Shows
Quick Daily Podcasting TipsPros & Cons of the Solo Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the solo podcast format, AKA - the monologue.
Each podcast format comes with its own pros and cons. The big benefit of a solo show is that you don’t need to rely on anyone else to record your episodes. On top of that, it’s YOU who’s building a reputation as the authority on your subject.
The podcast is also exclusively yours, so you can make all the calls on sponsorship and monetization. And you don’t need to split t...2025-07-2100 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Choose the Ideal Format for Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about choosing a format for your episodes.
The format you choose is really personal, and depends on who’s involved. If it’s just you, you’re not doing a co-hosted show any time soon, for example
None of this is set in stone, either. So whilst it’s good to have an ‘average’ format, so your listeners know what to expect, you don’t have to stick to it every single time.
You might do your first few episodes using a certain format...2025-07-1801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAre Niches and Narrow Podcast Topics a Good Idea?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.
And on this episode, we’re talking about niches (nitches?) and narrow topics.
There’s a bit of a misconception in podcasting that, the wider and more open your topic, the bigger your audience will be.
I know, it makes sense because covering lots of ground means there's loads more people who *might* be interested in your show.
The reality, though, is that listeners love podcasts that feel like they were made *just for them*.
So instead of our personal trainer doing a podcast about general health, diet, or e...2025-07-1701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhy Should They Listen to Your Podcast?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about giving your audience a no-brainer reason to listen.
This, my friend, is all about supplying value in your very own unique way.
But what does that *actually* mean?
Well, let’s take the example of our personal trainer, I mentioned last time. If they’re serving up content that helps their listeners to, let's say, complete a couch to 5k, then they're providing value. If they can help a listener lose a few stone, or run a faster race, then that's...2025-07-1601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWho is Your Podcast For?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we’re asking a big question: Who are you making your podcast for?
The thing is, unless you know exactly *who* you’re making your show for, and *why* you’re doing it, you’ve got no chance of growing an audience.
Let’s imagine a personal trainer who’s making a health and fitness podcast to market their business. Their target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, or HIIT training, or bodybuilding.
Or, let’s imagine a hobbyist who loves zombies an...2025-07-1501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhy Are You Doing a Podcast?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker.
And on this episode, we’re asking the question “Why?”
Why do you want to make a podcast?
Are you a freelancer? A business? Or working for a company? Whatever you do, you'll know that podcasting's a great way to build trust and authority. Plus, of course, give your customers or your audience a whole bunch of valuable and entertaining content.
The other option is that you're in podcasting as a hobbyist? That could mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time, and on a subject you're passiona...2025-07-1401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsCompile an eBook From Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about compiling an ebook. A lot of podcasters do this once they’ve hit a critical mass with their episodes. You end up with a lot of wisdom and knowledge in that big bank of content. So, what threads or narratives could you pull out and build an ebook around? An example of this might be a recurring question you ask every guest, and now you have 50 different answers. Or, maybe you’ve noticed a pattern in how each guest battle...2024-05-0701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Growth Through RepurposingWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast growth through repurposing. If you’re spending time creating great content in one medium - in our case, audio - then you can multiply its impact by repurposing or ‘stacking’ it. For example, with this podcast, I script the episodes, then record them. I could also film the recording, for YouTube, record it live, for streaming or social media, and then use the scripts as a blog post or even an email sequence. That’s a lot of different...2024-04-3001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Flyers & LeafletsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about flyers and leaflets. Paper or card flyers are one of the oldest marketing tools out there. And even in this age of social media and digital communication, we still see them everywhere. You’ll no doubt regularly get them through your door, find them scattered on tables, or pinned to community noticeboards. Using flyers to advertise your podcast can be an effective marketing strategy, if done correctly. They can get your show in front of potential listeners in an eye...2024-04-2601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsSponsoring Another PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about sponsoring another podcast. This is potentially the ultimate way to spend any advertising budget. Find a successful show with a similar target audience to your own, then, sponsor it for a few episodes. This way, not only do you reach your target audience, but they’re all active podcast listeners, too. An ad for another podcast could sound like a breath of fresh air if listeners are used to hearing about how great the latest all-in-one sock mattress razor is...2024-04-2501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAdvertising Your Podcast via Google AdsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast via Google Ads. Google ads is another behemoth of online advertising, and there's a good chance you see dozens of these every single day. Most search terms will turn up a handful of ads at the very top of the page. You can spot these because they have the “Ad” text beside them. If you have a show which answers a question, in any way, then Google ads could work really well for you. For example, you're...2024-04-2301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAdvertising Your Podcast on RedditWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast on Reddit. Reddit is described as a “social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website.” That’s some elevator pitch eh? You can’t argue, though. It is one of the most visited websites in the world – and it's yet another place you can run paid ads to promote your content. To advertise your podcast on Reddit, you first need to sign up with Reddit Ads, where you can create your first campaign. Here, Reddit will ask you...2024-04-2201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAdvertising Your Podcast on SpotifyWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast on Spotify. At time of recording, Spotify boasts well over 250 million “ad supported” listeners. You can create and run a 30-second audio ad for your show by signing up at