School of Podcasting - Podcast Tips to Plan, Launch, Grow Your Podcast

In today's episode of The School of Podcasting, I recount my experience at Podfest which was attended by many new faces. I share my conversation with the host of The Accidental Swingers, a podcast discussing non-exclusive relationships. I also discuss Cinemaker, a Mac-only video recording program for video interviews. Lastly, podcast hosts announced updates at Podfest. I also share my presentation. Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional, and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. Uncovering the secret to getting guests to share your episode. 2. Exploring the new podcast hosting technology available. 3. Examining the ingredients of a good podcast.   Timeline 00:04:05 Make your interviews unique. 00:10:58 Get feedback before launch. 00:17:14 Get to the point quickly. 00:19:41 Name your podcast clearly. 00:29:00 Grow your show by sharing. 00:34:09 Create great content consistently. 00:43:00 Grow with a consistent theme. 00:46:17 Podcasting never dies. 00:51:51 Tell someone about the podcast. Questions: If you're consistent and persistent in producing shows, what else is needed to continue to grow the audience? Does having a seasonal podcast make for lower downloads? Does podcast growth depend on the platform (media host)? Could it ever be the most painful? That people don't like it? Is a specific theme best or should I have a variety of topics? Are there typical plateau points? QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month's question is from Jacob from the Old Men - New Games. When a host has English as a second language and may occasionally mess up a word or two, Is that a no go? Do you listen, or immediately back out? Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 2/24/23 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all; please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Daniel J Lewis Accidental Swingers Podfest Expo Podcast Branding Cinamaker Video Recording/Streaming Free Podcast Classes Libsyn Media Host (use the coupon code sopfree ) Blubrry Media Hosting Captivate Media Hosting Buzzsprout Canva Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyI Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey

In this episode, you will learn the secrets to writing an attention-grabbing podcast description that will captivate your listeners. Remember, you can update your show description at any time. JOIN THE SCHOOL OF PODCASTING COMMUNITY Are you looking to start your own podcast but don't know where to begin? Look no further than the School of Podcasting. Our comprehensive online courses and one-on-one coaching will teach you everything you need to know, from equipment and editing to marketing and monetization. With our proven methods and expert instructors, you'll be creating high-quality, engaging content in no time. Say goodbye to the frustration and uncertainty, and hello to a successful podcasting career with the School of Podcasting. Join worry-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee. Save using this link www.schoolofpodcasting.com/listener  YOUR PODCAST DESCRIPTION While every show is different, and thus, every description is different there are some items you may want to include: Get Them Saying Yes By stating an obvious truth, you show that you "Get" your audience and get them saying, "yes." Frequency, Format, and Facts This can be your schedule (Frequency). Your format (solo, interview, panel, narrative). Facts: Accomplishments of the host to establish street cred and answer, "Why should we listen to you?" Who is This For? By specifically identifying who the show is for, you better attract your target audience.  Why Should They Listen?What value and/or what benefit is the listener going to walk away with? Call to Action Your call to action in your description (as this will be seen in all the apps) should be to play or, even better, follow/subscribe. Regarding asking them to go to your website or other calls to action, do those in episodes AFTER they start listening.  YOU DON'T BENEFIT UNTIL YOUR AUDIENCE BENEFITS. Other Options Some people like to start of with a question.  THE FORMAT OF MY DESCRIPTION IS OFF This is another reason to keep your description short. The more paragraphs you want and bold, italics, etc it is going to look weird. In most apps, the description is simple text. If you do include links, they won't work.  All you can do it enter things the right way and hope for the best.    Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all, please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeve? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Mentioned In This Episode Creating a Promo For Your Show Episode 858 Getting Your Podcast Unstuck Episode 861 Celebrity Impostor Syndrome Marriage Advice from the Divorced Guy Podcasts So Good Your Audience Can't Unhear Them Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling 10 Magic Words Exercise Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Buy Dave a Coffee Podcasting Observations Dave's Free NewsletterMentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyI Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey

When it comes to making purchases, we are often faced with a conflict between our emotional and logical sides. How we balance these two competing forces can determine our success or failure when it comes to spending. I had my wallet out, ready to spend almost $1500, and today I share how I identified my emotional and logical sides in the conflict and used logic to save my money for something better. My Video Progression I started with a Logitech C920 and upgraded to the Elgato Facecam. The Facecam had a better picture and NO MICROPHONE (so no accidental recordings using the camera microphone). I later I upgraded to the Sony VZ-1. Why? Because YouTube told me that this was THE best camera for the new YouTuber/Content creator. Also, it had a button that MADE THE BACKGROUND BLURRY. I'm not making that up. With the press of ONE button, the background would be BLURRY. OMG! So I had to get it even though it was $900. I bought it on a payment plan but avoided paying any interest.  A little over a year the Sony ZV-10 came out, and not only did it have the one-button blurry mode, but you could also CHANGE LENSES. Again, YouTube erupted, letting me know that THIS, yes, THIS was THE camera.  I was THIS CLOSE to buying this camera, and then I saw another video because as I could switch lenses, I had to figure out what was the best lens. The one lens that made the Youtube host just look dreamy cost $400.  Wait, does that say $400? So $800 for the camera and $400 for the lens is $1200, but the other lens, and this and that.  QUESTION 1: Do I NEED this, or do I WANT THIS? I thought about it. What happens if I didn't buy this camera? Were my videos on YouTube suffering? After all, I've been making videos for years without a blurry background and I have attracted 3000 subscribers. So apparently, you do not NEED a Blurry background.  QUESTION 2: Who does this benefit and how? Does this benefit your or our audience, and if so, how?  Well, as I already had the ability to blur my background, there only perc was the ability to switch lenses.  Have I run into something where I wanted to change lenses and couldn't? No. Then why am I buying it? Is it easier to use? Slightly, but you will still need to unplug and replug in the cable, which frustrates me.  So I'm going to spend $1400 to pay for a feature that I will not need. With that, I put my credit card back in my wallet. BE CAREFUL PAYING FOR FLEXIBLE FEATURES YOU CAN GROW INTO I once signed a year-long contract with Vidyard. Why? Because it had TONS of features that I MIGHT use. After all, I could see how far people watched my video. What was I trying to do? Make video messages I could email to my students and clients.  It turned it this would do it, but I found their interface clunky, and when I found a way to really use it, they wanted me to upgrade.  After my contract was over, I found LOOM, and it does exactly what I need it to do for a FRACTION of the cost. Don't spend money on features you will never use. OTHER ITEMS THAT HELPED I've never had someone tell me, "You have to watch this video; the background is BLURRY."  HAVE YOU FALLEN INTO THE TRAP? Maybe instead of spending so much TIME concentrating on your background, MAYBE we should focus more on what you are saying in the microphone.  WHY PEOPLE UPGRADE MICROPHONES AND VIDEO ITEMS I understand that sometimes we don't feel confident with our voice, but in many cases upgrading from one microphone to another doesn't make that much difference (especially once you get over $100). But I understand that if you would feel more confident behind the microphone if you like your voice, it may be worth the upgrade. Just realize this: Unless your microphone and sound is HORRIBLE, getting a new microphone won't grow your offense. Your content will. Now, if your content is noticeably better because you are more confident, then maybe it's worth the money. CONCLUSION AND BONUS QUESTIONS 1. Is this a WANT or a NEED? 2. Who benefits from this purchase? 3. (bonus) What happens if you don't make this purchase (this helps identify if you need this or want it).  4. Are the features of the product something you WILL put into practice? WHY I AM STILL NOT A FAN OR ANCHOR.FM In the past Anchor.fm would submit your show to Apple, Google, and Sticher "For you" and "Forgot" to mention that you would lose access to stats on those platforms (oops!). I could go on for hours, but why I wanted to bring this up is they don't do this anymore. Does this mean I now recommend them? No.  Why? Well, here are some old and new reasons. 1. They are still free, and MANY free media hosts have gone out of business (some after burning through MILLIONS of dollars). So I don't want to build my show on something that is just using a bad business model. 2. If you upload an mp3 file and use their advertising tools, they change their file to an m4a. This makes no sense as Spotify only uses mp3 files from other hosts. 3. They sometimes leave out details when they announce things.  