Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting Mistakes

In a way it doesn't matter WHY you were away, but you started a podcast and were consistent in your schedule, until you weren't.  Life happened and what was supposed to be a few days turned into a few weeks, maybe months, or even years.  Now you want to come back, but you feel a bit weird. Maybe a bit embarrassed that you started and then just vanished. Don't be.  I haven't bowled in years. I have...

I have advice that I tell my clients: Record a few test episodes so you can see how long it will take to create an episode - then pick your schedule. Get some feedback from someone you are not related to, or didn't grow up with. You need constructive feedback.  While I recorded a few test shows, I didn't spend much time on this (two episodes) and I didn't get any feedback.  When I saw my supply ch...

In the past, I would recommend what we called, "episode zero" where you would share about yourself, what to expect, and why you started the podcast. Then I read something In the book, Epic Content Marketing: How to tell a different story, break through the clutter, and win more customers by marketing less by Joe Pulizzi states, “ Your customers don’t care about you, your products, or your services...

When you first start out, you are not as confident on the microphone, you may be using some "not so great" equipment (like your camera's microphone) and you haven't mastered mixing audio (so your music bed is too loud).  Now 10 episodes later you sound better, and it is noticeable when this great-sounding voice follows the "not so great" intro.  Now, I realize this is not a deal-breaker, but my po...

I was at an event and went to lunch with an old friend and he asked if I would like some feedback (I'm always open for advice)? He mentioned that sometimes when I'm talking about a mistake someone makes I may be coming across a bit more like a curmudgeon. I didn't get defensive and realized that there may be times when bad advice is being circulated and people are going down the wrong path. (I get...

There is a conference about your topic, and you decide to attend. If you are traveling to get there, this won't be cheap so today I'm going to tell you how to get the most out of going to a conference. Wear Comfortable Shoes In some cases, these are in giant hotels that will have you going way over 10,000 steps. Also, you will be standing a fair amount in the hallways and having great conversation...

I have seen this over and over in my 17 years of podcasting. A big company comes in and explains how they are embracing podcasting, and then a short time later they quietly disappear and hope all the people with microphones don't notice. We do.  There is one strategy that ALWAYS works with or without social media and that is what I want to share today.  WHO WANTS FREE STUFF? I have a number of fre...

There is a simple exercise you can to pick the right publishing schedule. I did this with my new podcast and it help me immensely. WHY? As always it comes back to WHO is this for and WHY are you doing it? You might do a quick daily podcast to keep your brand in front of your target audience. You might do a longer (20 minutes?) episode on a weekly basis that allows you to show your expertise. It wi...

You join an online podcasting community and people keep talking about "301 redirects." What is it and when do you use it? 301 REDIRECTS If you've ever moved, you know you need to fill out a change of address form so any mail that goes to your old address forwards to the new address. If you put that into podcasting, it is similar. A 301 redirect is a "Change of address" for your podcast. When Do Yo...

People are trying to launch their podcast with down to the second precision and I'm here to tell you that you're going to lose your mind or have a heart attack.  People will pick a release date (typically not far out enough) and then struggle and freak out trying to make an extremely unrealistic deadline.  This is especially true when it comes to submitting your show to the directories. Submit to...

When you let someone configure your podcast, there is a good chance you "Didn't know what I didn't know" and you may not even own your show. Today I cover some tips. 1. Make your media host offers a redirect ( use the coupon code sopfree to get a free month at Libsyn.com ) 2. Make sure it's YOUR email and credit card on your media host and web host. 3. Make sure you use YOUR login and password whe...

Currently, I live alone. However, when I start HBO Max or Hulu a screen pops up that asks me who is listening with only one choice - Me.  I know that it's only one click. However, can't they tell that there isn't an option here? It's me or someone else? It's not. There is only one answer: me. It's annoying. Do you have that one annoying friend? Do you hang out with them all the time (if at all)? P...

Dynamic Content Flavors Pre and Post Rolls This enables you to add dynamic content (ads, or other promotions) at the beginning and end of your show/ Mid Rolls This enables you to content  (ads, or other promotions) anywhere in your show (you select where, and the content is inserted) The dynamic part is you can change the content later and it will update all the episodes that have "Spots."  Dynami...

Today we talk about front-loading your podcast with the best content to get people engaged and to KEEP them engaged. GROCERY STORES Grocery stores make their customers walk to the back of the store (typically ) to get to the bread, milk, eggs, and meat (those things that everyone will need).  Don't make our audience work to get to the good stuff, you can move it to the front even if it happened at...

As I release this it's January which is a month where many people launch a podcast. Why? Because it's a new year and they are pumped up and ready to embrace the new year. That is great and I love the excitement. Here are some questions you need to answer. 1, Why Are You Starting a Podcast? Potential Answers include: To be seen as an expert To promote a product or service (marketing) To find like-m...

I know it's hard to ask someone to review that first episode that you just spent 10 hours working on, but it makes no sense to promote something until you know it engages your listeners. THE BEST EXAMPLE In watching the documentary Get Back on Disney+, there is not one but TWO clips of Yoko Ono "singing." Does her husband John Lennon stop her to say, "Hey let's work on that later?" No, he's probab...

With some bigger shows able to charge a gust to appear on their shows, today I'm going to share why I think this is a bad idea. 1. You need to disclose that the guest is paying you to appear turning your podcast into an infomercial. 2. At first this "extra cash" might get budgeted for a monthly expense and not stay "extra."  3. Then you count on this "extra" cash and then NEED to have guests who p...

With a Thanksgiving Turkey, they now have that little red peg that pops up to let you know the turkey is ready. How does that work in podcasting? You've worked for HOURS on this first episode. IS it ready?  Don't Publish The First Thing You Record If you think about it there are rough drafts, dress rehearsals, and, well, practice laps. I just watch Get Back on Disney+ and you see where the Beatles...

The most profitable way to make money with your podcast is by selling your own products and services. Today I share a strategy on how you can do a focus group for your online course without spending any money.  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Membervault Vimeo Teachable Circle.so Profit From Your Podcast Book This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privac...

Selling is 90% mental. I used to teach sales many moons ago. When I work with clients who have products and services to sell, when I listen to their podcast their pitch sounds like this: "Hey, like if you need, I mean you don't have to, but, like, if you kinda want to, you can maybe, like, go to, you know, my website (then said so fast you can't understand it)." When I ask people why they did that...

I get this question on a fairly regular basis. And that is, Hey, we said this, should I mark my podcast as explicit? One time I was thoroughly confused because they were mentioning the F word. And I'm not going to say any of these words today, I'm going to keep mine clean, but it was the F word. It's the one that rhymes with fire truck. And they said, Can I use this (the F Word) Because I'm using...

You’ve probably heard the phrase knowledge is power. I always say knowledge is power when you act on it. Today I’m going to explain when knowledge is a curse. When you do an interview, picture yourself sitting at a table with your guest across from you and your listener sitting to the left of you. This is often where the curse of knowledge comes into play. You bring up that time at the weidapit an...

The more  honest feedback (from people you aren't related to grew up with) you get from your audience the better your show will be. It's a little scary to ask people for feedback, but in the end without feedback, you are at risk of wasting your time creating content that doesn't resonate with your audience. Today I have some tools to make it easy.  Podcast Voicemail podcastvoicemail.com is exactly...

I get this question all the time and the quick answer is when it comes to subscribers - you can't. However, there are other ways to measure success. First, let's talk about the current state of affairs. You can see engaged listeners (people that listen to a sizeable chunk of your episode) in Apple. You can see followers in Spotify. In Google podcasts you can actually see subscribers. However, if y...

Today we continue our discussion of Imposter Syndrome and feeling "We're not worthy!" Here are some strategies: You are not defined by your mistakes. The “I must not fail mentality” can be crippling. There is one person who really needs your message Not everyone will like you, and that is OK. Credentials don't always mean what you think they do. Find one person you know and trust and let them know...