Streamlined Podcaster: Save Time Podcasting with Systems and Automation

10 Questions Every Solo Podcaster Needs to Ask Themselves Before Episode 10

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:54:34 GMT

"I should start a podcast" is the 2026 version of the How I Met Your Mother "we should buy a bar" running joke — it sounds easy until you actually try to ship a show every week.

That's why solo podcasters need a good system that works for you So instead of just handing you a system that. you may or may not use, in this episode I walk through the ten questions you need to answer before episode ten — how you capture ideas, outline, record, store files, edit, track status, upload, write copy, stay ahead of the calendar, and promote — and share what I do on each one so you can borrow what fits.

Answer these once and you'll have a setup that survives a sick week, a vacation, or a slow idea day.

Show Notes

Is Ecamm Worth It for Your Solo Podcast Workflow?

Sat, 02 May 2026 12:00:52 GMT

Whether adding video to your podcast is actually worth it, and how I do it without doubling my workflow. The tool I keep coming back to is Ecamm — I cover why I record video even when I don't release it, how isolated tracks save me in editing, and the new dual mode that gives you vertical clips without Opus Clip.

Show Notes:

eCamm— code "casabona" for 15% off your first month
Gling
Stream Deck
streamlinedfeedback.com
RSS.com

The Recording Setup That Saves Solo Podcasters the Most Time

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:50 GMT

The simplest recording setup that saves solo podcasters the most time. I share my under-$500 kit — Shure MV7+ at the desk, DJI portable mic on the go, and the YoloCam S3 if you want to add video — plus why I'd skip the $1,000 RodeCaster Pro and how to use the camera you already own.

Show Notes:

3 Reasons Your Podcast Planner Is Your Most Important Podcast System

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:25:52 GMT

My accountant once turned pale white when I told him I was keeping my business records in a shoebox. Lucky for him, I was just joking.

A shoebox isn't a system.

I see the same thing happen with podcasters all the time. When I ask how they're keeping track of their episodes, the most common answers are "I don't" or "I use a notebook."

And just like that shoebox, it works — until it really, really doesn't.

If you've ever sat down on a Sunday night, realized you publish Monday morning, and had absolutely no idea what you were going to talk about, this one's for you.

I'm breaking down the three reasons why a podcast planner is the most important system a solopreneur podcaster can have. If you're overwhelmed, behind, and tired of your podcast feeling like a second job, this is the episode that changes that.

Grab my free Notion podcast planner template at streamlined.fm/planner — no email required.

Links

Free Notion Podcast Planner Template — streamlined.fm/planner

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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/

Podcast vs YouTube: The Key Difference Every Solo Podcaster Should Know

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

What makes a podcast truly different from a YouTube video? 🎧 In this 15-minute deep dive, we explore the blurring lines between podcasting and video content, sparked by Pete Davidson's new Netflix show that's being called a 'podcast' despite having no audio version.

Using a fascinating analogy about watching soccer matches across Italy versus attending a live stadium event, this episode reveals that the core difference isn't about length, video capabilities, or even RSS feeds. It's about community engagement and how audiences interact with your content. We'll examine why podcasts excel at building deep one-to-many relationships while YouTube creates real-time communal experiences.

Discover a strategic approach to treating your podcast and YouTube content differently – like wearing the right equipment for different sports. Plus, get insights into upcoming changes for content strategy that could transform how you think about multi-platform distribution.

Ready to optimize your content strategy across platforms? Share your thoughts at streamlinedfeedback.com and let's continue the conversation! 💭

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

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

How to Run a Podcast Solo: 3 Tips for Better Solo Episodes

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Solo podcasts are the way to go in 2026, for a lot of reasons. You control the full narrative. They are easier to produce. You can be authentic. And you can solve a very specific problem.

But lots of people are uncomfortable recording solo episodes. So here are 3 tips to help you do it better.

Make editing as easy as possible with the right tools and approach
Know what you're going to say by writing the question your answering, and 3 bullet points to answer that question
Picture someone whom you feel is your ideal listener. Act like you're currently talking to them.

Do this, and you'll have great, helpful, focused solo episodes.

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

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

The Best Podcast Production Process for Solo Podcasters in 2026

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

What should podcasters focus on in 2026? And how will that affect your recording and editing process moving forward?

In this episode I'll cover the 2 biggest pieces of advice I've been hearing:

Be Authentic
Do a Solo Show

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

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

A Truly Free Podcast Hosting Plan

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:32:44 GMT

RSS.com has released their Free Local and Nice podcast hosting plan, and it's a truly free plan that doesn't limit you based on uploads, hours of content, or duration of episode in feed.

It's a fantastic development for people who want to start a podcast with a little bit less risk.

Here's what it means for you.

Learn more at https://joec.pro/rss (affiliate link)

*Disclosure: I am an evangelist for RSS.com, However, they did not ask me to create this episode; I think it's a truly great think for podcasters.

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

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

AI and the Solo Podcaster: Does It Really Save Time?

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:44:55 GMT

The Independent Podcaster Report 2025 by The Podcast Host is out now. I break down my favorite parts, and offer strong opinions on making money, video, and AI.

Unsurprisingly, many (about 30%) feel time-starved and worry about burnout...but does AI help prevent that? Not necessarily.

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

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

Invest in Your Hobby

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:34:37 GMT

Something I hear far too often from podcasters is, "Well it's just a hobby, so I don't want to spend money."

Imagine taking that approach with nearly any other hobby. As my friend Brian says, the only free hobbies are in nature, or at the library (and even there, you probably pay taxes to support the library).

The point is, if you're even remotely serious about your podcast, you need to invest in it...even if you call it a hobby.

In today's episode, I tell you why, and where to start

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

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

Everything You Need to Know to Create a Voice Memos Podcast

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:07:09 GMT

Sometimes the simplest ideas create the biggest impact. A voice notes podcast — literally you talking into your phone for a few minutes — can deepen relationships with your audience, build trust, and even drive sales.

I first started mine as a lead magnet, but realized the off-the-cuff episodes were connecting more than the polished ones. Turns out, your audience doesn’t always want perfect — they want real.

In this episode, I break down why these short, raw audio episodes work so well, how to record them without overthinking, and what you actually need to launch one today (hint: just your phone and five spare minutes).

Takeaways

A voice notes podcast builds stronger audience connection because it feels personal and conversational.
Keep episodes short (under 10 minutes) — like a quick message from a friend.
Minimal gear needed: your phone + a small mic (DJI Mic or similar).
Skip heavy editing — authenticity > polish.
Use your existing feed or launch a new one with clear branding and a simple promise.
Treat your trailer like a movie preview — tell listeners what to expect and why it matters.
Use custom artwork or a naming cue (like “[Audio Note]”) if mixing with longer episodes.

Links

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

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

Why Good Banter Can Make (or Break) Your Podcast

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:40:08 GMT

I'm starting to wonder if a host/co-host format is actually the best format for a podcast.

I’ve been listening to a lot of different podcasts lately—rewatch shows, comedy shows, tech shows—and one thing keeps standing out: good banter makes a podcast worth coming back to.

But here’s the catch…banter only works when it supports the mission of the show. Get it right, and you create a bond with your audience.

Get it wrong, and your listeners tune out.

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

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

Taylor Swift Can't Help Your Podcast (But This Can)

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 23:35:30 GMT

Ever feel like your business eats up every free moment? The truth is, you don’t need Taylor Swift-level fame or Hormozi-style hype to succeed. What you actually need is space—room to create, promote, and step away without guilt.

Like this episode? Subscribe to Streamlined Solopreneur too.

That’s why I use the GAPS framework: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, and Support. It’s the system that helped me reclaim 10–12 hours a week, even during one of the busiest summers of my life. In this episode, I break down how you can use GAPS to stop fighting with your tools, cut the manual busywork, and finally get your time back. Top Takeaways

Fame hacks don’t apply—your focus should be on knowing your audience, creating for them, promoting, and experimenting.
The biggest bottleneck isn’t knowing what to do—it’s finding the time to do it.
Gear: Invest in reliable tools so tech doesn’t slow you down.
Automations: Use tools like Zapier, Riverside, and Notion to handle repetitive tasks.
Playbooks: Create simple SOPs so you or anyone else can follow the same steps every time.
Support: Delegate to a VA, editor, or even students—don’t try to do it all yourself.

Show Notes

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

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

3 Things You Should NEVER Make Your Podcast Guests Do

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:41:07 GMT

Are you making your podcast guests do your work for you? Too many hosts fall into bad habits that frustrate guests and make their shows look unprofessional. Here are three common mistakes to avoid — and what to do instead.

If you want to create a better guest experience and produce content your audience actually enjoys, this will help you cut the clutter and focus on what matters.

Top Takeaways

Never auto-subscribe guests to your mailing list — it’s often illegal and always disrespectful.
Don’t make guests write their own interview questions — that’s your job as the host.
Stop requiring guests to share the episode — your job is to make the content worth sharing.
Your responsibility as a host is to serve your audience — not to use guests as a growth engine.

Want to learn how to make real improvements to your podcast process? Take the Overwhelm Quiz at https://streamlined.fm/overwhelm

Looking for great podcast hosting built for podcasters? Check out RSS.com

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

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

From Hobby to Income Generator: The 3 I’s That Turn a Podcast Into a Business

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:40:35 GMT

Many podcasters start with the hope that downloads and sponsors will magically appear — but if you want your show to make money, you need more than wishful thinking.

This episode walks through the three essential “I’s” to transform a podcast from a casual hobby into a revenue-generating asset:

Intention (know your audience and improve quality)
Investment (put resources into the right tools and talent)
Iteratipon (get feedback, refine, and make your show something worth paying for).

Podcast hosted by RSS.com

Description written by ChatGPT based on the transcript

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

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

How to Make Money with Your Podcast

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:50:09 GMT

Monetization is a super common problem for many podcasters. Most think they'll start a podcast, get a bunch of downloads, and sponsors will come looking for them.

That is almost never the case — nor is it the case that sponsorship is the only option. And what I LOVE sponsorship. After all, I'm a sponsorship coach for my friend Justin, and RSS.com, for whom I'm the evangelist, just launched our PAID feature to make ads easier than ever.

But depending on the goal of your podcast, you might seek other monetization paths. That's why I came up with the CAMPS framework:

Coaching
Affiliates
Membership
Products
Sponsorship

Listen to learn more!

Read the full article here: CAMPS: Updating the Podcast Monetization Framework

Also check out:

RSS.com to learn about PAID, our dynamic ads feature
Wizard's Guild for sponsorship coaching

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

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

Why I REFUSE to Record Podcasts Without Headphones (And You Should Too)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:40:06 GMT

Hot take: If you're not wearing headphones while podcasting in 2025, you're doing it wrong. I don't care how good Riverside's echo cancellation is or what magic AI audio cleanup you're using - I will literally refuse to record with guests who won't wear headphones.

In this episode, I explain why "fixing it in post" with apps like Descript and Adobe Podcast AI is actually making your audio WORSE, not better. I've been on shows where my studio-quality audio gets destroyed by automated filters that were never needed in the first place.

The truth is, these AI audio tools make assumptions about your recording environment and apply blanket fixes that can create weird artifacts, dropped sounds, and unpredictable results. When you wear headphones, you get clean, "unopinionated" audio that gives you or your editor full control over the final sound.

🎙️ What you'll learn:

Why automated audio cleanup often makes good audio worse
The difference between surgical editing vs. sledgehammer approaches
How echo cancellation can hurt when it's not needed
My hardware setup for clean audio (without over-processing)
The guest who got floored when I cancelled our interview

🎧 Are you team headphones or team "the software will fix it"? Let me know at streamlinedfeedback.com!

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

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

Red Flags: When "Podcast Invites" Are Actually Sales Calls in Disguise

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:36:15 GMT

Have you ever been invited on a podcast only for it to be turned into a sales call? Yeah, me too. And it's getting worse.

In this episode, I break down the sneaky tactics some "podcasters" use to get you on what they claim is an interview, but is really just a thinly veiled attempt to pitch you their services. From deleting your episode when you refuse to buy, to publishing 5 episodes a day with bathroom-quality audio, these red flags are easier to spot once you know what to look for.

I'll share real examples from my own experience (including the guy who pitched me SEO services right after asking "did you have fun today?") and give you the exact questions I ask to weed out these fake opportunities before wasting your time.

