podcast Archives - DigitalMarketer Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:12:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/gearsNew-150x150.png podcast Archives - DigitalMarketer 32 32 7 Organic Marketing Strategies to Scale Faster in 2023 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/7-organic-marketing-strategies/ Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:35:05 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/?p=166193 Want to grow your business faster?…without paying crazy amounts on paid advertising?

Organic marketing is the answer. (Keep reading for my secrets).

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Want to grow your business faster?…without paying crazy amounts on paid advertising?

Organic marketing is the answer. (Keep reading for my secrets).  

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’ve been an Entrepreneur for 12+ years scaling multiple businesses to 6, 7, and 8 figures w/ an exit in 2019. Today, I run marketing for my portfolio of 4 businesses. 

The majority of my success in business has been through organic marketing. 

In this article, I’ll share my top 7 organic marketing strategies.

  1. SEO
  2. Partnerships
  3. Podcast interviews
  4. Social media
  5. Content marketing
  6. CRO
  7. Email marketing

By the end, you’ll have a headful of ideas to execute for growing your business. 

Let’s dive into it! 

My 7 Organic Marketing Strategies

In this section, I’ll define the 7 organic marketing strategies that I mentioned and give examples of each so that you can fully understand how they can help grow your business. 

1. SEO

SEO is the act of creating content on your website (pages & blog articles) that rank for specific keywords your ideal customer is searching for on Google and other search engines. 

For example, let’s say that you run an eCommerce business selling baby clothes. Your baby clothes are organic, custom-made, sourced from the US, and fashionable. 

With SEO, you’d want to rank for keywords like: 

  • “Organic baby clothing”
  • “Baby clothes made in the US”
  • “Fashionable baby clothing” 

By investing in SEO, you can optimize your website, pages, and content with the goal of ranking on the 1st page of search results. 

This will drive traffic to your website where you can convert users into email subscribers and customers. 

2. Partnerships

Partnerships is a marketing strategy where you team up with other companies in your industry where you’re not competing with one another, but you’re targeting the same ideal customer profile (ICP). 

For example, one of my companies is AccountsBalance, a monthly bookkeeping service for agencies, service providers, & SAAS companies. 

We have a Partner Program where we partner with 100s of other digital service providers, softwares, tools, and influencers. 

To start, we add each other to our Partner pages (exchanging backlinks), we feature each other in our newsletters (brand awareness & lead generation), then we find other ways to send leads both ways on a quarterly basis.  

Relationship building turns into brand awareness, visitors to your website, referrals, leads, & customers. 

3. Podcast Interviews

Most people know podcasts for listening to them, but there’s another side to it that is extremely beneficial for organic marketing. 

When I say “podcast interviews”, I’m referring to the marketing practice of getting interviewed on podcasts within your industry where you can share your expertise, establish yourself as a thought leader, and attract new customers to your business. 

For example, my business partner, Nathan Hirsch, has been interviewed on 500+ podcasts in the past 5 years. We have a system where we research top podcasts in our niches where our ideal customers are reading then we reach out and pitch them to interview Nathan. He goes on the podcast & drives leads to our businesses. 

When you do this consistently for months, you create a lot of “buzz” around you and your business. 

That “buzz” turns into new website traffic, leads, and customers. 

4. Social Media

Yes, we all know what social media is, but there’s a specific way to do it for organic marketing that can drive lots of interested customers to your business. 

I encourage you to look at social media as a platform where you can establish yourself as a subject matter expert (SME), build a following, and turn followers into paying customers. 

Here’s an example. I own and run marketing for 4 businesses and I use LinkedIn as a social media channel to establish myself as an SEO expert & entrepreneur, which drives customers to our companies. 

My ideal customer spends time on LinkedIn. I build trust with them through my daily posts & teaching them the SEO & marketing methods that are working best for me. 

It takes time, consistency, a good process, and dedication, but social media is an amazing place to reach your ideal customer.

5. Content Marketing

Content marketing is the organic marketing practice of creating high value content that speaks directly to your ideal customer and pulls them into your email list so that you can continue “talking” to them. 

Here’s some examples of content marketing: 

  • Infographics
  • Ebooks
  • Checklists
  • White papers
  • Webinars
  • Free trainings

Content marketing helps to “pull” your ideal customer into your business so they know you’re an option as they look to solve different problems they have. 

6. CRO

CRO stands for conversion rate optimization.

CRO is the act of optimizing your website and all of its pages for converting as many website visitors as possible into email subscribers or paying customers. 

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Let’s look at an example. You figure out the first 5 organic marketing channels and you start driving 1,000s of visitors to your website every month. Congrats on that first of all! But does it really matter if none of those people convert into email subscribers or customers? 


That’s where CRO comes in. You dive into the design, content, and performance of each page on your website to see how you can convert more visitors into subscribers and customers. 

7. Email Marketing

Last, but certainly not least is email marketing. Email marketing is building an owned email list of people that are interested in your business, you, and the products/services that you offer. Then regularly communicating with those people through a newsletter and automated email campaigns to convert them into paying customers. 

It’s great to get people to sign up for your email list or newsletter, but if you’re not communicating with them, it’s worthless. You need an email marketing strategy where you’re communicating with them, getting to know them better, answering their questions, and building trust with them. 

For example, one of my companies, Outsource School, is focused on teaching business owners how to hire and scale their business with virtual assistants and freelancers from the Philippines. We run a weekly newsletter that provides free advice and strategies on outsourcing to 5,000+ potential customers. We build additional trust with them each week and over time many of them become members. 

How to Get Started (w/ Each) 

Now that you know the 7 organic marketing strategies that you can use to grow your business faster, let’s talk about some simple, actionable steps you can take to get them started. 

1. SEO

Ideas to get started: 

  • Build a Blog page on your website. 
  • Commit to writing & publishing 1 new blog each week. 
  • Target 1 keyword with each blog. 
  • Make your keywords what your ideal customer would search to find you. 
  • Make all of your content high quality & value for your customer. 

2. Partnerships

Ideas to get started: 

  • Open a new Google Sheet or Trello board.
  • Make a Partner 100. Your top 100 ideal partners. 
  • Find contact information for all 100. (Or have a VA do it) 
  • Reach out to them on social media & email. 
  • Work to build a relationship with them.
  • Run content exchanges together. 

3. Podcast Interviews

Ideas to get started: 

  • Similar to the Partner 100, make a Podcast 100. 
  • Research 100 top podcasts where your ideal customer is listening. 
  • List out your areas of expertise & value you could add to the podcast. 
  • Reach out and pitch hosts to interview you. 
  • Record the interview with the host. 
  • Improve your interviewing skills as you practice. 

4. Social Media

Ideas to get started: 

  • Choose 1 channel to start with. 
  • If looking for B2B customers, use Twitter or LinkedIn. 
  • If for B2C customers, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. 
  • Post 1x per day
  • Reply to comments that people leave. 
  • Build a personal brand around your expertise. 

