Podcasting for Indie Podcasters: Podcasting Tips for How to Start and Run a Podcast

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Mark from Captivate.fm.

We kicked things off by discussing the fantastic Podcast Show London 2024 that we were lucky enough to attend. Can you believe Mark has been attending podcasting events like this since way back in 2014? His experience in the industry is truly impressive. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy when he mentioned going to all those iconic events like Podcast Movement and PodFest in the States over the years. A girl can dream, right?

But what really got me excited was our deep dive into the world of Podcasting 2.0. For those of you who are still wrapping your heads around this concept, let me break it down for you. Essentially, Podcasting 2.0 is all about taking the traditional podcasting experience (let's call that 1.0) and supercharging it with a whole host of new features and capabilities. We're talking monetization opportunities, enhanced listener engagement, better analytics, and so much more!

Mark did an incredible job of explaining how Podcasting 2.0 works its magic through the use of specialized tags or enclosures within the good ol' RSS feed structure. These tags act as gateways, unlocking features that were previously unavailable or a real pain to implement. I mean, who wouldn't want an easier way to integrate things like cross-app commenting, alternate content formats (hello, video!), and even value-for-value contributions from listeners?

Now, I know some of you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all this talk of Podcasting 2.0. But fear not! Mark reassured me (and all of you) that there's no need to panic. The beauty of this evolution lies in its seamless integration with existing podcasting practices. You can continue creating and distributing your amazing content as you always have, gradually adopting the new features as they become relevant to your needs.

And let's not forget about the benefits for us listeners! Podcasting 2.0 promises enhanced content discovery, seamless multi-format experiences, increased engagement with our favorite shows, and improved accessibility. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved in this wonderful world of podcasting.

Of course, we couldn't resist indulging in a little Star Wars banter (because what's a conversation without a few nerdy references?). Mark even shared the name of his very own Star Wars podcast, "Spark of Rebellion" – how awesome is that? I may or may not have pestered him about the possibility of a Podcasting 3.0 in the future, but you'll have to tune in to find out his thoughts on that!

All in all, this episode was an absolute treasure trove of information and insights. I walked away feeling energized and excited about the future of podcasting, and I hope you did too. So what are you waiting for? Hit that play button and dive right in!

Until next time, keep those podcasts rolling, and may the force of Podcasting 2.0 be with you!

Highlights:

• Unique microphone setup at Spiritland Media for recording
• Mark's experience at the Podcast Show London and involvement in talks and panels
• Insights about Captivate - hosting, distribution, and monetization platform for podcasters
• Podcasting 2.0 - enhancements to the original podcasting concept
• Evolution from Podcasting 1.0 to 2.0 and speculation on a possible Podcasting 3.0
• Role of AI in podcasting and dispelling concerns about AI taking over
• Tips for growing a podcast audience - being a guest on other podcasts, engaging with new audiences, and prioritizing consistency

Read the Blog Post: Podcasting 2.0: What Does it Mean for Indie Podcasters? >> https://veritysangan.com/podcasting-2-0/

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:36 Captivate at the Podcast Show London
• 00:06:55 Understanding Podcasting 2.0
• 00:19:37 Exploring the Future of Podcasting
• 00:24:08 The Role of AI in Podcasting
• 00:31:38 Tips for Growing a Podcast Audience

🌟 Try Captivate.fm free for 7 days >> This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

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Want your podcast to rank high in Apple Podcast search results? Then this is the episode for you. In this episode of the Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting, I'll share podcasting tips for ranking your podcast in Apple Podcasts search results by targeting specific keywords. You'll learn how to research and incorporate keywords into your show details, episode titles and show notes to increase your visibility when listeners search for related topics.

Highlights:

• Importance of using keywords for podcast discovery
• Utilizing podcast analytics for audience understanding and engagement
• Improving podcast SEO with keywords in descriptions, titles, and show notes
• Strategies for enhancing podcast ranking on Apple Podcasts
• Tips for ranking in Apple Podcasts search engines
• Creating engaging podcast content for audience retention
• Significance of episode artwork and cover art in attracting listeners
• Experimentation and patience in finding the right title, keywords, and description for podcasts

Read the Blog Post: How to Rank on Apple Podcasts Search Results in 5 Steps >> https://veritysangan.com/rank-on-apple-podcasts-search-results/

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:28 Utilizing Podcast Analytics for Better Audience Engagement
• 00:02:32 Tips for Improving Podcast SEO
• 00:04:30 Strategies for Improving Podcast Ranking on Apple Podcasts
• 00:07:02 Creating Engaging Podcast Content: Tips for Success
• 00:08:37 Optimizing Your Podcast for Higher Ranking on Apple Podcasts

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Back in episode 80, I talked about my podcasting costs. It stacked up and some of you guys were outraged! So, I wanted to make it clear that podcasting does not have to be expensive. In fact, I record and edit this episode on free software. And with this in mind, during this episode, I will give you 10 FREE podcasting tools that you should consider using for your podcast production process. Plus, I will give you a key podcasting tip that you DON'T want to miss!!

Read the Blog Post: 10 Free Podcasting Tools You Need to Try >> https://veritysangan.com/10-free-podcasting-tools/

🎧 Listen to Ep 80: How Much Does it Cost to Start and Run a Podcast? - Breaking Down My Podcasting Costs

Links:

• Enhance Speech by Adobe -https://podcast.adobe.com/enhance
• Canva -https://www.canva.com/
• Descript -https://www.descript.com/
• Riverside.fm -https://veritysangan.com/riverside
• Podbean -https://www.podbean.com/
• Vidyo -https://vidyo.ai/
• Buffer -https://buffer.com/
• Hootsuite -https://www.hootsuite.com/

Highlights:

• The costs of running a podcast
• Feedback from listeners on podcasting expenses
• Top free podcasting tools for podcasters

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:07 Enhance Speech by Adobe
• 00:03:34 Canva
• 00:04:17 Quicktime Player
• 00:04:44 Garageband
• 00:05:22 Podbean
• 00:06:20 Riverside.fm
• 00:07:29 Descript
• 00:08:55 Vidyo.ai
• 00:10:06 Buffer and Hootsuite

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Join me as I broadcast live from the Podcast Show London 2024, taking part in a fun Spotify quiz with questions about Taylor Swift podcast streams, growing podcast categories, and more. Discover interesting facts about podcast trends and see how well you can do in this spontaneous quiz! Also, learn which podcast content has seen the most significant increase in global searches and streaming by age groups. Tune in for some surprising revelations and interactive fun!

In this episode, we are taking a break from the usual podcasting tips and how-to content and instead focusing on a bit of fun to see how well we know the world of podcasting!

We are challenged with questions about Taylor Swift's influence on podcasting, the fastest growing podcast categories for Spotify users, the type of podcast that is on the rise, global searches that are most popular in 2023, and which age group is most likely to be streaming content from outside their country. Can you beat my score?

Spotify's 2024 Podcast Trends Tour ➡️ https://ads.spotify.com/en-US/trends/podcast-trends/

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Live from the Podcast Show London 2024: A Microphone Adventure
• 00:27 Spotify's Sweet Little Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
• 00:34 Guessing Game: The Spotify Podcast Quiz
• 03:03 Revealing the Answers: How Well Did We Do?

So often podcasters conduct a podcast interview, publish it, and never think about it again.

But what if you could maximise your podcast interview and get multiple episodes out of the same interview? How awesome would that be? It's at least double the content for you, and at least double the exposure for your podcast guest!

In this episode, I'll explain how when I interviewed Adam from Podcasting Business School the podcasting tips that he gave split into 4 key topics. So, I took these topics and broke the 1 interview down into 4 different podcast episodes.

But, for other guest interviews, I didn't break these into multiple episodes. I'll discuss why and give you tips as to when you might want to break interviews into multiple episodes and when you might want to keep the interview as a whole.

We will also go over how you can maximise your time with a podcast guest and intentionally record multiple episodes in one podcast interview without your audience ever knowing that you recorded the episodes in one go!

Explain how I interviewed Adam, but I thought that we covered 4 key topics and bearing in mind my episodes are normally around 10-15 minutes, I wanted to break the interview down to respect those timings and also to ensure that my audience was getting exactly what I was promising from the episode titles and notes.

We will also talk about the importance of creativity and flexibility in podcasting, and how experimenting with episode formats and lengths can help you to maximize your podcast guest contributions and audience retention!

Tune in for all the podcasting tips for maximising your podcast interviews!

Episodes mentioned in this episode:

• Ep 84: Crafting the Perfect Podcast Guest Pitch - with Sarah Hopkinson
• Ep 83: How to Run a Podcast and an Email List Without Going Insane - with Sarah Hopkinson
• Ep 76: Avoid These Mistakes with Print on Demand Merch with Travis and Josiah from Print On Demand Cast
• Ep 75: How to Monetize Your Podcast with Print on Demand Merch - Travis and Josiah from Print on Demand Cast
• Ep 71: Podcast Growth Mistakes and Breaking the Interview Only Myth - with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School
• Ep 65: How Expensive Does Your Microphone Need to Be? with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School
• Ep 64: How to Dominate the First 72 Hours for Maximum Impact - with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School
• Ep 58: Getting Curious and Hosting Amazing Guest Interviews - with Matt Gilhooly

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome Back & The Art of Lazy Podcasting
• 00:57 Success in Simplicity: My Podcasting Journey
• 01:17 Maximizing Content: The Multi-Episode Interview Strategy
• 03:13 Expanding Reach: The Benefits of Episode Splitting
• 04:05 Practical Tips for Efficient Podcasting
• 06:55 Experimenting with Episode Lengths: Insights & Outcomes
• 09:25 Concluding Thoughts on Podcasting Strategies

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Welcome to a bonus episode of the Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting!

This episode, I'm sharing eight essential tips to help you prepare for the Podcast Show London 2024 or any podcast event you might attend.

First things first, remember to eat amidst the excitement. Networking is crucial, so spend time chatting with others, even if you're attending solo. Don't miss out on exploring the exhibition stands; last year, I had a blast discovering new tech and ideas. Ensure you check the schedule and have a backup plan in case sessions are full. It's important to keep a cool head if things don't go as planned - don't be a twit if a session is full. Asking questions during talks can be invaluable, so don't shy away. Make sure you tell people about who you are and your show; you never know who you might meet. Lastly, have something tangible like cards or QR codes to share your podcast info easily.

These tips are not just for the Podcast Show London 2024 but can be applied to any podcasting event you attend.

Let's make the most out of these opportunities, learn as much as we can, and perhaps, I'll get to meet some of you there!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome to the Bonus Episode!
• 00:18 Getting Ready for the London Podcast Show
• 00:50 8 Essential Tips for Podcast Show Preparation
• 01:43 Networking and Making the Most of the Event
• 02:17 Exhibition Stands and Scheduling Strategies
• 04:12 Handling Full Sessions Gracefully
• 05:37 Engaging and Asking Questions
• 06:19 Promoting Your Podcast Effectively
• 08:25 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

📧 Subscribe to the Newsletter >> https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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Let's chat about the potential impacts of a TikTok ban in the U.S. on podcasters.

With the uncertainty surrounding TikTok's fate and the evolving social media landscape, I explore whether podcasters should be concerned about the platform's future. In this episode, we will delve into the complexity of the situation, considering political, economic, and social factors.

