diet podcast for vegetarians”.In other areas, niche podcasts could be “The travel podcast, for D&D players”, or “The business startup podcast, for military veterans”.You might have a fear that this'll limit your audience, but, actually, the opposite is true. When your target listeners find your show, and see how closely it scratches their itch, they'll think “this is perfect!”, hit subscribe, and go on to become fanatical fans. On the other hand, if keep it general, everyone just sees it, goes 'meh' and moves on. When you try to target everyone, you really target no-one in particular.So what would you rather have - a tight, defined group of fanatical listeners, or a big group who just might be interested in listening?For a really detailed look at defining your niche topic, go to ThePodcastHost.com/topicSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.And on this episode, we're talking about niches (nitches?) and narrow topics.There's a bit of a misconception in podcasting that, the wider and more open your topic, the bigger your audience will be.I know, it makes sense because covering lots of ground means there's loads more people who might be interested in your show.The reality, though, is that listeners love podcasts that feel like they were made just for them.So instead of our personal trainer doing a podcast about general health, diet, or exercise, it might be “the fitness podcast for single parents”, or “the keto diet podcast for vegetarians”.In other areas, niche podcasts could be “The travel podcast, for D&D players”, or “The business startup podcast, for military veterans”.You might have a fear that this'll limit your audience, but, actually, the opposite is true. When your target listeners find your show, and see how closely it scratches their itch, they'll think “this is perfect!”, hit subscribe, and go on to become fanatical fans. On the other hand, if keep it general, everyone just sees it, goes 'meh' and moves on. When you try to target everyone, you really target no-one in particular.So what would you rather have - a tight, defined group of fanatical listeners, or a big group who just might be interested in listening?For a really detailed look at defining your niche topic, go to ThePodcastHost.com/topicSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we're talking about choosing a format for your episodes.The format you choose is really personal, and depends on who's involved. If it's just you, you're not doing a co-hosted show any time soon, for example.None of this is set in stone, either. So whilst it's good to have an ‘average' format, so your listeners know what to expect, you don't have to stick to it every single time.You might do your first few episodes using a certain format – for example, solo - then decide it isn't for you. In this case, you could pivot and start doing interviews. Or, you could bring on a regular co-host.The first format you try might feel perfectly natural to you, in which case, great. Or you might opt for a ‘mixed bag' approach where you never stick to any one set format. The beauty of it is that it's your podcast, and you get to make the rules.We're going to dig into the pros and cons of each podcast format in the next few episodes, so make sure you're subscribed to the show on your listening app of choice!Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we're talking about choosing a format for your episodes.The format you choose is really personal, and depends on who's involved. If it's just you, you're not doing a co-hosted show any time soon, for example.None of this is set in stone, either. So whilst it's good to have an ‘average' format, so your listeners know what to expect, you don't have to stick to it every single time.You might do your first few episodes using a certain format – for example, solo - then decide it isn't for you. In this case, you could pivot and start doing interviews. Or, you could bring on a regular co-host.The first format you try might feel perfectly natural to you, in which case, great. Or you might opt for a ‘mixed bag' approach where you never stick to any one set format. The beauty of it is that it's your podcast, and you get to make the rules.We're going to dig into the pros and cons of each podcast format in the next few episodes, so make sure you're subscribed to the show on your listening app of choice!Support the show

The more podcasting grows, the more people talk about it. Some of it is genuine news, and some of it is gossip or clickbait. Rather than waste your time with articles about irrelevant topics, we want to know what the average podcaster cares about most.So, we put up a survey and invited our entire audience to take part through the blog, email and social. We offered a few prizes to say thanks, including a 1st prize gift voucher and a few of our own books (The Podcast Host Planner and Podcast Growth manual). We were delighted to see responses from over 500 podcasters (537 in total!) who generously shared their opinions with us. Let's take a look at what podcasters think of the topics that spark debate in the content creation community.Get the full Podcaster Cares Survey Report right here. Support the show (https://pod.academy)

The more podcasting grows, the more people talk about it. Some of it is genuine news, and some of it is gossip or clickbait. Rather than waste your time with articles about irrelevant topics, we want to know what the average podcaster cares about most.So, we put up a survey and invited our entire audience to take part through the blog, email and social. We offered a few prizes to say thanks, including a 1st prize gift voucher and a few of our own books (The Podcast Host Planner and Podcast Growth manual). We were delighted to see responses from over 500 podcasters (537 in total!) who generously shared their opinions with us. Let's take a look at what podcasters think of the topics that spark debate in the content creation community.Get the full Podcaster Cares Survey Report right here. Support the show

It's part two of our dive into the Podcaster Cares Survey data. This time around, we're talking NFTs, measuring success, social media, loudness, and bitrates.We also take a look at some interesting differences between podcasters of five years or more, and folks who've been doing it less than five years. Podcasters of 5 years or more have stronger opinions on Apple Podcasts and RSS Feeds67.5% of the 5 years or more group agreed that a podcast isn't really a podcast if it doesn't have an RSS feed.Of the folks in podcasting for fewer than five years, 39.8% agreed, whilst 38.9% didn't care. 25.3% in the 5 years or more group didn't care about RSS feeds.44.6% of the 5 years or more group believe that Apple could and should be doing more to help podcasters. This is compared to 34.9% of the newer podcasters group.53% of the newer podcasters have no real opinion on Apple either way, compared to 34.9% of the 5 years or more group. Newer podcasters pay less attention to podcast loudness & bitrates60.2% of podcasters of 5 years or more have a set and consistent loudness level for their show.This is compared to 31.4% of folks podcasting for 0-5 years. 29.7% of newer podcasters don't worry about loudness levels.This is compared to only 15.7% of the 5 years or more group. 42.9% of newer podcasters have no idea what bitrates are. Only 15.7% of the 5 years or more group thought the same. Get the full Podcaster Cares Survey Report right here. Support the show

It's part two of our dive into the Podcaster Cares Survey data. This time around, we're talking NFTs, measuring success, social media, loudness, and bitrates.We also take a look at some interesting differences between podcasters of five years or more, and folks who've been doing it less than five years. Podcasters of 5 years or more have stronger opinions on Apple Podcasts and RSS Feeds67.5% of the 5 years or more group agreed that a podcast isn't really a podcast if it doesn't have an RSS feed.Of the folks in podcasting for fewer than five years, 39.8% agreed, whilst 38.9% didn't care. 25.3% in the 5 years or more group didn't care about RSS feeds.44.6% of the 5 years or more group believe that Apple could and should be doing more to help podcasters. This is compared to 34.9% of the newer podcasters group.53% of the newer podcasters have no real opinion on Apple either way, compared to 34.9% of the 5 years or more group. Newer podcasters pay less attention to podcast loudness & bitrates60.2% of podcasters of 5 years or more have a set and consistent loudness level for their show.This is compared to 31.4% of folks podcasting for 0-5 years. 29.7% of newer podcasters don't worry about loudness levels.This is compared to only 15.7% of the 5 years or more group. 42.9% of newer podcasters have no idea what bitrates are. Only 15.7% of the 5 years or more group thought the same. Get the full Podcaster Cares Survey Report right here. Support the show

On this new season of PodCraft we're going to be answering your podcasting questions. Here's how to submit yours! This time around, we have a question from Brooke of Let's Talk Art With Brooke. Brooke has been podcasting for six years and as well over 200 episodes, but is concerned with lack of audience growth. This is a big question in and of itself (so big, in fact, that we actually wrote a book about it). But we find that there's always a few low-hanging fruits that can have an impact right away. These include good, compelling episode titles, Calls to Action, thorough SEO-friendly shownotes, and appearing as a guest on other relevant podcasts. Support the show

On this new season of PodCraft we're going to be answering your podcasting questions. Here's how to submit yours! This time around, we have a question from Brooke of Let's Talk Art With Brooke. Brooke has been podcasting for six years and as well over 200 episodes, but is concerned with lack of audience growth. This is a big question in and of itself (so big, in fact, that we actually wrote a book about it). But we find that there's always a few low-hanging fruits that can have an impact right away. These include good, compelling episode titles, Calls to Action, thorough SEO-friendly shownotes, and appearing as a guest on other relevant podcasts. Support the show

Our question this week comes from Teresa of the Homeschool Mama SelfCare Podcast. Teresa's asking us about the optimal position of podcast ads so as to optimise their impact and minimise the chance of them annoying the listeners. On this episode, we cover:Is there a "right" time to play a podcast adThe difference between pre, mid, and post-roll adsThe difference between pre-recorded and host-read ads How you can make ads part of your contentAnd why ads might not be essential to the monetisation of your show, going forward. This episode was sponsored by (and made with) Alitu, The Podcast Maker. Support the show

Our question this week comes from Teresa of the Homeschool Mama SelfCare Podcast. Teresa's asking us about the optimal position of podcast ads so as to optimise their impact and minimise the chance of them annoying the listeners. On this episode, we cover:Is there a "right" time to play a podcast adThe difference between pre, mid, and post-roll adsThe difference between pre-recorded and host-read ads How you can make ads part of your contentAnd why ads might not be essential to the monetisation of your show, going forward. This episode was sponsored by (and made with) Alitu, The Podcast Maker. Support the show

Laurent of the Puissante Panoplie podcast asks us about breaks between seasons. He feels that these can halt his momentum, and make him feel a bit like a headless chicken, jumping from task to task with no real plan in mind. Once the break is over, Laurent adds, he feels anything but rested or organised going into his new season. On this episode, we talk about ways to better structure your breaks in between seasons. We also cover the benefits of running an audience survey during these periods. You can even collect listener feedback in voice form, as we're doing on this season of PodCraft. Support the show

Laurent of the Puissante Panoplie podcast asks us about breaks between seasons. He feels that these can halt his momentum, and make him feel a bit like a headless chicken, jumping from task to task with no real plan in mind. Once the break is over, Laurent adds, he feels anything but rested or organised going into his new season. On this episode, we talk about ways to better structure your breaks in between seasons. We also cover the benefits of running an audience survey during these periods. You can even collect listener feedback in voice form, as we're doing on this season of PodCraft. Support the show

Kay is the co-host of the In Da Trenches Podcast and asks about optimising their name, outline, and theme. Sometimes it helps to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of your podcast, asking questions such as:What's its purpose?Who's it for?What does success look like for me?You can then start to work backwards from these. Another very useful exercise is to use our free Podcast Planner Tool. And we have thorough guides on Podcast Names, Descriptions, and Formats for a deeper dive on those topics, too. Support the show

Kay is the co-host of the In Da Trenches Podcast and asks about optimising their name, outline, and theme. Sometimes it helps to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of your podcast, asking questions such as:What's its purpose?Who's it for?What does success look like for me?You can then start to work backwards from these. Another very useful exercise is to use our free Podcast Planner Tool. And we have thorough guides on Podcast Names, Descriptions, and Formats for a deeper dive on those topics, too. Support the show

How do you get useful analytics to present to potential sponsors and advertisers? That's one of the questions on the mind of Karen from BankTalk Podcast. And, one that we'll try our best to answer on this episode of PodCraft. Your Apple Podcast Connect and Spotify for Podcasters dashboards can give you a good sample of listening patterns. Granted, these won't be the full picture, but, for many podcasters, this is at least 50% of their audience. Listener surveys are an optimal way to get first-hand data from your audience. You might also track conversions and clicks from advertising your own products, services, or events, too. We would also recommend using Rephonic's Podcast Audience Graph tool. This shows you the podcasts your listeners also subscribe too. You could check a few of them out and see what (if any) brands are advertising on them. Support the show

How do you get useful analytics to present to potential sponsors and advertisers? That's one of the questions on the mind of Karen from BankTalk Podcast. And, one that we'll try our best to answer on this episode of PodCraft. Your Apple Podcast Connect and Spotify for Podcasters dashboards can give you a good sample of listening patterns. Granted, these won't be the full picture, but, for many podcasters, this is at least 50% of their audience. Listener surveys are an optimal way to get first-hand data from your audience. You might also track conversions and clicks from advertising your own products, services, or events, too. We would also recommend using Rephonic's Podcast Audience Graph tool. This shows you the podcasts your listeners also subscribe too. You could check a few of them out and see what (if any) brands are advertising on them. Support the show

Michael of Night Moodz wonders how to turn casual listeners into subscribers, followers, and even, supporters. This is a question with many layers as the first and most obvious move is simply to ask in your Calls to Action. You might also want to show them how by creating a 'how to subscribe' page on your website. A final and essential piece of the jigsaw, though, is to make folks want to come back for more. Our free Podcast Planner tool can help you hone your message and your content, and make sure your show is optimised for growth!Support the show

Michael of Night Moodz wonders how to turn casual listeners into subscribers, followers, and even, supporters. This is a question with many layers as the first and most obvious move is simply to ask in your Calls to Action. You might also want to show them how by creating a 'how to subscribe' page on your website. A final and essential piece of the jigsaw, though, is to make folks want to come back for more. Our free Podcast Planner tool can help you hone your message and your content, and make sure your show is optimised for growth!Support the show

