Prologue
Make Them Feel You!
Yesterday, I attended a breakfast to support a local newspaper, The Contributor, which is sold throughout the city by street vendors. The mission is to "empower our homeless neighbors to achieve income, dignity, housing and community."
One of the speakers mentioned how easy it is to overlook (or ignore) unhoused people.
This is true. We've all done this. And the city itself helps by keeping these people away from tourist areas.
The Contributor, with a couple of hundred street vendors selling throughout the city, puts "the problem" front and center, so you have to think about it. When you drive through major intersections or grocery parking lots, you're going to see them.
And you may get to know them.
I want you to think about this as it relates to your podcast. What can you do to show up in a way where you can't be ignored? And how can you show up so the people who do see and hear you feel you?
Make them feel you.
Is it scary? It can be. But trust they'll be able to handle it and press forward.
Some good stuff in this issue of Big Podcast Insider ... A name change for my daily newsletter, a way to build your voiceover reel (or "hire" free voiceover talent), a solution to clean up poor-quality audio, and more ...
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
What’s in a Name?
Very specific names can help a podcast (or any project) get established, but also add limitations to growth and future options. For example, Fiverr, an online marketplace for freelance services—the name comes from the original concept that services would start at a cost of $5. Or Dollar Tree.
It’s hard to find anything in Fiverr for $5 today and, even if you do, with fees, upsells, and taxes, you’re likely to spend a lot more. And Dollar Tree raised its traditional $1 price point to $1.25 for most products.
When I started Big Podcast Daily, I knew I was locking myself into a specific frequency. I could publish “every weekday” and take things down to five days per week, but any fewer than that and the name doesn’t work.
The word also overwhelms some people, who think they have to “keep up” with the daily pace to get any value from the content.
So I’m changing the name. "Big Podcast Daily" is now Big Podcast Extra
Want to change the name of your podcast? Some advice for you ...
Podcasting Tools
Record This For Free: Where you can find or post free voiceover gigs.
Whether you're looking to build a reel for your voiceover business or need a new podcast intro, Record This for Free is worth a look.
I know there are a lot of people who absolutely hate "free work" and I get it, but the reality is that many audio projects, including podcasts, start out with zero money and get made only because people are willing to voluteer or trade services.
People like you'll find on Record This for Free.
"Payment" is more than just cash. Sometimes it's an opportunity, a connection, or in this case, walking away with a real-world example for your reel.
If you need voiceover work done and are on tight budget, this may be a great option for you.
Podcasting Deals
Adobe Enhance Alternative? Maybe ...
Xound is worth a look, especially if you're doing any kind of short content (audio or video) recorded directly into your phone.
What you get for only $39 (for life):
- Unlimited files (audio and video)
- Background noise removal
- Audio quality improvement
- High-frequency presence (voice brightness)
- Dynamic range compression (consistent volume levels)
- Local audio processing for enhanced privacy (browser based)
- Instant audio processing on demand
- Access to advanced audio enhancement features
Podcast Humor
What Time Is It?
Automated scheduling, using programs like TidyCal, has helped get podcasters and guests in the same place at the same time, but it's still a good idea to have a strategy for when automation isn't used.
I suggest using Eastern time (also called New York time), even if you're elsewhere (and even if your guest is elsewhere). This will keep you from having to make different calculations for each guest you schedule and keep things consistent, so there is no confusion about what was said.
How do you manage time zones and schedule guests? Let me know via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads.
The Business of Podcasting
Most Top-Ranked Podcasts Bring On Guests ... Should You?
In the previous issue of Big Podcast Insider, I mentioned a couple of items about podcast reviews.
- How to triple your podcast reviews.
- Stats from a "review analysis" of 20,000,000 podcasts.
Some related things I didn't mention, which you'll find interesting:
Thousands of guests appeared on the top-ranked podcasts in 2022, but a relatively small number accounted for a majority of appearances. 76% of top-ranked podcasts had at least one guest in 2022, and 27% almost always or regularly featured guests.
What's happening?
Something to look at is the trend of co-hosted podcasts. Or a rotating cast of co-hosts. If you're looking for an alternative to working with guests on your podcast, but you're not interested in doing something that's solo, co-hosting may be a great option for you.
- It's easy to have a consistent schedule.
- You're guaranteed to talk to somebody who has a quality mic and knows how to connect remotely.
- You have a partner to share the non-hosting workload.
What makes a great co-host? I want to know your thoughts for an upcoming episode of Build a Big Podcast. 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