https://adstudio.spotify.com Spotify ads are predominantly audio, though there’s a visual element too. They display your logo on screen with a “Learn More” button, whilst the ad is playing. The ads are played in-between songs or podcast episodes, to listeners who use Spotify on their fre...2024-04-1901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAdvertising on Overcast and Other Podcast Listening AppsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising on Overcast and other podcast listening apps. This type of advertising is hugely effective, because 100% of the folks you reach are podcast listeners who’re actively browsing their app. There’s no education needed here whatsoever, it’s just down to your show’s title, topic, and snippet. Overcast ads appear as unobtrusive little banners, which the app’s users see at the bottom of their screen. This means they're literally one click away from browsing your podcast inside their...2024-04-1001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAdvertising Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about advertising your podcast. The concept of advertising really needs no introduction. This is an ancient and traditional way of promoting a product or service. You pay some money, and you get your ad in front of a particular audience. Podcast growth can be a slow burn. But the one way you can fast-track it, is to spend some money on an ad campaign. So if you’re able to set some money aside for this purpose, what are your opti...2024-04-0900 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsOther Types of Podcast MerchWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about other types of podcast merch. Now that we’re looking at this from a “just get as much branded merch out there as possible” approach, what can we add to our store alongside our t-shirts, stickers, and magnets? A quick look over at popular print-on-demand service TeePublic gives us some good ideas, including laptop and phone cases, pin badges, tote bags, tapestries, wall art, mugs, pillows, kids onesies, hoodies, and even… tank tops. What about that, eh? A tank top. I wen...2024-04-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast T-ShirtsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about t-shirts. The big misconception about selling podcast-branded t-shirts is that this is a monetization strategy, rather than a promotion one. But, any listener wearing your show’s t-shirt becomes like a walking billboard for your show. For most podcasters, using a print-on-demand service for t-shirts will make more sense than buying a bulk order, and then storing and shipping them yourself. But print-on-demand can push the price of your merch up, so it’s worth selling t-shirts at their minimu...2024-04-0501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast StickersWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about stickers. Stickers are the ultimate guerrilla marketing tool. They’re like little ads for your podcast that can pop up anywhere, and they can last for a long time. You don’t even need to risk accusations of vandalism by actually sticking your stickers in places. You could just give them away at conferences or events. You can even use the business card strategy and leave them in books. Just don’t stick anything to the book, obviously. Most people l...2024-03-2801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Promote Your Podcast on the Radio or in NewspapersWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about pitching to traditional media outlets like newspapers and radio. With a compelling story, you can draw new eyes or ears to your podcast. Some of the folks reading or listening might be in your target audience, and those are the ones you’re hoping will check out your show. Of course, it isn’t enough to go and tell your local paper you run a podcast. They’ll just think “okay, so what?”. Instead, there needs to be a compelling h...2024-03-0101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Get Booked as a Guest on a PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to become a podcast guest. First thing’s first - ditch that generic copy and paste email. Focus on fewer shows and reach out to them with a personalised video instead. Tell them what you love about their show, and how you’re uniquely positioned to bring value to their audience. Make it all about them, their content, and their listeners. This won’t guarantee results, but they’ll almost certainly watch it, as opposed to skimming and deleting a...2024-02-2901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHelp Crowdfund Another PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about helping to crowdfund another podcast. If there’s one thing 99% of podcasts have in common, it’s in asking their listeners for financial support. Commonly, this is done through crowdfunding platforms like Patreon. And in exchange for supporting them, many shows will offer reward tiers that can help promote the work of the patron. If you have some disposable cash to spare, there are worse ways to spend it. You’re helping to support a fellow creative, and have the oppo...2024-02-1501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsCreating a Montage EpisodeWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a montage episode. A montage episode is a piece of audio content, made up of clips from different contributors. A tried and tested way of creating one is to build the episode around a single topic or question. Here, each participant records their answer to the question, and sends over their audio to the creator. You can collect clips from anyone from the general public, to your podcast listeners. In this particular instance, we want to create one wi...2024-02-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsTweeting About Another PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about tagging another podcast in a positive tweet. I know that “positive tweet” sounds like an oxymoron. But there apparently was a time when people acted reasonably to one another on that platform. So if you’re on twitter, and so is a podcast in your niche that you really like, why not post a nice tweet about them? Here, you might talk a wee bit about why you like it so much. Maybe the show was also a big inspirat...2024-02-0100 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Review ‘In-Content’ IncentivesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking, again, about podcast review incentives. This time around, though, you’re incentivising the content. So how does that look? Well, you might announce that when you hit a certain number of reviews - let’s say, 25 - you’ll do something a bit out of the ordinary. That could be a unique, highly-produced episode, an interview with a top-tier guest, or a live broadcast from somewhere that resonates. Depending on your niche or topic you could even vow to personally do somet...2024-01-3101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Review ‘Prizes for All’ IncentivesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast review incentives. Another way to incentivise podcast reviews amongst your audience is to offer a prize for everyone, rather than one listener taking all in a prize draw. The same principles apply here. Listeners screenshot and email their reviews to you - that way, you know who they are, and how to get in touch with them. And they get something in return straight away. Obviously, it’s better if this is a digital