5. Content Marketing

Ideas to get started: 

  • Brainstorm a list of 5 lead magnets your ideal customer would like. 
  • Over 6-12 months, make the 5 lead magnets.
  • Feature them on your site. 
  • Post about them on your social media. 
  • Ask your partners to share them.
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6. CRO

Ideas to get started: 

  • Once you have website traffic, set up tracking with Google Analytics. 
  • Measure how many visitors you’re converting to email subscribers. 
  • Once you have a baseline, make a list of improvements you could make. 
  • Implement them and repeat this every quarter. 

7. Email Marketing

Ideas to get started: 

  • Choose an email marketing software to use: Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, etc. 
  • Start a weekly newsletter that you send out. Same day, same time each week. 
  • Build a content calendar and get ahead of the schedule. 
  • Schedule newsletters and get feedback from your subscribers. 

Take Action

Organic marketing is a valid and proven way to drive potential customers to your website that you can then work to convert into paying customers. 

I’ve been using organic marketing strategies for scaling my businesses for the past 10 years and I continue to be a huge proponent of them today. 

You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grow your business. All you need is proven processes, consistency, and the drive to keep at it for months on end. 

TL;DR:

1. SEO

2. Partnerships

3. Podcast Interviews

4. Social Media

5. Content Marketing

6. CRO

7. Email Marketing

Sit down and plan out how you’ll get these started for your business.

Take 1 at a time, perfect a process for it, delegate, and then move onto adding another. 

By the end of 1-2 years, you’ll have a fully running organic marketing machine that is driving 1,000s of leads to your business every single month. 
Have question? Follow me on LinkedIn and DM me with questions!

The post 7 Organic Marketing Strategies to Scale Faster in 2023 appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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The Art of Getting Booked: Mastering the Podcast Guesting Game https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/podcast-guesting/ Tue, 30 May 2023 20:22:29 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/?p=165610 Find out why being a podcast guest can expand your audience, build your authority, and drive business opportunities. Uncover the step-by-step process of crafting personalized outreach emails that catch the attention of podcast hosts.

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I didn’t think it was a big deal. We assumed these were typical results for those who focused and did the work.

The gaping mouths and the bulging eyes were our first clues. My next clue should have been when one podcaster told me he gets 50 to 100 pitches a week and he chose ours. Finally, reality set in like a bolt of lightning striking fifty feet in front of me. The words still rumble in my head like fading thunder echoing through the sky:

“I’ve never known anyone who booked 53 podcasts in two months.”Ryan Deiss

When Ryan said that from the stage at the M3 Mastermind, I finally realized my wife had done something extraordinary. This was no surprise.

She is an amazing woman. Anyone who read her CaringBridge journal in 2021 already knows that. TLDR: The doctors gave up on me and told her to “pull the plug.” She didn’t. She prevailed. I’m alive.

Craig & Karen Andrews, December 2021

So, in March of 2023 I asked her to come to my rescue again. This time it was much lower stakes. I asked her to get me booked on podcasts.

Why Pursue Being a Podcast Guest?

Guesting on podcasts is a way to expand your own audience. According to ListenNotes, there are more than three million podcasts. The podcast hosts did the time consuming work of building their audience. And as a podcast guest, you get nearly effortless access to that audience.

Guest interviews are a great way to build your authority. Almost every host launches the podcast episode talking about how awesome you are. Their audience trusts them… and now their audience – the podcast listeners – trust you.

Your guest podcast interview will drive business and opportunities. Our 90-day rolling pipeline report tells that story best. “FTO Deals”, our discovery call metric, is up 700% compared to the prior 90-days when we weren’t guesting on podcasts.

“FTOs Sold” means we closed a new client. That’s up 400% compared to the prior 90-days. And we expect that to rise further because most of the discovery calls haven’t happened yet.

Fill your pipeline by being a podcast guest

Our podcast focus started within this 90-day view. Most of the podcast episodes are scheduled to go live in the next couple of months. And yet we’re seeing triple-digit 90-on-90 growth on our most important metrics.

Look closer and you’ll see another hidden nugget. Double-digit lead growth drove triple-digit opportunity and sales growth. That’s what authority does for you.

If you’re running out of ways to unleash an instant triple-digit firehose on your business, then read on. I’ll show you how we did it.

How to Get on a Podcast: How it Started

Be careful when you curse adversity in your life. If you let adversity be your mentor, it will rip the scales off your eyes and a world of new opportunities becomes crystal clear. And that’s what happened here.

It began in November 2022 when NCR laid off my wife, Karen. We’re not upset with NCR. They’ve been wonderful to Karen. For the three months I was in the hospital, they let her work half-time while paying her full-time. But the layoff was a shock.

While Karen was trying to figure out her “next thing,” I asked her if she could get me booked on podcasts. She clearly knocked the cover off the ball and accidentally found her “next thing.”

Her first step was research. Why would a podcast host want me on their podcast? Podcast hosts receive tens or hundreds of pitches each week. They’re looking for their ideal podcast guests. So, the outreach email is key.

Create a Personalized Outreach Email for Each of the Podcast Hosts

Sorry, there are no shortcuts here. Automated mass outreach won’t get you guest appearances on any of the relevant podcasts.

I’ll break down one of Karen’s emails step-by-step so you can see the key elements.

The Intro: Praise the Podcast Host for Their Mission

Praise the host for their mission. Connect with their “Why.” Go to their podcast page. They’ll almost certainly make their mission clear there. They’ll also help you identify their target audience. Make sure their target audience aligns with your target audience. Otherwise, you’re just wasting their time.

Here’s an example of Karen’s intro:

Hi Roy,

My name is Karen and I work on behalf of Craig Andrews.  We have been listening to your podcast and love what you are doing!  

Recognize and applaud the podcast host’s superpower

Make sure you get their name right!! Ryan Deiss said he gets outreach emails every week praising him for his interviews on the DigitalMarketer podcast. The problem is Ryan doesn’t do the podcast. Getting the host’s name wrong is the first clue that you’re doing spammy outreach.

Next, praise their mission. We could improve this outreach by being specific in praising the mission we see them fulfilling. That would probably boost our results further. But even this generic simplicity has been working. But that’s because of the next paragraph.

The Intro: Reference a Specific Podcast Episode & What You Learned

This is the most time-consuming part of the process. And no, you can’t automate this.

A leading podcast host achieved their vaulted position by being selective in their podcast guests. So, your window of opportunity is through a few scarce words that communicate you’ll be a great podcast guest. And great podcast guests speak to their audience by knowing their audience.

Reference a specific episode in your podcast outreach email

So, you need to listen to an episode. Make your outreach email reference:

  • A specific episode.
  • A specific guest.
  • A specific insight you got from that episode.

