Prologue
Building a Successful Podcast
I've got a couple of podcasting "freebies" in this issue, so don't miss them.
And when you're using them, consider these comments about the success of a podcast called 20VC ...
The 10 year overnight success of 20VC.
300 shows before we got 1,000 plays per show.
3 years before we made a single $ from 20VC.
10 years, 7 days a week, every single weekend.
It takes time to build a successful podcast. That's because it takes time to become a great host.
This doesn't mean you have to wait forever for anything to happen, by the way. You can still have a successful podcast and be a competent host without having "everything" together.
Something to help you ...
I'm putting together a 30-day training to help podcasters become better "solo" hosts. It's going to be a lot of fun, because dozens of podcasters will be doing it together. Not only will you get better as a host, you'll also meet some great people and learn from them.
I'll mention it here, so keep an eye out for it. Until then, some things to help you make a better podcast now ...
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 (and podcasting skills).
You can get details here.
Podcaster Opportunities
The $99 Miracle
In general, the things we use to make podcasts are getting cheaper. And the process of making a podcast is easier.
It's easy to make a podcast with just $100 these days.
Don't take it for granted. Your grandfather spent $5000 for a reel-to-reel recorder that had so much tape hiss it sounded like a white noise machine.
If you had $100 to spend on your podcast today, how would you spend it?
Podcast Marketing
The Pros and Cons of “Exclusive” Podcasts
Let me take you way back ... FORTY years.
In the early 80s, "music videos" were a big deal. One play on MTV was the equivalent promotion of tens of thousands of plays on broadcast radio.
But there were other, non-MTV music video outlets ... the biggest being a weekly show on NBC called Friday Night Videos.
MTV was looking for an edge, so it worked deals for "exclusive" videos from top artists. These got extra promotion from the network, but there was one problem ...
Only 31% of households in the US had access to cable television and even fewer households actually subscribed. NBC reached 99.7% of televisions in the US.
So yeah, there was "extra promotion" available with an exclusive deal, but at what cost? The big audience was on NBC!
The same thing is happening with podcasts (and other audio content) now. Audible, Amazon, and Spotify love to do exclusive deals.
But is this where your audience is?
Podcast Production
70,000,000 Listeners Can't Be Wrong
A podcasting lesson from Michael Jackson ...
Why do some things take off while others seem to be ignored?
Marketing is a big part of this ... but good marketing of a "bad product" only makes is fail faster.
This week, I've been working on an NPR-style narrative piece. I've recorded 50 minutes of tape so far and the final broadcast version will be five minutes or less.
Even when I listen to the rough cut, I think, "This is pretty simple." Which is weird because it's my cut and I know what's involved.
Making something "simple" that "looks easy" is a complement. And making something "short" is harder than making a longer version of the same thing.
Do you like Thriller by Michael Jackson? Regardless, read this story and you'll think about it in a totally new day.
Podcasting Deals
Free To-Do/Productivity App
Twos App on the web has always been free, but if you sign up via this link by 9/2, you’ll get the upgraded mobile app for free as well.
I used Things for years and switched to Marvin a few years ago. Both are excellent and Twos is on the same level, in my opinion.
This video has info on why the developer is doing this. Even if you’re not interested in another to-do app, it’s worth watching as it’s a good example of taking care of the people who jumped in early with you.
Twos offers:
- Reminders & calendar integration
- Daily journaling & task management
- Seamless sharing & collaboration (great for working with co-hosts)
- Free email, text, and WhatsApp integration
- Cross platform ... all your stuff on both desktop and mobile
It's a unique tool combining notes, reminders, and a calendar in one—a great app for daily journaling, tasks, and reminders.
Free Sound Effects
Need sound effects for your podcast? Audio has a vast collection of high-quality sound effects you can use without charge.
Want another SFX option? Check out Uppbeat.
Podcast Humor
I'm also a solider on Call of Duty ...
Imagine connecting to a remote session and your guest shows up wearing a gamer headset.
Has this (or something similar) ever happened to you? Let me via Mastodon, Bluesky, or Threads!
Classifieds
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.
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.
Castmagic - Automated Episode Notes
Over 35,000 podcasters have used Castmagic to automate:
- Episode notes
- Highlight clips
- Podcast summaries
- Blogs posts
- Social media posts
- Newsletters
Upload your podcast audio and Castmagic does the rest!
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