Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to name your podcast *episodes.* We spent a bit of time earlier on talking about what to call your podcast as a whole. But how you title your episodes can be just as - or maybe even more - important! The biggest mistake when it comes to naming your episodes is to pop in meaningless details. Like Episode 1: This time I talk with... blah blah blah. You’ve already lost them by the time they hit the 5th word. Instead, you need to front-load the title with value, really give them a reason to listen What’s the meat of the episode? What problem are you solving? What solution are you offering? This is a big clue as to what your episode title should be. That’s what draws people in. We find a lot of good *and* bad examples of episode titles with interview shows. If you have a guest on, don’t just call the episode “A chat with Jane Smith”. If your listener has never heard of Jane, why would they care? But as it happens, Jane could be an expert on something they’re really struggling with, so this would be the perfect episode for them. It’s your duty as a host to signpost the value to them as much as possible. Without meaning to blow our own trumpet, take a look at the episode titles for this very podcast. I’d like to think they’re clear and deliver on what we promise here. The added benefit of descriptive episode titles is that they’ll show up in search in most listening apps. So if someone types in a “how to” question on your own topic, and you have an episode on it, then there’s a much better chance of them finding your show. Everyone wins! For a more detailed look at naming your podcast episodes, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/episodetitles

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about releasing podcast episodes in seasons. On the last episode, we talked about the tricky balance of finding your ideal release frequency. So, what if the podcast you’d like to create is a really in-depth, highly produced show, that goes out every single week? But, you know that, in the long run, that weekly schedule is a bit unsustainable? The ideal answer could be to take a leaf out of your favourite TV show’s book, and podcast in seasons. Here, a “season” represents a block of episodes. The “How many” is up to you. For some, it’ll be 6, for others, it’ll be upwards of 20. This means that you can really throw yourself into creating some great content, and then, take a well-deserved rest before going on to tackle the next season. The beauty of this approach is that seasons can be “themed”, which makes your show really accessible and appealing to new listeners. Our fitness podcaster, for example, might do an entire season on upper body strength, whilst our zombie podcaster could do one on post apocalyptic video games. Podcasters who take this “themed season” approach also benefit from repurposing and monetising their content. We’ve seen many ebooks and courses created from them, because a lot of the work in the planning, structure, and organisation, has already been done. One common critique of seasons is that listeners will “forget about you” during your breaks. This doesn’t need to be the case. So long as you make it clear to them how the show works and how long the break is - then they’ll know what to expect. You’re also asking them to subscribe on their listening app of choice, too. So they never need to “remember” you’ve come back - your next episode will be delivered to them automatically, without any effort on their part. Sell that benefit to them, and all will be well! For a more detailed look at podcasting in seasons, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/seasons

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking how often! As in how frequently should you be releasing podcast episodes? Just like the “ideal length” question, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. The best podcast release schedule is really the most regular one that *you* can stick to, on a consistent basis. So, if you can only manage once a month, that’s fine. If you can manage every 2 weeks, even better. If you can manage weekly, then that’s about ideal. You can still have a big impact with a fortnightly, or monthly show, but people plan their lives around what day of the week it is. It’s the routine at the forefront of our lives, so tapping into a weekly release schedule can be powerful, and build a strong habit in your listeners. Now, what about daily, though, like this show? Daily podcasts tend to have shorter episodes, and you can often batch it - plan, record, and schedule a week or two’s worth in just one day. So they can actually be *more* sustainable in certain cases. But, as always, it depends entirely on what works best for *you, and for your listeners. Do they really want what you’re offering, every day? Or would they prefer something deeper, once a week?* Ultimately, remember that it’s down to quality. Sticking to a deadline which reduces the quality of your episodes, is pointless. You’ll have a bigger impact if you put out one excellent episode a month instead of a totally average episode every week, or even - every day. If you’re still totally undecided on this, too, then don’t worry. We’ve got a tip for you on the next episode that can help you find the perfect work-life balance, so be sure to join us again for that. In the meantime, for a more detailed look at how often you should podcast, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/frequency

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how long your podcast episodes should be. Here’s the bottom line - podcast length depends solely on content. Don’t cut down good content - or, pad out succinct work! How long does your episode need to be to get the message out? Then that’s the ideal length for you. If you asked most podcast listeners, a “short” episode would probably be anything under 15 minutes. And a “long” episode would probably be anything over an hour. Anything from 20 to 45 minutes seems to be the “typical” episode length, but again, let your content dictate. Just try to aim for some ballpark consistency from episode to episode. Doing 5mins one week then 2 hours the next is going to be a bit jarring for your audience. Podcast listeners like to know what to expect! For a more detailed look at podcast episode lengths, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/length

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about using your own name in or as your podcast’s name. If you’ve heard of Tim Ferriss or Joe Rogan, then you’ll know what we’re talking about here. Podcasts that are named after their hosts generally have one thing in common – the host already had an audience *before* they started the podcast. These names offer no hints about the show's content. If you've never heard of Tim Ferris, his show could be about literally anything. As it happens, the podcast is about “interviewing world-class performers” in all fields, linking together the similarities and routines that connect them. If nobody knew Tim Ferris, he'd probably have put a bit more description into his title. Something like “How to be World Class” would certainly catch the eye of his target audience. Bottom line? If you already have a strong personal brand then this can work well for you. If you’re a bit more early-stage, though, then opt for a more descriptive podcast name instead. For a more detailed look at choosing a name for your show, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Names

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about clever, quirky, or even, mysterious podcast names. Famous examples here include The Moth, and 99% Invisible. Creative or “clever” names are often built around puns, plays on words or in-jokes from the show's topic or niche. Many of these names make sense when you look deeply enough into them. But others are just plain abstract and offer no hint into the show's actual content. If you already have an audience, a reputation as a good content creator, or a big marketing budget, then this won't necessarily hold you back. If enough people check out your show and enjoy it, then you'll do fine. But if you're starting completely from scratch then you need to ask yourself what your target audience are searching for online – and if your podcast name is going to show up in these searches. Does this sound more like your own situation? If so, then you might want to opt for the descriptive naming route instead! For a more detailed look at choosing a name for your show, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Names

**Choosing a Descriptive Podcast Name** Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about “descriptive” podcast names. Famous examples of descriptive names are The Property Podcast and Football Weekly. This type of name can be described as “doing exactly what it says on the tin”. You might think of this as the “boring” option, but as long as your content isn't boring, nobody's going to care. Descriptive podcast names are immediately identifiable to their target audience. And they're easier to find because they perform better in searches. However, if you have a really creative or clever name picked out for your show and are desperate to use it, you can always find a way to merge it with a descriptive title, too. Is there a pun or reference in your niche that you could work into your show’s name somehow? For a more detailed look at choosing a name for your show, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Names

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest decisions made by new podcasters - naming your show. There are 3 main camps when it comes to naming your show - you might simply use your own name, or, you might opt for something clever or descriptive. We’re going to look at each option, in more depth, over the next few episodes. Start by creating a shortlist of potential podcast names. Then, do a search in a directory or app like Apple Podcasts to see if any of them are taken. If your perfect show name is being used by a podcast that stopped publishing episodes 10 years ago, then this can be frustrating. There are plenty of shows out there with the same name as one another - however, it’s better not to cause confusion to your audience by joining their ranks. So try to come up with something new and unique, here. That’s ultimately going to give your podcast the best chance of being discovered and growing to its maximum potential. For a more detailed look at choosing a name for your show, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Names

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about documentary-style and fiction podcast formats. Documentary podcasts are often referred to as “BBC-style” or “NPR-style”. These shows mix in multiple voices, musical elements, and actuality to add an extra layer of production and storytelling. The end product can sound great, but the time and work needed to put them together will increase drastically. Another high-production format is the fiction podcast. These come in many forms, from “audiobook style” to fully soundscaped audio dramas, where every footstep is accounted for. Again, the end result can be fantastic, but running a fiction podcast is a big time investment, especially if you want to publish episodes on a regular basis. Of course, the reward for such a heavy workload is that these shows can *really* stand out, which helps them to grow fanatical audiences. They also make great showcases for a multitude of skillsets, from writing and storytelling, to recording and production. Some fiction podcasts have even been adapted into TV shows! For a more detailed look at which podcast format is the best fit for you, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Formats

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the roundtable podcast format. A “roundtable” refers to the idea of getting a larger number of participants together to discuss a set topic. Normally there would be at least one regular host, if not two or three. Then the rest of the ‘table’ is made up of guests who are experts in the topic at hand. Your job as host is to direct the roundtable, asking questions and steering the topic, so that everyone gets a turn and contributes to a great conversation. The roundtable format can be a good way to build authority in your niche. This allows you to invite prominent guests to the show who’ll share their wisdom and experience. That said, organising multiple guests and finding suitable recording times can be a big challenge. Each person you add to the mix adds another layer of complexity. Only the most organised of people can pull this off in the long run. For a more detailed look at which podcast format is the best fit for you, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Formats