Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting Mistakes

Here is what people do to me: Hello (no name), I love your show (which one I have several). Here are a few paragraphs about me and why I'm so great. Here is How to Get Booked on Podcasts: Do your homework and listen to the show to make sure you're a good fit. This benefits everyone as you don't want to waste the time of the podcaster, and you don't want to waste your time appearing on a show that the audience is not a good fit. Connect the dots between your content delivering value and the audience. Make it a "no-brainer" for the podcaster. The less that have to think, "Hmmm, is this is good fit - the better." It's all about THEM and how THEiR AUDIENCE will benefit. I don't care if you cured cancer. If my show isn't' about cancer, you're not a good fit. Talk about how you will promote your appearance (As podcasters want exposure - and not all guests promote their appearance). Again, this is all about them. Don't send four attachments showing how great you are. Keep it short, simple, and offer to send more information if they are interested, but you want to explain how THEY are going to benefit, and how THEIR AUDIENCE is going to benefit. You can always add a line like, "If you'd like my full one sheet I can send it over." (A one sheet has your bio and an overview of your expertise). Need Help Starting or Growing Your Podcast? I would love to work with you. Go over to www.podcastconsultant.com and schedule a coaching session today. Want to learn at your own pace? Check out www.shoolofpodcasting.com/start Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Avoid The Phone if Possible Unless it is your only option, you want to avoid using an actual phone line as it will sound like, well, the phone (it cuts some of the clarity out and the bass). If you have people who will only use a phone you can get a skype to phone account (which is currently around $3.00 a month). Other options are to use a zoom.us meeting and have the person call in. The quality will be worse. Another "better than nothing" option is uberconference.com, Here again, you would connect via your microphone and your guest would connect via the phone. Record Your Call as a WAV File If you are connecting via an interface like the Scarlet 2i2, then send the audio into a portal recorder like the Zoom H1, or H6. This will make it sound better as you are capturing exactly the way you hear it is. With Skype recorders (or its own internal recorder) you lose quality. It's usable, but you ALWAYS want to do what you can to preserve the quality. So, How Do I Record Skype If you are on a mac check out Call Recorder. If you are on a PC check out Free Skype Recorder. In both cases, I would find a way to get a local recorder going as well so you have two recordings going. A Better Solution with Flexibility If you want more flexibility, try Squadcast.fm which records both sides of the conversation, and eliminates those "skype burps" as it records both sides of the podcast locally. If you don't have the need for this, it can also combine the two sides of the conversation into one file. The Easiest Solution Currently, in 2019 the easiest and most flexible way to record a phone call is the Rodercaster Pro from Rode. I have and use one of these. This unit does everything. You can connect multiple people via phone, USB, Bluetooth, and directly via a microphone (you could have a total of seven people connected). It's an amazing piece of equipment with a price tag around $600 but it also has a built-in recorder, acts as a mixer, and has built-in audio enhancements. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In the last episode, I mentioned how you shouldn't take a break. With this in mind, I realize that "life happens" and you can't put things like your family or your job, or your health on the back burner so something has to go (and that something is your podcast). Today I talk about how to do this without losing your audience. Mentioned in this episode The Way I Heard it by Mike Rowe Need Help With Your Podcast? I can help. See www.podcastconsultant.comMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

There are holidays throughout the year especially towards the end of the year. Some questions you might ask is: Is your audience taking a break from driving to work? Are they not grocery shopping/walking the dog? Are they traveling over the holidays (over the river and through the woods). You can record episodes ahead of time and release them later. When you release on a regular schedule, your audience makes you part of their routine. Let's Talk About Your Podcast Let's schedule a session. Go to www.podcastconsultant.comMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Smart speakers are getting more and more popular, but for the most part podcast listening is not the MAIN thing that people are using their devices (like the Amazon Dot, or Echo) for (and we can include the Google Home). There are companies that will charge you a monthly fee to host your podcast and distribute it to Amazon. Currently, I don't recommend that as according to Libsyn, .2 (not 2 - point two) percent of people are listening to a podcast on smart speakers and set-top boxes (Apple TV, Roku, etc). So while it is the new sexy thing (and there are always exceptions to the rule) I would focus on listing your show in the directories before worrying about smart speakers. Mentioned in This Show Episode 20 - Top Podcast Directories Schedule a session to talk about planning, starting, and growing your podcast. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You have everything you need (name, equipment, etc) and still can't press record. Today I've got some steps to help you overcome your fears with just a little practice. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Podcasts are a lot like children. They take up a lot of time. They're kind of expensive and you learn a lot of insights by having one. There are times when I run across people who want to launch six podcasts starting next month. In my head (because I'm polite) I say, "No you don't." You want to treat starting a podcast like having a kid. You don't just have six kids. You don't have just three kids. If you have triplets, what do you do? You need some help and you need help quick. You move to where the grandparents are, because Holy cow, are these things time consuming, messy. There's also much more that you didn't even consider. Let's start with one. Let's start with one. This way you can see exactly how long it's going to take for you to create an episode. It Takes an Hour to Create a fifteen Minute Podcast How? You have to research what you're going to talk about it. You have to record it. You have to edit it. You have to upload it to your media host. You have to write a paragraph (or much more) so Google can find it. After you've done all that, you find your fifteen-minute podcast took you and hour. Creating Multiple Podcasts Doesn't Speed Things Up While having multiple podcasts will make you better ate recording, editing, faster (as doing anything over and over - you get better at it) you need to remember here to think QUALITY over quantity. You want, no you NEED to have VALUE in your episodes. This means you will be in a constant state of discovery and analysis. You will be "on" all the time looking for content. This can be exhausting. If You Build It Nobody Sees It With this podcast, I did multiple episodes and had it listed in Apple, Google, etc. I got almost zero downloads. With this in mind, you need more than "Get listed in Apple" as a marketing strategy. This means going where your audience is and really getting to know them, listening to them, and then tell them about your podcast. Creating a podcast isn't the hard part. Getting people to listen to your podcast is the hard part. Start With One By starting with ONE podcast you get to see first hand what it takes. Then you can make an informed decision. You may have enough time to create one GOOD podcast, and if you had launched multiple shows they would not have been as good (as good content does not grow on trees). I know you're excited. I know you have dreams. Trust me. Start with one. Want to Talk About it? I'd love to have a coaching session to help you start your podcast and grow your influence. Schedule your session today. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When people find your show and like it they will download a lot of your old episodes. I did this recently and found a podcast that I should have loved. I pressed start on the latest episode and was greeted with a pre-recorded advertisement. Followed by another pre-recorded advertisement. In fact, as I went from episode to episode, I kept hearing the exact same advertisement. Every time I pressed play, it was the exact same advertisement. It became annoying. I know recording multiple versions of advertisements can be more work, but YOU ARE BEING PAID. If you need help starting your podcast and growing your influence, come visit me at www.podcastconsultant.comMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I found a show name Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks. I love it. Do you know what I did? I downloaded all of his episodes (64 at the moment) and consumed them all. However, some of these are from a long time ago. In case he started off with a mild (I exaggerate apologies in this episode) apology. I had just listened to his episode, and the next one starts and here is Matthew apologizing for not putting out a show last week. That doesn't apply to me. I just heard your episode two minutes ago. There is no need for an apology. But You Feel Bad About it I know, I know you feel bad. That's really a good thing. You want to care about your audience. However, if you think about it your TRUE fans will listen to the end of the show. For me, THAT is the best place (the end of the show) for an apology. It's not a good first impression for anyone listening in the future. Schedule a Coaching Call Ready to launch your podcast? I can help make sure you avoid the common mistakes. Go to www.podcastconsultant.comMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I get confused when I meet bloggers who have great content but don't want to take the exact same information and turn it into a podcast. I may like your blog, but I can't read it on the way to work. However, I could listen to it if it was a podcast. People on YouTube have audio recorded. All they need to do is pull the video into a program like Audacity and export the audio. You already have great content, but not everybody loves videos and blogs. You should repurpose your content and make it easy for everyone to consume their content in any format. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Today I share my thoughts and some facts on why it's not too late to start a podcast ( or write a diet book, or become an actor, musician, etc). See www.podcastconsultant.com/29 for full notesMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

There are times when we can overthink things. You always want to do your best and get input from your target audience. You want to know what they want. There may be decisions that just you just can't come to a conclusion. You could do more research if you want, but in some cases, you just have to make a decision and if it doesn't work out, then try something else. I often say your podcast is a recipe and not a statue. I can almost guarantee that your podcast will start in one direction and end up going in a slightly different one that you thought. I like bananas. I like peanut butter on bananas. I like Reese's cups which have chocolate and peanut butter combined. However, I never mixed bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate. On paper, it seems like I would like this but there is only ONE way to know and that's to make the recipe and eat it. You can guess all day if your audience will like your show, but there is only one way to know and that's to make an episode and let them eat it. Nobody will punch you in the face, and you can change anything that doesn't work. Also keep in mind that when you first start out, you probably don't have much of an audience. Let Me Help You Go to www.podcastconsultant.com and schedule a session now.Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

If you look at other people in entertainment: Musicians Actors Athletes They all have some sort of “pre-seasons, or “Dress Rehearsal” to work out the kinks and your podcast should follow their example. I am going to Podcast Movement next week and I have the following gear ready to use/test: Tascam DR-10X miniature recorder SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit Rode Interviewer Microphone I haven't used any of this equipment and I will have TONS of opportunities to use it at Podcast movement. I DONT WANT MY FIRST “REAL” INTERVIEW TO BE MY GUINEA PIG You Will Thank Me Later If your parents (or anyone who made an impact on your life) are still around, use them as your “test” interview. There are some fun twists with this: 1) As you are “in control” as the interviewer you may feel more comfortable asking questions you normally wouldn't. 2) They may really expand on stories as this is being recorded and they want to give you good content (they are your parents still) 3). If life goes according to plan, you will outlive them (I hate to bum you out) but you will thank me later Let Me Help You No matter if you start planning, starting, launching, growing, your podcast I can help with all of that. Schedule a Session TodayMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

