Today we look at some tools to help you grow your audience, grow your list, and make it easy to promote your podcast. We also talk about a podcast promotion strategy that may – in the long run – hurt podcasting. What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments. Call them in at 888-563-3228, or use any of the other contact methods.
Podcast Album Art is Now The Size of Your Head [2:00]
Apple has released a new spec for album artwork is now can be a minimum of 1400X1400 the recommended size is now 2048X2048 jpg
Apple is “not” recommending you save your image art in .png (portable network graphics) format, but if you can’t resist .png needs to be RGB (red, green and blue color model) only.
There are sties like pixlr.com that you can use to try and resize your current album artwork.
Podcast Rewind [4:05]
I appeared on the Internet Marketing show (By Site Visibility) one of the longest running and top rated Internet Marketing Podcasts. Check it out here
I also appeared on the Gary Leland Show where we talk about using Podcasting with your business. Check it out here
Simple Podcast Press – Grow Your List and Subscriptions [7:25]
Today we interview Hani Mourra the man behind the Simple Podcast Press plugin for WordPress. We all want podcasting to be easy, we want to grow our audience, we want subscribers, we want promotion, and this tool does all of that with a 2 minute install.
You can add links to itunes, stitcher, soundcloud, as well as a download button. You can also have button for people to subscribe to your email list (so if you're using someone like Aweber or Mail Chimp). With these tools you can boost your subscribers and your email list.
Another great feature is the ability to make clickable tweets with a few mouse clicks. This can make it super easy for your audience to share your show.
The plugin will also help create easy to remember links like www.schoolofpodcasting.com/427 that link to the episode (again making it simple to share)
Lastly if provides the latest reviews from iTunes right in your dashboard.
I was worried as I am already using PowerPress (for my player) and Pretty link (for my easy to remember links). The plugin does not have any conflicts with these plugins and in the case of PowerPress can easily switch the player on your website and all the back catalog. This means by installing this plugin you can an email sign up on every episode. That's pretty cool when you are someone like me who has over 400 episodes.
The best part is if you're not happy with it, you can get a refund as there is a 30 day money back guarantee. For more information go to simplepodcastpress.com (affiliate link).
Want a Coupon For the School of Podcasting? [16:24]
I am testing a new system called Callloop.com which is a tool to build a list of people you can text (or you can deliver automated marketing information – like a coupon over their phone). All you have to do is text the word podcast to 38470 and you will receive a coupon for the School of Podcasting.
You can start with a free program and only pay .05 for the messages you send. If you want a keyword (podcast in my case) it's $10 a month. There are other plans available at callloop.com
If you'd rather have people sign up for your email list check out joinbytext.com which is $19 a month but people can send a keyword (in my case podcast ) to 66866 and they will be asked to subscribe to my email list.
If you like these kind of tools and fun way to grow your audience, check out my Weekly Web Tools Podcast
Last 5 in 5 [20:05]
Today we have a last 5 in 5 from a regular person in the chat room of the Ask the Podcast Show Tommy G Kendrick who runs the Actors Talk Podcast
Podcast Review Swapping [ 22:05]
I published an article on Podcaster News
I made a couple of points:
- You only have one change to make a first impression
- When you start, your publish may need some polishing
- Sometimes getting to the front of the line before your ready is a bad thing in the long run – see American Idol
- Good marketing only allows people to find out you have a poor product faster
- Remember word of mouth works both ways
- When you do things SOLEY in the name of profit< it”s typically not good for the consumer.
- Review Swapping Damages the reputation of New and Noteworthy
Thanks for sharing this, Dave! I did a few review-swaps. I did actually find a couple podcasts that I subscribed to, but most of them were a “if-you-like-this-niche” kind of a review.
Another note, maybe we can do a survey to see how many people actually find new podcasts via New and Noteworthy. I know for me, I’ve never gone there to find a new podcast. All the podcasts I listen to have been a result of recommendations (Facebook, Twitter, other podcast mentions, etc.) or by searching for a topic.
Dave,
nobody does this better, no one.
Original as Cleveland itself.
Billy
I’m only 3 episodes in on my first podcast, and I have been contacted already to do a swap or two. I have no plans to do this, and I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. I have a 5 year plan for this podcast and am in no hurry. I plan to build relationships instead, and that takes a lot of time and good content.
I have been listening to you, Daniel J. and Ray (the Podfathers) for 4 months and have learned a lot, but know I will season like a fine wine as I continue to learn.
New and Noteworthy is not in my plans at all. I don’t even have iTunes on my computer since it slows it down so badly. I check once a week on my daughter’s computer when she comes in from college.
Keep up the fine wine…… or work. (Yeah, that’s it!)
Jeffrey K. Holbrook
Daggers Of The Mind- The Philosophy Of Celebrity Quotes
daggersofthemind.com
Jeffery congrats on having a great perspective on what it takes to make it in podcasting.
Thanks for this! So you still have PowerPress (and own your feed) but the player displayed is Simple Podcast Press?
I’m actually using the Libsyn feed. I have PowerPress on my site because I didnt’ feel like replacing all the players (Simple podcast press did this for me).