Funnel Radio’s Behind the Mic

As an instructor for the Direct Marketing Association of Northern California, Susan Finch regularly updates her hands-on workshops. This is for tomorrow's Podcasting Production Masterclass Part 3: Publish, Promote, and Grow! This is a quick checklist of 13 items you should have ready before you launch. It's only a taste of the course, but we hope you find it helpful. It's a two-hour course limited...

Tired of lackluster virtual and hybrid events? Do you want to captivate your audience, whether in-person or by logging in remotely? This episode will open your eyes to creative techniques for producing engaging hybrid experiences. Join me as I speak with Howie Zales, an expert in live event production. With decades under his belt working high-profile concerts and stadium events, Howie knows how to...

Today we're wrapping up our series on using Google to promote your podcast. I'll share tips for leveraging Google Maps to get more visibility for your podcast. We'll cover how to create a custom map for your show, add guest pins with episode details, make it public and shareable, and use layers to organize by season or topic. By the end of this episode, you'll have actionable strategies to enhance...

Welcome to another episode of Behind the Mic! I'm your host, Susan Finch. Today we're continuing our series on using Google's free tools to promote your podcast. In this episode, we'll discuss 7 ideas for leveraging your Google My Business profile to spread the word about your show. We'll cover creating posts when you publish new episodes, asking intriguing questions to prompt listens, making epis...

In this episode of Behind the Mic, host Susan Finch discusses how to leverage Google Workspace tools for your podcast. She recommends getting a dedicated domain and email address for your show through Google Workspace. This opens up free analytics tools and helps establish your podcast's online presence. Susan then outlines the 9 steps to get set up:  Get a dedicated domain for your podcast Set up...

Today is the perfect day to set up Google Analytics 4.0 and elevate your tracking game. Even if you need assistance, our team is here to support you. And if your current team lacks the know-how, we strongly encourage them to take courses that reveal the logic behind Google Analytics 4.0. It's not just an upgrade; it's an entirely new frontier. The DMANC has a three course series that I found super...

Have you ever thought about how many keynote speakers are actually introverts? Think about the distance on the stage from the audience - even when you have an engaging speaker who includes the audience. Then think about podcasting and the intimacy of podcasting. You are putting the show in your ears - you are listening to them in your car, your home, while walking the dog. You build a personal rel...

Tenlo's Chief Technology Officer and podcast host, Tessa Burg joined Susan Finch to talk about the recent merger with Mod Op. Tessa talks about the expanded opportunities for their team, their clients, and the beauty of having an HR department. Sometimes trading the owner hat for a W2 is a very good thing. Tune in for this 15-minute visit, "From owner to employee - when mergers align with your vis...

Before You Commit, Know the Answers to These Questions WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Is it to launch an initiative? Build reputation? Boost egos of your executives or clients? Give value to your existing clients? Open the door for new clients/prospects? Have fun with your lighter side? WHO WILL HELP? Anyone involved needs to know and commit to the time and tasks for their portion of the podcast’s succes...

We are regularly asked at Funnel Media Group how to jump-start a show's reach into new markets, and reach new audiences. This episode covers advertising, sponsors, and the change in best practices over the past two years. Consumer behaviors have changed - how they consume media. This is where our guest, Mary Ann Pruitt shines through her agency, Mosaic Media Agency. You will want to consider all o...

  This episode was inspired by the great guests Interview Valet has been sending us for our hosts, and by a blog post, " Checklist Before You are a Guest on a Podcast ". This episode covers expectations for guests hiring a podcast guest management firm, for those being contacted by them to have their clients on your shows, and what should be expected of all for a successful appearance on a show. Y...

In this 13 minute episode we cover our favorite podcast equipment and the reasons we prefer one over another. There are some additional items we suggest to give you a more professional look and sound. Podcast Microphones -  Rode USB Condenser mic ,  Yeti RiversideFM has more ideas: If you’re on a tight budget or just want a mic that doesn’t have a huge learning curve, consider one of these plug-an...

This episode covers one of the questions from the recent one with EJ and Nina in Funnel Feud . These are the top 8 answers given by 100 podcast hosts, guests, and team members. Aside from swearing, revealing too much, and other simple editing issues, why would a podcast host ask the guest for a do-over? We'll give you tips on how to work around these 8 common issues in this 13-minute episode. Emai...

