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

I often get asked about the tech and tools that I use for podcasting. And whilst it does change from time-to-time, in this episode, I’m going to share an in-depth look at my podcast tech stack.

I’ll be sharing the podcasting tips for the tools and software I use to produce this podcast show and discuss the importance of having the right tech setup for podcasting success.

My podcasting arsenal is well-equipped with a range of tech tools to streamline the podcast production and promotion efforts.

My Podcast Tech Stack:

• Captivate.fm - https://veritysangan.com/captivate
• Riverside.fm - https://veritysangan.com/riverside
• SummarAIze - https://veritysangan.com/summaraize
• Vidyo.ai - https://vidyo.ai
• Canva - https://veritysangan.com/canva
• ContentStudio - https://veritysangan.com/contentstudio

Highlights:

• Importance of having the right tech setup for podcasting success
• Podcast hosting platform (Captivate.fm) for managing and distributing podcast episodes
• Riverside FM for recording and editing podcast episodes
• Use of Video AI for generating captions for social media clips
• Efficiency of Summarize in generating promotional content
• Use of email blasts and newsletters for promoting podcast episodes - ConvertKit
• Utilization of Canva for graphics

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Podcast Tech Stack Overview
• 00:00:24 Podcast Tech Overview
• 00:01:02 Benefits of Using a Podcast Hosting Platform like Captivate
• 00:02:48 Using Riverside and Video AI for Podcast Editing
• 00:03:53 Tech Stack for Podcast Promotion
• 00:06:18 Using Email Blasts for Weekly Newsletters

Newsletter Sign Up: https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

Highlights:

• The mistake of not consistently producing weekly content
• The misconception that podcasts need to be solely interviews
• The importance of utilizing your own knowledge and expertise for hosting a show
• Balancing the need for finding new listeners with giving existing listeners a reason to come back
• Creating a sense of community and offering value to retain and attract listeners
• The power of podcast recommendations from friends and family in podcast discovery

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:00:51] The main mistakes that podcasters are making
• [00:05:22] Podcasts don't have to be 100% interviews
• [00:06:22] Creating Marketing Info for New and Current Listeners
• [00:07:28] Retaining Current Listeners in Podcasting

Guest bio:

Adam Schaeuble is a full-time podcaster, podcasting business consultant, and the host of the Apple Top 100 ranked podcast Podcasting Business School. Adam uses his three-phase Podcasting Business Accelerator process to help coaches, consultants, and service providers leverage podcasting to generate a 6 figure income stream while subtracting at least ONE day from their work week.

• Listen to Podcasting Business School: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Website: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingbusinessschool/

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You won't believe what happened to my podcast recently!

I released an episode titled "What Taylor Swift Can Teach Us About Podcasting" on January 30th. In it, I used Taylor Swift and her ever-changing music eras as a metaphor for adapting your podcast content and promotion strategies over time.

Little did I know, that same weekend the episode launched, searches for "Taylor Swift" were completely banned on Twitter after some scandalous AI-generated images of her emerged online.

This was really bad timing on my part and here's why: I rely heavily on Twitter for promoting my podcast and driving listeners to new episodes.

A huge majority of my podcast downloads come directly from Twitter, and it's where most of my new listeners find me too. So when people suddenly couldn't search Taylor's name that week, it meant my podcast episode likely wasn't showing up in any Twitter searches either. (And I'd banked on that being a clever way to potentially reach some new listeners).

I couldn't believe such an unforeseen consequence!

As content creators, we can strategize search engine optimization and promotion plans, but we can't always predict what social platforms will restrict access to each day. Whether it's election censorship or COVID misinformation crackdowns, search bans happen more than we realize.

While downloads stayed strong that week (thanks loyal listeners!!), this whole debacle made me realize I need to actively promote old episodes to capture new listeners from searches.

So that's exactly what I'm going to do - rerun a special promotional campaign just for my Taylor Swift episode in case anyone looks her up now that the name ban has been lifted. You never know who may discover and subscribe to the show from it popping up in more keyword searches!

I hope relaying my own podcast visibility challenges gives you some helpful tips and food for thought. When the algorithms seem to work against us, we have to get creative with repeating and repurposing content across multiple platforms. As the saying goes, the show must go on...even when our favorite pop star suddenly disappears from the Twitterverse!

