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Taking a brief hiatus to put my attention on two big projects for the next two weeks. But don't venture too far away - Pod Theory will be back with new episodes starting Monday, March 1st!In the mean time, please take this time to explore the show's archives and catch up on any episodes you may have missed. Also, take a minute to re-listen to your favorites.And, finally - if you haven't done so already, please visit Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review for Pod Theory.I appreciate you listening to the podcast and look forward to being back with you on March 1st.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purp

BRAND ADVOCATE: Someone who goes over and above for a company. They proactively tell the world about your brand with every conceivable platform at their disposal - email, text, word of mouth, social media, blogs. And they typically serves this role without any compensation other than their affection for your brand.When a person becomes a brand advocate and attaches themselves to your brand, they'll represent you, they'll support you, and they'll do what some companies spend millions trying to recreate - they'll impart their influence on others and impact buying decisions.The power of brand advocacy cannot be overlooked and in Episode 95 of Pod Theory, I'm going to look at how your podcast plays a critical role in building brand advocates. As your content spends hours in your listener's ears, the connection they establish with your brand strengthens. You want to be sure you are establishing advocates at every conceivable level of your brand experience.FEATURE MENTIONED WITHIN - Brand Advocacy: Everything Your Company Needs to KnowBuzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

In a world dominated by grabby headlines, it's important to present something that will grab a reader's attention and draw them into the content of the article that headline leads. A podcast title works the same way. In order to grab a potential listener's attention, a podcast title should serve the purpose of generating interest, creating intrigue, and leading the person who finds it to take the next step and click the play button. If a title falls flat, a listener may scroll right passed that episode, and hours of work that COULD HAVE been beneficial to that person is lost because their interest wasn't piqued on the front end.In Episode 94, I share five secrets that will help you create more engaging, more captivating titles for your podcast episodes. Using more dynamic titles will help your podcast stand out while up against other shows jockeying for a listener's attention. If your show creates the most intrigue, a listener will download your episode first.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

2020 brought some big changes to the podcast space and many of those changes have spilled into 2021. A lot of what we've seen develop has been great for the podcast platform as a whole, with plenty more certain to unfold over the next 365 days.So, that said...what will podcasting look like a year from now? What developments will impact this industry? Will any podcast directory stake claim to Apple's throne at the top? In Episode 93 of Pod Theory, I'm doing some speculation and dropping some commentary on what podcasting will look like one year from today. From increasing numbers to new services designed to help podcasters in their plights to everything in between, one thing is guaranteed: we have a lot to look forward to over the next 12 months.Now...let's see how well this episode ages...Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

In order for any podcast to get over with its audience, there has to be certain levels of quality, consistency, and engagement in play. If there is a disconnect between show and listener and/or host(s) and listener, the likelihood of retaining that listener for future episode releases is pretty slim. Simply put: there are a LOT of podcasts for your audience to choose from. Some directly related to your niche, some not. But podcast listeners only have a certain amount of time in their day to consume content, and chances are excellent they listen to more than just your show. So how do you ensure they keep your show at the top of their rotation? By keeping them engaged. And that's what I'll be covering today. In Episode 92 of Pod Theory, I'm sharing four simple strategies for making (and keeping) your podcast engaging. These strategies will impact how you produce content, as well as how you interact with your audience in between releases of your new episodes. Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

It's inevitable - as a podcaster/content creator, you're going to upset some people. It's the nature of the beast. There is simply no way to please 100% of your listening audience 100% of the time. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are two to three times more likely to leave you a negative review when they're upset about something versus a positive review when they're happy with what they hear.Crazy, right?As much as you may not want to see a negative review or get a bunch of heat thrown your direction, it's not the end of the world. It also can be turned into a positive if you approach everything with the right frame of mind.On Episode 91 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share my thoughts on reviews, some statistics that back up my claims, and how you can deal with the haters and the critics by putting a positive spin on each situation. The more you seek to accentuate the positives and learn from any negativity that comes your way, the stronger you'll be AND the better your production quality will become.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Burnout is an ailment that impacts thousands of people and can cause severe mental and physical damage if not dealt with accordingly. According to helpguide.org: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.When it comes to podcasting, one of the biggest reasons I believe many shows stop dead in their tracks and podfade is because those behind the scenes don't take the time to build a foundational plan that supports long-term growth. When podcasts are launched haphazardly, it's inevitable that lack of planning will catch up to those creators...and that's when burnout can rear its ugly head. They scramble, they throw ideas together for the sake of getting content out, and their show becomes more and more of a chore with each episode they produce.In Episode 90 of Pod Theory, I'm joined by mental health professional Sara Makin, the Founder of Makin Wellness, to discuss ways you can prevent burning out while producing your podcast. Sara brings years of knowledge and experience helping her clients deal with various stages of burnout and will help you understand the early signs of burnout, how to prevent those signs from escalating, ways to bounce back should you experience full burnout, and more.If you would like to learn more about Sara's practice and how she and her team can help you with burnout and other potential mental ailments, please visit makinwellness.com and find them on your favorite social media platform @makinwellness.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

As this episode of Pod Theory goes live, we are just a few days away from Super Bowl 55 featuring the Tampa Bay Bucs versus the Kansas City Chiefs. It should be a great game and, like always, the spectacle that is the Super Bowl will feature a lavish halftime show and entertaining commercials (at $5.6 MILLION for 30 seconds a clip).There's no question that advertising has changed significantly over the years and the appeal of a Super Bowl advertisement (especially in a year where so many companies were impacted financially by COVID-19) with a lofty price tag has definitely decreased. Big brands whose ads were staples of the Super Bowl commercial slots for years will not be advertising this year, and it makes me wonder how many brands will covet this platform in years to come.In Episode 89 of Pod Theory, I drop some commentary on whether podcast advertisements will ever reach the level of Super Bowl ads. Ads on podcasts reach a much more niche audience at a fraction of the cost. Will we one day see a podcast so big that running an ad on one of its episodes is equivalent to what we see during the BIG game? Only time will tell.What is your all-time favorite Super Bowl commercial? Connect with me on Twitter and let me know! Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

It may not be something you think about, but proper hydration can lead to a more successful podcast. Keeping yourself well-hydrated throughout the day, every day, will lead to a much healthier voice. And that voice will lend itself to a better overall production.As a podcaster, your voice is your biggest asset. And often times, that asset gets taken for granted. You literally wouldn't have a podcast without your voice, so doing what you need to take care of your best asset doesn't seem like a lot to ask. Not to mention all of the other health benefits drinking an adequate amount of water every day will bring you.In Episode 88 of Pod Theory, I'm diving deeper into the subject of proper hydration and how it can help keep your pipes in A1 condition as you step behind the mic. Parts of today's show are courtesy of speech pathologist Allison Picard. Click here to read Allison's article that I referenced on the showBuzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

On a daily basis, you should be focusing on developing good habits that improve your life. Whether it be habits that help you on a personal level or a professional level, committing to daily action will help those actions become habits. According to the book The One Thing, forming a solid habit takes 66 days, not 21 days as is commonly shared. The more time spent making a certain activity part of your everyday life, the more it becomes ingrained in your psyche. You do it unconsciously without even a thought. As a podcaster, there are certain habits you'll want to incorporate into your practices to ensure you're getting the most from your efforts. Consistency is the unspoken force behind developing any habit. If you don't perform actions consistently, you can't develop a habit. Sporadic action won't lead to results, they'll just lead to more sporadic action.In Episode 87 of Pod Theory, I'm talking about developing strong habits that will not only make you a better podcaster, but a stronger person who attacks his or her day with power and passion. The six habits I'm sharing have all helped me develop my podcast, my business, and my daily method of attack. Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

A brand podcast has a ton of built-in value. Within your industry, you have the ability to connect with your audience on a medium that's gaining new listeners by the day. You also have the ability to establish authority and trust - two of the biggest components a brand needs to succeed. That authority will not only earn you respect with your listeners, but others in your industry as well. With more and more brands getting on the podcast train, you want to be sure your show does all of the aforementioned PLUS one very important factor that will truly make your efforts worthwhile: you want to set your podcast up to generate leads. This will legitimize all of the effort you put into your podcast, as well as help you grow and reach levels of sustainability that will open up the door for a multitude of possibilities in the future.In Episode 86 of Pod Theory, I'm sharing five strategies you can implement to generate leads from your podcast. This will enable you to maximize your podcast's strength and give transform your listeners into valuable, long-term customers and brand advocates!What are some ways you've used your podcast to generate leads for your brand? Find me on Twitter and let me know your process.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

The Internet has a funny way of making us believe that goals can be reached without putting in the hard work it takes to accomplish them. Well...maybe you need to hear this and maybe you don't, but I'm using this platform to say...that's complete bullsh*t!There is no better feeling of accomplishment than achieving a goal you know you had to work like hell to conquer. Just having it handed to you will not help you grow, will not help you learn, and will not help you get better. This applies to podcasting as much as it does life as a whole. In order to get the best results, you have to be willing to put in the work required of you AND take the lumps that may occur along the way.On Episode 85 of Pod Theory, I go on a bit of a rant about expecting results without the work. About showing up for the whole game instead of just the highlights. About being patient in your quest to build a great podcast and not expecting results to be handed to you without effort. It may just be the message you need to hear today. Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Becoming a great podcaster doesn't happen overnight. You have to commit, you have to work hard, and you have to realize what you're working towards. If you are looking to stand out and get noticed, it won't happen without a dedicated effort to honing your skill set and without going beyond the work done on your podcast.On Episode 84 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share three ways you can get noticed as a podcaster. These initiatives will take time, patience, and effort to come together. But consistently putting them into practice will get you noticed and help take your podcast to new levels of growth and success over time.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

