The Ultimate Creative

In the first episode of Season 2, fellow podcaster Chris Swail and I talk about how to manage chaos, so that you can keep on being the super productive creative powerhouse you are!

This episode is a cross-over, you can check out Chris' podcast, A Little Bit Better, wherever you get your podcasts!

There’s a new season in town! 

Ultimate Podcast Marketing is shifting focus to incorporate broader topics that will help creatives and entrepreneurs to grow their audiences and earn money through their podcast and video content, without the #hustle and grind. I’m SO excited about this because it means that I’ll be sharing more with you about my multi-hyphenate life, the challenges and magical things I face as an entrepreneur and a creative (specifically bridging the two together) and I’m going to be bringing in lots of guests to talk about different ways to use your creative powers to achieve a life you absolutely love!

So I decided that it made sense to start with a new season. I’m just over a year into this podcast, and if you’re a long-time listener you might recall that it actually started out as “The Ultimate Creative” podcast before it turned into Ultimate Podcast Marketing. When it began, the focus was actually closer to the shift we’re about to make with this new season. And that’s the beauty of having your own creative business, it grows and evolves with you, but the core values and core messaging don’t change that much.

In working with a business coach, Shelagh Cummins, I’ve been uncovering some of the core values that really drive me as a person, as well as a creative entrepreneur. Specifically, that I want to help people to earn money through their content. So whether you’re a creative that doesn’t believe you can actually make money with your art (yet) or if you’re an entrepreneur that doesn’t believe you can be creative (yet) the new take on The Ultimate Creative podcast is definitely going to bring you the inspiration you are craving, as well as actionable ideas you can take to accomplish your goals.

I’ve struggled for a really long time to figure out how to blend creativity and entrepreneurship together. It’s like there were always two pieces of me that just wanted to fight all the time, as though one couldn’t exist without the other. But the thing is, I exist, so therefore, they exist together. Seems simple enough but this journey has been something like 15 years in the making, and it’s still happening. Literally right now. And if you feel that disconnect - like there’s something that frustrates you about your business because it’s not creative enough, or that you can’t tap into your creativity and you feel stuck, or that you can’t use both of your creative and business skill sets together, I encourage you to join me in season 2, and engage with me about the topics we’ll be covering.

Now, I want to assure you that I still very much have my finger on the pulse of all things podcasting and I’m going to continue to be your go-to person for podcasting questions. In fact we’re still going to cover podcasting on this podcast, because I believe podcasts are such a great vehicle for sharing a message, building an audience and helping you to create a life you love. All that’s happening is that we’re adding to this mix with conversations about your content, your videos, the messaging, how you tell stories, how you connect with your audience, and how you can monetize your content and/or become a thought leader. 

And finally, as I mentioned, I want to take a more intuitive, mindful approach to entrepreneurship and my business generally. So we’ll be getting into conversations with some amazing entrepreneurs and creators about their processes, and how they “balance” all of the pieces to stay away from burnout and overwhelm. These are things I’m constantly working on, so I know others are feeling the same.

I’d love to hear from you if there’s a content or creativity or entrepreneurship topic you’d like me to cover on this show. The Ultimate Creative is for you, it’s a path to help you achieve your dreams and shout it from on top of a mountain! So send me a voice memo on Instagram and let me know what’s going on in your journey, and we’ll cover it!

• How Kathryn’s multi-passionate career led her to podcasting and why it’s a powerful part of her business
• Different ways to explore your own confident voice & how she helps her clients to do the same
• How you can tap into your own confidence to develop your public speaking and podcasting skills

• https://b-u.network/
• https://www.thebridgeempowers.com/
• http://gratitudegirls.com/
• https://linktr.ee/TheBridgeEmpowers
• https://www.sendoutcards.com/app
• https://www.instagram.com/kathryn.asaro.77/

1. Concept
2. Experiment
3. Practice
4. Nail down the format
5. Repurpose for video with StreamYard
6. Batch record
7. Prep launch elements
8. Prep launch campaign
9. A live show!
10. Official launch!

