PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show

Discover how to build a thriving business around your podcast in this episode of Podcraft. Colin co-hosts this episode with the host of the Always Free podcast - Jason Graystone. They both shares their strategies for crafting a show that resonates with people and how to then monetize that content within a wider business. They discuss a whole range of things, including:

If you're early stage, or pre-launch:

• what a BIG launch strategy looks like, with real tactics
• how to make the best of the first 3 months of your show
• iterating your show to find the best fit for you and your audience

If you're experienced and ready to build an income from your show:

• creating a product line that aligns with your unique expertise
• breakdown of our own products & services, and how they tie together
• creating your first product in a few days, with real examples
• how to overcome the fear of selling as a creator and feel confident in the value you offer
• the value of being open and honest with your ideas, even if it turns some people off

Our goal was to give a really solid picture of how we both run businesses around content, and the steps you can take to start to build your own.

Here are a few of the resources mentioned:

• Podcast monetisation guide
• Our full resources guide, including all tools mentioned
• How to start a podcast
• Jason's Always Free Podcast
• Jason's education and other resources
• The IndiePod podcasting support community

Just like the proverbial tree in the forest, is your brilliant content even brilliant if nobody hears it? On this episode, we're going to pick our Indiepod Legends' brains about all things promotion, growth, and marketing.

Obviously, social media can play a big part in this, and we're going to hear about what platforms and strategies have worked well for some of our creators (as well as which ones haven't!). But social media is only one aspect of podcast marketing, and you don't even need to use it at all if you don't want to.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the ultimate low-hanging fruit of podcast growth because it lets your listeners find and come to you in their own time and on their own terms.

Creating special or unique content alongside your usual episodes is another growth strategy that's yielded great results for some of our podcasters, and we're going to hear some tips for replicating that, too.

Another recurring strategy in this episode is collaboration. Being on or working with other podcasts is a proven way to build your audience. As Andrea puts it, "People who listen to podcasts listen to podcasts". Some useful tools for finding other podcasters to link up with are Podchaser, Rephonic, and Tink Media. And here are some tips on how to get booked as a guest on a podcast.

We know from previous episodes that consistency leads to podcasting success - but how do you actually become consistent?

It’s all well and good to say, “Go out there and create lots of episodes,” when you might be intimidated by the idea of creating just one.

So, this time around, we’re going to explore the nuts and bolts of timeframes, workflows, and content creation. Here, you’ll get real-world examples of how long it actually takes to run a successful podcast, and how it can exist alongside other channels, such as blogging, social media, and video.

The Podcasts

• Bring Your Product Idea to Life
• The Joy of Cruising
• Wild for Scotland
• Travel N Sh!t
• Board Game Design Lab
• She Well Read
  
• Fighting Through
• Lush Life
• The One Percent Better Runner
• The Savvy Social Podcast
• The Euro Trip
• I Should Be Writing

Almost all the benefits of podcasting stem from one thing – and that’s consistency. If you publish quality content over a prolonged period of time, you eventually hit a critical mass of episodes you can now call your “back catalogue” – and it’s a powerful tool.

On this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to look at the benefits of this published body of work, which includes the ability for new listeners to binge your content, as well as providing you with a tonne of repurposing options, too.

Following up on our previous episode, From Doubt to Determination, we’ll also continue to explore the barriers and challenges our Indiepod Legends have faced, as well as how they’ve overcome them. It’s another value-packed programme filled with lessons, takeaways, and motivating anecdotes!

The Podcasts

• Bring Your Product Idea to Life
• The Joy of Cruising
• Wild for Scotland
• Travel N Sh!t
• Board Game Design Lab
• She Well Read
  
• Fighting Through
• Lush Life
• The One Percent Better Runner
• The Savvy Social Podcast
• The Euro Trip
• I Should Be Writing

What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they've been recognised with a prestigious award?

In truth, we can gauge success in many ways, but ultimately, there's no certificate and a great degree of subjectivity. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that the best way to get to a position where you or your audience consider your podcast a success is to create quality content, consistently, over a prolonged period of time.

If there's one single answer to the "How do I make podcasting work for me?" question, that's it. It's an answer that sounds way too simple and obvious. And yet, actually doing it is much harder than choosing the right mic, the best software, and getting listed in all the major listening platforms.

Starting a podcast is relatively easy. Riding the wave of early enthusiasm to publish your first couple of episodes is easy, too. But to keep doing it for upwards of 300 episodes, or for over ten years? That takes something extra.

In this season of Podcraft, we're speaking to some of the best indie podcasters in the game. We want to really dig into how they've kept on going, the ways they've navigated each challenge or roadblock, and the many lessons they've learned along the way.

Listening to this series won't automatically pop a few hundred episodes in your own back catalogue, but it'll certainly arm you with enough knowledge and motivation to get there under your own steam.

In our opening episode, our Indiepod Legends share their insights into why they started out in the first place, and in many cases, it's because they made the podcast they wanted to listen to.

We're also going to talk about the thing that defeats many fledgling podcasters—quitting. You'll learn that many of our panel members have either wrestled with thoughts of giving up or taken long breaks to regroup and get back on track. Consistency over several years or hundreds of episodes isn't a straightforward, linear journey. If you do it for long enough, you'll hit many snags. But, as you'll learn in this episode, your podcast doesn't need to fall at the very first hurdle.

The Podcasts

• Bring Your Product Idea to Life
• Wild for Scotland
• Travel N Sh!t
• Board Game Design Lab
• She Well Read
  
• Fighting Through
• Lush Life
• The One Percent Better Runner
• The Savvy Social Podcast
• The Euro Trip
• I Should Be Writing

Izabela and Mike Russell of Music Radio Creative return to continue our conversation about the ever-evolving podcast landscape. Gear and tools may have gotten much better, but that doesn't always make them easier to set up and use. We also discuss the role of DAWs like Adobe Audition and Audacity compared to newer (often AI-driven) software. Finally, Mike and Izabela answer some questions about podcast growth, being surprised, and changing their minds. 

• Music Radio Creative
• Mike's YouTube Channel
• Izabela's Audio Unicorn Podcast
• Mike's AI News Today Podcast
• Alitu: The Podcast Maker

In this episode, Colin and Matthew engage in a friendly debate about the role of gear in podcasting. While gear and equipment are often seen as important aspects of podcasting success, the hosts question whether they truly make a significant difference. They explore the mindset of successful podcasters and how their focus lies more on content creation, strategy, and promotion rather than the tools they use. The conversation also delves into the dangers of getting too caught up in equipment and workflows, which can lead to wasted time and distractions. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of finding the right balance and avoiding the pressure to conform to popular gear choices, but rather focusing on what works best for your individual podcast.

Thanks to Alitu's AI for writing these shownotes!

Also mentioned:

• 2024 Podcaster Gear Survey
• Podcast Equipment Guide

As the RSS feed approaches its 25th birthday, so does the word "podcasting" its 20th. But 2024 also sees the tenth anniversary of UKPOD14. On this episode of Podcraft, we're joined by the organisers of this important event, Mike and Izabela. We wanted to catch up on the past decade, talking about what has changed in the medium (as well as what hasn't!). We also touch on what the future might hold, and why simpler is often better when it comes to your recording setup and workflow. 

Here, I dive into 14 powerful, unique collaboration strategies designed to exponentially grow your podcast audience and increase revenue. Whether you're a budding podcaster or a seasoned pro, these tips can fuel your approach to collaborations. Get ready to discover unique methods for teaming up with fellow podcasters, creating compelling content, and even boosting your income through strategic partnerships.

Highlights:

• Explore how episode swapping can bring new listeners to your podcast.
• Uncover the potential of social media and newsletter collaborations. 
• Learn how to create engaging live stream events with fellow podcasters.
• Discover how affiliate marketing can turn collaborations into revenue streams.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

• Full Guide to Podcast Marketing & growth: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/stage/grow-monetise/ 
• King Sumo: https://kingsumo.com/
• How to prepare for your best podcast interview ever: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/podcast-interviews/how-to-prepare-for-a-podcast-interview/
•  How to create and earn from premium content: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/monetisation/how-premium-podcast-content/ 
• Alitu, the Podcast Maker app: https://alitu.com 

Adding a video or live broadcasting element can work well for some podcasters. In this episode, we dig into the tools you'll need if you want to run a successful video series. 

Resources Mentioned

• Ultimate Video Podcasting Guide
• Best Video Editing Software
• How to turn live broadcasts into podcasts that don’t suck
• Why Video can't and won't replace audio in podcasting
• Alitu – The Podcast Maker
• Rode Rodecaster II
• Zoom PodTrak P4
• Rode Wireless Pro