As a support person for a podcasting company (Libsyn.com) I have people contact me who are looking at their daily, weekly, and monthly stats and in some cases, they panic. If the numbers go up, they don't believe they are real listeners If the numbers go down, then there must be something wrong. I host a show that I've done since 2005 called The School of Podcasting and it has over 600 episodes. When I look at the stats for a current month, 60% of them are from shows NOT released that month. For example, let's say I get 20,000 downloads in the month of June. The episode released in June might get 2000 downloads an episode. That means four episodes would be 8000 downloads. Then where did the other 12,000 downloads come during June? Your back episodes. When someone finds your show and they like it they will download more episodes. Some apps make I super easy to download ALL of your episodes. In my case that is over 600 downloads in one day. With this in mind your daily, weekly, and monthly stats are not a consistent way to tell if your show is growing. How To Tell If Your Podcast Is Growing What you want to measure is the number of downloads per episode. Some people recommend the total number of downloads for the episode after it has been published for 30 days. They use this stat as that is often the time frame sponsors use. I like to check the total number of downloads after seven days. Why? Because it shows me my (in my opinion) subscribers and “super fans.” As os the case always with stats you can pivot and do creative math to see what you want to see. Just keep it consistent. If you want to compare one episode after 30 days to another one after it has been available for 30 days, you can do that. Just make sure they are both showing stats for the same period of time. A show that has been published longer will naturally have more downloads. Lets Work Together I would love to help you plan, launch, grow and monetize your podcast. Take advantage of my 14 years of experience. Schedule a Coaching SessionMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You've decided that you want to do a podcast with a co-host. That's great. Some people feel having a co-host makes podcasting easier because it's not just you talking into a wall. But there are some things you might want to think consider. Number one, who owns the show? So if it's the Bert and Ernie show, and Burt decides he wants to quit, does that mean Ernie can't find a new co-host and change the name? You'll see this all the time with bands like Pink Floyd and Queensryche who spend tons of cash in court arguing over who owns the name. Secondly, what if somebody wants to leave, let's say after nine months of doing the show, Burt says, I've had enough. I thought this was going to be fun. How are you going to handle these situations? FULL NOTES HEREMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You may think that your best friend is the obvious choice to be a co-host. However, what if you both DO think the same thing. That's going to be quite a lot of "me too." Here are some tips to consider: What role does each person play (and who is driving the conversation) Morning radio has a host, typically some "dork" and someone (often a female) who is the voice of reason You might consider adding some diversity into your team so people can identify with someone on the show. If you would like some help planning your podcast, let's sit down and get your going in the right direction. Schedule a session today.Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Promoting Your Podcast on Social Media So you want to share to the world that your podcast episode is out there? You're not sure what link to use. Should I share a link to Apple? Should I share a link to Google? Should I just share a link directly to the mp3 file? Think of it Like a Podcast Dinner Well, I want to use the analogy of dinner, you've decided to have a bunch of people over for dinner. And then you say, well, let's see, we can't have burgers, because one person is coming is vegetarian. It's tough to have a one size fits all solution. The Problem with Some Podcast Links And here's the problem. If I send you just an apple link, 80% of Europe is using an Android phone. When you send them an apple link, it's kind of like, hey, look, I don't care about you Mr and Mrs. Android user. Likewise, if I send an Android link then the apple people are left out. So you need a one size fits all and realize that when you do clothing, that's one size fits all is not the prettiest fit but it works. Your Website is Your Central Hub In the end, your website is your central hub, that is your home base. It is where you want people to go because if all these apps and websites blow up, they always know that they can return back to your home base. MP3.com There was a website called mp3.com and musicians were actually making a living using mp3.com to the point where they didn't have their own website. And they would just tell people, hey, go to mp3.com/DaveJackson. Well, mp3 dot com, got sold, sued, sold, and sold again and eventually right now it's worthless. And those people that didn't say go to davidjackson.org lost their audience. Go there, and you can find me and I will tell you how to get more music. They lost their entire audience. There were people that used to put all their ducks in a row on my space. Yes, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc are all satellite offices should direct people back to your website. The Best Link To Share Your Podcast on Social So to get back to the original question, what link do I put in my social media? Put the link that points people to the episode on your website. So when they go there, they'll see a player, they'll see some notes about the episode. And hopefully, they'll see links there to subscribe because, in the end, we want people to subscribe to your show. That way, when you put out a new episode, it automatically goes to their devices. So what link do I put, when I'm sharing on social? The one that's going to work for everybody - the link to your website. If they're on an Android phone, it works. If they're on an Apple phone, it works. If they're on their desktop, it works. Send your audience to your website which also reinforces your brand. Conclusion By using a link to the episode on your website people can click play on your player no matter what device they are using. You can also have subscribe buttons and other calls to action. If you're using Facebook, you can put "the pixel" on their device and start marketing to them. The best link to share on social for your podcast is a link to your website. Work With Me Join the School of Podcasting or let me be your podcast mentor schedule some one on one time so we can get your going in the right direction. Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

