We made it to episode 50 of the ProBlogger Podcast!
To be honest, when I was about halfway through the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog podcast series, I didn’t think I would make this that far. Podcasting in the early days is tough going!
In this episode, I discuss all the things I’ve learned so far about podcasting in terms of content, delivery, tools, monetization, building an audience and what I think are the benefits to taking a different road with your blog and interacting more personally with your readers.
It’s been interesting to see which episodes have been the most popular – it appears that the more personal and relatable the topic, the more it is downloaded and shared. Quite similar to blogging, but of course in such a different format and with a whole new audience as well. Storytelling and humanism really does draw people in regardless of the vehicle by which you do it. Being useful too, has massive benefits – five out of the top 10 podcasts have filled a gap or met a need for listeners, or even directly answered their questions.
If you are thinking of starting a podcast, I am sure you will find this mix of personal experience and practical tools and tips helpful to you on your journey.
You can find episode 50 of the ProBlogger podcast What I Learned About Podcasting in my First 50 Episodes here, along with show notes and links to the tools mentioned. I’d love to hear your feedback – what has been your favourite episode? What has helped you? You can leave a comment here, on the episode page, or you can fill in a short survey here.
Thanks for listening!
@Darren Rowse
I examine every one of the things I’ve adapted so far about podcasting regarding substance, conveyance, apparatuses, adaptation, constructing a group of people and what I believe are the advantages to taking an alternate street with your web journal and interfacing all the more actually with your perusers.
regards
rakhi
Hi Darren,
Thanks for sharing your insights with us.
Irony alert; I trashed my podcast 10 minutes ago. It was a losing proposition, which I was OK with trashing. If I gave all my attention and energy to it, that sucker would have worked, and worked well, but I can’t do that now. Maybe down the road. Maybe not.
I relate with the best podcasts being personable, relevant affairs. The few which popped for me on their own, without heavy promoting, were almost always the personal stories which resonated with my audience. My readers want blogging tips. If I served up blogging tips with a personal story to boot, linking the 2, my readers seemed to be happy with that and my listeners dug the link, too. Stories sell because listeners literally put themselves in your shoes when you sell your stories, or when you tell your stories. You’ll connect with folks on a deeper level if you patiently recount exactly what happened, and what you learned what to do, and what not to do. Folks love successful blogging tips but also vibe with stories of failure too; helps them avoid the pitfalls that the blogging guinea pigs have faced in their day. I love practical blogging tips which work and I also dig a fair warning, as to practical blogging tips which do not work. Gotta beware those losing propositions to save your time and energy.
I learned that getting reviews on iTunes will give you a nice boost. I also learned – from failing of course – that generating a sizeable number of listens happens so much more easily if you appear on a few top ranked podcasts. After being interviewed by guys like Mark Guay and Yann Ilunga I saw an instant surge in listens. Good deal. But when that traffic subsided, I needed to fan flames underneath podcasts just to stay afloat, even for those kick butt episodes.
The truth is, I really loved doing podcasts and felt I was pretty good at it too….but I love doing many things, and am pretty good at those things as well. My energy was super, and I felt detached doing them in the beginning but it didn’t work out for me. It is what it is.
Keep yours up dude. I love your practical know how, your easy going voice and your simple, usable blogging tips. You definitely have this podcast thing down pat and even though your community played a role in your podcasting success I feel that this is your platform for rocking it out, in addition to your inspired blog. Keep telling those personal stories, sharing what worked, and what didn’t, and we’ll benefit so greatly from your experience.
On a side note, if you ever wanted to interview someone on your podcast I still love doing them. Even if it’s from the other side of the microphone.
Thanks Darren. Keep up the great work.
Ryan
This was the perfect podcast for an ocd listmaker like me. It really gave me a lot of confidence. Plus, you have the best accent for podcasting. You could talk about kittens all day and it would still sound cool.
Call me old fashion but I’d stay rather read than listen to a podcast. I can’t be the only one.