Roast My Podcast | Podcast Marketing Teardowns & Growth Strategy

Almost every interview-based podcast host imagines that if they could just get bigger, better, more well-known guests, their show would take off. But while celebrity guests certainly do lend credibility to a show, they rarely lead to growth. In fact, they may even hold it back… at least if you approach your show the way most interview hosts do. In this roast, we dissect a show that interviews well-known musical legends… but falls into a familiar interview-show trap that makes it hard to grow. 🛠️ Resources Subscribe to A Breath of Fresh Air Subscribe to Roast My Podcast Subscribe to our other shows: Killer Concept — a podcast breaking down the dark art and subtle science of making marketable podcasts, where in every episode, we start with a generic topic… and step-by-step, develop it into a must-listen, category-dominating show. Podcast Marketing Trends Explained — a data-driven podcast growth show, where in every episode, we unpack a different piece of podcast marketing data to help you make smarter decisions about your show instead of relying on recycled advice and surface-level tactics. 📈 More from Podcast Marketing Academy Subscribe to The Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter Get your free personalized podcast marketing audit Join the Podcast Marketing Academy Membership for ongoing podcast marketing support 🎙️ More from @TransistorPodcasting Try Transistor podcast hosting free for 14 days Follow @TransistorPodcasting for more podcasting tips & tutorials Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:44 First impressions & gut reactions to the show 3:09 Show titles & keywords analysis 4:38 Episode title teardowns 5:32 Understanding listener behavior and search for celebrity interview shows 6:27 Podcast description teardown 11:47 Growth challenges for celebrity interview shows 14:51 Podcast intro listen-through & feedback 18:54 Tips for improving listener engagement 24:42 Video podcasting opportunities & pitfalls 25:59 Addressing discoverability issues 32:03 Final thoughts and recommendations

Sometimes, one word is all it takes to make or break your podcast. The right word can perfectly capture the essence of what your show is and who it's for. The wrong word, on the other hand, can instantly plant enough doubt and confusion in your potential listener's minds for them to pass your show by in search of something else. In this episode of Roast My Podcast, we're breaking down a show with a solid theme and an interesting premise… that unfortunately falls into the second category when it comes to both the title and overall framing of the show. 🛠️ Resources Subscribe to Monster in My Closet Dark Horse Advertising Agency Apple Podcasts Subscribe to Roast My Podcast Subscribe to our other shows: Killer Concept — a podcast breaking down the dark art and subtle science of making marketable podcasts, where in every episode, we start with a generic topic… and step-by-step, develop it into a must-listen, category-dominating show. Podcast Marketing Trends Explained — a data-driven podcast growth show, where in every episode, we unpack a different piece of podcast marketing data to help you make smarter decisions about your show instead of relying on recycled advice and surface-level tactics. 📈 More from Podcast Marketing Academy Subscribe to The Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter Get your free personalized podcast marketing audit Join the Podcast Marketing Academy Membership for ongoing podcast marketing support 🎙️ More from @TransistorPodcasting Try Transistor podcast hosting free for 14 days Follow @TransistorPodcasting for more podcasting tips & tutorials Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:56 First impressions 01:18 Artwork and title analysis 04:22 Podcast description teardown 06:23 The importance of framing your theme correctly 08:53 Branding missteps 13:59 Trailer review & recommendations 17:49 Cliche differentiation & messaging to avoid 25:31 Episode title & description analysis 31:35 Final thoughts and recommendations

The most marketable shows are built around a consistent premise that tells listeners what they can expect from each and every episode. Consistently delivering on that premise allows listeners to build a listening habit and even a sense of anticipation around the show, as well as making it easier for them to recommend the show to others. But sooner or later, every show faces a situation where a topic or guest comes up that is too good to pass up… but also doesn’t quite fit with the show’s premise. So what do you do? Break your premise to shoehorn the topic or guest in? Or pass up an opportunity for a potentially phenomenal episode to stick with your formula. Let’s find out. 🛠️ Resources Subscribe to Hey, Good Game Nate Kadlac Hey, Good Game design breakdown YouLean Loudness Meter Descript Spotify Apple Podcasts Subscribe to Roast My Podcast Subscribe to our other shows: Killer Concept — a podcast breaking down the dark art and subtle science of making marketable podcasts, where in every episode, we start with a generic topic… and step-by-step, develop it into a must-listen, category-dominating show. Podcast Marketing Trends Explained — a data-driven podcast growth show, where in every episode, we unpack a different piece of podcast marketing data to help you make smarter decisions about your show instead of relying on recycled advice and surface-level tactics. 📈 More from Podcast Marketing Academy Subscribe to The Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter Get your free personalized podcast marketing audit Join the Podcast Marketing Academy Membership for ongoing podcast marketing support 🎙️ More from @TransistorPodcasting Try Transistor podcast hosting free for 14 days Follow @TransistorPodcasting for more podcasting tips & tutorials Chapters: 00:00 RMP - Hey Good Game 00:43 Introducing Hey, Good Game 01:12 Cover art & title analysis 03:10 Dissecting the show description 07:27 Exploring brand messaging on the website 10:37 The hidden dangers of "breaking your premise" 15:42 Episode title breakdowns 18:10 Trailer teardown 23:19 Using music to brand your show effectively 26:13 Custom episode artwork review 27:44 Ideas to get more social proof 30:07 Using timestamps in your show notes 31:34 Wrap up and how to submit your show

People listen to podcasts for one reason and one reason only: They’re selfish. In other words, listening to the show gives them some kind of tangible benefit. These benefits can be anything from making them smarter to teaching them a skill to making them laugh, or even putting them to sleep. Some shows, however, take this idea a step further, however, layering and stacking multiple “Jobs” their show does for listeners, making them truly irresistible (not to mention highly marketable). Today’s roastee is one of them. 🛠️ Resources Subscribe to English Learning for Curious Minds Subscribe to Roast My Podcast Subscribe to our other shows: Killer Concept — a podcast breaking down the dark art and subtle science of making marketable podcasts, where in every episode, we start with a generic topic… and step-by-step, develop it into a must-listen, category-dominating show. Podcast Marketing Trends Explained — a data-driven podcast growth show, where in every episode, we unpack a different piece of podcast marketing data to help you make smarter decisions about your show instead of relying on recycled advice and surface-level tactics. 📈 More from Podcast Marketing Academy Subscribe to The Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter Get your free personalized podcast marketing audit Join the Podcast Marketing Academy Membership for ongoing podcast marketing support 🎙️ More from @TransistorPodcasting Try Transistor podcast hosting free for 14 days Follow @TransistorPodcasting for more podcasting tips & tutorials Chapters: 00:00 Introducing today’s roastee 00:59 First impressions of English Learning for Curious Minds 01:36 The power of branding (and a clever SEO hack?) 02:54 Understanding the podcast's target audience 03:49 Personal experience with language learning podcasts 07:52 Combining education with entertainment 10:35 Analyzing episode structure and hooks 15:10 The art of podcast mashups 20:38 Episode artwork and episode descriptions 23:24 SEO and discoverability in podcasting 32:07 The role of visual branding in podcasts 33:17 Podcast SEO strategies 35:52 Competing in a crowded market 38:31 Final thoughts on podcast strategies 38:55 How to submit your podcast for a roast

The math is pretty straightforward: The easier it is for people to understand what your show’s about and what’s in for them… the faster you’ll grow. The problem is that messaging and copywriting are, well… super f&@#ing hard. So in this episode, we’re picking apart Compromising Positions’ show packaging, messaging, and website copy to help them improve it in real-time. 🛠️ Resources Subscribe to Compromising Positions "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser Clarity Flow Loom Subscribe to Roast My Podcast Subscribe to our other shows: Killer Concept — a podcast breaking down the dark art and subtle science of making marketable podcasts, where in every episode, we start with a generic topic… and step-by-step, develop it into a must-listen, category-dominating show. Podcast Marketing Trends Explained — a data-driven podcast growth show, where in every episode, we unpack a different piece of podcast marketing data to help you make smarter decisions about your show instead of relying on recycled advice and surface-level tactics. 📈 More from Podcast Marketing Academy Subscribe to The Scrappy Podcasting Newsletter Get your free personalized podcast marketing audit Join the Podcast Marketing Academy Membership for ongoing podcast marketing support 🎙️ More from @TransistorPodcasting Try Transistor podcast hosting free for 14 days Follow @TransistorPodcasting for more podcasting tips & tutorials Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Compromising Positions 01:28 First impressions & cover art critique 05:34 Podcast description analysis 07:37 Target audience and messaging 10:16 Tips to improve podcast descriptions 22:43 Episode titles breakdown 27:35 Custom episode artwork 32:41 Improving podcast website messaging & copywriting 46:00 Gathering listener feedback 50:57 Final thoughts and recommendations