🎯 Major red flags covered:

Repeatedly mentioning "no cost" to be on the show
Super vague topics like "the future of [your name]"
Publishing 3-5 interviews daily with multiple hosts
Target audience that matches their ideal customer profile

💡 Bonus tips from the community:

What Krystal and Jeff noticed about fake shows
How to respond without missing real opportunities
Why "thousands of downloads" doesn't mean what they think it means

See the LinkedIn post

🤔 Ever been bamboozled by a fake podcast invite? Share your story at streamlinedfeedback.com!

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

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

My "Brown M&Ms Test" for Filtering Bad Podcast Pitches

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:32:41 GMT

Remember Van Halen's famous "no brown M&Ms" rider clause? It wasn't because they were divas - it was a genius test to make sure venues actually read their contract. I've borrowed this concept to create my own screening system for podcast guest pitches.

With 4-8 pitches hitting my inbox daily (and most being AI-generated garbage), I needed a better way to separate serious guests from spray-and-pray agencies. In this episode, I share the exact screening question I use that instantly reveals whether someone actually researched my show or just copy-pasted a ChatGPT template.

I'll also share some real examples of terrible pitches I've received (spoiler: one agency sent me the SAME pitch twice for different shows), plus the simple criteria that save me hours each week in pitch evaluation.

What you'll learn:

Why Van Halen's M&Ms clause was brilliant (and life-saving)
My specific screening question that AI can't fake
Real examples of hilariously bad AI-generated pitches
The exact criteria I give to agencies to stop wasting my time
How this system helped me find amazing guests like Jackie Schiff and Elizabeth Howell

Read the full article

What's your "Brown M&Ms test"? Share it at streamlinedfeedback.com

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

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

How Solo Podcasters Can Fix AI-Generated Podcast Pitches

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:25:05 GMT

Remember the alien in Men in Black asking for "sugar in water"? That's exactly what AI-generated podcast pitches sound like - almost human, but missing something fundamentally authentic.

As someone who receives dozens of guest pitches, I'm seeing a disturbing trend: more people are using ChatGPT to write their outreach, and it's backfiring spectacularly. From generic "hope this email finds you well" openings to completely irrelevant topic suggestions, AI pitches are easier to spot (and delete) than ever.

In this episode, I break down why AI pitches fail so badly, share some cringe-worthy real examples I've received, and give you a proven template for crafting pitches that actually get responses. Plus, I'll tell you about the one pitch that was so good it led to an amazing interview.

What you'll learn:

Why "recently discovered your podcast" is the new spam signal
The ChatGPT summary that made me laugh (and cry)
My 4-step framework for pitches that actually work

Read the full article

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

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

Do People Really Just Want Content Summaries? The Problem with Apps Like Sonar

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:21:47 GMT

With AI-powered apps like Sonar promising to give you "just the highlights" from podcasts, and services like Blinkist condensing books into summaries, I'm asking the hard question: Are we missing the point of content consumption entirely?

In this episode, I dive into why I think these summary services fundamentally misunderstand what makes content valuable. Spoiler: It's not just about the facts - it's about the personality, perspective, and promise that creators bring to their work.

I share my thoughts on why most business books are fluff, why many podcasts are "meandering unstructured messes," and what separates great content (like "Sponsor Magnet" by Justin Moore and "The Rest is History" podcast) from the forgettable stuff.

Read the full article

Featured in this episode:

My experience testing the Sonar app
Why Blinkist is just "listening to a book report"
Examples of content that gets the balance right
The importance of knowing exactly who you're talking to

What's your take on AI summarization tools? Let me know at streamlinedfeedback.com

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

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

Do Episode Numbers Really Matter?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:21:37 GMT

After 9 years of podcasting and approaching 500 episodes, I'm sharing my honest thoughts on whether episode numbers actually matter for most podcasts. Spoiler alert: they probably don't matter as much as you think!

In this episode, I break down when episode numbers are crucial vs. when they're just technical baggage. I also share how I've been experimenting with my own show format, consolidating from 4-5 podcasts down to 3, and why I stopped saying episode numbers during recordings.

Whether you're just starting your podcast or you're a seasoned host questioning your current system, this episode will help you think more strategically about episode numbering and what actually serves your audience.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

💬 Have thoughts on episode numbers? Send them to streamlinedfeedback.com

Podcast is hosted by RSS.com, where I am a content creator and evangelist.

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

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

My iPhone Podcast Workflow: Full Solo Production From Your Phone

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, I set out to answer a simple question: can you reasonably record a podcast from your phone? As someone obsessed with gear and high-quality production, I assumed the answer would be no.

But after some experimentation, I discovered that not only is it possible, but it can also be a game-changer for podcasters who want to create raw, behind-the-scenes content.

Here’s how I streamlined the process into a low-effort workflow anyone can replicate.

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

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

How to Build a Great Website for Your Podcast (and Why You Need One)

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 19:52:05 GMT

Today I'm I’m diving into a topic that helped my own show take off back in 2016—creating a great website for your podcast.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but my well-built podcast website played a massive role in growing my audience. Why? Because discoverability in podcasting is tough, and having a central hub—your own website—can give you a big edge.

I’ll cover exactly what every podcast website needs, from episode embeds and subscribe buttons to mailing list signups and easy navigation. And, I’ll tell you about an incredible tool called Podcastpage.io that makes building your podcast’s website a breeze, without needing to be a developer.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re ready to level up your podcast’s online presence. Hit subscribe, and if you want to try Podcastpage.io, use my code JOECASEBONA for 10% off!

Watch my walkthrough here: https://youtu.be/q-SZnavCNww

Demo site: https://podcast-workflows.podcastpage.io/?v=w524

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

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

Why You Need More Engagement for Your Podcast (and how to get it)

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:15:45 GMT

Are you leaving valuable listener feedback on the table? I've been thinking about that a lot lately, so today we'll talk about how to engage your audience, gather crucial feedback, and build a thriving podcast community — while making it as easy as possible.

You can send your feedback to https://podcastworkflows.com/feedback

Here are the main takeaways:

Ask for Feedback Early, Regularly, and Everywhere – The importance of actively seeking listener input through multiple channels like your mailing list, social media, and during your episodes. I shared tips on making it easy for listeners to give feedback, such as incorporating listener feedback segments.

Build a Community Around Your Podcast – Creating a community is crucial for getting feedback, generating content ideas, and building trust. I discussed how podcasting doesn’t have to be a lonely experience and why fostering a community can lead to better audience engagement and even monetization.

Use Engagement Tools – I reviewed several tools to help facilitate listener feedback and community building, such as YouTube, Spotify, Ripple.fm, Circle, and Fan List. Each offers different features for community engagement, feedback collection, and potential monetization.

(00:00) - Intro
(01:28) - How to get more engagement from listeners
(07:28) - Why you should build a community
(13:32) - Tools for Engagement
(23:32) - Wrapping Up

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

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

Why Your Podcast Episodes Should Have Segments

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:38:04 GMT

Ever wonder how to make your podcast stand out in a sea of content? After a serendipitous conversation at Podcast Movement 2024, I uncovered a game-changing strategy that could revolutionize your approach. Spoiler alert: It involves segments.

I'll break down why rethinking your podcast structure can make a big difference. We'll explore how segments can help you give more value to your audience, make your show more accessible, and even repurpose content more effectively — making it better for your workflows. Plus, I'll share different segment ideas that work for both interview and solo episodes, ensuring you never run out of compelling content.

Want more insights like this? Join my mailing list at https://podcastworkflows.com

And check out my other podcast, https://streamlined.fm/

Top Takeaways

Implement Segments in Your Podcast: To create a more engaging show, think about incorporating segments. Just like how late-night shows have defined parts, segmenting your podcast can make it more consumable and structured. You can dedicate parts of your episode to different topics or formats, such as opening monologues, interviews, and specific segments tailored to your audience's interests.
Structure for Solo Episodes: If you're worried that solo episodes might become stale, develop a clear structure. For instance, discuss a main topic, then showcase an interesting tool related to that topic, and finish with an automation tip. This keeps the solo content engaging and valuable.
Balancing Personal and Professional Content: For busy solopreneur parents, combining personal experiences with actionable business advice can create a relatable and impactful podcast. Consider dedicating a segment to how you manage parenting alongside your entrepreneurial duties.

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

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

Save Time Editing Your Podcast: My Solo Podcaster Workflow

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:09:39 GMT

Do YOU feel like like you're spending too much time editing your podcast episodes? If you're anything like the people on my email list and and people I met at Podcast Movement, you do.

So today, let's talk about 3 things you can do to save time in the edit (one of these shouldn't surprise you).

(00:00) - Intro
(01:24) - Hire an Editor!
(06:26) - Take Good Notes
(10:45) - Use Descript
(17:33) - Wrapping up

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

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

My Biggest Takeaways from Podcast Movement 2024

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:14:41 GMT

I’m back from Podcast Movement and as an extrovert who works by himself, from his house, I couldn’t feel more energized after an incredible event.

I’m still processing all the great sessions and conversations I had, but there are a few topics that have floated to the top.

Here’s what I’m thinking about most after the conference.

Read the article and discuss here: https://podcastworkflows.com/what-im-thinking-about-after-podcast-movement/

Join the mailing list: https://podcastworkflows.com/join

(00:00) - Intro
(00:20) - New Podcast Workflows Home Page!
(01:45) - Segments for Shows
(06:04) - More Avenues for Monetizing Streamlined Solopreneur
(11:28) - Podcast Communities are a Must
(16:13) - Wrapping Up

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

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

3 Things I'm Struggling With (for THIS Podcast!)

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 20:40:36 GMT

As I get ready for Podcast Movement, I've been thinking about this podcast and how it's been somewhat of a hodgepodge of content. I want it to be a great resource for podcasters who are looking to save time — or spend it the right way. And while it's always been an experimenting ground for me, I fear I've turned it into Frankenstein's Monster.

So today, I'm talking about 3 things I'm struggling with for this podcast — and how I plan to fix that Here are the quick hits:

1. Redefining My Podcast's Mission Statement

I realize my podcast has lacked a clear, cohesive mission statement. I want to better define who my podcast helps (solopreneur podcasters), what problem it solves for them (spending too much time on their podcast), and how it helps solve that problem (providing process improvements and tools to save 12+ hours per week).

2. Resurrecting and Updating My Old Episode Topics

I am considering revisiting some of my older episode topics from the podcast's early days and refreshing them to better align with my current focus on podcast workflows and processes. However, I want to be selective to ensure the topics fit with my updated mission.

3. Consolidating and Optimizing My YouTube Presence

I have multiple YouTube channels that I have used inconsistently for my WordPress and podcasting content over the years. I want to consolidate my podcast content onto my main, monetized "Joe Casabona" channel to simplify things and better train YouTube to recommend my videos.

Show Notes

(00:00) - Intro
(02:19) - Rediscovering my Mission Statement
(10:20) - Resurrecting older topics
(15:59) - Fixing my Terrible YouTube Situation
(20:39) - Join me on Ripple.fm!

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

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

Live Coaching: How to Monetize a History Podcast

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:32:53 GMT

Artie, host of The History Buff podcast, came to me looking for strategies to monetize and grow his show.

Check out The History Buff here: here: https://www.thehistorybuff.co/

Here are the main takeaways:

Artie should leverage his experience as a tour guide to build credibility, but focus the podcast on his passion for discussing a wide range of historical topics rather than just his tour guiding.
Start an email newsletter using a platform like Substack to capture interested listeners and potentially offer paid subscriptions for exclusive content like behind-the-scenes material or local tour "extras".
Continue uploading to YouTube, but optimize the content for the platform

Want your own live coaching call? Book here: https://joec.pro/public-coaching

Want a podcast audit? Grab one here: https://podcastgrowthaudit.com

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

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

Save Time Podcasting: Faster Content Creation (Live Coaching)

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 20:05:39 GMT

Want to know how to create killer podcast content without spending all your time writing scripts? In this live coaching call, I sit down with Alex Standiford, host of the Partnership podcast and founder of Siren Affiliates, to tackle this common podcasting challenge head-on.

We dive deep into strategies for generating fresh content ideas, from repurposing blog posts, to, getting feedback, and targeting specific niches. I also share my [not so] secret weapon for conducting captivating interviews using a three-act story structure that keeps listeners hooked.

Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, this coaching call is packed with actionable tips and insights to help you create engaging content more efficiently. Don't miss out on this value-packed discussion!

