Podcasting Amplified: Podcasting for Business Growth and Marketing

So you want to build and grow a successful podcast.

The question is, how?

Because these days, a lot of the answers to the most common podcasting questions and challenges, things like "How to get more listeners?", "What to name your podcast?", "What microphone to use?" and so on, are increasingly being searched for through generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini.

Even Google search is shifting in that direction now, with more people relying on the AI overviews rather than seeking out trusted sources, doing deep research or speaking to actual humans with experience in podcasting.

Now, tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly useful, I use them myself for various tasks.

But what if I told you that relying on generative AI too heavily for podcasting advice could actually be taking your podcast in completely the wrong direction?

Because while these tools are very good at sounding confident, they often give surface-level answers based on an average of thousands of opinions, many of which are contradictory, outdated, or simply wrong.

So in this episode, I'm going to share:

• What ChatGPT won't tell you about podcasting.

• The biggest AI pitfalls.

• Where generative AI tools can be useful in podcasting.

• Where to get your information.

If you find yourself relying on AI for your answers, it's worth having a listen to this.

LEARN MORE

Get this right first - https://youtu.be/J1QEBYO127w

Editing and producing a high-quality podcast - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapialmsETBsQGGEMEAUHAouCpx

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

Is a video podcast still a podcast?

Or is a podcast inherently an audio-only medium, and the moment you add video, it just becomes a video, or a video of a podcast?

This is a question that's been coming up more and more recently, with Apple Podcasts now introducing seamless switching between audio and video, and enabling Apple Podcast video uploads via your podcast host.

But some argue that video podcasts aren't actually podcasts at all.

That they're just filmed interviews, or YouTube videos, and that podcasting is inherently audio-only.

So in this episode, we're going to try and get to the bottom of that.

What actually defines a podcast?

Where does video come into it?

And why it matters in the first place.

In this episode, you'll discover -

• What actually is a podcast?

• Is a video podcast still a podcast?

• Where did the term "podcast" come from?

• The current state of video podcasting.

• Do you need to do video as a podcaster?

If your thinking about the future of podcasting and where video fits into the equation, this is for you.

LEARN MORE

Referenced The Guardian article - https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/12/broadcasting.digitalmedia

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

Your podcast name plays a huge role when it comes to attracting listeners and standing out on podcast platforms.

It's one of the first things people see when they come across your show, whether that's through search, recommendations, or scrolling through a category.

And in a lot of cases, it's the main thing that determines whether someone clicks or keeps scrolling.

The problem is, a lot of podcasters are making some big naming mistakes that are holding them back from day one.

So in this episode, I'm going to break down the three essential components of a good podcast name, plus one bonus element that can help you get discovered more easily.

We'll also look at how you can use subtitles to attract more of your ideal listeners.

So whether you're just getting started, or you've had your podcast for a while and want to make sure your name is working for you and not against you, this is for you.

In this episode, you'll discover -

• How to come up with a good podcast name.

• What people get wrong when naming their podcast.

• The podcast discoverability strategy that almost no-one is using.

• And more…

If you're thinking about the future of podcasting and where video fits into the equation, this is for you.

LEARN MORE

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

If you spend hours creating your podcast episodes and you still find that it's just not getting the downloads you feel it deserves, there are a few reasons why your listeners might not be clicking.

And one of those reasons could be that the show notes just aren't enticing them to listen, and that's what we're going to be covering today.

Your show notes, the description of each episode that shows below an episode in podcast platforms, is one of the few chances that you have to convince your listeners and new listeners that an episode is worth listening to, so it's important that we make the best use of them.

So I'm going to go over exactly what should and shouldn't be included in your show notes, and how to structure them so that you can write your show notes easily, while ensuring they're working hard to convince people to listen.

We cover -

• The six elements to include in your show notes if you want people to listen to your episodes.

• The biggest show notes mistakes to avoid.

• Is it worth using AI to write show notes?

• Plug-and-play scripts you can use to make your show notes writing easier.

LEARN MORE

Get the free show notes template to keep - https://claricast.com/shownotes.

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

A lot has changed in podcasting over the last 20 years but what does the future look like for podcasters?

Mark Hunter joins me in this conversation who has been podcasting for over 20 years. He was the first known podcaster in Scotland, works with big names like the NHS from his Glasgow studio and has a huge amount of insight into the podcasting landscape.

We dive deep into what's changed and what still matters for podcasters if you want to stand out and achieve your goals over the next couple of years.

Covered in this episode:

• What's changed in podcasting over the last 20 years?

• Where video fits into podcasting.

• Will podcasters be replaced by AI?

• The most important thing you need to keep doing to stand out from the celebrity podcasters.

• And much more…

If you want to know how we got here and what to expect from podcasting over the next couple of years, this is essential.

