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!
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🎥🤔 These podcasters added video — here’s what happened (Podcraft Pointers)
Published 14 days ago • 7 min read
🎙️ TUESDAY TOUCHPOINT
Hullo there!
Three-year-olds ask a lot of questions, and my daughter seems to be especially prolific in this area. It's quite a mismatch, really, because I'm rather deficient in knowledge or wisdom myself.
But, I have a middling skillset in audio and storytelling, so I decided to make some short stories for her Yoto Player. I reworked a few old parables and fables into little audio tales. Sometimes, I'll hear myself wittering away in another room, interspersed by songs from Frozen and Moana. It's quite unnerving.
The other day, she said she had a question about one of the stories, so I was all primed to bluff my way around a heady topic like patience, conflict, or death. The question was, in fact, about why I'd said a giraffe's tongue was blue and not purple.
I told her I might've gotten it wrong because I couldn't see colours very well (apparently, they are a bluish-purple, but I'm not going to die on that hill). This culminated in her offering to write me a story teaching me how to tell blue from purple. So, I guess there's still hope for that career as an electrician or pilot. Or, at least, I'll be able to take the wine bottles to the recycling unaided...
📊 THIS WEEK’S QUICK POLL
Everyone has that one tip or insight that changed everything. Where did yours come from?
5 Podcasts That Added Video: Lessons From Mixed Results
Video podcasting is one of the hottest (and most divisive) topics in the podcast world right now. Some creators swear it’s a game-changer for growth, while others find it too time-consuming or expensive. We spoke to five podcasters who added video to their shows to find out what really works, what doesn’t, and why the answer isn’t the same for everyone. Whether you’re considering video or just curious, their stories offer insight, caution, and inspiration.
Key Takeaways:
🎥 Video can 10x your reach – but it often requires 3x the effort.
⏱️ Editing is the bottleneck – outsourcing or learning video editing is key for sustainability.
💸 Costs vary – from free (thanks, helpful fiancé!) to hundreds per episode.
🙋♂️ Video = visibility – even if growth is slow, it can build trust and drive engagement.
🧪 It’s all an experiment – iterate until you find the format that fits you.
🔍 Short clips work too! – full episodes aren’t the only way to use video.
🔊 Don’t ditch audio – YouTube is powerful, but it’s no substitute for your loyal podcast listeners.
🧩 Play to your strengths – not every show (or host) is meant to be on camera, and that’s totally okay!
The landscape of online search is changing rapidly. While roughly 60% of Google searches now end without a click, we discuss how this trend has actually been evolving for years - and it's not just about AI.
Learn how to preview the sound of your edits in Audacity before you actually make them. This technique helps you ensure your changes are exactly what you want.
In this roundup, we explore the best platforms for remote podcast recording. You’ll find options for every use case, need, and budget - all with audio clips to judge for yourself.
📈 DATA CORNER
❤️ Podcasters love data ❤️
For last week's quick poll, we asked how often you dip in to look at your podcast stats.
You lot showed a fair bit of commitment, with 44% checking in on podcast data every single day. That's some pretty dedicated metric tracking!
36% logged in weekly, while 18% were happy to have a peek once a month.
Only 2% said they never check their analytics. Could that be pure confidence, indifference… or fear, I wonder? 😅
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
Consistency Over Perfection - Building the habit of regular publishing despite obstacles
I hate going to the gym. Once I’m there, I’m fine; I hop on the bike, warm up, and start throwing weights around. Some days, I have a good workout; other days, I exceed my own expectations; and some days, I do the bare minimum.
What I’ve noticed over time is that when I exercise consistently, I’m less irritable, feel better about myself, and have more energy and focus throughout the day. Whether I work out like an Amazonian general or a slug, what matters is that I exercise for an hour a few times a week. The quality of each exercise session matters less than the consistency.
I also know that anything or everything will get in the way of this habit. The dog will need to tug a rope, or my brother will want me to drive him somewhere. If I don’t go to the gym consistently, it’s hard to be nice about rope tugging or random errands. So, I mark gym sessions on my calendar, meet up with a friend at the gym, and keep my workout clothes, sneakers, and water bottle all in one spot.
Working on my podcast and exercising require similar systems. To oversimplify, I need to reduce the obstacles between me and what I want while adding boundaries between others and what I want to do. So, I need to:
Protect my time.
Make the work as pleasant as possible.
Use the right tools for the job
Maintain realistic expectations
Stop when the time I budgeted is over, so I can come back to it later.
Exercise isn't going to make me a muscular Themiscryan overnight, and my podcast isn't going to change the cultural zeitgeist in a day. But, the more I say, “Today I will do X for Y amount of time,” and fulfill that promise, the more I can make gradual progress.
These exercise or work sessions become simpler to manage when this becomes a habit. And then, I can release episodes consistently, which becomes a habit for my audience. If I keep coming back to my desk for them, they will keep coming back to the podcast for me.
In the book “Where The Sidewalk Ends,” Shel Silverstein’s poem Melinda Mae tells the story of a little girl who “ate a monstrous whale,” even though everyone told her it was impossible because she was too small. “She took little bites and she chewed very slow,/Just like a good girl should.../And in eighty-nine years she ate that whale,/Because she said she would!”
Podcasting consistency doesn't mean it’ll take you eighty-nine years to achieve your goals, but what you can learn from Melinda Mae is that progress comes in little bites, one at a time.
Lindsay
🔧 TOOL OF THE WEEK
Podpage: The Podcast Website Builder
Your feedback in last week's poll showed us that websites still matter, even in a world of increasing AI search and social media app use. Podpage is perfect for podcasters who want the best possible podcast website, for the minimum amount of time, cost, and technical know-how.
Launching a podcast can feel overwhelming. There are many considerations, steps, and decisions to make. If you’ve been putting off podcasting because you’ve no idea where even to start, then fret no longer. This is the ultimate podcast launch checklist, laid out in an order that helps you build a growth-optimised show on solid foundations.
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!
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