Do you want some one-on-one time with me like this? You can book a Public Coaching Call here: https://joec.pro/public-coaching

Takeaways

Consider using a fat outline for podcast episodes, combining scripted elements with ad-libbing for a more natural delivery.
Repurpose blog posts as podcast episodes to save time on content generation.
Incorporate case studies and interviews to provide valuable insights and engage with listeners.
Create niche-focused episodes to cater to specific audiences
Leverage LinkedIn for audience engagement
Structure interviews with a setup, conflict, and resolution
Keep interviews focused and actionable

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

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

How I Prepped 9+ Piece of Content in 4.5 Hours

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:52:01 GMT

In preparation for a recent vacation, I recorded and wrote a bunch of content to schedule in my absence.

Today, I want to share with you how I churned out 9+ pieces of content over the course of 4.5 hours.

For more content like this, join my mailing list: https://podcastworkflows.com/join

Here’s the output:

3 YouTube videos
3 podcast episodes from those videos
1 blog posts
1 live stream
1 short form video
Audio of live stream republished to a podcast feed

And here are the tools I used:

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

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

3 Things to Get the Most Out of Podcast Movement 2024

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 09:00:00 GMT

Podcast Movement is the biggest industry podcast (at least in the USA), and nearly every recognizable name in podcasting will be there.

It's also a great place to meet fellow podcasters — it's one of the best networking opportunities. If you're going, or thinking about going, there are a few ways to make the most of your experience.

And that's what today's "3 Things in Podcasting" covers!

If you're going to be there, let me know!

(00:00) - - Intro
(03:38) - - Find Podcasters to Collaborate With
(06:26) - - Find brands and companies to partner with
(11:28) - - Find ONE way to improve your podcast

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

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

What Are Show Notes (and do you need them)?

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 07:00:00 GMT

If you’ve been listening to podcasts for a long time, the idea of show notes is intuitive. It’s the text that accompanies a podcast episode. It usually has some description about the episode and links mentioned in the episode.

This is CRUCIAL real estate for you to convert listeners into a more engaged audience. So today, we’ll discuss what are show notes, why you need them, and how to format them.

To learn more, and save 12+ hours per week on your podcast, join my FREE mailing list at https://podcastworkflows.com/join

Main Takeaways:

The main function of show notes is twofold: get people to listen to your episodes, and make it easy for listeners to find the resources you mention during the show
Your format matters! You should provide a great description, a primary CTA, takeaways, and resources, in that order. That way you hook listeners and keep them reading.
You must create a frictionless experience. It's hard enough to get listeners to take action. Any additional steps make it that much harder, so meet them where they are: in the app they're listening.

Show Notes!

(00:00) - - Intro
(01:45) - - What are show notes?
(04:03) - - Why you should have show notes
(07:12) - - How You Can Do Show Notes
(09:34) - - Formatting Show Notes
(11:20) - - Do you need show notes?
(13:00) - - Answering Feedback
(15:19) - - You must create a frictionless experience

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

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

Podcasts Replace School Bells (3 Things in Podcasting)

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Top story for me this week is schools in NYC replacing the bell with 60 second podcast episodes!

"ABF Creative, the award-winning producer of Kids & Family podcasts, is proud to announce its innovative 'Mini Pods’ initiative in partnership with education technology company SonarCloud. This initiative replaces traditional school bells with 60-second educational podcasts, currently in over 120 New York City public schools, with plans to expand to Chicago and Los Angeles in the upcoming school year."

Plus, how to do an interview podcast while also establishing your authority, and the Seven Deadly Sins of podcasting.

Want to save 12+ per week with your podcast? Sign up for my free newsletter: https://podcastworkflows.com/join

Show Notes

(00:00) - Intro
(01:24) - NYC School Replace bells with podcasts
(06:24) - How to do interviews and establish authority
(12:34) - The Seven Deadly Sins of Podcasting

★ Support this podcast ★

The Seven Deadly Sins of Podcasting (and how to avoid them)

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMT

As I was watching the movie Se7en, I had a very strange thought: are your bad podcasting habits leading you down a path of (podcast) destruction? The movie is about the Seven Deadly Sins of the soul...but it got me thinking about how they might apply to podcasting. What “podcasting sins” are so great that they’ll lead to podfade (the unceremonious death of a podcast).

How do the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride) translate to the world of podcasting. Let's take a look.

Want to read the entire article, and join the free mailing list? Head over to https://podcastworkflows.com/sins

(00:00) - Intro
(02:25) - Lust: Chasing Fads
(08:37) - Gluttony: A Show for Everyone
(12:45) - Greed: Revenue Above Audience
(17:12) - Sloth: Not Editing Your Podcast
(24:26) - Wrath: Controversy for Clicks
(29:11) - Envy: Chasing Downloads
(33:45) - Pride: Doing Everything Yourself
(39:08) - You got this!

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

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

How to get Feedback From Your Listeners

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Have you ever been in a situation where someone wants something from you, but they won't come out and ask for it? They'll hint at it, tip toe around the issue, or just hope you figure it out based on the look they give you. My kids do that all the time. A common problem I hear among podcasters is “no one shares the show/leaves reviews/sends in feedback.” I always ask the same follow up: “Are you asking for it?” It’s the same lesson I give my kids. Don’t ask don’t get.

That's why today, we're going to look at the best way to ask (and enable) your audience for feedback.

Want more content like this? The best way to do it is to subscribe to my free newsletter over at https://podcastworkflows.com/join

Top Takeaways:

Ask early. That's early in the episode, and earlier than you need the feedback. You want to maximize the amount of times your audience hears the ask so they take action.
Ask often. Repeat your ask multiple times throughout an episode. It might feel like too much, but trust me, it's not.
Ask everywhere. Don't just ask on your podcast. Ask you mailing list, your social media following, and any other place you have an audience.
Make it easy. Set up an easy to remember URL, and check everywhere you ask!

Read the article here

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

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

Spotify Adds Comments | 3 Things in Podcasting

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMT

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant changes in the podcasting world? You're not alone. With new tools and trends emerging every day, it can be challenging to keep your workflow streamlined and your audience engaged. That's why I do 3 Things in Podcasting — and this week was uncharacteristically busy following a holiday.

Here are the links:

First, we'll take a look at a survey of podcasting gear and software.

Then we'll shine a spotlight on the inaugural Ear Worthy Indie Podcast Awards, a celebration of the unsung heroes of the podcasting world.

Finally, we'll look at Spotify's game-changing move to introduce comments on podcast episodes. Imagine the possibilities of fostering a deeper connection with your audience and receiving invaluable feedback in real-time. Explore the potential implications of this newfound interactivity and discover how you can leverage it to take your podcast to new heights.

(00:00) - Intro
(00:35) - Youtube #1 Listening App?
(03:17) - The Blue Yeti is the Most Popular Podcast Mic
(12:26) - First Annual Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards
(15:16) - Spotify added Comments to Podcasts
(19:41) - That's It!

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

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

5 Changes You Can Make to Grow Your Podcast Today

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMT

Does it feel like your podcast isn’t growing no matter what you do? You’re busting your butt trying to grow your podcast. You’re creating good content, promoting it on social media, asking your guests to share, and telling anyone who will listen about it. But nothing seems to be working.

What if you could make a few small changes and see an increase in your listenership? I’m not talking a huge shift in your content, hiring a team, or putting tons of time and money into ads. Those things CAN help — but only if you already have a good foundation to attract the right listeners to your podcast.

What I’m talking about is the fundamentals. That's what we'll talk about today.

Get your own podcast audit at podcastgrowthaudit.com

Links

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

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

Content Sawdust, NYTimes Paywalls Podcasts, Why Podcasts Fail (3 Things)

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:00:00 GMT

We're diving into the art of repurposing content with the "sawdust" approach, exploring the New York Times' bold move to put many of its podcasts behind a paywall, and dissecting the key reasons why podcasts fail. Whether you're looking to maximize your content's potential, understand industry shifts, or avoid common pitfalls, this episode has got you covered. Let's get started!

(00:00) - Intro
(00:21) - Creating Sawdust from Your Content
(04:24) - NYTimes to Paywall Podcasts
(09:19) - Why Podcasts Fail
(14:44) - That's It!

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

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

Should Your Podcast Have Seasons (or Just Breaks)?

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:00:00 GMT

Should my podcast have seasons? It's a common question, and honestly, I think there's a lot more nuance than people realize. That's certain true of me...at least until the last time I was asked.

My answer was “yes, probably.” There are a lot of reasons to have seasons. However, a friend of mine, Doc Rock, has a more tempered answer. He said that seasons should serve a purpose.

That’s when I realized he and I were using the term “Season” differently. While Doc was differentiating between seasons and breaks, I was not.

Let’s take a look at when seasons make sense, the difference between seasons and breaks, and the importance of planning for the long-term success of your podcast.

Read the full article here

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

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

Answering YOUR Questions Around Creating an Engaging Podcast

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:00:00 GMT

It's another Q&A Episode! I gather some question from listeners, particularly focusing on the length and frequency of episodes, content creation, and branding. I tackle:

Episode Length: There is no ideal length for a podcast episode; it should be as long as necessary to adequately cover the topic. Short, complete episodes are better than long, rambling ones.
Content Creation: Confidence in having enough content comes from choosing a topic within your expertise. Answering one question per episode can help maintain focus and provide valuable content.
Frequency: For new podcasters, weekly episodes are ideal, but bi-weekly can also work. Monthly episodes are not recommended unless the podcaster already has a large audience.
Branding: A branded podcast should be hosted on the brand's website to leverage SEO benefits. However, the podcast name should be something people are searching for, rather than the brand name itself.
Sponsorship: For branded podcasts, it's advisable to avoid competitor sponsorships. Initially, focus on driving traffic to the brand rather than seeking sponsors.

Want to submit a question? Fill out the Feedback Form

(00:00) - Welcome!
(01:42) - Finding enough to talk about
(05:28) - Integrating the podcast with your brand
(11:36) - How often should you publish episodes?
(14:09) - How long should episodes be?
(15:29) - Wrapping up

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

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

Libsyn + YouTube, Making Money, Trailer Swaps (3 Things)

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:00:00 GMT

3 Things in Podcasting for June 21st, 2024:

Libsyn Adds YouTube API Support Libsyn has integrated with YouTube's new podcast API, allowing creators to easily publish video versions of their podcasts directly to YouTube. This is a major development for video podcasters.
When to Start Monetizing Your Podcast Contrary to popular belief, you don't need massive download numbers to monetize a podcast. I argue that you should plan for monetization before even launching, through methods like sponsorships, product sales, affiliates, or memberships - don't just rely on CPM advertising.
Advice on Podcast Trailer Swaps I share great tips from Kieran McRae on creating effective 30-60 second podcast trailers for swapping with other shows to cross-promote audiences.

Join the mailing list Write in and give feedback

(00:00) - Introduction
(00:24) - Libsyn Adds YouTube API Support
(03:36) - When Should You Think About Making Money with Your Podcast?
(09:35) - Grow Your Podcast with Trailer Swaps
(13:19) - That's It

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

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

Podcast Ad Nauseam, Podroll, and Listening on 1.5x (3 Things in Podcasting)

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:00:00 GMT

It's another 3 Things in Podcasting!

In today's episode, I cover:

Sounds Profitable's Ad Nauseum report - I share my biggest takeaways and insights from this fascinating deep dive into how people listen to podcast ads and what we can do to improve them.

RSS.com and Transistor.fm's new Podroll feature - Discover how this cool community feature makes podcast discovery easier and why I hope to see more hosts and apps support it.

The debate: Should podcasts only be listened to at 1X speed? - I weigh in on this hot take and share my thoughts on how listening speed affects content consumption.

1. Sounds Profitable Ad Nauseam Report

2. RSS.com and Transistor add Podroll: - What is Podroll? - RSS.com's announcement | Transistor's announcement

3. Should you listen to podcasts on more than 1x?

(00:00) - Intro
(00:58) - Sounds Profitable Ad Nauseam Report
(17:15) - RSS.com and Transistor add Podroll
(20:53) - Should you listen to podcasts on more than 1x?

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

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

3 Things in Podcasting (VideoDub, Anchor, and Starting Right)

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:32:44 GMT

I'm trying a new series on this channel where I cover 3 things in podcast from the past week. Let me know on Twitter (@jcasabona) or via email (joe@casabona.org) what you think!

Bonus: RSS.com rolls out LIT

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:32 Three Things I'd Do Differently If I Started Podcasting Today 05:20 Neil Veglio's Take on Spotify for Podcasters 10:53 Riverside's New Video Dub Feature 13:06 Honorable Mention: Live Podcasting with rss.com

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

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

Coaching Call: Growing a Podcast Focused on Non-Profits

Fri, 31 May 2024 00:19:14 GMT

It's time for a live coaching call! Today, I'm sitting down with Joseph and Kelsey from Greater Than Zero Percent, a podcast dedicated to sharing the incredible stories of nonprofits around the world.

