The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting: Podcasting Tips for How to Start and Run a Podcast

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Mark from Captivate.fm.

We kicked things off by discussing the fantastic Podcast Show London 2024 that we were lucky enough to attend. Can you believe Mark has been attending podcasting events like this since way back in 2014? His experience in the industry is truly impressive. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy when he mentioned going to all those iconic events like Podcast Movement and PodFest in the States over the years. A girl can dream, right?

But what really got me excited was our deep dive into the world of Podcasting 2.0. For those of you who are still wrapping your heads around this concept, let me break it down for you. Essentially, Podcasting 2.0 is all about taking the traditional podcasting experience (let's call that 1.0) and supercharging it with a whole host of new features and capabilities. We're talking monetization opportunities, enhanced listener engagement, better analytics, and so much more!

Mark did an incredible job of explaining how Podcasting 2.0 works its magic through the use of specialized tags or enclosures within the good ol' RSS feed structure. These tags act as gateways, unlocking features that were previously unavailable or a real pain to implement. I mean, who wouldn't want an easier way to integrate things like cross-app commenting, alternate content formats (hello, video!), and even value-for-value contributions from listeners?

Now, I know some of you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all this talk of Podcasting 2.0. But fear not! Mark reassured me (and all of you) that there's no need to panic. The beauty of this evolution lies in its seamless integration with existing podcasting practices. You can continue creating and distributing your amazing content as you always have, gradually adopting the new features as they become relevant to your needs.

And let's not forget about the benefits for us listeners! Podcasting 2.0 promises enhanced content discovery, seamless multi-format experiences, increased engagement with our favorite shows, and improved accessibility. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved in this wonderful world of podcasting.

Of course, we couldn't resist indulging in a little Star Wars banter (because what's a conversation without a few nerdy references?). Mark even shared the name of his very own Star Wars podcast, "Spark of Rebellion" – how awesome is that? I may or may not have pestered him about the possibility of a Podcasting 3.0 in the future, but you'll have to tune in to find out his thoughts on that!

All in all, this episode was an absolute treasure trove of information and insights. I walked away feeling energized and excited about the future of podcasting, and I hope you did too. So what are you waiting for? Hit that play button and dive right in!

Until next time, keep those podcasts rolling, and may the force of Podcasting 2.0 be with you!

Highlights:

• Unique microphone setup at Spiritland Media for recording
• Mark's experience at the Podcast Show London and involvement in talks and panels
• Insights about Captivate - hosting, distribution, and monetization platform for podcasters
• Podcasting 2.0 - enhancements to the original podcasting concept
• Evolution from Podcasting 1.0 to 2.0 and speculation on a possible Podcasting 3.0
• Role of AI in podcasting and dispelling concerns about AI taking over
• Tips for growing a podcast audience - being a guest on other podcasts, engaging with new audiences, and prioritizing consistency

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:36 Captivate at the Podcast Show London
• 00:06:55 Understanding Podcasting 2.0
• 00:19:37 Exploring the Future of Podcasting
• 00:24:08 The Role of AI in Podcasting
• 00:31:38 Tips for Growing a Podcast Audience

🌟 Try Captivate.fm free for 7 days >> This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

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

Want your podcast to rank high in Apple Podcast search results? Then this is the episode for you. In this episode of the Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting, I'll share podcasting tips for ranking your podcast in Apple Podcasts search results by targeting specific keywords. You'll learn how to research and incorporate keywords into your show details, episode titles and show notes to increase your visibility when listeners search for related topics.

Highlights:

• Importance of using keywords for podcast discovery
• Utilizing podcast analytics for audience understanding and engagement
• Improving podcast SEO with keywords in descriptions, titles, and show notes
• Strategies for enhancing podcast ranking on Apple Podcasts
• Tips for ranking in Apple Podcasts search engines
• Creating engaging podcast content for audience retention
• Significance of episode artwork and cover art in attracting listeners
• Experimentation and patience in finding the right title, keywords, and description for podcasts

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:28 Utilizing Podcast Analytics for Better Audience Engagement
• 00:02:32 Tips for Improving Podcast SEO
• 00:04:30 Strategies for Improving Podcast Ranking on Apple Podcasts
• 00:07:02 Creating Engaging Podcast Content: Tips for Success
• 00:08:37 Optimizing Your Podcast for Higher Ranking on Apple Podcasts

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Freebies:

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

In this episode, I'll discuss what we can learn about podcasting from Taylor Swift (although to my knowledge, Taylor Swift has not started her own podcast!). We talk about how you can't please everyone with your podcasting content and you need to focus on creating content for you and your core audience.

