Streamlined Podcaster: Save Time Podcasting with Systems and Automation

One of the most common questions I get when I tell people that they should do more podcast swaps is, "Where should I go to find podcasts to swap with?" You can just look on Apple Podcasts or reach out to the podcast that you listened to. But that might not be the best strategy. You want to find similar audiences -- look alike audiences where the listeners will be more likely to tune into your show...

Last year, I more than doubled my monthly downloads for my already popular podcast, How I Built It, from 34,000 downloads per month to 71,000 downloads per month. Today, I want to give you 6+ ways you can do the same thing. 1/ Podcast promo swaps. Easily the best way to do it. I saw a marked increase in the number of downloads on weeks I swapped promos with another podcaster. Why do you think Wond...

I want you to start 2023 strong , so today I'm telling you all the tools you need to start a mini podcast. It's no secret I think a mini podcast is the way to go, but how do you get started? Is there a complicated process? The truth is, you only need 2 tools...but I'm going to tell you about a few more :-) Show Notes Free Podcast Planner Descript Buzzsprout Hover Switchy Canva ConvertKit Airtable...

Welcoming to the first ever Setup Saturday, where I take a look at interesting podcast setups. I've partnered with my friend and longtime podcaster, Matt Medeiros and his new website, thepodcastsetup.com to bring you the gear and software that podcasters around the world use. This first setup is from podcast collective Multitude. Let's dive it! Show Notes Check out Multitude's post on The Podcast...

Not all sponsorship campaigns are created equal, and some are better for small podcasters than others. In fact, the best type of sponsorship for smaller podcasters is Awareness campaigns. They don't rely on ROI or number of conversions from listeners to buyers. They rely on you leveraging your trust to talk about their product. Here's what you can do to better pitch sponsors with awareness campaig...

Sponsorship is one of the many ways to make money podcasting. It's maybe the most well known way, but it's not necessarily the best way. In a previous episode of this podcast, I walked through my SMASH framework,- five ways that you can make money with your podcast. The M in SMASH is membership, and that's what I want to talk to you about. What are memberships, why and when should you do them? Wha...

It's that time of year! The 2022 Podcast Liftoff Gift Guide is here, fully updated with new gear and a section for video podcasting. We'll go through the what and why of it all, and I'll highlight some other great gifts for podcasters. View the whole gift guide here: https://podcastliftoff.com/gift-guide/ Contains Affiliate Links Show Notes Samson Q2U Mic   Audio-Technica ATR2100x Pop Filter...

One of the questions I've been getting on live streams and webinars lately is, "how are you dealing with video for your podcast?" For a long time, I've said you don’t need video for your podcast, or you don’t necessarily need compelling video. But as more platforms (like YouTube and TikTok) get into podcasting, I’m changing my tune. So I’ve been experimenting with “video first” podcasting. Here’s...

Worried that you don't have enough downloads to get sponsors? It's one of the biggest concerns I see from podcasters who want sponsors, but aren't sure they have the audience to attract and keep them. But here's a secret: there are things we can do to add value for our sponsors that the big podcasts won't do. And that's what we're talking about today. -- About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the sh...

It’s listener's questions week! For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, I asked for your questions about launching, growing, and monetizing podcasts. I got some fantastic questions, so let’s dive into them: Questions 01:54 How do you stay motivated? 05:16 What are your top 3 tips for getting started? 08:43 What platforms should you put your podcast on? 10:27 Do you think BuzzSprout is the best audi...

Over the last couple of months I've been pushing hard on the idea that first time podcasters should start a mini podcast - that is, a solo podcast that's 20 minutes or less. But how do you actually produce that show quickly? The answer is Descript. Show Notes Get Descript Why You Should Start and Monetize a Mini Podcast -- About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love...

Scott Cowan runs a podcast called Explore Washington State. It’s part of a greater site all about Washington. The podcast publishes 3-4 times per week, and he’s looking to grow his audience and potentially increase his output to 5 times a week. Listen in as I give Scott advice about SEO, website improvements, and pointing his enormous Instagram following to the show. Top Takeaways: Having a good w...