Here’s what that looks like in Karen’s outreach:

We recently listened to your podcast with Tom Sharp about Strategy Patterns for Business Growth.  We really appreciated his idea that you need to know yourself, your boundaries and your goals and doing the work to understand those goals.

BOOM! Do that and you just distinguished yourself as a podcast guest that cared enough to actually listen to their podcast. You don’t have to listen to all the podcast interviews. One is enough.

Now you have their attention. Next you must prove you’ll bring the goods to serve their audience.

The Meat: Bring the Heat & Add Value to the Podcast Listeners

Bring something new to the table. You’re not going to get booked by pitching “How to Grow Your Business Using Facebook Ads.” That was fresh and relevant about a decade ago. But you may get booked with something more current like:

How you can overcome Facebook’s recent trend of reduced targeting with four carefully selected headline elements.

Bring something that’s both unknown and valuable

In our case, we specialize in accelerating high-ticket sales. So, we wanted to find podcasts that had a podcast audience with people that fit that description.

In 2023, high-ticket businesses are struggling closing deals. So, our guest podcasting is focused on building irresistible First-Time Offers to overcome the tough economic conditions. This is a great message for podcast audiences that are struggling with sales. Here’s what that looks like in Karen’s email:

Craig has some fresh thoughts for our currently tough economy that he thought would benefit your audience.

He specializes in First-Time Offers that serve as a “coffee date” to begin an engagement with a potential customer.  Help before you sell!

Again, our goal isn’t to be on all the podcasts – just the ones with our ideal customers. So, we want the message to enchant our perfect podcast hosts while repelling other podcasts that aren’t ideal.

Once you have them enchanted, next deal with their fear.

The Promise: Convince the Podcast Hosts You’re Not a Greedy Bastard

The podcast world is about giving – not taking. So, don’t be a greedy bastard.

Unfortunately, the world is oversupplied with shysters and takers. Your outreach email needs to quickly communicate that your guest appearance will focus on giving. Promise a free gift for the podcast host’s audience.

Focus on serving and giving

Here’s what that looks like in Karen’s outreach:

He would love to offer a free gift to your audience as an additional way of adding value.  

When you do that, you quickly communicate that you understand the unwritten agreement. It demonstrates your giving nature in action. It also communicates you’ve done this for other podcasts – so you’re an expert guest and a giver. Win-win-win…

But that’s not enough. You’ve got to bring more to the table.

The Sizzle: Promise to be an Interesting Podcast Guest

Beuller… Beuller… Beuller…

Ben Stein brought humor to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off by being the most boring economics teacher on the planet. But let’s be honest… you’re no Ben Stein.

Unlike Ben Stein, you have not mastered the craft of being entertaining by being boring. The only way you’ll land on someone else’s podcast is by being interesting. Promise to tell a story. Look through your life and find interesting stories that tie into your core message.

Here’s what that looks like in Karen’s outreach:

A few interesting things about Craig:
He spent 6 years in the Marines.
He lived and studied in Japan.
He received a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and later figured out he loved marketing.
In 2021, he spent 3 months in the hospital and woke up from a coma only able to wiggle a finger and a toe.  His recovery has been a miracle.

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Life gifted me with a white-knuckled story of narrowly escaping death. So, yes, I pimp the heck out of that story. But I’ve discovered that some podcast hosts really don’t care about my near early departure from this world.

Karen offers a variety of interesting life events so the podcast host can pick one that interests them most. Look through your life and find interesting stories that you can use to illustrate core elements of your message.

The Close: Bring the Social Proof

Top hosts want to know that you’ve been on other podcasts. Nobody wants to train you on being a great podcast guest. It may feel like podcast access is limited to those who’ve already been on a bunch of podcasts.

But every podcast guest started with their first podcast. Then they went on more podcasts and built social proof. That’s been the case with me. Here’s how Karen handles that:

Craig has presented at Conversion Conference, various Vistage groups and other podcasts.

Karen used what we had in our arsenal. Yes, I have been on two or three podcasts. In one case I was episode #3 on a podcast that shut down after the 4th episode. But that’s still social proof.

Find someone who thinks you’re awesome and quote them

If you’re just starting out, get a testimonial from your mom. Hopefully she thinks you’re awesome. Figure out what group she’s involved in… like her neighborhood gardening group. Speak to them about something that interests them. Here’s what that review looks like:

Craig brought an amazing message to the East Peoria Gardening Club. Everyone was captivated by his stories of how rosemary represents the essential spice that should be a part of everyone’s garden of life.” – Mary Andrews, President of the East Peoria Gardening Club.

Get on one podcast and use that as social proof to get on bigger podcasts. Remember, you’re not alone. If you’re trying to break into the guest podcasting space, there are also many new podcast hosts trying to break into the space as well. You’re perfect for each other.

The Close: Give a Call-to-Action to be Their Next Podcast Guest

It’s easy to forget the Call-to-Action (CTA). Don’t let it be implicit. Actively call the host to action. We steal some wisdom from Chris Voss and structure our CTA to be a natural “No.”

Would it be a ridiculous idea to set up a call to see how he can meet the unique needs of your listeners?

Notice how the CTA brings the focus back on their audience instead of you. That reinforces the idea that you’ll bring value to their audience.

Other Things Podcast Guests Need to Consider

Of course there are other things you need to consider in addition to the outreach email. Maximize use of the podcast directories. I recommend you create a speaker page that includes speaking examples, your bio, head shots and other assets.

Those are each a subject of their own. So, we’ll talk about those in other articles. But that doesn’t mean you should wait. Today is the time to begin your journey as a podcast guest.

Stop reading. Set your timer. Use the next 15-minutes to write your first draft of your podcast outreach email. You can perfect it later.

Put it to Work – Get Booked as a Guest

This journey began because I heard Lauren Petrullo proclaim her goal. She set out to get on 100 podcasts before the end of the year. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Neither did Karen. So, we set the same goal.

One of my favorite quotes is by General George S. Patton:

“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”

General Patton was the only allied commander that Field Marshal Rommel feared. Patton’s philosophy allowed him to make the impossible possible.

If there’s any genius in what we’ve done it’s that we set a crazy goal and aggressively pursued it. We were so ignorant of podcasting that we didn’t realize how exceptional our results were until several folks told us. Now it’s your turn. Go and do the same.

The post The Art of Getting Booked: Mastering the Podcast Guesting Game appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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Revolutionize Your Marketing Strategy with Podcasting https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/revolutionize-marketing-with-podcasting/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 20:17:27 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/?p=165152 Incorporating the Customer Value Journey framework can help guide their podcast marketing efforts and create a more effective and targeted strategy.

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Podcasting has become an increasingly popular way for businesses to reach their target audience and build a loyal following. But how can businesses use podcasting as a part of their overall marketing strategy?

