Streamlined Podcaster: Save Time Podcasting with Systems and Automation

It’s listener's questions week! For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, I asked for your questions about launching, growing, and monetizing podcasts. I got some fantastic questions, so let’s dive into them:

Questions

• 01:54 How do you stay motivated?
• 05:16 What are your top 3 tips for getting started?
• 08:43 What platforms should you put your podcast on?
• 10:27 Do you think BuzzSprout is the best audio host?
• 11:25 How long should my podcast be?
• 14:01 How many sponsor spots should you have per episode?
• 15:25 How often should I publish?
• 16:39 What is the best day and time to release new episodes?
• 18:24 Should I rebrand my current podcast or start from scratch?
• 20:35 What is your top tip for landing sponsors?
• 22:00 What’s the most important podcast metric?
• 23:11 Do you record with video on?

Show Notes

• Twitter Thread
• LinkedIn Post
• My interview with Dan Bennet
• My interview with Justin Moore
• Send me your questions

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• (00:00) - Intro
• (03:05) - How do you stay motivated?
• (06:27) - What are your top 3 tips for getting started?
• (09:54) - What platforms should you put your podcast on?
• (11:38) - Do you think BuzzSprout is the best audio host?
• (12:36) - How long should my podcast be?
• (15:12) - How many sponsor spots should you have per episode?
• (16:36) - How often should I publish?
• (17:50) - What is the best day and time to release new episodes?
• (19:35) - Should I rebrand my current podcast or start from scratch?
• (21:46) - What is your top tip for landing sponsors?
• (23:11) - What’s the most important podcast metric?
• (24:22) - Do you record with video on?
• (25:53) - Send me your questions

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Have feedback? Send a voice note to the show!

Over the last couple of months I've been pushing hard on the idea that first time podcasters should start a mini podcast - that is, a solo podcast that's 20 minutes or less. But how do you actually produce that show quickly? The answer is Descript.

Show Notes

• Get Descript
• Why You Should Start and Monetize a Mini 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!

Scott Cowan runs a podcast called Explore Washington State. It’s part of a greater site all about Washington. The podcast publishes 3-4 times per week, and he’s looking to grow his audience and potentially increase his output to 5 times a week. Listen in as I give Scott advice about SEO, website improvements, and pointing his enormous Instagram following to the show.

Top Takeaways:

• Having a good website with easy-to-speak URLs is the best way to send people to your podcast. Easy to share on social media, and easy for listeners to share too.
• Optimize titles and descriptions. Use them to tell people what the episode is about, and use keywords that will help the episodes show up in searches.
• Instead of trying to grow your podcast directly, grow your newsletter and social media followings. Then share your show with those audiences — your newsletter especially can be ripe for growth and promotion.

Check out Scott 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!

The most common I question I get about pitching sponsors is, "how much do I charge?"

While you might hear terms like CPM (cost per mille, or dollar amount per thousand downloads), starting out that's not going to yield a lot of results for you. There's a better way. You want to show brands the full picture when it comes to your audience. You want to tell potential sponsors about your overall reach, and how you can help them achieve their goals.

Check out my interview with Justin Moore for more (ha!) on landing brand deals.

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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!

Contracts can be a scary and confusing thing...especially when the relationship is strictly ad placement on your own podcast. Listener Erin recently wrote in to ask about podcast sponsor contracts, and while I am not a lawyer, I'm happy to share my own experience. In this episode I:

• Answer if you actually need a contract
• Go over what an Insertion Order is
• Talk payment terms
• Cover what to watch out for
• Tell you it's OK to redline.

It's a good one, and I'd love to hear your feedback! If you'd like to hear from an actual lawyer, let me know.

Disclaimer: I AM NOT A LAWYER and this doesn't constitute legal advice

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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!

In the past month or so, I've been experimenting with something that grew my podcast downloads by 21% and it wasn't paid ads. See, the best way to grow your podcast is to get in front of other podcast audiences.

With that in mind, I decided to try some Podcast Swaps, and they've been working so well I'm going to do another round. Let's take a look at what they are, how they work, and how you can do them too.

Show Notes

• Tink Media's Podcast Swap Database
• @larenpassell on Twitter
• My podcast growth in Chartable
• Which Podcast Ad Placement Works Best?

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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!

They say it's easier to sell to current customers than to get new ones. It makes sense, right? Those customers have entered into a relationship with you, have shown they trust you, and have proved their open to giving you money.

The same thing can be said of sponsors. Many people forget that sponsorship is a relationship, and as the creator, you can help the brand. So when a campaign is over, don't assume the relationship is too. Most of my sponsors from the past year have been former sponsors that renewed.

Here's what I do to keep sponsors returning, and what you should do too.

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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!

As you start to pursue sponsors, especially those you don’t have a personal relationship with, you will surely be asked for more information. A great way to convey that information, as well a look professional, organized, and ready to accept sponsors, is a pitch deck (or a sponsor deck).

Today, let's look at what a pitch deck is, what it should include, and how to put it together.

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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!

Today I want to talk to you about DAI, or Dynamic Ad Insertion. DAI is a way for you to automatically insert ads (or any audio clip) into your already produced podcast episodes. Let's dive into how exactly it works, how you can get started, and what indie podcasters should use it for.

Show Notes

• Programmatic Advertising for Podcasters: How to Get Started
• Marco's Tweet
• Podcast Ad Delivery: Make Better Sandwiches
• Try Buzzsprout

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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 wanna share with you something fantastic advice my 5-year-old daughter gave me today about podcasting we were driving her to school. See, someone cut me off, which lead me to mutter under my breath. When she asked what I was doing, I said I was talking to nobody. And she said,

"If you're talking to nobody, why are you talking at all?"

And that my friends, is what we're going to address today. Because if you don't know who you're talking to, your podcast isn't going to grow, and it's not going to make money.

Show Notes

• Why You Should Start and Monetize a Mini Podcast
• How to Define Your Show's Mission Statement

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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!