Big Podcast Playbook - Grow Your Podcast. Build Your Audience.

I saw a video being passed around social media that I found to be very impressive. It was bold and took chances, calling out a well-known “marketing guru” on certain things regarding race that, to some people, including me, came off as tone-deaf and out-of-touch.   I reached out to her.   It didn't go well.   That's what this episode is about. Want to see the conversation with this person? Visit Big Podcast Bulletin.   Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

One of the most common situations we run into as podcasters is guests who give the same canned answers they've given hundreds to hundreds of other people. Closely related to this is guests who have walls up, want to stick to prepared talking points, and don't want to have real discussions about what you're asking them.   How can you get guests to open up to you when doing an interview? I talk about that and more on this episode.   Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

If you want to know the behind-the-scenes elements of a successful radio show (and podcast), listen up. I walk you through the episode creation process from A-to-Z.    Looking to get a job in the podcast business? I talk about that too.   Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

Amazon just released its version of a "Fitbit" called Amazon Halo. One of the main reasons I got it, and the reason I'm talking about it here, is because, unlike a Fitbit, Amazon Halo will analyze your voice.

Here's how Amazon describes this feature: "Analyze qualities of your voice like energy and positivity to help strengthen communication."

Sounds like something that might be helpful to someone who uses his voice to make a living, right?

I talk about my "voice analysis" experience on this episode.

Amazon Halo also measures your sleep and its quality. And tells you how fat you are. And gives you a ton of other date to be obsessive over.

I talk about that too.

It it helpful? Yes. Is it for you? Maybe.

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

NaPodPoMo is back, so if you're thought about jumping into podcasting in a big way, you've got a great opportunity right now. There's nothing better when it comes to becoming a podcast better host than actually getting behind the mic and everything else that comes with planning, recording, editing, and publishing real podcast episodes.

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Podcast Growth Toolkit" to double your podcast audience.

     

Mike Pence doesn't seem to talk a lot. You see a lot of photos of him, but he's usually behind Donald Trump and he doesn't say much.

But before Mike Pence was Vice President, he was a talk radio host.

His show is predictable. Then, like know, you know where Mike Pence stands on issues like gay rights, marriage, and abortion.

Mike Pence is a great spokesperson for the power of podcasting. And I talk more about what you can learn from his talk radio experience on this episode.

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to double your podcast audience.

     

I'm working on a podcasting project and looking for stories about podcasting that fit within the following categories:

• A "Bad" Podcasting Experience - Have a funny (keep it light) story about something that went horribly wrong during a podcast session? A bad guest?
  
  
• Your Podcasting Origin Story - How did you get starting in podcasting?
  
  
• A "Because Of My Podcast" Story - What has happened to you that wouldn't have happened had you not had a podcast?
  
  
• Marketing Via Podcasting - Are you marketing yourself or spreading an idea via podcasting?
  
  
• Diversity In Podcasting - Are you part of a group that is underrepresented in traditional media and using podcasting to connect to people within that group?
  
  
• Guesting On The Podcasts Of Others - Are you using the podcasts of others to connect with people, market yourself, or spread a message?

If you've for a story that fits into one of the above categories, please contact me and I'll send you a link to upload audio of it.

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to double your podcast audience.

     

I posted some merch photos on the Big Podcast Instagram account and got a comment from Kyle at Gagglepod Studios that this story would make a good podcast.

So here it is.

Branded merchandise isn't for everybody, but if you have the right audience, it can be a substantial part of your business.

In this episode, I talk about how many "musicians" are known more for their t-shirts and other merch than they are for their music. I also talk about how you can easily as t-shirts and other merch to your business.

Want an example? Big Podcast t-shirts

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to get 25 podcast episode (and segment) templates.

     

I subscribe to my own podcasts, not because I'm some kind of narcissist or I'm trying to boost my stats, but because when I see the download happen on my podcatcher, I know the feed is working OK.

A couple of days ago, I happened to actually listen to the episode I downloaded. 

The edits were sloppy. Then the episode "ended," but I kept going...and I realized I had uploaded a partial edit with raw tape at the end.

Fortunately, I didn't say anything embarrassing.

I'd already found a BIG problem in the episode that I wanted to talk about before I realized the editing mistake. On this episode, I talk about that as well as "rules" you should always follow when recording your podcast.

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to get 25 podcast episode (and segment) templates.

     

On the previous episode, I talked about Pod Decks (and used them) with Dave Jackson from School Of Podcasting.

I like the idea of Pod Decks, so on this episode, I asked the same Pod Decks questions to Larry Roberts from Readily Random just to see what would happen and also to get a second opinion on the value of using Pod Decks as a podcasting tool.

SPOILER ALERT: Pod Decks is a cool system that has a lot of flexibility and will allow you to go places with your interviewing that you probably wouldn't go otherwise. Pod Decks alone won't make you a better interviewer, that's something that only happens from spending time behind the mic, but it's a fun tool that will help you create some great episodes of your podcast. 

Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to get 25 podcast episode (and segment) templates.