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School of Podcasting - Podcast Tips to Plan, Launch, Grow Your Podcast
Dave Jackson
Recent Episodes
You can totally monetize a podcast even if your audience is smaller and niche. It's like having a tiny but super passionate fan club instead of a massive crowd that’s half-asleep. Today, we’re chatting with Ray Arnett from aroundthelayout.com, who lives, eats, and breathes the world of model railroads. He’s got some wild ideas about partnerships that don’t rely on the usual sponsor route, and trust me, it’s more interesting than it sounds.
Monetizing a Smaller Audience
Think making money off a podcast is just for the big shots? Well, let's pop that bubble! This episode digs into how even those tucked away in the tiniest of niches can make some cash. If you're a model train enthusiast with a handful of loyal listeners, you’re in for a treat.
Ray Arnott Shares All the Lessons
Ray's not just talking numbers; he’s all about engagement and connections, proving that sometimes having a smaller audience means having a more dedicated one. Forget about chasing those elusive sponsorship deals; Ray's got a different game plan. He shares how forming partnerships with like-minded businesses has been the real money-maker for him. So grab your conductor's hat and hop on board as we explore the wild world of niche podcast monetization. Get ready to learn that with the right approach, even a handful of listeners can lead to big bucks!
Takeaways:
- Monetizing a podcast isn't just for the big names; even small niche audiences can cash in.
- Engaged listeners are worth their weight in gold, no matter the size of your audience.
- Finding the right marketing partners who share your vision can be a game changer.
- Creating a community in your niche can lead to unexpected sponsorship opportunities.
- Never take your community for granted.
- It's not about having a large audience; it's about having the RIGHT audience.
- Underserved communities need a safe place to connect with like-minded people.
Links referenced in this episode:
- schoolofpodcasting.com
- aroundthelayout.com
- Heartbeat Community Tool
- Redirect.Pizza (aff)
- Cancer and Comedy Podcast
- School of Podcasting Affiliate Program
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out Dave's Newsletter With Behind the Scenes Content
In each issue of Podcasting Observations, I share my thoughts on what is happening in the podcasting space, my latest content, and things that have caught my eye. I also may ask for your opinion. Join the free community
Question of the Month: Where Do You Get Ideas For Your Podcast?
I saw this in a Facebook Group and thought it would be a question for all of us to chime in on. "What do you use... "How do you ... ...come up with ideas for your podcast? I need your answer by 4/25/25 Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
Starting a podcast can be daunting. Fear of failure, uncertainty about where to begin, and doubts about your abilities can hold you back. But what if you had a guide? The School of Podcasting is here to help you confidently launch, grow, and monetize your podcast. With over 20 years of experience and tons of successful podcasts launched, I'll walk you through every step. From planning to promotion, you're never alone." Learn at your own pace with video courses, join a supportive community, and get unlimited coaching. Say goodbye to fear and hello to success." Start your podcasting journey today with the School of Podcasting. Join now and take the first step towards turning your passion into a reality. Visit SchoolOfPodcasting.com to get started. No fear, just success.
Today, we’re exploring the world of partnerships versus sponsorships with the fabulous Stephanie Thompson. The key takeaway? Partnerships are better at growing your show. Forget just pocketing cash for a shout-out; we’re talking about meaningful connections that can actually grow your audience.
Stephanie explains how she snagged partners before she even had a following—zero downloads, folks! So, if you’ve been thinking about how to take your podcast game to the next level, this chat is for you. Grab your earphones and get ready to learn how to team up with brands that vibe with your message!
Want Another Story of Someone Who Got a Sponsor Before Launching?
Check out The Riches are in the Niches With Harry Duran episode 767
Takeaways:
- Partnerships are more about shared goals and values compared to one-off sponsorships.
- Monetization through partnerships can grow your audience, not just your pocketbook.
- It's all about the fit; the right audience and brand alignment are crucial for success.
- Don't promote brands you don't believe in; integrity is key in partnerships.
- Transparency with analytics and feedback helps maintain healthy brand relationships.
- Educate your partners about your audience to foster better collaboration and understanding.
- Stephanie did a "trial run" on her courses - BEFORE she launched.
Links referenced in this episode:
- podcastexpertlab.com
- schoolofpodcasting.com
- profitfromyourpodcast.com
- castahead.net
- beyondbourbonstreet.com
- Profit From Your Podcast Book
- The Day My Vagina Broke Book
Mentioned in this episode:
Help When You Don't Know Where To Start
I get it. I talk to people looking to launch or grow their podcast. "“There’s too much gear/software — I don’t know what I need.” Microphones, mixers, hosting platforms, editing software — it’s easy to get lost. Analysis paralysis kicks in fast. I help podcasters. I've been doing it 20 years. Let me help. Dave Jackson schoolofpodcasting.com/join
Podcast Expert Lab
7-step podcast partnership success: This course pays for itself after just ONE partnership. Imagine getting paid to talk about what you love with brands that align with your audience. Complete this on-demand course at your own pace, using short, bite-sized videos and actionable tasks to boost your podcast growth and income. You don’t need to be famous—you just need the drive to grow and the strategy to earn!
Question of the Month: Where Do You Get Ideas For Your Podcast?
I saw this in a Facebook Group and thought it would be a question for all of us to chime in on. "What do you use... "How do you ... ...come up with ideas for your podcast? I need your answer by 4/25/25 Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
Molly Ruland stops by to explain how she started a branded podcast that brought in so many clients from season one that she had to pause it. For Molly, it is all about starting and building relationships with her guests.
By conducting targeted outreach, she added 500 marketing people to her LinkedIn network, improving the relevance of her feed.
When it comes to SEO, AI is interesting, but she advises against using "podcast lingo" and emojis in podcast show notes and metadata. Instead, she recommends focusing on using relevant keywords. We should be advising AI to use relevant keywords in our descriptions and have it use the AIDA approach.
Takeaways:
- Molly Ruland emphasizes that authentic podcasting is about being yourself and not just a sales pitch.
- Building relationships through your podcast can lead to business opportunities without being pushy about it.
- SEO isn't just a buzzword; optimizing your podcast content can help increase its visibility and attract the right audience.
- Don't just focus on the numbers; create meaningful connections with your guests and audience.
Because of My Podcast: Ralph Estep Jr
Ralph has been an accountant for 30 years. Because of his podcast, Intuit approached him to share and teach about the experience of moving from local copies of their software (Quickbooks and others) to the web-based version.
Check out Ralph's show at www.askralphpodcast.com
Links referenced in this episode:
Mentioned in this episode:
I'd Love To Meet You - Here is Where I Will Be
I will be manning the Podpage booth at Podcast Movement in Chicago and Dallas. For more information go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/where If you would like to me speak at your even (on or offline) go to www.schoolofpodcasitng.com/contact
Starting a podcast can be daunting. Fear of failure, uncertainty about where to begin, and doubts about your abilities can hold you back. But what if you had a guide? The School of Podcasting is here to help you confidently launch, grow, and monetize your podcast. With over 20 years of experience and tons of successful podcasts launched, I'll walk you through every step. From planning to promotion, you're never alone." Learn at your own pace with video courses, join a supportive community, and get unlimited coaching. Say goodbye to fear and hello to success." Start your podcasting journey today with the School of Podcasting. Join now and take the first step towards turning your passion into a reality. Visit SchoolOfPodcasting.com to get started. No fear, just success.
Question of the Month: Where Do You Get Ideas For Your Podcast?
I saw this in a Facebook Group and thought it would be a question for all of us to chime in on. "What do you use... "How do you ... ...come up with ideas for your podcast? I need your answer by 4/25/25 Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
After a lot of feedback on the first episode about podcast newsletters, I wanted to answer more questions, and this time I brought Paul Gowder to help.
We’ll discuss what tools to use and what content to include. If you really want to skip this whole newsletter thing, we've got some backup plans for you, too. Paul not only has wisdom about newsletters, but we also talk about building his community.
Spoiler alert: You might even want to ditch social media for this! Buckle up, because we’re about to make your newsletter dreams a reality.
Takeaways:
- Start building your podcast newsletter today; it's like planting a seed for growth.
- Don't overthink content; even simple updates can keep your audience engaged and informed.
- Use email as a direct line to your audience; it's way better than shouting into the social media void.
- If you're not asking for emails, you're missing out—it's like having a party and not inviting anyone.
- Be cautious with Facebook. They may delete your group with 85,000 people in it.
Mentioned In This Episode
- schoolofpodcasting.com
- paulgouder.com
- Paul's Free Strategies
- paulgowder.com/emailtools
- Paul's Email Jump Start
- What to expect at your first Powow.
- schoolofpodcasting.com/972 - Part 1 about Newsletters
- schoolofpodcasting.com/974 - This episode
- Jef Sieh's Social Media News Live Podcast
Tools Mentioned:
- Sustack
- Sendfox
- Mailerlite
- Kit
- Newsletter Database
- Liz Wilcox Templates
- Group Leads for gathering emails from Facebook Groups.
Mentioned in this episode:
Do You Need a Podcast Coach
Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and many others have had COACHES to help them with an outside view to help them shape their content. I will start my 20th year in podcasting and would love to help you follow the best practices of podcasting, and avoid the common mistakes and avoid those steps that lead to burnout.
Question of the Month: Where Do You Get Ideas For Your Podcast?
I saw this in a Facebook Group and thought it would be a question for all of us to chime in on. "What do you use... "How do you ... ...come up with ideas for your podcast? I need your answer by 4/25/25 Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
I'd Love To Meet You - Here is Where I Will Be
I will be manning the Podpage booth at Podcast Movement in Chicago and Dallas. For more information go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/where If you would like to me speak at your even (on or offline) go to www.schoolofpodcasitng.com/contact
I ask my audience what their top pet peeves are just drive them nuts. We're spilling the beans on all the annoying things that make us want to tear our hair out while listening. We've got it all covered from podcasters who take forever to get to the good stuff to the dreaded mid-sentence ads that pop up like uninvited guests at a party. We also chat about the classic blunders that drive listeners nuts, like out-of-context clips and those cringe-worthy audio issues. So, grab your headphones and get ready to laugh and commiserate as we call out all the podcasting faux pas that need to be put to rest!
Thanks to the Participants in This Episode
Steve Stewart from SteveStewart.me and the Podcast Editor Academy
Kim Newlove from the Pharmacist's Voice and the Perrysburg Podcast
Mark Lawley from the Practical Prepping show.
Todd the Gator from the Guardian Downcast show.
Zo Richardson from the Back Look Cinema show.
York from Welcome to Earth Stories Show.
Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting.
Niel's GoFundMe Page and his Documentary The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary
Takeaways:
- Podcasters need to stop dragging out the intro and just get to the point already.
- Volume fluctuations between hosts and guests are a major annoyance that can ruin a podcast.
- Out-of-context clips at the start of a podcast are confusing and just plain unnecessary.
- Too many commercials can turn a great podcast into a frustrating experience for listeners.
- Not including show notes wastes listeners' time and makes it hard to follow up on interesting topics. Don't tell me a book and then not put the link.
- Bad audio quality is the ultimate deal-breaker that makes me want to hit stop immediately.
Additional Links referenced in this episode:
- Podpage - a great tool to make amazing websites for podcasters.
- Captivate media host (with some very cool tools built-in)
- YouTube Billion Views
- The Meidas Touch, which produces 15 episodes A DAY has "De-Throwned (?)" Joe Rogan.
- Niel Guilarte go fund me page.
Mentioned in this episode:
I'd Love To Meet You - Here is Where I Will Be
I will be manning the Podpage booth at Podcast Movement in Chicago and Dallas. For more information go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/where If you would like to me speak at your even (on or offline) go to www.schoolofpodcasitng.com/contact
Question of the Month: Where Do You Get Ideas For Your Podcast?
I saw this in a Facebook Group and thought it would be a question for all of us to chime in on. "What do you use... "How do you ... ...come up with ideas for your podcast? I need your answer by 4/25/25 Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/question
Join the School of Podcasting
Mark from Practical Prepping had been podcasting for a while, but after joining the School of Podcasting, his podcast grew at a faster rate. His Facebook group has over 30,000 members! Join the School of Podcasting and get access to: Step-by-step tutorials An amazing podcast community Unlimited One-On-One Coaching Join today worry-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee!