Prologue
There's No Security in Podcasting (or Anything)
This is a buzzkill for some, I know. But it's worth mentioning.
I've been self-employed for over 25 years. During that time, I've learned a lot of lessons, and maybe the biggest is that there's ZERO security in anything other than our tenacity to keep going. And even that is difficult to maintain.
Sometimes I've thought I had business (and life) "figured out." And maybe I did ... for a brief moment.
Or maybe I just got lucky and was fooled by randomness.
It doesn't matter. But what does matter is the more you keep moving forward, the more of these "good" situations you'll have.
IF YOU REMEMBER ONE THING FROM THIS NEWSLETTER, REMEMBER THIS ...
If you're looking at another podcaster and thinking, "That guy has it all figured out," you are wrong—he doesn't have it figured out. Nobody does.
So welcome to the arena. You're here with some great people, all of us getting banged up, but also "getting lucky" from time to time.
Need help? I made Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program) just for you.
Not ready for that yet? No problem ... I've got some other (free) resources at the bottom of this issue that will keep you moving forward with your podcast.
On with the show ...
Sponsor
Big Podcast AMP
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Steal This Idea
Pitching Sponsors? Know These Five Things ...
According to this article, podcasters who are pitching sponsors want to know these five things:
- When should you consider approaching sponsors?
- How many per episode downloads do you need before you approach sponsors for branded content?
- What information should you include in your pitch?
- What proof do sponsors want? Screenshots?
- How much should you charge per ad?
You can listen to my answers in the audio version of this newsletter, where I give you a plan of action for approaching sponsors and getting paid what you're worth.
But the important thing is ... If you want sponsors, go for it. It's never too early to reach out to people and companies who would make good partners for you and your podcast.
Podcasting Tools
Free Music for Facebook and Instagram Content
Meta has a great collection of royalty-free music you can use without issue on any of its sites.
Genres available include:
- Acoustic
- Ambient
- Blues
- Classical
- Country & Folk
- Dance & Electronic
- Hip Hop & Rap
- Holiday
- Jazz
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
- Rock
- World
You will find something you like.
RELATED: How to Pick Good Podcast Intro Music
Podcast Humor
Maybe just this once ...
A couple of thoughts on "skipping" episodes ...
- I think it's fine to skip releasing an episode from time to time.
- You don't need an excuse to do this—if you need a break, take it.
The problem with skipping episodes is that it's easy for it to become a habit. And the more episodes you skip, the harder it is to get going again.
One of the things I've found helpful for consistent publishing of my podcast, Build a Big Podcast, was setting up a system where I had to release a weekly episode to keep up. If you've ever wondered why there's an audio edition of this newsletter, that's why.
This is the big lesson here ... set yourself up to win.
Maybe that's hiring an editor. Maybe it's setting up a permanent space to record your podcast, so you don't have to put up and tear down your equipment each time. Maybe it's doing shorter episodes or switching from interview-format episodes to solo ones.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What have you put in place to make sure you have what you need to release great episodes?
Podcaster Spotlight
$500,000 from his podcast? Yes, here's how ...
Lenny Rachitsky began his newsletter in 2019. In 2022, he started a podcast. Today, between them both, he makes over $1 million a year. He shares how he made it happen here.
Two important elements to consider ...
- He came into podcasting as a "known" person with an existing audience.
- His publishing frequency is two episodes per week.
I talked about both these things in the previous issue of Big Podcast Insider and the audio edition, so it's nice to have Lenny as an example, because doing these things does work.
When it comes to being a "known" person, note that this doesn't mean you need to be famous. And this type of stature is pretty easy to establish, if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Personally, I do this via this newsletter, daily podcasting-related emails, and my book—all help me to build my podcast.
As far as publishing frequency, two episode per week is a good, happy medium that won't overload you or your listeners. While every podcast and audience is difference, overall data of "the best publishing frequency" shows that two episodes per week is also optimal for podcast growth.
What non-podcasting things are you doing to help build your podcast? Reach out and let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
Classifieds
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Riverside - Remote Recording Studio
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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 ...
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