Prologue
Nobody is Listening to You (Until They Are)
I'm not a fan, so I didn't think anything of the new Kanye West documentary on Netflix, but I had a couple of people I trust recommend it to me, so I took a chance on it.
It's very good, especially for creators such as podcasters. It's easy to look at what Kanye is doing now, or get sucked into the "celebrity drama" that always seems to surround him, but before be was a billionaire and one of most influential urban artists in the world, he was just a guy who wanted what he was doing to be heard.
Three big takeaways:
- The outside doesn't always reflect the inside. Dude was making beats for $50 even after he had a Platinum record on the wall.
- What you do for money may end up being what you're known for, even though you want to be known for doing something else, so be careful with the "money jobs" you take.
- Be careful of surrounding yourself with "Yes Men" – they will hurt you.
In this issue of Big Podcast Insider, I've got some ways for you to grow your podcast audience, boost your authority and "celebrity" in your market, and save money on both podcast media hosting and a great dynamic mic.
BOOK UPDATE: Pre-order is now available on Amazon, which I'd certainly appreciate you doing, but know that i've got a free copy for you coming soon as my thanks for subscribing to this newsletter.
Podcast Marketing
10 Things to Grow Your Podcast Audience NOW
A trend to get more listeners/followers, which makes sense from the outside, is "Content Upgrades" – at the end of an episode about Topic X, you invite listeners to download a document on Topic X (such as a worksheet or checklist) in exchange for an email address.
Other examples of Content Upgrades:
- Transcript
- A List of Tools & Resources
- Bonus Video or Audio
- Bonus Interview
- Infographic
- Templates
- Swipe File
- Course or "Challenge" (usually delivered via email)
Some of the most successful people do this for every episode. And it seems to work.
But does it?
This question is one of the things Justin Moore covers in this (very) short Twitter thread with 10 things he did to grow his audience.
Will all of them work for you? Maybe. Will you want to do all of them? Probably not. But this is worth checking out and, even if you just do a couple of these things, you will see results when it comes to attracting more people to your podcast.
Podcasting Deals
Lifetime Podcast Hosting - $79
This is a nice lifetime deal on podcast hosting that's perfect for most podcasts.
Any new media hosting service is a roll of the dice. Media hosting is a specialized business and, obviously, it's very important to you as a podcaster. With that said, it's easier than ever to set up a service like this (thanks to scalable server options from Amazon and Google) as well as a very profitable business that more companies are looking to be part of, so if you're up for taking a low-risk chance, this one may pay off nicely for you.
Zoom ZDM-1 Dynamic Microphone - $49
This is a nice deal for a solid dynamic mic. If you're looking to go beyond a Blue Yeti or other beginner mic, or just need an extra mic for an occasional guest or co-host, this is a good one.
I've used Zoom hardware since the 80s, when I was in high school. They launched the company with guitar pedals and have expanded to higher-end effects, recording equipment, and mics since then. I have three different Zoom portable recorders (see below) and they've all worked well for me.
The Zoom ZDM-1 is not the best mic in the world, but you can feel confident that it will get you where you need to go.
Note that all the Zoom stuff is on sale right now, so if you're in need of something, now is a good time to save money ...
SIDE NOTE: If you're curious about why I have three portable recorders, it's because they do three different things.
Recording phone calls or just doing a general podcast? Try the PodTrak P4.
Doing "remote" recording where you need something small and battery-powered? H4n Pro 4-Input / 4-Track Portable Handy Recorder
If you're really serious about remote recording and want the ultimate "set it and forget it" option, Zoom F6 6-Input / 14-Track Multitrack Field Recorder is the way to go.
Podcast Monetization
How to Monetize Your Expertise: 6 Questions to Ask Yourself
Having a podcast does three things for an expert or company:
- Showcases your specialized knowledge/service.
- Pre-sells what you do, due to sharing of that specialized knowledge/service and showcasing your personality.
- Sets you up as a "celebrity" so you can charge higher prices than you'd be able to do otherwise.
A large percentage of indie podcasts, mine included, are designed to promote the host as an expert. If this applies to your podcast, you'll want to read this short piece on how to monetize your expertise. These six questions will help you figure out how to create value for customers and yourself.
It's a quick read and will put money in your pocket as well as help you get more listeners.
The Business of Podcasting
Here's How to Ask for Referrals (w/ Email Template)
This week, I had a conversation with a celebrity makeup artist and asked her how she got her clients.
"Referrals," she said.
Yeah, she has an Instagram page and also an agent, who is out looking for work for her, but by far, the majority of the people who are paying her money come from recommendations by stylists, photographers, and others she's worked with.
This article has five ways to get referrals (and also templates to help you do it), but before you go there, let me share a way for you to kick off getting referrals for yourself today.
The best way to get referrals is to give referrals – that's it. Then the Law of Reciprocity kicks in.
Self-employed people get it. Salespeople get it. When I work with a real estate agent or somebody who works on commission, those guys get it.
So maybe that's a place to start – connect with people who are happy to get referrals and most likely to give them. Employees rarely have a “referral mindset.” Get with people who understand and are willing to play ball with you and make things happen for each other.
The Wrap Up
The Wrap Up
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.