As a content creator (and when you boil it down, that is what podcasters are) what do you want? You want more exposure for your content. So why limit yourself to one type of format? Pros and Cons of each format Tools to create a good video Why you should record your audio separately Links and more at www.podcastconsultant.com/21 Schedule a consulting session today www.podcastconsultant.comMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I'm often confused by this question, someone will come up to me and say, Hey, Dave, there are these different places where I should list my podcast. Should I list my show in (insert directory name)? My answer is, well, let's see, it's free and it will give you more exposure, and just a few minutes to submit to them. Why would you not list your show there? The answer is, yes, wherever you can list your show or doesn't hurt your brand. Why wouldn't you? I've got a list of the best directories at the website http://www.podcastconsultant.com/20Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Back on episode 13 I talked about how to choose a name. Today we talk about what happens if you choose a name and it just falls flat, or even worse, confuses people. We talked about the mechanics of podcasting before in episode When Your Podcast Name is Bad The bad news is that name that you chose for your podcast is falling flat, or even worse, it's confusing people. Because if you confuse you lose. You've come to the conclusion, I want to change the name of my podcast. In fact, what if I want to rebrand my show. My First Podcast Had Three Names Musician's Cyber Cooler I did this three times with my first podcast, I originally named it the musician's cyber cooler. This is where musicians come to trade advice (kind of a water cooler). Back in 2005. When I started we called the Internet cyberspace. Hence, the musicians cyber cooler. Well, that confused people. Then the word cyber got attached to sex. People were talking about cybersex. Musician's Cooler I need to lose the word cyber so then it was the Musician's Cooler. The artwork had a big picture of a water cooler that said Musicians Cooler: where musicians come to trade advice. People still didn't get it. They asked if it was about wine coolers. Marketing Musician Change the name, again, to the marketing musician Podcast, where musicians come to trade advice. Finally, my audience understood. You Can Change Your Podcast Anytime - It's YOURS Your podcast is a recipe, not a statute. So here's what you want to do. If you want to change your name, you go into whatever system you're using to generate your feed. Remember, Apple, Spotify, Google, they're all looking at your feed. In fact, podcasting is syndicated. So if you're using something like Libsyn.com (you can use the coupon code sopfree to get a free month there) you simply change your information (the artwork, description, name) in Libsyn. Be Careful Changing Artwork Now when you're uploading new artwork, make sure that it meets the specifications for Apple. 1400x1400px (minimum) 3000x3000px (maximum) Under 500kb Use rGB color space Be a JPG, JPEG, or a PNG file You want the new artwork to have a different name (so Logo.jpg is now logo2.jpg) Don't Worry About Your Feed - Apps See Your Feed - Not People If you're using Libsyn you might worry that your feed still have fragments of your old name. Here is a simple test: Think of your favorite podcast. Now tell me their feed. Me neither. PEOPLE don't look or see feed addresses (apps do). When I updated my show, I kept the same feed address. What About Changing Website Addresses? If you're using the feed from your media host (Like Libsyn) you can blow up your website. It won't matter. However, if you are using a feed generated by your website it is a big deal. You need to create the new website with the new feed BEFORE you delete the old website address (as you will need to point the old to look at the new). This type of operation is somewhat out of the scope of an audio podcast. I can help you with it (I help people do this every day) but it just doesn't work in Audio format. Work With Me Join the School of Podcasting or let me be your podcast mentorMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

In a nutshell, it boils down to this. 1. Identify who your audience is 2. Determine what content they want to hear. 3. Create content that will inspire them to tell a friend (in other words, its good) 4. Go to where your target audience is 5. Make friends with them, and bring value to every conversation, listen for ideas for future episodes. 6. Then tell them about your show If you need help growing your audience I would love to help Schedule a Session today and let me help you get your podcast headed in the right direction Mentioned in this Episode Meetup.com Subscribe to the PodcastMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When it comes to your podcast website ou don't need to overthink your website. The pages you NEED are About Page Contact Page Subscribe Page Your Episodes Is your website a business with a podcast or is it a Podcast with a business? This is something that there is no "one size fits all" answer and I would love to work with you to sort it out. Each situation is different and based on your specific needs. If you need web hosting then check out www.coolerwebsites.com Check out www.podcastvoicemail.com Check out Speak Pipe Ready to Get That Podcast Off The Ground? Schedule some time with me today https://podcastconsultant.com/schedule-a-session/Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Do you need a website for your podcast? If you want your audience to take any kind of action (subscribing, newsletters, products, etc) Apple and Spotify search is not great. See videos and more at www.podcastconsultant.com/16Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I work for Libsyn.com ( the oldest, largest podcast media hosting company - get a free month using the coupon code sopfree). I received this email today I am starting a podcast with a few friends and we are currently looking at different hosting sites for our show. We are new to podcasting so we're trying to find the most user-friendly hosting platform that also allows us to turn this into at least a part-time job. According to my research Libsyn is the best at monetizing a podcast. I was wondering if you would be able to answer a few questions for us to help determine if Libsyn is the right fit? (name redacted) If this is your first concern, there is a likely chance that you're not going to make it as a podcaster. Musicians start playing horrible places to "pay their dues." Many businesses go out of business due to lack of customers. Start a podcast is easy. Starting a GOOD podcast takes work. If you have the passion for your topic, and the passion to serve your audience, you'll make it. If your goal is fast money then you may be doomed. In the book Beyond Powerful Radio Valerie Geller states that in Radio it can take three years to build a loyal audience. Many people don't want to hear that. It is going to take time. How Many Downloads Should Your Podcast Get? I have a formula for this: The value in the episode multiplied by the amount of intelligent marketing equals the total number of downloads. Value X Promotion = Downloads. Go in With Your Eyes Wide Open I don't mean to rain on your parade. I want you to know what it takes so your expectations are realistic and you make it through when many people quit. I want to help you avoid burnout, and doing things that make you seem busy but are not productive. The bottom line is if your first question when you start a podcast is how soon can I start making money, you're headed in the wrong direction and very likely going to waste your time and money. Work With Me Join the School of Podcasting or let me be your podcast mentorMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I see this question in different places. My show is getting X amount of downloads is that good? What Makes a Good Podcast? When I did some research and looked at all the content I consume they all did one of the following: It made me laugh It made me cry It made me think It made me groan It educated me It entertained me If you can combine two or more of those in a way that stirs people's emotions, you are on to something. Never Compare Your Numbers To Others When you are in a corporate setting, if you check the HR handbook I'm sure there is a paragraph about sharing payroll knowledge. Why? Because it breeds resentment. The same is true for podcasting. I had a client once that was overjoyed that they were getting 150 downloads per episode. Then another podcaster in a Facebook group announced that they had just gone of over 100,000 downloads. They were instantly defeated and wanted to quit. There is Always Someone Better As a guitar player growing up, I could hold my own. Then one day I saw a new guitarist in concert named Yngwie Malmsteen. He is amazing, and no matter how much I practice I feel I'll never be that good. Did I still love playing guitar? Yes. Did I still love playing in front of people? Yes. That is why I kept playing the guitar. I also had to keep in mind that Yngwie has been practicing much longer than I had, and had years of experience. You may be listening to someone with prior experience, a prior following, and even if they started after you did, they will have a larger audience. Don't focus on them, focus on servicing your audience. Apples To Oranges If someone says they have 150 downloads of a podcast about pigmy ponies, that's a great number (depending on how many people are into Pigmy Ponies). If someone had 150 downloads per episode and they were doing a weight loss show (in a country where 70% of us need to lose weight) that might be seen as under-performing. They Chose To Listen to You Try to never use the word "only," as in "I only have 200 downloads per episode." My background is in education and a big class was 20 people so 200 downloads per episode is 10 classrooms. That was a full hallway (and then some) in the building where I use to teach. In a world of TV, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, YouTube, Am/FM, Xbox and more they CHOSE to listen to you. If they don't want to listen there is nothing stopping them from deleting your show. Work With Me Join the School of Podcasting or let me be your podcast mentorMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Having the right name for your show can boost your downloads. People try to get cute and use inside jokes as the name of their show. That doesn't work. The more obvious the better. I had a client of mine came to me and said, Dave, I'm going to do a show. It's called After the Darkness. And I said, "Okay, let's run it through the test." The Podcast Name Test Go find your target audience. So that's step one. Find your target audience, somebody that you are pretty sure will listen to your show and say, "Hey, I'm going to do a show called After the Darkness. What do you think it's about? " His test group answered: Vampires A band from the 90's Nobody guessed what the show was about out correctly. I asked him, "What's your show about again?" and he said, it's about life after blindness. And I said, "THAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR SHOW!" He Tripled his Numbers with A New Name Another client of mine had named his show FO Time. He swore that his audience would know what it meant. While this might be true, they weren't searching for "Ham Radio." When he changed the name of his show from FO Time to Ham Radio 360, his numbers tripled. The Title of Your Episode I work in the tech support department for libsyn.com (get a free month using the coupon code sopfree ). It's the oldest and largest podcast media hosting company. I see a lot of podcasters put the name of their show in the title of the episode, and then give the episode name "episode 16." So if I was doing "the Dave Jackson show" (a horrible name by the way) I might name an episode "The Dave Jackson Show - Episode 16." That does not entice you to click and listen. Nobody is Googling the phrase "episode 16." And my episode title was Dave Jackson show, Episode 16, that does not entice you