• Alicia Carrick on Ultimate Podcast Marketing: https://theultimatecreative.com/choosing-the-things-that-feel-good-with-alicia-carrick/
• Live Masterclass on April 7: https://theultimatecreative.com/live-class
• Podcast Rocket: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket
• The Hatch! An Improv Social Podcast: https://bigchickenergysketch.com/podcast
• Big Chick Energy Sketch: https://bigchickenergysketch.com
• StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/
• SquadCast: https://squadcast.fm/
• Anchor.fm: https://anchor.fm
• BuzzSprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1184819

Welcome to the final day of 5 days to start your podcast! This is the final replay episode this week, which I have packed full with content all about starting your own podcast! And if ya haven’t yet heard, my course Podcast Rocket is opening up next week, on April 7 and I am SO jazzed about it. 

We’re going to have live classes. I’ve revamped a lot of the program, there are new videos, new templates, so many cool new things and I cannot WAIT to share it with you! And if you’re interested in the program and what it’s all about, I’m doing a free training next Wednesday, April 7 to answer questions about Podcast Rocket. Plus, I’ve got a bonus for live attendees, and I’m going to walk you through the essential pieces you need to launch your podcast. Make sure you sign up for that here!

Without further ado, here’s the replay for Episode 8, The Podcast Launch Checklist - which originally aired on May 5, 2020.

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On this episode I’m going to give you the essentials you need to get your podcast live! Use this podcast launch checklist to make sure your show is accepted to the podcast apps the first time you submit!

1. An intro and outro
2. Podcast Artwork
3. A Podcast Host
4. A podcast!
5. A Marketing Plan

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Sign up for the live training where I will be walking you through the essential steps to start your podcast: https://theultimatecreative.com/liveclass

Get on the Podcast Rocket wait list: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket

It’s day four of 5 days to start your podcast! Only one day to go after this, and I hope you’re just as pumped as I am for next week when Podcast Rocket FINALLY opens its doors for enrolment on April 7! 

As you probably know by now, Podcast Rocket is my 5-week program that takes you from podcast concept to launch, with video lessons, live calls, and a zillion templates to make your life SO much easier. 

I’ll be doing a live info session on April 7, which I’d love to see you at. I’m going to be answering questions about Podcast Rocket, I’ve got a bonus for live attendees, and I’m going to walk you through the essential pieces you need to launch your podcast. Make sure you sign up for that here!

Without further ado, here’s the replay for Episode 33, Podcast Launch Expectations vs. Realities (and what to really strive for) - which originally aired on November 3, 2020.

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You’ve done the hard work, you’ve recorded your episodes, cut together a trailer, figured out how to submit your RSS feed to all of the main distribution platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify... so what happens after you publish episode one? In this episode we’re going to talk about what to expect when you launch your podcast, and how you can set goals that push you without feeling totally overwhelming!

Before I get into the content, I wanted to share an amazing listener review from svcopy (credited “Green Moms Co.” in the episode), who said “Emily shares what’s possible with podcasts. Love listening to these inspiring stories combined with Emily’s marketing tips for using a podcast to grow your business.”

And finally I just want to give you a quick heads up about a topic I’m covering at the end of this month that focuses on audience engagement strategies, so make sure you’ve subscribed to this podcast wherever you get your episodes!

• Preparing to launch
• Setting realistic goals
• The podcast launch campaign
• Guests & shareable assets

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 8: The Podcast Launch Checklist: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-launch-checklist/
• Captivate + Convert: https://christycegelski.com/podcast/
• Podcast Rocket: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket
• How to make audiograms: https://theultimatecreative.com/how-to-make-an-audiogram-with-headliner/
• How I plan my content: https://theultimatecreative.com/how-to-plan-content/

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Sign up for the live training where I will be walking you through the essential steps to start your podcast: https://theultimatecreative.com/liveclass

Get on the Podcast Rocket wait list: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket

It’s day three of 5 days to start your podcast! As you know, this week I’m sharing a replay episode every single day from my archive to celebrate the kick off of my course Podcast Rocket which is my 5-week program that takes you from podcast concept to launch, with video lessons, live calls, and a zillion templates to make your life SO much easier. 

Doors for that program open up next week on April 7, in exactly one week from now! And I’ll be doing a live info session that day too which I’d love to see you at. I’m going to be answering questions about Podcast Rocket, I’ve got a bonus for live attendees, and I’m going to walk you through the essential pieces you need to launch your podcast. Make sure you sign up for that here!

Without further ado, here’s the replay for Episode 25, Don't start a podcast without these 3 key things - which originally aired on September 8, 2020.