I know firsthand as a business owner the importance of creating a targeted and effective marketing strategy that maximizes the value of each customer and builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for my brand.

That’s why I decided to leverage the power of podcasting by launching the Creative Visionaries Podcast as a part of my overall marketing strategy at Creative Marketing.

To create a targeted and effective podcast marketing strategy that maximizes the value of each customer and builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for their brand, businesses can turn to DigitalMarketer’s Customer Value Journey (CVJ) framework.

While it is most commonly used in the development of a marketing plan there is a huge opportunity to align each stage of the CVJ with the podcast marketing process.

Businesses can create episodes that attract listeners, build trust, and ultimately convert them into loyal brand advocates. This approach ensures that every podcast episode provides value to the listener, while also advancing them further along the customer value journey toward becoming a loyal customer.

To better understand how the CVJ framework can be applied to podcast marketing, let’s take a closer look at each of the eight stages:

  • Awareness: At this stage, the customer becomes aware of the business and its products or services.
  • Engagement: The customer engages with the business in some way, such as by visiting the website or signing up for an email list.
  • Subscribe: The customer opts in to receive more information from the business, such as a newsletter or free content.
  • Convert: The customer makes their first purchase from the business.
  • Excite: The customer experiences the product or service and becomes excited about it.
  • Ascend: The customer makes additional purchases or upgrades to higher-priced products or services.
  • Advocate: The customer becomes a loyal fan of the business and recommends it to others.
  • Promote: The customer actively promotes the business and its products or services to others.

Applying this framework to podcasting, businesses can create and market a successful podcast that guides customers through each stage of the journey.

At the Awareness stage, a business might promote its podcast on social media or through paid advertising to reach new listeners. By offering valuable and engaging content in the podcast, businesses can then move listeners into the Engagement and Subscribe stages of the journey.

Encouraging listeners to subscribe to the podcast and leave reviews can help move them into the Conversion stage, where they become paying customers.

During the Excite stage, businesses can leverage their podcast to deepen engagement and foster brand loyalty. By offering valuable content that speaks directly to their customers’ needs and interests, businesses can generate excitement and enthusiasm around their brand, further strengthening their connection with their audience.

This leads them directly into the Ascend stage, where customers are offered opportunities to move up the value ladder by making additional purchases or upgrades to higher-priced products or services, building a deeper relationship with the brand.

For example, a digital marketing agency could establish authority in their industry by offering marketing consulting services and using a podcast to provide valuable insights and tips to potential clients, ultimately building trust and establishing themselves as an expert in their field.

At the Advocate stage, businesses can use their podcast to create a community of loyal fans who actively promote their brand. This can be done by encouraging listeners to share the podcast with others, leave positive reviews, and engage with the business on social media.

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Businesses can create long-term loyalty and advocacy by promoting their podcast to their existing audience and leveraging the Promote stage of the customer value journey, which involves creating a sense of belonging and community around their brand.

So, we’ve talked about how podcasting can really benefit businesses. It’s a great way to get your brand out there, engage with your customers, and connect with your target audience. Plus, it’s a powerful tool for establishing your expertise and building a strong, recognizable brand.

By incorporating the CVJ framework to guide their podcast marketing efforts, businesses can create a more targeted and effective strategy that maximizes the value of each customer and builds long-term loyalty and advocacy for their brand.

To Create a Successful Podcast, Businesses Should Follow Some Key Tips:

First, they should identify a specific niche or topic that appeals to their target audience. By focusing on a specific topic, businesses can differentiate themselves from other podcasts and create a loyal following.

Second, businesses should produce high-quality content that provides value to their listeners. This can include interviews with experts in the industry, tips and advice, and engaging storytelling.

Third, businesses should promote their podcast through various channels, including social media, email marketing, and paid advertising.

With dedication and creativity, podcasting can be a valuable asset for any business looking to stand out in today’s digital landscape. By creating high-quality content that resonates with their audience, businesses can increase brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty.

Incorporating the Customer Value Journey framework can help guide their podcast marketing efforts and create a more effective and targeted strategy. So, if you’re looking to take your business to the next level, consider starting a podcast today and join the millions of businesses already leveraging this powerful tool.

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5 AI Tools to Transform Your Podcast Production & Marketing Process https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/ai-podcast-marketing/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:43:46 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/?p=164529 We’ll look at 5 AI podcasting tools you can start using today to create a better show and reach more people for less money and in less time.

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5 AI Tools to Transform Your Podcast Production & Marketing Process

After years of speculating about whether the buzz around AI was justified, by now, most of us as marketers and entrepreneurs have accepted that the promise of AI-enabled tools is real.

It’s clear that AI technology will impact (and perhaps radically transform) almost every aspect of our work and lives.

Podcasting is no exception.

And while there are certainly challenges AI will present to us as podcasters, content creators, and marketers, there are also some incredible benefits.

Specifically, those benefits revolve around the ways in which AI will make our jobs easier when it comes to creating, repurposing, and marketing our shows to get them in front of our ideal listeners, and ultimately, clients and customers.

So in this article, we’ll look at 5 AI podcasting tools you can start using today to create a better show and reach more people for less money and in less time.

1. AI-Generated Podcast Show Notes

If you’re like most podcast hosts, writing show notes for each episode is likely one of your least favorite parts of the production process.

Fortunately, a growing number of AI-writing assistants like Capsho have emerged to help take this time-intensive (not to mention boring) task off your hands.

All you have to do is upload your finished audio file and Capsho will automatically write your episode’s show notes, suggest a title, create a transcript, pull out quotes, generate social captions, and even repurpose your episode into a blog post, newsletter, and LinkedIn article.

Keep in mind you’ll still need to do some manual tweaking to polish off the AI-generated, but for many hosts, Capsho, or similar tools like Swell or Podcast Marketing.ai can get you 90% of the way there.

2. AI-Generated Podcast Promotional Assets

One of the best ways to drive awareness of your show is by repurposing it into short-form video.

And while manually combing through your episodes in search of the perfect clip can be a painstaking process, once again, AI has come to the rescue.

If you’re already recording video for your podcast, Vidyo is a nifty tool that automatically identifies, pulls, and captions compelling clips from any video file you upload.

In addition to a number of high-quality, customizable templates, Vidyo also has a nifty feature that automatically cuts between speakers, helping keep your viewers engaged on longer clips.

If you don’t record video for your podcast, not to worry.

Dubb is another podcast repurposing tool that generates AI-created background animations & transcripts from your uploaded audio files to create unique and engaging videos instantly.

3. AI Podcast Post-Production

So far, we’ve explored AI tools to help you repurpose your finished episode recordings. But there are a number of tools designed to make creating a high-quality show easier in the first place.

Descript has been on the scene the longest and has a whole suite of editing features including AI-generated transcript creation, audio clean-up, automatic filler-word removal, and more.

