Podcasting Q&A

Latest Episodes:

Support Mailbag: Directories Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Buzzsprout support team members Gilon & Priscilla join Jordan to answer some of the most asked questions about podcast directories!
Questions answered in this episode:

Does Buzzsprout submit my podcast to directories for me?
What is required to get listed?
How long does it take to get listed across all directories?
Why am I not listed yet in a specific directory yet? What can I do?
Once I am listed, how do new episodes show up?
What do I do if a new episode isn't showing?

Have a question?
Record & submit your podcast question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!
Podcasting Q&A is hosted by Jordan Blair @jordanpods.

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Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Ways to Boost Audience Engagement Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Mary asks, "do you have any tips for audience engagement?"
Thank you, Mary, for your question! You can check out her podcast, Stop Drinking & Start Living here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/894589

Guest Gill Tietz
Host of Sober Powered Podcast, where she uses science, psychology, and compassion to help you understand why you struggle to moderate, why it's so hard to quit drinking, and how to develop the coping skills you need to stay sober. Check out her podcast here: https://www.soberpowered.com/

It can be tough to get your audience engaged and participating with your calls to action. Here are some quick tips to increase listener interaction!
1. Be Accessible
Make sure that listeners know where and how to reach you (Facebook Group, Email, Discord, etc.).
2. Be Specific
Tell your audience exactly what to contact you about. For example, instead of "Ask me anything!" try saying "What is something you've struggled with lately?" to generate more focused engagement.
3. Be Authentic
Audience members don't respond well to aggressive marketing tactics & can tell when someone is only trying to make a sale. Be genuine in your intentions to bring value to your listeners, and they will give value back.
Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!
Podcasting Q&A is hosted by Jordan Blair @jordanpods.

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

How to Get Guests to Promote Your Podcast Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Kate Casey joins Jordan to share her strategies for getting celebs to promote their guest interviews on her podcast!
Thank you, Marie, for your question! You can check out her podcast, Culture and Leadership Connections here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/202666

Guest Kate Casey
Host of Reality Life with Kate Casey, where she interviews the directors, producers, and stars of unscripted television. Follow Kate and her podcast here: linktr.ee/Katecasey
TIPS FOR GUEST PROMOTION:
1. MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF GUEST MARKETING

Be mindful that guests are not a marketing team, and they might not share the interview at all! You can prepare the guest by asking them to please share the episode after it publishes, and make sure that the quality of the podcast is good to increase t.
2. COMPLIMENT THE GUEST TO BUILD TRUST & CONFIDENCE

Complimenting starts when you pitch them to come on the show! Tell them after the interview what an amazing job they did and be specific about things they said that were meaningful to you. People want to be appreciated, and a little encouragement goes a long way.
3. PROVIDE QUALITY MATERIALS TO THE GUEST THAT ARE EASY TO SHARE
Ask the guest for a picture of themselves they really like, because if the marketing materials sound great, look great, and are easy to share, the guest is more likely to use them.
Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!
Podcasting Q&A is hosted by Jordan Blair @jordanpods.

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Pitching a Podcast Sponsor: How to Write a Winning Pitch Email Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we give tips on how to craft the perfect pitch email to grab the attention of a potential sponsor.
TIPS FOR MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Do your research: look into the brand to be sure they are a good fit & customize the pitch with information about the potential sponsor
Look the part: use a pitch deck or one-pager to show you mean business! Check out our previous episode about how to make a pitch deck or one-pager here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/328913/10857825
Be clear & confident: be concise, friendly, & confident in the way you write your email

CREATE AN EMAIL TEMPLATE
Creating a word document and saving it as a template to copy & paste into the body of an email will save lots of time!
A pitch email should have three basic things:

Podcast name and a brief description
Why you think the sponsor would be a good fit
Links to the podcast website & socials

Remember, be personable and friendly!
Things to avoid:

Complaining about how hard it is to find sponsorships
Including large attachments such as audio files or press kits
Asking for too many sponsorships upfront

WHERE TO FIND SPONSORS:
Cold Email

Target emails to appropriate brands
Listen to other podcasts in your niche to find brands interested in podcast advertising
Try finding a local company with a digital storefront

Podcast Ad Marketplace

Agency or Network Representation

Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!
Podcasting Q&A is hosted by Jordan Blair @jordanpods

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Pitching a Podcast Sponsor: Create a Pitch Deck or One Pager/Single Sheet Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we give tips on how to create a simple yet effective pitch deck or one-pager to send to potential sponsors.
PITCH DECK
Here are some sites that have pitch deck templates:

Slides to include in your pitch deck:

TITLE: Podcast Artwork, Name, & Tagline
ABOUT: Short summary, podcast info & genre, mission, etc.
AUDIENCE/STATS: Downloads, listener demographics, and/or podcast industry stats
Get podcast industry stats from: Buzzsprout Global Stats (https://www.buzzsprout.com/global_stats), Edison Research (https://www.edisonresearch.com/podcast-research), or Podcast Insights (https://www.podcastinsights.com)
PRICING: List cost per 1,000 downloads, bundle discounts, or just a flat-rate you feel comfortable with.
TEAM/CONTACT INFO: Include people making the podcast happen, along with the podcast email, website, and socials.