The most common I question I get about pitching sponsors is, "how much do I charge?" While you might hear terms like CPM (cost per mille, or dollar amount per thousand downloads), starting out that's not going to yield a lot of results for you. There's a better way. You want to show brands the full picture when it comes to your audience. You want to tell potential sponsors about your overall reach...

Contracts can be a scary and confusing thing...especially when the relationship is strictly ad placement on your own podcast. Listener Erin recently wrote in to ask about podcast sponsor contracts, and while I am not a lawyer, I'm happy to share my own experience. In this episode I: Answer if you actually need a contract Go over what an Insertion Order is Talk payment terms Cover what to watch out...

In the past month or so, I've been experimenting with something that grew my podcast downloads by 21% and it wasn't paid ads. See, the best way to grow your podcast is to get in front of other podcast audiences. With that in mind, I decided to try some Podcast Swaps, and they've been working so well I'm going to do another round. Let's take a look at what they are, how they work, and how you can d...

They say it's easier to sell to current customers than to get new ones. It makes sense, right? Those customers have entered into a relationship with you, have shown they trust you, and have proved their open to giving you money. The same thing can be said of sponsors. Many people forget that sponsorship is a relationship, and as the creator, you can help the brand. So when a campaign is over, don'...

As you start to pursue sponsors, especially those you don’t have a personal relationship with, you will surely be asked for more information. A great way to convey that information, as well a look professional, organized, and ready to accept sponsors, is a pitch deck (or a sponsor deck). Today, let's look at what a pitch deck is, what it should include, and how to put it together. -- About Streaml...

Today I want to talk to you about DAI, or Dynamic Ad Insertion. DAI is a way for you to automatically insert ads (or any audio clip) into your already produced podcast episodes. Let's dive into how exactly it works, how you can get started, and what indie podcasters should use it for. Show Notes Programmatic Advertising for Podcasters: How to Get Started Marco's Tweet Podcast Ad Delivery: Make Bet...

I wanna share with you something fantastic advice my 5-year-old daughter gave me today about podcasting we were driving her to school. See, someone cut me off, which lead me to mutter under my breath. When she asked what I was doing, I said I was talking to nobody. And she said, "If you're talking to nobody, why are you talking at all?" And that my friends, is what we're going to address today. Be...

It's finally happened! After months of speculation and leaked slide decks, YouTube has quietly launched its podcast area in the US. You can get to it by going to the "Explore" page. So today, we discuss how to get your show on YouTube, how to leverage YouTube to make money, and some recommended tools for converting your audio to video. Links FusionCast Descript Castos Repurpose.io -- About Streaml...

One of the most common calls to action is “leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.” I’ve long railed against this CTA, stating that you’re alienating a large portion of the audience. But what if this approach is wrong? That's what we'll explore today. Show Notes Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts! Tanner Campbell on Substack Submit Your Review for a chance...

You want a sure-fire way to betray trust in your podcast? Invite a guest on just to ambush them with a sales pitch of your own services. Sounds farfetched, but it's happened to me 3 times in the last 6 weeks! Friendly Reminder: Your podcast guests are not part of your sales funnel. Not even close. Let's look at how this tactic works, why it's wrong, what to do instead , and how to prevent it from...

There's a reason lots of podcasters fall victim to podfade. Podcasting can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you are doing long episodes with guests. But recently over on The Podcast Host, they wrote an article about how Mini Podcasting is on the rise. I shared this article with my newsletter and it's one of the most clicked on links in the history of my newsletter. Lots of people are inte...

Sponsorship is the main monetization goal for a lot of podcasters, but there are often some misconceptions around how it happens. You might think that you don’t have enough downloads to get sponsors. Or that once you *do* get enough downloads, brands will magically start reaching out to you. You might assume that you need an “in” with any company to get a brand deal. I’m here to tell you: you don’...

Your show's mission statement is more than just some words on a page. It should determine the direction of your show, the format, who you're talking to, and ultimately how it will make money. Much like a map (well, Google Maps) when you're going to a new destination, your mission statement will guide your podcast from losing money to generating enough income to support your business. The framework...