Prologue
Let's talk about the name of your podcast...
I find that a lot of podcasters, when they don't immediately get the listeners they want, are quick to change the name of their podcast. And that's not necessarily a bad move, especially when you've jumped into a name without really thinking about it and realize what you thought was cute or clever, isn't clear or easy to find via search.
In this issue of Big Podcast Insider, I've got some things for you to consider when naming your podcast. Taking a little time to do this in the early stages of your podcast will save you a lot of time in the future.
I'll give you a personal example ... My podcast on podcasting, Build a Big Podcast was originally called Big Podcast Daily. And that name didn't work for a few reasons ...
- Big Podcast Daily contains the frequency of episode release, which was true at the time, but ultimately hard to keep up with, for both me and listeners.
- "Big Podcast" sounds general. And adding "Daily" made it sound like a news show ... definitely not as descriptive of the content I was delivering as it could have been.
In fairness, Big Podcast Daily started as a 30-day experiment I did for National Podcast Post Month, also known as NaPodPoMo – a 30-day challenge similar to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), but for podcasting.
Regardless, when I decided to go longer than 30 days, after about six months, I found the daily schedule no longer worked for me, so I decided to change the name, not only to something that didn't mention frequency of release, but also something a lot more obvious as to what the "outcome" for listeners would be.
The same rules apply to naming books, by the way. It's why my new book is called 101 Podcast Episode Templates. Arguably, this name isn't very exciting or sexy, but it lets you know exactly what you get, which is important and helps sales. Clear almost always outperforms clever.
Are You in a Similar Situation?
If you've got a podcast name that's no longer working for you, there's nothing wrong with changing it. And it's better to change it now than wait.
But ...
Don't make the same mistakes you made with naming your podcast the first time – use your "second chance" to come up with something that you can work with and will work for you as long as you want it to.
As always, if you have any questions about this topic or other podcast marketing topics, feel free to reach out to me via BigPodcast.com.
AN UPDATE ON LAST WEEK'S POST RE: A REQUEST FOR SPEAKERS
In the previous issue of Big Podcast Insider, I mentioned that I was looking for a few extra speakers for a podcasting event in Nashville next month, RocknPod. Unfortunately, due to a spike in COVID cases here as well as record-level heat, the decision was made to postpone this event to a time that will be safer and more comfortable. The new date is in April and, as we get closer to that time, I'll once again be looking for speakers and let you know.
Podcast Marketing
What's the "Perfect" Podcast Name?
I love podcast names that tell you what you get. This is why my podcast on podcasting is called Build a Big Podcast – when you listen to it, that's what it helps you do.
But according to this short Twitter thread on good copywriting, a word like "build" can be problematic, since it means you, the listener, has to do something. It might be far better to use a word that doesn't imply work, such as "receive" or "win."
But those words are problematic, as they're not really accurate in this instance. Nobody just "receives" or "wins" a great podcast.
So you can see where it takes a bit of work to get things right when it comes to naming your podcast and its episodes ... Still, that's why you need to look at this thread and consider what he's saying when it comes to words you're currently using to describe your podcast.
Words matter. Your podcast title. matters. People ask me all the time, "How do I get more listeners?" And a great podcast title is the first step.
Naming Your Podcast – A Lesson in Simplicity
I find most podcasters, when it comes to naming their podcasts, go in one of two directions:
- They obsess over the perfect name, often changing it multiple times, even after launching.
- They use the first name that comes to mind, without thinking long term or even checking to see if anybody else is using it. (I'm talking to you, Iron Sharpens Iron!)
I've seen this in every creative space I've worked in. Musicians approach naming a band the same way. Same for authors who need a book title.
This article has the story of a company you've probably heard of and how it got its name. It's not a "magic formula" to creating a perfect name (see the item linked above for that), but it's a good reminder that something that seems simple can be just what you need to move forward with something great.
NOTE: The comments are worth reading as they also have some helpful advice for coming up with a great name.
Podcast Hosting Skills
The Six-Word Podcast Test
"MTV Cops"
This was the two-word pitch used to sell the television series Miami Vice. I've often thought about this when trying to clarify and simplify descriptions and titles for projects I'm working on.
The Six-Word Test is a focus strategy you may find helpful when it comes to describing and organizing any kind of monologue episode (or speaking presentation), documentary work, or even the point of your podcast itself.
Podcast Production
How a Bigshot Writing Coach Beats Writer’s Block
Every day, I post helpful advice for podcasters via Twitter and other social media outlets. And, obviously, there's this newsletter. And also this podcast.
If you're like me, you constantly need new ideas for episodes and other content. And sometimes you get stuck.
Then what?
These six tips have worked for Roy Peter Clark, who has authored and edited 20 books. I think you'll find them helpful to keep things moving forward with your podcast and other creative endeavors.
Podcasting Deals
Easily Collaborate on Podcast Production
Think of NoteTracks like Google Docs, but for audio. It allows several people to easily work on a single audio track at the same time.
This is a company with a Nashville connection and NoteTracks was created for musicians. But it's also great for podcast production.
If you've got multiple people working on your podcast, this is a no-brainer. For example, if you send your podcast to an editor, this will make it easy for you to let that editor know exactly what you need done. No more having to type out complicated notes with timestamps – you simply attach your comments to the audio file within NoteTracks. It's very clever!
If you're doing any kind of collaborative story editing or other content editing on your podcast, you'll definitely want to take a look at this. It will make the process so much easier for you!
The Wrap Up
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My goal is to better empower podcasters to be more successful in 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.