You know the music, you know how it works. Play along with our version - Funnel Feud to hear the answers to these questions: 1. What is a reason you would want a do-over with a guest? 2. What is the reason your podcast failed? 3. What is your favorite podcast equipment? We asked 100 podcast hosts, producers and teams and the answers in this episode are what they said. You can get the full list fro...

Podcasting editors' tips from EJ Albaugh. EJ reminds us that if we can do a bit of practice we can save time and money with our editing solutions. Don't be afraid of a retake, and beware of Zoom twang when there are bandwidth issues for your host or your guest, or your producer.  If you listen to this and would like the podcaster's checklist magnet from Funnel Media Group, email producer@funnelrad...

Taking advantage of search engine goodness, building communities of podcasters and their teams, as well as profiles for creators is what Podchaser's Dave Keine and Susan Finch talked about today on Behind the Mic. Do not miss the list of free tools, tips and ways to build your listenership and expand your audience demographics.

Tune in for this packed episode with free tools podcasters can use to expand their reach. There are two free tools we are going to cover in this episode: Using Playlists to increase your exposure in the podcast venues including Spotify, Apple Podcasts/playlists, Podchaser, and the rest that give you that option. ----more---- Using Podcast venue profiles to engage with a new audience, in particular...

Sometimes guests are hard to secure during the holidays. Sometimes you are pulled in many directions and don't have the same time for your show. That's OK. Make the use of this time to improve your podcast for next season. Listen to these 10 tips you can start right away.  ----more---- You can listen, or just jump to this list without the logic behind it: Review all posted episodes for typos, chec...

You created this great podcast, or so you thought, and you liked how it was set up, but not really. And you have new team members and they say, "I hate that software, I hate that platform, let's do something better." Or maybe even that platform went away or stopped being as effective, whatever the reason there's a need for a move. But there are some different types of moves. This episode is going...

Let's talk about television families. The good: The Brady, the Flintstone, Huxtable, Barone, Evans, Drummond & Jackson, Addams, Munster, Cleaver, Duke, Clampett, Arnolds, Jetsons, Partidge, Carwright, Bradford, Cunningham, Ingals, and Kyle Families Then the not so good but lovable Bluth, Simpson, Griffin, Bunker, Bundy, Belcher And the bad. Soprano, Ewing, Roy, Dutton, Carrington, House of Lannist...

  It's as much about the content as it is your voice. Many times I hear hosts that think they can just randomly start talking. Sometimes it's difficult to follow as they dart around taking tangents without ever completing a point or thought. They may have a fabulous voice, but what am I gaining by listening? I almost need a whiteboard to draw pictures and take notes to track them. Other hosts don'...

There are over 1,000,000 podcasts, the vast majority, however, fail to get beyond the 8th podcast.  Veteran radio and podcast producer Paul Roberts discuss with Jim Obermayer how to avoid being in the graveyard of podcasters. ----more---- This week’s Behind the Mike with Jim and Paul Paul Roberts is the founder and station manager of OC Talk Radio , the powerhouse internet radio and podcasting cha...

Everyone wants more listeners, but realistically, you want more of the RIGHT listeners - those that will be affected by what you say, those that will share your show, and possibly consider your company and products to solve their problems. But before we get to the list, let's go through a short checklist of what you should be doing to increase your reach in search, and increase your fans. ----more...

This is one of the reasons podcasts fail - the host is selfish, lazy, inconsiderate. Listen in to learn how to avoid those pitfalls. Fair warning, you'll have some work to do including creating follow up schedules, promotions, writing a thank you note, spending money on editing and transcripts, and more. Join Susan Finch and Paul Roberts for this episode.  

Many people want to do a podcast, but most don't know how to start. Funnel Media Group's VP of Operations, Susan Finch teaches regular courses through the DMANC - Direct Marketing Association's Northern California Chapter. Her most popular courses are on podcasting fundamentals and advanced troubleshooting for podcasts. This week she'll give us her 10 basic steps to launching a podcast in two week...