Prologue
A Podcasting Lesson from My Dog Trainer
This is Sable. She was a stray, living on the street in a small town with fewer than 500 people, hanging out at a "country store" during the day and living off scraps of sausage biscuits that customers would give her.
That was last month. Today, she lives with me and my wife. And she loves my wife so much that she's developed separation anxiety.
We hired a dog trainer to figure out the best way to help her feel secure, even when she's alone.
This guy is good—he's all about positive reinforcement. And yesterday he said something that made me think of podcasting ...
"When she does something good," he told, "you've got to reward her immediately."
Obvious, I know. But are you doing this with your listeners?
I'm going to dive deeper into this concept and ways to do it on the audio version of this newsletter, but for now, let me give you one thing you can put into action today ...
When somebody signs up for your mailing list, immediately send a message that says:
- You've made the right decision.
- While you wait on the next episode, here's one you should listen to right now.
And before you tell them this via email, do it via a confirmation page like this one.
Easy, right? But few people do it.
I'll go deeper about how to immediately reward listeners (and keep them listening) in the audio version of this newsletter.
Related ... Sable was named after a character in my wife's YA Fantasy novel, Lost Kingdom, which comes out next month. If you'd like to support her positive reinforcement training (a.k.a. dog treats) and see what Bookstagram is talking about, you can pre-order Lost Kingdom for only $2.99.
I thank you and Sable thanks you.
Podcast Marketing
30 Call-to-Action Examples + 14 Lead Magnet Ideas
A call-to-action (CTA) is a statement that invites listeners to take a specific action—click on something, sign up for something, or purchase something.
What do you ask listeners to do at the end of your podcast episodes?
Here are 30 examples for you to copy.
But here's what I would do ...
Get people on your mailing list. When you do this, you can take care of everything else later, such as getting them to subscribe/follow your podcast and, if you feel you must, "rate and review."
Yes, it can help to have a lead magnet or some kind of "bonus" to give people an incentive to sign up, but if you're got a good relationship with listeners, many will sign up without this, simply because they like what you're doing and want to stay in touch.
But if you need a lead magnet, here are some ideas:
- Exclusive Episodes: Offer bonus content or exclusive episodes that listeners can only access by signing up.
- Checklists or Resource Guides: Create a downloadable checklist or guide related to your podcast's topic.
- Email Courses: Offer a short, informative email course related to your podcast's niche.
- Transcripts: Provide transcripts of your episodes for those who prefer reading over listening.
- Discounts and Deals: Partner with brands to offer special discounts or deals to your subscribers.
- Early Access: Give subscribers the opportunity to listen to new episodes before they're released to the public.
- Contests and Giveaways: Entry into a contest or giveaway in exchange for an email address.
- Webinar / Live Stream: Host a webinar or live stream on a topic of interest to your audience and require an email sign-up to attend.
- Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the making of your podcast.
- Interactive Content: Quizzes, assessments, or surveys that provide personalized results or insights.
- Templates and Tools: Offer useful templates, spreadsheets, or tools that help your audience with tasks related to your podcast's theme.
- Community Access: Invite listeners to join a private Facebook group or forum for discussions and networking.
- Printables: Craft downloadable printables that are useful for your audience, like planners, worksheets, or artwork related to your podcast's content.
- Swipe Files: Collections of copywriting samples, email templates, or other marketing materials that can help listeners in their own endeavors.
Obviously, it's crucial to ensure anything you create is highly relevant and valuable to your listeners.
What are you doing for your call-to-action? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads! I'd love to use you as an example and help you get the word out about what you create.
Podcast Hosting Skills
How to Sound Natural, Even With a Script
Being a more compassionate host will help you get better interviews. And this article will help you be more compassionate by letting you how the people you're interviewing are likely feeling they you work with them.
Hint: They're feeling nervous.
We're in the studio so often that it's easy to take for granted that speaking in public and being recorded can be nerve-wracking to a lot of people. But a good approach will make them feel less nervous, which will get you better episodes.
Read it.
Podcasting Tools
Is This Thing On? - Free Microphone Testing Tool
A lot can go wrong when doing a remote interview, or even just recording a solo podcast on your own.
Is your mic working the way it's supposed to? This website will let you know for sure.
Every mic gets a score and you can leave an optional review. I did a test with an ATR-2100 going through a Focusrite Vocaster One and received a rating of 1893. Comparatively, an "Old Blue Yeti" was rated 813 and Shure SM7b was rated 1665.
Everything is done within your browser and there is no additional software to download. You click the "Test My Mic" button, give permission for the site to use your mic, and it lets you know if you're good to go ... or not.
Podcast Production
Protecting, Cleaning, and Sanitizing Your Podcast Gear
Yes, this image is exactly what you think it is.
You need to be very close to a mic to use it correctly. I try to be "three fingers" away, about 2-3 inches.
People don't want to catch a cold, the flu, or anything else that's going around. And many are already nervous about being recorded, so do what you can to set your guests at ease, including sanitizing your mics when necessary.
Here's some advice from NPR about how to keep yourself and guests safe. And yes, some suggestions look ridiculous. For example, wrapping your mic in a (non-lubricated) condom.
Sorry, French Tickler.
Overkill? I don't know. But I do want guests to be comfortable and feel safe when talking with me, so I'm good doing whatever will help to make this happen.
Podcasting Deals
Transcript.LOL
Need transcripts for your podcast episode? This AI-based transcription tool is highly accurate—they claim about 99%!
You also get:
- Episode title suggestions
- Timestamps
- Episode Summaries (every hour and every 10 mins)
- Social media posts for Facebook and LinkedIn
- Quotes
- Chapters with start and end times
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.