Short Podcasting Tips: Simple Advice To Help Your Podcast Succeed

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 20: Stay Consistent and Patient: 

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Rome wasn't built in a day.”

Neither is a successful podcast. Very few shows hit their stride right out of the gate. But if you go into this with the right expectations, you’ll do fine.

Building a successful show takes time and effort, which can stretch into months and even years.

That’s why there are so many dead podcasts with only a handful of episodes. Those people failed to consider the dedication required to create a successful show.

But not you. You’re doing your homework because you want to do it right.

The trick is to stay consistent with your content and be patient. 

That means sticking to your release schedule, whether that’s monthly, weekly or, if you’re ambitious, daily.

And give your audience content they can expect. That’s why determining your niche is so important.

It’s hard for a listener to remain loyal if you change things up every episode. 

You may want to talk about sports on one episode, raising toddlers on the next, and follow up with an episode reviewing a movie you saw.

It may be interesting for you, but not so much for your listeners. Without a topic or niche to focus your episodes around, people will abandon your show, that’s if they even check it out in the first place.

The best way to grow your show is through word of mouth. To do so, you must produce good content that resonates with your audience’s interests, making them want to share it with like-minded people, and release episodes on a predictable schedule so they know when to expect them.

Success in podcasting is a journey, not a sprint. Keep pushing forward, and your hard work will pay off.

Stay consistent and be patient.

Another way to grow your show is with attractive podcast cover artwork. 

If your artwork looks cheap and amateurish, people will presume your show is cheap and amateurish. 

Luckily, professionally designed podcast cover artwork is one of the services I offer at Podcast Branding. 

Visit podcastbranding.co, to learn more about my podcast cover artwork service and see everything else I offer, including podcast logos and websites.

I would love to work with you to develop your podcast’s brand.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 19: Collaborate with Other Podcasters: 

Expand your horizons! One of the best ways to grow your podcast is by collaborating with other podcasters.

You do this by appearing on other podcasts or inviting experts to your show. 

When you’re a guest on someone else’s podcast, you are introduced to their audience. Those who like what you have to say may decide to follow your show.

Having guests on your show can have a similar effect. Make it easy for your guests to share the episode once it’s released, and they’ll expose it to their network, which may lead to more people checking out your show.

You can start by contacting podcasters in your niche to explain the benefits of working together.

This cross-promotion introduces your podcast to new audiences, creating valuable connections in the podcasting community.

And do you know what would make these connections even easier? Having professionally designed podcast artwork.

The better your podcast looks, the more agreeable guests will be to appear on your show, and the more willing podcasters will be to have you on theirs.

Luckily, professionally designed podcast cover artwork is one of the services I offer at Podcast Branding. In fact, I’ve created artwork for over 400 shows.

Visit podcastbranding.co, to learn more about my podcast cover artwork service and see everything else I offer, including podcast logos and websites.

I would love to work with you to develop your podcast’s brand.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 18: Monitor Analytics and Feedback: 

Every podcaster wants to know how they’re doing. Luckily, there are many sources to help you monitor download numbers, listener demographics and feedback, consumption rates, and so much more.

These are great, but let me give you a bit of advice. Don’t obsess over them.

Your time is better spent focusing on improving your next episode than worrying about how the last one is doing.

But that doesn’t mean these stats can’t be useful.

Knowing if your episode download numbers are increasing or decreasing can help you monitor the trajectory of your podcast.

Knowing how far into an episode listeners start dropping off can help identify less popular sections of your show.

And knowing the demographics of your listeners can help you develop content that resonates with them.

Feedback is another great way to measure the appeal of your show.

Ask pertinent questions of your audience and give them an easy way to reply via email, voice messages or a form on your website. You can gain valuable insight from their comments.

Podcasting should be fun, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. Monitoring analytics and feedback helps keep you on track with that serious side.

Stay informed! Monitor download numbers, listener demographics, and feedback. Understanding your audience and the performance of your episodes helps you refine your content and grow your podcast effectively.

Now, in order to get downloads and all these stats, you need listeners. And what better way for listeners to discover your show than through professionally designed podcast cover artwork?

Luckily, podcast cover artwork is one of the services I offer at Podcast Branding. In fact, I’ve created artwork for over 400 shows.

Visit podcastbranding.co, to learn more about my podcast cover artwork service and see everything else I offer, including podcast logos and websites.

I would love to work with you to develop your podcast’s brand.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 17: Respect Copyright Laws: 

Podcasting may seem like the wild frontier. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t rules you need to follow, especially when it comes to copyright.

Before you embark on your podcasting journey, be sure to protect yourself from potential lawsuits.

The first rule to remember is if it’s popular, it’s probably protected.

That means you can’t play your favourite song from AC/DC, Beyoncé, Tim McGraw or Hans Zimmer on your show. Doing so can land you in costly trouble.

Even short clips are not allowed. And don’t fall for the “Fair Use defence” trap. Fair use is not permission; it’s a defence you use in court after you’ve been sued, which is risky and can be costly.

Once again, the best rule to follow is that if it’s popular, it’s probably protected.

But copyright isn’t just about music. 

You should do your due diligence to ensure the title you chose for your show isn’t already copyrighted. 

You do not want to build up a successful podcast only to receive a letter from a lawyer telling you to stop using your title.

The same applies to your artwork. Some less reputable “designers” have no qualms about using copyrighted material in the artwork they charge you for.

I know several good designers who have had their work stolen for this very purpose.

And should something come of it, you’re the liable one, not the designer. 

If you design your own artwork, be sure you have the proper licences for the assets you use. This means you should not copy images from Google searches.

Play by the rules! Respect copyright laws by avoiding using copyrighted material without proper licensing or permission. Protect your podcast from legal issues and maintain ethical content creation.

Luckily, when you hire Podcast Branding, you don’t have to worry about copyright issues. Everything I design is unique and properly licensed.

Visit podcastbranding.co, to see everything I offer, including podcast cover artwork, logos and websites.

I would love to work with you to develop your podcast’s brand.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 16: Optimize for SEO: 

You’re creating a great podcast—something you can be proud of—and you want to share it with the world.

A great way to be heard is to ensure your show is discoverable. That’s where SEO comes in—Search Engine Optimization.

You need to Optimize your podcast for search engines and directories by using relevant keywords in your show and episode titles and descriptions. 

Naming an episode “Unicorns, Fairies, and Waterfalls” may sound like a cute episode title for a child-rearing podcast, but it doesn’t tell the listener what the episode is about, and its vagueness is useless to search engines.

On the other hand, naming the episode “Introducing your child to fairytales” gives your audience a clear idea of what to expect. 

It can also help you be discovered via search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing, should someone search for a related topic about children and fairytales.

Remember that search engines don’t refer only to Google, Yahoo, and Bing. 

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all the other directories your podcast is listed in are also search engines where people can discover your show when searching for their topic of interest.

Improve your chances of being found by the right audience with strategic SEO, regardless of where they’re searching.

Now, to get the most benefits from SEO, you need an SEO-optimized website. Luckily, I can help you with that. It’s one of the services I offer at Podcast Branding. 

Visit podcastbranding.co, to see everything I offer, including podcast cover artwork and podcast logos.

I would love to work with you to develop your SEO-optimized website.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 15: Edit and Polish Your Episodes: 

Unless you have years of broadcast experience and can riff along for hours without making a single error, you should be editing your podcast.

“Keeping it raw and real,” as some people put it, is the same as announcing, “This show is unprofessional.” 

In a previous episode, I talked about creating engaging content. 

No matter how engaging your content is, people will turn away if you keep making mistakes, repeating yourself, stumbling over your words and talking over your guests and co-hosts.

Saying “um” or “like” every once in a while is acceptable in a podcast. But in excess, it can quickly become very tedious to listen to.

People don’t want to listen to podcasts that don’t sound good. Especially when there are so many other shows they could listen to instead of yours.

That’s why editing is essential.

Take out any mistakes, pauses, or irrelevant content to ensure a smooth listening experience. 

Use music or sound effects if appropriate.

Polish for perfection! 

Editing is your friend. 

It’s a little more effort, but your listeners will be grateful.

If editing isn’t your thing, consider hiring someone to do it for you. 

My preference is Pro Podcast Solutions at propodcastsolutions.com, but there are many other options for you to choose from. 

Give them your raw audio, and let them work their magic. Their job is to make you sound great.

Now, unfortunately, I can’t help you with audio editing, but I can help with your podcast’s branding. 

Visit podcastbranding.co, to see the services I offer, including podcast cover artwork and websites.

I would love to work with you to develop your show’s branding.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 14 - Encourage Listener Interaction: 

Podcasting can be a lonely endeavour. You often do it by yourself or as a pair or small group.

After an episode is released, your download numbers are just that—a number. You have no idea who those numbers represent.

Unless that is, you ask them.

Make podcasting a two-way street! 

Don’t just wait and hope someone will eventually contact you. Take the lead, and encourage your audience to get involved. 

Give your listeners a way to contact you and Invite questions, comments, and suggestions. 

Consider hosting Q&A sessions or featuring listener feedback in your episodes. Turn listeners into active participants.

Many podcast listeners would love to interact with you and your show. They’re just waiting for you to ask.

And let me tell you. There’s nothing better than receiving feedback from a listener validating the hard effort you put into your show.

Speaking of hard effort. 

You could try designing your own podcast cover artwork and website. Or you could hire a professional designer like me to improve your chances of success. 

Visit podcastbranding.co, to see the services I offer.

I would love to work with you to develop your show’s branding.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 13 - Promote on Social Media: 

If you want your show to grow, people must know about it.

You can shout about your show from the rooftops, but that will only get you so far, probably with a few angry words thrown back at you.

The easiest way to get the word out about your podcast is by harnessing the power of social media.

Platforms like Twitter or X, Instagram, TicTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn are your best friends. 

Go to the platforms where your audience is. If you target business people, try LinkedIn. If your audience is Gen Z, TicTok may be your best fit.

Figure out what platform or platforms your target audience frequents, and start there.

Share your episode releases, share quotes and knowledge from your show, and insights from your guests.

Every podcast episode contains numerous opportunities to post great content on your social media platforms of choice.

Social media also allows you to engage with your audience. Use it to build a community around your podcast. 

Social media is your promotional playground. The more people who know about your show, the more word about it will spread around.

If you need help designing your social media branding, visit podcastbranding.co, where I offer custom-designed social media banners and templates branded to match your podcast.

I would love to work with you to develop your show’s branding.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 12 - Practice Consistent Branding: 

Consistency builds trust! This is especially true with branding.

To be successful you must maintain a consistent brand across all platforms - from your podcast to social media, your website, merch and beyond. 

That means using the same fonts, colours, imagery, tone, and feel everywhere you are.

The idea is to make it as easy as possible for people to know they’re in the right place when they discover you on a new platform.

A unified brand identity makes your podcast easily recognizable, fostering a sense of trust with your audience.

If you need help developing a strong visual brand, visit podcastbranding.co where I offer custom-designed branding, including logos, podcast cover artwork and websites for podcasters. 

I would love to work with you to develop your show’s branding.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist

Welcome to Short Podcasting Tips by Podcast Branding.

Simple advice to help your podcast succeed.

Episode 11: Create A Good Website: 

Regardless of what platform you host your podcast on or what podcast directories it can be found on, your main home for your podcast should be your website.

Your podcast’s website is the hub for everything related to your show. It allows people to discover and listen to your show, provides a venue for listeners to communicate with you, and allows sponsors and advertisers to learn about you.

The main Call To Action on your show should point people to your website.

To build a website, you start with the domain name. It’s imperative that your domain name is in line with your show.

If your podcast is named Carpet Laying with Wally, your domain should be carpetlayingwithwally.com

But what if the domain with the same name as your podcast is already taken? Luckily, there are a few options. 

You could register the name with a different domain extension. .com is the most common and desirable, but a .net, .co, .io, .show, or any of the numerous other extensions might do.

The other option is slightly altering the domain while retaining the podcast title. For example CarpetLayingwithwallypodcast.com or carpetlayingwithwallyshow.com

If, by chance, a variation on your title is available, for example, if carpetlayingwithwally.com is taken but layingcarpetwtihwally.com isn’t, then it’s a good idea to change the title of your podcast to match. 

The idea is to make it as easy as possible for listeners to find your podcast and your website.

And whatever you do, make sure the visual branding of your website matches that of your podcast.

At podcastbranding.co I offer custom-designed websites for podcasters. Have a look. I would love to work with you to develop your show’s branding.

After all, they see you before they hear you.

Mark Des Cotes

Podcast Branding Specialist