Episode 50: How to Get to 50 Episodes

If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast, there are a lot of good resources out there to help you. The best one is undoubtedly is The Showrunner by Jerod Morris and Jonny Nastor—a podcast about podcasting. I’ve learned a lot from both of them, and I thought I’d pay it forward by sharing my experience in launching Marketing Without the Marketing.

In celebration of my 50th episode, I thought I’d pull back the curtain on my strategy and process so that you could learn from my successes and mistakes. In this episode, I share some details about my stats and rankings, but what I really hope is that it inspires you to produce your own podcast. It’s a great instrument for building an audience and sharing your ideas.

What I Learned from 50 Episodes of Podcasting

Let me cut right to it. The two biggest takeaways, without a doubt, are:

1. Get the launch right. Don’t just jump in and start publishing episodes. Podcasting is different than blogging. This episode gets into a lot more detail about how to do it right—including the things that I wish I’d done.
2. Give in to iTunes. Much as I hate to admit it, iTunes is everything when it comes to podcasting. You really have to set yourself up right to make sure you take advantage of the iTunes marketplace.

Aside from these two things, I also cover:

• What’s the purpose of a podcast (as opposed to a blog)?
• Should your podcast be an interview format or monologue?
• Why it’s important to have a bunch of episodes recorded before you launch.
• How to ride the “New & Noteworthy” bandwagon and get into the top 100.
• Getting listed in directories other than iTunes so you can get a wider reach.
• How to promote your podcast, especially, when the “New & Noteworthy” shine wears off.
• Why consistency is critical, and how to keep a regular schedule.
• How to keep going through the “dead zones.”
• What I would have done differently—so that you can learn from my mistakes.
• And a big thank you to YOU at the end of the episode!

Show notes:

• The Showrunner: The best resource for learning how to launch your podcast. Hosted by Jerod Morris and Jonny Nastor, The Showrunner will teach you everything you need to know—from strategies to tactics. They also have a complete online podcasting course too.  This is not a paid endorsement—I just love their show and have listened to every episode.
• Podcast directories that draw upon your iTunes URI: Pocket Casts (iOS & Android), Overcast (iOS), Castro (iOS), Downcast (iOS), iCatcher (iOS), Pod Wrangler (iOS).
• Podcast directories that you have to submit: Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn (iOS), PodDirectory, Player FM (Android), Beyondpod (Android).
• Podcast hosting. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s an in-depth article from Eduard Klein on your first and most important decision: Podcast hosting.