to click and if you actually look at your show, in most apps, it has the name of the show at the top of the page. So there's no reason to put the name of the show in the title of the episode because it's already there (see image to the right). Picture Your Target Audience Looking at Your Podcast Listing The title of your show draw them over to take a closer look Then they see the titles of the episode and think, "This is just what I'm looking for..." and they not only click a button to listen, but they click the SUBSCRIBE button (and subscribers is what it is all about). Do You Need Help With Your Podcast? Work With Me I have different packages for different budgets. Everything I do helps get your podcast headed in the right direction. I look forward to working with you. Join the School of Podcasting at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join Need a Podcast Mentor see www.schoolofpodcasting.com/workwithmeMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

As a podcast, there are a few strategies to grow your audience. One is to be interviewed on another podcast. Why is this strategy so popular? Because you are in front of an audience that already knows how to listen to podcasts. With this in mind, here are some strategies. You will see where these all require a little bit of work. 1. Go to events. Some of my best guests started with a conversation at an event 2. Look for your "competition" and contact them to brainstorm and do a show together or trade interviews. 3. Do your homework. Do they do interviews? 4. Do your homework. Are you a good fit? 5. Do your homework and listen to a show and interact with the host. Most podcasts are asking for feedback, give it to them 6. The podcast host cares about their audience, not our background. How will you bring VALUE to their audience? 7. Use a free service like podcastguests.com 8. Use a free service like Help a Reporter 9. Journo Requests is similar to Help a Reporter except they use Twitter Sign up or see samples. Above all else, always deliver value. If you are on a podcast, be the world best guest and promote your appearance so the guest has a good taste in their mouth if someone talks about you. Mentioned in this Episode Podcastvoicemail.com Other booking services can be seen at podcastingresources.com Let Me Help You With Your Podcast I would love to help you plan, launch, grow or monetize your show see https://podcastconsultant.com/schedule-a-session/https://podcastconsultant.com/schedule-a-session/Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Some people think I make these up, but this is straight from a Facebook Group Hi everyone I’m not yet on the podcast system but I’m soooo eager to start. I’ve bought a $70 microphone. Everyone recommends and have a MacBook Pro with GarageBand ready to rumble but... Blank page I have no niche No passion to talk about I did not find my “why” or “AHA” moment Did you face something similar? I’m a bit lost, I mean I have everything to start, I’m in the IT world, I’m not an expert but I know stuff and get unstuck on every situation in the IT ecosystem but other than that.... Help please Your Podcast Starts With Your Idea If you can' state your why you will never make it through the "how." I see where they are sooooo eager, and that's great but don't let your emotions get the best of you. I once had someone who had spent THOUSANDS of dollars on podcasting equipment and soundproofing, and lights and cameras. They hired me for a consulting call. What did they need help with? They had no idea what to podcast about. Don't make that mistake. If you need help picking a topic, I can help with that. If you need help picking a topic, I can help with that. If you have zero ideas, that is a whole other problem. Reach out if you need some helpMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

One thing that I see confuse more new podcasters is RSS and syndication. Let's say you are a radio station and your frequency is 100.7. You could have Panasonic, RCA, Sony, JVC all tuned to your station. When you play a song it comes out of all the radios as they are tuned to your station.With podcasting, instead of a frequency, you have an RSS feed. Instead of radios, you have apps (Apple and Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn). So when you put out a new episode it goes to those apps. You then create a post on your website as well to attract Google so hopefully, you come up when someone searches for your topic. You do not upload anything to Apple or the other apps. They are all mirrors of whatever is in your feed. Most media hosts provide an apple compliant feed. There are also Wordpress plugins like PowerPress. No matter what you use for your feed, make sure you can redirect your feed (so if you ever want to leave your current situation you can take your audience with you. You submit your show to these directories once, and once accepted they "tune in" to your feed and never tune out. You just keep making episodes and they appear in those apps. Apple is somewhat special as there are two versions. A web-based version I call your Apple listing, and the app/software versions iTunes and Apple podcasts. With Apple iTunes/podcasts any changes you make appear almost instantly to anyone who subscribes to your show using those apps. However, the Apple listing is more of a snapshot in time that is updated every 24 hours. With this in mind, you could be looking at Apple iTunes desktop software and not see the episode you released two hours ago. Then subscribe to your show and see the episode. Why? Because the listing only updates every 24 hours (or less). One thing I recommend to all my clients is to subscribe to your own show. This way when you see the episode appear on your device, you know Apple or other apps just need to catch up. Technically speaking your podcast is fine. One last thing about RSS feeds. Once you are accepted into the directories you can change the location of your feed. If you change to a new website address, you need to take care to redirect the old feed to look at the new address. If you are using Libsyn.com you wouldn't want to change your slug. In both of these situations, it's like (going back to the radio analogy) moving our station from 100.7 to 98.5 and not telling any of your listeners. You are (more or less) blowing up your show and starting from scratch. If you have any questions, I realize this is one of the more confusing items in podcasting so don't hesitate to contact me Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Some other things you might want to ask is: What is the maximum size of the audience (If everybody on the planet that was interested in this topic listened, how many people are we talking about?) Do those people really care about that topic? Are they "rabid fans?" How passionate are you about this topic See the full show notes at www.podcastconsultant.com/9Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When it comes to creating a podcast you need to use a podcast media host. Here is my criteria 1. Don't mess with my file. What I upload is what I want people to download. 2. Give me the ability to have an unlimited back catalog (unlimited storage) 3. Don't limit my audience size (unlimited bandwidth) 4. Don't control my feed, and make it easy to leave if I choose to do so. I need to be able to put in an iTunes redirect script. 5. Give me support. 6. Charge me for your service so you can stay in business 7. Give me stats so I can see what's working. It would be nice if they were accurate. 8. I need to own my content and control how it is used. 9. Be 100% Apple compatible Here are some popular options Libsyn.com (get a free month using the coupon code sopfree ) Blubrry.com (get a free month using the coupon code sopfree ) Podbean.com (get a free month using the coupon code sopfree ) What about spreaker.com, Pinecast.com? Simplecast.com? Simplecast re-encodes your file, "If encoded as an 128kbps or less MP3, we will not re-encode or transcode the audio. If an audio file is over we will encode it to 128kbps in MP3 format." Now I realize if you export at 128 this isn't a problem (it does add a small amount of time to publishing as you wait for it to re-encode your file). There are some music podcasters who want to export at a lower bit rate (case in point Marc Maron). Podcaster should be able to export in whatever format they want source Spreaker does not offer an unlimited back catalog Pinecast does not offer episode numbers for Apple podcast unless you have configured your show to be serial (I guess episodic shows don't have episode numbers?) Soundcloud - Does not offer all of the Apple fields, and their stats are not recognized by many services as you can purchase plays (and are not reliable) Squarespace - While they make pretty websites, you miss out on some great syndication options Anchor.fm - This free service has HORRIBLE terms of service and enables people to do whatever they want with your content. They also offer to submit your show to Apple "for you" and forget to inform you that they then own your show in Apple. Most free media hosts go out of business after three years (see more information) What Is Your Favorite? I was a Libsyn custom for 10 years. I love their syndication option, their flexibility, their ability to make a smartphone app for me, as well as syndication into iHeart Radio, Spotify, LinkedIn, and many other options. I can sell my back catalog, or even create a private podcast for my business. Here is the problem. I became an employee two years ago, and now people call my credibility into question. They think I will always say that Libsyn is the best (even though I have 10 years of me saying that they were the best in 400+ episodes before I became an employee). So Libsyn, Bluburry, and Podbean are not band choices. There are others mentioned here that are not horrible. I always tell people I don't say Libsyn.com is the best because I work for them. It's the opposite because Libsyn.com is THE BEST, I chose to work for them when I found myself unemployed. What Media Hosts to Stay Away From If you are shopping for a media host, be sure to ask them if they follow the above criteria. ESPECIALLY the ability to do a 301 redirect. If they don't do that, and you want to leave, they own your audience. For me the ones I steer people away from are anchor.fm soundcloud.com squaspace.com (for your podcast) streamcast.com talkshoe.com As I said before, use my criteria and make sure they pass (they should) If you have any questions, please contact me Schedule a Coaching Call Click here to start planning, launching and growing your audienceMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

I have had had many people tell me I hate the sound of my own voice! This is natural as it has to do with science. It's called Bone Conduction. Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. In other words, there is bass added to your voice through your skull. Here is a test, talk while putting your fingertips on your forehead. You will feel the vibration. These vibrations add bass to your voice. When you listen only using your ears and not your skull, your voice can sound thin. This can cause some people large amounts of stress. Here is the truth: Your voice sounds different, but different does NOT equal bad. The only way to get over it is to just keep recording and get used to it. I just need you to trust me and know you sound fine. This is just one of the tips I've picked up over my decade of podcasting and I'd love to help you. Go to www.podcastconcultant.com and lets start working together Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When it comes to starting a microphone you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a single microphone. Some of the best "starter microphones" for podcasting are The Audio Technica ATR2100 The Audio Technica AT2005 The Samson Q2U All of the above microphones with via USB or you can plugin them into a mixer. When Do I Need a Mixer For My Podcast? You need a mixer when: You have more than one person in the room with you You have more than one source of audio (i.e. you and an iPad that you are playing sounds through) If you don't have one of the above scenarios you don't need a mixer (but they are nice to have around). You can add bass and treble to your voice and other items. Speaking of the sound of your own voice, we will be talking about why most people hate the sound of their own voice in a future episode.Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