The best podcasters in the game possess certain qualities that help them continue to master their craft and up their podcasting game. And if you want your show and your brand to be seen in a similar light, it's important you harness the power of these qualities as effectively as you can.In Episode 83 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share some of the characteristics the best podcasters leverage with all of their productions. Focusing on building upon these qualities will level up your podcasting skill set and help take your show to new heights. Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Landing a VIP, celebrity, musician, athlete, or any person who is considered a big deal in your niche is a pretty big accomplishment. Clearly, this person saw some value in what you're doing and is willing to spend time with you on your show. Congratulate yourself, that's good stuff!Now...stop worrying about f*cking up the interview! I've seen this brought up in various podcast groups that I'm in. People don't want to screw things up with their big time guest, so they get nervous and begin to overly worry about it...not even realizing the hardest part (getting this person on the show in the first place) has already been handled!On Episode 82 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share some insight on how to handle interviewing a VIP on your podcast. People, no matter their station in life, want to be treated with respect...and like a normal person. In this episode, you'll learn some easy-to-implement strategies to help you make your VIP interview one for the ages.Who's the VIPiest person you've ever interviewed on your podcast? Drop me a line on Twitter and let me know.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Time management is one of the most important elements in your life and, if you're like most people, you have a hard time maximizing the minutes in your day. It's understandable. We live in a world filled with distractions and interruptions, all pulling us in different directions and taking our attention from our most important work.In order to truly master time, you must develop the discipline to block out distractions, nip interruptions in the bud, and make certain points of your day unbreakable appointments with yourself. This will ensure 100% of your focus stays where it needs to be and, ultimately, helps you achieve the best results.This is very important in podcasting. You must spend a certain amount of time on your show to ensure all your productions succeed. And in Episode 81 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share some tips and strategies to help you stay focused on preparation, production, and more. I'll also give you my candid thoughts on multi-tasking.....What are YOUR thoughts on multi-tasking? Find me on Twitter and let me know.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

When you're laying out the initial plans for your podcast, one of the big components you need to decide on is the format and approximate length of your episodes. You don't want to be all over the map with your format and absolutely do not want to produce episodes that are five minutes in length one week, then an hour the next, then 10 minutes the week after that, and so on.Depending on how you want to present your content, you may decide that a short-form podcast that is delivered in more frequent doses will serve you and your results in a more productive way. The important thing to do is commit to a certain content presentation and stick to it consistently with each episode you produce.In Episode 80 of Pod Theory, I'm going to rap about shorter, more frequently published podcast content and help you determine if it's the best course of action for you. Whether you're just starting your podcast or you have episodes released, this information will help you make the best decision for the long-term planning of your show.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Repurposing podcast content is a great way to work smarter, not harder. You can use audio clips from your podcast to share across the web. You can make video of your podcast recordings and use those on YouTube. OR you can reshoot your podcast content as a full-fledged video from scratch. Your research notes, bullet points, and scripts can be repurposed for blog posts, show notes, email newsletters, webinars, and training materials. But...does it work in reverse? Should you use audio from video recordings or webinars or live training as a podcast episode? In Episode 79 of Pod Theory, I'm going to answer those questions as I explore repurposing content recorded for other purposes as podcast content. There's a right way to do this. And a wrong way. Push that play button to learn both.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Reviews help you gain credibility for your podcast. The positive ones reinforce that you are an authority on your subject matter and give new listeners some insight on what they'll gain by listening to your podcast. And the negative reviews, while not always popular, can help you look at your podcast from a different perspective and make adjustments to your approach if necessary.Additionally, the more reviews you can get, the more algorithms will recognize your show as valuable to the podcast listening community and, thusly, your show will rank better when listeners look for shows in your niche.So, how do you get more reviews for your podcast? In Episode 78 of Pod Theory, I'm going to share five tips you can implement to bring more positive focus to your show by way of ratings and reviews from your audience.What have you done to successfully gain more reviews for your podcast? Hit me up on Twitter and let me know your process!Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com

Spam sucks. It sucks when you get it and it sucks worse when you're supplying it to your community and you don't even know it. If you are constantly in a habit of selling yourself, your brand, and/or your podcast to people while never providing value, guidance, and advice to those you're communicating with, you, my friend, are spamming.In Episode 77 of Pod Theory, I'm going to tell you why you should never spam your podcast community and what you should be doing instead to establish yourself as an authority, as a resource, and to get your fellow community members seeking more from you. In addition, I'll explain why you should NEVER add someone's email address to your list without their permission. If someone starts receiving email from you and they never asked for it, that's spam, too.Buzzsprout: Podcasting's #1 Hosting SiteClick Here to Sign Up For Buzzsprout and Receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!Looking to start a podcast or improve your existing show?Download My FREE Podcast Primer Today!Connect with The Host - Jason CerconeWebsite  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  PinterestIn need of deeper podcast counsel? I can help with that!Click here to discover my podcasting servicesMUSIC CREDIT: Theme music for Pod Theory - Big Vision - via purple-planet.com