PodSchool

Podcasting is a great way to get your message out into the world but it’s also a lot of hard work.
For every show that’s listened to by millions of people, there are hundreds with an audience consisting of the host and …

Launching a podcast is hard at the best of times but what if you’ve got no social media following or email list to share your show with?
If you’re …

The Apple Podcasts charts are one of the ways people find new shows.
So how do they work and how do you get your podcast in there?
In this episode I explain what goes on behind the scenes of the podcast charts, what stats …

Not sure what all the numbers are in the back end of your podcast host?
Podcast stats are really important but they’re not a perfect science.
In this episode I explain what some of the most common podcast statistics mean, …

Releasing a podcast episode is already a pretty involved process so I’m sure you’re not looking for more things to add on your to do list. But if the …

If you want to launch a successful podcast there are a lot of things you need to think about both before you get started and once your show is live.
…

Wondering what steps are involved in starting up a podcast?
There’s a lot to do before you’ve pressed publish on your first episode so in this episode …

I can’t believe I’ve had to dedicate an entire episode to this but the fact I’ve heard it twice is two times too many so here we go!
In this episode, I’m getting on my soapbox and sharing the one thing I don’t think you …

So you’ve got your concept down and your episodes are sounding good but you want to add a little something to take your show to the next level?
Audio production is just a snazzy term for anything in a podcast that isn’t …

So you want to get your podcast up and running but don’t know how much time you need to set aside to launch your show?
Can you get a podcast launched in a matter of weeks or is it a dream you’ll have to put on the …

Zoom.us has become one of the most popular video conferencing platforms in the world so it’s understandable people want to know if they can also use …

So, you’ve pitched yourself out as a guest on other people’s podcasts and someone has said yes!
How do you make sure you bring your podcast guest A-game and deliver the best quality content possible?
In this episode I …

Have you got a mountain of written content and you want to turn it into a podcast?
Repurposing existing content on a blog or from a book is a great idea. But if you want to build an audience of highly-engaged podcast …

Getting featured on other podcasts is one of the best ways to grow your audience because the easiest people to convert to listening to a new show are people who are listening to podcasts already.
So how do you pitch …

So you've got your podcast up and running and now you want to make sure you're doing the best possible job of marketing your show through social media.
Do you need to create new social media accounts for your podcast or …

So you want to shift to a new podcast host? Is it a pain or a simple process?
In this episode I take you through some things you need to think about if you’re moving from one host to another and how to make sure you pick …

If you want to get the best possible audio in your podcast interviews it's important to use silence well.
It might seem like a weird concept when a podcast is all about speaking. But silence can help you not only get …

It seems the two topics people are most interested in when it comes to podcasting is money and numbers.
So in this episode I'm focusing on the latter …

Remote recording platforms give you a way to record your show with people in different locations which is fantastic because your podcast isn't limited by geography.
They also help you achieve audio quality that compares …

So, you've been waiting for your brain to come up with the perfect name for your podcast. And when it finally does you realise there's already a show with that name out there.
So, can you just pretend you never saw it …

If you've worked hard to build an audience for your podcast it's hard to imagine why, if you come up with a brand new podcast idea, you'd start …

I get a lot of questions from people confused about whether they should launch their podcast with one or multiple episodes. As with any advice I give …

Since Google decided to dip its toe into podcasting there hasn't been a way to submit your show like you do with podcast apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Until now.
Submitting to Google Podcasts is now much simpler …

So you want to start a podcast but you don’t want it to fade into podcast oblivion like so many others?
In today’s episode I take you through some of the things you need to think about if you want your podcast to be a …

Getting featured in Apple’s New & Noteworthy section has become something of an obsession for new podcasters.
There’s a lot of information …

If you've been researching how to start a podcast you've probably come across the term "RSS Feed." If you don't know what it is, don't worry.
To be a podcaster you don't need to know how your podcast RSS feed works, you …

If you've been podcasting for a long time you'll probably know the frustration of flipping from one podcast to another, or even from one episode of …

So, you’re getting sponsors interested in your podcast but you want to make sure you keep your audience and your advertisers happy?
To get the most out of your podcast ads you need to consider them as important as the …

Creating a website for your podcast might seem like a lot of extra effort when you're already putting together so much content for your show but it's …

Ever since podcasts began they’ve been public and the idea has been to get your show into as many ears and podcast apps as possible. But what if you want to communicate with an audience privately but you still want them …

If you want to grow your podcast audience, you have to promote your podcast to get it in front of more eyes and ears. So how do you do it in a way that's interesting and engaging and that encourages more people to …

There are a number of different ways to record your podcast remotely and the option that's right for you will depend on what technology you have …

Listeners access podcasts via directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. And since growing your audience and getting more listeners is high on the list of priorities as a podcaster, you want …

Not sure whether you should start a podcast? Podcasting is something a lot of people are interested in but there’s no guarantee of success so you …

If you're recording a podcast with people in different locations and you’re not careful about how you record, your show can sound really bad. And a …

Not sure whether to rate your podcast clean, explicit or no rating? Or whether you have to bother rating your podcast at all?
The ratings in the back end of your podcast host were actually created for iTunes music, not …

Unless your great dream is to podcast to no one you’ll want to do everything in your power to get your show in front of new listeners. And this includes making sure your podcast SEO is on point.
SEO is an acronym for …

Have you tried to record a podcast with multiple USB microphones and it hasn’t worked? Don’t worry, you don’t need to hand in your podcasting licence.