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But while Descript certainly has a powerful feature set, it’s far from the only option.

Perhaps the most intriguing new tool is Adobe Podcast.

While it’s currently still in beta, Adobe has released a couple of features for free, including their jaw-dropping Enhance Speech tool, which uses AI to transform almost any recording into an NPR-quality finished product (seriously).

With tools like Enhance Speech, the barriers to entry in terms of recording gear, software, and technical know-how is rapidly dropping, meaning one less layer of friction between your ideas and your audience.

4. AI Voice Generation

One of the most fascinating applications of AI when it comes to podcasting is AI voice generation.

Maybe you’re a writer who would love to turn your blog posts into podcast episodes but doesn’t have the time, for example.

No problem.

With Listnr, you can simply upload your text, choose your voice (currently over 70 languages available with dozens of accent variables in each), and generate an audio version of your article in minutes.

But say you want to make things a bit more personal.

In addition to its post-production and editing tools, Descript’s Overdub feature allows you to train an AI voice model on your own voice.

Once the model has been trained, you can use Overdub to do everything from typing in a replacement word for one you flubbed during the recording to generating new custom audio content based on text.

5. AI Video Alteration

Our final entry into the list might not apply to every podcaster, but it’s no doubt one of the coolest AI tools I’ve come across to date, especially if you record video for your podcast.

When it comes to production quality, there’s no denying that eye contact with the camera is one of the most important factors to consider.

For solo videos, eye contact allows for a more personal, intimate experience for your viewers. For interviews, that depth of connection extends to your guest as well, leading to better interviews, and a better experience for both them and your audience.

The problem (as we’ve all experienced on countless awkward Zoom calls) is that you can’t look at the camera and your guest’s video (or your script) at the same time.

To solve this, most serious video podcasters and YouTubers eventually opt to invest in bulky, often expensive teleprompters.

With NVIDIA’s new Eye Contact tool (a part of their Broadcast app), however, teleprompters might soon become obsolete.

The tool uses AI to seamlessly edit your video feed in real time so your eyes always remain locked on the camera, even while you’re taking notes or reading from a script.

Honestly, it’s kind of mind-blowing.

Unfortunately, Broadcast is only available for Windows right now, though I have no doubt we’ll be seeing more tools like this emerge for other operating systems soon enough.

How Will AI Impact Your Production Workflow?

How Will AI Impact Your Production Workflow?

The AI arms race is well underway, both in terms of the development of new technologies and applications, as well as the adoption of those tools by small businesses, marketers, and creators looking to get a leg up on the competition.

While there are certainly still kinks to be ironed out, it’s clear that AI-enabled tools have emerged as viable options to help us create better content faster and cheaper than we could just a couple of years ago.

If you’re like me, this has you excited.

It means we can spend less time on the menial admin work that doesn’t make use of our unique talents and perspective, and more time on the creative, ideas-driven work that only we can do.

And it’s that work that will ultimately allow us to move our businesses forward.

The post 5 AI Tools to Transform Your Podcast Production & Marketing Process appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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Perpetual Traffic: LinkedIn’s 15 Best Podcasts for Modern Marketers https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/perpetual-traffic-linkedins-15-best-podcasts-for-modern-marketers/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 21:20:31 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/?p=162796 These 10 candidates were nominated by the DigitalMarketer Community, a vast network of over 120,000 marketers and agencies that work tirelessly to create and practice the most effective methods in modern marketing.

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LinkedIn released “The 15 Best Podcasts for Modern Marketers” and guess what … we made it!

In 1938, Orson Welles famously frightened listeners across the U.S. with his radio broadcast of “War of the Worlds,” which many perceived as an actual account of an alien invasion

This early example illustrates the power of audio content: It is immersive and engaging, making us feel like we’re sitting right next to the speaker while visualizing their words in our own minds

Tequia Burt Editor in Chief, LinkedIn Ads Blog – The 15 Best Podcasts for Modern Marketers

While we are not broadcasting accounts of alien invasions, Perpetual Traffic is a weekly podcast produced by DigitalMarketer and hosted by Ralph Burns and Kasim Aslam where they share cutting-edge strategies on acquiring leads and sales for your business through paid traffic.

Ralph Burns is the Founder and CEO of Tier 11, a digital marketing agency which utilizes a proprietary system called Customer Acquisition Amplification™ to unlock the online potential of purpose-driven businesses to help them scale and grow.

Kasim Aslam is the founder and CEO of Solutions 8, one of the world’s top ranked Google Ads agencies. Recipient of the Arizona Interactive Marketing Association’s 2017 TIM Award for Person of the Year, Kasim was also named one of the Top 50 Digital Marketing Thought Leaders in the United States by The University of Missouri in 2020.

Perpetual Traffic has been downloaded over 8 million times and has helped tens of thousands of people grow their businesses through online traffic and conversion strategies.

Podcasts give us a seamless way to entertain and inform ourselves while going through the daily motions.

We’ve been lucky enough to be named with some of the best; This Old Marketing, Unthinkable, Everyone Hates Marketers, The LinkedIn Ads Show, The Shakeup, and many more.

LinkedIn says: Perpetual Traffic, “The name of this podcast sounds like either a digital marketer’s dream come true, or a commuter’s nightmare (which would, ironically, leave plenty of time for podcast listening). In reality, the focus here is on all things paid traffic, highlighting the ever-changing best practices in digital advertising across both search and social.”

Kasim and Ralph have made over 400 episodes with some incredible guests over the years, here are some of our favorites:

Episode 359: TikTok Vs. YouTube: The Future of Video Advertising

Episode 371: Top SEO Tips from DigitalMarketer’s GM

Episode 334: The Future of Marketing with Ryan Deiss

The post Perpetual Traffic: LinkedIn’s 15 Best Podcasts for Modern Marketers appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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How to Create a Podcast Studio on a Shoestring Budget https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/podcast-equipment/ https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/podcast-equipment/#respond Thu, 04 Jul 2019 01:40:51 +0000 https://www.digitalmarketer.com/uncategorized/podcast-equipment/ Learn exactly what pieces of podcast equipment you need to record your own high-quality podcast, whether you’re on a shoestring budget or setting up a professional-level studio.

The post How to Create a Podcast Studio on a Shoestring Budget appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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Want to record your own podcast?

Then you’re going to need some podcast equipment.

Now, when people start podcasting, many of them fall into one of two camps:

  • Some people take waaay too much time deciding what podcast equipment to buy
  • And others buy their gear on a whim without doing enough research beforehand

The downside to #1 is that you waste too much time researching when you should be taking action—actually recording your show and putting it out there in the world.

But you don’t want to go too far in the other direction. Because the downside to #2 is that you could buy the wrong thing—maybe you get a microphone that doesn’t really work for your needs—and you end up either wasting money, producing low-quality audio, or both.

