What exactly is a seasonal podcast?

You've probably seen these types of podcasts if you've ever listened to the Serial podcast or even Startup podcast.  They mirror the format that is similar to a TV series like a Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Cobra Kai or any program that operates in a seasonal format. 

Podcasters have recently taken on this philosophy of "seasonal" programs within the last 5 years after they had listened to programs like Serial.  This method sparked the idea that you could create content for your platform and still provide some type of value as you market the other parts of your platform (like your website, Instagram, Facebook, blog, etc.).   

Before you start thinking that a seasonal podcast is for you, I think it's important that you understand the nature of what a seasonal podcast can do and whether or not it is a fit for you and your style of podcasting.

HOW MANY EPISODES EQUAL A SEASON?

Inside of these podcast programs we see...

While you’re on your podcasting journey, you might ask yourself the question, “Should I get expensive headphones or should I just go ahead and use my earbuds that came with my Samsung phone or my iPhone?”

This is a really good question and it’s actually something that I think is very important when it comes down to you creating your own podcast.

First of all, let’s talk about why we use headphones.

Headphones are a great way to monitor your distance from the microphone so that you can hear when you need to adjust away from the microphone or closer to the microphone.

As I tell most people that I consult, what you put into the microphone is what you’re going to get out into the recording. It’s important that you know your distance from the microphone so that you can create a quality podcast with amazing sound.

Another reason we use headphones is when we create a Skype call or a remote call. We don’t want to hear the feedback from the...

Everyday, when I turn on the TV or I watch a video on YouTube, I see a talk show host interview a guest while spurting out a flurry of ‘ah’,  ‘uh’ and ‘um’ into their delivery. You’ll see this from Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, world leaders to professionals in radio.

When it comes to podcasting, some hosts have a particular philosophy as to how they want their podcast to sound and whether they want to have their delivery sound pristine or more transparent.

ARE FILLER WORDS A BAD THING?

Filler words seem to be a huge topic in the podcasting industry and are almost vilified by every amateur podcaster and editor. But there is a misconception behind these words and shouldn’t be confused as a sin.

When we think of filler words like ‘uh’ and ‘um’, we have to differentiate the difference between formal and informal speech.  Typically in conversation, filler words are more thoughtful because the speaker is...

This post can apply to either the brand new podcaster or the seasoned podcaster.

When it comes down to getting serious about your podcast, you want to start branding yourself from the start so that people can recognize the name of your podcast.  

Today I want to talk to you about using branded links for your podcast so that people can easily access certain long form links that can’t be mentioned in a podcast itself.

Simplified branded links are easy to use when you’re trying to give out a website where the address is far too long to mention while podcasting. But if you're resourceful, you’re able to put those long links inside of your own branded link with a very simple extension.

For example, if I had a link I wanted to promote in my podcast that took my listener to a location where that post is hosted, I could give out the address, "theshanman.com/4"--a link that takes them to the hypothetical 4th episode of my podcast. 

Branded links also give you...

Engaging with your listener is probably one of the single most important things you can do as a podcaster.

Everything I'm doing on the radio is I’m trying to get people to:

• Dial a phone number to call me on the phone lines.
• Interact with me on Facebook or Instagram.
• Visit a website where I've posted a piece of content I want them to view.

You as a podcaster must do the same. Your most valuable piece of content is your podcast and it's your job to encourage your listeners interact with you on social media or submit voice recordings. 

The key here is engagement. 

ENGAGING YOUR PODCAST LISTENER THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

How do we figure out how to get engagement on social media?

First, you can encourage your listeners through your podcast to reach out to you on social media by leaving a comment on one of your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Ask them to share a memory or a thought that will foster engagement. 

CREATE A BRANDED HASHTAG FOR YOUR...

Today I want to talk with you about whether or not you need soundproofing for podcasting space.

When you listen to some podcasts, you can hear the pristine sound from the microphone and there's hardly a speck of ambient noise that happens in the background.

By perception, it may seem that these podcasters have a room that is filled with soundproofing foam and expensive carpet that is deadening the sound. In some cases, this is true but in most cases--especially whenever you’re starting your own podcast--you won’t have the ability to utilize soundproofing.

USES OF SOUNDPROOFING IN PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS

Soundproofing is typically used in radio stations and voiceover sound booths all across America. Obviously, it's used to eliminate any of the ambient noise that is bouncing off drywall or concrete walls.  But it is also there to prevent any sounds from entering into your studio.

These types of studios invest TONS of money for quality equipment for the obvious reasons....

Today I want talk to you about using licensed music for your podcast.

Before jumping into this topic, I should note that you shouldn’t take this blog post as any type of legal advice. You should consult with your own attorney when it comes down to using licensed music.

Maybe you’re a brand new podcaster and you’re looking to step up your production game. Or maybe you’re a podcaster who’s been doing this for a while and you just want to feature a couple of clips of music in your podcast to really drive home a point.

This blog post may give you a perspective that will have you rethink whether you should be using licensed music inside of your podcast.

THE LICENSING GIANTS - ASCAP AND BMI

Most podcasters consider their podcast as another piece of media that can be consumed by the general public. But what they don’t realize is that what they’re hearing on TV and on radio has been licensed or a license has been purchased to use that music within...

In today's post, I am answering a question from a YouTube comment that was left a few weeks back. It was a very simple question that gets asked quite a bit. 

Viewer, Jonathan Stubbs, asks, "How do you personally measure for success after a podcast launch?"

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DETERMINING SUCCESS

1. What are your personal goals for your podcast?

2. Which benchmarks do you need to look at when it comes down to having a successful podcast? 

3. Do you have a strategy in place for your podcast after you’ve launched it? What are your objectives? 

4. What are your goals?

Do you have a specific goal in mind when it comes down to the launch of your podcast, and seeing it succeed overtime?

Is your goal to get a certain number of downloads by specific date?

Are you trying to get more clients for your business? 

Are you hoping that you can make some money off of your podcast through sponsorships and ad revenue?

5. Are you looking to gain email...

“Who ultimately is the owner of the content with regards to starting it for a non-profit or an organization?”

YouTube viewer, Karrie Bond asked this question on one of my my previous videos. 

She goes on to say, “I would be hosting and handling it, but sort of like with a, 'Welcome, I’m Karrie Bond, and you’re listening to the __________ podcast, by/from [name of the organization], where we discuss __________.', The links that follow it would be, "Go, check out the [name of organization or client.'”

WHO REALLY OWNS CONTENT FROM AN ORGANIZATION?

If you are the one that’s hosting the content, or you’re hosting everything on Libsyn or Blubrry, I would say that you’re the one that owns that content because you’re absorbing those costs for the podcast.

If the non-profit or the organization is giving you a reimbursement, and they want own that content, I would imagine that is a way for them to say, “Okay, we want to...

Before we answer this question, I think it’s important to note of a couple of things when it comes down to the length of your podcast. You really should start exploring the following options before deciding on a length of a podcast. 

WHERE IS YOUR PODCAST LISTENER LISTENING FROM?

Is it going to be in the car?

Is it going to be at the gym?

Is it out on a walk?

Is it gonna be just strictly at home?

This will determine how long you should create your podcast--not exclusively, though.

Lucky for you, I’ve done the research for you.

This research comes from a 2017 Edison Research survey. 

According to this survey, Edison reported--back in 201--that the average podcast listener listens to a podcast for about 30 minutes.

Fast forward to 2017, the average podcast listener is listening to a podcast that is about an hour long. 

That means, for you, depending on what your topic is all about, how will you lengthen your podcast?

Which type of topics should you come...