They're struggling with gaining engaged listeners, so that's primarily what we focus on.

Want to book your own coaching call?

- Go here to do a live one like Joseph and Kelsey: https://calendly.com/jcasabona/podcast-consultation-live - Go here if you want to keep the call private: https://calendly.com/jcasabona/podcast-coaching

We're diving deep into tips for podcast positioning, creating valuable social content, boosting engagement through a newsletter, and converting those clicks into real business opportunities!

We also explore how to front-load interviews with impactful content — looking at the best way to hook, and keep, new listeners.

If you feel like you're spinning your wheels trying to grow your show, this coaching call could be hugely helpful!

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

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

Should I Really Use Dynamic Ads for Mid-roll Sponsors?

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT

I wouldn’t call myself an avid Jurassic Park fan. I was a little shy of 8 when it came out, and being a young boy I did enjoy dinosaurs…and man did those dinosaurs look real at the time.

There are a few scenes I remember vividly from the movie. One is the scene where they’re in the car, the water rippling as the T-Rex approaches. The other is a commonly memed (is that right?) scene of Jeff Goldblum’s character, Dr. Ian Malcom, saying this:

“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could…they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

What does this have to do with podcast ads? Today, I'm exploring if I was so preoccupied with whether or not I could use Dynamic Ads, I never stopped to think if I should.

Show Notes

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

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

The Solo Podcaster's Tools Guide: Everything I Recommend

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:57:35 GMT

When I came up with the idea for Podcast Workflows — nearly a year ago at CEX 2023 — one of the aspects of the site was to have a “Tools” page — something that could showcase the tools used in the deep dives I was doing.

But I didn’t want to rush it. I wanted to focus on the content and see where the site went. Well, I'm happy to announce that the Tools Guide is finally live!

Show Notes

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

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

What Makes Good Podcast Artwork in 2024?

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 22:15:38 GMT

One of my favorite scenes from Scrubs happens in Season 3, Episode 1. Sarah Chalke’s character, Dr. Elliot Reid, is sitting on her bed, reflecting on the fact that she gets walked all over at work — and she decides to do something about it. With Tom Petty’s American Girl playing, she wrecks her room. She changes her look. She goes back to the hospital much more confident and as a result, she’s much more respected.

The confidence in her appearance matched the confidence she wanted to convey to her colleagues and patients.

I hate my podcast artwork.I think a lot has changed in the space since my show launched —so I decided to explore what makes good podcast artwork in 2024.

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

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

The Digital Storytelling Aspect of Podcasting

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:08:16 GMT

A family walks into a talent agency, and says, “Have we got the act for you…”

If you’re familiar with this opening to a joke, you may have had a visceral reaction to it — either you think it’s hysterically funny, shamefully disgusting, or both. It’s the opening to the joke, The Aristocrats, and if you have a weak stomach, I don’t suggest you look it up.

See, the point of this joke isn’t actually the punchline, which is right in the title. The point is to see how long you can improv a shocking, disgusting, offensive story.

You can think about it as a secret handshake among comedians, that became not so secret after a 2005 documentary came out about it.

It going me thinking about the importance of telling a story.

This week, I got to speak to my friend Nick Benson’s college classes about Digital Storytelling.

Don’t worry, I didn’t tell The Aristocrats.

Instead, I spoke to them about why storytelling is so important in any content you create, especially podcasting.

Read the article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/podcast-storytelling/

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

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

Thinking About Spotify, Exclusivity, Call Her Daddy, and Joe Rogan

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:33:58 GMT

Spotify has made a couple of big announcements this month. First, their second-biggest show, Call Her Daddy, ended exclusively rights. While the show will still be a Spotify show, it will be widely distributed (though video will still be exclusive to Spotify).

Then, the following weekend, the same thing is happened with The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE). It will soon be available on other platforms, after being completely exclusive to Spotify for the past 3+ years.

JRE’s renewal was also apparently a massive deal monetarily. It’s got me thinking a lot about podcasting and what’s in store for us.

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

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

What I Learned Doing a Daily Podcast

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:01:34 GMT

As I write this, I feel stuck between two idioms. The first is, “Shoot for the moon, and you’ll land among the stars.”

The second is, “he’s always swinging for the fences.”

The former has a positive connotation. If you aim high, even if you fall short, you’ll still do something great. The latter can be negative. You’re constantly trying to hit a home run (and striking out) when a single will do.

Last year I was pretty set on doing a daily podcast. I loved the idea of combining that with a mini podcast to create a fantastic back catalog of podcasting tips for anyone at any stage of podcasting.

It also allowed me to experiment and really understand what goes into creating a daily show.

The short: it’s a lot of work. I’m going to share everything I learned with you. Then you can decide if I was shooting for the moon to land among the stars, or swinging for the fences and striking out.

Read the full article here

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

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

Free Preview: Joe's Audio Notes

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:33:03 GMT

A few months ago I launched a free private podcast called Joe’s Audio Notes. The episodes are very short (7 minutes or less), where I share my thoughts on being a solopreneur, a podcaster, a parent, and other thoughts related to being a productive member of society.

I'm sharing 3 of the episodes here (which you can find in the chapter markers):

Thinking About my Content Strategy
How do you pick the right idea?
Battling the work hangover

If you like it, I'd love for you to join!

You can sign up for free here.

(00:00) - Intro
(01:22) - Thinking About my Content Strategy
(07:00) - How do you pick the right idea?
(12:42) - Battling the work hangover

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

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

What's Up with YouTube and Podcasting (3 Things)

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:00:00 GMT

In a shift in focus for 3 Things in Podcasting, I'm going to look at industry news and try to align it with a trend so that you can better improve (and optimize) your podcast processes.

There's been a lot in the news lately about stats and YouTube, and video podcasting in general — so that's what we'll look at today: how you should approach video for your podcast.

Links

(00:00) - - Intro
(02:28) - - Switching Podcast Hosts
(08:37) - - Podcasters who use Video
(13:21) - - How You Should Approach YouTube for Your Podcast

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

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

Give Your Listeners the Gift of Clear Audio with Riverside

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:49:39 GMT

Back when I started my podcast, if I wanted clear, uncompressed audio that didn’t have that random robot voice you’d get from an unstable connection, I’d need to do a few things:

Use Skype + eCamm Recorder (RIP) to record my audio cleanly.
Send my guest clear instructions on how to record their audio with either Quicktime on the Mac, or Voice Recorder on Windows.
Walk through the process with my guest to make sure they’re getting clean audio (that is, audio with no echo).
Still record a backup, just in case.
Give my guests a place where they could upload the audio.
Painstakingly sync the audio when I combined them in GarageBand or Audacity.

Things are different now. Now, we have Riverside.

Check out the full article here.

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

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

Should We Stop Repurposing Content (and Start Repurposing Ideas)?

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

At the beginning of 2023, it seemed that the maxim “repurpose your content” reached a fever pitch. More agencies are offering repurpose services, and we see lots more people posting the same content across multiple platforms. More people (myself included) are keeping video on for their podcasts to create clips from podcasts. With AI tools, that became easy. Feed one format into an AI and it spits out a different format.

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

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

How to get More Comfortable Behind the Mic

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

On my wedding day, I was standing inside the church, in front of the altar, welcoming the 200+ guests we had invited as they came in and found their seats.

My friend Alex came up to me at some point at said, “Joey — you look so calm and comfortable. On my wedding day, I was a nervous mess.”

It’s true. I was feeling great on my wedding day; I didn’t feel those nerves because I was used to being in front of people, and unlike some talks I gave, this was a friendly audience, ready to help us celebrate.

That experience reminds me of a question I got while speaking at a conference back in 2019: “How do you get more comfortable speaking into the microphone.” I loved it because while I often focus on the technical aspects of creating a podcast, there can be a real issue with getting comfortable recording, especially if you’re doing a solo show. So my answer: get your reps in.

Read the full story here: https://podcastworkflows.com/how-to-get-more-comfortable-behind-the-mic/

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

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

Upgrade’s Short Form Strategy is Worth Trying

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Upgrade is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to for Apple and tech industry news. I think they have some of the most measured takes and don’t fall victim to hyperbole.

One interesting thing about Upgrade and many (if not all) of the shows on that podcast network, Relay.fm, is that the hosts don’t see each other. They keep the video off, even for them.

Read the full story here: https://podcastworkflows.com/upgrades-short-form-strategy-is-worth-trying/

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

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

Voxalyze: The Google Analytics of Podcast Stats

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

One thing that’s as sure as the sunrise during the Christmas season is that kids and adults alike will look at the gifts under their tree and wonder what’s inside. They’ll stare at the box, hoping to find the answer without opening it.

Before the gifts are open, they can be anything. It’s left up to our imagination.

Podcast stats can feel a lot like that sometimes. That’s why today’s helpful podcaster tool is Voxalyze. I like to call it the Google Analytics of Podcasting.

Read the full story here: https://podcastworkflows.com/voxalyze/

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Can Short Form Video Help Podcasters?

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

There’s a reason that movies have teaser trailers. That TV shows have short “hits.” “Tonight, on a very special Blossom,” came from somewhere.

They are designed to create buzz, and entice viewers to go and watch the entire movie or episode when it comes out. And while they are a tried and true method for TV and movies, do they…or something analogous…work for podcasts?

Read the Entire Article Here

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Your Podcast Needs a Mission Statement

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Anyone can make a podcast, right? Just pull up a microphone, hit record, then publish it out to the world.

While it can be that easy, it’s not always that straightforward, particularly if you’re looking to use your podcast as a source of revenue. If you’re not considering who you want to reach and what would actually help them, you’re just a person on a mic shouting into the void. With just a little attention to your intentions, you won’t just have a tuned-in, active audience, but you’ll also have an easy pitch for sponsors and affiliates.

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Podcast Systems Breakdown: Lessons From American History Tellers

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:00:00 GMT

A recent favorite podcast of mine is American History Tellers from Wondery. After finding History Daily back in April, I followed host Lindsay Graham’s work more closely — I was already a fan of him from American Elections: Wicked Game and 1865.

One of the great things History Daily does is a “Saturday Matinee” episode, where they publish a full episode of another podcast. And in October of this year, he used that slot to promote the latest American History Tellers series on the Salem Witch Trials.

But while I strongly recommend podcast swaps, that’s not the workflow recommendation I have.

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Descript is the Swiss Army Knife of Podcasting

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 22:33:36 GMT

Batman’s utility belt. The Doctor’s Screwdriver from Doctor Who. Tommy Pickles’ toy Screwdriver1. These things could get our heroes out of whatever pinch they found themselves in.

They were a tool for any occasion. And that’s what Descript is for Podcasters.

Read the full article here

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What's Your Christmas Song? (It's Podcast Advent!)

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 22:50:57 GMT

I am one of the unholy people who commit the seasonal crime of listening to Christmas music too early. I get the itch around early November, but exercise restraint until a week before Thanksgiving.

Every year, I set aside some time to review and update both of my lists: the family-friendly one, and my personal list — a combination of classics and slightly more vulgar songs from my youth. This year, I came to a realization…

Read the full article here

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Can long podcasts compete with short attention spans?

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I actually think there are two misconceptions here. The first is we have shorter attention spans. TikTok increased its video length to 10 minutes, and the sweet spot for YouTube appears to be 12-20 minutes. People’s attention spans are short when they don’t care about the content. But when it’s good content, we can capture their attention.

And Podcasters can absolutely leverage short-form content, with just a little extra effort. They can keep the camera on while they record their podcast, and with some planning, make clear, succinct points to the camera…then repurpose those clips on social. OR after they record an episode, they can recap it in short form video OR audio.

Plus, episodes can be less than 5 minutes — and daily short podcasts are increasing in popularity.

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Sometimes you need to record twice

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I had a rough weekend a while back, my friends. One Thursday I started to feel sick with the plague my children brought home from school. And I thought I had successfully avoided it.

Still, I was feeling well enough to write scripts for one of my solo episodes before resting up. I figured I'd record it on Saturday...after I did rest.

And I did. But it was a disaster. I was rambling, coughing, getting winded, and stopping...a lot. It was not quality content.

I could have just released that, knowing I had an arbitrary deadline of Monday at 2am ET. But episodes like this —long, no single focus, hard to find a clear story — needed to be tight and helpful. This was not.

So I decided to take Sunday and rest some more, hoping Monday would see me with more energy and stamina.

Which it did! I re-recorded the entire episode and released it later than usual...but in much better shape.