incentive. An ebook, access to a...2024-01-3001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Review CompetitionsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast review competitions. Here, you’d ask each person who’s reviewed your podcast to email you a screenshot of that review, and enter them into a prize draw. It’s perfectly legit to incentivise reviews this way. The big caveat, though, is that this is open to your listening audience only. Not the general public. How do you ensure that? You only mention it on your episodes. That way, only your listeners will hear it. Yes you could potentia...2024-01-2900 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsAsking Individual Listeners to Review Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about asking individual listeners to review your podcast. Don’t panic. This isn’t a week-long task of sending out a personalised email to every single listener you have. Instead, it’s about approaching three to five people who you know listen to every single episode you put out. These could be folks you’ve heard from before via email or social media. Or, they might be active in the same online community as you. In any case, it’s worth reachi...2024-01-2600 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Get More Podcast ReviewsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to encourage podcast reviews. As we mentioned on the last episode, podcast reviews can be great “social proof” that you can use in your marketing and promotion. There are a few approaches and angles here, so we’d like to spend the next few episodes running through them. But the starting point is, of course, to ask your audience. Ask them at the end of each episode, in your Call to Action. Send them to a link or page on...2024-01-2501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsGrowing Your Podcast AudienceWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about growing your podcast audience. On Pocket-Sized Podcasting so far, we’ve covered everything you need to plan and create your show. We’ve also made sure that your podcast is optimised for growth. But now that you’ve launched a podcast on solid foundations, how can we take things to the next level? Despite what the internet might have you believe, there’s no “one simple trick” to growing a podcast audience. And it’s certainly not the sort of thing that ha...2024-01-2301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsCreating a List of Podcast EpisodesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a list of podcast episodes on your website. Some podcasters like to offer a full list of every episode they’ve published to-date. Others prefer to curate a ‘Best Of’ list that can help pull in new listeners. You can do this manually by embedding episode players on a page. Or, your hosting provider might have a feature where you can create this in your podcast player itself. Captivate, for example. You might even choose to create themed pages; f...2024-01-1701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Episode Show NotesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast episode show notes. Show notes are basically the blog posts that accompany your podcast episodes. Many podcasters find this stage of podcasting a bit of a chore, but there are benefits to spending a bit of time and effort on your show notes. They can help attract new listeners through search traffic, offer a handy summary of what’s covered, and provide links and resources to anything mentioned in the episodes. That said, your podcast needs to be sust...2024-01-1201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Episode PagesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast episode pages. It’s good practice to create a page or blog post for each podcast episode you release. This gives you one handy place to share each episode, and it means all of the traffic is coming to your own platform, too. Here, the title of your episode would also be the title of your page or post. You’d embed the episode player, preferably near the top. Whilst most folks don’t listen to full episodes this way...2024-01-1101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Website Domain NamesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about domain names for podcast websites. Whether you’re using a default hosting provider website, a Podpage site, or a self-hosted WordPress site, you can buy and use a domain name. Domain names are, most famously, dot coms. But you can buy local variations, dot nets, or dot pretty much anything else these days. Whatever you opt for, just try to make it memorable, easy to read out, and most of all, easy to type in. Avoid things like hyphens in y...2024-01-1001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodpage Podcast WebsitesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about Podpage websites. Podpage is a service that can build you a website for your show in less than five minutes. And you don’t need to know the slightest thing about web design, either. You can use Podpage for free, but their excellent value paid tiers offer a whole suite of additional tools for SEO, community, and monetisation. To give you a hint of the types of features at your disposal, you can keep track of ratings and reviews, get...2024-01-0901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWordPress Podcast WebsitesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about WordPress websites. If you’re looking for 100% full control, ownership, and customisation options, then WordPress is for you. Here, you can use all sorts of plugins and tools to make your site do pretty much anything. You can run your entire business on there. However, all of this flexibility comes at a cost. There are always things that can break or go wrong. If you don’t have the expertise to run a site like this, then you’ll need to...2024-01-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsDo I Need a Podcast Website?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “Do I need a podcast website?” The short answer here is “no”. You don’t *need* a website for your podcast. But, the benefits of having one are almost too good to ignore. For starters, just having that one central place to send people means your podcast is a lot more shareable. We already know that podcast listening happens in hundreds of different places, so it simplifies things when you can just say “find us on my podcast dot com”, or w...2024-01-0501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Is Bit Depth?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about bit depth. So each audio sample – those little dots in your waveform – has a ‘bit depth’, which determines the quality of the sound. Some tools will ask you to select a bit depth prior to recording. The most common bit depths are 16, 24, and 32. As is often the case, the higher the number, the higher the quality. Higher bit depths are better at handling noise with substantial differences between its quietest and loudest parts. But this is much more relevant to musicia...2024-01-0401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Are Hz and Sample Rates?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about sample rates. Sample rates are measured in hertz, or “Hz”. Like bitrates, sample rates in audio determine audio quality and file size. You could compare them to pixels in a photograph. Some platforms and tools will ask you to set a sample rate prior to hitting record. The most common sample rate, and one we’d recommend, is 44,100Hz. If you were to load up your audio in your DAW and zoom right in as far as you can, you’d se...2024-01-0301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Are Bitrates in MP3s?