I say creating content for you; what I mean is content that you enjoy creating. Because if you're creating content that you don't enjoy, it shows. However, you also need to remember that your content can't be all about you and needs to provide some value to your audience and give them that reason to download your episodes.

I explore the idea of recording podcast episodes live and reaching more listeners, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and experimenting with different formats.

I share strategies and podcasting tips for successful podcasting, such as:

• Defining your target audience
• Creating engaging content
• Promoting your podcast

We also talk about the importance of consistency and authenticity.

Disclaimer: Just in case it wasn't obvious, T-Swift has had nothing to do with the creation of this episode and everything I've talked about in this episode in relation to Taylor is simply my opinion. We're Swifites in our household and, in case you're wondering, I think that 'Speak Now' was her best, probably followed by 1989. I thought I'd include the disclaimer so as to try and prevent Taylor Swift and her legal team from suing me!

Highlights:

• Recording podcast episodes live and reaching more listeners
• Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone
• Experimenting with different formats
• Defining your target audience
• Creating engaging content
• Promoting your podcast
• The importance of consistency and authenticity

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:02:37] You will never be able to appeal to all listeners with your podcast
• [00:05:06] Don't be afraid to experiment with your podcast format and content, but also don't change just because a few listeners complain
• [00:06:35] If you switch up your podcast format and your audience doesn't like it, you can always switch back
• [00:05:50] Focus on creating content you love and that resonates with your target audience

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Freebies:

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

Let's discuss an exciting announcement from Apple Podcasts - the introduction of automatically generated transcripts!

This feature is a lazy girl's dream, given that Apple Podcasts will provide you with AI automatically generated transcripts on your episodes for free.

Not only does this new feature make podcast content more accessible, but it also helps you as a podcaster to effortlessly widen your audience reach.

But what does this mean for those who are already paying for transcriptions? How and where can these transcriptions be downloaded? And how can you leverage this feature for generating show notes? Tune in to get all your questions answered and more! Plus, join me for my take on this new feature, as well as podcasting tips to figure out if this feature will suit your workflow or not.

Enjoy the episode!

Links:

Apple Podcasts article: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5316-transcripts-on-apple-podcasts

Highlights:

• Introduction of automatic transcripts in Apple Podcasts
• Accessibility of podcasts for everyone
• Accessing transcripts from the episode details page
• Functions of the transcripts: reading the full text, searching for specific words or phrases, playing from a specific point in the episode
• Availability of transcripts shortly after publishing
• Downloading transcripts for use on other platforms
• Availability of the feature on iOS 17.4 and higher
• Languages currently supported: English, French, German, and Spanish

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Freebies:

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

Back in episode 38, we talked about Apple Podcasts introducing episodic podcast covers - that is, each podcast episode can have its own bespoke artwork; a little bit like a YouTube thumbnail. Nearly a year later, I'm now reviewing the effectiveness of individual podcast episode artwork to see if its made any difference to my downloads or listenership at all.

🌟 Listen to Ep 34: Is Apple Podcasts Turning Into YouTube? ➡️ https://lazygirlpod.captivate.fm/episode/ep-34-is-apple-podcasts-turning-into-youtube

Highlights:

• Comparison of episode thumbnails on podcasts to video thumbnails on YouTube for attracting listeners.
• My experience of creating unique podcast artwork for each episode, including going back to previous episodes.
• The effectiveness of episode graphics in increasing podcast listenership.
• My promotional strategy for The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting podcast across various platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and blog posts.
• Importance of considering the time and effort required for maintaining consistent episode graphics.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:03 Apple Podcasts Episode Thumbnails: A YouTube Strategy for Podcasting?
• 00:02:09 Creating Podcast Artwork
• 00:03:19 The Impact of Episode Graphics on Podcast Listenership
• 00:05:03 Effectiveness of Episode Graphics in Podcast Promotion
• 00:07:12 Importance of Individual Podcast Episode Graphics
• 00:07:55 Exploring the Impact of Using Episodic Graphics for Podcast Episodes

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Freebies:

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