Example: You can play money in your podcast (that they approve, and only in Spotify, and only in the app, and only to paid users). Example: VIdeos have come to Spotify (that you have to upload via Anchor, that only displays the video on Spotify, and only in the app). Example: According to the Co-creator of How to save the planet (a Gimlet show) said, "Spotify invested zero in building the show’s audience, then forced us to go exclusive to Spotify, and then canceled it b/c it didn’t build a big enough audience…” she tweeted on Saturday. source Example: Multiple people in an Anchor.fm user group have mentioned that even though Spotify mentions, as soon as you reach a level, you will have sponsors. These people have met the criteria and have no sponsors (one has 275,000 downloads and still has no sponsor). 4. You have to ASK for an RSS feed.  This is like going to a restaurant and having to request food. Shouldn't you have that already? Spotify (who owns Anchor) wants you to stay in their "Walled garden."  When you look at their marketing material or hear any of the presentations that paint themselves as ABSOLUTE NUMBER 1, and they are THE COOL KIDS. When they are #2 to Apple by a LARGE margin, here again, they prey on the uninformed.  The co-founder of Anchor has said that RSS (the technology that Podcasts use and keep it open) is holding Podcasting back - while the actual spec of RSS is being updated AS YOU READ THIS.  PODCASTING FOR FREE MAY BE UNREALISTIC I get that you want to podcast without breaking the bank. I understand that. When you try to do it without spending ANY money, your expectations may be in need of an adjustment.  Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeve? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all; please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where FREE CLASSES Want to dip your toe into the podcasting pool? Check out the classes I have available for free at  https://schoolofpodcasting.com/freeclasses MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE New Media Show Gimlet Issues with Spotify Libsyn.com (get a free month using code sopfree) Red Circle Sony ZV-10 Sony VZ-1 Elgato Facecam Elgato Facecam Pro Logitech C920  Loom Video Tool *links may include affiliate links and I may receive compensation for purchasing through these links.Mentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey

Are you looking to grow your podcast? You’ve come to the right place! This episode shares how to get your podcast unstuck and find success. Whether you’re just starting out or have been podcasting for a while, the tips shared here will help you get your audience clicking with your content. We’ll provide guidance on finding and following effective strategies for growing your podcast. Weight Loss and Podcasting Instead of focusing on the goal of "I need to lose 40 lbs" focus on the actions that lead to weight loss. Starring at the scale won't make it move, and starring at your stats doesn't make them move easier.  What Do We Want Our Audience To Do? When I thought about what we want our audience to do that leads to more podcast growth, it came down to these: FIND: We need our audience to find us. To be easily found we need to know what they are looking for and word it in a way they will use. CLICK: We need our audience to click on our listing, click on our titles, click on play and click follow. FOLLOW: When your audience follows/subscribes to your show you are becoming part of their routine. Make it EASY to follow you SHARE: We want our audience to share the show with their friends. According to Jacobs media 70% of new listeners discover a podcast from their friends.  Your Show Is An Experiment Yes we would love to get our show perfect from episode one going forward. I didn't follow my own advice (and didn't get any other opinions) and named one of my shows (about the future of podcasting) "Leading the Bleeding" (as we talk about the bleeding edge of podcasting). I named another "test" show Podcast Rodeo Show (I bet you don't think its full of podcasting tips - it is). If you have to explain your show title - your might regret it later.  FIND MY SHOW MY NAME TEST When I say to someone, "I'm doing a show called ______. What do you think it's about?" and they guess correctly, I've got a good name (Especially if there are some keywords in the name).  I see people put the name of their show asonegiantword and I'm pretty sure your audience isn't going to type that in. If you want to be found by Goolge, you need a website. Check out www.trypodpage.com to make a site with Podpage, and to learn podpage, see www.learnpodpage.com  GET YOUR AUDIENCE  TO CLICK Here are some things that get people to click on your show: The name of the show. The name of the episodes The artwork An easy to find play button on your website FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE Search in podcast apps is getting better, but nothing beats having follow/subscribe buttons on your website. This way, when you tell people to go to your website on the special page made to follow and subscribe, it makes it easy; they don't have to "Find you," and you are reinforcing your brand. There is a great plugin, Social subscribe and follow, that makes it easy to add subscribe buttons to your WordPress Website. Here is my Follow Page, and Subscribe page. SHARE THE SHOW When your audience shares your content with their friends, you have a decent chance of getting a new listener. At Christmas, EVERYBODY was talking about the show Yellowstone. Consequently, I came home and started watching.  