Starting a podcast can be daunting. Especially when the only thing you've pressed record on is your VCR (hello to anyone who remembers what they are).
It's understandable if you're worried that no one will listen, or …

Most podcast hosts are just that...podcast hosts. They’re a place to upload your MP3’s, look at your stats and fill in your show details but apart from that, there aren't many bells and whistles.
Anchor is different …

Buying the right equipment when you're starting a podcast can be confusing and it's easy to get stuff you don't need. Like a mixer.
In this episode I explain what a mixer does and go through some of the common reasons …

A podcast trailer can help you drum up interest in your show before you've dropped an episode because it gives potential listeners a taste of what they can expect.
Just like a trailer for a movie, a podcast trailer …

Getting more podcast listeners is important if you want your show to last but you also want those listeners to subscribe. This is because the more subscribers you have the more chance you've got of ranking in podcast …

You should think about your podcast episode title like the headline of an article. It's the thing that makes people click, so you need to pack as …

After your podcast name and logo, the next thing potential listeners look at is your podcast description. So you've got to make it good.
While you don't want to write an essay, you're not as restricted in your word count …

I know we're all told not to judge a book by its cover but the truth is, we do.When people find your show in their podcast directory it's often the …

If you're thinking "I want to do a podcast but I'm not sure what it should be about," you're not alone.
Coming up with an idea for your podcast can be …

When you're kick-starting your podcast it can be hard to know what equipment to buy because there's so much out there. Particularly when it comes to …

Are you at the beginning of the podcasting journey and know nothing about how to get your idea into people's ears?
In this episode we go right back to basics and I take you through how to record a podcast.
Check out the …

Coming up with content for your podcast can be one of the more challenging and time-consuming parts of the podcasting process, especially if you're releasing a weekly show.
So how do you find enough ideas to make sure …

Podfade is the inevitable consequence of jumping into a podcast you're not prepared for. And it happens when a show stops releasing episodes and fades into podcasting obscurity.
This is usually because the creator loses …

Co-hosting a podcast with other people can be great. But if one or more members of the team aren't pulling their weight it can be exhausting.
So how …

Covering up recording in different locations is possible but it depends on how different the locations are.
If one recording was done in a library and the other at a Monster Truck rally it'll probably be impossible to …

Your podcast logo is the first thing people will see when they come across your show and it's often the reason they'll stop and take a second look.
That means you have to put serious thought into how to design one that …

The question on everyone's lips when they're thinking about starting a podcast is "What equipment do I need?"
Do you need a mixer? Will your computer microphone do? Do you have to buy special headphones or can you use …

Are you thinking about starting a podcast but have no idea about the different types of shows?
In this episode I take you through some of the most common podcast types so you can choose the one that's right for you.
Check …

When you’re thinking about how many people to have on your podcast your decision should always be based on what's best for your audience and what's …

If you're new to podcasting you might not realise quite how many steps there are in the process.
In this episode I give yo the full rundown of all the …

So you want to start a podcast but you're wondering if you have enough time?
There are lots of things that go into getting an episode from your recording device into people's ears. And every step can effect how long it …

Finding a podcast niche when you're starting out can be useful because it can help people find your show. If you're not someone with an existing …

One of the greatest frustrations when it comes to sharing your podcast is that people listen on different devices. For a long time sharing your podcast to iPhone AND Android users was a nightmare because there wasn't a …

Getting your head around how to promote your podcast when there's no podcast there to promote can be difficult. But it can be done.
In this episode I …

When you’re starting out and you don’t have any listeners, it's hard to make decisions about what content would suit them best.
Designing your ideal …

When you're interviewing people for your podcast there's a lot that can go wrong.So how do you make sure guests leave thinking “I’m so glad I did that!” rather than “I never want to see that person again!”?
I've …

If you're new to podcasting you might be worried that once you start you'll be stuck churning out episodes every week for the rest of your life.
While consistency is key, breaking your show into seasons can be a great …

If you want to interview guests on your podcast you might be thinking "Holy crap! Do I have to pay all these people?"
Lucky for you (and your bank …

Working with a podcast co-host can be one of life's great joys....if it's the right person.If it's the wrong person it can be as fun as performing surgery on yourself with a corkscrew.
When you're starting out, having …

Show notes are essentially a written post on your website that relates to the content you cover in your podcast.
When there's already so much stuff you need to do to get your podcast out it's easy to chuck them onto the …

Getting callers on your podcast is a great way to involve your audience and make the show more interesting. Best of all, it doesn't require a complex …

If you're planning on releasing a podcast episode every week you'll need to have a plan in place. Because dropping shows that regularly is A LOT of …

How do you make the most of the real estate at the end of your podcast episodes so you don't waste those final precious moments by saying something like "Ummmm, ok...so, that's it...BYE!"?
The end of your podcast …

