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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Your listeners feel like they know you - here's why that matters (Podcraft Pointers)
Published 5 days ago • 7 min read
Mic Drop Fact
It's possible to perceive sound without using your ears. Vibrations can travel through your skull, which is how bone-conduction headphones work.
Hullo there!
Has anyone ever owned a printer that cheerfully admitted it (a) had enough paper and (b) was connected to the internet? Every printer I’ve ever owned insists - often with great confidence - that both are categorically false, despite all available evidence to the contrary.
Anyway, printing stuff is so last century. We live in the age of electronic mail these days. And this is one - so let's get into it...
Speaking at events, running booths, and recording vox pops can build genuine connections with your audience. In the final episode of our SCALE framework, we also explore nine proven email marketing and engagement strategies that turn casual listeners into loyal fans.
The RØDECaster CallMe Add-on enables you to connect remote guests in broadcast-quality 20 kHz audio. No special hardware or software is required on their end. Whether you're podcasting, live streaming, or broadcasting remotely, this upgrade turns your RØDECaster Pro II or Duo into a powerful IP audio codec.
Printed in comic book form, Out on the Wire is an investigation into the narrative techniques and ideas used by modern journalists and storytellers, and it’s massively relevant to both radio producers and podcasters.
Your comprehensive launch blueprint: a step-by-step guide to podcasting for beginners that takes you from initial idea to snagging your first 100 listeners and beyond. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make a podcast and help it succeed in the quickest, most pain-free way possible!
Audio drama legend Lauren Shippen enhances her fiction podcast Maxine Miles with an incredible interactive web-based game. "This is unlike anything I've ever made before - it's about 60 pages of script, 80 minutes of audio, nearly 2,000 lines of code..." - a great example of pushing the boundaries of what's possible with audio storytelling!
Sponsoring another podcast is a brilliant way to grow your show. But when you pay to advertise your pod elsewhere, how can you prove that it has "worked"? The CLAP framework can help. No laughing up the back, please!
🔦 SPOTLIGHT 🔎
👂 The Power of Being Heard: Why Listeners Feel Close to Podcast Hosts
Podcasts create a powerful illusion of intimacy.
Because most listening is solo and habitual, audiences often feel like they know the host personally. Over time, this sense of connection can build trust and loyalty, but it's really based on a blend of what the host shares and what the listener projects.
This closeness gives podcasters real influence, whether they want it or not. Listeners may treat your voice like that of a trusted friend, which can amplify your message or reinforce their biases.
That illusion can drive engagement, but it also demands boundaries. Podcasters should be intentional about what they reveal and try to keep focus on the topic rather than themselves.
As strategist Rhys Waters explains, meaningful change comes from storytelling with purpose, not preaching. Whether you're educating, entertaining, or monetising, your show’s integrity and clarity matter more than personal connection alone.
Used wisely, the intimacy illusion can help your podcast grow without compromising your boundaries or values.
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.
"Every podcaster has a story to tell, and sometimes, the best stories come from the mistakes we make along the way. This week, we're diving into those early blunders that, in hindsight, have become valuable lessons. Whether it was a technical hiccup, a content misstep, or a marketing mishap, we want to hear about it!
Why share your story? Because your experience could be the key to helping a fellow podcaster avoid the same pitfalls. Plus, reflecting on these moments can be a great way to see how far you've come."
By the way, a shout out to poor Marty there who sat down for an interview with the Prime Minister and forgot to hit record 😲🤦
This section was so popular that we felt it deserved its own newsletter.
Podcraft Perspectives is an essential weekly email where Katie analyses the latest Podcraft Poll data and reports on anything else topical or relevant in the podcasting world right now. You'll find it in your inbox on Thursdays, going forward 😁
💡 LINDSAY'S MINDSET MOMENT
🧠 Idea Capture Systems ✍️
Creating processes to never lose episode ideas again
It’s happened to the best of us. Maybe you’re riding your bike, or you have your hands full of dirt in the garden, when a great idea for your podcast comes to mind. You tell yourself to stick a pin in that thought for later, when you can write it down. Then, an hour later, you’ve forgotten all about it.
If you’ve ever walked through a doorway and forgotten why you came into that room in the first place, you’re not alone. Fortunately, centuries of technological advances conspire to help you protect your ideas from the demons of forgetfulness. 😅
Most podcasters have smartphones with voice memo recording, reminders, or a note-taking app built into them. It’s not hard to ask Siri to remind you to research Lin Siniang for your history podcast. But, will you remember to retrieve that reminder? And, if the reminder is misspelt or lacks context, will you know what it means?
I’m a huge fan of the relationship between creativity and analog tools, so I keep an A6-sized notebook and pen nearby all the time. This notebook is small enough to shove in a pocket, but large enough that I can read my handwriting. Then I found dozens of paper bag notebook tutorials online, so now I have plenty of handmade idea notebooks. They don't look as professional as a Leuchtturm 1917 A6 lined-bound Monocle, but they meet my needs. 📝
What if you need to collect research material? Dozens of note-taking apps can collect your URLs, images, and thoughts for you to examine later. For example, Instapaper sorts your notes and ideas with tags, folders, or both. RSS reader apps such as Feedly, Newsblur or Inoreader deliver the latest articles from the websites of your choice. You can stay on top of news and trends, without ads or other distractions. Notability can hold PDF files, with notation tools to highlight, add text, or draw on your documents. 📚🖍️
To make your idea-capture system most effective, use it consistently over time. No app is a good method for capturing ideas if you forget to use it, and a notebook doesn’t help if it’s lost. When you can take notes in an app, include why this idea (or video, URL, screenshot, etc.) mattered to you at that moment, so you have context. Then, take the time to review your idea capture system regularly. When you find ideas you’d forgotten, it's like meeting up with an old friend. 🤝💡
⬇️ RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
The SCALE Podcast Promotion Checklist
Our ultimate guide to podcast promotion is a list of the various routes, strategies, and options gathered together in one place. You can pick a few and try them over time to see what works for you and what doesn’t.
And, because we love a framework, we’ve packaged our podcast promotion guide into one. It’s called 🪜🌱SCALE 📈🚀
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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