It’s my hope that this post will solve both of those problems.

If you don’t know me, I’m the guy behind the scenes who does all the editing for the Perpetual Traffic podcast.

The Perpetual Traffic Podcast logo

So needless to say, I’ve got quite a bit of experience in podcasting. I’ve also used a lot of different audio equipment over the years—some of it really good, some of it not so good.

And in this article, you’re going to get the benefit of my experience. You’re going to learn exactly what pieces of podcast equipment you need to record your own high-quality podcast. It doesn’t matter if you’re setting up a professional-level studio or getting started on a shoestring budget.

I’ll help you find tools that fit your needs and your budget, so you can rest assured you’re using the right equipment for what you’re actually doing.

What Type of Podcast Are You Recording?

When creating a podcast studio, there’s one big question you need to think about:

What is going to do the best job of capturing my content and the chemistry of my host(s) and/or guest(s)?

And the truth is that there’s no one right answer to that question. The answer is going to vary from podcast to podcast.

The equipment you choose for your studio should depend on the type of podcast you’re producing.

Part of the reason why? Because there are many different types of podcasts out there:

  • Traditional podcast
  • Interviews
  • Case studies/reporting
  • Live events/webinars
  • Inspirational
  • Storytelling

This is important to realize because the equipment you choose for your studio should depend on the type of podcast you’re producing, as well as other factors like your budget and your recording environment.

So, keep that in mind. The equipment is here to serve your needs—not the other way around—so make sure to get what will work for YOU.

The Podcast Production Process

Before we dive into the podcast equipment itself, I think it will be helpful to cover what the typical podcast production process looks like.

(RELATED: How to Launch a Podcast, Drive it to the Top of the Charts, AND Keep it There in Just 4 Steps)

And generally speaking, there are two main steps involved:

  • Step 1: Record
  • Step 2: Edit and Upload

Here’s what the podcast flow looks like for the Perpetual Traffic podcast:

What the podcast production flow looks like for the Perpetual Traffic podcast

Now, this process will look different for different podcasts. If your show consists of just you talking, for example, then you won’t need to get Skype or a call recorder involved.

We use that for Perpetual Traffic because Molly and Ralph are almost never in the same physical location for the podcast. So we record using Skype.

It’s a cool workflow because even though the hosts aren’t in the same room, we can still capture the chemistry of their relationships and their conversations by recording it live.

Once Step 1 is finished, the show moves on to Step 2. Which is where I take over.

And after the call is recorded, each person sends me their audio files for editing. This way, I get three high-quality redundant files, with three different versions of the Skype call. So if anything goes wrong with one file, I have two other backups. That has really come in handy during a few of our episodes.

Then I will go through and edit the show, and finally upload it using our podcast host Libsyn.

And along the way, at each and every step, we are using some piece of specialized equipment—whether it’s a condenser microphone, an audio mixer, or audio restoration software.

And in the rest of this post, I’ll share my top recommendations for each and every piece of equipment you need to produce your own professional-sounding podcast.

How to Choose a Microphone for Making a Podcast

When you think about podcasting equipment, the first thing that pops in your head is probably microphones.

So what kind of microphone should you use when making a podcast?

Well, the answer is that there’s no simple answer. The best microphone will depend on your specific needs and situation.

And when you’re purchasing a mic, the most important question to ask is:

What kind of environment are you recording in?

Are you recording interviews in public places, with lots of ambient noise?

On a stage in front of an audience?

In your car?

Or are you recording in a quiet studio at home?

Depending on your recording environment, a different type of microphone might make sense for your podcast.

And broadly speaking, there are two main types of microphones:

Condenser mics and dynamic mics.

Condenser Microphones

Condenser microphones are best used in a controlled environment (like a quiet studio).

They’re very accurate, very sensitive, and can produce fantastically high-quality audio.

On the downside, they’re also more delicate. They have a tendency to pick up external sounds, which can be problematic in public places. They also require power to run. This is called phantom power and is transferred to the mic through an XLR cable from a mixer or preamp.

Here are a few condenser mics that are popular with podcasters, at 3 different price ranges.

Level 1: Blue Yeti Pro ($250)

Blue Yeti Pro

Source: Amazon

The Yeti Blue is a commonly used and much-loved microphone by a lot of podcasters. It’s probably the least expensive condenser mic that I would recommend.

If you’re recording in a quiet spot, have a somewhat limited budget, and want the best-quality audio you can get, the Yeti Blue is a great option.

Level 2: Rode Broadcaster ($418)

Rode Broadcaster

Source: Amazon

This is a popular mic for professional radio. It is equally suitable as a voice-over microphone for film and television.

It’s designed to provide the ultimate performance for broadcast vocal applications.

The Broadcaster features an internal pop filter that minimizes plosive sounds from the speaker’s voice that can overload the microphone and distort the audio output (we’ll have more on this in the Accessories section below).

Level 3: Neumann U87 ($3,200)

Neumann U87

Source: Amazon

At over 3 grand, this mic is out of most people’s price range. It’s really a Howard Stern-level mic. But I’m including it here to give you an idea of just how much you can pay for a really powerful condenser mic.

And this gives you an example of one of the downsides to condenser mics, which is their price tag.

Condenser mics are hard to make. The mechanism is delicate and complicated. And with technology like that, you get what you pay for.

You can get some really amazing sound from a condenser mic, but you’ll have to pay at least $300–$500 on the low end.

Now if you don’t have that kind of budget, or if you’d rather get more bang for your buck, then you might be more interested in a dynamic microphone.

Dynamic Microphones

Dynamic microphones are great for louder environments because they won’t pick up as much ambient noise.

If you’re recording somewhere with background noise—in the car, in a restaurant, or even in a room with outside noise coming in through the window—then a dynamic mic is probably a smart choice.

Compared to condenser mics, which can be quite delicate, dynamic mics are more rugged. You can throw them in a suitcase and take them on the road without having to worry.

Here are the three dynamic microphones I recommend, with an option for every price range:

Level 1: ATR-2100 ($68)

ATR-2100

Source: Amazon

This is a really popular microphone. Tim Ferriss even recommended it on his blog, saying it has “the best bang-for-the-buck value I’ve found.”

It’s a great mic at a great price. It’s also super versatile—you can use it as a USB mic, or you can use an XLR cable to plug it into a mixer.

Now if you’ve got a little more money to play with, you could consider upgrading to…

Level 2: Rode Podcaster ($229)

Rode Podcaster

Source: Amazon

The Rode Podcaster is a great all-around mic. It produces really nice sound and has a built-in pop filter.

This is the microphone Ralph Burns uses.

Level 3: Shure SM7 ($400)

Shure SM7

Source: Amazon

This is what we use in the DigitalMarketer studio. It’s a killer-sounding mic.

