Quick Daily Podcasting Tips by Alitu

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about community sponsorship. Depending on where you live, you might see a lot of sponsorship opportunities in your local community. These are typically things like flower beds, roundabouts, and parks. This is a more altruistic advertising approach because you’re giving something back to your community, as well as potentially pulling in some new listeners. So is there a park bench, woodland trail, or even, public toilet that would benefit from having your podcast’s name on it? If nothing else, it’ll make for a good story to tell your listeners. Thanks very much for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast *on* public transport. Or, on HGVs. Now that everyone *inside* the bus is listening to your podcast, let’s get some car-based listeners too. Ads on the backs of buses and lorries are common ways transport companies monetise otherwise dead space on their vehicles. They’re incredibly effective because there’s almost always someone looking right at it. Again, if the ad agency knows its business well, then it’ll also make it clear who to contact if you’re looking to enquire about one. Remember, you can do this on a much smaller and cheaper scale using car bumper stickers. Or, you might consider befriending a lorry driver and asking to put your sticker on their vehicle. However you go about it though, I hope this strategy brings you some decent traffic. Traffic. See what I did there? Thanks very much for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast inside public transport. You know when you’re sitting on the bus, train, or tube, trying your best to avoid eye contact with anyone. You always find yourself looking at those wee ads above the windows for weird hair tonics and haemorrhoid cream. Or is that just me? In any case, people do see these ads every single day. *A lot* of people, usually. So imagine an ad for your podcast up there beside them? As an aside, this would be the perfect place to use a QR Code, too. So next time you’re on public transport, just take a closer look at the existing ads to see which agency is running them. Then, get in touch to ask about pricing options. The only downside here is that your fellow travellers will think you’re making a note of that haemorrhoid cream for your shopping list. But, you win some, you lose some. Thanks very much for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about running ads in print magazines. Print magazines have experienced a bit of a renaissance in recent years. In fact, it seems to be the ultra-niche ones that have best weathered the digital storm, and continue to grow from strength to strength. This is perfect for doing some targeted advertising for your show. Whether you’re podcasting about fly fishing, gardening, or model railways, you’ll likely find a magazine serving up the same topic to a dedicated fanbase. You’ll be surprised at how affordable this can be, with a lot of mags just looking to fill up ad spaces before their next print deadline. However, if it’s still out of your budget, you can always offer to write a guest article for them in exchange for the opportunity to mention your podcast. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/advertising](http://thepodcasthost.com/advertising)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising on Overcast and other podcast listening apps. This type of advertising is hugely effective, because 100% of the folks you reach are podcast listeners who’re actively browsing their app. There’s no education needed here whatsoever, it’s just down to your show’s title, topic, and snippet. Overcast ads appear as unobtrusive little banners, which the app’s users see at the bottom of their screen. This means they're literally one click away from browsing your podcast inside their chosen listening app. And one more click away from hitting Play or Subscribe. Costs here vary on category and demand. Overcast also estimates the number of clicks and subscribers you’ll get via your ad, so you can weigh up the potential ROI. Overcast isn’t the only listening app you can run ads on, either. Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podbay, and Player FM are other options you might want to consider, too. For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/advertising](http://thepodcasthost.com/advertising)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast. The concept of advertising really needs no introduction. This is an ancient and traditional way of promoting a product or service. You pay some money, and you get your ad in front of a particular audience. Podcast growth can be a slow burn. But the one way you can fast-track it, is to spend some money on an ad campaign. So if you’re able to set some money aside for this purpose, what are your options when it comes to spending it? And which one’s going to be the best fit for you and your podcast? Over the next few episodes, we’re going to run through some popular and effective places to run ads for your podcast, so be sure to subscribe to or follow Pocket-Sized Podcasting on your listening app of choice, that way, you’ll never miss an episode.