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about bitrates. Bitrates represent a sliding scale of quality and size when it comes to the MP3 file format. They’re measured in kbps, or, kilobits per second. Common bitrates for music files are 128 and 192kbps. As most podcasts are purely spoken-word content, we probably don’t need to go this high, though. With our own shows, we tend to opt for 96kbps, but some go as low as 64kbps - most famously, Marc Maron. And he does alright, eh? If set...2023-12-2601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat’s the Difference Between a WAV and an MP3?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the difference between WAV and MP3 files. The major difference between WAVs and MP3s are size and quality. WAV files contain more detail, but are also much bigger. Think of a WAV file as an original painting, and MP3 files as prints of that painting. Podcast episodes are almost always released in MP3 form because it has a good file size to quality ratio. MP3s have their own size and quality scale too. They’re called bitrates, and...2023-12-2501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow Loud Should a Podcast Be?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “how loud should a podcast be?” We’ve talked about having consistent volume levels throughout your episodes. But what about the overall volume level of your show compared to other podcasts? Audio loudness is measured in something called “LUFS”, which means “Loudness Units relative to Full Scale”. Sound exciting, eh? Recommended podcast loudness varies, depending on who you ask, and whether your episode is mono or stereo. But a good ballpark to aim for is between -16 and -21 LUFS. You ca...2023-12-2201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Is Compression?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “what is compression?”. No, this isn’t about blowing your car tyres up. Compression is an audio production technique where you take the loudest bits and quietest bits of a conversation, and bring them all closer together. It’s all about achieving volume-level consistency. Compression allows you to have loud laughter and soft whispering in your episode, and, if done well, your listener won’t even need to adjust the volume dial. Just like noise reduction, compression needs a subtle tou...2023-12-2101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsNoise Reduction & Audio Clean UpWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about noise reduction and cleanup. Some types of background noise can be cleaned up in the post-production phase. The constant hiss of a fan, or the low static hum of a microphone, for example. Audio software has the ability to recognise this and strip it out, whilst leaving the vocals intact. Of course, it’s easy to go overboard with this and ruin the vocals themselves. Working with noise reduction is a bit like walking a tightrope. Or, using magic in a...2023-12-2001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsMinimum Effective Podcast EditingWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the minimum effective podcast editing approach. Remember we talked about making mistakes during recording? Our tip was to pause, click your fingers three times into the mic, then start again. Well, now you have a quick and easy way to spot anything that needs chopping out. Aside from that, you’ll want to “top and tail” your recording, cutting any preamble at the start and drawn-out goodbyes at the end. Then it’s the cleanup and volume levelling stuff which you...2023-12-1901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsEditing & Producing Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about editing and producing your podcast. This is the phase of podcasting where you chop out all your mistakes and cut the fat from your conversations. You can also clean up your audio to remove any background hiss and level it to make everything consistently loud enough. Then, you can mix in things like music, transitions, and pre-recorded segments. Naturally, this is the part of podcasting that puts tonnes of people off. Very few folks have ever used audio editing so...2023-12-1501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhere to Buy Podcast MusicWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about where to buy podcast music. You *can* buy song licenses outright. But the most common route is to pay a monthly subscription for a service where you can use anything on there for the duration of that subscription. These libraries usually include sound effects, too. Many services grant you a lifetime license here, so you don’t need to go back and remove music from previous episodes after you’ve cancelled your subscription, and there are rarely download limits, either...2023-12-1401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhere to Find Free Podcast MusicWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about finding free podcast music. There’s no shortage of tracks out there that you can use 100% free of charge, so long as you credit and link back to the creator in your show notes. We run a free podcast music library ourselves, and you’re totally welcome to pick something from there. Head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/freemusic for a look. http://Incompetech.com is probably the most famous creative commons music resource on the web, too. There’...2023-12-1301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsSo, What Music CAN I Use in My Podcast?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “so, what music CAN I use in my podcast?”. Whilst Harry Styles’ latest track is strictly off-limits there are plenty of music options that are safe, legal, and - in some cases - free to use on your podcast. Two terms you’ll often come across are “Creative Commons” and “Royalty-Free”. Creative Commons usually means you can use music for free, so long as you credit and link back to the creator. Royalty-Free, on the other hand, usually means that you’ve...2023-12-1201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsCan I Use ANY Music in My Podcast?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “can I use ANY music in my podcast?” The short answer here is “no”. And any music you hear on the radio or on your favourite Spotify playlist is probably off-limits. Be wary of myths like “it’s fine if it’s less than seven seconds” and “it’s okay so long as you’re not making money with your podcast”. “Fair Use” gets quoted a lot, too. Fair use is a defence you can use if you get in trouble. But who wants...2023-12-1100 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsDo I Need Podcast Music?