Prologue
Big vs. Small
If you want to have a big podcast, 99% of the time, when it comes to attracting an audience, you've got to think like a small podcast. But small podcasts can learn a lot from traditional big media as well.
Somebody recently asked me about my experience with podcast networks. To many people, this seems like a great opportunity, just like a major book deal, a record deal, or theater distribution for your movie.
But it's not always as it seems... A few years ago, CBS approached me about getting my podcast on their network.
On one hand, it was thrilling to be asked. I thought about how cool it would be to have the "CBS Eye" on my artwork and how my mother would finally understand what I do for a living.
Then I saw the deal... Not good – it had nothing I wasn't already doing on my own.
But "bad deals" like the one I was offered don't mean that there isn't a lot for us to learn from big media. And that's the focus of this issue of Big Podcast Insider.
Podcast Marketing
Worldbuilding 101 for Podcast Marketing
One of the most common podcast marketing methods is to come up with an "avatar" for your audience, where you create an "average listener" (just one person) and make every marketing decision based around this person.
That's a nice start. But if you want to get really deep into connecting with your listeners, you need to think about Worldbuilding – that's the next step.
This will help you grow your podcast audience. It's worth thinking about and the sooner you take action on it, the sooner you'll have more people listening to you.
Podcast Hosting Skills
What every podcaster can learn from Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy
Both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy have been on the air for decades. They are two of the most popular game shows of all time.
If you want this kind of staying power with you podcast, you have to nail the introduction. This is a quick read that will help you do just that.
Podcasting Tools
Who is talking about your podcast online?
TinEye is a cool tool to find podcasting sites, directories, and other places your podcast is showing up online. It's also great for double-checking logos and other artwork you buy to make sure somebody else isn't using the same designs.
This is a must-use if you're buying any kind of graphic design from Fiverr.
Podcast Monetization
5 Tools For Finding Podcast Sponsors
The most common monetization model for newsletters podcasts has been advertising. Podcasts get great results for advertisers since they're usually laser-focused on a specific niche. But unless you have experience in finding advertisers, doing this with your podcast can be a challenge.
This is a list of five tools for newsletter advertising. Because it has this focus, almost no podcasters are using it, which means it's a great opportunity for you to jump in and deliver ads (and results) that nobody else using these tools is.
And if you have a newsletter, all the better. The "newsletter/podcast combination" performs better for advertisers than either one platfrom on its own.
Here's The Problem With Podcast Advertising...
Before you start pitching companies to advertise on your podcast, you need to read this.
Why? Because nobody who hears you read generic, company-provided talking points in your podcast advertising is buying what you're selling...
If you do things this way, your listeners will actualy love that you have ads, because your ads will be a positive part of their listening experience.
The Business of Podcasting
Why Netflix Keeps Canceling Shows After Just 2 Seasons
A good friend of mine from the music business shared the "harsh reality" of podcasting at a local podcaster meetup I attended.
"Most podcasts should be canceled. But nobody is here to tell you that."
He said this because most podcasts never attract a significant audience. And in the real word, "no audience" would get you canceled.
This isn't the real world though – we control when we publish our podcasts and when we decide to stop.
But his point is something to think about... When should you either stop doing your podcast or change things up so that you can get the audience you want.
Some things to think about when it comes to how Netflix makes decisions like this...
The Wrap Up
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My goal is to better empower podcasters to be more successful spreading their messages and make more money with their podcasts.
I'd love it if you'll help me spread the word about this newsletter by sending your podcasting friends to bigpodcast.com/newsletter.