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about other types of podcast merch. Now that we’re looking at this from a “just get as much branded merch out there as possible” approach, what can we add to our store alongside our t-shirts, stickers, and magnets? A quick look over at popular print-on-demand service TeePublic gives us some good ideas, including laptop and phone cases, pin badges, tote bags, tapestries, wall art, mugs, pillows, kids onesies, hoodies, and even… tank tops. What about that, eh? A tank top. I went on there and they look more like vests to me, but never mind. If you want to check out this service for yourself, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/teepublic](http://thepodcasthost.com/teepublic) And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about t-shirts. The big misconception about selling podcast-branded t-shirts is that this is a monetization strategy, rather than a promotion one. But, any listener wearing your show’s t-shirt becomes like a walking billboard for your show. For most podcasters, using a print-on-demand service for t-shirts will make more sense than buying a bulk order, and then storing and shipping them yourself. But print-on-demand can push the price of your merch up, so it’s worth selling t-shirts at their minimum cost price. This means you’ll make no profit on them, but, it increases the chances of you selling more. As I say, look at this as more guerrilla marketing, rather than the opportunity to make money. There are much better ways to do that, as we’ll cover later on in the series.

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about QR Codes. The humble “Quick Response” code rose to prominence during the pandemic. Very few people don’t know what they are, now. If you don’t, though, a QR Code is a unique symbol that your smartphone's camera can read and translate into a web address. They look like wee black and white chequered squares. You can add QR codes to business cards, stickers and other merch, and they’ll take people directly to your podcast website. You see bands or musicians using this a lot on their stickers, or buskers on their signage. I’ve even heard of people getting QR Code tattoos. That’s possibly the most extreme example of this strategy though, and for most folks, a wee card, sticker, or magnet will do. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/qrcodes](http://thepodcasthost.com/qrcodes)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about roadside promotion. This might be anything from a banner draped on a flyover, to a big sign in a field. Basically, a message that promotes your podcast which will be seen by thousands of people each day. It should go without saying, but please don’t do anything stupid, dangerous, or illegal here. Roads are deadly places, so never put yours or anyone else’s life at risk with a strategy like this. Of course, you could go the official route here, and hire a billboard. But I don’t imagine that comes cheaply, no matter where you are in the world. I see a lot of roadside marketing here in Scotland, usually by some mad farmer. It’d be nice to drive past a few innovative podcast ads, slogans, or messages in the future. In the meantime, for a deeper dive on this, check out [thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla](http://thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about beer mats and coasters. This is one of my favourite podcast promotion strategies, because it’s a great excuse to go to the pub. If you get a bunch of eye-catching cardboard coasters made, you can stick them on your table under your glasses. Then, when you leave, the next people who sit there are going to immediately see them. They might even take one away. Depending on the establishment, some coasters can end up there for days or weeks, too. And a lot of people will end up seeing them up close. With this approach, nights out, hen doos, and birthday drinks become “podcast marketing sessions”. Of course, it doesn’t need to revolve around alcohol, either. You can do this just as well in cafes or restaurants. Basically, any public lounge where people sit down at a table with a drink. Bonus tip: Why not approach a local bar or cafe to become their official supplier of coasters in exchange for some free promotion on your podcast? It’s worth a shot… In the meantime, for a deeper dive on this, check out [thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla](http://thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about magnets. Magnets - like stickers - can be wee adverts for your podcast. They’re more tolerated than stickers, too, because they can be easily removed. This means that curious listeners sometimes take them home. We know where all magnets end up in the home, too. Don’t underestimate the power of getting your logo onto someone’s fridge. They’ll see it every single day for years. So will their family, housemates, or anyone who comes to visit. Magnets also make for great freebies at events or conferences, or as rewards for reviews or crowdfunding support. As they’re usually small, light, and flat, they don’t cost too much to post out anywhere around the world. These are quite literally “fan magnets”, and no podcaster should be without them. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about bumper stickers. A bumper sticker on the back of your car might not seem like it’s doing much. But imagine how many different people end up seeing it over the weeks, months, and years. Sure, a lot of them won’t be your target audience. But some will. And, aside from creating your sticker and slapping it on, this is a completely effortless way of promoting your podcast. Your sticker’s design will depend a lot on your show’s name. If it’s an obvious name, like “The Organic Gardener Podcast”, then it speaks for itself. If you’ve got a more obscure name, though, then you might need to get innovative with your design in order to temp anyone to check it out. The downside of this, of course, is when you cut someone off, they know exactly who you are. So drive safely out there. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about stickers. Stickers are the ultimate guerrilla marketing tool. They’re like little ads for your podcast that can pop up anywhere, and they can last for a long time. You don’t even need to risk accusations of vandalism by actually sticking your stickers in places. You could just give them away at conferences or events. You can even use the business card strategy and leave them in books. Just don’t stick anything to the book, obviously. Most people like stickers - even if they’ve never heard of the brand behind them. Give someone a sticker, and they’re unlikely to chuck it away. They’re also quite likely to stick it somewhere. This could be anything from the back of a laptop, to a dedicated “sticker wall” in their house or office. Bottom line: No podcaster should be without a set of stickers for their show. And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastmerch)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about leaving a card in a book. Books might be very old, and podcasts very new, but both have a lot in common. They’re created with a target audience in mind. So why not promote your podcast in books that share your overarching theme or topic? The starting point here is to order a batch of business cards that promote your podcast. Then, visit any local bookshops and libraries to find books you think your target audience might be interested in. Obviously, it’s unlikely the owners of any establishment would be happy with this. So, you do so entirely at your own discretion. You know, deep down, that you’re helping their customers to find more great content. But they probably won’t share your enthusiasm. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about guerrilla marketing. No, this isn’t about promoting your podcast at the zoo - although it could be. Guerrilla marketing is a low or no-cost unconventional advertising strategy. It allows you to engage with the public on a more personal and memorable level. The cool thing about this too, is that it’s offline, and happens out there in the real world. Examples of guerrilla marketing range from making creative and artistic changes to pre-existing environments, or, leveraging the crowd at some sort of gathering or event. This is all usually without any official permission. On the next few episodes we’re going to give you some examples of podcast promotion tactics that could fall under the guerrilla marketing category. In the meantime, for a deeper dive on this, check out [thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla](http://thepodcasthost.com/guerrilla)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about scheduling tools for social media. Let’s face it. Nobody *really* wants to spend time on social media. These platforms are designed to capture your attention, and they’re very good at it. At best, you’ll lose entire hours of your day. At worst, you’ll feel utterly dejected at the world and its inhabitants. But, you can still give your podcast a presence there by using scheduling tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, or Meet Edgar. These tools let you post questions, updates, and other content, without having any of these apps on your phone. Then, you can set time aside to log in on your computer each day to reply to any engagement. This is a great way to win back control of your time, and put it to much better use. Like working on your podcast. Or, spending time with your friends and family. For a full review of social media scheduling tool Meet Edgar, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/edgar](http://thepodcasthost.com/edgar)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about posting out regular questions. As a podcaster, you want to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to the needs and wants of your audience. You might want to post out regular questions to them, asking specific things. You can do this on social, or, via your email list. You can even create a wee ongoing poll or survey on your website to collect this data indefinitely This is all fuel for highly searchable and helpful future content. The questions you ask will be specific to your topic, but they’ll typically revolve around struggles or pain points that you’re uniquely positioned to solve. There’s no need to try and second-guess what people want to hear about. They’ll usually be happy to tell you themselves. All you need to do is ask. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about audiogram highlights. An audiogram is a piece of media that combines visual art, a sound wave, an audio track, and even a transcription of the dialogue. These are great wee shareable files that you can use on social media to promote your latest episode. To make one, you just need to pick out a memorable or powerful segment from the show, say, between one to three minutes long. Then, use a tool like Headliner to quickly and easily create it. If you host your show on Buzzsprout, they have an audiogram maker built-in. You’ll also find a free one in popular listening app Overcast. Audiograms are a step up from quote images, because they let potential listeners actually hear your content, too. And, because you’re a listener to this show, it’s obviously going to sound good. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about sharing reviews on social media. If you go around telling everyone how great your podcast is, they’ll probably take it with a grain of salt. However, if other people do it, then it carries a lot more weight. Podcast reviews aren’t just hot chocolate for the ego. They’re great marketing materials, too. They can pop up in a lot of different listening apps. But you can use a tool like Podrover, Rephonic, or Podpage to collect them all in one place. Podrover will create optimised social media graphics from your reviews, but you can easily use Canva to do this too, with a couple of extra steps. Remember, it doesn’t always have to be glowing five-star reviews you share, either. Sometimes an entirely unreasonable one-star review is good for a laugh and some extra engagement, too. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about behind-the-scenes content. This is a great way to further engage your long-time fans. Whilst brand new listeners couldn’t care less about your cat, your weekend plans, or, your flatmate’s questionable hygiene, the folks who’ve been with you a while will start to. Recording some extra audio or video before or after your main episode can create some nice bonus content here. It’s a peek behind the curtain of what goes into making the show, and a chance to go off-topic without that angry new guy shouting “Just get to the point!” at you. You can put this behind a paywall on a crowdfunding platform, or, you can just release it on a different feed or YouTube channel. The good thing about this content is that it can really drive engagement with almost no extra work. So why not give it a shot and see how it goes for you? Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advanced twitter search. Twitter is where thousands of people who haven’t learned to use Google yet spend their days, shouting endless questions into the void. The good news, though, is that you can mine this data to create episodes that answer those specific questions. In an ideal world, these folks would then learn how to use Google and subsequently find your episodes. But you could just directly reply to them with your content once it goes out. They did ask, after all! With this approach, it’s worth typing in your topic, along with a question like “does anyone know”, or, “can anyone recommend”. Here, you know for sure you’re creating content people are actively searching for. It’s just a pity they’re so bad at searching for it. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about social media quote images. From memes, to pseudo-inspirational wisdom, the internet just loves the sight of an image with text on it. If you’re a social media user, you can get in on the act here by pulling a compelling wee quote or two from your latest episode, and creating a shareable graphic around it. Here, you’ll want to add the name of your show, and maybe even your cover art and your domain name onto the graphic, too. This is a balancing act as you don’t want it to get too cluttered. You might have to edit the quote down a bit so that it’s an appropriate length. You can make these graphics quickly, easily, and for free, by using canva.com. They come in especially handy if you’re quoting an interview guest because it makes them more likely to share it with their own audience, too. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about key questions to ask in your listener survey. Many of your questions will be determined by your topic. But here are some that you might want to consider adding in. 1. How did you discover the show 2. What made you hit play? 3. What keeps you listening? 4. Is there a particular episode that stands out to you? 5. Is there anything about the show that irks or frustrates you? 6. What are you struggling with right now? 7. If I could create a product, service, or course just for you, what would it be? 8. In one sentence, how would you describe this podcast to a friend who you think would like it? You could also add in some multiple-choice questions about things like episode length, format, and frequency. But I’d only recommend doing this if these are things you’d be willing to change. Remember, you don’t NEED to act on all or, even, any of this. What you do with the data is up to you. And be aware that you can’t please everyone, all of the time. Ultimately, it’s YOUR podcast. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey](http://thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to start your listener survey. Lots of people might click on and start your survey, but not all of them will finish it. So how do we get the maximum amount of people through to the end? Open with some easy low-hanging fruit multiple-choice questions. Obviously, you still want these to be useful to you; otherwise, you’re wasting their time and yours. But get them ticking those wee boxes, and they’ll be more likely to fill out any text boxes and personal details that follow. Text boxes and personal details are the exact things you don’t want to open with. Most people feel busy, and when they see a big empty box, they’ll just assume your entire survey is going to take a lot of time, and a lot of typing. People are wary of giving away personal info, too. If you need to ask for things like names or email addresses, then leave this til the end. At least they’re going to feel like they’ve bought into it by then. And you can always allow them to skip these options if they’d like to. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey](http://thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about listener voice surveys. Not all surveys need to be text-based, you can collect audio answers, too. A voice survey would be less in-depth than its text counterpart. But, the answers can have a bit more impact and meaning. They can even be used as part of future content, so long as you’re clear about that with your listeners beforehand. A tool like Telbee is ideal for setting something like this up. It transcribes the answers for you, so they’re easy to sift through and organise, without actually having to listen through them. Again, this isn’t going to give you the big data of a text-based survey, but it’s something to keep in your arsenal when you want candid feedback from your listeners. Or, when you’re planning your next montage episode. For a deeper dive on this, and for a full review of Telbee, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/voicefeedback](http://thepodcasthost.com/voicefeedback)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about tools for running a listener survey. Survey software can actually be quite expensive. As we’re only looking to run something like this at most every six months, it doesn’t make much sense to spend a fortune on it. So if you’re looking to run a survey for free, then Google Forms is the best option I’ve come across. Yes, it looks a bit basic, but it more than does the trick. SurveyMonkey is a famous survey tool, whilst Typeform is really sophisticated. But, for the majority of podcasters, they’ll just be a bit too pricey for what we need. Be wary of WordPress plugin survey tools, too. They might be free to set up, but can sneakily end up holding your data hostage for a subscription fee. Once you’ve set your survey up, remember to use a tool like PrettyLinks to create an easy link for it, too. That’s what we’ve done for our own survey, which you can find at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And this week, we’re going to focus on running a listener survey. When we’re trying to grow our podcast audience, it’s easy to go chasing after new listeners. But one of the best approaches is simply to look after the folks who’re already listening. If you do that, your numbers will grow by default. Think about it. You’re already creating content that people like. They choose to listen to you already. So asking them for some info and opinions can be like mining gold. Your existing fans are your biggest marketers. So make them feel valued, and heard. You’ll get some great new content ideas, opportunities to tighten up your content, and a clearer idea of how people find you and what keeps them listening. On tomorrow’s episode of Pocket-Sized Podcasting, we’ll look at some tools for hosting your survey. In the meantime, for a deeper dive, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey](http://thepodcasthost.com/howtosurvey)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about milestones. Setting goals for your show, meeting them, and then celebrating them, is a good way to get in front of new listeners. Your existing audience will follow along as you aim to hit that 50th episode, or get that 1000th download. Putting out some special content when you do, means that they’re likely to share it. This content could be as simple as a graphic knocked up on Canva, or a full montage episode, like we talked about earlier in the series. So what fun, impressive, but realistic goals could you set for your show? And are there any unique and eye-catching ideas you can think of to celebrate them once you get there? Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about newsjacking. This sounds a bit sleazy, but, think of newsjacking as connecting with topics that are on people’s minds right now. You want to do this with some sensitivity. It’s good to make the most of current events, but you don’t want to exploit someone else’s pain. Start with something that is likely to be in the news for a while, so your episode is still relevant by the time you finish editing and release it into the world. Looking on Twitter and Google for trending topics is a good idea, though these tend to have a short shelf life in the cultural memory. Sometimes trending topics are a flash in the pan. People may have forgotten about it by the time you get your episode edited, polished and uploaded. So what big ongoing stories in your topic, niche, or industry can you contribute to? This won’t just help with finding new listeners, either. Your existing audience will appreciate it a lot, too. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about entering awards and competitions. “It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part” might be an old cliche, but there’s some truth to it. Awards and competitions aren’t just a chance to win something. They’re an opportunity for visibility too. Participating in a couple of awards or competitions each year can be useful. They can help you to spread the word about your show, expand your reach and network, and grow your audience. These awards might be regional, or online. They might be podcast-specific, or, built around your industry or topic. Some ask you to make or do something, whilst others request a fee. You’ll just need to weigh all of this up to decide which ones are really going to be worth it. And, you never know, you might even win something. But, to be honest, we all know a few new listeners are worth more than some wee trophy. And all you have to do for that… is take part. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about being featured in Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts, aka, iTunes, is a huge listening platform, so getting an episode featured there can send a lot of new ears your way. Of course, there’s no way to guarantee this, but here’s how to have a good crack at it. Firstly, the episode in question shouldn’t be published yet. They’re looking for at least two weeks’ lead time to feature you. You’ll find the promotion request form at [thepodcasthost.com/appleform](http://thepodcasthost.com/appleform) Fill that out and convince them why it's worth featuring. For example, interviewing a film star ahead of a big premiere, or, covering a major event or news story. Apple also wants to know how you’ll promote the feature on their platform, so, the more you can offer them, the more likely you are to catch their eye. For an example of us featuring one of our podcasts there, along with download data, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/itunesfrontpage](http://thepodcasthost.com/itunesfrontpage)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about pitching to traditional media outlets like newspapers and radio. With a compelling story, you can draw new eyes or ears to your podcast. Some of the folks reading or listening might be in your target audience, and those are the ones you’re hoping will check out your show. Of course, it isn’t enough to go and tell your local paper you run a podcast. They’ll just think “okay, so what?”