You do need to work on your pitch in a way that makes people want to go listen. You should practice this. When someone asks, "So, what is your show about?" they should hear a response that is um, well, kind like, um, you know, um..... There are some cool plugins for WordPress like Novashare, Social Snap, the Monarch USE THESE CRITERIA FOR MAKING A DECISIONS I worked with someone who had named their show DCBN Lifestyle. When I asked (cause they didn't explain it in the show) what it stood for it was, "Don't cook bacon naked" which made me laugh. Which one would be found easier? DCBN or Don't cook bacon naked. The audience doesn't know you've abbreviated the title and if they can't find you they will never know.  If you're thinking of naming your episode School of Podcasting 861 or How to get your podcast unstuck, which one are you going to click on? Should use create separate artwork for your episodes? She we use episode numbers in your title? Sometimes it is hard to decide (and there is nobody to ask). What do you do then?  Go with your gut. Your podcast is not a statue, and you can always change it later. GROWING YOUR PODCAST AUDIENCE Make it easy to find you by having a name the audience is looking for, easy to say, spell, and find. Have artwork that makes you stand out (and wasn’t done in crayon) with episode titles that make them click. Have buttons on your website so people can follow and subscribe to your show, and while they on your website they can use the share buttons as you ask your audience listening in their favorite podcast app (because your show is everywhere) to share their show with their friends. We want to grow our audiences, let’s focus on those steps that lead to our audience growth.  It all starts with knowing who your audience is, and what they want.  QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeves? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Where Will I Be? I look forward to seeing you all; please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where Is Chat GPT the End of Civilization? I've played with ChatGPT, which is somewhat like a search engine where you can ask it to write you a blog post, and it will. Remember, Google wants good words that deliver value. It does make me nervous as I can see where people could "use this for evil. I played with Revoicer (another one is Blakify is another one), which takes a script and has a robot read it. It's impressive, but almost all AI I deal with still needs a human to step in and polish the content (which, in some cases, is blatantly wrong).  We had a discussion on the Podcasters Roundtable about this and other things happening in 2023. Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE School of Podcasting Blakify Revoicer Novashare, Social Snap Monarch Social Subscribe and Follow www.trypodpage.com Leading the Bleeding How to Make Episode Artwork Show in Podcast Apps (even in Apple Podcasts!) The Audacity to Podcast Podcast Rodeo Show Apple Website on Charts Apple website - How Search Works Click To Tweet Chat GPT No Agenda Show Follow the Show and Never Miss an Episode on: Apple - Google - Spotify - Amazon Check out New Podcast Apps for apps to stream bitcoin to podcasters. Did You Get Value From This Episode? Enjoy the Show? Buy Dave a Coffee and give some of that value back.  Become a School of Podcasting Affiliate Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/affiliates and sign up. When someone signs up using your link, you earn a commission. That commission is paid every month they stay subscribed. Start Earning TodayMentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey

Imposter syndrome is a feeling of self-doubt and insecurity that 70% of us experience at some point in our lives. It can be paralyzing and lead to a sense of being inadequate or undeserving of success. While it is difficult to eliminate the negative feelings associated with imposter syndrome completely, there are steps you can take to reduce its impact on your life. Today I talk about how it may be a GOOD THING to have imposter syndrome.  You Have Done Hard Things We have all done hard things in the past. One of the hardest things I had to do is let my Grandmother know she had outlived her daughter (my Mom). My last quarter in college was nuts as I was paying for myself to go to school. We all have a list of hard things, so we can do hard things.  