Streamlined Podcaster: Save Time Podcasting with Systems and Automation

I know it’s tempting. You fire up Zoom, hit record, and just release the combined audio into your podcast feed. That’s called record and release. Lots of podcasters do it. It even works for some people. But it won’t work for you.

Here’s why.

The podcasters doing this have likely already accumulated a big audience. Back when the best way to record a podcast was Skype and eCamm Call Recorder.

Back when it was a lot harder to launch a podcast, so just the act of publishing one at all showed you were putting in an effort. But two things have changed since then:

1. The tools got better. It’s a lot easier to just record and publish a podcast.
2. The audience is getting savvier. And as a result, their expectations are higher.

An early critically acclaimed movie, Grand Hotel, came out in 1932. It basically takes place in a couple of rooms in a hotel.

It’s still considered a culturally significant movie. But it would bomb at the box office today. Movies have come so much further than what was accomplished in 1932. Special effects, storytelling, multi-threaded plots, color…nearly everything. Moviegoers have a higher bar than they did in 1932. The same thing goes for podcasting. Publishing isn’t enough. You need to do more than just talk into a mic. Plan your show. Outline or script it. And add some post-production to make it sound better. Add music. Give the listeners something besides halfway decent audio. You will see more downloads.

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

When you launched your podcast, you likely knew to submit to Apple Podcasts. And that covers a good number of bases. Most small directories pull from Apple.

But not all of them.

Spotify, for example, does not. You need to submit to them separately. The same goes for Amazon.

Plus there are lots of other niche directories you want to be in: Podcaster, GoodPods, and more.

BuzzSprout has a good list here. But you also want to be on YouTube. YouTube is driving growth for podcasting, and they are doubling down. Secure your spot by creating a channel for show...even if it's just audio. I created a video to teach you how to do that:

Why do this? Because you want your show to be as accessible as possible, everywhere. Meet your potential audience where they are.

That's how you drive growth.

Oh...and if you want to make sure you're best positioned for growth, check out my Podcast Growth Audit .

Freebie: https://podcastworkflows.com/audit (Notion Template)

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Have you ever wondered why something gets put on TV? I know I have.

That’s what makes Christina Nicholson’s show, Become a Media Maven, so interesting from a content standpoint.

From a process standpoint, the show has been around since 2018 and has evolved and adapted to the changing landscape. This has helped Christina keep the show relevant without adding a ton more work to her plate. It’s also what has allowed her to focus on lead generation.

Let’s take a look at what inspired the changes she made, how she produces her show today, and of course, what you can steal from her workflow.

In this Episode

• Experiment with the format of your podcast.
• Know the goal of your episodes before you record.
• Use your podcast for lead generation.

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Have you ever thought, "I don't have time to podcast," ?

When I ask people what’s stopping them from launching or continuing their show, this is the number one concern I'm told.

Podcasting is definitely time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to take up all your time! There are a few things you can do to clear time on your calendar:

Start small. You don’t need a 2-hour podcast to start. One of the longest-running, most popular podcasts, Stuff You Should Know, started with 6-minute episodes.

You don’t need to coordinate guests for every episode. Mix in some solo episodes. Those are easier to schedule and easier to edit.

Block time. If you have “podcasting” on your calendar at the same time every week, it will be easier to keep that schedule.

Batch. Set time aside to make more than one episode per week. Then you have some margin, can take a break, and choose to podcast because you want to, not because you feel you have to.

These are small, measurable steps you can make on the way to podcast consistency.

And remember - consistency isn't every day or every week. It's predictability!

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Do you want to know how I got my podcasts sponsored before launching? How I get big-name guests? How I get my show off the ground in the first place? It was my network. It was the relationships I formed by being a professional, trustworthy person.

I suspect you have one too. It's important to leverage in, especially in the beginning.

That's also why it's important to clearly define your show and who it targets. But that's a tip for another day.

So for today, I want you to think about who's in your network, and how you can work with them to make the most successful podcast possible.

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Podcasting, as you likely know by this point, is a TON of work. You need to launch, which is one project. But then you need to keep the show going. For every episode, you need to research, write/outline, record, edit, publish and promote. It's a TON of work, especially if you do it weekly.

But what if you didn't have to do everything?

I'm a big fan of automating and delegating work, which is why I want to share two resources with you today.

The first is a few ideas for automating tasks you might be doing manually . Scheduling, recording, and even repurposing can be done by websites and services!

Then there's the article I wrote called What Mowing the Lawn has to do with Your Podcast Losing Money .

