Podcastification - Podcasting Tips, Podcast Tricks, How To Podcast Better

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) “What’s the BEST structure for a podcast? I mean… one that really engages listeners and keeps their attention throughout the episode?”I am asked that question - and questions like it - all - the - TIME. And while there are no dumb questions, there are questions that haven’t been thought through very well, and that’s ONE of them. Why? Well, it has to do with the fact that you and I and Mary down the street are all podcasting about different topics and trying to reach different audiences. I walk you through the logic and practical steps of discovering YOUR best podcast structure, on this episode of Podcastification. Main Points : Is there a “best” podcast structure? [1:25] The questions I receive all time and why my answer is often “it depends.” [2:01] My walk down main street and how it can help you answer the question yourself [3:10] Who are your ideal listeners? You need to answer that question first [8:09] Look at the top downloaded podcast

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) https://www.podcastfasttrack.com/contact (Contact Carey) There are lots of high-dollar audio engineering programs out there these days. Lots more than when I was starting college, that’s for sure. I wanted to go into audio engineering but “back in the day” the only way it seemed possible was to learn on the road, touring with some drug-saturated band. No thanks. But I digress. Chris Curran is a guy who’s been there, done that, and has actually printed the T-shirt himself. He’s a self-professed “sound geek.” He loves the audio stuff, the engineering, things like compressors and noise gates and mixers - and their digital counterparts. In this conversation you’ll get to meet Chris, find out why podcasting is such a HUGE thing to him, and what he’s doing to help those audio geeks like himself who want to learn a valuable, lasting skill that will help move the podcasting industry forward. Main Points :[1:35] An online friend I met in real-life: Chris

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) https://www.podcastfasttrack.com/contact (Contact Carey) Podcast sponsorships are a hot topic - because almost everyone and their dog wants to make money from their podcast. It makes sense, if you’re going to invest so much time in something it would be great if there was some kind of financial reward, right? But sponsorships are not all they are cracked up to be - especially if you don’t know what you’re getting into. ON THIS EPISODE I explain some of the things that nobody seems to be talking about when it comes to working with sponsorships - and of course I'm not going to give you an exhaustive list. There are all kinds of things you might run into when working with sponsors or in attempting to secure podcast sponsorships, but the things that I'm going to point out are things I have noticed in working alongside the https://www.podcastfasttrack.com/CLIENTS (many clients) that we do here at Podcast Fast Track. These are things you should keep in

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) https://www.podcastfasttrack.com/contact (Contact Carey) I’ve learned the hard way that the typical gimme, gimme, gimme approach to promotion never works - you’ve got to learn how to put your audience first. It’s not an easy concept to grasp even though it DOES sound fairly simple. So in this episode I’m walking through a handful of ways I think every podcaster needs to evaluate their podcasting efforts for the sake of putting their audience first. Main Points : Put Your Audience First [1:26] What makes a podcast really, really successful? Keep in mind who you serve [2:30] Podcasters need to know their USP (Unique Selling Proposition) [9:57] In order to put your audience first, your show needs to be relevant and practical [13:50] Why I encourage you to reconsider the helpfulness of interviews [18:24] Is your podcast and are your individual episodes easy to use? [25:24] Ways to monetize your podcast by putting your audience first You can put your

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) There’s a lot of hoopla about iTunes podcast rankings: “We are the number 10 business podcast in iTunes!” It sounds impressive. And for those of us who have never shown up on the iTunes “Top 10” chart in our category (me included), it can make us feel a bit insecure. Are we really accomplishing much with our podcast after all? This episode is an expose of what I’ve discovered about the iTunes podcast rankings: They say NEXT TO NOTHING about the impact your show is having, the number of true listeners you have, OR about what you should be focusing on as a podcaster. In fact, I think the iTunes podcast rankings everyone points to as a measure of success is the WRONG thing to be focused on entirely. It’s a ladder leaning against the wrong wall. Listen to find out why I believe that. Main Points : Why iTunes Podcast Rankings are NOT All That[1:17] The iTunes/Apple Podcasts confusion and what it has to do with rankings [3:02] What IS the metric the