It's Your Brain For whatever reason (probably due to things that got tattooed to our brains as children), those negative thoughts are hard to control. In researching this topic again, it turns out that most people just understand that they will have these thoughts, and in some cases, it's a good thing. Don't underestimate the power of your brain to manipulate you. David Tennant (Dr. Who) shares how his brain will try to convince him that you can remember large amounts of words and recite them AS HE IS LIVE ON STAGE DOING THAT EXACT THING. You Are Not Alone In this episode, all of these people have imposter syndrome. I share clips from David Letterman with Billie Elish from his "My next guest needs no introduction." Viola Davis from a 60 minutes interview. Jason Sudeikis from his days at SNL. Michelle Obama Tom Hanks Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen Awkwafina David Tennant Other people I didn't mention would be Rick Springfield and Meryl Streep Why a little Imposter Syndrome is a Good Thing You are going to put content in front of an audience. There are two extreme reactions. The extreme imposter feels they are not qualified and that nobody will listen, so they are frozen and never publish anything. The obnoxious ego maniac that feels everyone will love their content and publish everything (and probably is not fun to be around).  As Viola Davis put it, if you think you will never work again, you will take any gig. Taking any gigs gives you the opportunity to work on your craft which results in you being a better podcaster. You can't improve something that doesn't exist.   The Goal is to Be In The Middle You realize that you will always have that "negative voice" with you. As one person put it, "You can let them in the car, but they can't drive." Too many podcasts ae not being created because people are letting their own negative thoughts stop them from pressing record.  You want to build the habit of pressing the record button to feel comfortable behind the microphone without going too far to the point where you become obnoxious.  The Giant Carrot of Impact One thing that motivates me to create my podcast is I want to help people avoid making podcasting mistakes. Recently, I've been pointing out how Listennotes shows a bogus stat that can be disproven quickly. Consequently, anyone quoting these stats is either uninformed (and setting themselves up to look silly) or is preying on the uninformed. I ran into one person who seemed to fit the "prey on the uninformed" category. This depressed me. I was shocked. I felt like I had done a bad job in this video, and that video showed how stupid this stat was.  Then I got an email from someone who had seen an interaction I had with this person on YouTube and basically said that THEY HAD SEEN MY VIDEOS   and now understood how stupid that stat is. So while this one podcast guru did not, this person did. My efforts had impacted this person in a positive way. I was amazed at how this made me feel (I'm sure a large amount of dopamine in my brain was released). If you are a person with a mission, and a passion, don't let imposter syndrome stop you from impacting the world Ready To Start Your Podcast? You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeves? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all; please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/whereMentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey

Every year since 2013 I end the year asking my listeners what their favorite podcast is, and WHY it is their favorite podcast.  This gives me insights into my audience (many more females replying than I got back in 2013) and I find out about potential shows that I may want to network with (as we are already sharing an audience).  Thanks to everyone who contributed, I deeply appreciate your participation. Some of you have been around since episode 1, and that boggles my mind.  Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener My Favorite Podcast Is 2:11 Steve Stewart still loves the Stacking Benjamins show, but instead of mentioning that show again he mentioned the This is awkward show about finance and more. Steve is also one of the founders of the Podcast Editor Academy. It is a phenomenal resource if you want to make some money as an editor. 05:24 Brian Goodwin from the Relaxed Male podcast loves the Life Coach School podcast. 08:20 Brooke Smothers from the RV Outwest show loves How I Built This by Guy Rax 09:43 Chris Lewis from the Dads with daughters loves the Real Brian Show 10:54 Chris Nesi from the House of Ed Tech loves the Warm Up Show. 13:53 Daniel J Lewis from the Audacity to Podcast loves the Podcasting 2.0 Show. 18:26 DR Who produces the Life After Corporate show loves the Build a  Big Podcast Show by David Hooper. 21:44 Super Joe Pardo (organizer of the Indie Pod Conference) loves the Disney Dish Show 23:10 John Wilkerson from the Struggling for Purpose show loves the Truce Podcast. 24:23 Kim Newlove from The Pharmacist's Voice loves the School of Podcasting (this show). 28:23 Mark Vinet from The History of North America show loves the Book Notes Plus show. 29:09 Mike Dell from the Podcast Insider show loves the Lehto's Law show. 31:00 Neil Scott of the Recovery Coast to Coast show loves the Bob Lefsetz podcast. 34:06 Nina loves the School of Podcasting 42:23Nyree from The Ferret Paradigm Podcast and The Fauna Paradigm shows loves a show that just split in two due to some co-host tensions. Check out Curious Freedom and The Arto f Decluttering.    