PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about giving your audience a no-brainer reason to listen.This, my friend, is all about supplying value in your very own unique way.But what does that actually mean?Well, let’s take the example of our personal trainer, I mentioned last time. If they’re serving up content that helps their listeners to, let's say, complete a couch to 5k, then they're providing value. If they can help a listener lose a few stone, or run a faster race, then that's a LOT of value!Or what about our zombie podcaster? They might do an in-depth interview with a top author in the space. They'll dig in to unearth some anecdotes and insights that you've never heard anywhere else before from that writer. In that, they're providing some really unique value.If you do something similar on your show, not only have you given your audience a reason to listen, you've also given them a reason to come back for more, every week.This is absolutely vital for you to think about in the planning stages. So can you write down 10-15 potential episodes that you think your target audience would love to listen to? If you're teaching, it's often about considering the most common problems you can help them solve. And if it's entertainment, it's finding new content, or entertainment that scratches that person's personal itch.And, for a more detailed look at giving them a reason to listen, go to ThePodcastHost.com/uniqueSupport the show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we’re asking a big question: Who are you making your podcast for?The thing is, unless you know exactly who you’re making your show for, and why you’re doing it, you’ve got no chance of growing an audience.Let’s imagine a personal trainer who’s making a health and fitness podcast to market their business. Their target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, or HIIT training, or bodybuilding.Or, let’s imagine a hobbyist who loves zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction. Their target audience would simply be folks with the same really specific passion. They might be fans of TV shows like The Walking Dead, and video games like Resident Evil.It's a good idea to sketch out what’s known as your “avatar”. An avatar is a made up person that represents your ideal listeners in the real world. You make this detailed - with a name, age, job, background, likes, dislikes. You make this as real as you can, so it's someone you can know, deeply. The benefit then is that, with each episode you plan out, you can ask yourself the question “would Jane (my avatar) like this?” Asking that question is the key to making really compelling content, every time.For a really detailed look at how to create your avatar, and a bunch of examples, go to ThePodcastHost.com/listenerSupport the show

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.And on this episode, we’re asking the question “Why?”Why do you want to make a podcast?Are you a freelancer?  A business? Or working for a company? Whatever you do, you'll know that podcasting's a great way to build trust and authority. Plus, of course, give your customers or your audience a whole bunch of valuable and entertaining content.The other option is that you're in podcasting as a hobbyist? That could mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time, and on a subject you're passionate about. Anything from knitting, to craft beer, to horror movies.Either way, figure out your why. It could be making more sales. Or growing a community. Or getting famous! They're all valid. And they're important to keep in mind so that you can stay motivated, even when life throws you those inevitable curveballs. Podcasting isn’t always easy, but if your “Why” is worth it, you’ll push on through.New episodes of Pocket-Sized Podcasting will be released daily, Monday through Friday. Subscribe on your listening app of choice so they’re delivered to you automatically. Thanks so much for listening.Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Daily podcasts are a lot more common than they used to be. You might find the thought of running one appealing but also think to yourself "there's no way I'd have time to podcast every single day". Well, the good news is that you don't have to. You can actually create a short sharp 1-2min episode a day podcast in only a few hours a week. We've found that the scripting, recording, production, and publishing take us approximately 3 hours for a week of content (a week being Monday-Friday). As these tasks are "batched" we're not tending to this podcast every single day, even though new episodes are always dropping. There are a lot of benefits of doing short daily episodes. If you teach something then it'll give you the ability to deliver your lessons in bite-sized (or pocket-sized!) chunks. You can take a real deep dive over a period of time, rather than trying to pack together one huge lesson or talk. You might even turn your daily podcast into an Alexa Flash Brief. Short episodes are also great for repurposing. This works well if you're active on YouTube, social media, or taking a Content Stacking approach to your show. On this episode of Podcraft, we talk more about the benefits and workflows of running a daily podcast. We'll also help you answer the question of whether you should make one yourself. And as for our own case study, it's something you'll hopefully be interested in checking out, too... Our Daily Podcast - Pocket-Sized PodcastingPocket-Sized Podcasting is the ‘how to podcast’ series for busy people. You’ll get one short sharp tip delivered to your feed Monday through Friday, all aimed toward helping you build and grow your own life-changing show. Brought to you by Alitu, the Podcast Maker, it’s our aim to make the entire process of podcasting as simple and accessible as humanly possible. Find us anywhere you get your podcasts, and be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode! Support the show

We talk a lot about audience growth in our articles. In fact, promotion and growth is the number 1 thing podcasters struggle with, according to our recent podcaster problems survey. One of the tips we've recommended for years is to see the other podcasters in your space as collaborators, rather than competition. Cross-promotion is a great example of the old saying "a rising tide lifts all boats". After all, this medium is on-demand, and it isn't like your listeners have to choose between your show and someone else's. We had the opportunity to get involved in a podcast episode swap recently with the excellent Evo Terra and his industry essential Podcast Pontifications show. It's a show I'm sure you'll love, and this episode is an ideal taster of what you can expect to hear, 4 days a week, if you hit the subscribe button. Here's the episode of Podcraft that was featured over there too - it was all about question research and how this strategy can help you create episodes to pull in new listeners. Podcast PontificationsBefore we jump into the episode content, let's take a quick look at the show's description so you can get a better idea of what it's about and who it's for. "Where plenty of podcasts about podcasting (PAPs) tell you what to do, Podcast Pontifications gives you what to think about in podcasting. These daily, insightful forward-looking episodes have one central tenet: Podcasting needs to be made better, not just easier. Designed for the working podcaster, these short-form episodes get you thinking about the future of podcasting and how you can better prepare yourself -- and your shows -- for the future. The goal is simple: help you develop critical thinking skills needed to make the best future-proofed podcast you can with the tools of today. Plus a few sneak previews of what might be coming tomorrow."And now to the episode itself, here's the question that Evo is pontificating on... "Nearly twenty years in, and many podcasters still have trouble thinking of podcasting as an industry. But our problem does not plague cash-flush brands looking to enter our industry. Who's perspective will win out? "Key Links2021 IAB podcast advertising revenue $1B2021 global podcast advertising revenue $1.37B2021 overall podcast industry marketing size $1.4BSupport the show

There's no shortage of things to focus on when it comes to planning, launching, and running your own podcast. From buying the right mic and choosing a hosting platform, to coming up with a show name and sorting out your cover art, these all fall under the umbrella of "podcasting". But all podcasting tasks aren't created equally. Some of the things you do can have a huge impact on your show's success, whilst others can be little more than a distraction. On this episode of Podcraft, we decided to reflect on a combined 20+ years of podcasting. Of all the podcasts we've launched and ran between us in that time, which factors do we feel helped move the needle? Also mentioned on this episode were our Podcraft community and the Portuguese translations of some of our top articles. Podcasting Factors That Move the Needle (Or Don't)We both scored each of the following out of 10 (10 for very important, 0 for not important at all), added up the scores, and ranked them into an overall list. The aim was for new and aspiring podcasters to help decide whether they were spending too much time on one thing, or not enough time on something else. 1. Defining Your Target AudienceThe most important factor was identifying who you want to reach, and why. Not spending some time nailing this down in the planning stages can lead to your content being directionless and vague. You want new listeners to hear your podcast and think "this is exactly what I've been looking for." For more help with this, check out the following articles:What's Your USP?Demographics Vs PsychographicsHow to Create a Value PropositionHow to Create Your AvatarHow to Come up With a Unique Topic2. Deciding on Your Podcast's NameNaming your podcast can feel like a tricky barrier to overcome. It's also a very important one. If potential listeners don't immediately know what your show's about when they see it, then many of them will skip past it without even reading the description. With podcast names, there's no such thing as "boring". If you come up with an ultra-descriptive "as it says on the tin" name and it isn't already taken - grab it. For more on this, check out How to Name Your Podcast. 3. Your Episode TitlesThis is another huge factor in turning traffic (your target audience, searching for your topic) into listeners. Descriptive and compelling episode titles will help your show be found, and they'll also encourage those searching to hit play. Don't waste this important space by putting the word "episode" in there. You don't need to write your podcast name beside every episode title either. For more on this, check out How to Title Your Episodes. Want to See the Full List?Head on over to the shownotes at ThePodcastHost.comSupport the show

In this episode of Podcraft, Matthew and Colin talk about podcasting and parenting. They discuss the joys of being a new dad, from early morning buggy walks, to "having a good moan" about one's kids. Brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker and The Podcast Host PlannerParents always think they’re organized and resilient. The same's true for podcasters. Kids are unpredictable, and podcasting can be the same way. The key takeaway from this discussion about podcasting and parenting is to be honest with your audience. Colin recommends that new parents who make podcasts should plan ahead, but stay flexible, and be kind to themselves during this time. They discussed episode release schedules, such as podcasting in seasons, as opposed to publishing episodes at random intervals. Colin recommends lining up some episodes in advance of your child's arrival, then publishing each over time. For parents who can't leave their child unattended, don't try to multi-task. It's better to do one thing well, instead of multitasking a few things, poorly. Don't Wish It AwayThis is a big milestone in one's life. It's worth not trying to do too much for your podcast. When babies are unpredictable and need a lot of care, there's a tendency to, as Matthew says, "wish things forward until the dust settles." Colin adds that parents should try to enjoy the early days while they can. In 13 years or so, your kids will want to do their own thing. You'll have plenty of time for podcasting then. As a dad to two kids, Colin says, "the first year, especially the first three months, are hell." Plus, every kid is different. This isn't a good life stage for the results-oriented. But, he adds, the first six months are when babies sleep the most. Use this to your advantage: grab time for sleep and/or work when you can.  Colin adds that when babies are six to twelve months old, since they're more mobile, they need more supervision. They're more likely to grab things, like mixing board sliders. This is the age to child-proof your recording gear. Be realistic about your plans. Think of this time as maintenance mode. Again, communicate clearly and positively with your audience. It’s not going to kill your show if you miss an episode.Work sessions with shorter periods of time can force you to really focus. Be accepting of the work that you can get done in a shorter amount of time. Colin says, “a task will always expand to fill the time allowed.”  If you only have forty-five minutes while the baby's out for a walk or napping, you can't procrastinate, overthink, or be too much of a perfectionist.Rethink your show’s format. How can you bring value in less time, while still being yourself and making the same kind of show?  For example, instead of hour-long interview episodes, can you make fifteen-minute episodes of productive tips? Support the show

Podcasting news has been hard to keep up with this past year or so. Each week seems to bring a new development in the Apple Vs Spotify saga, a new "must use" tool or platform on the market, or a company buying another company for multiple zillions. In this episode, we have a chat about what all of this actually means for the average podcaster. It can be hard to keep up with all of this stuff, after all. You can start to think that if you're not totally on the ball with all of this, your podcast is going to vanish into the ether whilst everyone else moves on without you. But the same principles apply in podcasting as they did 15 years ago. Know why you're doing it, know who you want to reach, and show up on a consistent basis for your listeners. Resources MentionedAlitu - The Podcast MakerHow to Sell Podcast EpisodesHow to Create a Private Podcast FeedPodcast Industry StatsPodland PodcastDeep Questions PodcastSupport the show

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Audiograms combine images, text, and audio to create a social media post. they are as memorable and attention-grabbing as video, without being as time-consuming or data-heavy. WNYC created an open-source code to accomplish this means of podcast promotion, and there are other options available to you now, too. Type: Short TaskTime Required: One hourPodcast Level: From the beginning The open-source code that WNYC created was intended to be a free resource for podcasters to use to promote their work. It’s great, but it can be confusing for people who don’t know how to code. Fortunately, Headliner has created an app which guides you through the process. The free version lets you make a certain number of audiograms per month. Depending on the social media platform for which you intend to make your audiogram, the size constraints vary. However, you can use the same content with different aspect ratios or time limits for different platforms. Figure out what section of your podcast you want to highlight. Much like quote images, an audiogram is a sample of a moment from your podcast. In this case, instead of a line or two of text, you’re using a few seconds to a few minutes of audio. Decide on the art you want to use. For consistency, you probably want to use your podcast logo. However, you can certainly use whatever art you want, as long as it fits with Headliner’s size requirements. Including closed-captioning is a wise choice. Many people browse social media with the sound turned off, and don’t turn the sound on unless they’re curious about a particular post. If you include closed-captioning (well done: you make your post more accessible), go through and edit it for accuracy. Headliner’s mobile app honestly makes it easy for you to promote your show from your phone. You could do this while you’re waiting for a coffee order or sitting in a park Task List: Go to Headliner’s website and sign up for a free account. Use the Audiogram Wizard and type in your podcast’s name or RSS feed.Select the portion of your podcast episode that you want to share.Follow the Audiogram Wizard instructions to create your audiogram. If you use closed-captions, proofread and edit them for accuracy. Check the audiogram to make sure it’s just right. Download a copy for your archives. Post the audiogram to social media. Make sure that the post includes a link to your podcast website. Encourage your followers to share the post. thepodcasthost.com/audiograms - How to Make and Use Audiogramsthepodcasthost.com/publishtoyoutube - Publishing Your Podcast on YouTubeNext season we are running some Q&A episodes - submit your questions here!Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show

Check out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Overcast is one of the most popular podcast listening apps in the world today. And with good reason – it's a superb app, packed with useful features.Overcast is built for podcast listeners. But, they also provide the tools for podcasters to advertise their shows in the app. These ads appear as unobtrusive little banners, which the app’s users see at the bottom of their screen. On these banner ads, you’ll see a podcast’s name, cover art, and a little snippet description tempting the listener to click it. With Overcast ads, 100% of the folks that you reach are podcast listeners. That's why they're looking at Overcast when they see your ad. They're likely either listening to a podcast, or about to hit play on one.This means they're literally one click away from browsing your podcast inside their chosen listening app. And one more click away from hitting Play or Subscribe.There's no education needed here. There's no “what is a podcast?”, no “find us at…”. It's simply down to the snippet you write when you create your ad. The ads are unobtrusive, yet clearly visible to the user. Costs vary on topic, and on-demand, but you can usually start advertising on Overcast from around $300.Type: Short TaskTime Required: 15 minutes to set up. Runs for 1 month. Podcast Level: 3 episodes or more.You need to sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Overcast is an iOS-only listening app, but anyone can sign up for an account on their computer.Once you're in, go to overcast.fm/ads where you'll see the full details. This includes info on current pricing and estimated reach.As you'll see, ads are broken out into different categories. Naturally, the cost is higher for the more popular ones. You can see how many slots are available, and which ones are currently sold out. If it's one of the sold out ones you're after, you can ask to be notified when they become available.Once you select a category, you'll click through to a page where you can customise your snippet. You’ll want to write a sentence or two that acts as a ‘hook’, to be displayed alongside the podcast name and cover art. If you leave this blank, Overcast will use the start of the description in your feed. It’s much better to write something in there that doesn’t cut off. Try adding “Click here to get started”, if you have the room. Then, you can preview your ad, before reviewing your purchase, and making the payment. It's really simple.Task List: Sign up for an Overcast account at Overcast.fm.Select your targeted podcast category.Customise your snippet.Preview your ad.Complete your purchase.Further Reading: Promoting Your Podcast on OvercastCheck out the full book - Podcast Growth: How to Grow Your Podcast Audience Support the show