Podcasting Q&A

Nosa from the Culture Class Podcast asks, "How can I promote a seasonal podcast?" TL;DR It may seem like promoting a seasonal podcast is wildly different (or even more difficult) than promoting a show that publishes episodes regularly. The good news is the best practices for marketing a weekly podcast can absolutely apply to seasonal podcasts, you just have to tweak them a little bit. So...

There aren't many digital advertising platforms that work for podcasters, mainly because strategies like Facebook Ads and Google AdWords aren't designed to measure how many subscribers you receive from a particular ad campaign. That's where third-party apps like Overcast, Podcast Addict, Castbox, and Pocket Casts come in! So in this episode, Travis and Badr will peel back the curtai...

Paul from Are You Ready to Roll? asks, "How prudent should I be about getting guest release forms for my podcast?" TL;DR Guest release forms are one of those things that you'll hear a lot about in the podcasting industry, but you won't necessarily find a consensus answer regarding whether you need one or not. So in this episode, we'll share two perspectives and help you de...

Trevor from 1PDnD asks, "How do you stand out when there's quite a few podcasts in your category?" TL;DR It is true that as podcasting has grown over the last several years, certain categories and certain types of shows have become more saturated. But that doesn't mean that there's no room for anything new or that you can't build a meaningful audience talking about so...

Jack from Reading Caste with Jack asks, "How can I promote my brand new podcast?" TL;DR When you first launch a podcast, promotion is just as important as recording and releasing new podcast episodes. But which strategies work best when you're first getting started and don't have an online audience yet? So on this episode, we're going to discuss five strategies for promoti...

Marisa from the Live Blissed Out podcast asks, "What adjustments should I make to my podcast episodes when using Magic Mastering?" TL;DR Magic Mastering is a new feature that we recently added in Buzzsprout that allows you to automatically mix and master your podcast episodes to improve your audio quality without adding a ton of extra work. But there are certainly some things that you st...

Jared from the Remarkable People podcast asks, "When should create an LLC for your podcast?" TL;DR Just as a disclaimer, we are not legal or tax experts but we have formed a few LLCs in our time (so take our advice with a grain of salt). Filing an LLC for your podcast can allow you to "write off" podcast-related expenses, leading to a larger return come tax season. So why isn&a...

In today's special episode, we're breaking down Buzzsprout's newest feature - Dynamic Content. Leave a comment in the post pinned to the top of the Buzzsprout Podcast Community Facebook Group to let us know how we can make Dynamic Content even better. Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode. Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchase...

Tim from the Thinking Nutrition podcast asks, "What's the best strategy for republishing old content??" TL;DR Republishing or repurposing your old podcast content is an excellent way to highlight your best content, revisit old topics that are newly relevant, or simply take a short break without missing any publishing dates. In today's episode, you'll learn the right and wr...

Dr. Varsha from Women and Shakespeare asks, "How important are podcast reviews?" TL;DR Podcast reviews are one of the primary ways that you can hear from your listeners and learn just what they like about your show. They also serve as social proof for new listeners who might be interested in finding out just how good your podcast really is. So in today's episode, we'll discuss...

Ashley from Dear Food asks, "What tips do you have for collaborating with other podcasters?" TL;DR Collaborating with other podcasters is a fantastic way to grow your network of personal connections and grow your podcast's audience. But what's the best way to execute this strategy? In this episode, you'll learn what kinds of podcasts to collaborate with and three unique me...

In this bonus episode, Buzzsprout's Head of Marketing, Alban Brooke, sits down with Colin Gray to discuss Colin's new book "Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Audience." Grab the book at ThePodcastHost.com/PodcastGrowthBook Connect with Colin on Twitter @colinmcgray and @thepodcasthost Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode....

Asett from Free Thought Revolution asks, "How do I find great guests to have on my podcast?" TL;DR One of the most important elements of a great interview podcast is landing great guests. But what's the best process for finding and pitching prospective guests to come on your show? In this episode, we'll explain how to identify good guests and the most effective way to pitch the...