You don’t always need to hit your arbitrary deadlines. And while most of this show is dedicated to helping you build a system to not be in the same position I was…well, sometimes it doesn’t work out.

When that happens, it’s better to take a moment and prioritize quality content over a deadline most people won’t notice you missed.

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Find Your Bottle Neck

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:34:57 GMT

One of my least favorite things in the whole world is traffic. Mostly because traffic without a big causal event (like an accident, or road work) has always been super confusion to me. It seems like there no traffic, then traffic for NO reason, then all of a sudden it's gone. But the truth is, traffic is usually not due to one big event. It's a bunch of little things that add up to one big bottleneck.

Your podcast process can be similar. Here's how to prevent the bottleneck.

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How Friends Grew Their Viewership (and How You Can, Too)

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I'm a huge Friends fan. Like...watch the whole series multiple times per year. Did you know they did something in Season 1 to grow their viewership 25%? Season 1, Episode 16 was called, “The One with Two Parts, Part 1,” it was the first of a crossover event with two other NBC shows. Before landing the role of Phoebe on Friends, Lisa Kudrow was a waitress named Ursula on NBC’s hit show Mad About You, also set in NYC. The show wrote them as twin sisters, and Ursula was introduced to the Friends audience in Episode 16 when Joey started dating her. Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle, who played the main characters on Mad About You, also make an appearance, mistaking Phoebe for Ursula at Central Perk, a common hangout in Friends. But it doesn’t stop there. At the end of Episode 16, Rachel falls and hurts her ankle. Episode 17 opens with her and Monica at the Hospital, where they meet two young doctors, played by George Clooney and Noah Wyle, the stars of ER. The results of that cross-over event? The most-viewed episode before that arc had 26M views and guest-starred Morgan Fairchild as Chandler’s mom. After that, the average viewership was 29.8M per episode. What can podcasters learn from this? Get in front of other people’s audiences. The Friends team knew that pulling in Mad About You and ER cast would bring the fans. After all – they were similar shows (daily lives of young people in big cities), at similar times, on the same network. You can replicate this strategy 2 ways:

Going on other people's podcasts as a guest
Doing podcast swaps, where you and another podcast plug each other shows I did each of these and grew my own show from 33,000 monthly downloads to 72,000 monthly downloads in 10 months. Not bad, right? Now it's your turn. Write back and let me know: what are 2-3 podcasts you can work with on a podcast swap?

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The best way to answer “Who are you and what do you do?

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I want you to think about the times you make introductions to people. Maybe you’re introducing a coworker to your spouse, or a friend from one area of your life to a friend in another area of your life. You likely say something like, “Bob, this is Jean. Jean, Bob. Bob is one of the best copywriters I know! And Jean is fantastic at graphic design.” What you don’t do is say, “Bob, Jean. Jean. Bob. Now tell each other what you do,” because they’d both be caught off-guard. If you ask me, “What is the worst question podcasters commonly ask their guests,” you’ll get one, unequivocal answer from me:

So tell us who you are and what you do.

And while I’ve spoken about [why podcasters shouldn’t ask that question], if you go on podcasts, chances are you’re getting it. So how, as a podcast guest, do you turn that into a way to stand out? Let’s start with what not to do first. Perhaps the worst answer you can give is a rehash of your bio. It’s likely that the host already told people who you are, reading a provided bio or recording an intro after your interview. Plus, people can just read your bio. Instead, what you want to do is deliver value right out of the gate. What I try to do is tell a story that clearly illustrates how I help people — which means I need to know the topic and audience ahead of time. If we’re talking about podcast sponsorship, I’m telling people about how podcasting saved my business. If we’re talking about workflows, I’m telling people how I knew something needed to change when I completely burned out in 2020.

This does a couple of things:

It helps people learn a little bit more about me without me just rereading my bio.
It makes people emotionally invested in my story. The people I help can empathize with stories I tell.
It illustrates the kind of transformation I can do for them. So how can you do this? The answer is tell a story. I write [all about digital storytelling here]. Your goal is to tell a story of transformation, make the listener the hero, and position yourself as the guide. You want to communicate to the listener that:
I see you
I’ve been where you were
I know the way out
I can help you Why does this matter? Because a great podcast interview can do a lot of things for you. It can grow your authority. It can get people onto your mailing list and reach new clients. It can be a gold mine for creating your own content. But a bad one is basically just wasted time. It won’t be good for the podcast, and it won’t be good for you. But if you start strong, win over the audience early, and steer the conversation in the direction you need it to go in, it can be a huge boon for you in both the short- and long term.

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What Platform Should You Use for Memberships?

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Let’s talk about memberships….specifically the platforms. In the last few years, setting up a membership has gone from “hire a developer to build a custom site” to “I barely need a dedicated website anymore.”

So let’s look at a few options that are good for podcast memberships. Memberful. They are really trying to corner the market on podcast memberships, and they’re doing a good job. Rich features, lots of integrations, and is free to start.

The only drawback in my eyes is the price: $0 + 10% transaction fee or $25/mo + 4.9% transaction fee. Both transaction fees are higher than you should pay.

Patreon, on the other hand, pretty much only charges you if you make money. They are also the first major membership platform for creators and have added lots of great features, including private podcast feeds.

LemonSqueezy + Transistor.fm : This one takes a little bit of duct tape to work perfectly, but since you can sell subscriptions (and a members-only newsletter) with LemonSqueezy, you can use a tool like Zapier or Make to connect those purchases to a podcast host that supports private podcasts, like Transistor. When someone purchases via LemonSqueezy, you can have Zapier create a private subscriber.

ConvertKit has ConvertKit Commerce, but if you're considering this route, be aware: it's only really good for a premium newsletter.

One of the many WordPress membership plugins. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention WordPress…but to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend starting with it. If you’d like to see an in-depth comparison, my friend Chris did one.

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Membership Perks: Low Effort, High Value

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Membership…that is, charging a listener monthly for bonus content…is a great way to make money with your podcast. But you need to be cautious. It’s tempting to offer a TON of bonuses to make the membership seem more valuable. But what if no one…or even worse…ONE person…signed up. If one person signs up, you’re on the hook for all of those extras. Instead, take this approach: First, test the waters. Ask your mailing list or listeners what they want to see more of. Don’t ask them if they would pay (most people will say yes to theoretical spending). Just ask what they want to see more of. Guage response. If no one responds, focus on building your audience first. But if a good number of people respond, it’s time to start thinking about your perks. Start with low-hanging fruit. I like to call those things low effort, high reward. In my membership, it’s an extra 10-minute conversation with my guests that’s for members only. It’s removing ads. It’s an extra video or episode. These are raw, but they are behind-the-scenes looks that only they get. Come up with 2-3 of these perks that won’t take you a TON of time. Then email the people who responded with a special price. If you want to price it at $6/mo, offer it to them at $5/mo for a limited time. Tell them you’ll even extend it to friends and coworkers. See how many people buy in. Then announce it to the world — your mailing list, on your podcast, on social media. And make sure you deliver. Low effort and high reward perks make it easier for you to do that.

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Breaking Down The Breakdown: A Grand Experiment in Branded Podcasts

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Aaron Eckhart’s version of Harvey Dent said that in Christopher Nolan’s penultimate Batman film, The Dark Knight.

Since its release in 2008, that quote has been referenced and misappropriated to fit situations because, let’s be honest, it’s a cool quote.

Well, you can add another reference to the pile because it’s the first quote that came to mind when I thought about prolific podcaster Matt Medeiros: “You either podfade or you podcast long enough to try every format.”

Matt has certainly been around the block. He had perhaps the first popular WordPress business podcast, The Matt Report. He has a short-form news podcast called The WP Minute. Finally, he has a locally focused podcast, We Are Here, celebrating businesses from South Coast, MA.

And now he hosts Breakdown, a podcast by the popular forms plugin, Gravity Forms, for Gravity Forms users and web builders.

Even though podcasting has been around for a while, most brands are just now coming around to their importance as part of a greater content strategy.

I wanted to capture Breakdown’s story as it’s starting. It’s easy to say after it’s worked that it was the right decision. We’re still at the point where Matt and the Gravity Forms team are experimenting. And that’s a great thing for brands and podcasters alike to see.

IN THIS EPISODE

No matter how many downloads your podcast gets, it can be an integral part of your overall content strategy.
Create case studies from interviews you publish on your podcast — whether you’re a brand or a solopreneur.
Be open to experiments. You never know what will resonate with your audience.

Read the full article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/branded-podcast-case-study/

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Creating Short Form Videos

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I’ve decided – with a push from my new video editor, Zach – to create short-form videos for episodes. This required me to do a couple of things.

The first is actually recording video. I’ve toyed with this in the past, and with other podcasts, but I’ve never done it consistently for How I Built It.

Part of it was that I never thought straight interviews were compelling videos. But the other part was I didn’t think the effort for short form was worth it.

It still might not be. But now I’m willing to try. More on that in a minute.

The other thing I needed to do was update my guest notes. I made it pretty clear in the notes that it was an audio-only podcast – so I updated that to say “Video will be recorded, but only for social media.”

This wasn’t crucial, but courteous, as some folks want to make sure they’re camera-ready.

So what’s my strategy?

Right now, I’m mostly testing. I’ll post 3-4 videos per week on TikTok, X (neé Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube Shorts and see what happens.

I also made a discovery about TikTok as it relates to podcasting. I’ve added a new video for members of the Foundry and will be more open about my experiments there.

For now, I’d love to know if you have a short-form video strategy. If so, respond to this email and let me know!

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Share Your Journey

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, I had 2 conversations that really shaped how I view making content moving forward

The first was Tim Stoddart of Copyblogger. He’s a prolific writer, a fantastic business owner, and super down-to-earth.

He told me he doesn’t like the term “build in public.” He prefers to say, “Share your journey.”

I love this because you’re not giving people a blueprint to follow (despite what the Thread Bois says).

You’re telling people what you’re doing, and what’s working for YOU.

Then I did a deep dive on Justin Jackson and John Buda’s Build in Public podcast.

They shared their own journey of building a SaaS in a crowded market in 2018. And the podcast took off.

I’m definitely focusing on long-form content more. But when I’m stuck, especially when I want to deliver for my members, I’m going to share my journey.

Do something. Tell people you did it. Tell people how you did it.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Unless you’re literally doing nothing, you’ll always have something to share.

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Grow Your Podcast with These 5 Steps

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:10:28 GMT

Here are 5 things you can do to grow your podcast:

1. Get a Decent Mic. You don’t need to spend $400, but you should use a decent USB mic. I recommend the ATR-2100x

2. Don’t just record and release. Too many people just record a Zoom call and release it as a podcast. Listeners expect more than that these days.

3. Do a little research. Don’t go in cold. If you’re interviewing someone, do some background work on them and don’t have them introduce themselves — get right to the heart of the interview. If it’s a solo show, fact-check yourself and have an outline.

4. Make it easy to share episodes. Have an easy-to-remember URL, and have the share buttons on the episodes page! Help people help you!

5. Make helpful social media posts. Don’t just point a link to the episode. Create useful content on the platform, then link to the episode for more context.

Each of these shows your listeners that you've decided to go the extra mile and put a little more effort into your show for them.

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Use Dynamic Content for Timely CTAs

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT

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. There are lots of services that allow this, like Transistor and Buzzsprout, which makes it super easy. The way it works is this:

You upload your episodes
You upload the audio clip you want dynamically inserted
You mark whether it’s a pre-roll, post-roll, or mid-roll ad You can also (based on the service) set an expiration date, or manually turn it on or off. This allows you to do a few things, but the two I’m using it for are:
Selling a limited run ad-campaign (so a 30 day mid-roll on specific episodes)
Dynamically changing my call to action depending on the time of year. I got the latter idea from my guest Sam Munoz . Most of the year, I’m promoting my newsletter (this very newsletter, in-fact). But when there's some time-based event or special, I’ll be promoting that instead, without have to re-edit every episode.

What do you think of DAI? Can you see it being useful for your podcast?

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Everything That Goes Into Making a Daily Podcast

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 15:31:41 GMT

There’s a myth that if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. I say it’s a myth because it’s been debunked. Several times.

The truth is, no matter how long a habit takes you to form, the more complicated it is, the more easily broken it is.

So producing a podcast is likely not a habit you’re forming. It’s work you’re doing, as efficiently as possible, without sacrificing content. But listening to a podcast, that can be a habit.

It’s why I often tell my clients and students that you don’t need a weekly show, but a monthly show can be a tough sell if you want to be part of someone’s routine.