LEARN MORE

Podcast Studio Glasgow - https://www.podcaststudioglasgow.com/

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Mark Hunter on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/postablefounder/

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

Your podcast description - the little bit of text that a potential listener sees when they click on your podcast - is one of the few things that you have in your arsenal to convince people to listen.

So, if you don't get your description right could mean the difference between a new long-term listener and advocate and someone just clicking the back button.

You get a whopping 4,000 characters to play with when you're writing your description into your podcast hosting platform but you definitely won't need all of them.

At the same time, it should be more than just a couple of sentences with a basic description of your podcast.

In this episode, we're going to take a look at the five elements that your podcast description must include and also what it should not include, if you want to convince a potential listener that your podcast is for them.

This is the framework that we use with our clients when we're launching their podcasts.

We cover -

• Why do you need a podcast description?

• The five elements your podcast description should include.

• Example scripts you can use to improve your description with ease.

LEARN MORE

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

Your podcast intro has a big impact on whether or not a new listener decides to stick around.

And if you make some common podcast intro mistakes you could be losing listeners before they even listened to a single episode.

And your outro can make or break a listener's decision to stick around for your next episode.

So in this episode, you're going to find out exactly how to script your podcast intro and outro to keep your ideal listeners listening.

And even if you already have an intro, it's the perfect time for a check-up, to make sure it's working for you and not against you.

In this episode, you'll discover -

• Why do you need a podcast intro and outro?

• The three elements you need to include in your intro and outro.

• Templates you can use to write or refresh your intro and outro so they're working for you to retain new listeners.

LEARN MORE

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

There are just two things that decide whether or not someone's going to click on your podcast or whether they're going to scroll right past it.

And if you don't get those two things right you could be quietly losing potential listeners without even knowing.

One of those things is the name of your podcast, the other one is your cover art - the square image that shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts etc.

And that second one is what we're going to be taking a look at in this episode of Podcasting Amplified.

According to Buzzsprout, 62% of new listeners say they're decision to listen is impacted by the cover art.

And when I audit podcasts for clients I see some common mistakes that make it very difficult for a potential listener to pick their podcast over a competing one.

So let's take a look at 9 of the most common podcast cover art design mistakes so you can avoid using them on your own cover art and get more listeners choosing your podcast.

Covered in this episode:

- How your podcast cover art affects growth. - The #1 cover art design mistake that many podcasters make. - How your cover art could be reducing the credibility of your brand. - When not to use AI for podcast cover art. - And more…

LEARN MORE Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

You want listeners to pick your podcast over your competitors.

So you work hard on making your podcast content as good as possible.

But many podcasts with good content are still failing at driving results. And they fail because the right people don't feel like the podcast is for them.

In a crowded podcasting landscape, clarity is essential. Listeners choose the podcast that feels like it understands their exact problem.

And that all comes down to one thing: knowing your ideal listener.

In this episode, we go deep on how to identify who your podcast is for, not just in theory, but in a way that shapes your titles, episodes, guests, and marketing so the right people choose your show instantly.

This is about making your podcast easier to discover, easier to connect with, and far more likely to grow.

In this episode, you'll discover -

• How to define your ideal listener in a way that drives growth.

• Why everything in your podcast runs downstream from your ideal listener.

• The exact questions to ask yourself about your ideal listener.

• How to position your podcast so it feels like a no-brainer to click.

• What makes your podcast stand out from other shows.

• And more…

LEARN MORE

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.

Great guests don't automatically make a great podcast.

Two shows can interview the same person and deliver completely different levels of value.

The difference isn't the guest. It's the host.

But what makes a good podcast host?

Strong hosting keeps listeners engaged, brings out better insights from guests, and turns interviews into conversations people actually want to finish listening to.

In this episode, I break down 14 essential skills and tactics that separate average interview podcasts from great ones, and why simply improving a few of these areas instantly puts you ahead of most podcasts in your niche.

This is about creating better experiences for your listeners and your guests and in turn, getting you better results.

In this episode, you'll discover -

• Why you shouldn't let your guest introduce themselves.

• How to hook listeners and keep them from bouncing.

• Why it's best to sometimes say nothing.

• How to dig deeper than surface-level answers.

• The exact questions to ask your guests.

• Why your own input and perspective matter as a host.

• How to ensure your listener is getting value throughout.

• How to boost the chances of your guest sharing your episode with their audience.

• And more…

LEARN MORE

Claricast - https://www.claricast.com

CONNECT

Joe Eftihiou on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-eftihiou/

LISTEN

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rdajQ9A1D8an5sBmoAFjR?si=10b5eb9fc21c4bfd

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasting-amplified/id1714803934

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZWGTnpapiangKMMvMRFXehPNrgbnAl_z

Production by Claricast.