Send us a text

You can record studio-quality podcast audio from your home without professional equipment. This episode shares practical tips for eliminating reverb and creating an optimal recording environment.

• Check out this article at Aqousticfreq.com for DIY acoustic panels that can be made with mineral wool or fiberglass wrapped in breathable fabric.
• You can find all of the links to the soundproofing materials we use for our Buzzsprout Studio in this blog post!
• Buzzsprout's Magic Mastering can help enhance recordings in less-than-ideal conditions, check out this episode of Podcasting Q&A for more details, Level Up Your Audio with Magic Mastering.

If you have questions about setting up your home recording space, email us at [email protected]. 

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

We explore how Buzzsprout's Magic Mastering feature helps podcasters achieve professional-quality audio without technical expertise! In this episode, Cara and Kevin go through the details and give examples of Magic Mastering's Filler Killer and Power Clean capabilities! 

If you have questions about using Magic Mastering, email us at [email protected].

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Turning your podcast ideas into reality starts with defining your "why" – whether it's a passion project or business venture. This episode breaks down the essential first steps for new podcasters to confidently plan and launch their shows!

Check out this Podcasting Q&A Episode for steps on submitting your podcast to the directories, Podcast Directory Submission 101

If you have questions about preparing for your podcast, email us at [email protected].

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Discover the essential steps to get your podcast listed on major listening directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This episode breaks down the process of creating and submitting your RSS feed to ensure your content reaches your target audience!

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Engagement is the key to building a meaningful relationship with your podcast audience, and Buzzsprout's Fan Mail feature makes connection simple and effective. In this episode, we break down the Fan Mail feature, how to use it on your podcast, and strategies for engaging with your listeners. 

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

We’re relaunching Podcasting Q&A with a fresh new twist!

Kickstart your week with us while we answer common questions we see straight from the support inbox. Each Monday, you’ll get the best tips and strategies to keep you podcasting with confidence! 

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Megan from the Wild Healers podcast asks, "Is it possible for an independent podcast to make it into the Apple New and Noteworthy section?"

Special thanks to Kris Emerson, host of the Excel Still More podcast, for sharing his experience getting into the New and Noteworthy section.

TL;DR
The Apple Podcasts New and Noteworthy section is a common goal for new podcasters. The appeal is that if you can get your podcast listed there, you'll be able to grow your audience faster, build momentum, and ride that wave off into the sunset of your podcasting dreams.

So... how exactly do you get in? In this episode, we'll share what we know and ask Kris, a fellow Buzzsprout podcaster, what he did to land in the New and Noteworthy section.

What's the best strategy?

The best way to get into the Apple New and Noteworthy section is to focus on getting a lot of listeners to subscribe to your show in Apple Podcasts in a short period of time. As a new podcast, your window to make this happen is typically 90 days from when you launch your first episode.

At one point, many podcasters believed that it was the number of downloads or reviews you received that got you in the N&N section. But over time, as we've seen podcasters try and game the system, we've found that those aren't big indicators.

Apply isn't spilling the beans on their process any time soon, but we DO know that an algorithm based on how many subscribers you get feeds possible selections to an Apple employee who ultimately determines how makes it in and who doesn't.

Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode.

Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser to let us know what you think of the show.

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Letty from My Sweet Business with Letty Alvarez asks, "What kind of download stats can you expect with a new podcast?"

TL;DR
Launching a new podcast is a lot of work and is something you should celebrate! It’s only natural to want as many people as possible to listen to it, but where should you place your expectations?

In this episode, we’ll walk through 3 questions that will help you determine what your benchmark for success should be.

1. Do you have an existing audience?

If you’re starting from scratch, you should expect fewer downloads than someone who has 100,000 followers on Instagram.

It’s okay if you’re just getting started, just set your expectations accordingly.

2. How popular is your podcast subject?

The reality is, some podcast topics have larger built-in audiences than others. As an example, True Crime podcasts are currently more popular than Home Gardening podcasts and will naturally have a larger audience.

We would never recommend you start a podcast just to become popular, just recognize that the potential size of your audience is partially determined by how many people are interested in your subject matter.

3. How good is your first impression?

If you have a poor first impression, that will negatively impact your download numbers no matter how good your podcast is. You'll want to make sure you have hi-quality artwork (use a service like 99designs or Upwork to work with graphic designers), practice good mic technique for crisp audio, and use catchy episode titles to grab someone's attention.

If you make a good first impression, and then back that up with great content, your podcast will grow.

What's the average number of downloads?

The average Buzzsprout podcaster gets around 50 downloads per episode. This is a great target for when you're first getting started!

Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode.

Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser to let us know what you think of the show.

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Norman from Antifool asks, "What is the best way to record someone using a phone for a podcast interview?"

TL;DR
In recent years the number of new software options for podcasters has increased quite a bit. Some of them are great for experience podcasters that want every bell and whistle imaginable. While others are focused on streamlining the process as much as possible.

So in this episode, we'll share the pros and cons of the top five recording software options that we use and recommend at Buzzsprout to help you decide which one is best for you.

1. Audacity

Audacity is the most popular podcast recording and editing software in the world (and for good reason). It's free to download, it's available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and has the full suite of audio editing features.

Just be aware that Audacity tends to be a bit buggy (like, won't work because Apple updates their OS kind of buggy) and does destructive editing. Destructive editing means that if you delete a portion of your audio and then save your project file, you can't get that audio back.

2. GarageBand

GarageBand comes pre-installed on just about every Apple device you can imagine (Macbook, iPad, iPhone, etc.). Like Audacity, it's free to use. Unlike Audacity, it's easy to learn quickly so you spend less time learning the software and more time editing your episodes.

One thing to keep in mind is that GarageBand's export settings are severely lacking, so if Loudness Normalization or bit rate modes are important to you you'll need to pair it with some additional software.

3. Alitu

Alitu is an internet-based recording and editing software that makes it super easy to create episodes. You can automatically add your intro and outro to every episode, it applies mixing and mastering effects to your audio files as you upload them, and you can publish your episodes directly into podcast hosts like Buzzsprout.

But all that efficiency and ease of use means there are fewer things to customize. So if manually setting your compression levels is important to you, look elsewhere. But if you are a busy podcaster looking for ways to speed up your workflow, Alitu is a great solution.

4. Hindenburg Journalist Pro

Hindenburg Journalist Pro is everything you could possibly need in a podcasting editing software. It's intuitive, easy to work with, and allows you to publish episodes directly to Buzzsprout.

Because it's a pro-level software, Hindenburg Journalist Pro is a more sizeable investment, but if you're a Buzzsprout podcaster you can use the link in the Resources tab of your Buzzsprout account to get a 90-day free trial and test drive it for yourself before deciding if you want to invest in it longterm.

5. Descript

Descript takes a fresh and innovative approach to editing podcasts. Rather than generating a waveform of your audio files, Descript creates an accurate transcript of your recordings. Then to edit your podcast episode you just edit the words on the screen. How cool is that?

Just make sure to listen back to your episode from start to finish before you export it as sometimes the algorithms aren't as precise as you'd like them to be.

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!

Send us a text

Krystal from The Proffitt Podcast asks, "What is the best way to record someone using a phone for a podcast interview?"

TL;DR
It's not uncommon to have a guest interview lined up where the only microphone that person has access to is the one on their smartphone. In that case, you just want to keep things simple so your guest can focus on what they want to say and not on the tech involved.

So in this episode, we'll share some coaching tips you can give to your guest to get better sound quality as well as several software options that allow you to record phone calls.

Phone Call Recording Tips

Tip #1: Make sure they are in a quiet space. Nothing ruins a recording faster than screaming children, barking dogs, our crazy amounts of echo. Help them find a quiet space with good acoustics (Heck! Tell them to go in their walk-in closet) to get a better recording.

Tip #2: Have them use Apple Earbuds or something similar. Even if they don't own an iPhone (which comes with a free pair of headphones), chances are they know someone with a pair of Earbuds or AirPods. The directional microphone in these headphones is significantly better than the one on their phone and will help cut down on unwanted background noise.

Tip #3: Make sure they have a solid internet connection or cell phone signal. No software can save you from a poor internet connection or cell signal, so make sure they have strong connection and you're hearing them clearly before you begin.

Recording Software Options

#1. Zoom.us (our favorite)

Zoom is a really versatile platform. You can provide your guest a phone number that they can call in on or they can open up a Zoom meeting in the web browser on their phone. Plus the audio quality is significantly better than the other two options on our list.

#2. Skype

There's a good chance your guest is familiar with Skype and has used it in the past. Have them download the Skype app on their phone and join the interview that way. We recommend pairing Skype with audio recording software like Ecamm Call Recorder or Audio Hijack for best results.

#3. Google Voice

If you need something quick and easy the record a phone-to-phone interview, Google Voice is it. Just send your guest your Google Voice number (which is free to create), press 4 to start recording, then download the audio file when you're done.

Record your podcasting question at Speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode.

Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser to let us know what you think of the show. 

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at [email protected]

Keep podcasting!