The Podcast Accelerator

Welcome to a special bonus episode of In & Around Podcasting. This week, Mark and Danny are joined by guest co-host Garry Aylott, Head of Design at Captivate, to talk about the new Captivate 2.5 dashboard release. This includes designing for both indie podcasters and large media production companies, as well as taking podcast networks up a notch for all Captivate podcasters. Sit back for an educational walk-though of the SaaS decision-making process. Links to interesting things from this episodeCaptivate 2.5 - Unlimited Networks & a Sleek New LookDashboard 2.5 Release Preview - YouTubeIn & Around Podcasting is a podcast industry podcast brought to you by Mark Asquith and Danny Brown.If you enjoy the show, we'd love for you to leave us a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!If you're an independent creator who would like to co-host with us, please let us know via Twitter and we'll get you booked!Please tell your friends that the show is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, plus wherever else they may listen to their podcasts.If you'd like your podcast trailer featuring in our "Wave File" segment, submit it via this quick contact form, please.The podcast is also available at In & Around Podcasting.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

It's time for a change: https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com.Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We love podcast industry podcasts - there are a lot of them and they're run by smart, passionate people who live and breathe podcasting and who are usually industry professionals.Sometimes though, they don't give the day-to-day enthusiast, creator or indie podcaster a platform to have their say, often taking "the view from the top" as delivered by the "podcasting professionals".In & Around Podcasting has been designed to respect and live alongside those shows and to be an accessible, inclusive podcast for every single podcaster; a show that allows everyone with an interest in the medium to have a fair, open and transparent view on the podcasting industry and how it affects them - this is your place to be heard.The podcasting industry belongs to us all, not just the elite and it doesn't matter how long you've been in the industry, your voice is valuable.In & Around Podcasting is a podcast industry podcast brought to you by Mark Asquith and Danny Brown.If you're an independent creator who would like to co-host with us, please let us know via Twitter (https://twitter.com/inaroundpodcast) and we'll get you booked!Please tell your friends that the show is available on Spotify (https://inandaroundpodcasting.com/spotify), (https://inandaroundpodcasting.com/apple) and YouTube (https://inandaroundpodcasting.com/youtube), plus wherever else they may listen to their podcasts.The podcast is also available at https://www.inandaroundpodcasting.com.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

What does the future of podcast monetization look like?Today I'm joined by Sam Sethi, founder of https://www.podfans.fm, a new platform embracing creator culture and a pioneer of the value for value movement within podcasting and beyond.Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I got into podcasting a decade ago. Since then, I've seen it change from a fledging industry with little revenue flowing through it and flourish into a genuine media industry with billions in ad revenue available every year, the teething problems of a measurement industry, and the "boom" of 2019-2021 (ish).There are people who have been in this game longer than me, and we've all seen the industry change. I've spoken about podcasting becoming a genuine "industry" many, many times but right now, we're at an inflection point in the journey of podcasting and there are two ways to approach it mentally: we embrace it and do our bit to innovate, or we shout loudly that "it's not what it was, so can't be good" and let the industry pass us by.Which will you choose? Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

You know me, I don't sugarcoat when I feel that something isn't as good as it could be. And, with the world of podcasting growing and, in particular, the choices that consumers have about the myriad shows they can listen to, it's never been more important for your show to "get things right".But what is "right"? Surely that's subjective?Yes, of course, it is - but there's little doubt that best practices now exist in podcasting and that there are objective changes that you can make to your show that will increase the allure, the stickiness, and the long-term shareability of your podcast and that don't take much to implement.Join me and the wonderfully talented Mathew Passy, a long-time friend, and talented podcasting consultant, as we discuss the changes that you can make based on Mathew's years auditing podcasts across the globe.Guest details:Mathew Passy Mathew Passy is the founder and former owner of ThePodcastConsultant.com, a podcast agency that helps individuals, brands, and small businesses develop, launch, produce, and promote podcasts. In addition to audio podcasting services, ThePodcastConsultant also offers video production, audio/video consulting and audit services, podcast launches, remote recording assistance, and more. He is a long-time New Jersey resident and lives with his wife Brooke, and twin children, Hailey and Hunter. Mathew's Website @MathewPassy on Twitter Mathew's Facebook page @mathewpassy on Instagram Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I'm delighted to be able to give my reaction to the Squadcast acquisition by Descript, plus I preview a little of Podcast Movement 2023 and thank Josh for his kind beer money! Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

It's survey time!I'm working on making sure that my content continues to help you in the very best way possible. To do that, I need your very honest views, and this year, I need them in a few specific areas, please.Do you have two minutes to take my short listener survey, please?Here's the link: https://mark.live/surveyOh, it's anonymous, too - I don't need your name or your email address.Thank you so much! Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Design is everywhere. Design is every THING. You simply cannot escape it.But, as podcasters, we fall into the same trap that so many other types of organisation fall into: commoditising design and believing it to be something that we can either skimp on, do ourselves or that doesn't matter. All of that is simply wrong, and very seriously wrong.We also believe that design simply means "graphic design". It doesn't. Designing every single aspect of your show means that you can genuinely compete for revenue with the big shows, shows that often get it very right, and guess what... it doesn't have to cost anything more than a mindset. Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

When I first started my journey within the podcasting world, I was lucky enough to meet a range of people who have gone on to become genuine friends.Amongst those is one of the finest, most revered people within our industry, Dave Jackson, a friend, mentor-from-afar and Podcast Hall of Fame inductee who continues to help podcasters around the world every single day.On this episode, Dave and I dig deep into the last two decades of the podcasting industry and speculate on what might happen over the next twenty years.This episode's guest is the wonderful Dave Jackson :Dave Jackson began podcasting in 2005 and launched the School of Podcasting (schoolofpodcasting.com). His School of Podcasting show has over 3.1 million downloads. He has helped hundreds of people plan, launch, and grow their podcasts. He is the author of the book Profit from your podcast and is a featured speaker at events. In 2016 Dave joined Libsyn (the largest podcast hosting company) as the head of podcaster education.  In 2018 he was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. Find all his shows at www.powerofpodcasting.com Dave's Website Dave's Facebook groupDave's Facebook page@DaveJackson on TwitterDave on YouTube Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode, I have a deep-dive conversation with Mike Wooller, Head of Content Partnerships at Global. Mike has a wealth of experience in the industry and this episode is a must-listen for the serious indi podcast creator.We kick things off by demystifying some of the often-used industry jargon. Mike breaks down what terms like "Spot", "Programmatic", "Direct Sell", "Host Read", "MRG", and "CPM" really mean. Next, we're discussing the current climate in the podcasting world. How are brands and advertisers responding to the ever-changing economy, and what does this mean for the podcasting sector as it continues to find its feet?As podcast advertising revenue grows, we take a look at the latest trends. Mike shares his thoughts on how this surge in revenue is shaping the podcasting landscape and how that might look in the future.We also explore what attracts advertisers to a podcast beyond just download numbers. What are those magic metrics that advertisers really care about? And, how small can a podcast's download numbers be before advertisers lose interest?For serious indie podcasters, we discuss whether direct partnerships are still viable and, with the growth of the podcasting industry, could there be more opportunities arising from a more automated, programmatic approach?We also chat through immediate monetisation with "ad marketplaces": can a brand-new show really make significant revenue from these marketplaces?Lastly, we consider: How is the success of a podcast ad campaign measured? How this might differ depending on the goals of the campaign? Plus, we chat over some common misconceptions that indie podcasters often have about advertising, as well as some potential roadblocks that can arise when renewing ad and content partnerships.Mike is an expert in his field and, for a serious podcaster like you, this is a must-listen episode! Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Warning! This episode contains some f-bombs and other well placed word bombs - but they're worth it.Threads, the brand new "chat app" and Twitter alternative from Meta, aka Facebook, aka Instagram, aka Zuckerberg, launched last week and has already amassed almost 100 million users.Within three days, I saw a podcast "guru" claiming to know how to use Threads to grow your podcast and, sure enough, the content they published about it was shockingly awful.So, how do you use Threads to grow your podcast audience?The truth is that, right now, the algorithm is still all over the place and there are features (such as a "following only" feed) still missing. Does this mean that you can't use Threads to grow your podcast? No. Well, sort of no. In fact, Threads is, right now, just another tool to use in order to genuinely "social network" and that is SO very different to "promoting your sh*t".Let's have a frank chat about how to use Instagram Threads to grow your podcast, then. Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