David from the Remarkable People Podcast asks, "How do I maximize the usefulness of my podcast transcripts?" TL;DR Podcast transcripts are a fantastic way of improving your podcast's findability and providing a written version of your episodes for those who are hard of hearing. But there are also some other ways you can utilize and repurpose them as well. So in this episode, we&apos...

Vincent from Raw moVement: Your Headhunting Guy asks, "Can you replace the audio file for episodes you've already published?" TL;DR If you host your podcast with Buzzsprout, replacing your episode's audio file is super easy. And, best of all, you can keep your episode title, show notes, and stats in tact! In this episode, you'll learn how to easily replace an existing podc...

Andrea from the Italy: Inside Out podcast asks, "How do I get good audio from my guests when all they have is their laptop microphone?" TL;DR It's very common to have podcast guests (especially long-distance podcast guests) that don't have any recording equipment or podcast experience. And while you don't expect their audio to sound like it was recorded in a sound studio,...

Alan from Discovering and Living the Best Version...of YOU! asks, "What's the best way to add intro and outro music to a podcast episode?" TL;DR Creating a high-quality podcast intro using some great music is an excellent way to introduce yourself and your podcast to new listeners and delight your loyal subscribers. In this episode, we’ll teach you how to add music to your podcast e...

Jared from the All Things Connected podcast asks, "What are some classic beginner mistakes we should avoid?" TL;DR While every podcaster is bound to make mistakes from time to time, there are certainly some best practices and things to steer clear from for experience and beginner podcast hosts alike. In this episode, we'll share four things that every podcaster should do their best...

Jacob from Saft Podcast asks, "How should I use Patreon for my podcast?" TL;DR Patreon is a platform that allows your dedicated listeners to financially support your show in exchange for perks, exclusive episodes, and behind-the-scenes content. In this episode, share some best practices for using Patreon to support your podcast and talk about how to leverage your Patreon private RSS feed...

In this episode, you'll hear how our newest host, Badr Milligan, started his first podcast in a barn and why he's excited about becoming a contributor to Podcasting Q&A.    Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode. Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser to let us know what you think of the show. Send us Fan Mail Have a topic or qu...

Jordan from the Dreamful podcast asks, "How do you find companies that want to sponsor your podcast?" TL;DR Podcast sponsorships and host-read ads are the two of the more popular strategies for monetizing your podcast, but it can difficult to land sponsors for your podcast unless your podcast is incredible popular or you happen to be a part of a podcast network. In this episode, you&apos...

Kathryn from There She Goes: Solo Travel podcast asks, "How often should you publish new podcast episodes?" TL;DR There are a few well-worn publishing frequencies that tend to work for podcasts. Some of the more popular ones are weekly, bi-weekly, daily, and seasonal release schedules. In this episode, we'll help you decide which publishing frequency is best for you and your podcast...

Kerry-Ann from the Carry On Friends podcast asks, "How do you leverage your skills to get a full-time job in podcasting?" TL;DR There are a number of ways that you can break into the podcasting industry. Some jobs require you to leverage one skill really well (like podcast editing for instance), while others give you an opportunity to produce a podcast from start to finish. In this episo...

Harsha from the Two Cents on Thursday podcast asks, "How do you decide which niche to focus on for your podcast?" TL;DR Recording a podcast with multiple hosts is a lot of fun. You're able to lean on one another to create the content, and the fun banter and chemistry you get with close friends definitely increases the entertainment value. But there are some technical hurdles you hav...

Jamie from the The Smash Quiz podcast asks, "What are the best practices for recording multiple hosts for a podcast?" TL;DR Recording a podcast with multiple hosts is a lot of fun. You're able to lean on one another to create the content, and the fun banter and chemistry you get with close friends definitely increases the entertainment value. But there are some technical hurdles you...