Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach

So, you're hitting the road and you want to take your podcast with you. Well, you're in luck because I love to travel and I know exactly what you should and shouldn't do to record decent audio on the go.

A lot of podcasters need to record audio on the road. And my tip is DON'T. Seriously, if you don't need to, as in, if with just a little bit of planning and organization you could record before you go on vacation then do that. Seriously, if you're just going on vacation for a week don't bring your podcast along. You're only going to annoy your family, turn off your listeners by irrelevantly bragging about where you are (instead of enjoying it) and, take it from me… getting sand out of a windsock is a real bitch.

If, on the other hand, you are often on the road, you're a digital nomad, or your podcast is about being on the road - then let's get down to some tips on how to get a consistent sound wherever you and your mic find yourselves.

In this episode, I weigh out the options I considered about how much gear to bring (ranging from nothing to my entire studio). I also test out a few mic options (you'll never believe what won out!) and share live sound tests so you can hear the difference a room can make.

I'll even share my favourite, act like you're 4 years old' trick, that will vastly improve your recording. Plus, it's so much fun!

So, if you're location-independent, a travel podcaster, or just too damned busy to pre-record enough shows to cover off your vacation - this episode is for you. Time for the mobile podcast.

Speaking of being too busy, why not off-load something… like say editing. Did you know that I edit podcasts? Yes, even from the road. If you want to find out how you can ship your podcast editing off to me, visit my website or sign up for a free 15-minute call and we can chat about it.

Referenced in this episode:

Episode 42 Getting the most from your podcast mic

Episode 67 This is the Bare Minimum You Need to Reach in Podcasting

Recording App for iPad: Voice Record Pro

It's the holy grail of podcasting - the secret to growing your audience! In this episode, I'm going to reveal the one thing you need to do to see those download steadily increase. So, get ready to have you mind blown.

For a lot of podcasters, a big audience is the sign of success. But, should it be? Really, when you park the ego for a minute - do you really need astronomical downloads for your podcast to be worth the effort? If your podcast is a marketing tool (as in, it's part of your content marketing strategy) then big numbers aren't always the most important thing. Having a relevant audience filled with potential customers - that's much more important. But, how do you attract that audience?

In this episode of Just the Tip, I talk about how to use some of the standard audience-growth strategies. Plus, I'll share the one thing I did that tripled my daily downloads. Before we get to that, let's review some of the basics that pretty much every podcast marketer will tell you to try.

I can't lay claim to creating any of these strategies but lots of podcasters are consistently doing these to grow their audience:

• Be Consistent (in your quality and release schedule)
• Promote on Social Media
• Appear on Other Podcasts
• Use SEO Best Practices on your Podcast Website
• Ask Your Listeners to Subscribe
• Distribute Your Podcast Everywhere (including YouTube)

These all take time but if you want to grow your audience, these are tried and tested strategies.

In addition to these, I also recommend shining a spotlight on yourself and showing off your expertise and knowledge. This leads us to my growth hacking experiment. I wanted to see if I could significantly move the needle on my downloads if I did just one thing. And, it worked!

I'll tell you what I did and how you can do it too. I'll also tell you what NOT to do when it comes to testing this out for yourself. Take my challenge, and see if you can move the needle too.

Hey - don't forget to subscribe to my podcast. You never want to miss one of my tips! They're just what you need to consistently make your podcast better. Or, you could just keep being mediocre. Your call.

D'uh. Subscribe!

You've got maybe a minute to convince a listener to keep listening. This is not a newsflash. But, do you know what three things are likely to stop them in their podcast enjoyment tracks and exit out before you get to minute 2?

I do. Because I don't have a lot of patience for crappy podcasts.

In this episode of Just the Tip, I share my 3 strike rule. The three things that if you do them in the first minute of your show, will piss me off so much, I will leave you and NEVER come back. I'm out!

And, frankly, if you get any of these strikes, I won't give you the benefit of listening long enough to see if you deserve any more. Yep, I said it, I might only give you one strike before I'm out.

But, it's not about me (I might not even be your target audience). These strikes are universally so podcast-sinful that any listener with leave you and go find someone else to fill their podcast needs.

If you're not seeing your audience grow… the first 60 seconds is the first place you need to look for the cause.

Not only do I tell you what you should do in the first 60 seconds, I also explain why. (Double hint: Episode 4 & #listenersrule aka every episode I've ever published)

So, if you want to grow your audience, treat your listeners like gold from minute-1, and NOT piss me off, listen to this podcast and avoid getting three strikes.

In just 5-minutes, you'll learn what you need to know to get listener sticking around for minute-2 and behind. Go now and listen. Go on witchya.

Oh, no! Your podcast has three strikes! If you want some help fixing that, let's talk. You can book a 15-minute free consulting call with yours truly. Or, jump right in and let's get to work making your first 1 minute rock solid, your content totally cruiseable and your last minute demanding action. That's what we can do in my 30-Days to a Better Podcast Coaching package. Grab it here.

Did you happen to notice the date this podcast was released? I'll give you a hint - it was Christmas Day, 2018. (I suck at hints)

So, you might think it's perfectly natural for me me wish you a happy holidays on this podcast. You might expect to hear me open up some presents. Or, maybe share a touching story from my youth. You might even enjoy some carols or a spot of eggnog.

Except for one thing. You're probably not listening to this on Christmas. It might be the day after or one of the other 364 days of the year. You know, those other days when this kind of content is totally and utterly irrelevant (and possibly even off-putting and annoying)?

That's why I'm sharing the value of evergreen content in this podcast.

Look, I get that it can feel like you're ignoring something so important when you don't mention what you assume is on everyone's mind at the time you release your podcast. I even understand that you might think that your listener would like to hear about how your family celebrates memorial day. But, and I mean this in the most respectful way, you're wrong.

Ego check. If you've listened to any of my other podcasts then you know that I'm all about the listener. So, I need to remind you that your podcast is not about YOU (unless you're REALLY famous in which case let your ego flag fly).

Speaking of exceptions to the rule - there is one other type of podcast that this no-holiday rule applies to and I explain exactly who that is in this episode.

I also dive a little deeper into the subliminal message you're sending your audience when you give in to the urge to acknowledge the season or holiday.

So, whether it's actually Christmas day, Arbor Day, National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, or the day of the Kevin… click play and discover why you want to keep your podcast evergreen.

Here's a gift fit for any season - a FREE 15-minute session with yours truly. We'll jump on Zoom or Skype and talk about your podcast. I'll let you pick my brain and we'll figure out how to make your podcasts even better. You can drink eggnog if you like - no judgement if you stockpile that stuff in your deep freeze. Well, maybe a little.

Book your free 15-minute session with me, your podcast performance coach, today.

My podcast disappeared from iTunes. Poof. Gone. No warning. Just gone. Can you imagine if every episode you ever painstakingly created just … vanished.

That feeling in your chest right now is pretty much how I felt when I got a friendly tweet letting me know that my podcast had disappeared from iTunes (aka Apple Podcasts). And, yes, I found out from a tweet - not from Apple.

So, after a moment of WTF!?! I went to work in getting it back online.

I found out that I was in no way alone in this plight. Lots of podcasters have been finding that their podcast can no longer be found. Apple Podcasts has been cracking down on keyword-stuffers. Especially, those who do it in one particular part of their listing.

Guilty. And, busted. But, in my defense, this was considered a good SEO strategy up until a few months ago. And, a lot of podcasters were doing and are still doing it. Some don't even know the ax is about to fall. Could you be next?

One thing I want to be clear about is that you don't need to panic. Sure, iTunes serves (on average) 65% of your listeners but that doesn't mean that you're dead in the water. Not by a long shot.

In this podcast, I'll explain what I did wrong, how I got caught, how I fixed it, and then why Apple still wouldn't reinstate me. And, how I fixed that too. You'll also discover why I'm happy that my show is distributed by Libsyn and stoked that listeners like @Stargatepioneer miss me when I disappear.

Now that I'm back in Apple Podcasts (aka iTunes), I'm happy to share the roadmap to getting back online.

And, I'm happy to help you avoid getting your podcast pulled in the first place. Because, once you get pulled you'll be surprised to discover what else they find wrong! Best to stay under the radar and make these changes before you have to.

Hey, help me celebrate getting back into Apple Podcast - subscribe right now (no matter what platform you listen in from! Suuuuuubscriiiiiibe!

Resources listed in this episode:

Episode 20 - The S*%T Episode.

iTunes Support email address:

[email protected]

Better Podcasting:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-podcasting/id1047879204?mt=2

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stargate-pioneer-2/better-podcasting

I love to talk to people about podcasting, and people love to tell me about their favorite podcasts. They also love to tell me what they hate about podcasting - which I also love because it gives me insight into the listener experience.

You remember… the listener the whole reason you podcast?

The other day, I was chatting with a buddy and of course, the conversation turned to podcasts. He wanted to tell me all about his absolute favorite podcast. He loved the content - the host was well informed, brought on great guests, and asked interesting questions. The host seemed to have a whole lot of access to an exclusive group and my friend was pumped about this.