The one question you need to answer when starting a podcast is WHAT are you going to give up. EVERYONE who starts a podcast says one thing. This is taking more time than I originally thought. This is because it is new. You can tie your shows quickly now, but when you were five you really had to concentrate I say at my best, I use a 4 to 1 rule. Meaning for every one minute of the podcast it will take four minutes to produce. That 15-minute podcast will take you an hour. You might be thinking but how can that be? I just talk into the microphone for 15 minutes and I'm done. Well, you have to decide what to talk about. That might require some investigation. Then you record it. This takes time, and you might need to edit it unless every single word out of your mouth was perfect (and trust me, it won't be), Then you have to upload the file to your media host, and create a post on your website. This takes some time. You might want to make an image to go with the episode. Consequently, when you start a podcast you have to ask yourself what am I willing to give up? Most of us don't have a ton of free time, so what are you going to give up to create a podcast. For me, I stopped watching a lot of bad TV. I might've stopped watching reruns of Friends and Seinfeld. I quit being sucked into rabbit holes on YouTube, and I turn off Facebook and Email so I can focus better. We all have 24 hours in a day, and often the time to podcast is there. Sometimes it's not. When I get a message saying "I'm in a long-distance relationship, I'm in med school, and I'm working part-time in a restaurant. My initial reaction is you don't have time to podcast. You have a relationship that has built-in hurdles, you have homework, and a job. You have priorities that need your attention. While a podcast might be a fun hobby, wouldn't you hate to find out you got a bad grade on a test because you were up until 2 am editing when you should've been studying? I had a similar situation. When I got my first degree in electronic engineering I was the editor of the student newsletter. I worked as a waiter to put myself through college. I had a girlfriend, and I was running the house as my father was a long distance truck driver and my mother was deceased. Being the editor was fun and exciting as I was doing investigative journalism and spotlighting policies that were horrible at my college. There was only one problem. I wasn't going to school to get a degree in journalism. My grades started to suggest, so the next semester I had to look at the big picture, look at my goals (in this case my degree) and go back to being just a writer for the Newspaper and not the editor. I know as a podcast consultant I should tell everyone they need to start a podcast NOW, but as someone with a little bit of life under his belt, I'm here to say your podcast is not more important than your family, friends, and jobs. So there may be times when you don't start your podcast NOW, but you can start planning for it and launch it later. Ready To Launch Your Podcast? Are you ready to launch your podcast? I would love to help you plan, launch and grow your podcast. I want to be your podcast consultant.Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

People ask me, "How Long Should My Podcast Be?" What is the ideal podcast length? For a while, everyone wanted to make a 20-minute podcast as that was the average commute in the US. I prefer the answer from Valerie Geller in her book Beyond Powerful Radio A Communicator's Guide to the Internet Age: News, Talk, Information which is, "There is no such thing as too long, only too boring." You can get the audiobook for free. Longer Podcasts Are Doing Very Well In episode 93 of Libsyn.com's The Feed Podcast, VP of Podcaster Relations Rob Walch states that at Libsyn.com 84% of shows with 100,000 downloads are 51 minutes are longer Those that were 2.0 hours or more with 100,000 downloads per episode or more made up 13.2% of the podcasts on Libsyn. Those that were 30 minutes or less made up 9.9% of shows. This Doesn't Mean All Podcasts Should Be Long The bottom line is, your podcast should be as long as it needs to be and not a minute more. When I reverse engineered all the content I consumed, I found that the content did one or more of the following: It made me Laugh It made me Cry It made me Think It made me Grown It Educated me It Entertained me If you can do more than one of these at the same time, you're on to something. If your content does not of the above, do NOT press record. I would love to help you shape your message. I want to be your podcast consultant.Mentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

You might be thinking, "Technology and I are not friends." I hear this all of the time from clients, "But Dave you don't understand my VCR blinked 12:00 for years." I know. I've heard this many times. To this, I ask: Have you ever uploaded an image to FaceBook, or a file as an email attachment? Then you can upload a media file to your media host Have you ever been listening to the radio in the car and your phone rings and you turn down the radio? Then you know how to mix audio Have you ever press record on a VCR, Cassette Deck, Tivo, or DVR? Then you press record in audio recording software (hint, it's the red button with "REC" on it) Do You Know How To Talk? Then you can talk into a microphone. I Use to Be Afraid Like You Today I share a story about how I was fired for being too shy. I reveal the advice I got from a teacher who got me over the hump, and I want to be the person who can help you over your hump. Don't let the technology stop you from getting your message out to the world. If you want to be heard, then please let me know help I look forward to working with you. I want to be your podcast consultantMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Have you ever wondered if you should start a podcast? I've asked my audience and clients this question, "Because of my podcast _______" and today you will hear how: Their networks have grown Reaching a global audience They are getting free stuff They are being offered opportunities They are building an audience They are getting paid They are getting hired They are earning awards They are being seen as the media They are speaking to celebrities in their field They have a purpose and direction in their life They are adding dollars to their bottom line They are changing the lives of their audience I've been helping people understand technology for over 20 years, and I've been podcasting for over a decade and I want to help you. I want to be your podcast consultantMentioned in this episode:Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!Get insights into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. Each issue of our newsletter offers a glimpse into what's shaping the podcast landscape, with actionable advice to boost your podcasting journey. You also get a glimpse "behind the scenes" and bonus content from the School of Podcasting. Go to www.podcastingobservations.comPodcasting ObservationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy