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

Discover the importance of finding your voice and unlocking your inner power. Embrace discomfort and push through insecurity to grow. Learn about the significance of authenticity, confidence, and building a genuine connection with your audience. Explore teaching techniques and the role of practice in improving podcasting skills. Overcome insecurities and fear to find your unique voice and build confidence in podcasting.

Are you audio or video first? If you want to ride the "Record the video, strip out the audio, cut the video into shorts, transcribe the audio, and become a millionaire" train, there are some things to remember. Your Legacy I saw someone today that I had not seen in at least 31 years and probably more. The last time I saw him he was a little boy who acted like a little boy. He didn't pay attention; he was hyperactive and always running around and made the job of his Sunday School teacher so hard that she went home and cried. That woman was my Mom. I was probably 11 when I later pinned this you boy who was probably 8, against the wall and said, "If you make my Mom cry again, I'll kill you." Let's call him Roy. Well, Roy walked into my church today, and he's probably 6' 4" and toward over me. After service, he laughed and recounted the pinning on the wall story, and he said he had taken some wrong turns in life, but all those lessons my Mom had taught him got him to turn around and get on the right path. Those lessons were probably close to 50 years ago. My Mom has been gone 34 years, and today part of her legacy walked in and shook my hand. He wanted to let me know just how special my Mom was (something I was well aware of). So when you put your words out into a podcast, you don't know who or how your words will affect people. If you have a message that needs to be heard, it's not helping people sitting on your hard drive. Get it out into the world. Start building your legacy. I can help. With Hollywood on Strike, Is Now the Best Time To Start a Podcast? With both the writers and actors on strike, new content will not be coming to our screens. We have no idea how long this will go on. In a graph on the Podcast Business Journal's site, James Cridland has some interesting podcasting stats, and you can see that on April 12, 2023, there were 383,996 active podcasts. Fast forward to July and that number is down by 13.4% to 335,930. Meanwhile, every survey that comes out says podcast listenership is going up. A recent study on Australia has monthly listeners going up by 7% and weekly listening went up 24% (26 to 33 million). So if listening is going up, and content creation is going down, that means (in theory) that those who start or continue to make content have a better chance of being found due to the lack of competition while the audience continues to go. I can help. Also, if you do a podcast and would love to have an actor on your show, they may have some available time on their hands. Don't Forget The Links If you want your audience to get frustrated, talk about something on your show, and then don't put a link to it. I recently did this on my Ask the Podcast Coach, and luckily the person who was nice enough to contact me was very nice, but it can make it appear that you don't care about the user. Some things are perceived as basic and expected. A few episodes ago, I talked about a video service that I eventually canceled and got a refund. Why, there was something I thought was basic and should be included, and they wanted me to edit some code. Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Dave's YouTube Channel Dave's Podcasting Newsletter Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Where Will Dave Be? Question of the Month  Power Dewise Lav Microphone Samson Q2U Turning Your YouTube Content Into a Podcast I listened to a show this morning, and the host said, "I'm talking about three products today, and for you to get the most out of this, you should hop on over to the YouTube version. It will be much more beneficial for you over there. He then went on to say phrases like, "You'll be here on the left" and "Just click on search" right here. At this point, even with the disclaimer I felt like this guy was going to waste my time (and for the most part, he did). So when I went to click on the link to his YouTube channel, you guessed it - no link in the show notes. So you might want to refer to your episode as "the show" instead of podcast or video. Keep it generic. I occasionally share my screen on a live stream I do every Saturday. When I do, I try to make a concerted effort to A Cool Strategy from Udemy Podcast Rewind: The Podcast Accelerator I appeared on the Podcast Accelerator with Mark Asquith where we talk about the last two decades of podcasting and what I'm worried about for the future. Trying to Move Forward? Behavioral scientists in Great Britain did another study of a couple 100 people who wanted to start exercising they divided the people into three groups.  The first group committed to exercising.  The second group committed to exercising and reading lots of material on the benefits of exercising.  The third group committed to exercising and chose the day, time, and place when they would do it.  Only 36% of the people in those first two groups kept their commitment.  But 91% of the people in the third group kept their commitment. Put it on your calendar! (from the book The Power to Change) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases  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

Today I share another one of my shows. It's called You Podcast Consultant. While the School of Podcasting is typically around 40 minutes, Your Podcast Consultant is always 9 minutes or less. It's a nice bit size chunk of podcasting advice based on the common questions I see in the podcasting space. There are 143 episodes available at podcastconsultant.com  You can follow the show on  Apple - Spotify - Google - Amazon  P.S. This is episode 12, so there are now 4+ Million podcasts (I mention 600K in this episode). This show is part of the Power of Podcasting Network  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

One of the reasons your show may not be growing is you are wasting your time down podcasting rabbit holes. I went down one recently and I thought I would share the insights that I picked up along the way to help you spot a potential rabbit hole, and how to avoid them so you can get back to making great content that you can confidently promote. Join the School of Podcasting Community Risk-Free 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 on a monthly or yearly subscription. Feedback on this Episode: CLICK HERE  The Squeeze vs. the Juice: Weighing the Worth of Podcasting Endeavors If it seems too good to be true, it most often is. Do you need the features that have caught your eye? Will you USE them? Be sure you've taken the time to know the equipment and resources you have. Watch out for people who promote products they haven't purchased. Recognize when you've made a bad purchase and ask for the refund. Look at the About page and see who (not what) you're working with (do they have a podcast?) Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Dave's YouTube Channel Dave's Podcasting Newsletter Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Where Will Dave Be? Question of the Month This is episode 889 of the School of Podcasting 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

Podcasting turned 20 years old this month, and after hearing James Cridland interview the very first person to produce a podcast (Christopher Lydon) it got me thinking about the early "Middle Finger to the Radio Industry" start of podcasting (and sadly, we seem to repeat history).  There is a study of 1200 podcasters who shared their why and how they podcast, and I share some additional insights. Some of them are not popular, but they are true (from my desk).  Join the School of Podcasting Community Risk-Free 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% Daily Podcast Tips Newsletter Want more tips on planning, launching, growing and monetizing your show with cool podcasting resources?  Check out www.schoolofpodcasting.com/daily Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Dave's YouTube Channel Dave's Podcasting Newsletter Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Where Will Dave Be? Question of the Month Bandrew Says Podcast The Podcast on Podcasting Full show notes at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/888      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

I do a number of shows and over the next few weeks, I'm going to be previewing different podcast related shows I do.  Today is the show Ask the Podcast Coach, which I do with Jim Collison from Home Gadget Geeks, and Gallop Podcasts. We answer questions LIVE every Saturday at 10:30 AM EST at  www.askthepodcastcoach.com/live You can jump into the video at www.askthepodcastcoach.com/question  You can also leave a question by clicking on the microphone in the bottom right-hand corner at www.askthepodcastcoach.com  Mentioned: Episode 700: Fifty-Four Podcast Questions in Twenty Six Minutes  See you Monday! DaveMentioned 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

Today I'm talking about how I made 35% more than a host read ad. The POWER of feedback, and I'm playing with a new microphone that really lets me dial in a great sound.  Join the School of Podcasting Community Risk-Free 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% Thanks for listening to episode 887 of the School of Podcasting. Your feedback is always appreciated. The Knee Jerk Reaction to Podcast Ads May Be Missing Other Opportunities I've heard the average host-read ad in a podcast pays about $25 per 1000 downloads. Less than 10% have the needed 10,000 downloads per episode to get a "big sponsor." In some cases, they may have enough for ads that pay anywhere from $3.85 - $7 CPM (boo!).  On Ask the Podcast Coach, I mentioned Switchy ( A link tracker and more) from App Summo (where it's a one-time payment for life). I earned $17.20. Obviously, I'm not going to retire on that, but the show doesn't have a huge audience. When I calculated the CPM, it was $34. So, if you're getting $5 CPM with your programmatic ads, you might want to mix in an affiliate that truly fits your audience. (and buy my book Profit From Your Podcast: Proven Strategies That Turn Listeners into a Livelihood )  For People Looking to Guest On Podcasts (and not start a show), the new Rode PodMic USB is a great choice. The mic is both USB and XLR, so if you later want to plug it into an interface like a Rodecaster Duo, you can.  It comes with a sturdy pop filter (the original PodMic was east to "pop." Its all-back design is cool.  You can use software that has Aphex processing and tweak the sound of your microphone and then SAVE THAT SOUND into the microphone. So when you plug it in via USB, you're sound is right where you left it.  It works with Rode's Capture app, so if you want to record directly to your phone, you can. (I had to use a USB C to Lightning Cable). Likewise, if your computer doesn't have a USB C input, you'll need a USB to USB C Connector.  The bottom line is for around $200 you end up with a single-channel roadcaster.  The Negatives While this microphone is obviously meant to be on a stand, when I had it on a boom arm it was very sensitive to any kind of tapping on the desk, etc. So, don't touch the mic or anything when recording.  At $200, it is more than double something like a Samson Q2u or ATR2100X, but those don't have the Aphex processing.   Don't Fear the Feedback I recently created a video sales for the School of Podcasting. I went to my newsletter and asked them to "Talk about it like I wasn't in the room." As I started implementing the suggestions, more came in (so looking back, you might want to wait or give a deadline) as I ended up making seven different versions before I loaded on the final (for now) version.  It all was great feedback, and I see people time and time again release their first episode without getting any feedback. What is the point of releasing something that is not going to impact the audience the way you want them to? Join the Newsletter For More Podcast Tips Want more podcast insights, tips, tricks, and strategies? Sign up for my newsletter at  www.podcastingobservations.com    Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Network Dave's YouTube Channel Podcast Rodeo Show Ask the Podcast Coach Rode PodMic USB Rode Wireless Go II Big Podcast with David Hooper Dave's Podcasting Newsletter Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Where Will Dave Be? Question of the Month   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

In this podcast episode, Dave Jackson, host of the School of Podcasting, interviews John Ainsworth, CEO and founder of DataDrivenMarketing.co and host of The Art of Selling Online Courses. They discuss various topics related to podcasting, online courses, and marketing. John emphasizes the importance of getting feedback from your audience and shifting your mindset from selling to helping. They also talk about the discontinuation of the Stitcher app and suggest alternative podcast apps. Additionally, Dave shares information about cleared music streaming and its potential impact on the music industry. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights and recommendations for podcasters and online course creators. Join the School of Podcasting Risk-Free 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. You can join risk-free with a 30-day Money Back Guarantee 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% Connect With John Ainsworth and Data-Driven Marketing Check out their website The Art of Selling Online Courses Show Free Course Pimp Your Funnel YouTube Twitter Technology Recommendations Thinkific Kajabi Teachable New Zenler Fresh Learn Stitcher Replacements New Podcast Apps Castamatic.com (ios only) Overcast.fm (ios Only) Pocketcasts (ios, android) ClickFunnels Alternatives Clickfunnels ($127/month) Convertpages (one-time fee $49) Swipepages ($29/month)   Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Episode 870 about Email Lists Should I have a Christmas Sale? (one of John's favorite episodes) Podpage Power of Podcasting Network Dave's YouTube Channel Dave's Podcasting Newsletter Buy Dave a Coffee Put Dave In Your Pocket Where Will Dave Be? Question of the Month DataDrivenMarketing.co  The Art of Selling Online Courses The Future of Podcasting Show Google Forms Meta Survey Neil Hedley Copywriting Course Ray Edwards Books (aff) Timeline 00:00:00 - Introduction  00:00:37 - Opening 00:01:33 - Profit From Your Podcast Book 00:02:09 - The Art of Selling Online Courses 00:03:04 - The Dangers of Focus Groups 00:04:50 - Encouraging Honest Feedback 00:07:06 - Common Mistakes 00:09:36 - Picking Your Niche 00:11:15 - Benefits of Podcasting 00:12:40 - Getting Listeners On Your Email List 00:16:12 - Join the School of Podcasting 00:17:12 - Podcasting Newsletter () 00:17:30 - How to Overcome Feeling Salesy  00:18:17 - How Dave Does His Newsletter 00:18:34 - Switch From Selling to Helping  00:19:28 - Pimpyourfunnel.com  00:20:51 - John's Favorite Episode of His Show  00:22:45 - Preferred Platforms for Courses  00:24:42 - Dave Agrees Moving is a Pain  00:25:54 - Something I Noticed   00:28:57 - Question of the Month  00:29:58 - Where I Will Be  00:30:28 - Sticher App News  00:32:44 - New Features in Podcasting  00:35:12 - Join the School of Podcasting Risk-Free  Thanks for checking out episode 886 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

This episode is based on an exercise from the book, Make Noise:  A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling (also available on Audible), where you have to describe your show in a way that can't be used by other shows, and you can use any of these words. The idea is that instead of using the word "Awesome," explain WHY it's awesome. It's hard, but in the end, it leads you to ponder what makes your show. The book is from Eric Nuzum, who appears in episode 708. 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% Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:36 - Opening 00:01:32 - The 10 Magic Words 00:02:03 - Avoid These Words 00:03:44 - Scott From What Was That Like 00:05:25 - Chris From 9th Grade Experience 00:06:17 - Bryan from Relaxed Male 00:07:16 - Glenn from Coaching Kids Curling 00:09:04 - Eric From Author Blurb 00:09:31 - Harris from Calm History 00:11:00 - Paul From Passing ACLS 00:11:30 - Sean from Radio Free Pro Wrestling 00:11:54 - It's Challenging 00:13:55 - Based on A True Story is Unique (https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com) 00:15:53 - How Can My Show Be Different?  00:17:21 - Because of My Podcast Stories Were Moved Based on Feedback  00:18:33 - Join the School of Podcasting (https://schoolofpodcasting.com/listener) 00:19:34 - Podcasting Observations Newsletter (https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/newsletter ) 00:19:49 - Craig's Because of My Podcast Story (https://www.inglespodcast.com/) 00:22:18 - Find My Podcast...  00:23:29 - Google Podcasts Issues  00:24:31 - Dig the Well Before You're Thirsty  00:25:11 - Apple Category News  00:29:00 - Podcast Discovery () 00:29:17 - Always Listen Before Publishing () 00:33:07 - Question of the Month (https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question) 00:34:07 - Where Will I Be (https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/where ) 00:35:13 - Podcast Baby Steps (https://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/babysteps ) Thanks for listening to episode 885. If you'd like to support the show, become an awesome supporter.      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

NOTE: Today's show is NOT edited to show how much editing I do. 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 create high-quality, engaging content quickly. 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%   Everyone has their own workflow. Here is mine: Write out what I'm trying to say. Record using the Google doc as a reference. As I'm recording/talking I know what the next paragraph is so I often will expand on the paragraph as I want to tell a story or elaborate on the concept. Previously I would boil down the document to bullet points, but found I have to do less editing, If I write out the main points, and the expand on those points when I record Dual Voices In This Episode So you can hear when I go off script, when I am off script I will be louder on one side of your headphones. Some of this is good as I expand on the point off of the documents. Other times, I'm taking tangents that normally would've been deleted. Don't Go Back to the Beginning Some people when they make a mistake will go back to the very beginning of the episode. You don't need to do this. Go back slightly until you see a good spot to jump in. Talking along with yourself and press the record button. When you get to a good stopping spot, go back and make sure that it sounds natural Relax, It's Not Live I know it's weird to talk to yourself, so think of that one person who needs to hear your content. If you mess up on a solo show, it's no sweat. There are no re-interviews to schedule. Just go back and fix your mistake. Practice, Practice, Practice Even in my early days at the School of Podcasting, while there are things that could be improved for a new podcaster, I felt I had the "talk to your invisible friend" part down. This might be because I often had to entertain myself. I played with audio tools like cassette decks and reel-to-reel tape machines when I was very young. I started and still keep a journal. I'm a musician and have been on stage since I was 15, and I did daily presentations as a teacher for decades. There is no replacement for experience. This doesn't mean it will take you 40 years to sound good, but it will take more than 40 minutes. Just start recording yourself and practice getting words out of your brain, out of your mouth, and into a recording. Then delete it. 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