When it comes to generating predictable revenue from a podcast, reliability in downloads is vital.Whether that podcast is monetised via programmatic ads, directly sold host-read ads, selling merch, selling live-taping tickets, listener support via tips and memberships or a diverse combination of these and more, there are certain elements that make that show reliably profitable.When a podcast is monetised well, it delivers repeatable and reliable numbers that can be projected and used as the basis for business decisions. Brands and ad partners actively seek out shows that will solidly perform week in and week out, and they hedge their bets & their bucks on those.What lessons can you learn as an indie creator and how can you apply those to your own podcast without spending any money?Storytelling is key - use the teaching method of getting your listener engaged: state what you're going to say, say it, then say what you've just said.Breaking up your story and working around tangible chapters works.Delivering what your audience turns up for is important - quirky change only works when your show is known for quirky change; listeners come to your show for your show.Bad, auto-generated ad slots kill the show.Production value is extremely important, including quality music used to add gravitas and proper structural planning and focus. You cannot wing it. And make sure your loudness is right...!If you're solo or an interviewer, your vocal performance really matters!Don't focus on trying to hit a specific episode length everytime. Be confident enough to keep a tight story and people will come back for the next part if they need to.Quality editing counts!Remember, the key to a successful revenue strategy for your podcast is to be able to consistently deliver predictable download numbers. To do that, you need to get tight on the things that matter to listeners who now have so many podcasts from indies AND big studios to choose from! Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I frequent many podcasting communities and without a doubt, the biggest question (and the biggest question for the last decade) is "How do I grow my podcast?".I've spoken before about why this isn't an easy task and why that might even be the wrong question to ask. The truth is that running a podcast as an independent creator is really hard, it's really time-consuming and by the time we've produced our episode, we often don't have the mental bandwidth or the physical time to properly market our show and thus, we simply end up in a constant "promo cycle" that consists of lots of "promotional tactics" that don't move the needle but that make us feel like they should.We repeat this with diminishing results and end up back at the same question: "How do I grow my podcast?!"; if we aren't careful, this can then lead us to consider quitting because no matter what we do, we don't see any meaningful change.I think about this like fitness and muscle growth. If we aren't seeing any results, then we have to change things up and shock the system. The famous quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” applies to our podcast growth too.But what should you do? Let me give you three ways to shock your podcast growth into moving in the right direction!These are not common things that people talk about, the normal things like:Guesting on showsTrailer swaps and feed dropsCo-hostingThey all work - we know that if people repeatedly hear you or your show on other shows that there's a better chance of them trying your show than if you don't do any of that. You're going where your audience is.We also know that you should be thinking about podcast marketing as just that, marketing - with defined & strategic campaigns, targets, and channel tactics - but that no indie creator really does because we're all really busy and most of us don't know how to be a marketer - we didn't get into podcasting for that.Try these three things alongside what you're already doing and focus on long-term, steady growth:Focus on your podcast SEO, both for web discovery and in-app podcast discovery.Do something newsworthy in your niche - this could be covering an event, development, or similar, but get there first and early.Start doing something in-person within your niche community - meetups, events, live recordings, etc. They cost very little and your show can "sponsor" the event!Just like growing anything, there is no one method of growing your podcast audience and there surely is no silver bullet. Imagination, planning, and long-term focus are key to all marketing campaigns but these three things will help you to break out of your comfort zone and shock the marketing system that you have in place. Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac -...

In this episode, I discuss how to build audience loyalty and drive podcast growth through exclusive content and early/premium access. Learn how to identify the types of content that resonate most with your listeners and create a compelling premium offering that sets your podcast apart. Get practical tips on delivering high-quality, exclusive material and fostering a sense of community among your subscribers. Unlock the power of premium access and take your podcast's growth and monetization to new heights with these proven strategies! Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode, I dive into my experience at the Podnews Live Manchester event on June 13, 2023. Held at The Lowry Theatre in Salford, Manchester, this event was an absolute success, buzzing with industry experts and enthusiasts.An impressive lineup of speakers took to the stage, including industry stalwarts like Podnews' James Cridland & Sam Sethi, little ol' me, Crowd Network's Michael Carr, and many others. Each speaker brought something fresh, adding new energy to the dialogue about the future of the podcasting industry.Personally, I walked away with three clear insights: the need for more Podnews events, more Manchester podcasting events, and more specific, smaller-scale B2B podcasting events. Join me as I share my insights and reflections from this refreshing event​. Fan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator, Learn How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Last week, me and the Captivate (@CaptivateAudio) team hit London for The Podcast Show (@PodcastShowLDN). We joined our fabulous Global family (@Global) as podcasting industry experts, enthusiasts and creators descended on England's capital to celebrate, learn and hypothesise about podcasting and the way that the industry has been, where it is today, and where it will be tomorrow.In its sophomore year, The Podcast Show had a lot to prove - but did it live up to the hype?In this review, I go deep into if The Podcast Show London is worth a trip, discussing:The background of the showTraveling to the show and whether it's easy or notThe difficulty in a second-year showDifferences between The Podcast Show London and major US events, particularly Podcast Movement and Podfest ExpoThe difficulty in balancing a trade show and an educational seminarThe brands making an appearance including, of course, GlobalSome of the indie creator complaints about "balance" and "finding its audience" and "the big guys 'inventing' podcasting"My experience speaking at The Podcast Show LondonThe celebs on show (plus, meeting two heroes of mine!)The "festival" around the eventJoin me as I walk you through my review of The Podcast Show, London, 2023Useful links from the episodeThe Podcast Show LIVE - Podcast Show 2023The Podcast Show on TwitterFan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator, Learn How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this episode, I'm taking you on a deep dive into YouTube's long-awaited new podcasting features that have the potential to increase and enhance the way that we, as creators, connect with our audience. Join me and special guest James Cridland, the founder and editor of Podnews, as we explore these new features and address some critical questions.We'll begin by discussing the specifics of YouTube's new podcasting features and who has access to them. James and I discuss the process of getting your podcast on YouTube using and delve into the possibilities of RSS integration in the future.Together, we'll compare YouTube's analytics to other platforms and examine if their podcast offering integrates with current podcast hosting and distribution platforms. We'll also talk about the various formats that may excel or flounder on the platform.Monetization is inevitably on the minds of indie podcasters, too, so we'll tackle questions regarding how YouTube handles pre-roll and mid-roll ads, the platform's compatibility with your own ads, and the potential for dynamic ads when RSS is finally supported. We'll also chat about Ashley Carman's recent article and the insightful "Up Front with Simon Jordan" data as reported by Podnews last week.As we venture further into YouTube's podcasting offer, James and I will discuss the potential implications of YouTube being another "walled garden" for the medium and what it means for the open podcasting ecosystem. We'll also consider how this development could impact major players like Apple and Spotify, amongst others.Finally, we'll explore whether YouTube's entrance into podcasting will have different effects on small, indie creators compared to larger, more financially successful creators, branded podcasts, and media companies like Wondery.My special guest today:James Cridland https://james.cridland.net/biography/ James's Website Twitter: @jamescridland on Twitter Useful links from the episodeThe platform fight: Amazon pays listeners AUD $5 - Includes a piece about "Up Front with Simon Jordan" that juxtaposes Ashley's article, potentially.YouTube numbers “not doing so well”YouTube release podcast tools to allExclusive: YouTube's plans for podcastingPodnews on YouTubePodnews podcasting newsFan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator, Learn How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable -...

In this episode, I explore the power of podcast memberships and share valuable strategies for creating irresistible subscriber experiences.Learn how to design a membership program that captivates your audience and keeps them engaged, with tips on content selection, delivery, and promotion. Discover how you can leverage the potential of memberships to boost your podcast's growth, revenue, and long-term success. Don't miss this essential guide to elevating your podcast's appeal through captivating membership experiences!Useful links from the episodeMy example Podcast Accelerator support linkCaptivate's podcast membership & tipping toolkitFan of the show? Find it helpful?You can become a supporter of the show via a one-off tip that I'll use to buy a beer at this link: Support The Podcast Accelerator, Learn How to Grow Your Podcast.Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As I bring The Podcast Accelerator back from hiatus, I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences from over a decade in podcasting.But, rather than just rattle through a list of things that I've seen and how the industry has developed, I thought it's be fun to bring on a podcasting talent and good friend to interview me for my own show - so, welcome to the show my interviewer, Danny Brown of Pod Chat and Captivate fame!My interviewer...Danny Brown Serial podcaster | Head of Podcaster Support & Experience at Captivate.fm | Scotsman transplanted to Canada Danny's Website Youtube: Danny on YouTube Instagram: @thebrownsmuskoka on Instagram Twitter: @DannyBrownCA on Twitter Useful links from the episodePodcast Standards Project | Advocating for open podcastingPodcastindex.orgCaptivate Podcast HostingSpark of Rebellion, Star Wars Podcast, UKMark Asquith, That British Podcast Guy & Co-Founder of Captivate.fmYour next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Today I'd like to run you through what's coming up on the podcast that will help you to grow your audience! As I come out of hiatus I've planned an array of content to help with your podcast growth, monetisation and that will also give you some insights into the state of podcasting on YouTube, via community and more.And I've got some fantastic guests lined up to help me! Your next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The hiatus is over!It's been a while but I'm back to educate and (subjectively...) entertain those creators looking to build a meaningful, sustainable podcast audience.There will be some changes so I want to spend a little time reflecting on why I took a break and talking about what's coming up, what's changing, and more about the format. Plus, I'll tell you a little about the things that I've been working on in the meantime.Thanks for your patience, I'm excited to get back to this.Useful links from the episodeThe Podcast Show LIVE - Podcast Show 2023Captivate Episode Planning & Research LinksCaptivate's AMIE v2.0Captivate ChangelogSpark of Rebellion, Star Wars Podcast, UKYour next stepsI teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next:Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: YouTube (Captivate) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: Twitter If you need help with anything at all regarding your podcast, get me on Twitter (Twitter ) and I promise to respond.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrpChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I'm having a little bit of a break from the podcast to focus on family and Captivate but will be back shortly! In this episode I'll talk to you about why, when I'll be back and recommend a LOT of excellent content to help you to grow your podcast while I'm away!  https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/302/ (How to Get More Listener Engagement) - We all want more “engagement” on our podcasts but the word itself poses some challenges and leaves us fighting for broad strokes of interaction that we just can't scale. But we can fix it. https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/303/ (A Simple Twitter Strategy for Podcast Growth) - Each social channel has its nuances, benefits and flaws. Twitter is my personal favourite for podcast growth so today I'm sharing a few simple strategies that I employ to build my podcast audience using the platform. https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/304/ (Are Your Podcasting Processes Killing Your Show?) - The panacea for the busy podcaster is a robust set of processes. But are your processes devolving your podcast into a lifeless cookie cutter template? Are your processes undermining your creativity and, if so, how can you achieve the perfect balance? https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/305/ (How to Get Guests to Share Your Podcast) - An interview show is touted as the way to “explode” your influence and increase your impact by the gurus who sell anything to anyone, but you've followed all of their advice and for some reason, your numbers aren't moving and your guests don't often share the interviews that they do with you. Why? https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/306/ (Are YOU the Thing Stopping Your Podcast Growing?) - The truth is that you and I, we don't know everything and remaining humble is a skill and mindset that we all, as podcasters, must practice and adopt so that we don't limit the potential of our podcast by letting our ego get in the way. https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/307/ (3 Actionable Dynamic Content Insertion Ideas) - Podcasting tech can seem overwhelming but it rarely is once you know how to use it. Here are three creative and actionable ways that you can instantly start to use dynamic ad and content insertion to enhance your podcast today. https://www.getrevue.co/profile/mrasquith (The Podcast Accelerator (Deep-dive newsletter format with extra content)) - I also send out a weekly newsletter version of the podcast which includes visual elements and extra content to help you. Hey, no spam around here. Get to it! Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://mark.live/youtube (YouTube (Captivate)) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Twitter) This episode is sponsored by AWeber, the free email marketing tool that podcasters like you can use to build meaningful, profitable relationships with listeners. https://mark.live/email (Use AWeber for free). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Podcasting tech can seem overwhelming but it rarely is once you know how to use it. Here are three creative and actionable ways that you can instantly start to use dynamic ad and content insertion to enhance your podcast today. Is this your first episode? Here's what to expect: Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the show that helps busy podcasters to grow their audience in specific, actionable ways. I'm your host Mark Asquith, "That British Podcast Guy" and co-founder of Captivate, a podcast hosting, analytics, marketing & monetisation platform that focusses solely on helping the serious independent podcaster to grow their audience & leverage their audio influence. I've been podcasting since 2012, have produced over 1,400 episodes, built a podcasting business that helps tens of thousands of podcasters and am a regular speaker at podcasting events across the globe, including Podcast Movement, Podfest and Harvard's "Sound Education" event - in short: I live and breathe independent podcasting full-time. The Podcast Accelerator is a deep-dive podcast that releases every Monday (along with the accompanying newsletter at https://mark.live/learn) where I go into detail about growth strategies & tactics for your podcast that are based on my running & growing businesses & content platforms since 2005. During each episode I give you three specific, actionable takeaways that you can implement right away and I'm always available to answer questions on Twitter (https://mark.live/twitter). Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://mark.live/youtube (YouTube (Captivate)) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Twitter) This episode is sponsored by AWeber, the free email marketing tool that podcasters like you can use to build meaningful, profitable relationships with listeners. https://mark.live/email (Use AWeber for free). Mentioned in this episode: Straight-talking podcast growth tutorials for the busy podcaster Every week I send out 1,000-2,000 words of completely free, tried and tested podcast education. It's totally focussed on helping you to grow and monetise your audience and has become one of the most trusted go-to places for honest podcasting education in the world. It's all free and you can get it below. https://mark.live/learn (The Podcast Accelerator deep-dive newsletter) Audio Content Painter Tool (part of AMIE) Dynamic ad and dynamic content insertion are usually thought of when creating brand new content and are typically used for inserting content at the beginning, middle and end of your podcast episodes. But what if you have content that you "baked-in" to your episode, i.e. that you literally read and recorded as you created the content, that you'd like to replace? Content such as old sponsor ad reads, out of date messages and calls to action can lead to a poor listener experience because it's rare that a new listener doesn't explore your back catalog of content. It used to be exceptionally hard to replace any out of date content, often requiring the re-recording and republishing of your podcast episode audio file which meant that it simply wouldn't get done. Using Captivate'd audio content painter tool, part of the AMIE suite of dynamic podcasting tools, makes replacing old content that was recorded during your episodes a breeze! Simply paint the audio that you'd like to replace using Captivate' s simple and highly accurate audio painter and choose a new snippet of audio to replace that segment with - it doesn't even need to be the same length! This is especially powerful when you use it in bulk across your entire back catalog and makes it easy to open up sponsorship opportunities for your podcast's whole episode inventory! https://mark.live/captivate (Try Captivate for free) This podcast uses the...

Hey, Mark here dropping in to say that I'll be away for a couple of weeks on some family time. Don't worry, all is well and I'll be back in a couple of weeks with some great news and sharing a brilliant episode on how you can use dynamic podcast content to instantly enhance your show. Until then, thank you for your support and keep on captivating! Is this your first episode? Here's what to expect: Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the show that helps busy podcasters to grow their audience in specific, actionable ways. I'm your host Mark Asquith, "That British Podcast Guy" and co-founder of Captivate, a podcast hosting, analytics, marketing & monetisation platform that focusses solely on helping the serious independent podcaster to grow their audience & leverage their audio influence. I've been podcasting since 2012, have produced over 1,400 episodes, built a podcasting business that helps tens of thousands of podcasters and am a regular speaker at podcasting events across the globe, including Podcast Movement, Podfest and Harvard's "Sound Education" event - in short: I live and breathe independent podcasting full-time. The Podcast Accelerator is a deep-dive podcast that releases every Monday (along with the accompanying newsletter at https://mark.live/learn) where I go into detail about growth strategies & tactics for your podcast that are based on my running & growing businesses & content platforms since 2005. During each episode I give you three specific, actionable takeaways that you can implement right away and I'm always available to answer questions on Twitter (https://mark.live/twitter). Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://mark.live/youtube (YouTube (Captivate)) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Twitter) This episode is sponsored by AWeber, the free email marketing tool that podcasters like you can use to build meaningful, profitable relationships with listeners. https://mark.live/email (Use AWeber for free). This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The truth is that you and I, we don't know everything and remaining humble is a skill and mindset that we all, as podcasters, must practice and adopt so that we don't limit the potential of our podcast by letting our ego get in the way. Is this your first episode? Here's what to expect: Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the show that helps busy podcasters to grow their audience in specific, actionable ways. I'm your host Mark Asquith, "That British Podcast Guy" and co-founder of Captivate, a podcast hosting, analytics, marketing & monetisation platform that focusses solely on helping the serious independent podcaster to grow their audience & leverage their audio influence. I've been podcasting since 2012, have produced over 1,400 episodes, built a podcasting business that helps tens of thousands of podcasters and am a regular speaker at podcasting events across the globe, including Podcast Movement, Podfest and Harvard's "Sound Education" event - in short: I live and breathe independent podcasting full-time. The Podcast Accelerator is a deep-dive podcast that releases every Monday (along with the accompanying newsletter at https://mark.live/learn) where I go into detail about growth strategies & tactics for your podcast that are based on my running & growing businesses & content platforms since 2005. During each episode I give you three specific, actionable takeaways that you can implement right away and I'm always available to answer questions on Twitter (https://mark.live/twitter). Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://mark.live/youtube (YouTube (Captivate)) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Twitter) This episode is sponsored by AWeber, the free email marketing tool that podcasters like you can use to build meaningful, profitable relationships with listeners. https://mark.live/email (Use AWeber for free). Mentioned in this episode: Meet Captivate's Dynamic Show Notes Builder Writing high-quality show notes is a vital part of a successful podcast but is often overlooked because, honestly, it's a pretty cumbersome task. Captivate's Dynamic Show Notes Builder does the heavy lifting for you by allowing you to build unlimited Show Notes Templates and set specific Templates as default for the podcast episodes that you publish. Your show notes become dynamic when you use Captivate's advanced “Blocks” and “Shortcodes” to enhance your show notes by adding content that can be updated in one place and that, when changed, will then be updated in every single episode within which that content appears. Blocks are reusable chunks of content that can be utilised in several Templates at a time and Shortcodes are single pieces of data that are either included from your Captivate dashboard, such as your single promotional link, information on the guests that have been interviewed on your podcast using Captivate's guest booking & interview management system, tip or donation links and your measurable attribution links plus any custom Shortcodes that you may have added to your Captivate dashboard such as custom hiatus messages or privacy messages. AMIE, Captivate's Audio Monetisation & Integration Engine, works in a very special, highly useful way with the dynamic podcast Show Notes Builder. When uploading your own dynamic content for use in your episode pre-roll, post-roll or mid-roll, you can also include a text title, some free text and associate one of your Captivate attribution links to the piece of audio so that, when you dynamically insert the audio using AMIE, Captivate automatically includes the label, text and measurable attribution link in your show notes. Captivate will do this for every piece of dynamically inserted audio and will measure the traffic and clicks via each associated attribution link. If you remove (individually or

An interview show is touted as the way to "explode" your influence and increase your impact by the gurus who sell anything to anyone, but you've followed all of their advice and for some reason, your numbers aren't moving and your guests don't often share the interviews that they do with you. Why? Is this your first episode? Here's what to expect: Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the show that helps busy podcasters to grow their audience in specific, actionable ways. I'm your host Mark Asquith, "That British Podcast Guy" and co-founder of Captivate, a podcast hosting, analytics, marketing & monetisation platform that focusses solely on helping the serious independent podcaster to grow their audience & leverage their audio influence. I've been podcasting since 2012, have produced over 1,400 episodes, built a podcasting business that helps tens of thousands of podcasters and am a regular speaker at podcasting events across the globe, including Podcast Movement, Podfest and Harvard's "Sound Education" event - in short: I live and breathe independent podcasting full-time. The Podcast Accelerator is a deep-dive podcast that releases every Monday (along with the accompanying newsletter at https://mark.live/learn) where I go into detail about growth strategies & tactics for your podcast that are based on my running & growing businesses & content platforms since 2005. During each episode I give you three specific, actionable takeaways that you can implement right away and I'm always available to answer questions on Twitter (https://mark.live/twitter). Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot and for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://mark.live/youtube (YouTube (Captivate)) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Twitter) This episode is sponsored by AWeber, the free email marketing tool that podcasters like you can use to build meaningful, profitable relationships with listeners. https://mark.live/email (Use AWeber for free). Mentioned in this episode: HypeFury - my Twitter growth tool I'm a huge fan of building an engaged audience on Twitter but the day-to-day of doing that isn't always easy. HypeFury is my favourite tool to help manage Twitter content because it gives me the opportunity to really analyse what's working, what's not working and helps me to spot trends in my content creation that really resonate with my audience. It's important to treat Twitter like the content platform that it is and HypeFury's toolkit is perfect for the serious creator who wants to build a meaningful audience on the platform whilst also measuring specific follower growth and engagement. The free plan from HypeFury is perfect for getting started and the team is highly responsive to feedback, feature requests and support. It's my #1 Twitter growth recommendation! https://mark.live/hypefury (Try HypeFury for free) Straight-talking podcast growth tutorials for the busy podcaster Every week I send out 1,000-2,000 words of completely free, tried and tested podcast education. It's totally focussed on helping you to grow and monetise your audience and has become one of the most trusted go-to places for honest podcasting education in the world. It's all free and you can get it below. https://mark.live/learn (The Podcast Accelerator deep-dive newsletter) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The panacea for the busy podcaster is a robust set of processes. But are your processes devolving your podcast into a lifeless cookie cutter template? Are your processes undermining your creativity and, if so, how can you achieve the perfect balance? Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the thrice-weekly show that brings you podcast education, industry insights and straight-talking reactions to podcasting news. I'm your host Mark Asquith, The British Podcast Guy and MD and co-founder of http://captivate.fm/ (Captivate.fm), the world's only growth-oriented podcast host where you can get your first month of podcast hosting for just one dollar and transfer an existing podcast in, completely free. Thank you so much for joining me on the Podcast Accelerator, remember to tell your podcasting friends that the show is available to listen to for free in any app that supports podcasts. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Each social channel has its nuances, benefits and flaws. Twitter is my personal favourite for podcast growth so today I'm sharing a few simple strategies that I employ to build my podcast audience using the platform. Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the thrice-weekly show that brings you podcast education, industry insights and straight-talking reactions to podcasting news. I'm your host Mark Asquith, The British Podcast Guy and CEO and co-founder of Rebel Base Media, the podcast tech company that creates the Podcast Success Academy, Podcast Websites, Poductivity, Rebel Base Studios & http://captivate.fm/ (Captivate.fm), the world's only growth-oriented podcast host where you can get your first month of podcast hosting for just one dollar and transfer an existing podcast in, completely free. Thank you so much for joining me on the Podcast Accelerator, remember to tell your podcasting friends that the show is available to listen to for free in any app that supports podcasts. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We all want more "engagement" on our podcasts but the word itself poses some challenges and leaves us fighting for broad strokes of interaction that we just can't scale. But we can fix it. Recommended podcasting tool of the week This is a new segment to the newsletter and to the podcast so I'm starting it off with something that I've used since day ONE of podcasting back in 2013 (or 2012? I'm not sure anymore) and that is my RÖDE Procaster microphone! It's rare that I recommend hardware because my love is more about software and the content/marketing side of podcasting but wow, this mic has served me SO well. I've tried ALL sorts of mics over the years and this one has never let me down. It's an XLR mic so it's not something that you can plug straight into a computer like you can the Samson Q2U or ATR 2100 (all amazing mics) but for the budget, this mic was the best pound-for-pound contender for me and my voice and it could be for you, too. It's a dynamic mic so you have to be up close to it but it will keep a lot of the background noise or echo out of the recording, too. It's https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001IPUJJI?ref=exp_mrasquith_dp_vv_d (£140 on Amazon in the UK) and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IPUJJI?ref=exp_mrasquith_dp_vv_d&th=1 ($218 on the US version of Amazon) (which seems a bit weirdly steep considering the exchange rate right now). About The Podcast Accelerator Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the thrice-weekly show that brings you podcast education, industry insights and straight-talking reactions to podcasting news. I'm your host Mark Asquith, The British Podcast Guy and CEO and co-founder of Rebel Base Media, the podcast tech company that creates the Podcast Success Academy, Podcast Websites, Poductivity, Rebel Base Studios & http://captivate.fm/ (Captivate.fm), the world's only growth-oriented podcast host where you can get your first month of podcast hosting for just one dollar and transfer an existing podcast in, completely free. Thank you so much for joining me on the Podcast Accelerator, remember to tell your podcasting friends that the show is available to listen to for free in any app that supports podcasts. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

For a special bonus episode, I'm sitting down to chat with one of our co-founders, Mark Asquith, to chat about our acquisition by Global and the exciting future of Captivate. This is Captivate Insider, a weekly update on what's happening here at Captivate, where we're actively helping the serious independent podcast creator save time, grow their podcast and monetize their content. Join me your host, Garry, the Head of Design here at Captivate where I'll be chatting with our team to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into designing and developing our features, our views on what's happening in and around podcasting PLUS grab some tips on using Captivate along the way. A new show lands every Wednesday in your preferred podcast app and if you're not using Captivate to grow your podcast, head over to http://captivate.fm/ (captivate.fm) to try us out totally free for 7 days. Enjoy, and happy podcasting. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The newly revamped weekly podcast growth newsletter and podcast is here! But... what's the point?! (Want the email version? Hit "Subscribe" at https://www.twitter.com/MrAsquith) Welcome to The Podcast Accelerator, the thrice-weekly show that brings you podcast education, industry insights and straight-talking reactions to podcasting news. I'm your host Mark Asquith, The British Podcast Guy and CEO and co-founder of Rebel Base Media, the podcast tech company that creates the Podcast Success Academy, Podcast Websites, Poductivity, Rebel Base Studios & http://captivate.fm/ (Captivate.fm), the world's only growth-oriented podcast host where you can get your first month of podcast hosting for just one dollar and transfer an existing podcast in, completely free. Thank you so much for joining me on the Podcast Accelerator, remember to tell your podcasting friends that the show is available to listen to for free in any app that supports podcasts. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

This is Captivate Insider, a weekly update on what's happening here at Captivate, where we're actively helping the serious independent podcast creator save time, grow their podcast and monetize their content. Join me your host, Garry, the Head of Design here at Captivate where I'll be chatting with our team to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into designing and developing our features, our views on what's happening in and around podcasting PLUS grab some tips on using Captivate along the way. A new show lands every Wednesday in your preferred podcast app and if you're not using Captivate to grow your podcast, head over to https://captivate.fm (captivate.fm) to try us out totally free for 7 days. Enjoy, and happy podcasting. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A little update on the 2021 holiday break here on the show... and Happy Holidays! Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Black Friday just rolled around once more and, as ever, my inbox was flooded with sales from all sorts of people including podcast "gurus". I'm sure that you had the same emails. With January about to roll around again, the emails will just keep on coming with offers that are too good to be true, time-bound ("Act now!") and at a huge discount ("Down from $997 to $297, today only!"). It means you can save a bit of money, so what's the problem? The problem is: to succeed at anything, you have to do something. My Grandad didn't have a dog, but he bought dog food. My Grandad was a really great guy. If you've https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_asquith_choose_happiness_choose_control (seen my TEDx talk), you'll know how much he taught me about life and why that matters to https://www.captivate.fm (the business that I've created) today. My Grandad loved my dog, Pete, and every time he went shopping he bought whatever dog food was on sale at a cut-price bargain. I once asked him why and he told me it was "just in case". I really appreciated that (so did Pete), but he also told me that the other reason that he bought it was that "it was a bargain because it was on sale". The problem was that he didn't need it and he didn't use it - Pete had already been fed every time we saw Grandad but he kept buying it. Because he felt like he was saving money. That particular item was reduced, after all. But... you're only saving money if you buy something that you need and that you'll use and then you go and find a deal on it. Otherwise, you're spending money that you weren't ever going to spend in the name of "a bargain". Why podcast course sales aren't all they're purported to be. This holiday season, there are so many people in any field offering wild deals for the people looking to succeed in that field. I've talked about the language that "gurus" use a lot and how it's all geared up to make you either a) buy or b) feel bad about not buying. Much of that language hinges on "FOMPS", an acronym that I just made up and that stands for "Fear of Missing Potential Success" - aka, "If I get [this thing, from this guru], it could be the very thing that finally helps me to achieve the success that I've been struggling to find." You see it all of the time: Black Friday and early January are two prime times for the kind of "offer" that I described above and even if you're not susceptible to FOMPS (I'm liking that acronym, you know), the "gurus" have another trick up their sleeve: "WTHNIALTD". Alright, that acronym doesn't work, in fact I can't even say it, so here's what it means: "Why the heck not, it's a lifetime deal". You'll get some emails that offer a lifetime deal to a course or a membership that is simply too good to be true. For example, you'll get an offer to buy lifetime access to an annual membership that usually costs $97 per year, and the lifetime deal will be something audacious like $297 - and it'll come with language like: "This is equivalent to ONLY THREE YEARS at the usual membership rate!" It makes it feel like a no brainer... because it's almost affordable, too. So you're willing to stretch to buy it. Why does it work? Because you then think: "I'll use that one day; I don't have the time now but wow, that's a bargain so I have to get it RIGHT NOW or it'll go away forever and ever and ever." And the "gurus" know that. They even tell you things like "The price is about to go up!" or "This is the cheapest you'll ever be able to get this!" - they sound like meat salesmen on a British seaside market! But the "gurus" are savvy... They know that you were never, ever going to buy from them (because they segmented you into an email list based on your click behaviour and by potentially retargeting you via your content clicks) and that you'll probably never use the thing that you buy from...

As a serious independent podcast creator, it's important that you have a https://www.captivate.fm/features (full toolkit available to you) to help you to grow your podcast's audience and to monetize your show(s) in diverse ways. There are so many options available to audio influencers and podcast creators that it can be hard to figure out which range of options to incorporate into your monetization strategy but, inevitably, the subject of sponsors, ads and ad partners will present itself, often sooner rather than later. In short: dynamic ad insertion, or “DAI”, is the process of recording your audio and publishing your podcast episode as normal, then marking areas within that episode where advertising will be inserted by a piece of software after the episode has been published – often with ever-changing parameters, which constitutes the “dynamic” part of the acronym. Dynamic Ad Insertions vs “Baked-In” AdsTo better understand dynamic ad insertion, we first have to look at its opposite number: “baked-in” ads. “Baked-in” refers to the practice of advertisements being read out by the podcast creator during the recording of an episode. Once published, these advertisements are ‘baked-in' parts of the audio and removing or replacing them typically involves re-recording and/or re-editing the entire piece of content, a time-consuming process that is often too cumbersome to achieve and hinders monetization opportunities for audio creators. For example, a podcaster might secure a deal with a local or niche sponsor to partner with them on four episodes and where the podcaster sells them a “pre-roll” and a “mid-roll” ad slot per episode. The podcaster will then agree on a script and a call to action with the sponsor (usually asking the listener to go to a page on a website) and, as the podcaster records their episode, they'll read the scripts at the relevant places whilst doing the recording. They then go ahead and publish that episode as normal and the ads are “baked-in” to the audio content. This is a really common way that serious independent podcasters make money: they're leveraging their audio influence to close a deal and then offering a host-read advert, or multiple adverts, in their content. Dynamic ad insertion gives you the opportunity to achieve the same outcome but also opens the door to various other opportunities, too. Pre-Roll, Mid-Roll & Post-Roll Podcast Ads ExplainedAds are usually sold in “slots”. A “slot” is just a location within your episode that an ad will appear. There are three types of ad location that you might hear about in podcast advertising: Pre-roll – ads are placed before your episode content begins and before any audio from your episode is played. Mid-roll – ads are interspersed within your content. We call these “mid-roll, in-content” here at Captivate because we think it's a little more obvious. Post-roll – ads are placed after your episode content has finished. There's a little flexibility in these terms that you might come across, too. For example, a true pre-roll plays before any other content but for a podcaster who sells ads themselves and reads them out (either baking them in or dynamically inserting them later), they may class an ad within the first few minutes as a pre-roll because it comes before the main content of the episode. The same goes for post-roll: where true post-roll plays after all other audio has finished, a podcaster who has sold a post-roll ad to a sponsor directly may class an ad after their content, but before their outro, as a post-roll. The important thing to remember here is that there is no right or wrong or need to worry about that jargon too much, you'll work with sponsors and ad partners to make sure that the ads are in the right place. Speaking of jargon, there is one more acronym that you need to know: CPM – this stands for “cost per mille”....

You'd be forgiven for thinking I've been lazy over the last month. My podcast publishing has been slower than usual - dropping from once per week to once every two weeks - but, it hasn't been due to laziness. It's been due to experimentation. Honestly. Promise. But why? A few weeks ago I had a planned week off from publishing. I had a family holiday booked and, as usual, I let my audience know not to expect an episode of The Podcast Accelerator that week. Logging back into my https://www.captivate.fm (Captivate) account on my return, I spotted something interesting: the last few episodes that I'd published had seen accelerated downloads while I was away. I dug into this using Captivate's Performance Comparison analytics graph and what was happening was that my previous few episodes were receiving steadily increased traffic over a more sustained period of time.  I.e. new people discovering my podcast were downloading the more recent episodes rather than just digesting the new episode that I'd have put out on the Monday that I was away. So, I figured that I'd test that out a little: over the course of the next six weeks, I released three episodes instead of the usual six.  To my surprise, the trend continued! Each of those three episodes received 25% more downloads within the first 28 days than the episodes that I published weekly. Why? I'm doing more testing on this but I believe it's purely because new listeners are discovering my show, downloading the back catalog a little more and enjoying them rather than hopping on the latest episode and leaving. What's curious about this, too, is that I didn't do any more marketing on these episodes. Honestly, not a bean. Nothing extra. I purposely left it alone so as to not distort the results: a weekly show gets a weekly episode promotional cycle, so to spend two weeks promoting one episode would have grossly skewed the results, with each episode receiving twice the amount of promotion. But as I said, I didn't do that - I just did my usual email (like this) and a few little Tweets. The numbers still went up on an episode-by-episode basis. Why is this interesting? Well, so many podcasters focus on the number of monthly downloads as a measure of success, but that's the wrong number, in my view. Sure, it's a nice big number that makes us all feel great about our show but it's not really a measure of our audience, it's a measure of the activity across all of our catalog. That's why sponsors look at the number of downloads that an episode receives within 28-days of its release: that is a better indicator of the number of people listening to your show and a better indicator of your audience size. During this experiment, my monthly numbers dropped (because my audience wasn't receiving 6 new episodes during the period and so, my show didn't get the usual weekly spike) but my real audience size seemed to increase which, of course, is a much better success metric than those total monthly downloads. Would I have had the same audience growth without running this experiment? Honestly, I don't know - maybe. After all, the number of new people coming to the show during any given period doesn't seem to correlate to the frequency of episode releases but having said that, I can't prove that it doesn't correlate, either. I'm doing more testing on this so maybe I'll publish weekly, maybe I'll have a few weeks where I stagger it - I'm working on it, it's a live experiment. I want you to take this away from today: don't be afraid to mix things up with your podcast. Some of the best marketing results in anything come from the unexpected and spotting something unexpected is a skill unto itself. If you see something in your analytics or if you have something that you'd like to try, do it. Be bold and experiment with your podcast because, to paraphrase our friend Albert Einstein, you...

There's an old adage that every entrepreneur claims that they coined but that Jeff Bezos, he of space, is widely credited as saying first: "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room." What do people say about your podcast when you're not in the room? What do they tell friends about your podcast and how, if you aren't in that proverbial room, can you have any influence over what they say? By creating an experience. Brand, at its core, is just that: the promise of an experience that becomes synonymous with a company, person, product, service or place. Or a piece of media. Just like your podcast. As podcasters, we become focussed consistently on our content. And rightly so: without great content we have nothing. But too often we create superb content and assume that's enough and that because we have put blood, sweat and tears into that content, people should come listen and if they don't, it's them that's the problem.  The hard truth, though, is that there's so much great content in the world right now that people can choose from and for us to shine and become the choice of content for our prospects, they have to know about us and feel like they're a part of what we do. That can sound really odd to a podcaster like you or me because we know our content is great and we know that we don't have lots of time to put into anything else except our content. But in order to thrive as a podcaster, you have to focus on experience. Consider any of your favourite movie, TV or literary franchises. They always have apathetic and passionate sides to their fandom. Many people consume content that they love yet don't feel strongly enough about that "world" to vocalise their opinions but some, like the Star Wars or MCU fanbases, are often vocal about their love or hate of a certain decision, storyline, character or product delivered by their beloved franchises. That passion is borne from brand: the promise of an experience and that passion overspills into noise which, in turn, attracts new fans or activates less vocal fans in becoming vocal. Once a brand reaches that level, it unlocks new "powers". Advocacy becomes natural and word-of-mouth becomes a huge factor in new people discovering what that brand has to offer. The more a brand delivers on its experiential promise, the more that flywheel spins and the bigger the brand grows. You see it often in the startup world where, suddenly, a new app or platform springs into the mass market from seemingly nowhere but actually, that platform has gone through the early adopter phase (where it ironed out its brand and product/market fit) through to the curious user stage (where more curious users buy-in, but don't identify as early adopters) and beyond to the establishment and scaling stages (which is where many of us first discover a new brand). Could we do the same for our podcast? Could we, over time, devise and refine a brand promise that targets our niche audience so specifically that we build advocacy and growth through simply doing what we promised to do? Of course! But producing content isn't enough. We have to be focussed on our brand but perhaps even more keenly, focussed on the experience that we want our brand to deliver for the long term. What do we want people to say about our brand when we aren't in the room? The challenge with brand-building is that you have to be so personally aligned to your brand that living it and embodying it doesn't feel forced - it has to feel natural and certainly not like a "job". A great example of this is how we run https://www.captivate.fm (Captivate), our podcast hosting and growth platform. Our brand experience is designed to be one that educates, supports and innovates and leads for our podcasters in a really inclusive way. If you look at the reviews that Captivate has or the reasons...

I owe you an apology. Last week I didn't get my usual Monday content out because we had a crazy week with https://www.captivate.fm/blog (two Captivate mega feature releases). My bad, I thought I had time to get it done but Monday got away from me and it's my fault - I'm sorry. But, here I am this week! Last time, I talked to you about how to cope with podcasting overwhelm and gave you a rule of thumb to start implementing right away. It works, it really does (and not just for your podcast, for most 'work' things). Today, I'm going to talk about "effective versus efficient podcasting" and give you a system to use to make sure that you're being effective, not just efficient. These two concepts come from a book I wrote in 2014 (wow) called The Essential 14-Day Guide to Cutting Your Working Hours and Increasing Your Impact - https://mark.live/time (it's a free book, no email address required and you can get it instantly from here). I'd suggest that you go and download that book (I promise you, I don't ask for an email address or anything, the link is to a direct PDF that you can keep). Ordinarily, I'd write a really long piece today to talk to you about this concept of "Effective vs Efficient Podcasting" but it's all in that book. In particular, I lay out a system that I call "The Triple I" principle which is a method that I still use to this day to make sure I'm doing the right thing at the right time. As a podcaster, it's really easy to just do things and to feel really busy (sometimes that feels great, sometimes it feels awful) and if we aren't careful, a year passes us by with no real progress because we're busy with the wrong thing. "The Triple I Principle" will give you a sense of why you're busy and what you're spending your time on whilst also giving you a framework to improve your own efficacy within your podcast. https://mark.live/time (Download it now for free) (no email, I promise) and on today's podcast episode I'll talk about how it's helped me & how I continue to use it for my podcasting endeavours. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The more you strive to grow your podcast, the more your plate fills up with things you need to do and eventually, you end up with more and more plates to the point that you could enter the world plate spinning championships. The point is: there are a lot of people giving you advice on how to grow your podcast and most of it is decent advice (except those dodgy LinkedIn "podcast promoters") and so when you begin to think about actually what to do about your audience growth, you can feel so overwhelmed that you do nothing because you have no idea where to start or what is the most important thing to do, and when. I have a way to fix that. Read on my wonderful friend. (Before you do, we have this https://www.captivate.fm/maker/ (free Podcast Maker Day) event this week that will give you a few hours of focus time to work on your podcast with our team. It's open to everyone.) I hate the word "coping" - I want you to experience more than that. I work best under pressure. The shorter a deadline is, the better my work is and until a few years ago I thought that was something that was a problem but that couldn't be further from the truth - it's a real power. When I owned my digital and design agency (from 2005 to 2017) I used to be the "face person" of the business - I'd produce the content and lead the vision of the agency whilst also working on the tendering and pitching for some of our biggest contracts.  Tenders, in particular, were a complete and utter pain in the proverbial, though. We would receive a request for quotation (RFQ) a few months before the tender closing date but every single time our tender documentation would be submitted just before the deadline closed - I was never ahead with it. Granted, there was a little strategy to that (look up "Primacy, Frequency and Recency" to understand that a little more) but if I'm completely honest I left things to the last minute because I knew that my work would be better with some pressure. Sure, in the early days I'd make a deep start really early and get things done way ahead of time but the work was never as good as a "rush" job and I had absolutely no idea why.  On the days that we got the heads up on a tender that closed "tomorrow", I did better work than on those tenders that we'd had months to work on and it baffled me. I mean it really baffled me. Once I noticed it I began to relish it, though. I knew my business, I knew my industry and I knew how to write good tenders; I had come to understand myself enough to know that my "quick" decisions were actually highly thought out plans and strategies that I'd been mulling over in my head for months before and it was just the getting it on paper that was done at the last minute. On the morning of a big tender deadline I knew that I usually had until 1pm to submit it, so I would get up at 4am, grab a Yorkshire Tea and get to the studio for 5am. Once I got there, I would put on some loud rock music and forget that anything else existed for the few hours that I worked on the tender. At around 12:30pm the tender would have been checked by Don and off it went, getting submitted and often, won. When I moved into public speaking, I'd do the same. I'd have a talk planned for some time way in the future and would leave the prep until the very, very last minute - I even did it with my TEDx talk! But it was the same scenario: I'd already planned the story, takeaways and the beats of the talk in my head and had been practicing it, refining it and rehearsing it for weeks prior to simply getting it down on paper. In short: I do my best work under pressure and with far too "little time" to do the job - yet it always, always gets done and it's always, always good. Parkinson's Law. This isn't something unique to me, though. In fact, there's an old adage that speaks to the phenomenon...