It's all about spending your time wisely so you can focus on doing the things that grow your podcast and help you make money. If that means paying someone to edit, the cost is small compared to the amount of time you save.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. And let me know: what's your least favorite task when producing an episode?

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

A common question I get is, “how can I make money with my podcast.”

But what most people don’t realize is sponsorship isn’t the only way. So for today’s tip, I want to share with you my SMASH framework – 5 ways to make money with your podcast:

S: Sponsorship -The most common way people think of to monetize their podcast because it’s the most visible. You get a company to give you money in order to advertise on your show.

M: Membership - Another commonly known way to monetize. Instead of asking potential sponsors, you ask your listeners to directly support the show, usually in exchange for some members-only benefits.

A: Affiliate Links - This is the lowest barrier to entry, but may take time to get a decent income. You sign up for affiliate programs of products you commonly recommend, and you get a cut of each sale from people who click your link.

S: Selling (Products or Services) - I feel is the least-used way to monetize a podcast. You, using the podcast to prove your expertise, sell directly to your audience.

H: Helping (Coaching, Consulting, Courses) - Similar to Selling, you use you podcast to land consulting clients, coaching clients, or sell your online courses.

This could be a little easier than selling since you can have a podcast that does exactly what your “helping” service does.

Naturally, you’re not locked into one. But understanding your options will help you craft your episodes and your call to action; it will also help you figure out where to spend your time.

You can get more ideas in this free PDF.

Which method sounds best to you? Let me know!

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Arielle Nissenblatt eats, sleeps, and breathes podcasts.

• Her main job is with a podcast company.
• Her newsletter is all about podcast curation.
• She runs a podcast community on Discord.

She loves podcasts so much that she, along with her co-host Tim Villegas, produce a podcast about podcasts. Well really, about podcast trailers specifically. It’s called Trailer Park.

You might think that this is too niche, but they got 10,000 downloads in just a few weeks. Their outreach process was crucial to achieving that goal. Read on to learn how they did it.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Why a super-niche podcast is the path to success
• Spending some time in the edit can greatly enhance your show
• Pitching and direct outreach is still the best way to grow your podcast

Read the full article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/trailer-park-podcast/

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Something I overlooked for a long time was using my podcast to build my email list. I was so focused on everything else — getting it launched, finding guests, and you know, getting people to actually listen — that I completely ignored building my mailing list.

But your email list is the best way to capture your audience — the only direct line you have to them, since podcast subscriptions are a scattered mess, and a black box.

Through your email list, you can share episodes, better engage with your audience, and grow your business. People might skip episodes, but they’ll still see your name in their inbox.

So how do you grow you list?

1) Have a landing page with a subscribe box. I recommend ConvertKit. It’s free to start and you can even point a domain there.

2) Make your call to action to subscribe, at both the top of the show, and at the end. over 50% of people drop off before your sign off, so having it in the beginning guarantees everyone hear it.

3) Offer a content upgrade of freebie as incentive. My friend Jason Resnick says to make it sawdust from your own work.

I promise — this is one of the best ways to grow your podcast and your audience.

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

“I can’t be consistent” is a common misconception in podcasting!

I was worried about this too, and I’ve publishing at least 1 show weekly for over 6 years. During certain times, it’s 3 weekly shows! So how can you be more consistent? I recommend that you:

Capture Ideas constantly. I always have a way to capture an idea when it hits me, from a pen and paper, to a voice activated note that logs whatever I say. Idea capture is the lynchpin of consistency.

Repurpose content from your blog, newsletter, and social media. This works especially well going from a written to audio medium. Read a blog post, or even take questions you can from your readers via email or on social media.

Batch episodes. Record/Process/Schedule in large chunks. That way you’re in the right mindset, you’re not switching contexts, and you’re not scrambling at the last minute. Usually, Thursday is podcast day for me.

Podcasting consistently is tough…if you don’t have the right process in place. But these 3 tips can help immensely. I’d love to know: how do you capture ideas? Is this something you’d like more insight into?

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About Streamlined Podcaster: This is the show for solo podcasters who love their podcast but hate how much time it takes. Each week, host Joe Casabona shares the systems, workflows, and podcast automation that let you run a great show without burning out.

Joe has been a solo podcaster for 15+ years and helps solopreneurs replace manual tasks with reliable systems so they can take time off worry-free. He knows firsthand what it takes to produce a quality show solo — and he's here to help you do the same.

Get Joe's favorite podcasting tools: https://streamlinedpodcaster.com/tools

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!