So as I work on the next deep dive, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about how to produce a daily podcast, and where I can improve.

👉 IN THIS EPISODE

A daily podcast can be an incredible authority-building asset for you
Pick a format and topic that lends itself to your business goals
Batching content is a super important aspect of a daily podcast

Read the full article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/daily-podcast-process/

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Stop Using Zoom to Record Your Podcast

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

In an episode of the now-retired show Podcast Pontifications, Evo Terra drops a truth bomb for all the “record to tape” or “record and release” podcasters:

But if you look at the larger universe of podcasting, which is now millions of podcasts strong, you’ll see that podcast listeners are voting for the kinds of shows that take more time and care than can be put into a linear record and release style of podcast.

He was talking about people who record a show and then release it as is (known as record and release, or record to tape). But from that ailment comes another symptom: people using Zoom to record.

You need to stop using Zoom.

Similar to Evo’s point above, listeners today more than ever expect quality. They want you to sound like you’re in the room with your guest.

And that’s easier than ever with great tools like Riverside.fm, which records everyone’s audio locally, and separately. No weird robot video from bad internet connections here.

This is important because bad audio can erode trust, which could stifle your podcast’s growth, and your ability to establish expertise.

One of the reasons I feel my show grew quickly is because I’ve added a commitment to the best possible audio quality from the very beginning.

If you’re not sure where to start, I strongly recommend Riverside.fm. It’s affordable, well-made, and the most reliable of the tools I’ve used.

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The Perfect Way to Describe Your Podcast (and get more listeners)

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT

Does anyone know you so well, they can describe you in a single sentence?

When I was at Craft + Commerce, Mike Pacchione gave some great advice for when you tell stories:

When describing someone, use a single sentence that instantly tells the listener who they are. Here’s an example:

My dad always told people, “Joe would argue with Jesus Christ if he came off the cross.”

You probably think I’m…opinionated, to put it nicely.

You should do the same thing with your podcast, and episodes.

What would that look like?

If I’m describing my show How I Built It , I might say, “You get free coaching sessions from the best creators.”

I can then extend that out to specific episodes. “You get one coaching session from Mike on Public Speaking,” for example.

For this show, I can say, "Bite-sized tips to help you improve your podcast process."

As you figure out the best one-liner for your podcast, keep your show’s mission in mind.

The one-liner can be based on the mission, or even define it.

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Do Short-form Teaser Videos on TikTok

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

One way to grow your podcast audience is to leverage the audience you have on other platforms.

Short-form video can be a particularly effective medium here because many of those platforms, like TikTok, prioritize discovery over followers.

So here's what you do:

1) Record a short-form video (vertical, 60 seconds long), taking about one thing from a recent podcast interview or episode. I try to do this right after I record the episode, so it's fresh in my mind.

2) Upload it to TikTok, Instagram Reels (which can also post to your Stories and Facebook), and YouTube Shorts.

3) Include a CTA and link to subscribe to your podcast or newsletter so they don't miss the episode.

This will add 5-10 minutes per episode, but if it doesn't right, can funnel people to your show and create new fans.

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Listener Donations: Make it Easy!

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

One low barrier for entry these days is asking for donations from listeners. It likely won’t be a huge money maker at first, but it’s an easier sell than a membership.

When a listener really enjoys your content, they can send you a few bucks.

So what are some platforms that make it as easy as possible for listeners to donate? Here are three:

Buy Me a Coffee : Popular among podcasters, Buy Me A Coffee allows you to create a profile, connect a Stripe account, and start accepting donations (usually in $5 intervals) super fast.

ConverKit: ConvertKit is the ESP for creators, as evidenced by the fact that they have a ton of features to help creators. That includes a “tip jar” on a custom domain for people to send you money – on the free plan

GiveWP : If you use WordPress for your website, GiveWP is a fantastic option. It’s free, you can set your own donation levels, and everything neatly integrates with your WordPress site.

Once you select your donation platform, you can add it to your show notes (a big benefit of GiveWP is embedding the form on the show notes page), make it your CTA, or include it in your newsletter.

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Podcast Audit: How to Grow the Brand Your Passion Podcast

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:00 GMT

The #1 question potential listeners will ask when they find your podcast is, "What's in it for me."

Optimize for that question and that experience and you will get more listeners.This was the crux of what we covered when Hollie Arnett hired me for a podcast audit of her show, Brand Your Podcast.

In this episode we'll cover the Top 8 takeaways from that audit, as well as what Hollie should do next.

If you want to get your own Podcast Growth Audit, you can do so here: https://podcastliftoff.com/audit

And if you want to watch the entire, unedited audit, check out this video.

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

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

Transcripts Help Grow Your Podcast

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Something that many new podcasters are resistant to is transcripts, and it’s perfectly understandable why.

The free/cheap AI-generated ends up taking more work because they aren’t super accurate, and human-written ones cost a lot of money that many podcasters feel they don’t have.

But if you want to grow your podcast, you need transcripts.

And let's be honest: the AI-generated transcripts are WAY more accurate today than even 6 months ago.

Not only do they make your show accessible to those who physically cannot listen, but they also provide more text and content for Google (and even podcast apps) to search.

Luckily, there are some helpful tools when it comes to transcripts. If you’re interested, I wrote all about it here:

Why Your Podcast Needs Transcripts

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

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Placing Your Call to Action

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

We’ve all had the experience of an over-eager salesperson.

The moment they see you, you're marked as a potential sale and you’re immediately asked if you want to buy whatever they’re selling.

And even if you walked into the store, expressing some level of interest, it still feels icky.

That's kind of what it feels like when you open your podcast with a CTA.

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Have You Considered a Private Podcast?

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

People love bonus content. They love a look behind the scenes. And they love exclusivity.

For these reasons, and plenty more, private podcasting is a great way to make money. But what is a private podcast?

Put in the clearest terms, a private podcast is one that only certain people can access. Maybe they are students in a class, employees at a company, or members of club.

Use Cases

With a private podcast, you can charge for access and give people a private link to your feed. This works super great for memberships where you want to offer bonus episodes or ad-free episodes.

But if you’re a coach or consultant, you can include a private podcast as part of your fee. Maybe you send regular affirmations, or even supplementary advice based on your last call.

If you teach a course, you can release bonus or additional lessons in a private podcast, or answer student questions in a way that’s easily consumable for them.

Where to Start

There are several ways to offer private podcasts, including built-in support through Apple and Spotify. Other more accessible options:

Are you interested in starting a private podcast? Let me know, and send along any questions you might have!

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

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

Growth Hack: Delete "In this episode" From Descriptions

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

A few emails ago I told you to stop putting episode numbers in titles because it doesn't entice listeners. It doesn't give them any information about the episode.

The same thing goes with starting your descriptions with, "In this episode..."

I understand why you'd want to use it, but people looking at podcasts will already know this is an episode. "In this episode" takes up precious space in search engines that could be used for something better...something that is more pertinent to the listener.

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

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All the Benefits of a Brand Focused Podcast for Justin Jackson and Transistor

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

It feels fitting that Justin Jackson and Jon Buda referenced 37signals in their very first episode of Build Your SaaS because they were “eating their own dog food,” or “dogfooding” their product.

They were launching a podcast about building a podcast hosting company, which they were using to host their podcast.

What does this have to do with 37signals? They are perhaps the best example of dogfooding in the modern era1.

But the podcast became more than just a way for them to dog food their product. It became a chronicle of how they created a new company — a new SaaS. And one in a crowded field to boot.

And since building in public is hugely popular, the podcast has benefitted them in a ton of other ways too.

Build Your SaaS is really a testament to how beneficial a branded podcast can be to a company.

Let’s take a look at why, and what lessons you can take from them.

IN THIS EPISODE

Build in public. You never know who’s going to extract value from your story.
Cut down on research by picking a topic you already know, or are actively learning.
Consider lesser-known, niche-specific promotional channels for your show.

Read the article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/transistor-brand-podcast/

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

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

Do a Behind the Scenes Episode

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Don't you love a good peek behind the curtain?

I do. It helps me get a concrete look at how to do things, and by extension, how I can do things.

That's why you should do a Behind the Scenes episode.

Show your listeners how you built a product, service, or process. Be detailed about it! It will prove that you think through your problems to find good solutions. This is another trust-builder.

Bonus idea: Use these episodes to build your list. Maybe do a 2-parter, where listeners get the second part exclusively by joining your email list!

Your turn: what's something interesting you've done that would make for a good BTS episode. It can be anything from a blog post you wrote, to a site you launched, or even how you make your podcast!

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

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How to Figure Out What to Automate in Your Podcast Workflow

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Imagine being told you need to get your wedding, and that’s it. No time. No date. No location. Just, “You need to get to your wedding.”

You’d feel kind of stuck, right? Surely there are people who know that information. You’d think it would be part and parcel with, “You need to get to your wedding.”

That’s kind of how it feels when someone tells you, “You need to automate.”

What should you automate? How should you automate it? How do you know if you can automate it?

Well, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself to figure our what you don’t have to do, but the are also categories of tasks to help you figure out if a task is worth automating.

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Episode Idea: Customer Spotlight

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Some people don’t like talking about themselves all the time. And that’s perfectly fine. A great way to get content without making it self-centered is by highlighting someone else’s success. That’s why today’s episode is client/customer spotlights.

Listeners love content they can relate to. If you can pick a customer or client and highlight how they’ve been able to improve using your product or service, that will be great content for you.

Be sure to make the episode about the client, and the audience, and not about you. This can be in the form of a narrated case study, or it can be an interview you do with the client.

Check out my more in-depth look at customer spotlights over on the GoWP blog.

Your task: think about a client or customer you really delivered for, and why. Then turn it into an episode!

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When to Reach Out to Sponsors

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

When it comes to Podcast sponsorship outreach, you likely will think you need a few weeks lead time. But you probably need a month or more. So today’s tip: Start way before you think you need to. Most brands/sponsors aren’t ready to drop money as soon as you email them, or even within the same week. And bigger brands might have a NET-30 or NET-60 payment schedule for invoices, meaning that money won’t even come in for a while. So don’t start when you see you need sponsors for upcoming episodes. You should have a sort of sales funnel for regular outreach — I’ve had brands decline, then come back in 6-12 months.

Oh and a bonus tip: most organizations are setting budgets at the end of the year. I reach out to all previous and potential sponsors in early October to lock up sponsorship for the upcoming year. Put that one on your calendar.

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

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How Jay Clouse is Taking the Walt Disney Approach with his Podcast

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Imagine creating not one, not two, but THREE versions of every podcast episode you produce.

That’s what Jay Clouse does with Creator Science. See, last year he made the decision to make his podcast “YouTube-first,” which means focusing on video production, then mastering it for audio.

If you produce a podcast, you already know that it’s time-consuming. While Christina Nicholson showed us it doesn’t have to take a lot of time for you personally, there’s still a lot that goes into an episode.

And Jay is creating a YouTube version, an audio version, and a separate Spotify video version. This is complicated by the fact that Jay’s revenue model varies depending on the platform.

But this work isn’t for nothing! As we’ll see, he’s making a few long-term bets about the future of podcast content.

👉 IN THIS EPISODE

Why building a relationship with your listeners is crucial
How leveraging new technology can make you tell better stories
Thinking outside the box for monetization models
Leveraging the network effect to grow your podcast

Read the article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/podcast-video-storytelling/

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

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

Growth Hack: Stop Putting Episode Number in the Title

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Quite often, I see podcasters sharing their podcast episodes and they've titled something like: Episode 12: Jim Rodgers Would you click on this if you came across it on social media? Probably not. This doesn't tell you anything about what you'll learn in the episode. Even worse, this does nothing for SEO...most people aren't randomly Googling episode numbers. Stop putting the episode number in your title. Your episodes should be treated as any other searchable content. That means a title that entices people to click through and listen.

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

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Have You Considered Mini Podcasting?

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

Something that turns lots of people away from podcasting (both before and after starting) is how much time and work it takes.

But you don't need long interview shows. In fact, there's a new type of podcast that's gaining popular: the mini podcast.

Here's why starting a mini-podcast (or pivoting your current show that way) might be a good idea:

They are usually less than 20 minutes
They're generally solo shows (no coordinating guests)
They allow you to showcase your expertise
They are easier to batch

Interested? I cover them more on my own mini-podcast here.

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

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

Doing it Wrong: "I can just record and release."

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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:

The tools got better. It’s a lot easier to just record and publish a podcast.
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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Is Your Podcast Everywhere?

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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)

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

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

How Christina Nicholson Uses Her Podcast for Lead Generation in her Business

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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.