But, he said sadly, he doesn't listen to it anymore. Canceled his subscription. Refuses to tune in - no matter who's on the show.

Can you imagine that? Someone loves your podcast - goes out of their way to rave about it - but doesn't listen anymore.

Can you guess why? No, the podcast didn't shut down - it's still pumping out episodes. No, the host didn't tweet something offensive or get caught in some #metoo scandal.

The reason is simple. The audio was C R A P. Yep, my friend couldn't stand the show anymore because it was literally too hard to listen to. He wanted so desperately to tune it each week but every time he did, it ended in frustration.

And then, it started to make him mad. It was like the host didn't care about him as a listener at all - like the host was just recording these interviews for himself and never gave a second thought to who was listening. Oh yeah, this guy gets cheesed off every time he thinks about it now.

So, if you think your a-may-zing content is going to save you - you're wrong.

If you've been noticing a download plateau or your podcast isn't growing the way you thought - it might be your audio quality. You might be just like my friend's favorite podcaster - losing listeners who LOVE you. Don't be the best podcast nobody listens to.

In this episode, I'm going to help you aim low. I'm going to tell you exactly what the bare minimum of audio quality is so that you never lose a fan because they can't stand to listen.

I mean, I'd love if you aim higher… but let's start with the basics and make sure you're meeting the minimum requirements of a listenable podcast.

By the way, if you follow my 25-point pre-record checklist, you're definitely going to be aiming higher than the bare minimum.

Visit get my FREE 25-Point Checklist here:

http://podcastperformancecoach.com/067-this-is-the-bare-minimum-you-need-to-reach-in-podcasting

Come up with another topic. Line up a guest. Make sure they know what they're talking about. Schedule a time to record. Do some more research. Reschedule the recording session. Record an episode. Troubleshoot technical issues. Edit an episode. Write show notes. Publish. Promote. Promote some more. Repeat.

Podcasting is a lot of work. And, when you started, you didn't mind so much because your passion burned bright. But now, well, not so bright.

Maybe you're wondering if it's worth all the time. Maybe you're feeling like all of the good ideas or guests have dried up. Or, perhaps you're doing the math and the return on your effort and investment is just not there.

Are you sitting down? Because the diagnosis might be burnout.

Don't worry - it doesn't have to be fatal (to your podcast).

You have three options when you get to this point. In this episode, I outline what they are and give you some guidance on navigating your way through each one.

And, there are options. You don't have to keep slogging away putting out half-assed (and painful to produce) podcasts.

You might just need a break - if this turns out to be your remedy then check out episode 59 for tips on how to do it right.

You could need to change things up - give the ol' podcast an overhaul. I'll share a few ways you can do that and tell you HOW to do it right.

Or, and this might be hard to take, it might actually be time to pull the pin. Stop. Take a second. How did reading that sentence make you feel? Did you feel light and filled with hope? Ahem, that's a clue as to the next steps.

There's a right way and a wrong way to end your podcast. In this episode, I'll cover what you need to do so that you can maintain the love of your audience, continue to reap the rewards of your back catalog, and possibly move on to the next one.

Whatever you do, don't ignore this.

It's pretty hard to hit the mic and serve your listeners when you're suffering from burnout. You owe it to yourself and your audience to not let your podcast wither away and become a skeleton of its former self. Whether you're just dealing with the first symptoms or your in full blown burnout - the time for action is now.

So, take 5 minutes right now and figure out how you can deal with podcast burnout AND come out the other end feeling rejuvenated.

Oh, how do I know about burnout? Well, first of all - I had it once. Secondly, a good percentage of my coaching clients come to me because they (wisely) realize that they have it and they need some help getting their mojo back.

We work together to determine if they need to take a break, re-work their podcast, or move on to a shiny new podcast that will better serve their needs.

If you're suffering from the dreaded podcast burnout, hit me up for a free 15-minute discovery call so we can determine if there is any way I can help you recover.

Confession time. Are you a podcast cowboy who just wings it with every guest? Is every interview you do the podcast equivalent of a blind date. Not cool.

I don't care if you can pull it off nine times out of ten. By taking that chance you're potentially wasting your time, your guests time and, most likely not getting the most out of your guest on behalf of you listener. Ahem, remember your audience? You know, the whole reason you do this show?

Every podcaster who has guests on their show, needs to do a pre-interview. If you want to get the most out of them during the recording session, you need to know that 1) they're a good fit for the show, 2) your listener is going to get huge value out of them and, 3) you are both on the same page in terms of what you'll cover (and offer to your audience) in the interview.

That's a lot of stuff to leave to chance!

So, quit being lazy just because you can get by. It's time to act more like a pro and conduct a pre-interview. It's your show. It's your audience. And, it's your responsibility to get the most out of your guest. Everyone wins.

In this episode, I go over everything that you should be including in your pre-interview. I tell you what to cover, what to listen for, and how to troubleshoot issues. Plus, I'll tell you what NOT to do in the pre-interview - and this is a mistake a LOT of podcasters make.

I'll also explain how the pre-interview is a lot like an audition and why you need to be very choosy about who you cast as 'podcast guest'.

So, pop me in your earholes and give me 5 minutes to help you act more like a pro, get more out of your guest and keep your hard-earned audience loving what you do.

In this episode, I also mention that the pre-interview is different from the warm up. Warming up your guest is also key to getting a great performance out of your guest. And, the warm up is much easier when you've done a good pre-interview. I cover The Warm-up in Episode 60 of Just the Tip.

By the way, doing the pre-interview is something you can outsource to a producer but I highly recommend that you don't. Part of the benefit of the pre-interview is that it establishes a rapport between you and your guest and it may give you new ideas of where to take the interview. It's much better to make time for the pre-interview by outsourcing back-end tasks like editing. By the way - did you know that I do that? Oh, well, let me just leave this link right here.

Are you still there? Oh, uh you cut out there for a second. Can you say that again?

If you interview guests over the internet for your podcast, I'll bet you six bucks you've had this conversation. And, that's if you catch it! How many times have you finished up a recording session and patted yourself on the back for a job well done only to listen back and find out that your guest sounds like a cheap sci-fi robot? And no, there is no 'de-mechanicanize' secret button in Audacity or Audition that will instantly make your guest sound human again.

Technology is great... right up until it fails you. Then, there's a whole lot of swearing. And, I'm not talking about the swearing you're doing when you listen back. I'm talking about your audience. Nobody wants that kind of crap in their ears. Nobody wants to have to hit the 'back 30' button because that last sentence didn't quite make sense. It's super frustrating and annoying.

Is that how you want to treat your listeners - you know the very people you make this podcast for?

In this episode, I share one important tip that will vastly improve your internet connection, decrease your chances of having dropouts, stalls, technical interruptions, and guests who sound like they were born on a factory line. And I'm sorry to tell you this, it's going to make you smack your head and say 'that's so simple!' Yep, this one little tip is going to immediately change how your guest sounds.

Plus, I'll give you a little more insight into why these interruptions happens. We'll talk about all of the things that are out of your control and what you can do to get back that control. I'll also share some strategies for communicating with your guest to makes sure they're connecting the best way possible too.

Whether you use Zoom, Zencastr, Skype, or any other online conferencing system to record your podcast, you want that connection to sound as good as it can. Hit play and learn the most important thing you should be doing to improve that connection. Your guests will thank you, your fans will thank you, heck, your dog will thank you (since you are no longer cursing at the computer as you failingly attempt to fix it and now have so much more time for walkies).

By the way. These connection issues are one of the first things I ask my editing clients about. We also spend some time making sure their recording settings are optimized. It's totally selfish - I'm making my job easier as an editor - but it also means they have a much better sounding show. Win- win- win (that last one is for the listener). If you're looking for the kind of editor who cares what your show sounds like, hit me up for a free 15 minute consultation.

Have you ever let your podcast get hijacked? You know - when a guest comes on and completely takes over and you slink away to the quiet shadows of your podcast? Have you heard this happen to other podcasters?

I have. It hurts me deep in my podcasting heart. And, I can hear it as it's happening. Things start out great. Host is in control. They ask a question and whoop, there goes the guest running away with the show. Same old spiel they've launched into on every show that will have them. Ten minutes and 10 plugs later and I'm screaming at the host through the ether 'You've lost control! Get back in there and remind this guy who's boss!'

Yes. Yes, I do actually yell. Show hijacks are not pretty.

It happens more than you think. Sometimes it's because your guest has an agenda - you know, like a book or an online program to sell. Sometimes they just love the sound of their own voice and when they see the opportunity to ramble they go for it. Either way - it's not good. It's not good for you as a host and it definitely is not good for your listener.

In this episode of Just the Tip, I'll share my top 5 tips for dealing with hijackers. You'll find out how to avoid being hijacked in the first place, what to do if you are facing down a podcast hijacker and the choices you have if you lose control for good.

Don't leave your podcast vulnerable. Learn how to save your show from being taken over by bully guests, insatiable promoters, and tiresome ramblers. Click play now.

By the way, I want you to have access to podcast-saving tips like this. So, subscribe to Just the Tip and never miss an episode.

Want to connect with me directly? Hit me up on email. I love hearing from other podcasters!