Prologue
The Lifesaver
I made a move to a small town in Mississippi immediately after college to hang out while my girlfriend finished her degree.
It was a culture shock. The people there were nice, but they weren't my people.
People want to be with people who "get" them.
This is the true value of your podcast—the fact that you understand your listeners.
Not everybody has that in their day-to-day life ...
- the Democrat in Lubbock
- the Republican in Portland
- the gay kid growing up in a "Christian" home
You're not just a podcast to these people, you're a lifesaver.
Don't worry about "download numbers." Focus on the people listening and what you mean to them.
Want more engagement from listeners? Do these six things.
Sponsor
Big Podcast AMP
If you like the newsletter, you'll love Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program).
This personal coaching program helps you do three things:
- Grow your podcast audience.
- Get people talking about your podcast.
- Make more money with your podcast.
You can get details here.
Podcast Marketing
Full Disclosure Podcasting - Reasons to NOT Listen
If you've subscribed to Big Podcast Insider for a while, you know via articles like Podcasting Lessons from the Dog Park and A Podcasting Lesson from My Dog Trainer that I've got a soft spot for dog adoption.
So when I head about this ad for a dog, with the title "Three Reasons You DON'T Want To Adopt Eddie The Terrible," my first reaction was anger.
But ... It's actually a really great ad that lets people know what they're getting into before adopting Eddie and made sure he connected with somebody who would provide a great home for him.
You should do something similar with your podcast—let people know who it's for and who it's not for.
HOMEWORK: Who is your podcast for and who is it not for? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
Podcasting Tools
RSSRadio Podcast Player
I've used RSSRadio as my primary podcast app for the last decade. I talk to people about podcast apps all the time and only once met somebody who also uses it.
So I'm mentioning it here. It's a great app with great features including:
- Silence removal for downloaded audio podcasts, saves hours per week for the average listener
- Clearer audio with equaliser, compressor / limiter and volume boosting DSP effects (on video, streaming and downloads)
- Keep multiple devices in Sync with iCloud or Dropbox
There's a free version, but the paid, ad-free option is only $2.99 per year, so it's a great option to upgrade your podcast-listening experience.
How do you listen to podcasts? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
Should Your Podcast Have a Funnel?
If a "funnel" is part of your podcasting business, Convertri is worth a look. This is a nice all-in-one solution that has everything you need including:
- Membership Site Builder
- Shopping Cart
- Video Hosting
You can try it free.
But ...
Should Your Podcast Have a Funnel?
A "funnel" in the context of podcasting can refer to a marketing or content strategy designed to attract, engage, and convert listeners into taking a specific action, such as subscribing, purchasing, or further engaging with the content.
Here are types of podcasts where a funnel strategy might be particularly beneficial:
- Business and Marketing Podcasts: These often use funnels to convert listeners into leads or customers for their products or services.
- Educational Podcasts: Funnels can help transition listeners from free content to paid courses, webinars, or additional resources.
- Self-Improvement and Coaching Podcasts: They may use funnels to offer personalized coaching sessions, workshops, or related products.
- Technology and Software Podcasts: These can leverage funnels to guide listeners towards product demos, free trials, or purchases.
- Entertainment and Storytelling Podcasts: While not as direct, these podcasts can still use funnels to sell merchandise, exclusive content, or live event tickets.
- Health and Fitness Podcasts: Funnels are used to promote health products, diet plans, workout programs, or personal training sessions.
- Finance and Investing Podcasts: They might use funnels to offer financial advising services, investment opportunities, or premium content subscriptions.
Any podcast aiming to monetize or increase engagement through specific listener actions can benefit from implementing a funnel strategy.
Podcast Humor
Shhhhh
My mother was a librarian. And if there's one thing you learn as the kid of a librarian, it's the importance of being quiet.
Unfortunately, not all kids learn this lesson and you may have one (or more) of them.
If you record your podcast from home, how do you work around the people whom you're living with? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
The Business of Podcasting
"If It Doesn't Have an RSS Feed, It’s Not a Podcast," say Podcasters
Not all podcasters ... just 67%.
What do you think? Do podcasts need an RSS feed to be considered a podcast?
It's an interesting debate, but in the end, the only thing that really matters is the definition that listeners are using. Where things get tricky is that you could be talking about a "podcast" (audio distributed via a feed) and somebody else could mean a video on YouTube. So you need to be clear on where to actually get your content.
I put every episode of my podcast, Build a Big Podcast, on YouTube. It's not fancy or even a video, just a static graphic, but if somebody is looking for me on YouTube, I'm there.
Where do you stand on this issue? Do you publish your audio-first podcast on YouTube? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
Classifieds
Swell AI
Swell AI automates writing podcast summaries, articles, social posts, and more.
- Manage multiple shows in one dashboard.
- Build custom templates for each show.
- Connects with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Zoom.
Riverside - Remote Recording Studio
Riverside records high-quality audio (and video) directly from your browser. No special equipment is needed and connecting with your guest is as simple as sending a web link!
You can try Riverside free (no credit card is needed) and, if you like it, save 15% on any paid plan by using the coupon code BIGPODCAST.
Podpage
Join over 25,000 podcasters and automatically create a beautiful, listener-friendly podcast site from your RSS feed.
Podpage is the simplest way to create a podcast website.
The Wrap Up
When you're ready, here's how I can help you even more ...
If you want the shortcut to building a podcast people care about, here’s how Big Podcast can help you …
Free of charge ...
- Big Podcast Extra – Short emails to help you build an audience, attract clients, and make money via podcasting
- Build a Big Podcast – The Marketing Podcast for Podcasters
- Podcast Growth Toolkit – The "Swiss Army Knife" of podcasting ...
For budgets under $750 …
- Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program) – Personalized coaching for indie podcasters to help you grow your podcast audience and build your authority, brand, and reputation
For budgets of $3000 or more …
We offer a range of podcasting services including:
- Full-service podcast production and marketing
- Podcast and radio hosting
- Podcast launch and development services