After a seven-month radio silence, I’m back to share some juicy insights about what it means to take a break and why it can be super important for our creative sanity.

I kick things off by admitting that while consistency is the name of the game, sometimes life just gets in the way. Whether it’s personal stuff or just plain old burnout, stepping back can be a game changer. I share my experience of logging into Captivate.fm after my break, expecting crickets, only to find thousands of downloads. Mind-blowing, right? It’s proof that building a solid foundation with good SEO and quality content pays off, even when you’re MIA.

Plus, I dive into the importance of unique listeners; this is the golden nugget of podcast analytics that show us who’s really listening to your content. This episode is a reminder that podcasting isn’t just about the hustle; it’s also about nurturing our creativity and audience.

I promise not to leave you hanging for so long again, because the next episode is going to stir the pot: are podcast coaches worth the cash? Stay tuned!

Takeaways:

• After a seven-month hiatus, I realised that taking breaks is crucial for creativity.
• Even when I ghosted my podcast for months, thousands of downloads kept rolling in. What helped? Good SEO. Check out the recommended episodes below to help you up your podcasting SEO game.
• Unique listeners matter way more than just download counts; it’s about engagement and loyalty, not just numbers.
• Strong SEO in titles and show notes helped new listeners find my podcast while I was away.
• Engaging with a smaller audience can be more effective than chasing after new listeners; let's focus on quality over quantity!
• Consistency is key, but so is knowing when to step back and recharge—don't be afraid to take a breather.

Listen to Episode About Taking a Break from Podcasting:

🎧 Ep 100: Why It's Okay to Take a Break from Podcasting ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/100

Listen to Episodes About SEO:

🎧 Ep 108: How Can Fearne Cotton Get Away with This?? - Why SEO-Rich Titles Matter More for Indie Podcasters ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep108

🎧 Ep 107: 5 Ways to Boost Your Podcast's Google Ranking ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep107

🎧 Ep 104: Why SEO is So Important in Podcasting | How to Implement Your Own SEO Strategy ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep104

🎧 Ep 26: How to Repurpose a Podcast Episode Into a Blog Post That’s Optimised for SEO ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep-26-how-to-repurpose-a-podcast-episode-into-a-blog-post-thats-optimised-for-seo

🌟 Get a free 30-day trial with Captivate ➡️ https://veritysangan.com/captivate

Fearne Cotton has managed to attract a massive audience for her Happy Place Podcast, even with episode titles that primarily feature just the name of her guests. This raises the intriguing question of how she gets away with this, especially when indie podcasters are often advised to use SEO-rich titles to attract listeners.

In this episode, I delve into the reasons behind Fearne's success, highlighting her established brand and the loyal following she's built over the years. Unlike indie podcasters, who may struggle to gain visibility, Fearne's fame and the broader Happy Place movement provide her listeners with a clear understanding of what to expect.

I also share essential tips for indie podcasters on crafting compelling episode titles that can help them attract their ideal audience and stand out in the crowded podcasting landscape.

Takeaways:

• Celebrity podcasts can thrive with simple episode titles due to their established brand.
• Indie podcasters, however, need to utilise SEO-rich titles to attract new listeners effectively.
• Fearne Cotton's podcast success illustrates the importance of building a loyal audience over time.
• Episode titles should highlight the benefits of the content to engage potential listeners.
• Creating specific and descriptive titles helps clarify what listeners can expect from each episode.
• Trial and error with title formats can improve visibility and listener engagement for indie podcasts.

Episodes Mentioned:

• Ep 104: Why SEO is So Important in Podcasting - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep104/
• Ep 107: 5 Ways to Boost Your Podcast's Google Ranking - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep107/

Links Mentioned:

• ListenNotes - https://www.listennotes.com/
• Happy Place Podcast - https://www.happyplaceofficial.co.uk/podcast/

This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Are you struggling to get your podcast episodes noticed on Google? Today, I’m sharing some essential tips on how to rank your podcast content higher in search results. We’ll dive into the importance of using SEO-rich keywords, which are specific phrases that can attract more traffic to your content. I’ll guide you through practical strategies for researching these keywords, utilising free tools, and optimising your metadata to improve visibility. Plus, I’ll explain why having a blog post to accompany your podcast episode can significantly boost your chances of being found online.

