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 episodes shouldn't be an afterthought. You give a lot of attention to how you get into your content but it's important to think about how to wrap things up too. The people who've stuck with you all the way to the end are your hardcore fans. So it's a good place to tell them what to do n...
Mar 11, 2018•8 min•Season 1Ep. 37
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 places as possible. You don't need to spend the rest of your life making sure your show is in every podcast app that's ever been created. In fact, a lot of them will automatically pull your show from other directories so you don't have to do anything to get your show on there. So what...
Mar 05, 2018•6 min•Season 1Ep. 36
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 your episode numbers in the back end of your podcast host rather than in the title of your show. In this episode I explain why. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/episode-numbers/ About me... My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally...
Feb 25, 2018•5 min•Season 1Ep. 35
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 headphones. And that goes for everyone whose dulcet tones will be featured on your show. This is obviously a given when you're interviewing a guest via Skype or Zencastr because without headphones they won't be able to hear you. But if you're chatting to someone face-to-face or you have a co-host, everyone will need their own pair. If your guest wants ...
Feb 18, 2018•9 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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 often difficult to get on if you don't have existing relationships to tap into. So, if this type of podcast guest is something you desperately want on your show. And you know it's right for your content (not just something you're doing for more listeners) in this episode I go th...
Feb 11, 2018•6 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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 people they know. If they do happen to stumble across your show you want them to know exactly what it is in a couple of seconds or they'll probably walk right on by. In this episode I take you through why it's better to be specific than general when you're thinking about your show idea...
Feb 04, 2018•5 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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 before. Podcasting can be daunting when you don't know what you're in for but are a few simple things you can do to make sure those feelings don't stop you from starting a show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcasting-self-doubt/ About me... My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two...
Jan 28, 2018•10 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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 with people you've never met your content, delivery and authenticity will matter a million times more than your voice. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/podcast-hosting-voice/ About me... My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almost two decades in radio and podcasting. I've hosted and produc...
Jan 21, 2018•5 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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 generate revenue from your podcast but you need to think more creatively than just "How can I sell ads?" Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-make-money-from-your-podcast/ About me... My name is Rachel Corbett and I've worked professionally for almo...
Jan 14, 2018•13 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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 you're one of those podcaster's who wastes time faffing about with your co-host in your podcast introduction instead of getting on with your content may I ask you, ever so politely, to please stop. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/get-on-with-y...
Jan 07, 2018•5 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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 important to think about the design of your podcast player. Luckily this isn't something you have to put together yourself because your podcast host will have one but which one do you choose? Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-make-your-podcas...
Dec 17, 2017•4 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 an audience is all about building a relationship and if you want people to keep coming back they have to know where to find you. Showing your audience you're committed to them builds trust and trust is what encourages people to recommend your show. It's also what ultimately gives...
Dec 10, 2017•4 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 bored and want to pep it up a bit. If you're not careful, those re-records (or 'pickups') can sound obvious because they're not recorded in the natural flow of the original conversation. Or, they're not recorded in the same space as the original audio. So how can you make it sound li...
Dec 03, 2017•5 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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 things you can do when you're recording a podcast to ensure, when you’re slicing away like Edward Scissorhands, you’re not thinking “This is a nightmare!” Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-make-editing-easier/ About me... My name is Rache...
Nov 26, 2017•7 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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 you’ll need to edit to make sure your listener gets the best possible content. Podcast editing is an essential part of the podcasting process if you want to give your listeners a high-quality show. Check out the full episode show notes: https://rachelcorbett.com.au/do-you-need-to-edit...
Nov 19, 2017•4 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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 very successful shows that subscribe to that formula it’s not the only way to do a show. Chatting non-stop might seem like the easiest option when you’re new to podcasting. But just because you’re a beginner doesn’t mean you can’t think more creatively about how to deliver your content. Breaking your show up into podcast segments can be a great way t...
Nov 12, 2017•5 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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 recording straight into audio software, or a portable recording device like a Zoom. Whichever way you decide to record your podcast you need to know which microphone is right for you, so you don't buy something that won't connect to anything. So what's the difference and which one should you choose? Check out the full episode show notes: https://rach...
