School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your Podcast

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in today’s world. With so many tasks to juggle and responsibilities to manage, staying focused and keeping up with everything can be hard. It’s important to know that you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and that there are tools and strategies to help you never feel overwhelmed again. Click to Tweet In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. What is the strategy to manage overwhelm and increase productivity? 2. What three tools are necessary to organize and increase productivity (that are free)? 3. What is the best way to decide which tasks to prioritize when feeling overwhelmed? What is Overwehlm? So, what is overwhelm? Overwhelm is when you have a feeling of being completely inundated or overburdened. It’s often accompanied by a feeling of being unable to cope or process anything that’s going on. I know I’ve felt this way before, especially when I was in my 20s and had to juggle school, work, and taking care of my family. I felt like I was running out of time and didn’t have a choice but to keep going. Things to Keep In Mind Your podcast doesn't have to be forever. You don't have an audience when you start. You do NOT have to do a video version of your show. You don't have to make money with your show. Three Free Tools to Help With Overwhelm Evernote - A great place to store ideas you don't want to forget. You can even forward things like email to an address and it will be added to Evernote. There is a free version and the first paid version starts at $11/month. Todoist - For items, you need to do. You can easily add items from Gmail, setup recurring tasks, prioritize, share with a team, and more. There is a free version with the paid version starting at $5/month. Google Calendar - There are many calendar tools for you to keep up and organize your appointments. If you want to book guests, Calendly has a free plan as goes Acuity Scheduling. If you want a "lifetime payment," TidyCal enables you to charge for your time (as do the other two).  Now when someone connects you via email or social you can decide to: Delete it - trash it. Save it - Evernote Schedule it - Add it to your calendar Decide to do it - Add it to your todo list. By using these tools and strategies, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay focused on the tasks that are most important. Remember, you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and there are tools and strategies to help you manage your stress and never feel overwhelmed again. Strategy to Avoid Overwhelm 1. Do a brain dump and write everything down so your brain doesn't need to remember everything. 2. Get organized and direct incoming information to the proper location. 3. Try "Not Now" instead of "No" (if it makes you feel better). 4. Set boundaries and a "rope off time" for you to be focused and knock out the work that needs to be done." 5. Break large projects into small, achievable chunks. 6. Realize that creating a podcast is easy, but creating a good podcast takes time, effort, and determination. Set your podcast schedule based on your lifestyle. Don't try to squeeze your lifestyle into your podcast. 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20% QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month's question comes from Louis Goodman of the Love Thy Lawyer Podcast, who wants to know if you are listening to any podcasts via Paid subscription. If so, what so and why. If not, please provide any insights. As always, be sure to mention your show, a little bit about it, and your website address.  Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question I need your answers by 3/24/23 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 How Did You Like This Episode? I'm always looking for feedback and I would love for your input on this episode (it takes 1 minute) TAKE SURVEY  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 Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Evernote  Todoist TidyCal  

Email is a crucial part of modern marketing, with over 330 billion emails sent daily, expected to reach 376 billion by 2025. While email marketing strategies have changed, it remains a key player in any marketing strategy. It is the go-to marketing channel for the best online marketers due to its high return on investment. Email marketing outperforms strategies like SEO, PPC, and Content Marketing, making it the most cost-effective way to promote products and communicate with customers. Today we hear from seasoned email veterans from different viewpoints, purposes, and motivations to share their insights into running a podcast. In Case You Missed Last Week We add a new clip from John Lee Dumas who shares what he would do differently. Last week we heard from Joe from Stacking Benjamins and other veterans on launching a pocast. Check it out. Participants Ariel Nissenblatt James Cridland Jessica Kupferman Daniel J Lewis David Hooper A Newsletter Help Remind Your Listeners About You Both James and the No Agenda Show see where their newsletter reminds your audience you exist and hopefully supports you. You Can Use Auto Responders You can create a series of email called an autoresponder to release at certain time intervals. This "Set it and forget it" can help build your connection with your audience (while you sleep) Yes, You Can Automate Your Podcast to Email But... While services Like Mailerlite, Convertkit, Aweber, SendFox, and many others will make it easy to enter your podcast RSS feed, and it will take your episode description and convert it to an email. Aside from James, who works some technical voodoo (he's a programmer), none of the participants used the "RSS to Email" tools.  They had developed their own format, topics, etc, and wrote them from scratch or copied and pasted their content in an effort to repurpose it. Additional Email Topics What NOT to do with your Email List The benefits of Segmentation Understanding Pricing The Importance of Always Delivering Value What you get from having a newsletter Mentioned In This Episode Last Week's Episode on Veteran Podcasting Tips Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket James Cridlands Radio Newsletter How James Creates Podnews My Podcast Reviews Rumble Studio Podcasting Deals Newsletter Services Convertkit Mailerlite Send Fox (lifetime payment) Email Octopus Mailchimp Awber Curated Ghost Substack Medium Activate Campaign Ready To Start Your Podcast? 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20% QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month's question comes from Louis Goodman of the Love Thy Lawyer Podcast, who wants to know if you are listening to any podcasts via Paid subscription. If so, what so and why. If not, please provide any insights. As always, be sure to mention your show, a little bit about it, and your website address.  Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question I need your answers by 3/24/23  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    

Planning, launching, and growing a podcast can seem daunting, but with the right guidance and advice from experienced podcasters, it is possible. Veteran podcasters like Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins, Kristen Meinser, and Jordan Harbinger have all successfully launched and grown their podcasts and have valuable insights to share.  We hear about the planning, shaping, and bumps and bruises of launching from the new host Allen Corey and Crystal Hammond of their spin-off show Stacking Deeds. Take Aways Sometimes a "No" is a Not Now. Your podcast can bring you opportunities. Diverse attitudes, experiences, and insights lead to a diverse audience. Ensure that your show's first five minutes inspire people to want to hear more. Joe truly appreciated the feedback that provided ways to improve his show. Listen back to your show to catch mistakes you may have missed. Learning to edit your show improves your relationship with a future editor. They didn't release the first thing they recorded. How they improved after a "brutal conversation." The Importance of incorporating listener feedback into the show.  Advertisers are Partners that You've already worked with. Start building relationships before you launch your show and build your network. Know a person who knows the "WHO" in the industry and reach out. QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month's question comes from Louis Goodman of the Love Thy Lawyer Podcast, who wants to know if you are listening to any podcasts via Paid subscription. If so, what so and why. If not, please provide any insights. As always, be sure to mention your show, a little bit about it, and your website address.  Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question I need your answers by 3/24/23 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 Stacking Benjamins Stacking Deeds Kristin Meinzer Interview on Episode 862  So You Want to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story, and Building a Community That Will Listen (also available as an audiobook ) Kristen Meinzer Convertkit email list(send your RSS to Listeners. Also, Mailerlite has this as an option) Jordan Harbinger Show WDW Radio with Lou Mongello The New Media Show Podmatch The Big Seance Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Podcast Studio Pro Libsyn.com Podcast Hosting. Get a free month with the coupon " sopfree ". Start Your Podcast, or Grow The One You Have at the School of Podcasting 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20%

Recording a podcast with an accent can be both intimidating and exciting. If English is your second language (ESL), you may feel nervous about speaking in front of a microphone; however, the ability to reach a worldwide audience is exciting. Today we answer a question from Jacob from the Old Men New Games wants to know if a host has English as a second language (and might mess up a word every now and then). Is that a “No Go, Instant Tune Out” for you? I think this boils down to accents. My audience shares their thoughts. PARTICIPANTS Craig - Inglespodcast check out this write-up from the British Council about their show. Anthony - Route 66 Podcast Craig - Live Well and Flourish Sarah from Kind Leadership Challenge Mark from The history of North America Podcast Wayne - Packers Fan Podcast , and Media VoiceOvers Ian - English Coach Living the Language and Life is feeling Mark from The history of North America Podcast Colin and Matthew - Podcraft 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 Gene Simmons  Learn a language QUESTION OF THE MONTH This month's question comes from Louis Goodman of the Love Thy Lawyer Podcast, who wants to know if you are listening to any podcasts via Paid subscription. If so, what so and why. If not, please provide any insights. As always, be sure to mention your show, a little bit about it, and your website address.  Leave Your Answer at  www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question I need your answers by 3/24/23   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 Join the School of Podcasting 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20%    

The great ones make it look easy. Jono drops easy, simple, powerful tips on starting a community, growing it, keeping it engaged, and if you want to build courses based on the information you've learned from your community. Full show notes at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/867 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20%   Who is Jono Petrohilos? Jono is the co-founder and director of Fitness Education Online, one of the largest online course providers in Australia for Personal Trainers. He sells over $1,000,000 worth of online courses every year and has been awarded the Australian Fitness Industry Educator of the Year multiple times. He now also helps other professionals create and sell online courses with his free Facebook Group and Podcast - the Course Creator Community. Wheat you Learn Today When to start a community (Jono uses Facebook) Why No Promotions Without Permissions is the best rule for Facebook/Communities How to Keep Your Sanity and Nurture Engagement Using the Redirect Strategy How Jono's podcast Course Creator Community helped him find speakers for his event. How Jono made 100K from a course, he didn't create.  How to tell if your course will sell Why New Zenler is currently the best course platform that you can try for free Is an "All in one" platform the best to go for an online course? Mentioned In This Episode Jono's Course Creator Community. Jono Petrohilos' Course Creator Community Podcast. New Zenler Teachable Thinkific Kajabi Podia Circle Heartbeat Grow Your Community Show (Podcast) 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 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   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.  Thanks for listening to episode 867 of the School of Podcasting

Mark Herschberg, a tech startup veteran, author of the book The Career Toolkit: Essential Skils for Success That No One Taught You, and MIT professor, set a goal of appearing on 150 podcasts. He pitched over 2000 shows and ended up on close to 350 shows. Mark did it through volume, which is a different strategy than Dave typically preaches. Dave and Mark get together to share their insights to discuss the pet peeves of guests and hosts to uncover the most efficient way to pitch yourself to shows.  "Focus on how you're delivering value to the audience. If your pitch starts out with the word 'I' too many times in the first paragraph, know what you offer and get to the point - delivering value to the audience is key!" 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   What You Will Learn Today The strategies that Mark uses to make it easy to say YES to having him on your show. How letting your guest know who they are talking to always leads to a better interview. Make your guest comfortable by letting them know what to expect (audio, video, both?). How having example questions makes connecting your expertise to your audience easier. The two questions every guest should ask at the end of the interview What a guest needs to make it easy to share Mark (and Dave) use Podmatch, PodcastGuest and other resources. For a full list, get the PDF Cheat Sheet Here. 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 Other Episodes Mentioned In This Episode 20 resources to Help You Find Guests/Hosts Less Annoying CRM The Ultimate Guide to Hosting and Guesting Podcast Interviews. Editing the Boring Out of Your Podcast 11 Steps I Took to Create a WOW Interview How to Get Booked on Podcasts: Figuring Out Who and How to Pirch with Kristin Molenaar Be A Guest Book a Guest Podmatch (a “Dating Service” for podcasters). Mark Herschberg: thecareertoolkitbook.com and the Brain Bump App Dave: schoolofpodcasting.com 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. 

In December, we looked at why some podcasts become part of the listener's routine (and their favorite podcast) today; we are looking at the other end. Share your feedback via the Survey 865 When it comes to podcasts, the goal of any podcast creator is to captivate their audience and keep them engaged. However, there are many reasons why listeners may choose to unfollow or unsubscribe from a podcast. In this episode, we will explore what makes listeners tune out of a podcast and how podcast creators can avoid these pitfalls. We will look at common issues such as poor audio quality and how extended chit-chat at the beginning may be causing people to tune out. 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 unlimited one-on-one consulting, 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. Use the coupon code schoolofpodcasting.com/listener to save 20% Participants: 02:43 Paul from Fighting Through World War II Memoirs Podcast 04: 49 Orlando from the hablando de tecnologia 06: 42 Carrie Bock from Hope for Anxiety and OCD 08:36 Dan from the Dan Smith from the Honest Management Show 10:40 Heather from the Politics Free show 12:19 Seth from Geekville Radio and Classic Wrestling Memories 17:04 Kris from the Kris and Kristine show 18:29 Paul from Pass ACLS 22:09 York from Welcome to Earth Stories 24:07 Beth from Unraveling Adoption 25:02 Sarah from Kind Leadership Challenge    27:25 Mark from The history of North America Podcast 28:29 Todd from Guardian Downcast 30:25 Kim from The Pharmacist's Voice 35:05 Neil from Recovery Coast to Coast 38:33 Lee from the Covert Nerd and You Choose Podcast (Lee your Squarespace expired! and there is no way to contact you) 40:05 Steve from Steve Stewart and the Podcast Editor Academy 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 Your Podcast Consultant Worst Way to Start Your Episode The Ultimate Guide to Hosting and Guesting Podcast Interviews Duolingo Other Products From Dave Get Your Podcast Reviewed Profit From Your Podcast: Proven Strategies  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. 

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

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 Newsletter

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.