Highlights:

1. Publish a blog post based on your podcast episode and embed your episode into the blog post - ensure that you use SEO-rich keywords in your blog post
2. Publish your episodes on YouTube either as videos or link your RSS feed
3. Use good quality metadata in your podcast episodes

Recommended Episodes:

• Ep 26: How to Repurpose a Podcast Episode Into a Blog Post That’s Optimised for SEO - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep-26-how-to-repurpose-a-podcast-episode-into-a-blog-post-thats-optimised-for-seo
• Ep 104: Why SEO is So Important in Podcasting | How to Implement Your Own SEO Strategy - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep104

Takeaways:

• Using SEO rich keywords is essential for helping your podcast episodes rank higher in search engines.
• Researching keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner can significantly improve your SEO efforts.
• Focusing on long-tail keywords can help your content stand out with less competition.
• Incorporating keywords naturally into your metadata avoids keyword stuffing and improves readability.
• Creating engaging titles and descriptions with keywords increases click-through rates from search results.
• Regularly revisiting and updating your metadata ensures that your content remains relevant and discoverable.

Links Referenced in this Episode:

• Google: www.google.com
• Answer to Public: www.answerthepublic.com
• Ubersuggest: www.ubersuggest.com

This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

In this episode I’m sharing the 11 things I won’t be spending money on for this year. From avoiding costly podcast managers and editors to steering clear of unsustainable promotion tactics, I’ll explain my reasoning behind each decision.

It’s easy to get caught up in shiny object syndrome, but I’m determined to focus on what truly enhances the listener experience and streamlines my workflow.

Additionally, I’ll reveal the four key areas where I will invest, including website hosting and my trusted podcast platform, Captivate FM. Join me as I delve into smart budgeting strategies that prioritise quality content and effective SEO for the Lazy Girls Guide to Podcasting.

Takeaways:

• In 2025, I'm prioritising spending on tools that enhance the listener's experience and streamline my workflow.
• I've identified 11 podcast-related expenses I won't incur in 2025 to maintain my budget.
• Rather than using expensive podcast promotion strategies, I focus on organic growth through SEO.
• I'm sticking with my Blue Yeti microphone in 2025, as it meets my podcasting needs perfectly.
• Investing in my website hosting is essential because it boosts my podcast's visibility online.
• I believe that customised intro or outro music is unnecessary and I won't be investing in it.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:58 Not Spending on the Podcast in 2025
• 14:20 What I Am Spending Money On
• 19:08 Financial Strategies for Podcasting

Links referenced in this episode:

• Visit the blog: https://veritysangan.com/blog
• Try Captivate.FM free for 30 days: https://veritysangan.com/captivate
• Try Riverside: https://veritysangan.com/riverside
• Try Descript: https://veritysangan.com/descript

Today, I'm diving into the exciting new AI features from Captivate Spark, designed to streamline your podcasting process and enhance your content creation. I’ll walk you through how these tools can help you generate episode ideas, create talking points, and even transcribe your episodes, saving you valuable time.

As a podcaster, I know how crucial it is to keep our content fresh and engaging, and Captivate Spark offers some fantastic solutions for that. Whether you’re looking to suggest new episodes or create detailed outlines in just a few clicks, these features can greatly enhance your workflow.

Takeaways:

• Captivate Spark offers innovative AI tools that streamline podcast episode planning and creation.
• Using AI can significantly reduce the time spent on post-production tasks for podcasters.
• The Suggest New Episodes feature analyses trends to generate relevant new content ideas.
• AI-generated transcripts and show notes can enhance SEO and listener accessibility for podcasts.
• Captivate Spark's feature for generating episode details saves time and improves content quality.
• Integrating AI into podcasting can help creators focus more on content and creativity.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:02 Introducing Captivate Spark: A New AI Feature for Podcasters

05:35 Using AI for Podcast Episode Generation

08:24 Organising Episode Assets

10:49 SEO and Content Formatting

13:14 Exploring the Benefits of Captivate Spark

Links referenced in this episode:

Try Captivate.FM free for 30 days - https://veritysangan.com/captivate

SEO is crucial for boosting your podcast's visibility, and in this episode we will look at how effective keyword strategies can lead to increased both your podcast's downloads and your audience engagement. I'll share my surprising experience of gaining nearly 2,000 downloads during a hiatus from new content, attributing this success to a strong focus on podcasting SEO. We will discuss the importance of crafting clear, keyword-rich episode titles and show notes that resonate with what listeners are actively searching for. By identifying evergreen content topics and utilising tools like Google and YouTube for keyword research, podcasters can enhance their discoverability.

This episode will give you clear, actionable tips for helping you to rank your podcast on Google, YouTube, and other search engines. We'll discuss how to figure out the keywords that your audience are using to search for your content, how to make your podcast episodes searchable, and how you can optimise your podcast assets to get your podcast found on search engines such as YouTube and Google, and podcast directories such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Free SEO Masterclass >> https://veritysangan.com/stupid-simple-seo-masterclass

Sign up for Stupid Simple SEO >> https://veritysangan.com/ssseo

Episodes mentioned:

• Ep 93: How to Create and Launch a Podcast - Full Tutorial - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-create-a-podcast-full-tutorial/

Takeaways:

• SEO is crucial for podcast visibility; prioritize keyword-rich titles and show notes.
• Create evergreen content that remains relevant regardless of when it's published.
• Use platforms like Google and YouTube for effective keyword research and audience insights.
• Don't underestimate the power of SEO; it can attract listeners even without promotion.
• Focus on clarity in your episode titles to ensure they resonate with potential listeners.
• Remember to engage with your audience's search queries to improve discoverability.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:48 Understanding Podcasting SEO

05:11 Creating Engaging Podcast Content

07:59 Implementing SEO Strategies for Podcasts

09:35 Exploring Evergreen Content for SEO

12:16 The Importance of SEO in Podcasting

Links referenced in this episode:

• Get a free 30-day trial of Captivate.FM - https://veritysangan.com/captivate
• Answer the Public - answerthepublic.com

How much does it cost to run a podcast? Is there a cheaper way to be a podcaster? Are you looking to reduce your podcasting costs? If any of these questions resonate with you then stick around.

In this episode, I share how I managed to slash my podcasting expenses by a staggering 65%, bringing my annual podcasting spend down from over $1,300 to just $453. I dive into the specific subscriptions I cut back on, including tools that were no longer serving my needs and alternatives that provide similar functionality at a lower cost. You'll hear about my experience with various services and how I prioritised what truly adds value to my podcasting journey. Whether you're a new podcaster or a seasoned pro, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips to help you keep your podcasting budget in check.

Episodes Mentioned:

• Ep 80: How Much Does it Cost to Start and Run a Podcast? - Breaking Down My Podcasting Costs - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep-81-how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-and-run-a-podcast

Takeaways:

• Podcasters often underestimate their monthly expenses, which can accumulate quickly and unexpectedly.
• By reassessing my subscriptions, I managed to reduce my annual podcasting costs by 65%.
• Switching to free tools for email marketing and website design can significantly cut costs.
• Captivate.FM offers a pay-per-download pricing model, making it affordable for most podcasters.
• The quality of your podcast can remain high, despite low running costs.
• Consider evaluating the tools you use regularly to identify potential savings and efficiencies.

Tools Mentioned:

• Hostinger - Get up to 75% off WordPress hosting - https://veritysangan.com/hostinger
• Captivate.FM - get a 30-day free trial - https://veritysangan.com/captivate

Timestamps:

• 00:05 - Slashing Podcasting Costs
• 03:06 - Managing Podcasting Costs
• 05:43 - Investing in Podcasting and Website Management
• 07:59 - Podcasting Costs and Budgeting
• 10:01 - Exploring New Podcasting Tools

In this podcast episode, we'll discuss 10 key learnings from recording over 100 episodes of this podcast. We will talk about having no rules in podcasting, not needing to quit your day job to have a successful podcast, taking breaks from podcasting, assessing the quality of advice from podcasting “gurus”, embracing the supportive community, debunking the need for expensive equipment+video, and defining podcast “success” on your own terms.

Main Discussion Points:

• Podcasting has no rules - you can talk about anything and structure your show however you like
• You don't need to quit your day job or go "full time" with your podcast
• It's fine to miss publishing episodes some weeks
• Some self-proclaimed podcasting "gurus" repeat outdated or questionable advice
• The podcasting community wants to see everyone succeed
• "Podcast strategy" means different things to different people
• You don't need to monetize your podcast
• Podcasting can be very inexpensive to produce
• Video is optional for podcasts
• Defining a "successful" podcast depends on your goals

Episodes Mentioned:

Ep 6: How to Have a Successful Podcast – Hint; It’s Not What You Think! - https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep-6-how-to-have-a-successful-podcast-hint-its-not-what-you-think

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:58 The Freedom of Podcasting
• 00:02:27 Lessons Learned from Over 100 Episodes of Podcasting
• 00:03:26 Tips for Managing a Podcast as a Side Hobby
• 00:05:02 Podcasting Tips: What You Need to Know
• 00:07:12 Podcasting Insights from Verity Sangan
• 00:08:40 Monetizing Your Podcast vs Keeping it Non-Monetized
• 00:09:17 Tips for Podcasters: How to Save Money and Time

📧 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

Freebies:

• ✅ Podcast Launch Checklist and Episode Planner – https://veritysangan.com/launchchecklist
• 🎉 Grow Your Podcast Audience 5-day Email Challenge – https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge
• 🙋‍♀️ Podcasting – Getting Your Business Heard – https://veritysangan.com/podcastwebinar

In this episode, I dive into the world of podcasting statistics, shedding light on the potential inaccuracies and unreliability of common metrics. Don't solely judge your podcast's success based on numbers like episode count or downloads. Success is more than reaching arbitrary thresholds – it's about creating meaningful content that resonates with your audience!

Remember, podcast ranking metrics can be misleading and vary across platforms. Look beyond the numbers to truly understand your podcast's performance and impact. Keep creating authentic content, and don't get discouraged by the stats!

Highlights:

• Discussing the misleading and unreliable nature of podcasting statistics and rankings.
• Exploring different measurements used to determine a podcast's ranking.
• Challenging the significance of being in the top percentage of podcasts for success.
• Highlighting the flaws in commonly used podcasting metrics.
• Questioning the validity of defining podcast success based on episode count or download numbers.
• The variability of podcast ranking metrics across platforms and criteria.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:35 Why Podcasting Statistics are Absolute BS
• 00:05:09 Exploring Podcasting Statistics and Rankings
• 00:10:43 Understanding Podcast Ranking Metrics and Statistics

📧 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

Freebies:

• ✅ Podcast Launch Checklist and Episode Planner – https://veritysangan.com/launchchecklist
• 🎉 Grow Your Podcast Audience 5-day Email Challenge – https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge
• 🙋‍♀️ Podcasting – Getting Your Business Heard – https://veritysangan.com/podcastwebinar

It's episode 100 of The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting!! And in this episode I discuss the importance of taking a break from podcasting when needed. This summer, I reduced my activity to prioritise self-care. It's crucial to prioritise health and well-being over maintaining a strict episode schedule.

Managing all aspects of the podcast on my own can be challenging, but I value the support from you guys, my awesome listeners!

Highlights:

• Importance of taking a break from podcasting
• Challenges of managing all aspects of the podcast alone
• Self-care to sustain creative energy
• Avoiding burnout in podcasting
• Balancing podcasting with self-care

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:48 Taking a Break from Podcasting

00:06:22 The Importance of Self-Care in Podcasting

📧 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

Freebies:

• ✅ Podcast Launch Checklist and Episode Planner – https://veritysangan.com/launchchecklist
• 🎉 Grow Your Podcast Audience 5-day Email Challenge – https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge
• 🙋‍♀️ Podcasting – Getting Your Business Heard – https://veritysangan.com/podcastwebinar