Listeners access podcasts via directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. And since getting more listeners is the name of the game you want to make sure your show is available in as many …

If you're wondering whether to include episode numbers in the title of each episode, let me save you the virtual ink.
There are of course some cases where this might be necessary but for the most part you want to enter …

Setting aside the obvious need for a microphone and something to record on, the one thing in your podcast kit you can't live without is a pair of …

Most people think if they get a few high-profile podcast guests their audience numbers will skyrocket. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
Not only do guests with big profiles not guarantee a spike in numbers they're …

Unless you've got an existing profile it's very hard to grow an audience with a podcast that's general. That's because when people are searching for shows they're usually drawn to concepts they're interested in or …

When you're thinking about starting a podcast it's easy to let self-doubt get the better of you. Particularly if you've never done anything like it …

A lot of people hold themselves back from starting a show because they don't think they've got a good podcast voice.
But when you're trying to connect …

The question on everyone's lips is "How do you make money from a podcast?" And while there are some podcasters making a living from their show the majority of people don't make a dime.
That doesn't mean you can't …

Your podcast introduction is one of the most important pieces of release estate you've got in your show.
Those precious few seconds after people press play can be the make or break when deciding whether to listen.
So, if …

A snazzy podcast player isn’t going to make up for a crappy show but it does form part of your brand.
The way your podcast looks on your website can be an indication to some people of how professional it is. So, it’s …

If you want listeners to keep checking in with your show you need to set an appointment with them so they know when to expect your content. That means you need to release your podcast on the same day every week.
Growing …

Sometimes when you're in the depths of editing your podcast you'll realise there's something you need to re-record. Maybe you took too long to get your point across, or you got a few facts wrong, or you just sounded …

Editing your podcast takes up a huge amount of time so you don't want to make the process any longer than it needs to be. Or, heaven forbid, get to the editing stage and realise your audio is unusable.
There are a lot of …

Podcast editing can be scary if you don't know what you're doing but not editing your podcast can be even scarier!
Chances are, you’re not going to hit everything out of the park when you’re recording your show, so …

Some people think there’s only one way to do a podcast...open the microphones and talk until you run out of things to say. And while there are some …

The letters USB and XLR refer to the way a microphone connects to the device that's recording your words. That device could be a computer if you're …

If your podcast features more than one person, whether it’s a co-host or guest, there’ll be times when you won’t be able to record in the same room.
Recording in the same location will always yield the best audio quality …

Conducting a pre-interview might seem like a pain in the butt when you've already got so much to do for each episode but it can really help you get the most out of your podcast guest.
If you spend time during the …

Not every part of podcasting is as thrilling as sitting down with a high-profile guest or belly laughing with your co-host.
But adding MP3 tags to your podcast is a step that helps ensure your show goes out into the …

A podcast transcript is the process of turning the audio of your episode into text so there’s a readable version on your website.
If you’re thinking “isn’t podcasting about getting into people’s ears not their eyes?” …

"How long should my podcast be?" is a question that stumps almost every podcaster. And it's one they spend way too much time worrying about because …

I know adding another step to an already long process is boring but there are things that can go wrong or things you can forget to do when you publish your episode.
Listening to it in Apple Podcasts, or any other …

Having a professional podcast intro and outro is the difference between sounding like you've thrown something together and sounding like a professional show.
Chances are you'll need to hire someone to create this for …

There’s nothing natural about sitting in front of a cold lifeless microphone trying to perform to a listener you can’t see.
So how do you get the …

"Episode 0" is really just a wanky way of saying "introductory episode."
This is the episode that sets up your show. It's also a place for you to introduce yourself to your audience and gives you some audio to submit to …

Using music in your podcast can add something really special to your show but it can also be an unnecessary distraction depending on your content.
If you’re going to use music in your podcast make sure it’s a decision …

Planning to record your podcast at home but wondering whether you're going to be able to get good enough audio quality to make sure it sounds professional?
In this episode, I take you through how to make sure your …

The decision to swear on your podcast is, of course, entirely up to you.
If you’re aiming your show towards adults and you want it to be edgy and a …

When you're wondering how to grow your podcast audience, high-profile guests can feel like a silver bullet. But while having successful, well-known …

Welcome to everyone's favourite topic when they've got a lot of listeners and everyone's least favourite topic when they're podcasting to no one but their mum.
Growing your podcast audience is the mountain we all have to …

When you’re new to podcasting it’s natural to want to script everything because having words on paper can feel like a warm security blanket. But reading from a script on your podcast immediately distances you from your …

Do you need a podcast host when you're starting a podcast, or can you go it alone? What about your audio files...where do they go? On your website or is it more complicated than that? And how does your podcast get …

The relationship you have with your podcast audience is the most intimate relationship of any media out there.
When someone decides to listen to your show it's an active decision to focus on your content 100%. So it's …

To be a good podcast host you want your audience to feel like you're having a natural conversation with them. And to do that you’ve got to strike a …

In each short episode I'll share actionable tips used by podcast professionals to create compelling content, connect with an audience and keep listeners coming back for more.If you've never podcasted before, if you've …