Better Radio Websites

Everyone likes hearing good news, and radio has always been great at sharing it. The problem is that most of those stories disappear after a single break. In this episode, we talk about creating a Local Good News section on your station’s website and why it can become one of your most valuable content features. You’ll learn: Why your station is already producing great community stories every week....

Most radio stations are leaving valuable podcast content on the table. In this episode, we discuss how to turn podcast transcripts into website articles that attract more visitors, improve search visibility, and help listeners discover your content long after the episode is published. You’ll learn why your station website should be the permanent home for the meaning and context behind your podcast...

Google just made its biggest change to search in more than 25 years. Instead of showing a list of websites, Google is increasingly providing AI-generated answers. That means the question for radio stations is no longer “How do I rank higher?” It’s “Can Google understand my website well enough to use it as a trusted source?” In this episode of Better Radio Websites, Jim Sherwood explores what Googl...

Today’s episode of the Better Radio Websites podcast takes a deep dive into website accessibility for radio stations and why ADA compliance, WCAG standards, and accessible website design are becoming critical topics for broadcasters, media companies, and digital content teams. We discuss what website accessibility actually means, how screen readers and assistive technologies navigate websites, and...

It’s easy to assume that embedding your social media feed on your homepage makes your site feel more active. After all, it’s constantly updating, right? But here’s the catch: social media was never meant to be your destination—it’s a tool to drive people there. When you place a full feed on your homepage, you’re often giving visitors a reason to leave before they ever engage with your content. Eve...

If your radio station website isn’t getting engagement, your navigation menu might be the problem. In this episode, we break down how to improve your radio station website by simplifying your navigation so listeners can quickly find what they need—like Listen Live, contests, and local content. This is a simple, high-impact fix that can help increase website traffic, boost listener engagement, and...

If digital feels complicated or hard to sell, this episode simplifies everything. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire strategy, we focus on one thing you can do this week: take one existing client and turn them into a simple, effective digital package. In this episode, we break down a mindset shift that makes digital easier for your sales team to understand by comparing your website to anoth...

Search traffic isn’t what it used to be, and that has big implications for radio station websites. As more listeners get answers from Google, social media, and AI without ever clicking through to a site, stations can’t rely on search the way they once did. In this episode, we talk about why your website needs to become a place listeners go on purpose, not just something they find by accident. That...

Are the most important pages on your radio station’s website the ones you think they are? In this episode, we explore why some of the biggest traffic drivers on radio station websites aren’t the homepage or contest pages. Instead, it’s often the simple, community-focused pages like obituaries, event calendars, job listings, and local resources that quietly bring listeners back again and again. If...

Search has changed. It’s no longer just about ranking — it’s about being chosen. In this episode, Jim explains how a simple structural upgrade called “Answer Blocks” can make your local news articles easier for Google and AI tools to summarize and feature. Instead of burying key details inside long paragraphs, you’ll learn how to clearly present dates, locations, and critical information right at...

Social media reach is shrinking, algorithms keep changing, and radio stations are feeling it. In this episode, we break down why publishing just one local update per day on your radio station website consistently outperforms social media over time — and how stations can put this into practice immediately without adding more work or staff. We talk about why websites compound value, how local conten...

In this episode, we explore the trend of "vibe coding" — using AI tools to quickly build websites with just a prompt. Sounds great, right? But should you trust your radio station’s digital future to AI alone? We dive into the pros and (many) cons of vibe coding and why it might look good on the surface but fall flat where it really matters. What You’ll Learn: What vibe coding is and why...

Your station’s app might have thousands of downloads—but if hardly anyone is using it, what’s the real return? In this final episode of the Metrics That Matter series, we break down why daily active users, session time, and push notification engagement are far more important than raw install numbers. You’ll also get a practical step youcan take this week to boost app usage. Read the full post at:...

Your station might have thousands of followers on Facebook or Instagram… but if no one’s engaging with your posts, those numbers may be doing more harm than good. In this episode, we break down why follower counts are overrated and highlight the metrics that actually matter—like engagement rate, shares, comments, and video completions. You’ll also get a simple action step to help improve your soci...

Your newsletter might have thousands of subscribers—but if barely anyone is opening or clicking, are you really getting results? In this episode, we dig into why open rates, click-throughs, and even unsubscribes matter far more than the size of your list. Plus, why cleaning up inactive or bounced subscribers is actually a smart move—not a loss. If you’re still measuring success by total subscriber...

Are you tracking the right numbers on your station’s website—or just the ones that look good on paper? In this episode, we kick off our Metrics That Matter series by focusing on your website. It’s easy to celebrate traffic spikes and page views, but those vanity metrics don’t tell the full story. We'll look at the numbers that actually reflect value—like time on page, bounce rate, and return v...

Are you making the most of your morning newscasts? In this episode, we highlight an easy, high-impact strategy used by BreezyNews.com—turning their daily newscasts into a podcast. With just one upload, they update their website, reach listeners on podcast apps and smart speakers, and create new sponsorship opportunities. It's a smart way to repurpose existing content, streamline workflow, and...

In this episode, we share how to create a “Year in Review” feature page that boosts your radio station website traffic, increases engagement, and opens new sponsorship opportunities before the year ends. From top news and events to staff picks and listener polls, a Year in Review page is a smart way to close out the year strong. For more detailed show notes, visit: https://www.skyrocketradio.com/2...

If it feels like the job has changed… it’s because it has. Radio isn’t only audio anymore—it’s blogs, video clips, podcasts, reels, and everything your audience consumes between songs. And the truth is, stations are already creating the content… they’re just not capturing or distributing it with purpose. This episode digs into how to shift your mindset from “repurposing” to pre-purposing—thinking...

Push notifications might look like text messages—but they’re actually one of the most powerful tools in your station’s digital toolkit. While social media buries your posts in algorithm soup, push lets you speak directly to your listeners, on their schedule. In this episode, we cover: Why push beats social in reach, speed, and loyalty The key differences between push notifications and text message...

If you're chasing more website traffic, better SEO, and deeper community ties, local content is the answer. In this episode, we’re breaking down why it works—and how you can do more of it without overwhelming your team. We’ll cover: - The difference between RSS widgets and imported feeds—and why both fall short - Why national content often harms your SEO and engagement - Real-world ideas for s...

Today’s radio listeners are constantly connected—and mostly through their phones. If your station doesn’t have a mobile app, or if it’s just a basic stream player, you’re likely missing out on real engagement and revenue. In this episode, we talk about: Why “Listen Live” alone doesn’t cut it anymore The types of mobile apps available and what to watch out for How content and advertiser features ca...

The homepage is no longer your audience’s first stop. AI-first browsers like ChatGPT Atlas and Perplexity Comet are rewriting how people discover information online. Instead of clicking through websites, users now get summarized answers directly from AI—no visit required. So, where does that leave your radio station’s website? In this episode, Jim unpacks how AI is reshaping the digital landscape—...

When listeners click your station’s Contests page, what do they find? If the answer is “nothing,” you might be doing more damage than you think. In this episode of Better Radio Websites , we talk about why an empty or outdated Contests page sends the wrong message—and how to fix it fast. From showcasing past winners to teasing upcoming promotions or even temporarily hiding the page, we’ll give you...

If your radio station’s website still has an “Under Construction” page—or worse, a dead-end link with no content—you’re sending a message you didn’t mean to. And it’s not a good one. In this episode of Better Radio Websites , we’re digging into why these outdated placeholders are doing more harm than good. We’ll cover how they hurt your station’s credibility, tank your SEO, and frustrate both list...