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You’re getting ready to start a podcast, and things are starting to feel JUUUUST a little overwhelming! But here’s the thing, you really only need these three key things to get started. So get out your planner and let’s start that podcast!

1. A content plan
It’s pretty common to get caught up in the excitement of starting a podcast, and you might actually have loads of topic ideas! But how do they all fit together? Podcasting, like any other type of content, needs a plan. If you don’t know where you’re going with it, you’ll end up driving in a direction that makes no sense for your goals.

2. A podcast host
I’m not talking about you, silly! I’m talking about a place where you upload your episode files every week to be distributed to all the platforms, like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, yadda yadda yadda. A podcast host is basically the same thing as a website host. For a certain amount of money, you get to store your audio files in one place.

I’ve been getting very into BuzzSprout as of late, because they make it super easy to submit to the different podcast directories, and at about $12/mo on the basic plan, it’s very affordable. And, if you want a $20 Amazon gift card, use my affiliate link to sign up! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1184819

3. At least one episode recorded
Again, I know this all might sound super basic, but you can’t actually do the rest of what you need to do with your podcast host without a full episode recorded and uploaded. One episode is fine, but I’ll challenge you to go even beyond that and record four episodes before you launch.

Heck, if you really want to start a podcast with a bang, record eight episodes, release four all at the same time to kick off the party (this gets you more downloads and visibility on Apple Podcasts) and then release your next four each week following! It’s all about planning!

Once you’ve got your content plan sorted out, and the logistical and technical elements organized, you’re good to go. Plan ahead, do a little bit of research, and remember that at the end of the day, everything can be edited and re-uploaded. Heck, you can even change the name of your podcast if you really want to! I’ve done it!

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Sign up for the live training where I will be walking you through the essential steps to start your podcast: https://theultimatecreative.com/liveclass

Get on the Podcast Rocket wait list: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket

Welcome to Day two of 5 days to start your podcast! This week I’m sharing a replay episode every single day from my archive to help those of you who are looking to launch a podcast in the next month, to celebrate the kick off of my course Podcast Rocket!

Podcast Rocket is my 5-week program that takes you from podcast concept to launch, with video lessons, live calls, and a zillion templates to make your life SO much easier. Doors for that program open up next week on April 7, and I’ll be doing a live info session that day too which I’d love to see you at. I’m going to be answering questions about Podcast Rocket, I’ve got a bonus for live attendees, and I’m going to walk you through the essential pieces you need to launch your podcast. Make sure you sign up for that here!

Without further ado, here’s the replay for Episode 27, Top 10 Podcasting Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them) - which originally aired on September 22, 2020.

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Have you ever listened to a podcast and wondered why it doesn’t exactly sound... right? Everybody has a different setup which means the same rules will never apply, but there ARE some specific things everyone can do to create better podcasts. 

I’m going to take you through my top 10 podcasting mistakes and how to avoid them, so that you can create polished, magnificent content!

1. Randomly releasing episodes when you feel like it. Consistency is key with all content marketing. Heck, with all content generally!
2. Recording with the wrong micI realize this sounds pretty basic but it’s actually very common.
3. Recording virtual interviews over Zoom. There is absolutely no reason to buy a nice mic if you’re going to record your interviews on Zoom.
4. Not balancing out the volume levels on multiple tracks. Everyone speaks at different volumes and it can make editing difficult.
5. Pretending to be someone you’re not. Quite possibly the worst podcasting mistake, pretending to be someone you’re not is basically shooting yourself in the foot.
6. Not testing your setup before you record. What’s worse, fighting with your recording software for a few minutes or realizing that you’ve recorded everything on your computer mic instead of your fancy expensive mic that you spent money on specifically for this content?
7. Not recording virtual interviews in more than one place. I always get bewildered looks when I tell people I record in at least 3 places when I’m doing guest interviews remotely. But I have used those backup recordings before, and I will use them again
8. Forgetting to hit record altogether. You’re testing, you’re anxious about a guest or you’re feeling rushed for time - and then you click back to your recording software and realize you’ve totally forgotten to hit record. AAAHH!
9. Recording in spaces with too much noise/Not enough soft surfaces. This is probably the least offensive of all the podcasting mistakes I’m covering here.
10. Not asking people to rate, review and subscribe. It’s not pushy or salesy, you’re giving them free content!

