Podcasting Q&A

Greg from Substitute Teachers Lounge asks, "When is it a good idea to pivot the subject matter of your podcast?" TL;DR There are several reasons you may consider changing the focus or subject of your podcast. Perhaps your topic was relevant for a certain period of time, you ran out of ideas of things to talk about, or your interests have shifted to something different. In this episode, w...

When you're shopping around for a new microphone for your podcast, you're going to find a variety of opinions about which one is the best for you. You'll have some people telling you that you really need to get a USB microphone like the Blue Yeti, while others say, if you really want to be serious about it, you should get an XLR microphone like the Rode PodMic. So in this episode, w...

When it comes to naming your podcast it can feel really overwhelming. On one hand you want to peak listener interest, and on the other you want to perfectly encapsulate what your show is about. So in this episode, we'll help you come up with the perfect name for your podcast. Thinking about rebranding your show? Check out this previous episode of Podcasting Q&A where we discussed the do&a...

Mimi from Get High on Motivation asks, "How much should I charge for sponsorships?" TL;DR If you're to get sponsors for your podcast, the first question is often "how much should I charge?" So in this episode, we'll break down how to price your ads when pitching potential sponsors. Learn more about Podcorn and how it can help you monetize your podcast with brand spons...

TL;DR Whether you've been podcasting for a long time or you're just getting started, you may come to a point where you consider taking a break from podcasting. So in this episode we'll share some tips and tricks that will give you peace of mind during your hiatus and tell you about a feature within Buzzsprout that lets you hit pause on your show. Ready to hit pause on your podcast f...

Learn how two of Buzzsprout's newest features, Dynamic Descriptions and the Episode Selector, can take your dynamically inserted pre-rolls and post-rolls to a whole other level. Click here to learn more about Dynamic Content. Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode. Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser or Apple Podcasts to let us know w...

TL;DR When you have a great interview, it's going to sound like an effortless conversation. You're interested in what your guest has to say, your guest is interested in what you have to say, and everything just flows. So in this episode we'll share seven tips on how to conduct great podcast interviews and give your audience something worth listening to. Podcasts with great interview...

Ahmad asks, "Can you explain everything related to music and podcasting?" TL;DR Most podcasts incorporate music in some fashion, whether it's a cool intro for an interview show or an immerse audio drama. The most important thing is to find music that you can use on your podcast without getting sued. So in today's episode, we're going to explore some common myths around usi...

Will from the Current Climate podcast asks, "What's the best way to interview guests that aren't used to being recorded?" TL;DR If your guest isn't used to being recorded, their inexperience might play a big role in why they're a little hesitant or nervous being on your podcast. People can feel uneasy knowing that their every word or action is being recorded. So in th...

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,...