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

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

Making Time to Podcast (Without Taking Up All Your Time)

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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!

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

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

Your Network is Your Show's Lifeblood

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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.

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

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

Don't Try to do Everything

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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?

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

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

Monetize Without Being Smarmy: The SMASH Framework

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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!

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

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

How the Trailer Park Podcast Got 10,000 Downloads in 6 Weeks

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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/

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

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

Build Your Email List

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

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.

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

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How to be a Consistent Podcaster

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 10:00:00 GMT

“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?

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

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How Podcasters Can Get Good Stories from Bad Interviews (Coaching Call)

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 16:15:33 GMT

Amie was struggling to get good conversations from her legally technical guests, so she reached out for a coaching call where we discussed a number of things:

- Weaving story into the answers your guests give - The importance of a pre-interview - How to make sure your guest gives the best stuff during the recording - Permission to nix a bad interview.

If you want your own coaching call, head to https://podcastliftoff.com/coaching/ - Mention this and the permission to publish YOURS, and I'll give you a discount.

Join my Podcast Workflows newsletter: https://podcastworkflows.com

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Season 4 is Coming and the Show is Better Than Ever

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 22:13:39 GMT

You love your podcast, but you spend too much time on. Don't worry! You're not alone. After my first daughter was born in 2017, I noticed a monumental shift in my time. I used to run a side hustle nearly full time, while also maintaining a full time job. But, as they say, kids change everything. I didn’t seem to have enough time in the day to run my own business, while also making time for my family. Then our babysitter quit.

I knew it was time to make a change or drowned.

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

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Generative AI for Solo Podcasters: Does It Actually Save Time?

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:00:00 GMT

You know what the problem with most podcast repurposing tools is? As programmers say, garbage in, garbage out. If your inputs are bad, your outputs are bad. So today, we're going to look at how the hero's journey can help us write better podcast episodes, and that, in-turn, will give us better inputs for AI for content repurposing (AND planning).

Links

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

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AI Tools for Podcasters: Save Time on Your Podcast Workflow

Thu, 18 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Today, I explore the world of generative AI for podcasters. You'll learn how podcasters can benefit from AI tools like ChatGPT, Descript, and others for research, summarization, scheduling, and script writing. While AI can assist with various parts of the process, we need to remember it cannot replace the emotional connection created by a human’s voice. Don’t miss out on this practical episode full of tips for podcasters looking to incorporate AI into their workflow.

Links

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

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

The Podcast Workflow That Saves Me the Most Time: Guest Booking

Thu, 11 May 2023 21:02:53 GMT

Booking podcast guests can be a mess without the right tools. Missing one step can mean a bad recording, forgotten instructions, or unprepared interviewees. They might never get the right invite, or the right link. That’s why I’ve automated my entire podcast guest booking process. I don't need to remember anything, and my guests fully know what to expect. Today, I’m going to show you this crucial podcast workflow and how I automate booking guests for my podcast.

Links/Resources

How to Easily Book Podcast Guests
Calendly for scheduling, email reminders, and calendar invites
Make sure to connect Calendly to everything else.
Riverside for Recording Episodes
Airtable for the show schedule/organizing
Google Docs for Show notes

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

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

Automate and Delegate: My Podcast Workflow as a Solo Podcaster

Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Recently, I was on a panel where someone asked, “How can you possibly run 3 podcasts? I struggle with one!”

The clearest answer is I’ve been doing this for 10 years. Because of that, I have a clear system in place for how I create podcast content.

At the heart of that is automation and delegation. When it comes to automating your podcast, you probably have a few important roles:

Creating the content
Talking
Generating income

Everything else can be removed from your plate. Here’s what I do with my coaching clients:

On day one we make a list of everything they do to produce 1 episode.
We group those tasks into planning, pre-production, production, post-production, and promotion.
I work with them to automate or delegate as much as possible.

I strongly recommend you do the same. And in today's episode, I tell you how.

Links

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

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

9 Bad Pitch Archetypes to Avoid in Your Own Pitches

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 06:03:00 GMT

Want to get on more podcasts? There's something you need to know.

There are SO many bad podcast pitches. From the shameless to the clueless, standing out is as easy as showing the host you care more about their audience than about your personal PR.

To do that, AVOID these Bad Pitch Archetypes.

Links

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

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

The RIGHT Way to Pitch Podcasts

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Going on someone’s podcast can be a great way to establish your authority and promote your work, right? Wrong. Well…it is right, but it shouldn’t be your primary motive. Much like how the intentions behind your actions get you into The Good Place, your intentions for reaching out to a podcast host and coming on the show also need to be good. Otherwise, the host and the audience will see right through it. So how do you get on someone’s podcast?

Show Notes

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Repurpose for Success: Your Content Flywheel

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Content reuse is a tale as old as time. Disney, when making Robin Hood, famously re-used stills from Snow White and The Jungle Book in order to save money when their budgets were low. While the discovery of this practice was frowned upon for Disney, we should look at it as a smart thing. We're saving time where you reusing our message to reach new people.

That's why, in today's episode, I'm going to teach you all about my Content Flywheel.

Show Notes

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

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

Are You an Effective Podcast Guest?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Are you an effective podcast guest? Much like podcast swaps, this can be a great way to grow your show. But you need to do a good job! So how can you be an effective podcast guest? I have 3 tips:

Provide Value. Ask the host about their audience, what their problems are, and do you best to offer actionable advice.
Don’t self-promote too much. You don’t want to come off as salesy or smarmy the whole time. If you’re only pushing your own stuff, you’re not providing value…and it’s obvious.
Have a landing page and clear call to action

Want to learn more? Listen on!

Show Notes

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

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

What Gen-Z Listening Habits Mean for Podcasting

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at my high school alma mater’s Career Day about being a podcast coach and content creator.

It was an opportunity to teach students about what I do, but it was also a learning opportunity for me. I’ve been listening to podcasts essentially since some of these students were in diapers (or even before they were born). I’ve been podcasting since they were my oldest daughter’s age.

What I found was fascinating.

Show Notes

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

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

Use Your Podcast to Build Your Authority

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Are you using your podcast to build your own authority? Most people aren't. See, if you have an interview podcast, you probably aren’t. Instead, I recommend you do this:

1. Start working in short, 20 minute or less episodes into your show. 2. Pick topics that allow you to showcase your expertise and solve a problem. 3. Have a super clear CTA to join your mailing list or schedule a free call.

If you’re a coach, course creator, or author, these episodes will be an incredible way for your to get listeners to know, like, and trust you.

Listen for a deeper dive.

And be sure to check out my guide on Mini Podcasting too!

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

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

A Podcast Post Mortem with Trudie Avery [Coaching Call]

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:00:00 GMT

We've got another coaching call for you today, but it's a little bit different than the other coaching calls that I've done. That's because Trudie Avery is shutting down her podcast. So instead of a coaching call on what she can do to improve her podcast, we're doing a little bit of a post-mortem.

Trudie's biggest problem, as you'll come to find out, is positioning. She is a branding expert, but her show was about starting a brand new business. So what we discuss is passion projects versus projects that have a measurable ROI for your business. We get into what she could have done differently and what the future holds.

Show Notes

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

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

Podcasts are Coming to YouTube Music

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Over the past several months, I’ve covered YouTube a few times, and made the arguments for and against video in podcasting. And if you’re in the “I don’t want to add video to my podcast” camp, there’s good news that came out of Hot Pod Summit ’23.

Head of YouTube Podcasting Kai Chuk was in attendance and announced that podcasts are coming to YouTube Music — but that’s not all he announced.

Read the full article here

Show Notes

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

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

Podcast Audit: The Lovable Survivor

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT

There are a lot of moving parts to launching and producing a podcast! Lots you need to think about...not just about putting the content together and recording it and editing, but about how you present your show.

Last week , I shared with you my 7-Point Framework for podcast growth.

I also shared with you that I am offering podcasts audits, where I apply that framework and give you objective and honest feedback on how you can grow your show. Today, I'm excited to bring you one of those audits.

Show Notes

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

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

How to Grow Your Podcast Using the 7-Point Growth Framework

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 19:00:00 GMT

One of the biggest struggles for podcasters is growth. Getting more downloads, more engaged listeners, more leads! That’s why I put together a 7-point podcast growth framework. If you want to grow your show, do these 7 things:

Make sure you’re in all the podcast directories
Review Title and Description
Review of Episode titles and descriptions to attract more listeners (and for SEO)
Rework your CTA
Be intentional with your intro/first 60 seconds
Identify podcasts for episode swaps
Figure out how you’ll make money

Show Notes

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

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

Is Your Podcast a Painkiller?

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Are most of the podcasts you listen to for fun, or for growth? If you're like 74% of podcast listeners, you listen to podcasts to learn new things. That's why your podcast should be a painkiller. And today, I'm going to give you all the reasons why.

Show Notes

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

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

What Would You Do with an Extra 10 Hours Per Month?

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Tell me if this sounds familiar: you have a great interview with a guest. Now it’s time to edit. You’re using software you’re still kind of learning. And this interview has a slightly different issue you haven’t seen before, so you’re watching YouTube videos on how to remove AC hum from your guest’s audio. You feel like you said “um” too much so you’re trying to remove some, but not all of them. You don’t want to sound unnatural.

Even though the interview was only 30 minutes, the edit takes 2 hours. That’s at least 3 other interviews you could have done.

Instead, you can hire an editor who, for less than $50, can do the full edit and send you back a file that sounds better than anything you’ve done.

And you need to ask yourself: Is your time worth $25/hr?

Show Notes

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

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

How can I turn my newsletter into a podcast?

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Want to know a secret that saves me a TON of time (and can save YOU time too)?

This podcast isn’t the only place you’ll see this content. You’ll see it on Instagram, on LinkedIn, and in my newsletter. The process is easier than you’d think. Here’s how mine works.

Show Notes

First, I put the text of these posts into a Google Doc. This ensures that both my VA and I can access it.

I also have an automaiton that moved that Google Doc into Airtable. Listen to the podcast to learn more about that!

From our project tracker (we use Airtable), she knows to take those docs and use a Canva template to turn the text into a set of images for LinkedIn and Instagram.

Now I have the basic text. I use that as the basis for my next Profitable Podcaster episode.

The Google Doc is basically my outline! I may add more notes and context once I’m on the mic.

Then I copy the text from Google Doc and add it to ConvertKit for my next newsletter.

The only change I’ll make here is including a callout to listen to the episode.

So there you have it! One Google Doc that serves as 4, platform optimized, pieces of content.

Take the topic and main points, and rework them for the platform.

And make sure you point each piece of content to the other!

Give people options and build your cross-platform followings.

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

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

7 Podcast Automations That Save Time for Solo Podcasters

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Podcasting is a TON of work -- it's no wonder 75% don't make it past 7 episodes. But it can be easier through automation...and you don't need to be super technical to automate some aspects of your podcast!

Here are 7 things you can automate for your podcast today.

Get the Podcast Automation Pack

Show Notes

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

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

Streamline Your Podcast Production: Live Coaching with Aaron Lee

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Today’s episode is the first in a new series of coaching calls I’m doing for the show. I’m talking to Aaron Lee, who got his start in radio before pivoting to podcasting in late 2020. He’s seeking advice on how to improve his process, how to turn his podcast into lead gen for consulting, and get an answer to the question, “do I need transcripts?”

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

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

5 Places Where You Can Find Podcasts to Swap with TODAY

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 14:00:00 GMT

One of the most common questions I get when I tell people that they should do more podcast swaps is, "Where should I go to find podcasts to swap with?" You can just look on Apple Podcasts or reach out to the podcast that you listened to. But that might not be the best strategy. You want to find similar audiences -- look alike audiences where the listeners will be more likely to tune into your show.

Here are 5 great places to look:

Tink Media’s Podcast Swap database. There are people who’ve opted-in to doing podcast swaps and have made their email address easily accessible. I found 20 podcasts to work with using this database.

Apple Podcasts. Go to your podcast page page and look for You Might Also Like. These are podcasts that have similar audiences. If that doesn’t work, you could also look at the podcasts in your category.

Arielle Nissenblatt’s Podcast Community Discord. This is a community of podcasters that are looking for collabs and networking. There’s even a #swaps-collabs area.

Podchaser. If you go to your podcast page there, they have a “Similar” tab. This is much more robust than Apple Podcasts…though you’ll have to watch the quality/activity of the shows. Still a great starting point for outreach.

