Prologue
Friday the 13th – Your Lucky Day?
Why do some people think today is unlucky?
It's actually a combination of two superstitions:
- The belief that the number 13 is unlucky.
- The belief that Friday is an unlucky day.
The Norse Version
The number 13 has been considered an unlucky number in various cultures for centuries. One of the earliest examples is from Norse mythology where, according to the myth, 12 gods were having a dinner party in Valhalla, their heaven. A 13th guest, the trickster god Loki, arrived uninvited and shot Balder, the god of joy and happiness, causing the world to plunge into darkness.
The Christian Version
You're probably more familiar with the Christian version ... Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, is sometimes said to be the source of the belief. Also, the number of people at the Last Supper, Jesus plus 12 disciples, equals 13.
The Podcasting Version
There's no version of "Friday the 13th" for podcasters, but we do have our own folklore involving numbers.
- The “Eight Week Window” rumor suggests that podcasters only have an eight-week window to get into Apple Podcasts’ New and Noteworthy section.
- You need 10,000 downloads per episode to get the attention of advertisers.
- The performance of a podcast within the first 24 hours determines its future success.
The Reality
Podcasting, like any other form of media, has its own myths and superstitions. But the truth is, success in podcasting is determined by hard work, creativity, and engaging content.
And yes, sometimes "luck."
Most of this luck, we create on our own. So don’t let superstitions (or anything else) hold you back, today or any other day.
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Podcast Marketing
Instagram Reels Best Practices
If you're using Instagram Reels to promote your podcast, you'll want to look at these best practices from Nick Gray. These are directly from Meta and its Instagram Creators program.
Topics covered ...
- Consistency
- Trending Audio
- Hashtags
- Length
- Comments
- Republishing
- CTAs
If you're doing Reels, you might as well make the most of them, so take a few moments to review this information.
But are you doing Reels? That's what I want to know ...
Like fashion styles, social media networks come and go. And I actually did a Reel just last week about the new Scarlett 4th Gen interfaces. But in general, I don't do very many of them ...
How about you? Reach out on Mastodon, Bluesky, or Pebble and let me know what you're doing.
Podcast Hosting Skills
"That's a Great Question!"
No, it's probably not a "great" question. And if you ever say this before giving an answer, you better explain why you feel it's great.
This technique is actually called “prefacing.” And people do it because they're trying to stall.
Regardless, don't do it. And if a guest starts an answer to one of your questions in this way, edit it out.
Want to go deep on this topic? Check out this episode of Freakonomics.
Want to go even deeper? Check out the audio version of this issue.
Podcasting Events
Afros & Audio – October 21-22 in Baltimore
Afros & Audio is a community of independent podcasters dedicated to curating accessible/inclusive events and spaces for and by Black independent podcast creatives and audio professionals.
The Afros & Audio Podcast Festival is October 21-22 is in Baltimore, MD. It's designed to unite Black podcast creators, audio professionals, and industry insiders in a creative and collaborative space.
I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago when talking about PodIndy, which is November 4 in Indianapolis ... Independent podcasters need independent events that cater to us and connect us with each other. The "corporate" podcasting events are ignoring us in favor of "ad tech" and other things that don't affect 90% of podcasters.
Let's support the events that support us.
Is there an indie event I should know about? Reach out on Pebble, Bluesky, or Mastodon and let me know.
Podcast Humor
The Devil's Hairdryer
As I type this, there's a construction crew outside my house literally cutting into the street with a gigantic circular saw.
If you're ever in a pinch and need somewhere "quiet" to record, either for yourself or a remote guest, one of the best (and more common) options available is a walk-in closet full of clothing.
But if you want a more robust solution for dealing with outside noise, room reflections, and other issues we face when recording, you may want to consider acoustic panels. I built my own, but there are several done-for-you options that will get you where you need to go.
What does your studio look like? Send me a photo, I'll share it via the Big Podcast social media channels, and send some people your way.
Podcast Monetization
Subscription Revenue for Podcasters
Subscription revenue is great when you can get it. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it changed my life.
As podcasters, we have a lot of options for subscription revenue.
For example, I'm in the process of setting up a new newsletter on Substack, which also has a podcasting option, and they are pushing subscriptions hard.
Supporting Cast is also worth looking at. It's a tool to sell and deliver exclusive podcasts. And if you're doing audiobooks, courses, or memberships, it can handle those things also.
But just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should. For example, I have no plans to sell subscriptions to the newsletter on Substack – it's free.
In general, my advice for podcasters is to find ways other than direct payment from listeners (including subscriptions). With this said, there are listeners who want to pay you and, if somebody offers you money, by all means take it.
Want to go even deeper? Check out the audio version of this issue. I've been selling subscriptions online since the 90s and have a lot of experience with this.
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The Wrap Up
When you're ready, here's how I can help you even more ...
If you like the newsletter, you'll love Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program).
This podcasting coaching program has been designed to help you do three things:
- Grow your podcast audience.
- Get people talking about your podcast.
- Make more money with your podcast.
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