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “do I need podcast music?” There’s no rule to say that your show *must* have music. But many podcasters stick some at the beginning and end of the show to add that extra layer of professionalism and identity. Just be wary of letting music play on its own for any longer than ten seconds on your podcast. Whilst TV and film can get away with this because of their visual elements, it doesn’t work that way in audio. Yo...2023-12-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPowerful Podcast Interview QuestionsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about “super” podcast interview questions. When you cover the basics well, you can go the extra mile to help make your guest stand out from everyone else. Here are some fun questions that can entertain your listener whilst still leaving them with a few useful insights, too. - What are you NOT Very Good at? - Tell me something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on. - When did you last change your mind about something? - Room, des...2023-12-0601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsIntroducing Podcast GuestsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about introducing your podcast guests. It’s those dreaded words “so, tell us a bit about yourself” that can lead to you waking up, six hours later, listening to an interviewee ramble on about his toy car collection. This isn’t the guest's fault. They’ve just been handed the mic and let off the leash with no real direction. They don’t know your audience. But you do. And it’s your job to succinctly introduce your guest to them with a quic...2023-11-2800 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsFinding Podcast GuestsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about finding podcast guests. If you run an interview podcast, it can be challenging to get folks to come on your show at first. A great starting point is to approach other podcasters in your niche. They already know how it all works, and you know they’ll sound great, too. On top of that, if they share the episode with their own audience it’s going to send some early traffic your way. Then, there are YouTubers, bloggers, or author...2023-11-2400 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Makes a Good Podcast Outro?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “what makes a good podcast outro?”. The final minute or two of your episode goes towards creating a lasting impression in the mind of your listener. You might have done a great job with the intro and main content. But if the show ends poorly, this can be the difference between a new listener hitting subscribe or not. The job of the outro is essentially to thank the listener for their time. Then, point them in the direction of any...2023-11-1000 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHooking Your Listener EarlyWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about hooking your listener early. Podcast listeners are selfish. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just that everyone tunes into content with one question in mind - “what’s in this for me?”. If anything is drawn out, confusing, or ambiguous, it’s easy for them to lose interest and switch off. You always have creative freedom with your podcast. But here’s a template you can use as a starting point. “Hello and welcome to the *blank* Pod...2023-11-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsIntroducing & Ending Your EpisodesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about introducing and ending your episodes. Obviously, the most important part of any podcast episode is its main content. But the way you open and close your episodes is vital when it comes to listeners even getting to that stage. Think about it, each episode you release is going to be someone’s first impression of your show. On top of that, you only have five minutes to “hook” a third of all podcast listeners. That’s according to recent data from...2023-11-0601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsRough Podcast ScriptsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the rough podcast script. This one is near the ‘make-it-up-as-you-go-along’ end of the scripting spectrum. Here, you’ll mainly use bullet points to remind you where you’re going. You’re relying on your expert knowledge on the subject to fill in the gaps. This leads to the most conversational type of podcast and is often the most engaging. When you’re speaking from experience, your voice becomes a lot more active, and a lot less monotone. The problem, of course, is...2023-11-0301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsDetailed Podcast ScriptsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the ‘detailed episode plan’ podcast script. This is the most common way of scripting a podcast. It’s a great alternative to the word-for-word method. Here, you can write down every point you want to hit, every resource you want to mention, and every story you want to cover. You’re not trying to script every single word, though, so you still have that freedom to talk naturally *with* your listener, instead of reading *at* them. Your personality can shine thro...2023-11-0200 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWord-For-Word Podcast ScriptsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the word-for-word podcast script. This method is great because you’ll never forget or leave anything out. It can also help a lot if you lack the confidence to speak for any length of time. But, there are big cons, too. Scripting a show this way takes ages. Few podcasters can also pull off word-for-word reading and make it sound conversational. You run the risk of your episodes being a bit flat and monotone. By all means, give it a sh...2023-11-0101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWriting a Podcast ScriptWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about writing a podcast script. Podcast scripting is a very personal thing. Some hosts script their whole show, word for word. Other hosts write down the episode title and just ad-lib it from there. Neither way is right or wrong and, in reality, most people go for something in-between. Scripting can be viewed as a spectrum, with `fully-scripted` and `not-even-slightly-scripted` covering each end. That means it’s impossible to tell you exactly how to do it. But, we can tell you a ...2023-10-3100 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsCase Studies - Creating Shareable ContentWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the case study method, when it comes to creating shareable content. Case studies use examples of people doing things, or events taking place. For example, a biking podcast might do a deep dive into how one rider prepared for and won a big tournament. Or a football podcast might chronicle the journey of a team of underdogs from a small village who won a national trophy. You can almost think of it as a movie. It’s a great oppo...2023-10-2701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Create Shareable ContentWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to create shareable content. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to grow your podcast. According to our Discoverability survey, over 33% of listeners find new shows to listen to based on what others have shared or recommended. So how do you make your podcast episodes shareable, or “recommendable”? There are actually six frameworks you can build your episode around. And, after hearing them, your listeners will be dying to tell others about them, too. These framew...2023-10-2001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Link to and Share Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to link to and share your podcast. This is a big mistake many podcasters make when they promote their content - they share a link to somewhere like Apple or Spotify. Sure, these places are where a lot of podcast listening happens. But remember, there are hundreds of other apps and directories, too. You definitely can’t link to them all, especially not in a tweet, so what do you do? Quite simply, you send them to one plac...2023-10-1601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsGetting Listed in All Other Podcast DirectoriesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in any directories and apps your show isn’t yet appearing in. As we mentioned before, the fact that you’re in Apple Podcasts means you’re automatically in a hundred other places. Google Podcasts will start noticing you without you needing to do anything, either. Well, they are in the search business, after all! But, there are three other platforms you’ll want to log in to or create an account for, in order to submit your RSS f...2023-10-1301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsGetting Your Show in SpotifyWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in Spotify. Spotify is hot on the heels of Apple when it comes to global podcast consumption. You’ll definitely want to get your show listed here. And, it’s even easier than submitting to their fruit-loving rivals. Most hosting providers have simple one-click “submit to Spotify” buttons in their distribution sections. What’s more, some of our recently launched shows have appeared on Spotify less than an hour after submitting. You can easily submit manually, too, if your host...2023-10-1201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsGetting Listed in Podcast DirectoriesWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in podcast directories. People listen to podcasts on hundreds of different apps and platforms. In a previous episode, we learned that you only need to upload your content to one place - your hosting account - and it’ll appear in all these places automatically. But how do we make sure these directories know our podcast exists in the first place? For this, we use a unique URL called an RSS feed. You’ll get one of these...2023-10-1001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsIs My Podcast “Launch” Important?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the myth of the podcast “launch”. The term “launch” is ambiguous, because, creating your show and publishing your first episode means you’re “launching” your podcast. But we might also think of our launch as something glitzy and hyped-up, like the release of the latest iPhone or Xbox console. When new tech, or even new books are released, they only have a few weeks to “sink or swim” because of how sales and charts work in these fields. The good news? This has...2023-10-0901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhy Make an Episode Zero?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about why you might make an ‘Episode Zero’. This is the name given to a type of introductory or “pre-launch” podcast episode. It isn’t *essential* to create an Episode Zero. But many podcasters do – and there’s a few good reasons why it might be worth considering for your own show. An Episode Zero can be similar to a promo trailer in the way it introduces your show and your topic. The main difference is length. An Episode Zero would ideally stil...2023-10-0601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Create a Podcast TrailerWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a trailer for your show. A promo trailer can help you win over potential new listeners by giving them a flavour of your podcast. They can easily be played on other shows, too, which can help you grow your audience. A podcast trailer should be between 30 seconds and 1 minute. The shorter, the better. There are certain things you *definitely* want to mention in your podcast trailer. What’s the show called? What’s it about? Who is it for? A...2023-10-0501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhere to Publish Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast hosting options. Your podcast hosting provider - also known as your “podcast host” - is *the* place you create your show and upload all of your episodes to. There are plenty great hosting options out there catering to all needs and budgets. Hosting providers will offer you stats so you can see how popular your show is. Some of these go really in-depth and can give you geographic and device stats, too. Hosting providers will also give you a basi...2023-10-0401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Publish Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about publishing your podcast. This stage can cause some confusion for new podcasters. You might think that you need to upload your episodes to listening platforms like Apple and Spotify, but that isn’t the case. Instead, you create an account with a podcast hosting provider. That’s the place your podcast “lives”. Your cover art, your show description, and your episodes all go in there. Then, there are a couple of small steps needed to “tell” platforms like Spotify and Apple that...2023-10-0301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhere to Get Your Podcast TranscribedWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about where to get your podcast transcribed. There are two types of transcription service out there - human, and AI. The AI options are cheaper, but generally less accurate, especially if you speak with a Scottish accent. An AI transcription might take a wee bit more time to run through and correct manually. Our podcast-maker tool Alitu now automatically generates transcriptions of all your episodes, so that’s one single place you can go to record, edit, publish, and transcribe your...2023-10-0201 minQuick Daily Podcasting Tips‘Podcast Maker’ ToolsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about, funnily enough, Podcast Maker tools. A ‘Podcast Maker’ is basically an app or tool that brings everything like recording, editing, production, and publishing together into one place. They can be less flexible and powerful than having a dedicated tool for every job, but so much more simpler, convenient, and cost-effective. Naturally, because we run Alitu, we’re a bit biased and think it’s the best option out there. We certainly strive to be. But that said, we recognise that there...2023-09-2801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Are DAWs? Digital Audio WorkstationsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about Digital Audio Workstations, AKA - DAWs. A DAW is a term used to describe software that you use to record, edit, and produce audio. Most of them are designed and built with music production in mind, but can work brilliantly to create spoken-word content if you know what you’re doing. A famous free DAW is Audacity. Audacity is popular because of its price, or lack of one. It has everything you need to record and produce a po...2023-09-2701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsRemote Call Recording OptionsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking remote recording software. Many podcasters run interview or co-hosted shows, and with call recording software, location is no barrier to who you can chat with. Online call recorders do exactly what they say on the tin. Two of the most popular options out there are Squadcast and Riverside. These are what’s known as “double ender” tools which record each participant locally, on their own computer. This makes them safer from wonky wifi connections, crashes, and the sound quality is generall...2023-09-2601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast SoftwareWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to