. Instead, there needs to be a compelling human story there. Some examples could be - Podcaster helps listener launch their own business after they were made redundant - Podcaster helps listener to learn Spanish and land dream tourism job - Podcaster helps budding young author to win short story competition The story doesn’t need to be about a listener, either, it could be about you - Podcaster was given a month to live. Now she’s helping others battle back from cancer - Podcaster had a childhood speech impediment. Now they talk to hundreds - Podcaster was rejected from art school. Now, show has helped them to sell first painting Notice that these focus on a transformation. Journalists love that stuff, and it’s the very basis of any story ever told. So what’s your story? For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/journalists](http://thepodcasthost.com/journalists)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to become a podcast guest. First thing’s first - ditch that generic copy and paste email. Focus on fewer shows and reach out to them with a personalised video instead. Tell them what you love about their show, and how you’re uniquely positioned to bring value to their audience. Make it all about them, their content, and their listeners. This won’t guarantee results, but they’ll almost certainly watch it, as opposed to skimming and deleting a lengthy text-based pitch. You can also pay booking services such as podcastguests.com, matchmaker.fm, or Podchaser Connect to set you up with interview gigs. Deciding on the best route here might come down to whether you’d rather spend time, or money. Whichever investment you make, though, the results can be worth it. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcast. For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to [thepodcasthost.com/getbookedasguest](http://thepodcasthost.com/getbookedasguest)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about being interviewed on other podcasts. There are few better ways to grow your audience than this. After all, 100% of the people who hear it are active podcast listeners. If you do a good job and provide a lot of value, those people will naturally want to subscribe to your own show. This is definitely an “easier said than done” tactic, though. It’s not like you can just invite yourself on to someone else’s podcast. Popular shows in your topic will also get hundreds of requests for guest appearances. Ultimately, you’ll need to play the long game, creating good content consistently over a period of time, and interview requests will start to come. But, there are a few tactics for jumping the queue here, and we’re going to cover them on the next episode. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a local podcaster group. There are enough podcasts out there these days that you’ll have other podcasters in your area. Sure, they might podcast about something completely different, and, have no direct interest in your topic, but there’s a lot of benefits to getting together regularly. Support, community, and friendship are always good things to have in your life. But you also become the go-to person in your topic. Each time one of your fellow podcasters meets someone interested in it, they’re naturally going to mention you. They’ll know the name of your show, and where to find it. And you’ll be able to do the same for others in the group, too. You might even meet another podcaster who’s topic or audience overlaps with yours, and there’ll be scope to try out some of the cross-promotion tactics we covered on an earlier episode. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about organising a live event. Booking a space and recording an episode with a live audience is more work than just hitting record in your bedroom, but the results are worth it. Live episodes can be powered up by audience engagement and reaction, and they’re great for word-of-mouth marketing, too. There’s challenges to this, obviously. Your audience might be international with none of them living locally. Your media host’s geographic stats are a great way to find out which countries and cities your podcast is a big deal in. If it’s somewhere a plane ride away, then this might be a more long-term plan. Could you even think about crowdfunding it? Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about recording vox-pops. This is something you’ll have seen on TV before. Vox populi, or voice of the people, is when a few random members of the public each answer the same question, or give their opinion on something topical. These short clips are then edited together to create a piece of content. So have a think about some topics or questions you might be able to ask on your show. Think about the locations you might record them, too. You’ll find plenty people at your local shopping centre, or, you might do this at a dedicated event where knowledge of your topic is already assumed. Be sure to let folks know that it’s for your podcast, and give them a business card so they can find and follow it. This is a great way to find new listeners, as well as create good content for your next episode. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And be sure to check out our ultimate content promotion manual over at [thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook](http://thepodcasthost.com/podcastgrowthbook)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about partnering with an event. In recent episodes, you’ve heard how you might find various events and get-togethers that are relevant to your show. Attending them is a great idea - partnering with them is an even better one. Some podcasts become the official media partner of events in their niche. Here, you might record content in the lead-up, then on the day itself too. This can also give you access to some speakers or interviewees that would’ve been otherwise hard to reach. So again, this can be a win-win. You’re getting loads of great new content opportunities, reaching plenty new people in your target audience, and you’ll even save money on the price of a ticket, too. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about local and ongoing events in your niche. Face-to-face interaction goes a long way toward promoting your podcast. Other people are more likely to remember you and your work if they have met you in person. There might be some groups or societies in your area that are relevant to your podcast topic. It’s much easier and cheaper to pop along to one of these, than it is to invest in the time and travel for a big national event. These groups tend to meet in pubs, libraries, community centres, churches, or coffee shops. They’re a chance to socialize, make friends, and learn from one another. Meetup.com is a great way to find clubs and societies, though you can also use platforms like Eventbrite, Facebook, Craigslist, or Gumtree. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about finding conferences in your niche. No matter what topic you podcast about, there’s probably a decent-sized annual event that takes place around it. This could be anything from a Comicon or board game convention, to a conference of surgeons or physicists. It might seem like a hassle or expense to travel to something like this, but it can be well worth your while. There’s nothing more powerful than real-life in-person interactions. Obviously, you’ll want to behave like a human, rather than a walking billboard for your show. But do take things like business cards or any other appropriate merch to help make your podcast known. This is more about finding long-term friends and relationships rather than a sheer new listeners numbers game. But, you never know what opportunities can arise from these events, and they can lead to massive podcast growth further down the line. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about running competitions to grow your show. This is a good way to reward your current listeners and spread the word about your show. Think about a big action that your podcast’s topic includes. Is there a skill your show teaches, that you could encourage listeners to show off on social, using a certain hashtag? Or maybe you’ll reward listeners for the most innovative use of your podcast merch out there in the wild. Like any competition, you could pick one single winner and send them a physical prize. Or, you might have some sort of digital prize you can offer to everyone who enters. Not only can this give you lots of extra marketing as well as a few new listeners, it’s also a great way to build a sense of community and collaboration around your show, too. Your listeners will really feel like an active part of the podcast, and that can be a powerful thing. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about reaching out to a handful of your dedicated fans. If you can find 3-5 people who you know listen to every single word of every single episode you put out, then it’s well worth your time asking them to get on a call with you. You can almost use this as a sort of focus group for your content. The info you get from them can be gold when it comes to growing your podcast, too. You’ll want to ask them questions like how they discovered the show, why they initially hit play, why they subscribed, and what keeps them listening. Identifying what you’re doing well means you can really zone in on that, going forward. And, you can also get some critical feedback, too. Is there anything they’re not keen on, or would like to see added or removed from the show? This stuff can all be invaluable when it comes to planning the future direction of your show. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about helping to crowdfund another podcast. If there’s one thing 99% of podcasts have in common, it’s in asking their listeners for financial support. Commonly, this is done through crowdfunding platforms like Patreon. And in exchange for supporting them, many shows will offer reward tiers that can help promote the work of the patron. If you have some disposable cash to spare, there are worse ways to spend it. You’re helping to support a fellow creative, and have the opportunity to grow your own show in exchange. So what are your favourite podcasts in your niche? Do they ask for any kind of financial support? And if so, do they offer any rewards? This could be things like; 1. Putting a link to your website on their own site 2. Mentioning you on their show 3. Playing your trailer on their show This is yet another win-win situation for all involved. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about writing a guest post. A popular way to promote your podcast is to do a guest post on a site with a similar target audience. With a guest post, you're creating insightful and helpful content for their readers, and in turn, are able to link back to your own content. So, have a think about some sites that create good content in your niche. What topics do they cover? And how might you be uniquely placed to write something useful and interesting for their readers? A lot of websites have guidelines around guest posts, but if not, they’ll at least have a contact page. Remember, make your pitch all about *them* and their audience. This is all about delivering value. You’ll get your link back, and you’ll get to mention your show, but that isn’t something you want to lead with. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about supporting a charity. Getting behind a charity that’s close to your heart - as well as your podcast topic - can build a great win-win scenario for all involved. This support could be financial, but it may be more useful to both parties for you to promote and spotlight the work of the organisation. If you do an interview show, this might give you access to folks who’d love to do an episode with you. And if you’re creating good content around a charity, they’ll likely want to share and promote your podcast to their wider audience, as well. A couple of examples here could be; - A tabletop wargaming podcast supporting a veterans charity. - Or a writers' show supporting an organisation that helps fund books for kids in socially deprived neighbourhoods. Obviously, with charities, it'll be more of a long-term reciprocity thing, rather than a direct transaction. You'll need to be respectful here, and be aware that this is an ongoing relationship, rather than a service. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a sponsored resource. Podcast sponsorship doesn’t always involve money changing hands. Instead, you can have a “content partnership” with a company where visibility is more important than cash. A sponsored resource is basically something you can create for a business. It should be something that their customers will find useful, or enjoy. In exchange, the resource - and the business itself - will promote your podcast and send new listeners your way. A couple of examples might be; - An outdoors podcast who create a PDF resource for a popular walking boot company - “The Top 20 Walking Trails in Scotland” - Or, A ketogenic diet podcast that creates a PDF resource or infographic, for a cheese or butter company, with 20 exciting recipes to try. So can you think of any companies you’d love to partner with? If so, reach out to their marketing department with your proposal and media kit. It could be the start of a fruitful relationship for both. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at [thepodcasthost.com/psp](http://thepodcasthost.com/psp)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a ‘best podcasts’ roundup. Lists, or ‘roundups’, are one of the most shareable (and searchable) forms of content on the planet. A great way to utilise them to grow your audience, is to create a ‘Best Podcasts’ roundup in your niche. This could either be done as a podcast episode, or blog post (or both!). For each show, answer questions like “what’s it about?”, “who’s it by?” why you like it, how it’s been useful to you, and why you recommend others go and check it out. Make sure you provide links to each show’s website too. When you’ve published your roundup, email and tag each of the podcasts mentioned. Tell them about their inclusion on the list, and ask them if they wouldn't mind sharing it with their audience too. This is a great win-win where you shine a light on other podcasts, but also end up with a lot of your target audience visiting your site. For an example, see our ‘Best Space Podcasts’ roundup at [thepodcasthost.com/spacepodcasts](http://thepodcasthost.com/spacepodcasts)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a montage episode. A montage episode is a piece of audio content, made up of clips from different contributors. A tried and tested way of creating one is to build the episode around a single topic or question. Here, each participant records their answer to the question, and sends over their audio to the creator. You can collect clips from anyone from the general public, to your podcast listeners. In this particular instance, we want to create one with fellow podcasters in our niche. Some examples of montage episodes could include An episode of a travel podcast, where contributors talk about their favourite holiday destination An episode of a sound design podcast, where contributors talk about their favourite audio production software Or, an episode of a health podcast, where contributors talk about their morning routines When you’ve published a montage episode, be sure to reach out to everyone involved and ask them to share it with their own listeners. Everyone’s podcast can grow with this strategy, on top of it being great content for the collective audience. Everyone wins! For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to http://thepodcasthost.com/montage

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about running a co-hosted episode. Teaming up with another podcast in your niche to do a special co-hosted episode can be a great way to expand your reach and share your audiences. These “crossover” episodes can bring fresh and engaging content to the listeners of both shows. They can also help listeners find new, relevant, and enjoyable content that they might not have already been aware of. Can you think of a podcast that's at a similar level to your own show, in terms of influence and following. One with a similar topic, or some sort of overlap in subject matter. If so, reach out to them and propose a special co-hosted episode on a topic that’ll benefit both your audiences. Be sure to sell the benefits to them. You think your audience will love their content, and this is an opportunity to grow their reach. Publish this special episode on both your feeds, making it clear throughout that this is a co-hosted episode between podcast X and podcast Y. Thanks for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And remember, you can leave feedback for us quickly and easily over at http://thepodcasthost.com/psp