Read the Blog Post: Should Podcasters Worry About a TikTok Ban? Here's 2 Reasons Why You Shouldn't

Highlights

• The potential fate of TikTok in the US - sale or ban.
• Impact on content creators, including podcasters using TikTok to promote their podcasts.
• Uncertainty around pending legislation and its approval timeline.
• Evolution of the social media landscape and the emergence of new platforms.
• Potential migration of users to other platforms in case of a TikTok ban.
• Possibility of new platforms outshining TikTok in the future.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 TikTok's Fate in the US and Its Implications for Podcasters
• 00:01:29 Should Podcasters in America Be Worried About TikTok?
• 00:02:11 The Impact of Pending Legislation on Social Media
• 00:03:22 Should Podcasters Worry About a Potential TikTok Ban in America?
• 00:04:32 My Opinion on Potential TikTok Ban and Impact on Social Media

🎧 Ep 63: Why I Quit Promoting My Podcast on TikTok

Are you inadvertently killing your podcast's growth by being resistant to change?

Because here's the truth - being creatures of habit, we podcasters often shy away from trying new things, even when our current approach isn't yielding the desired growth that we want to see.

In this episode, I'll encourage you to take a critical look at your podcast's performance. If you're not seeing the growth you envisioned, whether it's in downloads, audience retention, or any other metric that defines success for you, it might be time to step out of your comfort zone. Don't let the fear of losing existing listeners hold you back from rebranding, revamping your show notes, or experimenting with different episode formats.

To help you on this journey, I'll share three actionable tips with you that you can implement today.

Remember, growth often lies outside our comfort zones. Don't let the fear of change hinder your podcast's true potential. Embrace new ideas, listen to your audience, and be willing to adapt your strategies. Share this message with your fellow podcasters who might also benefit from these insights.

Highlights

• Importance of being open to change and adaptation in podcasting
• Podcasters' fear of making changes and hindering growth
• My experience of rebranding and achieving growth
• Strategies for improving podcast growth, such as optimizing show notes and using keyword research
• Defining and tracking podcast growth beyond download numbers
• Spreading the word about your podcast and leveraging word-of-mouth referrals
• Easy wins for growing your podcast audience, including content optimization and audience engagement
• Top three tips for growing your podcast audience: promoting to everyone, experimenting with keywords, and trying out different categories.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:07 Exploring Audio Recording Platforms
• 00:01:54 Are You Killing Your Podcast Growth?
• 00:03:07 Embracing Change in Podcasting: Overcoming the Fear of Making Changes
• 00:06:29 The Importance of Growth in Podcasting
• 00:06:57 Tips on How to Grow Your Podcast Audience
• 00:07:30 Strategies to Grow Your Podcast Audience
• 00:08:21 3 Tips for Growing Your Podcast Audience

📧 Join the 5-day email growth challenge ➡️ https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge

Pitching to be a guest on someone else's podcast can often seem as a daunting task. But when Sarah Hopkinson from CopyHop contacted me to pitch to be a guest, I was blown away by her email. It was specific, to the point, and told me exactly how she'd fit with my podcast and you as the podcast audience.

So, in this episode, I chat to Sarah all about how she crafted her pitch. She shares her framework for crafting a personalised email to podcast hosts that will make your request stand out from all of the others. Her podcasting tips for pitching to guest on other people's podcasts are not to be missed.

And as promised, below is the EXACT pitch email that Sarah sent to me to pitch herself to guest on The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting.

Read the Blog Post: 3 Top Tips for How to Write the Perfect Podcast Guest Pitch >> https://veritysangan.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-podcast-guest-pitch/

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:15 Crafting a Personalized Email Pitch to Be a Podcast Guest
• 00:03:09 Effective Podcast Pitching Strategies
• 00:07:40 How to Write a Compelling Pitch Email to Be a Podcast Guest
• 00:13:43 Tips for Following Up on Podcast Pitches
• 00:21:12 Turning Podcast Episodes Into Emails

Sarah's pitch email:

Hi Verity, 

As an inherently Lazy Girl, I was so happy when I discovered your podcast at the end of last year! As you say yourself, your episodes are really binge-able and I've been enjoying listening to them, especially your Taylor Swift/podcasting mash-up ep (oh my god, I'd LOVE it if she did her own podcast!!). There are a lot of voices in podcasting and podcasting advice, but yours is one of the most insightful and fun.

I am emailing you for a reason: I know that 2024 is your year of email so I was wondering if you'd be open to me guesting on The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting to talk a little about the opportunities for podcasters who master email marketing? 

I also work in the podcasting industry, helping podcasters to grow their show and their influence through strategically remarketing their content. Last year, I gave a seminar to a group of podcasters about how to run a great email list for their podcast with less effort, touching on why email is a great medium to connect with subscribers, how to use AI to repurpose podcast episodes whilst maintaining content quality and the different kinds of emails to send to your podcast list. It was a great success and it encouraged those podcasters to start or keep going with their email list without putting as much work into it.

I'd love to discuss all or some of the above on your podcast and if you'd like to have me as a guest, I'd be delighted to promote your episode far and wide. However, I appreciate that you know your audience best so I'll leave it up to you to think about :)

Hope that the sun is shining on you in Jersey and that the Taylor Swift n*des scandal didn't leave a Blank Space in your episode download numbers!

Have a great day!

~Sarah at CopyHop~ 

Sarah's email series: https://crafty-hustler-1231.ck.page/9cd9d402ea

Guest bio:

Sarah Hopkinson is a Brit living in the south of France. After working in online content for 5 years, she set up her copywriting business in 2021 and quickly pivoted to helping podcasters grow their show by repurposing their content into other forms of written content. When she's not working on her business she's working out, taking day trips to Italy and watching The Office.

• Website:https://copyhop.co/
• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hopkinson/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/copyhop

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It's safe to say that as a podcaster, marketing your podcast probably takes up most of your time. And the thought of effectively promoting your podcast via email marketing might just sound a step too far.

So, in this episode, we're joined by Sarah Hopkinson from CopyHop to discuss the importance of building an email list to promote your podcast, how to build that email list, and how to get your podcast audience to engage with the email content.

We chat about all things lead magnets, as well as other innovative ways to build up your email list. Discover key insights and podcast tips on transforming your email list into a vibrant community and enhancing your podcast marketing efforts.

Podcasting freebies: https://veritysangan.com/freebies

Sarah's email series: https://crafty-hustler-1231.ck.page/9cd9d402ea

Highlights:

• Importance of building an email list for podcasters
• Benefits of email marketing for podcasters
• Strategies for engaging podcast audiences through email
• Tips for writing effective email newsletters for podcasts
• Metrics to track in email marketing for podcasts
• Optimization tips for email marketing for podcast promotion
• Growing mailing lists for podcasters
• Importance of welcome sequences in email marketing
• Enhancing email marketing strategy for podcasters
• Creating effective email copy for lead magnets
• Building businesses around podcasting
• Challenges podcasters face in standing out

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:34 The Importance of Email Lists for Podcasters
• 00:05:46 Tips for Emailing Your Podcast Listeners
• 00:07:18 Building an Email List for Your Podcast
• 00:08:32 Writing Email Newsletters for Podcasts
• 00:09:55 Increasing Click Through Rates in Email Marketing
• 00:11:28 Optimizing Email Marketing for Podcast Promotion
• 00:15:00 Tips for Growing Your Podcast Email List
• 00:18:02 Building an Effective Email Marketing Strategy for Your Podcast
• 00:19:22 Optimizing Email Copy for Lead Magnets

Guest bio:

Sarah Hopkinson is a Brit living in the south of France. After working in online content for 5 years, she set up her copywriting business in 2021 and quickly pivoted to helping podcasters grow their show by repurposing their content into other forms of written content. When she's not working on her business she's working out, taking day trips to Italy and watching The Office.

• Website: https://copyhop.co/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hopkinson/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copyhop

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