Notice that even at the high end, these dynamic mics are still quite a bit less expensive than the condenser mics. That’s because dynamic mics use a much simpler mechanism. As a result, you can pay less and still get great-sounding audio.

So, if cost is a big factor for you, it probably makes sense to go for a dynamic mic when you’re just getting started.

Condenser and dynamic mics will be the best choice for most podcasters, most of the time. But sometimes, depending on the nature of your podcast (and the location where you’re recording it), you might need a more specialized mic.

For those situations, you’ll probably want to look into a lavalier mic or a shotgun mic.

Lavalier Microphones

Lavalier mics are a form of condenser microphones that you clip to your shirt. As a result, they’re very mobile, which makes them perfect for speaking on stage or any other time you need to walk around.

They’re also a great choice for times when it’s not appropriate to spend a lot of time setting up big microphones—impromptu interviews and so on. In fact, because they’re so small and inconspicuous, you can take them just about anywhere without making it too obvious that you’re recording.

One trick that I use when recording in a restaurant is to clip a lavalier onto the side of an empty glass. Then slide the glass toward the person you’re interviewing.

You’ll get great audio and can still capture the magic and maintain the chemistry between you and your guest, without having to embarrass them or interrupt the moment.

There are a lot of great lavalier mics out there. Here’s a convenient option for anyone with an iPhone:

Sennheiser ClipMic ($200)

Sennheiser ClipMic

Source: Amazon

The ClipMic is a really cool lavalier microphone that plugs right into an iPhone, which makes it super convenient—just plug it into your phone, clip it onto your shirt, and you’re ready to record.

There are other lavalier mics available, of course. But most of them are designed to plug into a wireless system which does make it more expensive.

Rode SC6 ($20) 

Rode SC6

Source: Amazon

This is a handy little adapter that allows you to plug a lav microphone and headphones into your phone for doing phone interviews.

In order for this to work you need to use a lav mic built for the iPhone like a smartLav by Rode.

But using something like the Rode SC6, you can plug your mic right into your phone to record a call.

Shotgun Microphones

If you’re shooting in a noisy room, especially with multiple people (when giving everyone a lavalier might be problematic), you’re probably going to want to use a shotgun mic.

Shotgun microphones are very directional. Think of them like sound flashlights. They record in the direction you point them, but ignore any sound coming from other directions.

High-end shotgun mics can run upwards of $800 for the NTG3. But for a fraction of the price you can get another really nice shotgun mic from Rode, the VideoMic.

Rode VideoMic ($150)

Rode VideoMic

Source: Amazon

One cool thing about the VideoMic is that you can mount it right on top of a camera. Obviously, most podcasters aren’t doing a lot of video. But if you need to record a video every now and then, this gives you a really easy point-and-click solution:

And like I mentioned, this will do a great job of filtering out background noise. It’s a good choice if you’re going to be recording in public places like conventions.

Accessories

Now that we’ve covered mics, let’s talk about some of the useful accessories that can help make your microphone even more effective. Depending on where you record your podcast, you’ll almost certainly be able to improve the audio quality of your show with a few of these accessories.

Boom Arm

Boom Arm

Source: Amazon

A boom arm is a nifty little tool that lets you suspend your microphone and swing it back and forth. It’s a useful way to store your microphone on your desk. You can let your mic hang safely out of the way, and then easily pull it in front of you when you’re ready to start recording.

It’s also a helpful accessory anytime you have a guest but only one microphone. It’s an easy (and quiet) way to swing the mic back & forth between speakers.

Pop Filter

Pop Filter

Source: Amazon

Pop filters are one of the most useful accessories on this list. If you’re serious about recording a podcast, you’ll almost certainly want to get one. (Luckily, they’re cheap—$10 to $20 in most cases.)

So, what do they do?

Pop filters help by filtering out the plosives from your voice. Plosives are an explosive sound that comes when you say a word with a p sound (to a lesser extent, the letters t, k, d, g, and b can also cause plosives).

Without a pop filter, plosives will really jump out in your audio files. They cause distortions and will generally make your podcast sound less professional.

So just do the easy thing and use a pop filter. It’ll improve your audio quality and save you time in editing.

That said, some people have more pronounced plosives than others. Some people have faint plosives, while some people have such loud plosives that they use two pop filters at once.

Shock Mount

Shock Mount

Source: Amazon

A shock mount is a cradle that holds your microphone. It secures your mic with elastic bands that cut down on vibrations.

So, if your microphone happens to shake a little bit during recording—maybe a truck rumbles by, or maybe you just accidentally bump into it—the shock mount will minimize any extra noise or distortion.

Acoustic Treatments

Acoustic Treatments 

Source: Amazon

Have you noticed the way movie theaters always seem to have drapes having over all the walls? That’s no accident. Those acoustic drapes help cut down on echoes and improve the sound quality of the movie.

And if you have a room that you’re using as a recording space, you can do the same thing. Just line your walls with acoustic treatments like these foam covers. They’ll give you a better acoustic environment for your podcast.

You can also use things like heavy curtains over the windows, drapes, and bookcases full of books. Soft things that can absorb the sound and prevent it from bouncing around the room.

(Just don’t waste your time with egg cartons. They don’t work well as an acoustic treatment.)

Headphones 

Headphones

Source: Amazon

If you have any other sounds happening during your show—like audio from a person you’re interviewing—you’ll have to wear headphones so you don’t get feedback in your mic.

You don’t have to spend a ton of money here. The iPhone headphones are actually pretty good for this.

Another good option is the Sony MDR Series. They don’t have a lot of bass, but they let you hear the whole vocal range, which makes them great for podcasting.

Headphone Amp 

Headphone Amp

Source: Amazon

If you’re doing a show with multiple hosts, you might want to invest in a headphone amp. This basically allows you to plug in multiple headphones and give everyone control over their own headphone volume.

This way, everyone can hear what’s going on without generating any feedback.

Recording Devices

OK, so far, we’ve talked about microphones—which is the device you’re recording WITH. But what are you recording ONTO?

That’s where recording devices come into play.

And there are a few different options here:

  • USB microphone plugged into your computer (for one person)
  • Audio interface (for two people)
  • Mixer (for a more complex setup)
  • Field recorder (for when you’re out and about)
  • iPhone/iPad (convenient but lower quality)

Now here’s a brief description of each of these options:

USB Microphone 

The first, simplest, and easiest option is to simply plug a USB mic into your computer. If your podcast consists of just you, and you’re recording at home, this is the method you should use. You don’t need anything fancier than that.

But once you start adding more people (either guests or co-hosts), and moving to new locations, things start to get a little more complicated.

You could use a single USB microphone with two people… but it wouldn’t be ideal. For one thing, you’d both need to lean in toward the microphone together. It would be awkward.

And then your finished audio file would all be on 1, single audio track—which means you wouldn’t be able to easily edit each person’s speech separately.

