Launch, growth and success tips for Podcasters and wider content creators. Read a set of quick points, from tool reviews to growth tactics, and much more, all aimed at helping you create the show of your dreams. If you're building a personal or a content brand, then get started with us!
Mic Drop Fact
Sound travels faster in warm air than cold air because heat increases the energy of air molecules. However, sound travels further distances in cold air because sound waves bend away from warm air and back towards the ground.
Hullo there!
Engagement is a well-used word, eh? It could mean popping a ring on someone's finger, your calls going straight to voicemail, or charging a unit of orcs into combat in a game of Warhammer (I like the third one best, FWIW).
Then there's podcast engagement, of course. A pretty cool concept, but still not as cool as tabletop-based melee operations. However, Lindsay seemed unwilling to write about the latter, so we'll have to settle for her tips on getting more listener feedback, CTA uptakes, and visibility.
You'll find that down in our Spotlight section, but first...
Collaboration is a key part of our SCALE framework. On this episode, you'll learn how to use listener surveys to shape content that truly resonates, and discover how partnering with fellow creators can expand your reach and increase visibility. We also explore how low-cost merchandise can act as a clever marketing tool, not just a revenue stream.
Our sister newsletter, The Fiction Podcast Weekly, celebrated its 300th edition with the launch of a new companion pod. Here, Lindsay will summarise the email's key stories in a short, sharp weekly bulletin. Subscribe or follow on your podcast app of choice today!
Explore how using zero crossing points can help make your edits sound seamless and natural. This simple technique eliminates unwanted clicks and pops. Learn how to find and use zero crossing to improve your audio editing.
"With all the fuss about video in podcasting, video editing software tools are popping up like fairy rings of mushrooms in springtime." writes Lindsay. But is FlexClip a delectable chanterelle or just another bitter puffball? Read her review to find out.
Our guide to lavalier microphones will help you choose the best option for you, your budget, and your podcast.
🔦 SPOTLIGHT
3 Quick Tips to Boost Audience Engagement 🎧
Your podcast’s impact goes beyond downloads and reviews. With the right audience engagement, your listeners can become collaborators, advocates, even change-makers. Whether it’s sharing stories, sparking community action, or fueling new content, engaged listeners can help your show grow and do more. Here’s how to tap into that energy.
Make it easy to connect 😊
Keep communication channels open: website links, social media, show notes. Reply kindly, thank them for reaching out, and answer questions. Set healthy boundaries if needed.
Takeaway: Be approachable, but protect your space.
Learn what they want 🧐
Run a survey! Ask about their experience and interests related to your podcast. Offer a reward like a gift card or merch 🎁 to encourage responses.
Takeaway: Know your audience to grow your content.
Invite them to share 📣
Encourage listeners to share stories, tag you on social, or send in voice messages. Feature their input in your episodes to build a sense of community.
Takeaway: Their stories = your content + new listeners.
This week, Lindsay asks your thoughts on Spotify's upcoming "Play Count" feature.
Does Spotify adding public "play" numbers to your show bother you? Could this potentially hurt independent podcasters, or is more visibility in the medium a positive development?
We would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and stories and help you level up your show! Join the IndiePod Community today—it's free!
📈 DATA CORNER
Podcasters crave listener growth 📈
For last week's quick poll, we asked what would change everything for your podcast - having more time or more listeners?
A whopping 74% of you said having more listeners would transform your show, while 26% said you would benefit from having more time.
But what was also interesting was how interconnected time and listener-gathering are to independent podcasters.
Comments suggested that finding time to create more content would, in turn, help attract and engage more fans, since growing listeners organically can be a slow process.
Thanks to everyone who answered the poll, and feel free to reply to this email if you have any anecdotes to share that we might include in future articles!
💡 LINDSAY'S MINDSET MOMENT
The Numbers Detox - When and how to step away from obsessing over download statistics 📈
After I launched my first podcast, I checked my show’s download numbers in the morning, at lunch, and before I went to bed.
That was after I told myself to check my download numbers only three times a day.
Then I learned about click farms and how some podcasts inflate their show’s download numbers to seem more popular. Now, I know that myriad factors can affect a podcast’s download numbers, most of which are beyond my control.