Nov 05, 2017•6 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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 pre-interview working out the best stories and advice your guest will be able to offer, you’ll be more able to focus the interview on those areas. Often you can get a lot of this from research. But if there’s not much online about your guest a quick phone chat can be a simpler way of ho...
Oct 22, 2017•10 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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 tags to your podcast MP3 files is a step that helps ensure your show goes out into the ether with all the right information attached. It also ensures your show can be enjoyed by people who might not be able to listen to your show. In this episode, I explain how to tag your podcast MP3s and which software I use. Resources... Episode show notes... https://rachelcor...
Oct 08, 2017•4 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Transcribing your podcast is the process of turning the audio of your episode into text so there’s a readable version on your website...a podcast transcript. If you’re thinking “isn’t podcasting about getting your show into people’s ears, not their eyes?” you’re right. But there are a few reasons why taking some extra time to transcribe your podcast is a good idea. In this episode, I explain the benefits of having a podcast transcript on your website and also where you can get it done. Resources...
Sep 17, 2017•6 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Listening back to your podcast after it goes live can feel like an unnecessary step when you've spent so much time recording, editing and perfecting your podcast. But there are a few things that can happen between uploading your show and your listeners hearing it and you want to make sure every episode sounds exactly the way you wanted it to. In this episode, I share some of the things that can go wrong and why this is an important step in having a professional-sounding show. Resources... Episod...
Sep 03, 2017•8 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Having a professional podcast intro and outro can be the difference between sounding like you've thrown something together and sounding like a professional show. If you want to create a complex version with a lot of bells and whistles you'll probably need to hire someone or you can go with a simple version using only music. Either way, you need a podcast intro and outro to book end your show and make sure it sounds professional. In this episode, I explain how to build the perfect intro and outro...
Aug 27, 2017•8 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Presenting your podcast solo is tough because there's nothing natural about sitting in front of a cold lifeless microphone trying to perform to listeners you can’t see. So how do you get the energy you need in your voice when you're presenting your podcast to no one? Resources... Episode show notes... https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-engage-an-audience-presenting-solo/ My podcast guide... http://podcastguide.com.au/ My online podcasting course... https://podschool.com.au/ The resources page o...
Aug 20, 2017•5 min•Season 1Ep. 12
"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 podcast directories. In this episode, I take you through why you should create episode 0 and what you can include in it. Resources... Episode show notes... https://rachelcorbett.com.au/should-you-launch-your-podcast-with-episode-0/ My podcast guide... http://podcastguide.com.au/ ...
Aug 13, 2017•8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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 podcast sounds amazing, even if you're recording it in your lounge room. Resources... Episode show notes... https://rachelcorbett.com.au/how-to-record-high-quality-audio-at-home/ My podcast guide... http://podcastguide.com.au/ My online podcasting course... https://podschool.com.au/ Th...
Jul 31, 2017•5 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 little bit naughty, that’s totally fine. After all, there are plenty of podcasts out there that are littered with swear words and are still hugely successful. But if you're planning on getting a little 'blue' you just need to make sure your audience is up to speed so they don't walk into something they weren't expecting. In this episode, I share some...
Jul 23, 2017•6 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 people on your show is hugely advantageous, it’s no guarantee your podcast will go from 10 listeners to 10,000 overnight. How effective a guest is at growing your podcast audience will depend on a bunch of factors that are entirely out of your control and in this episode I take you through them so you can make sure your expectations are realistic. Re...
Jul 16, 2017•12 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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 audience. Why? Because you’re more focused on the page than you are on them. In this episode, I explain how to make sure you're prepared and have all the information you need in front of you without disconnecting from the people who are listening to your show. Resources... Episode...
Jul 02, 2017•4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 into directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify? In this episode, I explain why you definitely need a podcast host and what they do. Resources... Episode show notes... https://rachelcorbett.com.au/blog/podcast-host/ My podcast guide... http://podcastguide.com.au/ My o...
Jun 25, 2017•5 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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 important to make sure you're doing all you can to build a connection with that person because that connection is what turns people from listeners into fans. So how do you do that? In this episode, I share the most important word you can use in your podcast to make sure you're spea...
Jun 18, 2017•6 min•Season 1Ep. 3