45:36 Paul From the Pass ACLS Tip of the Day loves the Everything Everywhere show. Here the host of Everything Everywhere on episode 854 where he explains how he grows his show. 47:38 Richard from the Veterans Day Room loves the Build a Big Podcast show. 51:43 Rich Palmer loves the Voice Over Body Shop Show. 54:03 Taylor Marek loves The Expert Ownership show 55:22 York From Welcome to Earth Stories show loves the Matt Walsh show. 57:11 Scott Johnson from the What Was That Like? show loves the 7 Minute Stories show. 59:49 Jim Collison from the Home Gadget Geeks show loves One Nation Under Whiskey show. 01:01:46 Dave Jackson from the Your Podcast Consultant show loves the No Agenda Show QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeve? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching, and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is one I often do in January. What are your top podcasting pet peeve? Those little things that drive you nuts. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 1/27/23 Become a School of Podcasting Affiliate Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/affiliates and sign up. When someone signs up using your link, you earn a commission. That commission is paid every month they stay subscribed. Start Earning Today Follow the Show and Never Miss an Episode on: Apple - Google - Spotify - Amazon Check out New Podcast Apps for apps to stream bitcoin to podcasters. Did You Get Value From This Episode? Enjoy the Show? Buy Dave a Coffee and give some of that value back. Mentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey

Creating a successful and engaging podcastpromo requires careful planning and dedication. Whether you are creating a podcast promo or radio ad, it is important to have a clear understanding of your target audience (hyper clear). By taking into consideration the message you want to convey, the format of your audio advertisement, you can craft an effective promo for your podcast that resonates with listeners. This episode Neil Hedley from Knopp Studios who has such a wide skillset (radio, tv, advertising, copywriting, comedian, and instructor of the copywriting 101 course - use coupon sop50).  Helps me understand there is no "cookie cutter recipe" for making a good podcast promo.  Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional, and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener Creating a Good Podcast Promo In talking with Neil from The Voice In My Head we discover there is no "paint by numbers" path to making a great podcast promo. There are some best practices such as: Niche down until you have a crystal clear picture of your audience.  The message about your show is not a one size fits all situation. If you are advertising on "Joe Rogan Experience" and the "Minister Bob" show,  What is missing in most ads is they are just the facts - they are not entertaining or memorable. The job of the first sentence is to get you to listen to the second sentence. There is a skip ad button on YouTube, but no "play ad again." People don't hate ads, they hate BAD ads.  Connect with Neil Copywriting 101 Course (use coupon sop50) Neil's Book Copywriting 101: What Was That Number Again?: Crimes Against Advertising and How to Prevent Them Neil's Agency KNOPP STUDIOS The Voice in My Hed Show  Because of My Podcast I'm a Pop Up Pastor Because of the Speak Life Church Podcast Kenn was able to fulfill my Call to ministry. The speak life podcast is a church without walls. I am an at-large pop-up pastor to about 300 people nationally.   I have been able to travel to officiate Christian weddings, perform baptisms, and funerals, and answer the call to counsel ten people considering suicide. https://www.blanchardnetwork.com/show/speak-life-church/ speaklifechurch.net  Can you finish the statement "Because of my podcast _______"? Head over to our contact page and share it. QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is the one I do over December. What is your favorite podcast in 2022, and WHY? You can only choose ONE (I know it's hard). If you can get their website URL, that would be VERY helpful. Also, be sure to mention your show, it's the website and a little bit about it. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 12/30/22 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all; please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where Mentioned In This Episode Neil's Previous Episode  Tips Podcasters Can Use From Radio with Neil Hedley Seth Godin Books on Amazon (aff) What Was That Like Podcast Dave In Your Pocket - Coaching without Calendars Follow the Show and Never Miss an Episode on: Apple - Google - Spotify - Amazon Check out New Podcast Apps for apps to stream bitcoin to podcasters. Did You Get Value From This Episode? Enjoy the Show? Buy Dave a Coffee and give some of that value back.  Become a School of Podcasting Affiliate Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/affiliates and sign up. When someone signs up using your link, you earn a commission. That commission is paid every month they stay subscribed. Start Earning TodayMentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey

A study has shown the results of 1700 new podcasters, and 41% saw their new podcast as an opportunity for additional income, with 29% of those wanting to be their main source of income. There are people who will charge you THOUSANDS of dollars (in three easy payments) who will GUARANTEE a top spot in podcasts apps. They quote their listennotes stats (even when they know they are bogus, see video 1 and video 2) and promote affiliate products - not because they are good - but because they have the highest commission.  I'm not them. Today I reveal the truth - even if it is not what you want to hear.  So The Plan is to Start a Podcast and Get Advertisers? Less than 10% of podcasters get the number of downloads per episode after 30 days to get a host ready from a "big sponsor." source Programmatic ads have a CPM that may be  around $12 CPM (cost per thousand downloads) source The median number of podcasters is around 150 (per libsyn)and the average is around 1500. The median on Buzzsprout is 30.  The aver CPM for Advertisecast is $24ish and they require 10,000 downloads per episode. source Please note, I'm not saying smaller shows with 1000 downloads an episode can't get a sponsor. With podcasting, it always "Depends" on your topic. If you DO have a hyper niche or hyper-local podcast you can charge more than the rates above.  Bruce Chamoff from the NYC Podcast Network I first ran into Bruce when he invited me to be a speaker at his Podknow 2023 Online Event. I wanted to talk to Bruce because I don't see eye to eye on some of the things he does, and I wanted to no more. One was having a network where the topics weren't related.  Brice started the NYC Podcast Network back in 2005 (it was the Long Island Podcast Network back then). He has slowly broadened the scope and plans on rebranding it to the Global Podcast Network.  Bruce is monetizing by having podcaster pay to be promoted on his site, which gets 20-25 thousand unique visitors a month. That would put him in the top 20% (Source).  You can join for free or pay a small monthly fee to be featured on the site. Bruce monitors all the activity on the website so you can evaluate your traffic from the site and decide if it's worth the fee, or stay with a free plan (or leave - I'm somewhat worried about having another site competing with YOUR website) Certain plans on the site allow you to link to our show on popular podcast platforms, as well as monetization links, and link to your website (which you can do on your own site for free). Bruce likens it to a social media site based around podcasting. What makes his site different is his level of categorization.  You can sign up for free, try it, and check your stats to see if this works for you.    My "Thanks Dave" Engagement Experiment For three weeks, I swapped out my typical School of Podcasting Advertisement and askws people if they felt I had given value over the years (and they had never joined the School of Podcasting) if they would give some of that value back by going to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/thanks Six people said "Thanks" and gave some value back (Ranging from $5-$25).  Steve at Wayword studios Letitia Evans James Cridland From Podnews Craig Wealand from Ingles Podcast DR from Mouthy Broad Media Try Price from Front Porch Studios If you take 6/1500 that is .04% (not 4% POINT ZERO 4) I've mentioned in the past that I've heard the VERY popular show Radiolab do a "Fundraiser" type episode trying to get UP TO 1% of their audience to donate. When I've spoken to other people in the industry, a good engagement level is 2-3%.  If I count the people who are Patrons and Students, I'm somewhere near that ballpark. Mentioned in This Episode Building a Podcast Network Behind the Scenes of the Trek.fm Network How to Start a Podcast Network: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Dave's Listener Survey Join the Live Focus Group For the School of Podcasting Question of the Month Where I Will BeMentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyI Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey

Creating a successful podcast takes more than just having a great idea. To ensure that the show resonates with listeners, podcasters must understand their audience and the topics they want to hear. Audience surveys are an invaluable tool to help podcasters understand their listeners and create content tailored to them. In this article, we will look at why audience surveys are so crucial for podcasters, as well as some tips on how best to use them. Why Have a Survey? 1. Advertisers 2. Understanding who listening? 3. Understand what they want 4. To help you deliver more value in your show Creating Your Survey What is the goal of this survey? Why are you creating this survey? What do you hope to accomplish with this survey? How will you use the data you are collecting? Question Tips: Explain to the recipients why you are doing this survey and how it will benefit THEM. Start with general questions and then get specific. If you are doing a sliding scale, make it an even number 1-4 instead of 1-5, as it eliminates the ability to choose the items in the middle. If you have advertisers ask if people have purchased one of your sponsor's products. Much more information on the site Take My Survey I'm giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, a 30 minutes consultation, and a copy of my book Profit From Your Podcast Proven Strategies to turn Listeners into a Livelihood TAKE THE SURVEY Attend the LIVE FEEDBACK Webinar on January 4th at 6:30 PM Ready To Start Your Podcast You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching, and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is the one I do over December. What is your favorite podcast in 2022, and WHY? You can only choose ONE (I know it's hard). If you can get their website URL, that would be VERY helpful. Also, be sure to mention your show, it's website and a little bit about it. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 12/30/22 BUILD YOUR PODCAST PROFITS STRATEGY WORKSHOP Tired of struggling to monetize your podcast? December 17th 10AM-1PM Central This is not a webinar, it is a workshop, so come prepared to work. There are only 12 seats, so everyone walks out with their monetization strategy. The price is $97 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all. Please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where Mentioned In This Episode Google Forms Edison Research Sample Podcast Listener Survey Horse Radio Network Dog Podcast Network What Was That Like Show Dave In Your Pocket (Coaching without calendars) Podcast Talent Coach Podcast Review Show Jim Harold Trapper Jack Ask the Podcast Coach Jim Collison Darknet Diaries ( Jack on Episode 758 ) More information on website Follow the Show and Never Miss an Episode on: Apple - Google - Spotify - Amazon Check out New Podcast Apps for apps to stream bitcoin to podcasters. Did You Get Value From This Episode? Enjoy the Show? Buy Dave a Coffee and give some of that value back. Mentioned in this episode:2025 Audience SurveyI Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey

Podcasts are like Lay's potato chips (you can't have just one). Once you start one, Getting the itch to start a second is something people are thinking about. With this in mind, we look at questions you should ask before starting your first, second, third... podcast. Ready To Start Your Podcast? You may think nobody would listen to you, but I'm here to tell you they will. I have proven strategies to help you identify exactly what your audience wants. You will sound professional, and won't have to spend a million dollars to sound great. Learn through our online tutorials, live group coaching and a private Facebook Group filled with brilliant podcasters. Join worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. See schoolofpodcasting.com/listener   Podcasters Pondering a Second Show Kim Newlove of the Pharmacist's Voice is considering doing a local show about Perrysburg Ohio. Dr. Brad Miller of the Overcoming Adversity show has launched Santa Clause Says Podcast. Mark Vinet of the History of North America show is mixing in his historical fiction books (for me I would put these in their own show, and promote them in his first show). Matt Rafferty of the Author Inside You is thinking of doing a local show that interviews local businesses. Dave Jackson (me) is bringing back a show with a new format at MonthlyChallenge.fit 5 Questions You Should Answer When Starting Your Podcast Why are you starting a podcast? Is this a passion project or a business? Who is your audience What do they want to hear? (Why will they listen to your podcast?) How will you gauge your success? (Bonus) What will you stop doing to find the time to do this show? My Black Friday Purchases I like the output of Deverberate for cleaning up bad audio that has lots of reverb.  I also purchased Wiser Notification (aff) to make my pop-ups on my site, and to show social proof on my site. (coupon BF2022-30 ) QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month the question is the one I do every December. What is your favorite podcast in 2022 and WHY? You can only choose ONE (I know it's hard). If you can get their website URL that would be VERY helpful. Also be sure to mention your show, its website, and a little bit about it. Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question Deadline is 12/30/22 Where I Will Be? I look forward to seeing you all, please come up and say hi. To see my full itinerary, go to schoolofpodcasting.com/where Put Dave In Your Pocket! If you are a podcaster (or future podcaster) who would like to retain Dave's services without joining the School of Podcasting, I'm not using a new system to allow us to do this with zero scheduling conflicts. Check out daveinyourpocket.com   Mentioned In This Episode schoolofpodcasting.com/listener Northeast Ohio Podcast Pharmacist's Voice Overcoming Adversity Santa Clause Says the History of North America show historical fiction books the Author Inside You MonthlyChallenge.fit Building a Better Dave Podcast Rodeo Show Ask the Podcast Coach Podcast Review Show Your Podcast Consultant The History of Six Shooter This episode originates at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/855Mentioned in this episode:I Want Your OpinionI am doing an audience survey and I want your input to help me make this show exactly what you want. If you have a few minutes, I have a quick survey at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/survey252025 Audience Survey2025 Audience Survey