For example, when Apple released iOS17, Apple Podcasts stopped automatically downloading all episodes of every show to which a user subscribed. A year later, Podnews reported that “78% of podcasts had lower downloads year-over-year, while 22% had higher downloads.” Changes in technology affect download numbers all the time.
But I come from a theater background 🎭. If I put six months of my life into making a show, I can at least hear the audience’s reactions. If you put 30 minutes a day into knitting a scarf, eventually, you’ll have an actual scarf in your hands. So, what’s a podcaster to do?
First, step away from your hosting service’s stats page. Besides, what are you gonna do if there’s one more download? Track that person down and give them a bouquet of roses? 🌹
Next, think about what would prove that your experience as a podcaster is successful. Audience feedback? Awards? A basket of fresh fruit from Spotify’s CEO? 🍍 Be specific, and be realistic.
Then, whatever that proof of success is, figure out what it takes to get it. If you want audience feedback, make it simple for your audience to get in touch with you, and tell them how to do it. If you want awards, enter any competitions for which your podcast is eligible. Make a specific, attainable goal, and take the steps to achieve it.
Download numbers are meaningful, but aren't the same as listens. Just like watching a kettle doesn’t make it boil faster, refreshing the stats screen on your hosting page won’t make the numbers skyrocket 🚀. Instead, put your energy into consistently producing a quality show and engaging with your audience.
Lindsay
🔧 TOOL OF THE WEEK
Antlion ModMic USB 2
If you own a decent pair of over-ear headphones and would love the convenience of a headset mic, the Antlion ModMic is your guy. Simply attach and detach the mic as needed, ideal for one-the-go creators and folks with little or no desk space.
While everyone has their insecurities, we can’t let them define us. The World is littered with great ideas for fantastic podcasts that never make it out of the starting blocks. The aim of this book is to help you overcome these barriers
Meet Alitu, the podcast maker that does all the techie work so you can focus on what you do best.
Record, edit, schedule and publish with one tool
AI audio editing so you sound better with less work
Publish more consistently, love the process
Real human support that’ll always get you unstuck
"The platform really is that easy to use-- I am so grateful for the time and headache saved while being able to get my episodes out in a timely and regular way." - Amy
As a Podcraft Pointers subscriber, you're entitled to 50% off your first month when you sign up for Alitu. Use coupon code POINTERS50 at checkout!
Want to Sponsor This Newsletter?
We work with products and services that are a great fit for our readers, so if you offer something that's ideal for podcasters and creators, get in touch. Drop us a line at sponsor@thepodcasthost.com.
👋 LET US HELP YOU
Whatever you need, whatever your budget, we’ve got you covered
From launch coaching and growth mentorship to editing and production, courses, and podcast feedback, we can tailor something exactly to your own needs. We're waiting to hear from you, so give us a shout!
Matthew & Colin
Have questions? Hit reply to this email and we'll help out!
Launch, growth and success tips for Podcasters and wider content creators. Read a set of quick points, from tool reviews to growth tactics, and much more, all aimed at helping you create the show of your dreams. If you're building a personal or a content brand, then get started with us!
Read more from How to Run a Thriving, Profitable Podcast
Mic Drop Fact Sound can lift objects. Acoustic levitation is when sound waves suspend small objects in midair by counteracting gravity. Hullo there! I had feedback on my podcast once. I used to record on an old Zoom H2n and, despite being told many times to monitor my recordings, I neglected to take the two seconds needed to plug a pair of earbuds in before hitting the big red button. I'd travelled to a cafe to meet my guest, and we had a great conversation. The problem was that someone...
Fact of the Week If, like most people, you hate hearing the sound of your own voice during editing, there’s science behind that. You hear your voice differently because, normally, you hear it through both air conduction and bone conduction. Recordings, on the other hand, only capture air conduction.. Hullo there! I wouldn't say Podcraft Pointers is the best newsletter for podcasters, but it's definitely in the top one! As always, we've lined up an entire week's worth of helpful and insightful...
🎙️ TUESDAY TOUCHPOINT Hullo there! We've been running Podcraft Pointers in its new look for over a month now, and I was just wondering if you had any quick feedback for us? Are there any segments/features that you're enjoying each week? And likewise, are any of them not quite hitting the mark for you? We're always striving to give you our best, so if there's any way we can still improve, we are all ears. Just hit reply and have your say - all constructive feedback is massively appreciated :-)...