start thinking about podcasting software. The term “podcast software” is pretty general. It could be used to describe the programme or app you use to record, edit, or publish your episodes. Some platforms only focus on one of these aspects, whilst others will do all 3. It’s common for editing software to double up as recording software. Prime examples of these are Audacity, Adobe Audition, and our own Alitu. Many online call recorders don’t have editing functions though - or, if t...2023-09-2501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Eliminate Reverb in Any RoomWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about reverb or echo - and - how to get rid of it. Excess reverb can make even the best podcast sound amateur. This unwanted echo effect happens in smaller, boxy rooms with a lot of hard surfaces. Here, the soundwaves of your voice will bounce around the room like a ball. Typically poor-sounding environments include caves, the bottoms of wells, and in the average person’s bathroom. It’s unlikely you plan to record in any of these, but the ro...2023-09-2001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Equipment for Multiple Local ParticipantsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for recording multiple people, locally. If getting people in the same room together is the key for your podcast, then there are a few different options out there. On the previous 2 episodes, we’ve mentioned the Samson Q2U mic and the Zoom PodTrak P4 podcast recorder. Get yourself a PodTrak P4 and then a Q2U for each person you’ll be recording, and you’ll have a brilliant set up for only a few hund...2023-09-1301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Equipment for Online Interviews or Co-HostsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for online interviews or co-hosts. Typically, the set up here is exactly the same as if you were podcasting on your own. If you listened to the previous episode, then you’ll have heard me talk about the Samson Q2U. This works just as well for remote recordings as it does on the solo podcasting front. You’d then either need online recording software or additional equipment to link up with your guests or co-hos...2023-09-1201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsPodcast Equipment for Solo ShowsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for solo shows. If you’re podcasting on your own then this makes choosing equipment easy. You’re just going to need a USB mic and some headphones. I say “headphones” but even your trusty earbuds will do the trick here. You’ll use these to “monitor” yourself as you record. That way, you can hear exactly *what* you record, as it’s recorded, and pick up on any sound issues there and then. On the USB mic front...2023-09-1101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat’s the Deal With Podcast Equipment?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And over the next few episodes, we’re going to talk about the gear you need to actually record your show. When we hear the term “podcast equipment” it’s easy to imagine a pro-level studio filled with lots of intimidating and very expensive kit. But for the vast majority of podcasters, this looks nothing like their own recording setup. You can break podcast equipment down into categories, based on how you record and capture your voice, from mic to mixer to recorder to computer. The recording process...2023-09-0801 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Get Good Podcast Cover ArtWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your show’s cover art, sometimes known as your artwork or your podcast logo. Just like your episode titles, first impressions are everything. Having attractive cover art that stands out is so vital when your show lines up against thousands of others in apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your artwork should be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels, in JPG form, and it needs to be under 500kb in size. Apple actually recommends 3000 x 3000-pixel files, but we’ve found becaus...2023-09-0702 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhat Should Go In My Podcast Description?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your show’s description. Did you know that this is THE most important thing potential new listeners will judge your show on? This is in that crucial period where they’ve found it, but haven’t hit play yet. By the way, this isn’t my opinion - it’s right from the horse’s mouth, via our Podcast Discovery Survey, which you can find at [ThePodcastHost.com/discovery](http://ThePodcastHost.com/discovery) So, a quick bit of clarity on what’s mean...2023-09-0601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow Should I Name my Podcast Episodes?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to name your podcast *episodes.* We spent a bit of time earlier on talking about what to call your podcast as a whole. But how you title your episodes can be just as - or maybe even more - important! The biggest mistake when it comes to naming your episodes is to pop in meaningless details. Like Episode 1: This time I talk with... blah blah blah. You’ve already lost them by the time they hit the 5th word...2023-09-0501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhy Podcast in Seasons?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about releasing podcast episodes in seasons. On the last episode, we talked about the tricky balance of finding your ideal release frequency. So, what if the podcast you’d like to create is a really in-depth, highly produced show, that goes out every single week? But, you know that, in the long run, that weekly schedule is a bit unsustainable? The ideal answer could be to take a leaf out of your favourite TV show’s book, and podcast in season...2023-09-0402 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow Often Should I Release Podcast Episodes?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking how often! As in how frequently should you be releasing podcast episodes? Just like the “ideal length” question, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. The best podcast release schedule is really the most regular one that *you* can stick to, on a consistent basis. So, if you can only manage once a month, that’s fine. If you can manage every 2 weeks, even better. If you can manage weekly, then that’s about ideal. You can still have a big impact with...2023-09-0101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow Long Should my Podcast Episodes Be?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how long your podcast episodes should be. Here’s the bottom line - podcast length depends solely on content. Don’t cut down good content - or, pad out succinct work! How long does your episode need to be to get the message out? Then that’s the ideal length for you. If you asked most podcast listeners, a “short” episode would probably be anything under 15 minutes. And a “long” episode would probably be anything over an hour. Anything from 20 to 45 mi...2023-08-3101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsUsing Your Own Name in Your Podcast NameWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about using your own name in or as your podcast’s name. If you’ve heard of Tim Ferriss or Joe Rogan, then you’ll know what we’re talking about here. Podcasts that are named after their hosts generally have one thing in common – the host already had an audience *before* they started the podcast. These names offer no hints about the show's content. If you've never heard of Tim Ferris, his show could be about literally anything. As it happens, th...2023-08-3001 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsChoosing a Clever, Quirky, or Mysterious Podcast NameWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about clever, quirky, or even, mysterious podcast names. Famous examples here include The Moth, and 99% Invisible. Creative or “clever” names are often built around puns, plays on words or in-jokes from the show's topic or niche. Many of these names make sense when you look deeply enough into them. But others are just plain abstract and offer no hint into the show's actual content. If you already have an audience, a reputation as a good content creator, or a big market...2023-08-2901 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsChoosing a Descriptive Podcast Name**Choosing a Descriptive Podcast Name** Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about “descriptive” podcast names. Famous examples of descriptive names are The Property Podcast and Football Weekly. This type of name can be described as “doing exactly what it says on the tin”. You might think of this as the “boring” option, but as long as your content isn't boring, nobody's going to care. Descriptive podcast names are immediately identifiable to their target audience. And they're easier to find because they perform better in searches. However, if you have a re...2023-08-2800 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsHow to Name Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest decisions made by new podcasters - naming your show. There are 3 main camps when it comes to naming your show - you might simply use your own name, or, you might opt for something clever or descriptive. We’re going to look at each option, in more depth, over the next few episodes. Start by creating a shortlist of potential podcast names. Then, do a search in a directory or app like Apple Podcasts to see...2023-08-2501 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsThe Documentary or Fiction Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about documentary-style and fiction podcast formats. Documentary podcasts are often referred to as “BBC-style” or “NPR-style”. These shows mix in multiple voices, musical elements, and actuality to add an extra layer of production and storytelling. The end product can sound great, but the time and work needed to put them together will increase drastically. Another high-production format is the fiction podcast. These come in many forms, from “audiobook style” to fully soundscaped audio dramas, where every footstep is accounted for. Again, the end...2023-08-2401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsThe Roundtable Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the roundtable podcast format. A “roundtable” refers to the idea of getting a larger number of participants together to discuss a set topic. Normally there would be at least one regular host, if not two or three. Then the rest of the ‘table’ is made up of guests who are experts in the topic at hand. Your job as host is to direct the roundtable, asking questions and steering the topic, so that everyone gets a turn and contributes to a great...2023-08-2301 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsThe Interview Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the interview podcast format. This is where you ‘borrow’ the expertise or entertainment value of others. With this style of podcast format, a huge benefit is getting to talk to your heroes. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to have a chat with people in your space that you’ve always looked up to. On top of that, your guests will have their own audiences who may listen to the interview and end up subscribing to your show. If done right...2023-08-2201 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsThe Co-Hosted Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we’re talking about the co-hosted podcast format. This is when you present your show alongside another regular host - whether it's a friend or a colleague. This is a great format for anyone, but particularly early podcasters. It reduces that ‘mic fright’ you get when recording solo, or the possibility of being a bit monotone. Instead, find the right co-host and you can have a totally natural conversation. Someone to bounce off, debate with, or even take mickey out of. The best co-hosted podcas...2023-08-2101 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsThe Solo Podcast FormatWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the solo podcast format, AKA - the monologue. Each podcast format comes with its own pros and cons. The big benefit of a solo show is that you don’t need to rely on anyone else to record your episodes. On top of that, it’s YOU who’s building a reputation as the authority on your subject. The podcast is also exclusively yours, so you can make all the calls on sponsorship and monetization. And you don’t need to sp...2023-08-1800 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsChoosing a Format for Your PodcastWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about choosing a format for your episodes. The format you choose is really personal, and depends on who’s involved. If it’s just you, you’re not doing a co-hosted show any time soon, for example None of this is set in stone, either. So whilst it’s good to have an ‘average’ format, so your listeners know what to expect, you don’t have to stick to it every single time. You might do your first few episodes using a certain...2023-08-1701 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsNiches and Narrow Podcast TopicsWelcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about niches (nitches?) and narrow topics. There’s a bit of a misconception in podcasting that, the wider and more open your topic, the bigger your audience will be. I know, it makes sense because covering lots of ground means there's loads more people who *might* be interested in your show. The reality, though, is that listeners love podcasts that feel like they were made *just for them*. So instead of our personal trainer doing a podcast about general health, diet...2023-08-1601 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWho is Your Podcast For?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. On this episode, we’re asking a big question: Who are you making your podcast for? The thing is, unless you know exactly *who* you’re making your show for, and *why* you’re doing it, you’ve got no chance of growing an audience. Let’s imagine a personal trainer who’s making a health and fitness podcast to market their business. Their target audience might be people who are interested in healthy eating, weight loss, or HIIT training, or bodybuilding. Or, let’s imagine a hobbyist who loves z...2023-08-1401 minQuick Daily Podcasting TipsWhy Are You Doing a Podcast?Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “Why?” Why do you want to make a podcast? Are you a freelancer? A business? Or working for a company? Whatever you do, you'll know that podcasting's a great way to build trust and authority. Plus, of course, give your customers or your audience a whole bunch of valuable and entertaining content. The other option is that you're in podcasting as a hobbyist? That could mean you'll be creating a show in your spare time, and on a subject you're...2023-08-1101 min