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Sign up for the live training where I will be walking you through the essential steps to start your podcast: https://theultimatecreative.com/liveclass

Get on the Podcast Rocket wait list: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket

Welcome to Day one of 5 days to start your podcast! This week I’m sharing a replay episode every single day from my archive to help those of you who are looking to launch a podcast in the next month, to celebrate the kick off of my course Podcast Rocket!

Podcast Rocket is my 5-week program that takes you from podcast concept to launch, with video lessons, live calls, and a zillion templates to make your life SO much easier. Doors for that program open up next week on April 7, and I’ll be doing a live info session that day too which I’d love to see you at. I’m going to be answering questions about Podcast Rocket, I’ve got a bonus for live attendees, and I’m going to walk you through the essential pieces you need to launch your podcast. Make sure you sign up for that here!

Without further ado, here’s the replay for Episode 28, What You Need To Know Before You Start A Podcast - which originally aired on September 29, 2020.

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This week I’m sharing the top things I think you need to know before you start a podcast. Whether it’s podcasting for your business or podcasting as a content creator, these are my essential “need-to-knows” to help you feel confident with your production.

1. It’s not just about the microphone.

Sure, a great microphone is going to go a long way in producing a professional sounding podcast, but if you’re not using it correctly, you may as well use your computer mic.

2. Batching is your friend.

Podcasting can be intimidating when you start thinking about how much of it you need to do each week to be consistent - but it doesn’t need to be! Here’s a sample monthly plan you can use:

3. You don’t need sponsors to be considered successful.

Sponsorships aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. In fact, most sponsors require at least 1000 downloads per episode (some even require 5000) to be eligible. They only pay around $10/conversion, and at 1000 downloads per episode you can expect about a 1% conversion.

4. If the tech is overwhelming and stupid, don’t use it.

Not all tech is for all people. At the end of the day, you’re looking for an audio file (an MP3 at a minimum) to upload to the internet. It doesn’t matter how you get there. Unless you use Zoom. Don’t use Zoom to record. Please. I hate it so much.

5. You can’t “fix it in post,” at least not all of it!

• That “echoey” sound
• Distortion from audio input that’s too loud
• Random little bumps from accidentally touching the table your mic is sitting on - or touching the mic itself
• Certain hum sounds that are in the same frequency range as your voice
• Scratchy or crinkling sounds that come from rubbing your headphone mic on your collar or on a necklace - those are there for life babee! It sucks!

At the end of the day, your podcast needs to serve you, not the other way around. The best way to accomplish this is to plan in advance, and remember that you are the expert!

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Sign up for the live training where I will be walking you through the essential steps to start your podcast: https://theultimatecreative.com/live-class

Get on the Podcast Rocket waitlist: https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket

In this episode of Ultimate Podcast Marketing I talk with Rebecca and Zara Lane, co-hosts of Kids Q The Music, and we talk about how to make your creative podcasting vision come true through unique guests, sound effects, and special segments!

Rebecca Lane (Zara’s mom) is the owner of the Upper Beaches Music school in Toronto. Around this time last year we started talking about how she could use a podcast to reach more students around the world, and offer music lessons beyond her geographic area.

A podcast was her vision to make that happen! 

Rebecca was the first person to sign up for my course Podcast Rocket in May of 2020, and with a lot of hard work and creative brainstorming, she and her daughter Zara came up with a fun and engaging way to explore classical music, from a kid’s perspective.

Since launching the podcast they’ve had MEGA success, even being featured in The New York Times! So cool! 

AND as a special bonus, we even play their signature game Pasta or Composer at the end of this episode! 

Listen in to learn:

• How Rebecca came up with the idea for Kids Q The Music
• What the amazing results have been so far
• How Rebecca and Zara got creative with their ideas to create a fun and engaging show for their audience

Learn more about Rebecca and Zara:

• Kids Q The Music: https://www.upperbeachesmusic.com/podcast
• Upper Beaches Music School: https://www.upperbeachesmusic.com/
• Rebecca Lane Coaching: https://www.rebeccalanecoaching.com/

Want to learn how to start your own creative podcast? Join me and other Podcast Rocketeers on April 7 for Podcast Rocket! A 5 week program designed to help you take your idea from concept to recorded and published!

Doors open April 7, get on the waitlist now at https://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket