Podcasting Strategy Simplified | The Business Owner's Guide to Podcast Success

It's time to answer another one of your burning questions about podcasting strategy! 

The question on the table today: Why do some podcast episodes perform dramatically better than others?

The answer may not be what you expect.

Enjoy!

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

If adding a newsletter to your podcasting workflow is high on your to-do list, this is the episode you've been looking for.

A newsletter can play a significant role in your practices. IF you use it correctly and implement a strategy that makes it equally as impactful as your podcast itself.

In Episode 95 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I'm joined by Arielle Nissenblatt, Podcast Hall of Famer, Producer, Host, Consultant, and pretty much anything else you can think of related to podcasting.

Arielle is the brainchild behind The Earbuds Collective, The Podcast Plunge, and several other podcast resources that bring new layers of connection and discovery to podcasts across the globe.

Because Arielle is the foremost authority on leveraging a newsletter to amplify your podcast (and vice versa), I welcomed her to the show with open arms and the result was nothing short of a 60-minute masterclass in making the right moves with your podcast newsletter strategy.

After you consume this episode, you'll understand:

✅ Fundamental building blocks for creating an engaging newsletter people actually open, read, and share

✅ Why your newsletter needs to be more than just promoting this week's new episode

✅ Content strategies that captivate readers and draw them into your podcast

✅ Best practices for acquiring new readers for your newsletter

✅ Which platform is right for you (based on what you want your newsletter to accomplish)

Connect with Arielle on LinkedIn

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

The 3rd Annual Empowered Podcasting Conference is set to unfold Friday, August 21st thru Sunday, August 23rd, 2026 at the Hyatt Centric hotel in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina and YOU'RE INVITED to be part of the festivities! 

So it's in that spirit the question on the table today is: Why should you buy a ticket to the Empowered Podcasting Conference?! 

Smash that play button and get your answer!

Then, click to read our official press release on Podnews

Learn more, get your ticket, and use code EPCJASON20 to save 20%

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

I thought it was a narrative that was fading away, but I was wrong. It was only on a brief hiatus.

No, the podcast world is not oversaturated with podcasts. But yes, there are still people out there saying it is...maybe because they actually feel that way, but probably more so because they know it'll level up engagement on social media.

Either way, it's a blight on our space that isn't helping anyone. So allow me to add my two cents to the conversation...

Today, in Episode 94 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I'm sharing my thoughts on why I feel the podcast market will NEVER be saturated and why this medium will always have a home for your voice and message.

After consuming this episode, you'll understand:

✅ Why this over-saturation narrative never seems to go away (and why you need to do your part to ignore it)

✅ The real reason you can't let someone else's beliefs stop you from sharing your wisdom with your people

✅ Why podcasting is the prime stage to amplify your message (no matter how many podcasts exist in your niche)

✅ The mindset you need to have to truly succeed at podcasting (and how said mindset impacts your podcasting strategy)

You'll also be hungry for a burger after listening to this one, too. So, you know...bonus! 🍔

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

I'm back with another answer to a burning question! Today, the question is: Should my podcast be focused on education, entertainment, or authority building?

While it might seem like good business to focus on one, I believe there's a way to lean into all three. 

Got a question you'd like featured (and answered) on a future episode? Send me a voice message via SpeakPipe and I'll make it happen! 

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Now hear this: NO ONE is turning off your podcast because you don't have enough downloads. So why do you get so consumed by this figure?!

The dreaded download number is a polarizing metric that often times throws new podcasters off their game, inadvertently making them feel like their show isn't good enough. Or, even worse, THEY aren't good enough as a host.

The big problem with the download metric is that its presented by most podcast hosts (and some podcast "gooroos") as THE most important number to track. But in reality, if you don't understand how to evaluate these stats, they become something that plays tricks with your mind and can cause you to lose focus on what's most important with your podcast's development.

In Episode 92 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I'm sharing my candid thoughts on download metrics and how you should utilize them in your podcasting plight.

After taking in this episode, you'll understand:

✅ Why you should wait AT LEAST six months before looking at your numbers when you launch your podcast

✅ How download metrics f*ck with your mind and how to overcome it

✅ What you should focus on instead of getting consumed by metrics and statistics

✅ The best way (and best time) to evaluate your download metrics so they become a useful tool

✅ The metric that matters most (and it has nothing to do with numbers)

RESOURCE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

On Episode 13 of my friend and fellow podcasting strategist's show Talking the Talk, her and guest Lori Pine share a take on download metrics you absolutely need to hear. Click here to listen now

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Welcome to the first installment of a new series here on Podcasting Strategy Simplified!

Every Monday, I'm going to take five minutes to answer a frequently asked question in the podcast world. These questions will revolve around growth, monetization, skill development, and, of course, podcasting strategy. 

I'll also be featuring questions sent in by you and other members of the Bomb Squad! Simply click on the SpeakPipe link below to submit your question to yours truly.

To kick things off, I'm providing my views on the popular question "Why isn't my podcast growing even though my content is good?"

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

A few months ago, I rebranded this podcast from its former name Let's Blow This Up to its present iteration: Podcasting Strategy Simplified. The original name, while a great extension of my brand Bombtrack Media, simply wasn't doing enough to make the podcast visible in podcast apps.

Think about it: if you're looking for guidance with YOUR podcast, are you searching the term "podcasting" or "podcasts about podcasting" or are you searching "let's blow this up?"

The change needed to happen. So I pulled the trigger, made some key strategic updates, and within a month, things started to swing in the right direction.

Listenership improved, retention time increased, and the podcast started ranking on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I have one strategy to thank for this turnaround: Podcast SEO.

Today on Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I have the queen of Podcast SEO joining me to explore this topic on a much deeper level and deliver to you a masterclass on this incredibly important subject. 

Julia Levine, aka The Podcast Teacher, is sharing the mic with me and you're one click away from discovering a ton of great information, including:

✅ Why Podcast SEO has become so important in today's podcasting landscape

✅ The differences between "regular" SEO (Google, etc.) and Podcast SEO (apps like Apple Podcast and Spotify)

✅ Why direct show names are better than cute and clever ones

✅ The elements you need to have in place to build your show's visibility (and it has nothing to do with show notes)

✅ What to do first if you're thinking about rebranding your podcast

A FREE GIFT FROM JULIA: thepodcastteacher.com/seokit

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Getting ready to launch a new podcast? Click play on this episode before you do!

Despite a lot of hype, fanfare, and promotion, many new podcasts get launched with only one episode. This simply isn't enough to get listeners and viewers hooked on your content. 

You want to set up a bingeable experience from jump...and you want to treat your podcast launch for what it is: a BIG deal.

In Episode 89 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I'm sharing some tips to help you have a memorable, impactful podcast launch. One that drives listenership, boosts visibility, and sets you up for long-term success at the earliest stages of your podcast's availability.

After consuming this episode, you'll understand:

✅ Why an effective launch needs to be part of your initial podcasting strategy

✅ How to treat your podcast launch like a Hollywood premiere

✅ The easiest way to beat the "Most podcasts never reach Episode 10" statistic (this will BLOW. YOUR. MIND.)

✅ How to put your content to work before you launch your show

✅ The best way to generate action around your podcast once it's live (subscriptions, follows, shares, ratings, reviews, and listens)

In this episode, I referenced the blueprint I laid out for acquiring purpose-driven ratings and reviews in Episode 86 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified. Access the episode here

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!

Have you ever been pumped for a new podcast episode to go live...but when it does, your guest doesn't even acknowledge it (let alone share it on their networks)?

It's happened to all of us. But what if I told you it wasn't their fault...it's yours?

Now before you come at me with a flaming pitchfork, hear me out.

How you communicate with your guests AFTER their appearance takes place plays a significant role in how they share your content. 

Even more importantly, how you communicate with your guests after their appearance will determine whether you begin cultivating a relationship that could open up new doors...or whether their contribution to your show (and your practices) becomes nothing more than a one-time transaction.

On Episode 88 of Podcasting Strategy Simplified, I'm breaking down how to get all the meat off the bone when it comes to the guests you feature on your podcast. By implementing these simple strategies, you'll build more meaningful relationships with those you collaborate with while simultaneously creating networking opportunities that could change the game for your brand.

After listening to this episode, you'll understand:

✅ Where most podcasters drop the ball with guest communication (and how to ensure you do things right)

✅ Simple steps to follow that lead to a more meaningful conversation on recording day

✅ Why each guest who joins your show presents a networking opportunity that could change the course of your business 

✅ How to set up plans to dominate the world with your guests

✅ Why you should apply these strategies to your own podcast guest appearances as well

📆 Schedule a Free Strategy Kickstart Call with Jason Cercone

📲 Or Contact Me Directly: [email protected] | 412.965.8428

👉 Got a question you'd like featured on Monday's 5-Minute Questions Series? Send it to me via SpeakPipe

🚀 Did a tip or strategy from this podcast change the game for you? Buy Me a Coffee to say thanks


MUSIC CREDITS:

Podcasting Strategy Simplified: Burn The Track (Inspiring Rock Trailer) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Let's Blow This Up: Aggressive Metal Trailer (Dragon Heart) by Alex Grohl on pixabay.com

Thank you for listening and becoming an official member of The Bomb Squad!