So, for a 2-person show, you’re better off using…

Audio Interface

Here’s an example of an audio interface—this is the Focusrite Scarlett ($270):

Focusrite Scarlett

Source: Amazon

This device allows you to record 2 mics at the same time on separate channels. And because it’s a USB preamp, you can plug it directly into your computer.

If you need more than 2 mics, then you’ll need…

Mixer

Now if you’re doing an even more complex setup—maybe you have 3 hosts, are doing some sound effects, and want to incorporate live calls—you’re going to need a mixer to mix together and control the audio from many different sources.

Mixer

Source: Amazon

Now don’t let that picture intimidate you. It looks complex, but it’s basically the same thing as the audio interface you saw above. The only difference is that this includes more than just 2 channels and has some audio processing like equalization.

So, once you understand how to use the dials to control 1 channel, you’ll know how to use them all.

Field Recorder

If you want to capture high-quality audio while you’re out and about, you’re probably going to want to use a field recorder. These are really popular devices with a lot of podcasters.

The most popular brand is the Zoom:

Zoom Field Recorder

Source: Amazon

You can plug up to 2 microphones into this, or you can use the built-in mic. It’s small and light, so you can carry it just about anywhere.

iPhone/iPad

Lastly, you can simply record on your phone. And this isn’t going to give you the best audio quality around, but it’s by far the most convenient option.

This is especially true if you use some of the microphones that we talked about earlier—like the Sennheiser ClipMic—that plug right into your phone.

Post-Production Software

Once your podcast is recorded and saved on your computer as an audio file, the next step is to edit it.

Editing is where you can tweak and polish the podcast, delete “dead air,” adjust and equalize the volume levels, and otherwise clean it up and make it sound more professional.

Here are 3 different levels of editing software to consider, starting with 2 free options (one for Windows and one for Mac), a mid-level option, and a premium option.

Audacity (Free—Windows)

If you’re running Windows and looking for a free way to get started, give Audacity a try. It can do all the basics and is a good introduction (particularly if you only need to do basic editing).

Garage Band (Free—Mac)

Garage Band comes free on all Macs and is actually a pretty great program. It’s also really easy to use, which is a big plus for beginners.

If you’re getting started and you use a Mac, definitely start by using Garage Band.

Logic Pro ($199)

This is the program I use, and it’s a really amazing piece of software. You can do some really deep-dives into editing and significantly improve the sound of your podcast.

Here’s a quick shot of what an episode of Perpetual Traffic looks like as I’m editing it inside of Logic Pro:

What editing an episode of the Perpetual Traffic podcast looks like in Logic Pro

Adobe Audition ($20/month and up)

Adobe Audition is a really premium software. It pretty much has everything you need, along with a lot of cool features you won’t find in most other editing programs.

It’s almost made for creating podcasts.

The only downside to Adobe Audition is the monthly recurring subscription fee. So you probably don’t want to invest in this software until you’re sure that you need the extra features Audition provides.

Audio Restoration Software

When you record outside, or in public, inevitably you’ll have distracting noises. A dog will bark. Someone will sneeze. A group of motorcycles will drive by.

Now back in the day, to get high-quality audio you had to record in a studio. And the reason was pretty simple: because there was no easy way to get rid of those distracting noises.

Well, today there is.

Using audio restoration software, you can perform surgery on your audio files. In a way, it’s kind of like Photoshop for audio. You can use it to crop out any distracting sounds.

Here’s an example of a file I cleaned up using Izotope RX ($399). This is the “before” image:

An example of a file cleaned up using Izotope RX. This is the “before” image

And here’s what it looked like after I removed the distracting noises:

An example of a file cleaned up using Izotope RX. This is the “after” image

Now, this software isn’t cheap. But if you’re recording outside or in noisy environments, it can work some serious magic.

(Note: Adobe Audition has its own audio restoration features, so if you go that route you won’t need to buy Izotope RX.)

Adding Music to Your Podcast

If you listen to the Perpetual Traffic podcast, you’ll notice we use a lot of music throughout each episode.

It has to reflect the vibe, the mood, and the flavor of what you’re going for.

Not entire songs or anything. Just bits and pieces—sometimes just sound bytes—to punctuate the text. Think of it like bullet points…

  • Music breaks up the talking
  • Helps us emphasize certain points
  • And improves the meaning and flow of the conversation

Music is important in podcasts, and you have to be really intentional when you’re choosing it. It has to reflect the vibe, the mood, and the flavor of what you’re going for.

Remember, there’s no video. No images. So the music really becomes like your audio brand.

For Perpetual Traffic, we created our own custom music. But you don’t have to do that! (Especially when you’re just starting a podcast.)

Instead, you can get started with stock music. Just make sure to search for “podsafe music,” which means you can legally use and distribute it through your podcast without paying royalties.

Podcast Hosting Services

OK, so your podcast is recorded and edited. You’ve exported it from your post-production software and it’s sitting on your desktop as an MP3.

Now what?

Your next step is to upload the file to a podcast host.

The podcast host is the place where your files live online. It hosts your files so they can be added to iTunes and found/downloaded by podcasting apps.

They also take care of some technical housekeeping stuff, like generating an RSS feed, scheduling shows in advance, and generating show statistics.

Now, strictly speaking, you don’t have to use a podcast host. You can probably create your own RSS feed and sign up directly through iTunes. But a podcast host makes the process much, much easier, faster, and more hassle-free. I highly recommend using one.

At DigitalMarketer, we use a podcast host called Libsyn. It’s a great service—easy to use and it works great. The cost varies from $5/month to $75/month, depending on what you need. Paying more gets you more storage space and more advanced analytics.

Libsyn is a great choice, but if you want to comparison shop, here are some other good options:

Once your podcast is hosted and you have a valid RSS feed, there’s one final step. And that is to sign up for Podcast Connect and enter your RSS feed URL from your podcast host. This is how you get your podcast onto iTunes.

Overcome That Inertia & Get Started

You’ve just learned a TON about podcasting equipment.

Your head might be spinning a little bit right now. If it is, that’s OK!

The important thing to remember is this:

Get started with the best equipment you can…but don’t let the tools stop you from launching.

If you really want that $800 Rode NTG3, but can’t afford it yet, don’t let that be a barrier. Choose a cheaper mic to start—such as the Rode VideoMic—and upgrade when you can afford to.

Remember, guys: launching a podcast is like launching a cruise ship.

The inertia is always greatest at the beginning.

Once the ship gets moving, you’ll start to develop some momentum. And it’s always a lot easier to improve a podcast that you’re already producing than it is to begin something brand-new.

So, don’t put it off. Get the best stuff you can for now and launch the darn thing. You can always improve it over time.

Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. And the best way to reach your goal is to start running as soon as you can.

The post How to Create a Podcast Studio on a Shoestring Budget appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

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