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Wanna hear my predictions about where the podcasting industry is headed? You can - on this episode of Podcastification.You know every year http://www.edisonresearch.com/ (Edison Research) comes out with what's called http://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial-2018/ (The Infinite Dial) - isn't that a cool name? The infinite dial looks at survey data that they have gathered from thousands of people. The good folks at Edison are trying to gauge how people are using online media - social media, online radio stations, and podcasting is included. They are trying to understand people's usage habits, interests, adoption of technology and so on. You can also see from the Edison results how various aspects of the media industry are growing. As I read these stats from year to year I see some trends that some people notice and some people don't. I feel like I have some thoughts about this I'd like to share with you because I can see happening in the podcas

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) As a podcaster, you no doubt have thought about the benefits of podcasts. You wouldn’t be podcasting if you didn’t know at least SOME of them. This episode I’m highlighting 10 of the benefits I see in podcasting and the reasons people these days are listening and learning from podcasts so much. To be really, really, REALLY honest with you here - I have a busy life just like anyone else. And during the pre-publication phase of this episode, I’m on a trip to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. I can’t even imagine 90 years of life on this planet, but there she is, plain as day and healthy as can be (thank God!). All that to say, I’m making a decision on this episode. I’m not going to do my standard, more comprehensive set of show notes for this episode. I’m just not - because I think there are more important things going on in my life right now. So, please listen. Please learn. And enjoy your life! That’s what I’m going to do right now! Main Poi

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Jim Kukral is quick to say that his new service, Book2Pod is not a service that creates audio books. So I’ll say it for him. ;) Because that’s EXACTLY what it is… except for a few differences… It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of traditional audio books It’s distributed via an automatic feed - RSS - like a…. PODCAST! Jim and his behind-the-scenes business partner have a pretty cool system in place that anyone who has a book, whitepaper, story, series of blog posts, etc. - can make it into a podcast. It’s really interesting - and the possibilities are very intriguing. Take some time to hear what Jim has to say. You can even hear the robots doing their thing! Main Points : Done For You Audio Books To Podcast [1:16] Why you need to know who Jim Kukral [3:10] Jim’s new endeavor: Book2Pod [4:04] The future possibilities with computer generated voices and podcasts [7:25] How are robots being used for reading books? [10:51] What’s the benefit

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Alexa podcast is a thing. Really, it is. We podcasters need to start thinking about where the industry is headed. Now that podcasts can be listened to on Smart speakers like Alexa, there are a handful of things that I can think of that we need to consider in order to make our efforts more widely usable, which will include those kinds of devices. On this episode of Podcastification I have a few things for you to think about when it comes to Alexa podcasts and the distribution of your show through those platforms.   Okay so we're talking about smart speakers on this episode. Do you even know what I mean when I talk about smart speakers?Smart speakers are like Alexa or the Amazon Tap is like a mini version of the Alexa. The Tap is really just a fancy bluetooth speaker. We happen to have one of those that we were actually given through a drawing at a podcasting event that I was at a little while back. But that's all beside the point. We're talki

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Whenever we think about audio production software we typically think about programs that allows to record and edit. Those would be things like Adobe Audition, Hindenburg, and Audacity. But there are other programs out there that enable the new or inexperienced podcaster to get the same quality audio that many who play around with those software programs I mentioned get, without nearly the same amount of headache. One of the audio production software packages that falls into that category is Auphonic.   Main Points : Incredible Audio Production Software[1:24] How I came to know about Auphonic in the first place [3:50] The benefits of Auphonic and the basic features of the system [5:50] What you can expect to see within the audio production software [9:30] Chapter marks are possible in Auphonic - here’s how [12:32] Multiple output options possible, even at the same time [15:57] Transcript creation as part of this audio production software [16:

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) I figure, if I want to learn podcasting tips that can help my show stand apart in the crowded podcastosphere, I might as well go to the people who have made a living from doing audio well. And I also go a little help from a new friend - a guy named Cal Newport. Well, Cal's not actually my friend, but he's like a long-distance mentor via his books and interviews. Cal's book "So Good They Can't Ignore You" inspired me to work at becoming the very best I can be in a chosen field. The field I've chosen: Podcasting. So.... reading a book by the folks at NPR about audio reporting and recording was right up the alley of my learning curve. This episode is about the podcasting tips I learned from the good folks at NPR. Main Points : Podcasting Tips from NPR[4:09] The benefits of audio (why we are audio people) [7:10] NPRs tips for making good recordings [16:28] Best practices for working with a co-host [20:50] Tips for doing better interviews Podcastin

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) 3 Ways to NOT Kill Your Podcast Growth Curve Warning - warning - warning. There's a rant ahead! I have seen this same mistake on podcaster’s websites over and over and over now, so I plead with you… listen to this episode, learn from this episode, and NEVER do this stinkin stupid thing again. Main Points : 3 Ways NOT to Kill Your Podcast Growth Curve[1:26] What I’ve discovered while tooling around the Apple Podcasts website [2:15] It’s INSANE to send people to Apple Podcasts (iTunes) to listen to your show [3:59] You’ve created tons of goodies. Why send your audience AWAY from them? [6:21] There are ways you can tell Google that you have GREAT resources - sending people away from your site is NOT ONE OF THEM! [9:09] How you may be telling Google NOT to send people to your website [11:02] How you can apply this lesson right now.  So I spend a lot of time in the Apple Podcasts directory. You know, that place that used to be called iTunes b

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) There are all kinds of crazy names people give to their podcasts in the Apple Podcasts directory, but I don't believe most of them are good podcast names.This episode of the show is all about how to properly name your podcast. When I say properly, I don't mean there is some kind of etiquette around podcast naming, what I mean is there are best practices that make your podcast name work for you instead of against you. Intrigued? You've got to hear what happened in this case study that I didn't intend to be a case study. Main Points : Good Podcast Names Matter[0:53] What do I mean when I say podcast names matter? [3:22] The case study I did that wasn’t intended to be a case study [4:49] Little promotion, one Facebook share per morning, amazing results! [6:42] The name I chose for the podcast is the only thing that made the impact [8:20] The deliberate steps I took to discover a good podcast name [10:01] Why RELEVANT keywords in your name are a HU

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Questions about the proper use of podcast intro music and outro music are some of the most common things people ask me about.Can I use this popular song? What if I only use 20 seconds of it? Doesn't that fall under fair use Doctrine? What if I get somebody to compose music for me, can that work? These are only a few examples of the legal side of what it takes to do a podcast in a way that reflects your personal integrity and keeps you out of trouble. I decided it was time for me to invite someone on the show who could give us clear answers on these kinds of issues. Gordon Firemark is an entertainment lawyer who specializes in helping theater professionals, producers, big media companies, and podcasters do the right thing when it comes to copyright law, legal working agreements, and lots of other things that are important for anyone publishing content. This was a great conversation and I personally learned some things I didn't know, which you’ll h

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Pinterest itself has been a mystery to me for a very long long time, so to talk about having a Pinterest strategy for my podcast is like asking me to be a girl. I don’t know anything about it. :) Pinterest is fun to look at - I’ve gone there on occasion to get great ideas for DIY projects or workshop and garage renovation tips, but I kind of view it is this food, clothes and fitness kind of a network. But the more I spend time on the platform, the more I’ve thought it has got to be usable for podcasting on the promotional side of things. So I thought I'd reach out to a gal named Kathryn Moorhouse - she's a self-proclaimed marketing lover and an obsessive planner. She sounds like my kind of person. Her entire business is dedicated to helping people grow and maximize their Pinterest following. So… I think we podcasters have got lot to learn from Kathryn today.   Main Points : A Pinterest Strategy for Podcasting[3:48] Pinterest is powerful beca

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Podcast marketing - getting your show noticed by the audience you’re trying to reach - is a tough thing to figure out. You don’t want to be the smarmy guy or gal who’s in every channel screaming, “Listen to my show! Listen to my Show! Listen to my Show!” - but you also don’t want to be guilty of a Field of Dreams approach that believes if you build it, listeners will come. It simply doesn’t work that way. But - when you take podcasting seriously a lot of amazing things can happen. My guest today is proof of that - Kyle Bondo is a guy I met Kyle at DC podfest a couple of years ago when I was there to speak and we just hit it off. Kyle has focused on making excellent content and being helpful to the people he meets and its enabled him to market his podcast through the relationships and trust he’s built. Kyle’s got a cool story that should be encouraging to anyone who wants a broader reach for their show. Hit the play button, would ya? Main Points

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) Mobile Recording can be hard to figure out, especially if you don’t have a money tree growing in your backyard. I’ve given a lot of thought to this from a “lean budget” perspective and have tried a LOT of things over the years I’ve been podcasting. What I demo in this episode is the best MOBILE RECORDING solution I’ve discovered yet. It only requires one piece of software that is app based (phone or smart device) and one additional piece of hardware that is portable and costs less than $100. Interested? Play the stinkin’ episode! Here’s What You'll Learn In This Mobile Recording Demo[0:51] Why I wanted to discover a remote or mobile recording solution for my podcast [2:20] How you can use the Auphonic service to set up for mobile recording [4:49] DISCLAIMERS: Audio quality at the source is still an audio quality limitation [5:55] How you can leave me a question that I can answer on this show! [6:47] The episode within the episode - DEMO of what

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) If I were to insist to you that you are your best PR manager, you would probably think I'm crazy. Why? Because you don't know anything about PR. But my guest today, Josh Elledge says that anyone can be their own best PR manager if they are willing to put in the effort that it takes to do PR the right way and expand their brand through the exposure that comes from promotions to, and through traditional media. This episode is a gold mine for those who know how to work and are willing to do it for the sake of their podcast and brand. I think you're going to love me for giving you this conversation. But I forgot - you love me already, don't you?   Be Your Own PR Manager: Here are the Main Points [2:35] Why I invited Josh on the show - his unique path to being a PR Manager [3:35] Why Josh feels a moral imperative to help brands with PR [7:38] How you can pitch yourself to traditional media as an independent podcaster [13:05] What should podcasters

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) There are quite a number of easy wins you can get to make your podcast better.Is there any reason you wouldn't want to do them? I have the privilege of spending a lot of time checking out the resources podcasters are producing, from their podcast episodes to their websites and promotional material. Do you know what I find? Lots of obvious mistakes that I guess aren't so obvious to the podcaster in question. In this episode I share with you 8 of the things I've noticed that many podcasters are messing up when it comes to their websites, the way they present their brand, and the way they interact with their following. I'm certain you will find something in here that you can tweak to get an easy win for your show. Main Points : Easy Wins (by avoiding 8 common mistakes) [1:22] How I come across the obvious mistakes podcasters are making [3:14] Things about your website you need to understand [4:23] MISTAKE 1: Taking people AWAY from your website. It

https://podcastfasttrack.com/ (https://podcastfasttrack.com/) As a person involved in doing podcast production, it is fairly often that someone asks me if my company offers a service to help them discover and book podcast guests.Our company doesn't, but I know someone who does. ;) My guest today is one of my podcasting clients, Andrew Alleman, and for a while now he has been offering a monthly newsletter that highlights opportunities to both be a guest on podcasts and find guests for your podcast. But now he has upped the game. This episode explains the new directory Andrew has created and how you can use it to find the perfect guest for your podcast and how you can be found as a podcast guest for someone else's show. Don't miss out on this one. It's simple, but many of the greatest ideas in the world are simple. Oh no! My podcast guest just canceled! What do I do? Have you ever run into a situation where a person who was booked to be a guest on your podcast has to cancel at the last minute? What do you do