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:49 Taylor Swift Searches Blocked on Twitter: A Complete Coincidence
• 00:02:08 Twitter Ban Affects Content Discovery
• 00:04:27 You Can't Always Control What Social Media Does or Doesn't Do
• 00:06:12 Reflections and podcast promotion tips

Highlights:

• The impact of the Taylor Swift AI-generated n*de scandal on my podcast
• Keywords relating to my podcast episode being temporarily blocked on Twitter
• Search engines and social media platforms censoring and blocking information during past events
• The unpredictability of what might be banned or restricted at any given time
• Running campaigns to promote content and potentially reach new audiences
• What I learnt from this whole experience and what it means for podcast marketing and promotion - including some podcasting tips for when a marketing campaign maybe doesn't go as planned

Listen to Episode 66: What Taylor Swift Can Teach Us About Podcasting

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Are you feeling inspired to get branded photos for your podcast; but want to go the DIY route?

In this podcast episode, I talk to Krista Campbell from She Calls Her Shots podcast about the importance of good lighting and composition in creating branded photographs. Krista suggests going outside for the best light and using the back camera on your phone for higher-quality photos. She also recommends using an app like Sunseeker to determine the position of the sun on cloudy days.

Krista shares photography tips on taking brand images of ourselves, emphasizing the importance of keeping it simple and focusing on how you want to feel in the photos. She suggests incorporating your brand's identity and values into the images or, if you're just starting off, focus on building connection and trust.

We discuss podcasting tips and tricks for creating podcast artwork, including the importance of lighting and composition, finding a suitable background, and using editing apps.

Highlights:

• Importance of good lighting for brand photography
• Going outside for the best natural light
• Using the back camera on your phone for higher-quality photos
• Avoiding harsh sunlight or bright light behind you
• Using an app like Sunseeker to determine the position of the sun on cloudy days
• Tips for taking brand images of yourself, including keeping it simple and focusing on how you want to feel
• Incorporating your brand identity and values into the images
• Building connection and trust through brand photography
• Tips for creating podcast artwork, including lighting, composition, and finding a suitable background
• Best editing apps for podcast artwork

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:00:37] Amazing Review for the Podcast
• [00:01:06] Tips for DIY Brand Photography
• [00:07:20] Tips for Taking Brand Images of Yourself
• [00:08:22] Tips for Creating Amazing Podcast Artwork with Krista
• [00:11:12] Building a Business with Ease and Flow

Guest bio:

• Krista Marie is a photographer, podcast host and business coach for women creatives & small business owners. She is the host of the She Calls Her Shots Podcast, a show dedicated to creative business owners. She helps them in creating a mindset focused around success & implementing the simple, effective strategies they need to grow a sustainable, thriving business! She spent 12+ years building a photography business from the ground up, relocating from Florida to California, while also working a full-time job. She built up her photography brand to include weddings, engagement sessions, personal branding sessions, and more.
• Website: https://heykristamarie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heykristamarie
• She Calls Her Shots Podcast: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-calls-her-shots/id1530321171

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How much thought have you put into the picture you have on your podcast artwork?

Or the images of yourself that you use to promote your podcast?

In this episode, I'm joined by Krista Campbell, a wedding and brand photographer who also hosts her own podcast: She Calls Her Shots.

We look at how brand photography bridges the gap between online presence and audience connection, going beyond traditional headshots.

Krista gives amazing photography tips for capturing the atmosphere, brand colors, and how props can help your listeners envision themselves working with you.

Learn why planning for a branding session is crucial and how to align your photographs with your podcast's brand for maximum impact. Lighting is highlighted as a key element in creating the desired audience connection.

Join us for these rarely talked about podcasting tips and find out how to find a specialized brand photographer, evoke the right feeling in your audience, and unleash the power of visuals in promoting your podcast.

Highlights:

• Importance of brand photography for podcasters
• Bridging the gap between online presence and connection with audience
• Beyond traditional headshots - capturing atmosphere, brand colors, and props
• Planning for a branding session
• Aligning photographs with podcast brand
• Considering how you want listeners to feel and brainstorming ideas
• Importance of lighting in creating a connection with audience
• Finding a brand photographer who specializes in brand photography
• Googling 'brand photographers' to find local professionals
• Finding someone who can evoke a certain feeling and help with planning
• Misconceptions around branding photography
• Building a strong visual identity and connecting with a target audience
• Finding a photographer who makes you feel comfortable and helps with posing and positioning
• Conveying emotion and understanding the target audience in branding shoot planning

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:01:05] Defining Brand Photography
• [00:05:10] How to prepare for a branding session and get the photographs that you want
• [00:09:02] Tips for finding a brand photographer
• [00:11:03] The Importance of Branding Photography

Guest bio:

• Krista Marie is a photographer, podcast host and business coach for women creatives & small business owners. She is the host of the She Calls Her Shots Podcast, a show dedicated to creative business owners. She helps them in creating a mindset focused around success & implementing the simple, effective strategies they need to grow a sustainable, thriving business! She spent 12+ years building a photography business from the ground up, relocating from Florida to California, while also working a full-time job. She built up her photography brand to include weddings, engagement sessions, personal branding sessions, and more.
• Website: https://heykristamarie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heykristamarie
• She Calls Her Shots Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-calls-her-shots/id1530321171

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Let's discuss an exciting announcement from Apple Podcasts - the introduction of automatically generated transcripts!

This feature is a lazy girl's dream, given that Apple Podcasts will provide you with AI automatically generated transcripts on your episodes for free.

Not only does this new feature make podcast content more accessible, but it also helps you as a podcaster to effortlessly widen your audience reach.

But what does this mean for those who are already paying for transcriptions? How and where can these transcriptions be downloaded? And how can you leverage this feature for generating show notes? Tune in to get all your questions answered and more! Plus, join me for my take on this new feature, as well as podcasting tips to figure out if this feature will suit your workflow or not.

Enjoy the episode!

Links:

Apple Podcasts article: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5316-transcripts-on-apple-podcasts

Highlights:

• Introduction of automatic transcripts in Apple Podcasts
• Accessibility of podcasts for everyone
• Accessing transcripts from the episode details page
• Functions of the transcripts: reading the full text, searching for specific words or phrases, playing from a specific point in the episode
• Availability of transcripts shortly after publishing
• Downloading transcripts for use on other platforms
• Availability of the feature on iOS 17.4 and higher
• Languages currently supported: English, French, German, and Spanish

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In this episode, I'll discuss what we can learn about podcasting from Taylor Swift (although to my knowledge, Taylor Swift has not started her own podcast!). We talk about how you can't please everyone with your podcasting content and you need to focus on creating content for you and your core audience.

I say creating content for you; what I mean is content that you enjoy creating. Because if you're creating content that you don't enjoy, it shows. However, you also need to remember that your content can't be all about you and needs to provide some value to your audience and give them that reason to download your episodes.

I explore the idea of recording podcast episodes live and reaching more listeners, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and experimenting with different formats.

I share strategies and podcasting tips for successful podcasting, such as:

• Defining your target audience
• Creating engaging content
• Promoting your podcast

We also talk about the importance of consistency and authenticity.

Disclaimer: Just in case it wasn't obvious, T-Swift has had nothing to do with the creation of this episode and everything I've talked about in this episode in relation to Taylor is simply my opinion. We're Swifites in our household and, in case you're wondering, I think that 'Speak Now' was her best, probably followed by 1989. I thought I'd include the disclaimer so as to try and prevent Taylor Swift and her legal team from suing me!

Highlights:

• Recording podcast episodes live and reaching more listeners
• Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone
• Experimenting with different formats
• Defining your target audience
• Creating engaging content
• Promoting your podcast
• The importance of consistency and authenticity

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:02:37] You will never be able to appeal to all listeners with your podcast
• [00:05:06] Don't be afraid to experiment with your podcast format and content, but also don't change just because a few listeners complain
• [00:06:35] If you switch up your podcast format and your audience doesn't like it, you can always switch back
• [00:05:50] Focus on creating content you love and that resonates with your target audience

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Do you need an expensive microphone for your podcast to be legit?

In this episode, I chat with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School to debunk some common myths about needing expensive equipment to have a successful podcast. He's done over 1,000 episodes using just a $97 microphone, so he can speak from experience when he says fancy microphones are not essential!

What matters most in podcasting is consistently; delivering great content that serves your listeners, not tip-top perfect audio quality. Don't get caught up spending hours editing or let worries about background noise stop you from getting started. As long as your audience can hear and understand you, small imperfections don't really matter.

Our advice? Don't break the bank on podcasting gear, especially when you're first getting started. And don't get paralyzed trying to achieve podcast perfection - just start creating content. Stay consistent, connect with your listeners, and optimize as you go. Great content trumps all.

So come along and debunk the myth that you need ultra-expensive equipment. I'll show you how I've built a business with affordable tools and a focus on serving my audience. Let's change the conversation and share podcasting tips around what it really takes to succeed in podcasting.

Highlights:

• The importance of budget-friendly podcasting
• Investing in launching the podcast correctly rather than expensive equipment
• Adam Schaeuble's frugal approach to podcasting equipment
• The success of Adam's podcast with a $97 microphone
• The importance of consistency in podcasting
• Understanding the needs of different podcast genres
• The dangers of lazy podcasting and the importance of putting in effort
• The misconception that expensive equipment is necessary for a successful podcast

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Podcasting Business School Talks About Podcasting Equipment
• 00:01:06 The Cost of Adam Schaeuble's Podcasting Equipment
• 00:04:00 Building a Successful Podcast with Minimal Expenses
• 00:05:21 The Power of Consistency in Podcasting
• 00:07:19 The Importance of Editing Your Podcast
• 00:09:39 The pitfalls of lazy podcasting
• 00:12:07 You Don't Need Expensive Equipment to Start a Podcast

Guest bio:

Adam Schaeuble is a full-time podcaster, podcasting business consultant, and the host of the Apple Top 100 ranked podcast Podcasting Business School. Adam uses his three-phase Podcasting Business Accelerator process to help coaches, consultants, and service providers leverage podcasting to generate a 6 figure income stream while subtracting at least ONE day from their work week.

• Listen to Podcasting Business School: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Website: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingbusinessschool/

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

Does your podcast promotion strategy need a shake-up?

In this episode, I chat with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School about the importance of promoting your podcast in the first 72 hours after its release.

Adam shares insightful podcasting tips for how to use this crucial window of podcast promotion and encourages podcasters to take advantage of algorithms on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

By condensing marketing efforts into the first 72 hours, Adam explains how podcasters can generate more activity and increase their chances of being recommended to new listeners.

Adam highlights the need to maximize exposure during this period and emphasises quality over quantity's importance.

Highlights:

• Adam's podcasting journey and the importance of podcasting for businesses
• The importance of promoting your podcast in the first 72 hours of release
• Condensing marketing efforts into the first 72 hours to generate more activity and increase chances of being recommended to new listeners
• Maximizing exposure within the first 72 hours of podcast release.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:10 Promoting Your Podcast in the First 72 Hours
• 00:01:39 The 72 Hour Marketing Window for Podcast Promotion
• 00:06:35 Using podcast episodes to create multiple pieces of content
• 00:08:19 Promoting Your Podcast Within the First 72 Hours



Guest Bio:

Adam Schaeuble is a full-time podcaster, podcasting business consultant, and the host of the Apple Top 100 ranked podcast Podcasting Business School. Adam uses his three-phase Podcasting Business Accelerator process to help coaches, consultants, and service providers leverage podcasting to generate a 6 figure income stream while subtracting at least ONE day from their work week.

• Listen to Podcasting Business School: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Website: https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingbusinessschool/

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In this episode, I discuss why I stopped using TikTok to promote my podcast show. I'll also quickly dive into my plans to focus more on live streaming in the future!

We will discuss how TikTok is an amazing platform for promoting a brand and for promoting a podcast, but if you're finding it to be just another platform that is eating up your time, then maybe you need to consider a different approach. There are so many social media platforms out there, and it is so easy to get lost down a rabbit hole.

Listen in as I unfold the six reasons why TikTok did not work for me and why I decided to step back from using it to promote my podcast. I'll give you actionable podcasting tips for making sure that promoting your podcast on social media isn't a drain on your creativity. Plus, I'll share some insights into showing up on the platforms that you enjoy and those which align with your podcasting audience.

Highlights:

• Why there was a lack of conversion from TikTok to actual podcast listeners
• How my preferred content creation methods didn't match well with TikTok's visually-focused format
• The importance of alignment between your podcast and the platforms you choose to promote on
• Why you should invest your energy into platforms you actually enjoy using

Join me as I honestly navigate this tough decision to quit using TikTok for podcast promotion, concluding: "Why not put your energy into creating the content that you do enjoy and showing up on the platform or platforms that you also enjoy?"

You'll gain a new perspective on platform selection and social media usage for podcast promotion.

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: Quitting TikTok for Podcast Promotion
• [00:01:45] Reason 1: Lack of Conversion from TikTok to Podcast Listeners
• [00:03:12] Reason 2: Mismatch of Content Creation Methods on TikTok
• [00:04:47] Reason 3: Importance of Aligning with Platforms You Enjoy
• [00:06:20] Reason 4: Exploring Alternatives for Podcast Promotion
• [00:07:56] Reason 5: Leveraging Twitter Spaces for Live Streaming
• [00:09:18] Reason 6: Future Plans for Podcast Promotion
• [00:10:45] Conclusion: Finding the Best Platforms for Your Podcast

🎧 Ep 54: My Weekly Downloads Dropped by 78% - Here's Why

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