Khaled runs the show Curated Advice on Better Living, and wonders how to increase the number of listeners per episode. At time of recording, he's almost hit the 30-episode mark, which is a great point to reflect on what you've achieved so far, as well as revisit your big picture planning. We recommend that Khaled sets up a dedicated website for the podcast, which is a low-hanging fruit these days. You can do this quickly and at a low-cost by using Podpage. We also recommend that he uses our free Podcast Planner tool to tweak the overall aims, targeting, and message of the show. Finally, we give three actionable growth tips for Khaled to try out. These are:Run a co-hosted or crossover episode with another podcast in your nicheCreate a roundup of podcasts that you love in your nicheReach out to 3-5 true fans of your show and create a focus group For a deeper dive, check out our full guide on podcast promotion. On this episode, we also mention Pocket-Sized Podcasting and Alitu: The Podcast MakerSupport the show

Khaled runs the show Curated Advice on Better Living, and wonders how to increase the number of listeners per episode. At time of recording, he's almost hit the 30-episode mark, which is a great point to reflect on what you've achieved so far, as well as revisit your big picture planning. We recommend that Khaled sets up a dedicated website for the podcast, which is a low-hanging fruit these days. You can do this quickly and at a low-cost by using Podpage. We also recommend that he uses our free Podcast Planner tool to tweak the overall aims, targeting, and message of the show. Finally, we give three actionable growth tips for Khaled to try out. These are:Run a co-hosted or crossover episode with another podcast in your nicheCreate a roundup of podcasts that you love in your nicheReach out to 3-5 true fans of your show and create a focus group For a deeper dive, check out our full guide on podcast promotion. On this episode, we also mention Pocket-Sized Podcasting and Alitu: The Podcast MakerSupport the show

Mike from the Konversations With Kinfolk podcast is thinking about micro-content. He's looking for apps or software that can take small clips (video and/or audio) to create short clips for visibility and promotion. This is a great strategy for podcast growth. Micro-content can be highly searchable, shareable, and doesn't demand a lot of time to hook a potential new listener. It can also be quick and easy to create. Resources MentionedCanvaHow to Create AudiogramsHeadlinerPodIntelligenceBuzzsproutHow to Animate Your AudioOvercast SharingRepurpose.ioAlituWe also offer a bonus tip to Mike - improve those episode titles. The podcast will benefit greatly if you make them more descriptive and intriguing. Finally, we're looking for your feedback to help us help you better. Have you got a second to answer this quick question? What are you most struggling with in podcasting right now? Support the show

Mike from the Konversations With Kinfolk podcast is thinking about micro-content. He's looking for apps or software that can take small clips (video and/or audio) to create short clips for visibility and promotion. This is a great strategy for podcast growth. Micro-content can be highly searchable, shareable, and doesn't demand a lot of time to hook a potential new listener. It can also be quick and easy to create. Resources MentionedCanvaHow to Create AudiogramsHeadlinerPodIntelligenceBuzzsproutHow to Animate Your AudioOvercast SharingRepurpose.ioAlituWe also offer a bonus tip to Mike - improve those episode titles. The podcast will benefit greatly if you make them more descriptive and intriguing. Finally, we're looking for your feedback to help us help you better. Have you got a second to answer this quick question? What are you most struggling with in podcasting right now? Support the show

The concept is simple: You create the content your target audience is searching for, they find it, and your podcast grows as a result. But Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) isn't just as straightforward as that, unfortunately. There are nuances, best practices, and stiff competition from rival content creators. On season 16 of Podcraft we're leaning on the expertise and experience of our team here The Podcast Host and Alitu. On this episode, I'm joined by Sean, who is a full stack growth marketer. Sean knows a thing or two about SEO, and he's here to help you polish up your own search game, no matter what stage you're at. Mentions & ResourcesHow to Make a WordPress Website for Your PodcastKeyword SEO for PodcastersGoogle Search ConsoleAhrefs.comAlituCheck out the new ad, before it hits the Super BowlSupport the show

Lindsay from the content team helps produce a show called Life In The Ted Lane with her brother, Ted (apparently the name ‘Ted Talks' was taken, unfortunately). "Ted and his sister Lindsay talk about Ted's adventures, news from Broadway and Hollywood, Muppet News, and also what it's like to be autistic." https://lifeinthetedlane.buzzsprout.com/ Joining Matthew on this episode of Podcraft, Lindsay talks us through both the positive experiences and challenges of running the show, as well as the nuts and bolts of how it's made. Among the many positive aspects of this podcast is the feedback from parents and caregivers of other autistic people. Ted and Lindsay's adventures have entertained on many a long car journey, and helped give others the confidence to get out there in the world.

Colin and Matthew analyse some interesting data from our Podcast Planner tool. 43% of over 1,500 respondents told us they'd rather host a solo show than create content with other people. So why might this be? Perhaps there's a bit of post-pandemic Zoom fatigue in here where people are fed up with feeling like they are "on a call". There are a lot of positive reasons for going solo, too, including the flexibility, simplicity, control, and ownership. Here's the full report if you'd like a look over the data for yourself: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/business-of-podcasting/solo-podcasting/

Podcasting can be a great way to market your business, and add a human touch to your company. But does this mean that every business should be running its own podcast? On this episode, we're joined by Jacob, who's Head of Marketing here at The Podcast Host and Alitu. On this episode we'll cover: - How someone might decide whether or not podcasting around their business is the right move. - Potential differences between a business podcast and a creative outlet or hobby show. - Examples of business podcasts that are "doing it right".

Video podcasting is no new thing. But it's more talked about than it ever was. YouTube are in the early stages of getting into podcasting, whilst Spotify have finally jumped into the pool, too. But does this mean that everyone should now be creating video as well as audio content? Or has a lot of this stuff been exaggerated and blown out of proportion? Undoubtedly video, if done well, can be an excellent compliment to your audio and written content. But it isn't some magic bullet that's going to automatically quadruple your audience. On this episode of Podcraft, we discuss the pitfalls of video podcasting, and help you make a more informed decision on whether it's right for you and your podcast. Captivate Blog - https://www.markasquith.com/youtube-case-study/ Video Podcasting Guide - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/should-i-make-a-video-podcast/

What does it mean to take a journalistic approach to your podcast content? In this episode of Podcraft, we're joined by Katie, who is the driving force behind our new topical content offerings. Katie explains that a "journalistic approach" involves taking time to research your subjects and using a structured workflow to build stories. Some of the tips and suggestions here include using newsletters and Google Alerts as a way to source stories and using Trello boards and spreadsheets to organize content and ideas. When it comes to fact-checking and sourcing stories, Katie recommends using multiple sources and tracing back to the original source. She also talks about the importance of citing sources, and how to contact people for comment and quotes. Finally, Katie and Matthew discuss the importance of considering what value the content will provide to listeners. They suggest using the acronym WIIFM (What's In It For Me) to help stay focused on providing value to listeners.

What do drones have to do with podcasting, you ask? Well, if my visit to the Podcast Show 2022 is any measure, then I'm not the only person (by a long way!) interested in adding video to their podcasting workflow. And if we're going to make video, we might as well explore every angle. Even the vertical. So, I thought I'd delve in and figure out whether drones have a place in helping create better video around your podcast. These things aren't cheap, and they aren't for everyone. But if you have a show that suits, and the budget to buy, then they might be a way to create amazing video to help engage your listeners, and grow your show. Let's take a look at why you might use one, what you might create with it, and finish with a recommendation on what to buy. Time to fly! Read our full guide to Drones & Podcasting

There's been a lot of chat about artificial intelligence (AI) in the podcasting industry recently. In most industries, in fact. Since the launch of ChatGPT – an insanely sophisticated AI chatbot that's generating buzz and fear in equal measures – everyone's got something to say about it. Episode Resources How Can Podcasters Use AI & ChatGPT to Their Advantage? Which AI Podcasting Tools Are Worth Using? AI-powered fiction podcast - FantasAI

It's a bit of a data discussion this week, with a few numbers to break down and analyse. Some of this data came via our own sources, whilst others have been the topic of much discussion in the mainstream media recently. Do Spotify layoffs and new podcasts dropping by 80% since 2020 mean podcasting is on the way out? And why do 60% of new podcasters worry about marketing their shows? Also mentioned on this episode: The Trailer Park Podcast, how to make a podcast trailer, 43% of new podcasters plan to go solo, how to run a podcast survey, what's your podcast USP?, Podcast Growth (book), The Podcast Host on YouTube, and The Podcraft Community.

No podcaster in history has ever just run one show. In fact, many find their biggest or most successful podcasts to be a second or third attempt. They'll learn the ropes on the topic they think they want to discuss, then start a new one later on, on a completely different subject. If you already run a podcast, then starting a second (or third, or fourth) is inevitable. BUT, if you're just constantly starting new shows, you probably won't get any momentum or success with any of them. SO, if you've got an idea for a new podcast and are itching to dive in, this episode provides you with a checklist of questions you can run through first. Resources The 10-10-10 Podcasting Challenge Alitu: The Podcast Maker

If you've ever used a smartphone to take a GPS-enabled audio tour, such as one available through Voicemap, you've used locative media. Locative media is a way to share digital content via GPS triggers in the real world to increase personal interaction. It puts digital content and real places together to make an experience greater than the sum of its parts. On this episode, we talk about how you can utilise it to help enhance and grow your podcast. Link to our full guide on Locative Media & GPS Audio Season 17 of Podcraft Submit a Question to Podcraft

Open podcasting has always been vitally important to how the industry works. Still, it's hard to talk about without getting super technical or glazing over in the middle of the conversation. This is because those conversations often start with the most tech-savvy industry folks – not your average podcaster – and certainly not your average podcast listener. But open podcasting is crucial to our industry, and the way things are moving, it's at threat. So much so that a coalition known as the Podcast Standards Project has assembled on a mission to protect it. In this episode, we'll look at why open podcasting is so important to independent podcasters and what we can do to protect it. Check out our full blog post: Why We Need To Protect Open Podcasting (& How You Can Help!)

Download numbers can vary from platform to platform, which causes frustration and confusion among podcasters. Why do some services show much higher numbers than others? Are they interpreting downloads differently? And what else can we do to measure the performance of our podcasts? We'd also love to get some voice questions in for future episodes. Go to thepodcasthost.com/question to submit. If we play yours on the next episode, we'll send you a copy of The Podcast Host Planner and our Podcast Growth book.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I have so much time to work on my podcast, I struggle to even fill it"? No? Well, let's see what we can do about that, then. Here are nine great podcasting time-saving tips for you to try out. Batch recording Use fewer tools Do fewer things Don't multitask (and, time block) Click/MEE editing Speeded-up editing Use templates Utilise dynamic ads Automate and outsource wherever possible

Following on from our previous episode, some of the advice given was "do less". But what if you want to do more, in the most efficient way possible? That's precisely the purpose of this episode, where we talk through some of our top tips to ship your show. Also mentioned: Our Podcast Show London review Working in Seasons Read about how to plan a season, along with every b enefit you'll get. Sailing Solo Read about the solo format, and its p ros and cons. Then, find out how to create a great monologue. Smart Repurposing Your first step here is to try recording a blog post in audio form. Give it a go! Then, find out how to script & present content for smart repurposing in future. Read how to create a blog post that's easy to repurpose smartly. Going Live the Right Way Try recording a live session with the following structure: 1. Welcomes and content sourcing, 2. Solid content, directed by audience feed in section 1, 3. Q&A and Goodbyes. During sections 1 and 3, you run audience interaction, and during section 2, you just deliver content, no interaction. Then, repurpose section 2 alone for a great audience directed, smartly repurposed podcast episode! Interview Booking Systems See how I run my interview booking routine. I use Book Like a Boss for all my book ings. Planning in Notion Use Notion.us, like me , to create well structured content series plans, and to organise all the material around it, from interviewee research to sponsor deals. Interview Prep Read Out on the Wire by Jessica Abe l for great advice on how to get great stories from people. Plus, read the following article: How to prepare for a great interview Live Recording You can record right into the Alitu Podcast Maker app, and have it do the cleanup and add your music, automatically. Vocal Warmups Our guide to the best vocal warmups for podcasters.

If you're going to teach others how to podcast, does that mean you need to be brilliant at everything yourself? Well, hopefully not. Colin and Matthew can think of a few gaps in their skill sets. On this episode, they talk through them and explore ways they might be able to improve. They're also asking the question, what are YOU not very good at? Please send us your voice feedback, and we'll try our best to feature it on a future episode!

In our last episode, we talked through some of our podcast shortcomings. This time around, we dig into two voice clips where listeners Marty and John highlight some areas they'd like to improve. John's podcast is called Build a Presentation Muscle, whilst Marty's is Nepal Now. Please send us your own voice clip and tell us what "podcasty stuff" YOU'RE not very good at. We might even be able to help! And, for Matthew's charity appeal, here's a link to the JustGiving page.

We love getting voice questions from our listeners and members of the IndiePod Community. On this episode, we've four more to answer, courtesy of: Matt Hepburn - Interview Bookers James C Taylor - My Amazing Woman Flloyd Kennedy - Am I Old Yet? Michell Harris - The Conversing Nurse Podcast

In a world of AI chatbots, it's easy to have your shownotes drafted up in an instant. But how do you create shownotes that are actually good?* That's one of the questions we'll be answering on today's episode, along with considerations around audio ads, variety shows, and email list signups. Thanks to our listeners who sent in this week's voice questions. Why not submit one yourself? Listener Podcasts Family Histories Podcast She Needs Grit All About Home Construction Tweet Trends Resources Mentioned The guide to podcast trailers Where to advertise your podcast How to create great podcast show notes The IndiePod Community Rephonic's 3D audience graph SparkToro *Alright, so these shownotes aren't exactly mindblowing. But they do the trick, do they not? ;-)

Affiliate schemes are a great way for podcasters (even completely new ones) to earn some income. On this episode, we dive into what affiliate programmes are, how they work, which ones to choose, and how to get the best from them. Check out our full guide to affiliate programmes for podcasters, the Alitu affiliate scheme, and the IndiePod Community.

Welcome to our new and updated season on podcasting gear and technology. We last recorded this one back in 2019, and a lot has changed in that time. Or has it? You can easily keep track of every resource, tool, or product mentioned on our Resources page, and on the Podcraft Equipment Season page.

First thing's first, you're going to need something to record into, aren't you? On this episode we take a deep dive into the world of microphones for podcasting. The Best Podcasting Microphones Here, you'll learn The difference between XLR and USB mics The difference between Dynamic and Condenser mics What are Polar Patterns, and which one do you need? Can you use built-in mics to podcast? And, what are OUR favourite mics? Also Mentioned in This Episode Samson Q2U (USB and XLR) Blue Snowball (USB) Blue Yeti (USB) Rode Procaster (XLR) MXL 990 (XLR) Shure SM58 (XLR) Alitu: The Podcast Maker

In this episode, we’ll cover why you might want to use a digital recorder in your podcasting efforts, and how to choose the best one for you.We’ve discussed digital recorders in the past, and in fact, you can find our current definitive guide here: The Best Digital Podcast Recorders on the Market. This episode digs into the very same stuff with a little extra detail. Each option depends on your own unique situation, show format, and budget. But here are some of the models we typically recommend: Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-05 - the lower-cost 'lite' models Zoom H5 or Zoom H6 - premium Zoom options Rodecaster Pro II - the ultimate podcast recorder Zoom PodTrak P4 - does a lot of what the Rodecaster does at quarter of the price Mackie DLZ Creator - the "money is no object" option Also Mentioned Growth Essentials Course

Mixers and audio interfaces have much in common with the podcast recorders mentioned on our last episode. One crucial difference is that these are less likely to work as standalone devices, and will need other gear to make them work (typically, mics and a computer). A mixer or audio interface is an excellent tool if you prefer to use podcast recording software. Our favourite interfaces are the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the PreSonus Audiobox USB 96. On the mixer front, Dev was highly impressed by the Boss Gigcaster 5 and 8 recently, too. Also Mentioned in This Episode How to set up a Mix-Minus (blast from the past!) Podcast Growth Essentials Course

You most likely already carry an expensive recording device around with you everywhere you go. We're talking, of course, about your smartphone. In this episode of PodCraft, we take a look at the different gear and options available for turning your phone or tablet into a fully functioning podcast studio. Gear & Resources Are built-in mics any good? Rode AI Micro Rode SmartLav + and SC6 Splitter Shure MV88 Rode Wireless Go Zoom iQ6 Recording apps for iOS Recording apps for Android Recording podcasts with Facebook Messenger Launch Essentials Course

Podcast listening isn't exclusive to podcast listeners. Podcasters need to listen to their own audio, too - both whilst it's being recorded and whilst it's being edited. We call this type of creator listening "monitoring", and that's what we'll discuss in this episode of PodCraft. Key Considerations Listen through headphones (even a cheap pair of earbuds) while recording audio to catch any real-time issues. Use headphones or speakers with a flat frequency response. Don't use gear that'll add extra bass that doesn't exist in your source material, for example. Use a headphone splitter to give guests their own headphones whilst recording. When choosing headphones, consider things like comfort, isolation, sound leakage, as well as cable length and type. Headphones are great for mixing voice, but switch to speakers to mix in your music if you have that option in your setup. Gear Mentioned Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Studio Headphones Sony MDR-7506 Studio Headphones Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO Studio Headphones KRK Rokit 5 G3 Studio Monitors M-Audio AV40 Studio Monitors Mackie MR5 mk3 Studio Monitors HosaTech YMM-261 Stereo Splitter

Cables, stands, jacks, plugs, pop filters – the less glamorous but still utterly essential part of the podcasting equipment pantheon. It’s common for podcasters to spend three-figure sums on both their mic and their recording device, then link the two together with a cable they’ll spend $5 on. On this episode, we look to better understand all these different ‘Bits & Bobs’ by running through what they are, what they look like, and what they do. Types of Audio Cable & Connection XLR Cables XLR cables and inputs. XLR cables are commonly known as microphone cables. They have a male end and a female end and are used to connect microphones to equipment or to create a link between two pieces of equipment (like a mixer to a recorder). Quarter Inch (1/4”) The 1/4″ (6.35mm) plug looks like a bigger version of the 3.5mm plug. They’re commonly used to connect microphones and other gear to recording equipment such as mixers or preamps. Most mixers and recorders will allow you to connect either an XLR cable or a 1/4″ jack to the same port. These are known as ‘Combo Ports’. The Standard Headphone Jack The 3.5mm plug/connection is most commonly found on headphones and earbuds. They’re also found on some smaller microphones too, like ‘lavalier' clip-on mics, and headsets. TS, TRS, & TRRS Plugs Audio plugs (like the 3.5mm plug) have markings on them to determine exactly how they work. These markings come in the form of little black bands that run around the shaft of each plug. These bands separate each different function of the plug in question. A plug with one band is known as a tip sleeve or TS jack. That's because the single band separates the tip from the sleeve. A plug with two bands is known as a tip ring sleeve, or TRS jack, because the bands have separated a ring in the middle, between the tip and the sleeve. A plug with two bands is known as a tip ring ring sleeve, or TRRS jack, because that has two rings separated in the middle. So what's the purpose of all these tips and rings, and how do they work differently? TS plugs are traditionally known as mono plugs, because the tip is feeding all the audio to the source in one dose. TRS plugs are traditionally known as stereo plugs because the tip is now being used to feed the left channel of your audio to the source, whilst the ring is feeding the right channel. In recent years, a third option was added to this setup – the TRRS plug. The extra ring was brought in to accommodate a microphone or video option. The most common use of TRRS plugs is talking through a headset on your PC, or making a hands free call on your phone. RCA RCA connectors are also known as phone cables or AV jacks. Mixers have RCA ports on them, and these enable you to connect and play media through them. RCA cables are usually Y shaped, with the white and red stereo audio plugs at one end, and a single plug on the other end, such as a 3.5mm or 1/4″ connection. We also cover microphone stands and pop filters. Resources Mentioned The Best Boom Arm for Podcasting Studio Cable Management for Podcasters Finding the Best Audio Cables: The (Not So) Fascinating Truth Best Podcast Microphones on the market Alitu - Our Podcast Maker App

The term “home podcast studio” can mean different things to different people. For some, it means soundproofed walls, a large, sleek, padded table, and multiple mics running onto a mixer. For others, it means a USB mic sitting in a cat bed. The bottom line is that creating a pro-sounding home podcast studio is possible, no matter how small your budget or house space. Key Resources How to Create a Silent Podcast Studio Why Record Your Podcast Outdoors What is Reverb? (& How to Fix it!)

In this episode we're looking at Audio production software, commonly know as 'Digital Audio Workstations' in the audio production industry. We'll look at the most common options out there to give you an idea of which one might suit you. Of course, podcast recording and editing software is more than just DAWs these days. There are a lot of great call recorders and podcast making apps too. On this episode of Podcraft, we'll talk you through a range of options, as well as discuss our own personal favourites. Resources Mentioned Alitu: The Podcast Maker App Audacity Hindenburg Journalist Adobe Audition Reaper The Complete Podcast Software Guide Best Podcast Editing Software Best Podcast Making Apps The Minimum Effective Editing Approach Best Tools for Recording a Podcast Online Best Text-Based Editing Options Editing Your Podcast With a Stream Deck Editing Your Podcast With a Video Game Controller

Adding a video or live broadcasting element can work well for some podcasters. In this episode, we dig into the tools you'll need if you want to run a successful video series. Resources Mentioned Ultimate Video Podcasting Guide Best Video Editing Software How to turn live broadcasts into podcasts that don’t suck Why Video can't and won't replace audio in podcasting Alitu – The Podcast Maker Rode Rodecaster II Zoom PodTrak P4 Rode Wireless Pro

Here, I dive into 14 powerful, unique collaboration strategies designed to exponentially grow your podcast audience and increase revenue. Whether you're a budding podcaster or a seasoned pro, these tips can fuel your approach to collaborations. Get ready to discover unique methods for teaming up with fellow podcasters, creating compelling content, and even boosting your income through strategic partnerships. Highlights: Explore how episode swapping can bring new listeners to your podcast. Uncover the potential of social media and newsletter collaborations. Learn how to create engaging live stream events with fellow podcasters. Discover how affiliate marketing can turn collaborations into revenue streams.

As the RSS feed approaches its 25th birthday, so does the word "podcasting" its 20th. But 2024 also sees the tenth anniversary of UKPOD14. On this episode of Podcraft, we're joined by the organisers of this important event, Mike and Izabela. We wanted to catch up on the past decade, talking about what has changed in the medium (as well as what hasn't!). We also touch on what the future might hold, and why simpler is often better when it comes to your recording setup and workflow.

In this episode, Colin and Matthew engage in a friendly debate about the role of gear in podcasting. While gear and equipment are often seen as important aspects of podcasting success, the hosts question whether they truly make a significant difference. They explore the mindset of successful podcasters and how their focus lies more on content creation, strategy, and promotion rather than the tools they use. The conversation also delves into the dangers of getting too caught up in equipment and workflows, which can lead to wasted time and distractions. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of finding the right balance and avoiding the pressure to conform to popular gear choices, but rather focusing on what works best for your individual podcast. Thanks to Alitu's AI for writing these shownotes! Also mentioned: 2024 Podcaster Gear Survey Podcast Equipment Guide

Izabela and Mike Russell of Music Radio Creative return to continue our conversation about the ever-evolving podcast landscape. Gear and tools may have gotten much better, but that doesn't always make them easier to set up and use. We also discuss the role of DAWs like Adobe Audition and Audacity compared to newer (often AI-driven) software. Finally, Mike and Izabela answer some questions about podcast growth, being surprised, and changing their minds. Music Radio Creative Mike's YouTube Channel Izabela's Audio Unicorn Podcast Mike's AI News Today Podcast Alitu: The Podcast Maker

What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they've been recognised with a prestigious award? In truth, we can gauge success in many ways, but ultimately, there's no certificate and a great degree of subjectivity. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that the best way to get to a position where you or your audience consider your podcast a success is to create quality content, consistently, over a prolonged period of time. If there's one single answer to the "How do I make podcasting work for me?" question, that's it. It's an answer that sounds way too simple and obvious. And yet, actually doing it is much harder than choosing the right mic, the best software, and getting listed in all the major listening platforms. Starting a podcast is relatively easy. Riding the wave of early enthusiasm to publish your first couple of episodes is easy, too. But to keep doing it for upwards of 300 episodes, or for over ten years? That takes something extra. In this season of Podcraft, we're speaking to some of the best indie podcasters in the game. We want to really dig into how they've kept on going, the ways they've navigated each challenge or roadblock, and the many lessons they've learned along the way. Listening to this series won't automatically pop a few hundred episodes in your own back catalogue, but it'll certainly arm you with enough knowledge and motivation to get there under your own steam. In our opening episode, our Indiepod Legends share their insights into why they started out in the first place, and in many cases, it's because they made the podcast they wanted to listen to. We're also going to talk about the thing that defeats many fledgling podcasters—quitting. You'll learn that many of our panel members have either wrestled with thoughts of giving up or taken long breaks to regroup and get back on track. Consistency over several years or hundreds of episodes isn't a straightforward, linear journey. If you do it for long enough, you'll hit many snags. But, as you'll learn in this episode, your podcast doesn't need to fall at the very first hurdle. The Podcasts Bring Your Product Idea to Life Wild for Scotland Travel N Sh!t Board Game Design Lab She Well Read Fighting Through Lush Life The One Percent Better Runner The Savvy Social Podcast The Euro Trip I Should Be Writing

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool. On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work, which includes the ability for new listeners to binge your content, as well as providing you with a tonne of repurposing options, too. Following up on our previous episode, From Doubt to Determination, we’ll also continue to explore the barriers and challenges our Indiepod Legends have faced, as well as how they’ve overcome them. It’s another value-packed programme filled with lessons, takeaways, and motivating anecdotes! The Podcasts Bring Your Product Idea to Life The Joy of Cruising Wild for Scotland Travel N Sh!t Board Game Design Lab She Well Read Fighting Through Lush Life The One Percent Better Runner The Savvy Social Podcast The Euro Trip I Should Be Writing

We know from previous episodes that consistency leads to podcasting success - but how do you actually become consistent? It’s all well and good to say, “Go out there and create lots of episodes,” when you might be intimidated by the idea of creating just one. So, this time around, we’re going to explore the nuts and bolts of timeframes, workflows, and content creation. Here, you’ll get real-world examples of how long it actually takes to run a successful podcast, and how it can exist alongside other channels, such as blogging, social media, and video. The Podcasts Bring Your Product Idea to Life The Joy of Cruising Wild for Scotland Travel N Sh!t Board Game Design Lab She Well Read Fighting Through Lush Life The One Percent Better Runner The Savvy Social Podcast The Euro Trip I Should Be Writing

Just like the proverbial tree in the forest, is your brilliant content even brilliant if nobody hears it? On this episode, we're going to pick our Indiepod Legends' brains about all things promotion, growth, and marketing. Obviously, social media can play a big part in this, and we're going to hear about what platforms and strategies have worked well for some of our creators (as well as which ones haven't!). But social media is only one aspect of podcast marketing, and you don't even need to use it at all if you don't want to. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the ultimate low-hanging fruit of podcast growth because it lets your listeners find and come to you in their own time and on their own terms. Creating special or unique content alongside your usual episodes is another growth strategy that's yielded great results for some of our podcasters, and we're going to hear some tips for replicating that, too. Another recurring strategy in this episode is collaboration. Being on or working with other podcasts is a proven way to build your audience. As Andrea puts it, "People who listen to podcasts listen to podcasts". Some useful tools for finding other podcasters to link up with are Podchaser, Rephonic, and Tink Media. And here are some tips on how to get booked as a guest on a podcast.

Discover how to build a thriving business around your podcast in this episode of Podcraft. Colin co-hosts this episode with the host of the Always Free podcast - Jason Graystone. They both shares their strategies for crafting a show that resonates with people and how to then monetize that content within a wider business. They discuss a whole range of things, including:If you're early stage, or pre-launch:what a BIG launch strategy looks like, with real tacticshow to make the best of the first 3 months of your showiterating your show to find the best fit for you and your audienceIf you're experienced and ready to build an income from your show:creating a product line that aligns with your unique expertisebreakdown of our own products & services, and how they tie togethercreating your first product in a few days, with real exampleshow to overcome the fear of selling as a creator and feel confident in the value you offerthe value of being open and honest with your ideas, even if it turns some people offOur goal was to give a really solid picture of how we both run businesses around content, and the steps you can take to start to build your own. Here are a few of the resources mentioned:Podcast monetisation guideOur full resources guide, including all tools mentionedHow to start a podcastJason's Always Free PodcastJason's education and other resourcesThe IndiePod podcasting support community

In this co-hosted episode, Colin and Jeremy Ryan Slate discuss a whole range of AI tools to streamline podcast production workflows, particularly a video podcast, and share insights on fueling podcast growth on YouTube. They delve into the nuances of YouTube algorithms, thumbnail strategies, and tips for increasing viewer engagement. Tune in to learn how leveraging AI technology and optimizing YouTube presence can enhance your podcasting journey.Resources mentioned:AI tools for Podcasters - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/ai-podcasting-tools/How to Upload & Grow your show on YouTube - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/publishing/how-to-put-a-podcast-on-youtube/

As we'll often tell you, you don't need to use social media at all for your podcast.But many do. And if you want Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform to be part of your podcasting strategy, then it makes sense to be as smart about it as possible. On this episode, we'll find out more about our Indiepod Legends' experience with social media, what they've learned over the years, and any tips or advice they have for us.We're also going to learn about running an email list. A few of our podcasters are having brilliant results with email, and this is a great opportunity to get some tactics and takeaways for our own email strategies.Finally, many podcasters run interview shows, and this is another big overlap between content creation and podcast growth. On this episode, you'll learn about running an impactful interview podcast, as well as how you can still present yourself as a thought leader on your topic, even though your focus is usually on an expert guest.The PodcastsBring Your Product Idea to LifeThe Joy of CruisingWild for ScotlandTravel N Sh!tBoard Game Design LabShe Well ReadFighting ThroughLush LifeThe One Percent Better RunnerThe Savvy Social PodcastThe Euro TripI Should Be Writing

Podcasting has a tonne of strengths, but one of its biggest is its decentralised nature. A podcaster can upload their content to a hosting provider, and it can be consumed and enjoyed by people via many different platforms, apps, and directories.Read the full post: What is Podcasting 2.0, and why should I care?This was all made possible because of RSS, a 25-year-old technology that formed the foundations podcasting was built on.As you can imagine, this “find us anywhere you get your podcasts” approach has benefited the medium. It can't be owned or controlled by any one company, and it meets listeners on their own terms.But, RSS-based podcast distribution in its traditional form has its challenges, too.For example, if one listening app gives you access to monetisation tools, those tools will only be available on that specific platform. And that might make up a tiny per cent of your overall listenership.Or, if another app has a comments feature, any comments left by listeners will only be visible in that specific app.So, although the way podcasting works is great – it can be even better. That's why the Podcasting 2.0 initiative exists.What is Podcasting 2.0?Podcasting 2.0 is a collection of podcasters, app developers, and hosting providers who want to build on and enhance the way podcasts are distributed.This is done by coming up with and building new features (also called Tags) that various platforms can implement and support.On this episode, we find out more from Sam Sethi. Sam is the Chief Evangelist for the Podcast Standards Project. He's also the CEO of TrueFans, the RSS Marketplace for Indie Content Creators, and the Podnews Weekly Review co-host.Also Mentioned: How Podcasting 2.0 Has LIT Up the Impact of Live Shows

On this episode of Podcraft, we have a special episode swap with our good friend Joe Casabona from Podcast Workflows. Podcast Workflows provides insights into how to improve your podcast systems and workflows — allowing you to create and grow a high quality podcasting by showing you how to best spend your limited time.Here, Joe will help us think about our own podcast workflows by encouraging us to think about what's missing from our existing processes. ---------One of my favorite Disney+ shows is Loki. It's a truly fascinating look at time travel, predetermined events, and controlling your own destiny.And now I'm going to give you a major (if not very simplified) spoiler, if you haven't seen it.In the finale, Loki masters the ability to “time slip,” or transport to any time, any place, in any timeline (for all intents and purposes, a timeline is a parallel universe). This also allows him to relive events over and over again.So as all of existence faces eradication, he can take as much “time” as he wants to learn how to save everything and everyone, on every timeline.He continuously, over thousands of years, learns everything he needs to learn, and practices, through trial and error, to improve his process, and his odds of saving everything and everyone.And while we don't have thousands of years, or the ability to time travel, we do have the ability to take a step back and consider the question, “What's missing?”

I've lost count of the number of recordings I've had to pause or abandon because a lawnmower, siren, or enthusiastic dog has fancied getting in on the act.Back when we ran our podcast production service, clients regularly sent over audio that was full of distracting background noises. Not the ongoing hum of an AC unit or the gentle ambience of a cafe, but things like door slams, annoying desk tapping, or phones ringing.Then came the inevitable question, “Can you just edit that out?” followed by a patient explanation from our end that the noise was happening underneath the vocals, so if one was cut out, the other would be, too.Sure, spectral view tools and earlier iterations of iZotope RX were still exceptionally powerful. But I could never truly strip out a noise from underneath a conversation without it sounding like it was recorded underwater.And this isn't just about noise. Reverb has always been notoriously hard to remove from voice recordings. On top of that, if one person sounded very obviously off-mic, it was impossible to bring them “on-mic” in post.But in 2024, audio software has suddenly evolved to the point where almost anything is possible. Reverb is no longer a huge issue, it can correct poor mic technique, and most background noise – even the intermittent stuff – can be removed without many folks being able to tell it was ever there in the first place.The beauty of this, too, is that the software often does it automatically. There's no need to tweak any settings or go through the trial and error of more traditional Noise Reduction tools. Experienced audio pros might consider this lack of control, but remember – most podcasters are not audio pros.A great real-world example of this sorcery in action was our recent Podcraft episode on Podcasting 2.0 with Sam Sethi. I recorded the conversation outside The Podcast Show event in London, and several fire engines hurried past as we talked. I'm not sure what was going on, but maybe they took the LIT tag a bit too literally…Anyway, this wasn't a deal breaker for the audio – the conversation was still audible. It could have been briefly distracting, but this is often the nature of on-location audio in urban areas. In a moment of curiosity rather than expectation, I ran it through Alitu, and was amazed to hear that the software had completely stripped out all the background noise. On top of that, you definitely couldn't tell we were sharing a mic or even recording outdoors at all!Sam commented on this in episode 81 of the Podnews Weekly Review and was kind to credit me for my production skills. But in truth, all I did was upload the source file. It's incredible to hear how far audio software has come. So many recordings that would once have been considered unfixable now have the capability to be transformed into studio-quality conversations.So, does that mean we can finally drop the ‘silk purse sow's ear' metaphor? Is “you can't fix it in the post” obsolete advice? Is striving to record good, clean source material just an unnecessary barrier to content creation?You can probably make convincing arguments about the above, but before folks throw out their foam tiles, shock mounts, and general audio standards, here's a countercase.Why You Should Still Record Good Clean Source Material (When Possible)If software can probably fix it, why worry about it in the first place?Good Enough Audio, or Great Audio?Whilst modern audio software can remove, repair, and rebuild bad audio, it can also enhance, polish, and optimise good audio. Taking some care to feed in the best source material possible can help your show become one of the best-sounding in your niche.Check out this case study from Lindsay's piece on What Podcasts Do for Your Brain:Study participants listened to two-to-three-minute interviews from NPR's Science Friday with altered sound quality. Co-author Eryn Newman said, “As soon as we reduced the audio quality, all of a sudden, the scientists and their research lost credibility.” Newman and Schwarz found that as soon as material required extra effort on the part of the participants, they trusted it less. Respondents rated clear information as more reliable. Software Isn't FoolproofAudio software can do increasingly amazing things, but don't rely on it to fix everything. Just because you have a smoke alarm in your house doesn't mean you'll rely on it to tell you if the toast is burning (though, if you do, at least you know you can probably edit the noise out of your recordings!).Recording Clean Source Material Isn't Difficult…says the guy who recorded a podcast interview on the set of Backdraft. But this isn't about perfectionism, and you definitely have a lot more grace when recording in the great unpredictable outdoors.Good practices are as simple as choosing a room with a decent amount of soft furnishings, getting close enough to your mic, and logging out of Slack or Discord. Don't be that podcaster recording in their bathroom, six feet away from their Omnidirection-set Blue Yeti. Software might make it sound a little better, but that's nothing to be proud of.The Danger of Slipping StandardsIf you no longer care about the quality of your source material, what message does that send to the part of your brain that insists, “I take podcasting seriously”? What other corners might you then start to cut in the planning and content side of things? One day you're dropping a crisp packet in the street; the next day, you're fly-tipping a mattress. Beware the slippery slope, is all I'm saying.Summary: Software as a Safety NetIt's brilliant that audio software can fix so many issues for us now. It makes podcasting so much more accessible. There's no getting around it that you'll make mistakes with your audio in the early days. Ten years ago, some of these mistakes would've warranted complete re-records, but not now.Even more experienced creators aren't immune to the odd suboptimal recording. Sometimes, I'm not as diligent as I could be. Other times, I'm at the mercy of an outdoor environment and all the sounds that come along with it. It's great to know that, with one click, I can fix it in post. I'll never rely on it to do my job for me, but I'm glad to know it has my back.If you'd like to check out Alitu, which was the software used in this case study, you can sign up for a free trial and begin using it right away. Of course, other great podcast editing tools are available, too, so check out our roundup if you'd like to do some shopping around.

We haven't run a podcast gear survey since 2019, and that was starting to feel like an awful long time ago. In fact, I wasn't even born then. Captivated by the old black-and-white photos of Colin on his Penny Farthing, delivering printed copies of the data to the local town crier, I thought to myself, “Let's do another one”. So we did. And here are the results.The Podcaster Gear Survey 2024

There is no shortage of potential income streams for your podcast. But rather than telling you all the things you could try, how about some real-world case studies from ten successful independent podcasters?Our recent survey suggested that only 1 in 4 indies monetize their content, despite the majority of them wanting to build some income streams.So, on this episode of Podcraft, we're going to dig into the monetization methods and strategies that have actually worked for our IndiePod Legends, as well as the many that haven't!The aim here is to show that while some revenue streams are a good fit for some, they don't work so well for others. We'll also answer questions like:WHEN should you try to monetize?What are some great on-ramps for smaller podcasts?Can monetizing your content hamper your creativity?The PodcastsThe Joy of CruisingWild for ScotlandTravel N Sh!tBoard Game Design LabShe Well ReadFighting ThroughLush LifeThe Mindful Marketing PodcastI Should Be Writing

Our indiepod legends have given us many insights, tips, and words of advice this season. They're speaking from positions of authority and experience, but they didn't get there overnight. On the final episode of Season 20, we'll dig into what they wish they'd known before they started and ask about some mistakes they see new podcasters make.Also MentionedThe Podcraft Academy - Let us help you launch and grow your show by giving you the tools to stay consistent.Established Podcaster? Tell us all about your show; we're always looking for future guests and case studies!Check out the full Season 20 episode list.