ONE PAGER/SINGLE SHEET
Use a resume or newsletter template from any word processor to create a one pager to send to a sponsor. Be sure to include the five items listed for the pitch deck slides on the single sheet.
Remember to save your pitch deck or one pager so that information can be updated in the future as your podcast grows!
Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!
Podcasting Q&A is hosted by Jordan Blair @jordanpods

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

How to Create an Effective Podcast Promo Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Want to create a podcast promo but not sure where to even start? In this episode, Buzzsprout Head of Marketing, Alban Brooke, joins Jordan to give tips that are sure to make your promo shine!
Things covered in this episode & links:
WRITE A SCRIPT
A podcast promo must be 12-40 seconds long, so be concise with information.
5 Things to Include:

Podcast name
One-sentence description
Who the podcast is for
Why they should listen
Call to action

RECORD

Record in a sound-treated environment
Use a microphone
Record multiple takes and versions (practice makes perfect!)

EDIT & POLISH
Tips for editing vocals:

Remove unwanted sounds or awkward pauses
Consistent audio volume throughout
If ad is too long, try speeding up vocals 1-5% to fit

Sound effects and music:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/free-music-for-podcasts
Now that you've finished your podcast promo, you'll want to get it in front of as many podcasters as possible. Head over to buzzsprout.com/ads to buy your first ad and get your promo in front of the right audience.
ALBAN'S TWITTER & CUNNINGHAM'S LAW
Twitter Post: https://twitter.com/AlbanBrooke/status/1536492873666990081?s=20&t=CsNY6YwSvRMgYkKr3dH5wg
Cunningham's Law: https://theoutline.com/post/8084/i-spent-a-week-being-wrong-online
*NOT A REAL BALLOON ANIMAL PODCAST IS NOT A REAL PODCAST...SORRY IF WE GOT YOUR HOPES UP.

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Using QR Codes for Podcast Promotion Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Claire asks how to make the most of the QR Code she purchased for her podcast.
To listen to Claire's podcast, From the Horsebox, visit her website: https://fromthehorsebox.buzzsprout.com/
Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Why Podcast Transcripts are Important & How to Create One Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Joshua asks, "Exactly how important is transcribing?"
Thanks for the question, Joshua! You can check out Joshua's podcast, 4th and Flex Fantasy Football Podcast here: https://4thandflexpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
What podcast transcripts do:

make your content more accessible to listeners who are hard of hearing.
boost SEO so search engines like Google can find your content.
can heighten listener engagement, and
make it easy for listeners to share quotes to social media.

Human-Transcription Services:

Rev ($1.25/min and 99% accuracy),
GoTranscript ($0.86/min and 99%+ accuracy), or
hiring a freelance transcriber from Upwork ($10-$100; accuracy varies).

Automated Transcription Services:

Do-It-Yourself Transcription:
For examples of transcript formatting, check out Buzzcast & Podcasting Q&A transcripts.

Buzzsprout Blogs & Videos:

How to Transcribe Your Podcast [2021]: https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/transcribe-your-podcast
How to Add Transcripts to Your Podcast Episodes (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fJ3K4vvq4

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

SEO for Podcasts May 24, 2022

Show notes

Buzzsprout Head of Marketing, Alban Brooke, joins this week's episode of Podcasting Q&A to give SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tips and how to optimize your podcast's discoverability with easy SEO techniques.
Thank you, Taylor for your question! You can check out Taylor's podcast, Eros Rising, at https://www.taylorjohnson.life/podcast/
Links & Resources:

PodNews: SEO data for Podcast Apps
https://podnews.net/article/who-indexes-what
Keyword Tools:
https://ahrefs.com/keyword-generator
https://keywordseverywhere.com/
https://answerthepublic.com/

Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

Creating a Private RSS Feed May 16, 2022

Show notes

Co-founder of Buzzsprout, Tom Rossi, joins this week's episode of Podcasting Q&A to explain how RSS Feeds work & different ways to create a Private RSS Feed.
Thanks to Ryan for the question! You can check out Ryan's podcast, AntiArt Podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1636159
Links & Resources:

6 Best Ways to Create a Private Podcast

Have a question?
Record & submit your question at podinbox.com/buzzsprout to be featured on a future episode!

Send us Fan Mail

Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.

Keep podcasting!

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