ListenNotes’s Community/Curation pages. Go to your page on ListenNotes and click on the Community tab. You’ll see lists your show is a part of. If there are no lists, check out the curated tab and search for lists relevant to your show!

So there you have it! 5 ways to find podcasts to swap with. Which are you going to try first?

Show Notes

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

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

6 Ways to Double Your Podcast Downloads in 2023

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 09:00:00 GMT

Last year, I more than doubled my monthly downloads for my already popular podcast, How I Built It, from 34,000 downloads per month to 71,000 downloads per month. Today, I want to give you 6+ ways you can do the same thing.

1/ Podcast promo swaps. Easily the best way to do it. I saw a marked increase in the number of downloads on weeks I swapped promos with another podcaster.

Why do you think Wonder, iHeart, and the other big networks do it?

2/ Feed drops. If you want to give an audience a taste of what they can get by subscribing, trade episodes with another podcaster and put them in your feed on an off-day.

You could even go the extra mile and create a custom CTA to subscribe to your show.

3/ Podcast guesting. Borrowing audiences is a tale as old as time, and that's exactly what you do when you go on other podcasts. Provide a TON of value then make your CTA to check out your podcast. They can do it from the same app.

4/ Promote your podcast in your newsletter. It can be dedicated broadcasts just for the episode, or a feature in your weekly newsletter, but make sure you're telling your own audience about it. Don't just assume they know.

5/ Create better titles. You want episode titles that stoke the need to listen through curiosity. Don't just use your guest's name. Open a thread that can only be closed by listened. If you need ideas, check out the incredible Creator Hooks by Jake Thomas.

6/ Know who you serve! When you clearly define the problem your podcast solves, it makes your episodes more shareable. Define your mission statement and who you help. Then serve them!

Show Notes

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

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

Mini Podcast Launch Checklist: Tools for a Solo Podcast Workflow

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT

I want you to start 2023 strong, so today I'm telling you all the tools you need to start a mini podcast. It's no secret I think a mini podcast is the way to go, but how do you get started? Is there a complicated process?

The truth is, you only need 2 tools...but I'm going to tell you about a few more :-)

Show Notes

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

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

The Best Type of Podcast Sponsors (Especially if You Don’t Have a Lot of Downloads)

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Not all sponsorship campaigns are created equal, and some are better for small podcasters than others. In fact, the best type of sponsorship for smaller podcasters is Awareness campaigns. They don't rely on ROI or number of conversions from listeners to buyers. They rely on you leveraging your trust to talk about their product.

Here's what you can do to better pitch sponsors with awareness campaigns.

Show Notes

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

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

Making Money Through Podcast Memberships

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Sponsorship is one of the many ways to make money podcasting. It's maybe the most well known way, but it's not necessarily the best way. In a previous episode of this podcast, I walked through my SMASH framework,- five ways that you can make money with your podcast. The M in SMASH is membership, and that's what I want to talk to you about.

What are memberships, why and when should you do them? What you should consider, and a couple of ideas for actually implementing the membership.

Show Notes

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

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

Experimenting with "Video First" Podcasting

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

One of the questions I've been getting on live streams and webinars lately is, "how are you dealing with video for your podcast?"

For a long time, I've said you don’t need video for your podcast, or you don’t necessarily need compelling video.

But as more platforms (like YouTube and TikTok) get into podcasting, I’m changing my tune.

So I’ve been experimenting with “video first” podcasting. Here’s how I’m doing it.

Show Notes

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

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

5 Ways You Can Add Value for Sponsors

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Worried that you don't have enough downloads to get sponsors? It's one of the biggest concerns I see from podcasters who want sponsors, but aren't sure they have the audience to attract and keep them.

But here's a secret: there are things we can do to add value for our sponsors that the big podcasts won't do. And that's what we're talking about today.

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

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

Answering YOUR Questions About Podcasting

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

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

Don't burn out trying to create content for your podcast! Create your own content flywheel through my free webinar. Register today.

Support the show

-------------------------------------------------------- Send Feedback | LinkedIn | Facebook Group

(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

Use Descript for Your Mini Podcast

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT

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

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

Using a Website to Grow Your Podcast (Coaching Call)

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT

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

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

How to Price Podcast Sponsorships (Hint: It's NOT CPM)

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:00:00 GMT

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

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

Do You Need a Contract for Podcast Sponsorship?

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 06:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

Podcast Swaps Grew My Show by 21%

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

It’s Easier to Renew Former Sponsors Than to Do Cold Outreach

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 18:00:00 GMT

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.

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

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

Why You Need a Sponsor Pitch Deck and What It Should Include

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:00:00 GMT

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.

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

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

What is Dynamic Ad Insertion (and can Indie Podcasters Use it)?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

If you’re talking to no one, why are you talking?

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 16:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

YouTube Throws Its Hat into the Podcast Ring

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMT

It's finally happened! After months of speculation and leaked slide decks, YouTube has quietly launched its podcast area in the US. You can get to it by going to the "Explore" page. So today, we discuss how to get your show on YouTube, how to leverage YouTube to make money, and some recommended tools for converting your audio to video.

Links

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

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

Can Only Promoting Apple Podcasts Grow Your Show? Let's Find Out Together!

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT

One of the most common calls to action is “leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.” I’ve long railed against this CTA, stating that you’re alienating a large portion of the audience.

But what if this approach is wrong? That's what we'll explore today.

Show Notes

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

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

The WRONG Way to Make Money with Your Podcast

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMT

You want a sure-fire way to betray trust in your podcast? Invite a guest on just to ambush them with a sales pitch of your own services. Sounds farfetched, but it's happened to me 3 times in the last 6 weeks!

Friendly Reminder: Your podcast guests are not part of your sales funnel. Not even close.

Let's look at how this tactic works, why it's wrong, what to do instead, and how to prevent it from happening to you.

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

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

Why You Should Start a Mini Podcast (and how it can make money)

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 11:00:00 GMT

There's a reason lots of podcasters fall victim to podfade. Podcasting can be a difficult thing to do, especially if you are doing long episodes with guests. But recently over on The Podcast Host, they wrote an article about how Mini Podcasting is on the rise.

I shared this article with my newsletter and it's one of the most clicked on links in the history of my newsletter. Lots of people are interested in Mini Podcasting and for good reason. So today, we'll look at what mini podcasting is, why it works, how to start one, and of-course, how to make money with it.

Links

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

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

3 Solid Ways to Find Your First Sponsors

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Sponsorship is the main monetization goal for a lot of podcasters, but there are often some misconceptions around how it happens. You might think that you don’t have enough downloads to get sponsors. Or that once you *do* get enough downloads, brands will magically start reaching out to you. You might assume that you need an “in” with any company to get a brand deal.

I’m here to tell you: you don’t need a ton of downloads, brands will not just reach out to you, and you don’t need an in! So how do you find potential sponsors for your podcast? We'll talk about 3 ways:

1. Tapping your network and connections 2. Reaching out companies where you're already using their products. 3. Finding sponsors of similar podcasts.

Presented by Nexcess and Podcast Liftoff.

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

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

3 Questions You NEED to Answer to Have a Profitable Podcast (Show's Mission Statement)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Your show's mission statement is more than just some words on a page. It should determine the direction of your show, the format, who you're talking to, and ultimately how it will make money. Much like a map (well, Google Maps) when you're going to a new destination, your mission statement will guide your podcast from losing money to generating enough income to support your business.

The framework for your mission statement is this: My podcast helps [AUDIENCE] solve [PROBLEM] by [GOAL OF EACH EPISODE]. Listen on to get the prompts to help you craft the perfect mission statement for finding sponsors and selling products.

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

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

5 Best Ways to Make Money with Your Podcast

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

If you're a podcaster and you're wondering how in the world you'll make money off your podcast, you're in luck! Today we're covering the SMASH Framework, which is designed to help you understand all the ways you can make money as a podcaster. The SMASH Framework is:

Sponsorship Membership Affiliates Selling (products) Helping (with services)

The approach to your podcast should depend on how you want to make money, and understanding your options is a crucial first step!

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

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

Setup Saturday 001: Multitude

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 10:00:00 GMT

Welcoming to the first ever Setup Saturday, where I take a look at interesting podcast setups. I've partnered with my friend and longtime podcaster, Matt Medeiros and his new website, thepodcastsetup.com to bring you the gear and software that podcasters around the world use.

This first setup is from podcast collective Multitude. Let's dive it!

Show Notes

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

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

2022 Podcaster's Gift Guide

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year! The 2022 Podcast Liftoff Gift Guide is here, fully updated with new gear and a section for video podcasting. We'll go through the what and why of it all, and I'll highlight some other great gifts for podcasters.

View the whole gift guide here: https://podcastliftoff.com/gift-guide/

Contains Affiliate Links

Show Notes

Don't burn out trying to create content for your podcast! Create your own content flywheel through my free webinar. Register today.

Support the show

--------------------------------------------------------Send Feedback | LinkedIn | Facebook Group

(00:00) - Intro
(02:51) - Microphones
(05:18) - Recording Accessories
(12:18) - Video Podcasting
(17:04) - Hosting
(19:02) - Upgrading Your Setup
(22:11) - Other Helpful Gear
(25:10) - Working from Home
(31:32) - That's it!

★ Support this podcast ★

Season 2 is Coming

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 12:00:00 GMT

Make Money Podcasting is coming back with better focus! While talking about landing pages and calls to action is helpful, they don't get to the meat of the show's mission: to help you make money as a podcaster.
That all changes in Season 2. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe at https://makemoneypod.com. New episodes drop in July.
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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/

Build Podcast Systems That Keep You Consistent Without Burnout

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 21:43:58 GMT

Recently on Twitter, I asked a series of questions about podcasting, the challenges, and what would make it easier. The conclusion I came to based on the answers was consistency is the biggest pitfall for podcasters (or would-be podcasters).
As someone who puts out 3 weekly shows, I totally get that. Podcasting can be a grind, which is why 75% of shows don’t make it past 7 episodes. So this week, I decided to put together some of my best tips to avoid the dreaded podfade and be consistent.
Presented by Nexcess. Get all the show notes and a written to be read article at https://makemoneypod.com/004
Get your free 52+ episode ideas PDF at https://makemoneypod.com/ideas/
Show Notes
How to Create Content Consistently - Joe Casabona
Podcasting Consistently: How to Prevent Podfade
Finding Your Podcast's Focus
On Coming Up with Content Ideas - Joe Casabona
Create Consistent Content, Make Money, and Get Sales | Creator Crew
Who is the Pro iPhone for, and Other Creator Tools - How I Built It
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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/

Should Your Podcast Have a Landing Page (and what should go on it?)

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 20:16:54 GMT

In Episode 2, I talked to you about having one clear call to action for your podcast. There, I recommend your CTA should be to join the mailing list. This will allow you to capture your audience to directly communicate with them. From there, you can further promote sponsors, sell products, or provide more benefits for your membership (along with providing real value, of course).
But you still need a good place for the mailing list sign-up form to live. There’s no way to add a form in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app.
No - You need a good landing page.
Presented by Nexcess. Get all the show notes and a written to be read article at https://makemoneypod.com/003
Get your free SMASH Framework PDF at https://makemoneypod.com/smash/
Show Notes
You Need a Clear Call to Action
Finding Your Podcast’s Focus
ConvertKit
Castos
Try Carrd
How to use Carrd to Build Your Landing Page
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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/

You Need a Clear Call to Action

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:31:34 GMT

What’s the balance between offering choice and getting people to take action? That really depends on the medium. For example, you may notice podcasts have a ton of calls to action (CTAs). Maybe you do. My podcast does at times. Is that really the right route? And if not, what should your podcast’s CTA be? Let’s explore.
Presented by Nexcess. Get all the show notes and a written to be read article at https://makemoneypod.com/002
Get your free SMASH Framework PDF at https://makemoneypod.com/smash/
Show Notes
Check out ConvertKit
Get a FREE ConvertKit Account with Subscribers and Broadcasts Unlocked!
Pointing a Custom Domain to a ConvertKit Landing Page (Step-by-Step)
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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/

Finding Your Podcast’s Focus

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:03:00 GMT

I think a crucial misstep in nearly anything business related is lack of planning. I’ve made the mistake multiple times. I get an idea, I launch, I figure out how it will support me financially later. So when you’re thinking about your podcast, going a little slow to smooth out the process with help you earn money faster.
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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/

Welcome to Make Money Podcasting

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 18:51:55 GMT

Trying to make money with your podcast through sponsorship can feel like trying to work while handcuffed to a bench. It works, but it's really constrained. You can think of this show as the key to get you out of those handcuffs.
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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/