Podcasting isn't easy. There's so much that goes into a quality podcast episode and that's before we even talk about the launch process, the marketing requirements and all of the pesky business "stuff" that goes into finding and managing sponsors, listener support and any other legal obligations you may have as you start to generate revenue. It's why Captivate creates https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (so much free educational content) - anything that will help you to navigate the challenges of being a day-to-day podcaster is worth doing. Podcasting is just podcasting, right? "Podfade" is the term that people use to describe a podcast that started producing and then faded out. First and foremost, I want to be clear that that's alright - this is podcasting, not life and death so please ignore anyone being grumpy or telling you that it's wrong to "podfade". There are some angry people out there with access to keyboards. I say that not to be flippant, but so that you know that it's ok for podcasting to not be your whole life. Maybe it's a hobby - heck, I have hobby podcasts that get about 1/3 of the effort that this one does but that I love doing - maybe it's something that you do for other reasons than making money or a business. In short: podcasting is just a *thing* that people do for different reasons and it's ok to put as much or as little into it as you want as long as the expectations of what you'll get "back" from podcasting are aligned to how much you put in. You won't earn a passive living and retire to a beach through podcasting if you spend an hour conducting templated interviews and "automating" every piece of marketing that you do for your show because some guru told you that you can podcast in one hour per week. But, you can make a really good living in the podcasting industry by treating it as a job.  Or you can have a really great time in podcasting by understanding that you don't want it to be a job - much like me with playing my bass, going out with my camera or playing golf; I love them all but understand that I don't want to make a living doing them and so, if I have a week off playing golf, that's ok - no one is going to angrily tweet me about "golfading" or tell me that because I've only played one round of golf that I should be kicked off all golfing platforms and stop contributing to the number of "dead" golfers that make up the vast majority of the industry. Doesn't it sound silly when you say it out loud? One of the challenges with podcasting and in fact, with any other hobby or career path, is that the thing you "do" doesn't always articulate the depth or detail of the things that must be "done" in order to "do" it. For example, "podcasting" is fun and easier than it has ever been but the thing that people associate with podcasting the most is sitting down to record and then seeing that recording on a podcast app for people to listen to. In reality, though, there are so many more nuanced activities that go into a podcast's production and although you might love "podcasting", you don't have to like every act that you must undertake in order to be a podcaster. Without understanding that concept you're at more risk, in my opinion, of "podfading", especially if the things that you don't like to do outweigh the things that you love to do. Test your podcasting tolerances to keep publishing and start growing. There's no point doing things that you don't like unless you simply must do them. That applies in business and in life, in my view, but in podcasting we often have more control over these things than we would if we were trying to avoid doing the laundry which of course, I never ever do. I love doing laundry. Honestly. No, really. What the heck am I talking about? Let's think about some of the things that may go into producing an episode of your podcast: Planning the episode Recording the episode Editing the episode Writing the...

You don't need big numbers to monetise your audio influence. You just need a plan. Try this one. Last week https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/network-features/ (Captivate launched professional podcast network features and cross-promotional feed drops) to all podcasters using the platform. It's a world-first innovation in podcasting but it's more than just a feature-set, it's part of a methodology for creating your own podcast ecosystem that can be scaled and monetised.  Podcast listeners don't do what you think. In my mind, someone who listens to my show enjoys it, tells people all about it and it's the ONLY podcast that they listen to without fail. It's a beautiful world to live in but it's not reality.  Instead, my podcast listeners might skip an episode if they're on holiday or get sick or a flat tyre or [insert inconvenience here...]. The only listeners that won't are the true fans, those who turn up every single time and for whom, I'm the favourite podcast. That is only a percentage of listeners, though. My show is enjoyed by a lot of people, but those true fans who will never, ever miss an episode number as a minority of the overall audience. Your audience is the same, too. But why is that? First, building true fans is harder than acquiring drop-in listeners. I talk about it a heck of a lot in the "Listener Acquisition Flow" talk that I give at events like Podcast Movement and the basic premise is that you have to nurture people through a "funnel" to move them from being "lurkers" into being "listeners", "subscribers" and then "fans". Inevitably, there are so many reasons that someone will move through that funnel: their own propensity to get involved in a community (if you have one, this person will stick around more), their desire to dive deep into your back catalogue of content, their own interest in the behind-the-scenes of your podcast - the list goes on. But one of the main reasons, in my view, that someone won't move through your funnel and become a true fan is if they don't always find what they want when they want it. That's not to say that your show isn't right for them, but how can one thing serve all purposes, moods or needs? It can't, we know that. Let me give you an example: I love the "Rockonteurs" podcast with Guy Pratt and Gary Kemp. I'm a big music fan, love 70s-90s rock and I'm really interested in how the music comes together, so an interview show where two highly-regarded musicians from my favourite era talk to other outstanding musicians from my favourite era is perfect. I'm a fan.  But I REALLY wish they'd release more episodes. I'd listen to them all! But probably not when they came out. I'd binge them on a drive or "catch up" when I was ready for it. But why? If I'm a fan why wouldn't I lap every piece of content the chaps put out instantly? Because of my mood.  I said I love music and as part of that, I also play music. I'm (loosely speaking) a bass player. I love it and lap up YouTube content on how to set up my Stingray, on Fender Jazz Standard basses vs American Deluxe basses and meme-style content from Davie504. I'm all over it.  But when I get in my car to make the sixty-minute drive to our podcast studio and office, I can't take that with me and so, I turn to podcasts. I may be in the mood to delve into something musical but it might be some bass guitar reviews or interviews with drummers or tear-downs of famous albums or song-writing theory breakdowns of popular songs. I don't get that from "Rockonteurs". So I look elsewhere, try to find something and if I'm lucky, I do. But I'm harsh on my decision making when I do. Nine times out of ten, when I do find a new show that I'm in the mood for I don't know the person who is creating the show and so I enter their listener acquisition funnel and start again and again and again every time I'm in the...

For the full Captivate cross-promotional feed drops and network product release notes, check out the blog post here: https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/network-features/ (https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/network-features/) Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

This week is Captivate's second birthday and to celebrate we're running our annual three-hour growth summit over on our https://www.mark.live/youtube (YouTube channel). Entitled Ready, Set, Grow!, the event will feature three amazing speakers and during the summit, I'll be announcing and demo-ing a huge new range of Captivate features to help you, the indie podcast creator and audio influencer, to grow and monetize your audience. There'll be a full, deep-dive education episode of The Podcast Accelerator landing on Thursday to compliment this so for now, let me tell you about the event and what to expect. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Last week I spoke to you about the three big "sins" of podcast coaching; the three red flags that you should look out for when hiring or working with a podcast coach. When it comes to coaching, there are inevitably the very bad ones, but there are also the very good ones, too. After I'd told you my views on how to spot the bad ones last week, Steph Fuccio asked me to do a "good list" - so here it is... my 3 signs of a great podcast coach. Plus a little bonus tip at the end, because "3" sounds better than "4", but I have 4. So... (If you do need help and can't quite afford a coach, the https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/learn-how-to-grow-monetize-your-podcast-with-captivate-growth-labs/ (Captivate Podcast Growth Labs) will help if you're a Captivate podcaster, too.) I used to play a bit in the online business world. Well, actually, I https://www.captivate.fm (HAVE an online business). But it's podcasting software-as-a-service (SaaS). What I mean here is that I used to be around people who have online businesses but sell things that are a little less... developmental. You know the sort of thing: a course, masterminds and of course, coaching. It's a nice space to live in but it's hard to scale. Look at any online business person who sells those things: the smart ones diversify into other, more sustainable revenue channels and the more, erm, blinkered ones keep trying to "fill the funnel" of new clients OR up-selling to current clients (https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/292/ (see last week) for more on that and why it can be bad for you). You know how to spot the red flags in podcast coaching, then, but how do you start to identify a good podcast coach? 1. This is what they DO. For some online business people, coaching is a way to support their income or bridge a financial gap. It's the lowest hanging fruit when it comes to making money because they already have the saleable knowledge and all they have to do is package that up into something that's clearly positioned, marketed and easily understood.  By creating some content that then positions them as just enough of an expert, popping a lead magnet on their site ("How I Started My Podcast in Just 3 Minutes [My Exact Playbook!]", probably) and warming you up with some emails, they can make some sales. There's nothing wrong with that - it's how it works, after all. But as a podcaster, you don't want someone who uses coaching to bolster their revenue and keep themselves afloat enough to do the thing that they really want to do.  No, you need a coach who does coaching for a living. Someone who lives, breathes and loves podcasting and who focuses on maintaining their knowledge and building quality, deep processes for their podcast coaching endeavours. Ask yourself, would you rather work with a podcasting expert who coaches, or a coaching expert who has decided to coach on podcasting because it's trendy? Looking for a coach who works with a well-developed client base, can show testimonials from that client base and who is willing to share contact details of a few key clients so that you can verify them is a superb place to start. If someone is doing anything as a side hustle, they can only dedicate so much time to it. That is ok in a lot of cases, but you need to know that from the outset. Maybe your coach only coaches part-time as they transition from employment to their own business but because of that, maybe they just focus on the launch phase of a podcast and not, for example, the growth phase. It's really important before you hire someone to ask for those testimonials, get a look at the work they've done and the successes that they've achieved, plus it's vital to gain an understanding of how much they put into a) their coaching business overall and b) each individual client in terms of time and deliverables. A good podcast...

At least four times per week someone emails me asking why their podcast audience isn't growing. I always reply and ask for a little more info and usually refer them to the free https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/learn-how-to-grow-monetize-your-podcast-with-captivate-growth-labs/ (Captivate Podcast Growth Labs) because their reply typically frustrates me. They're usually paying a "podcast coach" to help with their growth.  And that makes me think: if they're paying someone to help, why are they emailing me asking for my help, too? I'm not a podcast coach. I used to coach people on the business of podcasting a few years ago, but I was never a podcast coach and there really is a difference. I've been running businesses like Captivate since 2005. My main job here at Captivate is "product owner" wherein I develop ideas, vision and work with the design, engineering, experience and marketing teams on execution. My experience over the last 16 years in business has given me experience in just that, business. Or more specifically, growing something from nothing. That sounds a lot like what we're trying to achieve as podcasters, too, doesn't it? We're creating something, refining it and building an audience for it that continues to develop and grow until, at some point, we can make some money from it. But, growing a podcast is hard. It's hard because podcasting is still a developing market and not every potential listener knows that they can listen to podcasts. It's not like email or SMS marketing, or even Netflix/YouTube and the on-demand video explosion where most of your target audience know that these mediums actually exist. But, because podcasting IS a growing market, online coaches and people looking to make some money on the side are turning, still, to podcast coaching as a way to bolster their income. A good coach is vital, too, in any walk of life. I'm a huge fan of passing on earned knowledge and making money from that. In fact, I think that podcast launch coaches can really help people https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com (navigate through the potential pitfalls of a podcast launch) and that if you feel you need one, you should find a podcast launch coach to help. If someone has launched a podcast recently with some success, then I believe that it's perfectly fine to sell that very same knowledge to someone who needs help. What bothers me, though, is when coaches take your hard-earned money and give you nothing in return; when they're selling something that they think they know to people who believe them. That is wrong. As someone who works with thousands and thousands of podcasts every day via Captivate, I also get my fair share of coaches coming to me asking for the most basic information on podcasting - even when they're the ones selling podcast coaching. That is wrong, too. So, I decided to put together these three warning signs for you so that you can identify whether your podcast coach is taking your money and not giving you anything of quality in return. 1. Your podcast coach once launched a podcast and that's it. I said it earlier: if someone has launched a podcast, then they can and should sell that base-level knowledge to someone who needs it, but with one caveat: they should be honest about how far they can take you. The problem comes from a coach over-stretching themselves and pretending that they can take you through podcast launch to growth and monetisation. Maybe they have a track record in monetising things online and think that translates to podcasting. Sometimes it does, don't get me wrong, but more often than not it's just subtly different enough to not work for you and your podcast. As an online coach, people often need and want to make as much money from a "lead" as possible. It's easier to up-sell you a podcast growth plan after your launch and give you really...

When I was younger I could work for a lot longer without breaks. Now I get tired. It's not so much a physical thing as it is a mental thing - my ideas get a little slower to form and my ability to focus on learning and developing is hindered. That's hardly surprising - rest is vital to a successful and happy lifestyle - but the challenge that I often find personally is knowing what to do in order to develop myself after I've rested. There's so much that commands your attention and often, as podcasters, we're running our podcast "on the side" (I refuse to say "side hustle" because I'm not trying to sell you a course) so when it comes to producing our show we do it by the numbers. Producing becomes the only thing we "have to get through" in order to keep our show going but if you've followed me for a while, you know that it's not about just keeping going, it's about moving forward and growing our audience. Why do we stagnate? Stagnation comes, in my view, from continually treading water but mistaking that treading as forward motion. The production of our show is vital, but if that's all we do then we're treading water. To move forward we have to upgrade ourselves bit by bit in such a way https://www.markasquith.com/the-podcast-accelerator/287/ (that we learn new skills) and in such a way that we learn to distinguish between when we're making a decision based on comfort, stubbornness or an unwillingness to adapt. The problem that I see a lot of podcasters face is that they don't know where to start with educating themselves on, for example, podcast marketing & promotion (https://www.captivate.fm/product-releases/learn-how-to-grow-monetize-your-podcast-with-captivate-growth-labs/ (here's a free thing for that, btw)) so they push harder into the things that they're comfortable with to patch over the mental wound of being anxious about beginning to learn something new and uncomfortable. I get that completely, I really do, because we all do it. Every single one of us at some point in our lives takes the easier, more comfortable and known path. The challenge is that, mentally, we want to progress and we want to develop and we know that we're getting in our own way - but if we aren't careful, our ego slips into the mix and we begin to get defensive about our situation in such a way that pushes us more and more into a production cycle - "Hey I don't want to hear this feedback because I don't know how to act on it so instead, I'll just produce more and more episodes so that I feel great about doing something and we'll see how it goes." You can only do that for so long. After a much-shorter-than-expected amount of time, you begin to get frustrated with your lack of progress again. Maybe your downloads aren't moving in the right direction, maybe your audience engagement isn't where you want it to be and the cycle begins anew: it's hard to hear tough feedback, so you produce something you're comfortable with to make yourself feel better and off we go again... That, my beautiful podcaster, is why we stagnate. Let's learn to be uncomfortable. Discomfort for a podcaster comes in many forms. Often, it begins with an inkling or some feedback that the show that we love producing isn't quite as good as we think it is. Sure, that can be subjective but when enough people start saying it, we have to take an objective look at it. We must put ourselves in the minds of our listeners and have empathy with the thing that they're investing in: our show - time isn't free and every time someone listens to our podcast, they invest a little bit more in to our brand. What's more, new listeners may be experiencing the same thoughts as your stalwart listeners and simply choosing to go elsewhere for their content, resulting in slow audience growth and diminishing returns on the time that we invest in the podcast. I've seen this countless times and in fact,...

Now I'm no expert on LinkedIn, but when my long-time friend Jonathan Baillie-Strong asked me what types of posts I've seen work best on LinkedIn for podcast marketing, I had to dive in. For me, it comes down to what type of media you publish and how you title it... Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/rebelbasemedia (https://www.youtube.com/rebelbasemedia) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrAsquith (https://www.twitter.com/MrAsquith) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://www.markasquith.com/aweber (https://www.MarkAsquith.com/AWeber) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Michael Herst asked me during our Podcast Launch Accelerator office hours on Facebook how to handle it when a guest drops out, both from a content perspective and whether you should re-publish an old episode, plus from a guest management perspective. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/rebelbasemedia (https://www.youtube.com/rebelbasemedia) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrAsquith (https://www.twitter.com/MrAsquith) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://www.markasquith.com/aweber (https://www.MarkAsquith.com/AWeber) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A quick update on the format of The Podcast Accelerator. Moving to longer-form Monday episodes from July 12th :) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Do you feel like you don't know what to do or when to do it when it comes to growing your podcast audience and generating revenue from your show? You're not alone -after all, you didn't become a podcaster to learn about marketing, promotion and monetization! That's why today, we're launching Captivate Growth Labs. Captivate Growth Labs is a safe place to learn all of the skills that no one told you that you needed to become a successful podcaster and is completely free to all Captivate users! With an actionable and continually expanding library of courses and workshops diving deep into all facets of podcast marketing, audience growth and monetization, you'll never feel stuck, you'll never feel lost and you'll never feel alone as you watch your audience and your downloads grow. But Captivate's Podcast Growth Lab isn't just about the best education & guidance from the world's leading growth experts, it's also about giving you a safe community to remain accountable, share feedback and join other podcasters like you during live masterminds, clinics & podcast maker days and to take part in regular growth challenges that will help you to achieve clear, specific goals for your podcast. Captivate helps you to grow & monetize your podcast with a range of tools to suit your specific needs and with Captivate Growth Labs, you can be even more confident that your podcast is growing beyond your expectations. Captivate Growth Labs is free to all Captivate podcasters, forever. Your next steps I teach podcasting a lot, and usually for free. So, here's what I'd recommend you do next: Watch my free podcasting tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting (https://www.youtube.com/captivatepodcasting) Learn how to launch your own podcast the right way, for free (plus a comprehensive download-and-keep crib sheet): https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com/ (https://www.podcastsuccessacademy.com) Ask me anything at all about podcasting over on Twitter: https://mark.live/twitter (Mark.Live/Twitter) P.S. you can start engaging with your listeners using AWeber. It's free, no credit card required: https://mark.live/email (Mark.Live/Email) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy