PodCraft by Alitu: Honing the Craft of Podcasting

It's time to delve into the findings of our 2024 Podcast Discoverability Survey . Here, you'll find data on everything from whether or not it's easy to find new podcasts, to how audio quality and ads affect podcast listenership. We also talk through some other new posts on the site, as well as some published elsewhere (including one that we disagree with quite heavily!). The Podcast Discovery Repo...

In this episode, Colin covers two major topics to help podcasters improve their shows. First, he dives deep into creating a unique value proposition, sometimes called a unique selling proposition (USP) for your podcast, explaining how to make your show stand out and attract more listeners. He breaks down what makes a great USP, using examples from brands like Airbnb and Fjallraven, and shows how t...

There are plenty of places online where you can ask for podcast comments and get in on the episode discussion. Here are some of the more popular options . And, d oes your podcast need a media kit? Yes, definitely . A podcast media kit is a package of information about your podcast that’s easy to share and consume. Also Mentioned The Podcraft Academy The Podcraft Listener Space

It isn't hard to make a podcast. Making a good podcast, however, is not easy. Here are nine common podcasting mistakes: think of this as a map to the traps that many podcasters tend to fall into, so you can avoid them. Also Mentioned Alitu: The Podcast Maker Podcraft Listener Community Best Podcast Boom Arms 3 Signs Listeners Are Making More Time for Podcasts

To grow audiences of people as passionate about your show’s topic as you are, podcasters need to do the work to engage non-listeners. Not only does this grow your show, but it helps the podcast medium as a whole. It’s rare for a podcast listener to only listen to one show, so others will benefit from the work each creator does to engage non-listeners. As the old saying goes, “A rising tide lifts a...

If you’ve published your first handful of episodes and already feel your momentum, motivation, and inspiration slipping away, then here are eight pieces of advice to help you turn things around. Preventing Podfade Whatever Happened to the Blue Snowball? Best Podcast Interview Questions Why Does My Audio Hiss? The Podcraft Academy The Podcraft Listener Community

Many podcasters are looking beyond download stats to get success metrics for their shows. But the nature of podcasting doesn't make it easy. On this episode, we discuss data from a study that suggests indie creators want podcast measurement standardisation . Also Mentioned Podcasting News & Analysis Podcast Promotion on WhatsApp Finding & Using Podcast Music Best Patreon Alternatives for P...

There’s no doubt that we’re living in a world of micro-content overload. With the rise of short-form platforms like TikTok and Instagram, creators and brands are in a continuous fight for a piece of our attention spans (which are now  shorter than a goldfish’s , apparently, thanks to smartphones).  You don’t need to look far to see marketers proclaiming  the death of long-form content . I’m paraph...

One of our IndiePod Legends on Season 20 was Daren Lake of the One Percent Better Runner podcast. Throughout the season, Daren talked passionately and enthusiastically about his content-stacking approach and how he produces each episode in a way that enables him to meet his target audience where they are - on dozens of different platforms. And the good news is that he's just laid out his entire fr...

Our indiepod legends have given us many insights, tips, and words of advice this season. They're speaking from positions of authority and experience, but they didn't get there overnight. On the final episode of Season 20, we'll dig into what they wish they'd known before they started and ask about some mistakes they see new podcasters make. Also Mentioned The Podcraft Academy - Let us help you lau...

There is no shortage of potential income streams for your podcast. But rather than telling you all the things you  could  try, how about some real-world case studies from ten successful independent podcasters? Our recent survey suggested that  only 1 in 4 indies monetize their content , despite the majority of them  wanting  to build some income streams. So, on this episode of Podcraft, we’re goin...

We haven’t run a podcast gear survey since 2019, and that was starting to feel like an awful long time ago. In fact, I wasn’t even born then. Captivated by the old black-and-white photos of Colin on his Penny Farthing, delivering printed copies of the data to the local town crier, I thought to myself, “Let’s do another one”. So we did. And here are the results. The Podcaster Gear Survey 2024

I’ve lost count of the number of recordings I’ve had to pause or abandon because a lawnmower, siren, or enthusiastic dog has fancied getting in on the act. Back when we ran our podcast production service, clients regularly sent over audio that was full of distracting background noises. Not the ongoing hum of an AC unit or the gentle ambience of a cafe, but things like door slams, annoying desk tap...

On this episode of Podcraft, we have a special episode swap with our good friend Joe Casabona from Podcast Workflows . Podcast Workflows provides insights into how to improve your podcast systems and workflows — allowing you to create and grow a high quality podcasting by showing you how to best spend your limited time. Here, Joe will help us think about our own podcast workflows by encouraging us...

Podcasting has a tonne of strengths, but one of its biggest is its decentralised nature. A podcaster can upload their content to a hosting provider, and it can be consumed and enjoyed by people via many different platforms, apps, and directories. Read the full post: What is Podcasting 2.0, and why should I care? This was all made possible because of RSS, a 25-year-old technology that formed the fo...

As we'll often tell you, you don’t need to use social media at all for your podcast. But many do. And if you want Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any other platform to be part of your podcasting strategy, then it makes sense to be as smart about it as possible. On this episode, we'll find out more about our Indiepod Legends' experience with social media, what they've learned over the years, and an...

In this co-hosted episode, Colin and Jeremy Ryan Slate discuss a whole range of AI tools to streamline podcast production workflows, particularly a video podcast, and share insights on fueling podcast growth on YouTube. They delve into the nuances of YouTube algorithms, thumbnail strategies, and tips for increasing viewer engagement. Tune in to learn how leveraging AI technology and optimizing You...

Discover how to build a thriving business around your podcast in this episode of Podcraft. Colin co-hosts this episode with the host of the Always Free podcast - Jason Graystone. They both shares their strategies for crafting a show that resonates with people and how to then monetize that content within a wider business. They discuss a whole range of things, including: If you're early stage, or pr...

Just like the proverbial tree in the forest, is your brilliant content even brilliant if nobody hears it? On this episode, we're going to pick our Indiepod Legends' brains about all things promotion, growth, and marketing. Obviously, social media can play a big part in this, and we're going to hear about what platforms and strategies have worked well for some of our creators (as well as which ones...

We know from previous episodes that consistency leads to podcasting success - but how do you actually become consistent ? It’s all well and good to say, “Go out there and create lots of episodes,” when you might be intimidated by the idea of creating just one. So, this time around, we’re going to explore the nuts and bolts of timeframes, workflows, and content creation. Her...

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool. On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work,...

What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they've been recognised with a prestigious award? In truth, we can gauge success in many ways, but ultimately, there's no certificate and a great degree of subjectivity. One thing we can all agree on, thou...

Izabela and Mike Russell of Music Radio Creative return to continue our conversation about the ever-evolving podcast landscape. Gear and tools may have gotten much better, but that doesn't always make them easier to set up and use. We also discuss the role of DAWs like Adobe Audition and Audacity compared to newer (often AI-driven) software. Finally, Mike and Izabela answer some questions about po...

In this episode, Colin and Matthew engage in a friendly debate about the role of gear in podcasting. While gear and equipment are often seen as important aspects of podcasting success, the hosts question whether they truly make a significant difference. They explore the mindset of successful podcasters and how their focus lies more on content creation, strategy, and promotion rather than the tools...

As the RSS feed approaches its 25th birthday, so does the word "podcasting" its 20th. But 2024 also sees the tenth anniversary of UKPOD14 . On this episode of Podcraft, we're joined by the organisers of this important event, Mike and Izabela . We wanted to catch up on the past decade, talking about what has changed in the medium (as well as what hasn't!). We also touch on what the future might hol...