The Podcast Guidebook

On last week's episode of The Podcast Guidebook, I had teased an episode about marketing. Apologies if you were looking forward to hearing more about that, but I think I have something better to offer. Season 2 of The Podcast Guidebook returns Wednesday, November 2, 2022 with an actionable guide to marketing for podcasters.

Usually The Podcast Guidebook is full of tips and tricks, but this episode is more of a pep talk. Lots of podcasters (especially new podcasters) look at their download numbers and feel discouraged, but the key is to keep moving forward. Here's why.

A lot of people think they need a big, fancy podcasting studio to make a high-quality podcast, and that's just not true. While the professional recording studios are going to have the best recording quality, you can create a space at home that's conducive to high-quality recordings as well. Let's find out how.

This episode will be quick, which is apropos because it's all about recording using Quicktime. It's a super handy thing to know if you're recording episodes remotely with guests who might not be too tech savvy.

Due to the pandemic, many of us have become very familiar with the online conferencing platform, Zoom, which is why it makes a great tool for recording podcasts remotely. It's easy to use and it's likely your guest knows how to use it. The only issue is that Zoom recordings usually don't sound good. But there are things we can do to improve the recording quality. Let's find out what they are.

There is a lot to learn when you start a podcast, and a big chunk of that is podcast technology. Let's cover everything you'll need to know to start a podcast.

This episode might sound a little different than other episodes, and that's because I recorded it just using my smartphone and earbuds. If you're just getting started and don't have a big budget, I'll share with you how to get a pretty good recording with equipment you already have.

You want to start recording your awesome new podcast as soon as possible, but you don't have your equipment yet. Let's talk about what you'll need to get started.

You're finally ready to turn your podcast idea into a reality, but…how exactly? This episode we'll talk about the steps to getting your podcast created and out into the world.

If your podcast is a party, your podcast description is like the invitation, and your goal is to get the listener to RSVP. When your listener gets to the party, they'll decide if they want to hang around, but the description is what gets them in the door in the first place. Let's talk about writing a description that does just that.

The key to a successful podcast interview is to be prepared. With a little work ahead of time, your interview will go smoothly and you'll reduce your stress during recording by about 1 million percent. Let's go through the steps of preparing for a podcast interview.

While some people had guesses, the Apple Podcasts Charts were kind of a mystery until recently. How does a podcast get into the charts? Do I need more reviews? Apple cleared that all up with a blog post. Let's walk through what we know about the Apple Podcasts charts now.

You have your podcast episode edited and you click export on your computer. Now what? There are so many options to choose from. Let's talk about the best way to export your podcast so you know exactly which options to select next time you export an episode.

After buying all of your microphones, headphones and such, the cost of creating podcast can add up fast. Luckily there are lots of free tools out there that you can use for your podcast. Let's chat more about some of my favorites.

One of the wonderful things about being an independent podcaster is that you're in complete control of when your episodes are posted. The challenge is holding yourself to that schedule. It might seem like a good idea to do a daily podcast at first, but then you quickly realize how time consuming it is, and then you burnout. Let's talk about how frequently you should be posting your podcast.

Sometimes before a listener even hears one second of your podcast, the only thing that makes them click on it in a sea of other podcasts is the artwork. Let's talk about how to create a podcast image that stands out from the crowd.

Can you make a living from podcasting? The answer is yes. It's challenging, but maybe not as challenging as you might think. Let's talk about the 1000 True Fans concept and how it relates to podcasting.

How many podcasts have you tried out that started with something like… “Heyyyyy Sarah how are you?” “I'm good. How are you?” “How was your weekend?” “It was good.” It's just not a compelling way to start. Your introduction is super important. It's the first thing your listeners hear, and if it doesn't grab them, they're not going to stick around. Let's talk about creating a podcast introduction that pulls listeners in, and doesn't push them away.

Podcast trailers are an easy way for potential new listeners to sample your show without committing the time to listen to a full episode. They're also a valuable marketing tool. You can share your trailer everywhere. Here's how to make a podcast trailer that stands out from the rest.

Yes, this podcast is usually geared toward podcast creators, but this episode is for podcast guests. Guests are such an important part of many podcasts, but it's likely a podcast guest is not a podcast expert. If you've never been on a podcast before, what should you do to do a good job? Let's find out. And don't tune out podcast creators, these tips will also help you set up your guests for success.

Because the podcast industry is always changing, it's important to keep an eye on trends in the industry. One way to get a better understanding of what's happening right now in the industry is to catch “The Infinite Dial” report from Edison Research every year. They just presented their findings for 2022 last week. Let's talk about the major takeaways.

Hey independent podcaster, I know you just spent hours and hours, preparing, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast, but there's still a bit more work to go. Now you need to connect your podcast with its audience. And unless you have a marketing background, this can be overwhelming. So today let's talk about three things you can do to market your podcast right now.

If you're like most podcasters, you're probably keeping an eye on your download numbers. But do you know what that number actually means, and would you be able to describe it to a potential advertiser? Let's talk more about downloads. --- LINK: IAB compliant podcast companies

By definition, podcasting is audio only, but some podcasters are choosing to share video as well. Let's chat about the pros and cons of video.

As independent podcasters, we know that audio quality is important, but we also know what our budgets look like. Let's talk about simple and inexpensive ways we can improve our podcasts' audio quality right now.

Sound quality absolutely matters. Let's find out why. Read the paper referenced in this episode here. ---- 1. Newman EJ, Schwarz N. Good Sound, Good Research: How Audio Quality Influences Perceptions of the Research and Researcher. Science Communication. 2018;40(2):246-257. doi:10.1177/1075547018759345

Valentine's Day is over, but I can still feel the love in the air…for podcasts. Why do we love podcasts? It's an important question to answer, so we can truly understand the value we're providing to our audiences. Let's dive into why people listen to podcasts and what makes someone fall in love with one.

If you're a small (or even big) business owner, you might be wondering: does my business need a podcast? We'll talk about why podcasts are great tools for business owners, and how to decide if podcasting is right for you.

How long should my podcast be? It depends. I know that's probably not the specific answer you're looking for, but in this episode we'll talk about figuring out what that magic number is for your podcast.

Since this is the first episode of The Podcast Guidebook, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the most difficult part of podcasting - starting. You have this idea in your head that you want to get out, but something is stopping you. Let's break down that roadblock and answer the question: how do I start?

Welcome to The Podcast Guidebook, a podcast for independent creators who want to bring their podcast to the next level. I'm your host Beth K. Gibbs, podcast producer, consultant, and founder of Lift Podcasting, a production company aimed at helping independent creators get their podcast off the ground. I believe that podcasting is for everyone, not just the big players, and I want to give you the know-how to create a high-quality podcast that you can be proud of, and one that will connect with your audience in a meaningful way. Join me every week for a quick podcast coaching session in less than 10 minutes. Each episode will cover a topic that will help you make your podcast the best that it can be - whether it's improving your audio quality, growing your audience, or gaining a better understanding of the podcast industry. Listen for free on any podcast app, YouTube, or at liftpodcasting.com. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Talk to you soon!