Prologue
Apple Who?
When I was 12, a friend of mine got one of the very first Macs ... free.
His father was a copywriter who worked on the early ad campaigns. Apple wanted him to know and understand the computer he was trying to sell.
It had 128k RAM and everybody else had to pay $2495 ... in 1984. That would be around $7000 today.
Being in music, I used Macs (we called them Macintosh back then) throughout school and beyond. Everybody in the creative business had them.
But nobody outside of the creative business did. Apple only had about 10% of the general market and, beyond music and word processors, there weren't a lot of software options – most titles were Windows-only.
Fast-forward to today ...
Go to your local hipster coffee shop and everybody is on a Mac. And Apple dominates podcasting.
Which is why I bring this up ...
Things change. And Apple doesn't dominate podcasting outside the United States, where only 30.44% of the smartphones are iPhones.
Which means 69.66% of potential podcast listeners can't access Apple Podcasts.
Are you neglecting these people? If so, I suggest you rethink your strategy.
How? Set up a mobile-first page like this one, with an option for not only iPhone users, but also Android devices.
And make sure you know where to submit your podcast (in additional to Apple Podcasts).
Podcaster Opportunities
Right-Wing Preacher Accidentally Gives Drag Queen #1 Hit!
Right-wing Christian musician (and preacher) Sean Feucht just can't win. After bringing his "Let Us Worship" concert to the Indiana Statehouse, local members of the Satanic Temple demanded access for a concert of their own. So "Let Us Burn" is coming in September.
And just this week, after Feucht "condemned" drag queen Flamy Grant’s “Good Day,” her LP Bible Belt Baby, the album hit Number One on Apple Music.
This is an opportunity for you.
Not everybody is going to like what you do. And some people will actively dislike what you do.
Like Aikido, it's possible to redirect negative press and comments to make it work for you. For example, putting a "bad review" of your podcast on the front of your website.
Not that you want to reward bad behavior. But do know that somebody coming at you with negativity and hate isn't always the harsh action that it may initially seem – sometimes it's a blessing.
Podcast Marketing
Break Through the Noise with a "Spiky" Point of View
Love this thread from Wes Kao ...
We live in an extremely noisy world, especially online. So how can you and your podcast stand out?
Wes calls it a "spiky" point of view and here are the elements of it:
- A spiky point of view can be debated.
- A spiky point of view isn’t controversial for the sake of it.
- A spiky point of view is rooted in evidence, but it doesn't have to be a proven fact or universal truth.
Why this matters ...
If everyone agrees with you, whatever you're talking about is "obvious" and additional commentary isn't needed. But on the positive side, you're not simply trying to be contrarian or just stirring the pot – the world doesn't need any more of those things either.
A better approach for your podcast (and the world) is a perspective that's defensible, but also something people can (and will) disagree with, so there can be discussion around it – this is what makes ideas strong and causes them to spread.
But the #1 "big idea" from Wes is ...
As a host, you're 50% an instructor and 50% an entertainer. Attention spans are short and the responsibility is on the host (not the listener) to help listeners understand why they should care.
In other words, you're not just here to deliver information like a "fact sheet." Your job is to deliver that information in a way that's compelling.
Podcasting Deals
CrystalSound – This FIXES "Bad Audio"
There's been jackhammering outside my office window every day this week. Fortunately, I have some big acoustic panels in my studio.
But sometimes, even with the best sound treatment, we still find ourselves with "bad audio." Guests who don't show up for remote sessions with quality mics, kids screaming in the background, etc.
Then what? You may find CrystalSound a good option. It's an AI-powered tool that can isolate voices to make it sound like you’re speaking in absolute silence.
It works with any desktop operating system, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and integrates with any app that uses a microphone, like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack.
So no matter how you record your podcast, you're covered with CrystalSound.
And right now, it's only $39 for life.
Podcast Humor
Everybody sounds great! Almost ...
There's always that one guy who want's to join with his kid's gaming headset.
Then what? Maybe CrystalSound can help – it can cetainly isolate the background noise.
But your best option for great sound is to show up with a great mic.
This doesn't have to be expensive, by the way. This is a good mic for just $59 and, because it has a USB connection, doesn't require any special equipment. And because it also has an XLR connection, it's a great utility mic that can handle any podcast situation.
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.
The Wrap Up
When you're ready, here's how I can help you even more ...
If you like the newsletter, you'll love Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program).
This personal coaching program has been designed to help 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.