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What podcast equipment do you need to buy? This one big question can lead to a lot of confusion if you don’t have a clear plan. .  Everyone has an opinion on what you should buy, even if they are not an expert. This can make it challenging to discern who to trust. And knowing who to trust is key because good podcasting equipment can determine the quality of your audio and save you time during the editing and producing process.  So, let’s break down this big question into three specific questions...

Designing cover art can be both exciting and challenging. You never really know if it’s “right” until you release it into the wild and even then you don’t always get helpful feedback. So, where do you even begin? In this episode, I will be sharing several tips to help you start the design process of your cover art.

Think of cover art like a book cover. If you don’t like the cover of a book, it is less likely that you will pick it up off of the shelf. Your cover art is often the first thing people see before checking out your podcast, so make it count. To help you narrow down your options, here are five popular podcast cover art styles that you may want to choose from...

Podcasting is a surprisingly visual medium and one huge component of this is your cover art. It’s like the book cover of your show, and it’s one of the first things people will see before listening. Before you start designing or hire someone to design it for you, consider the following 6 questions...

Music can really make or break your show. It not only sets the tone for your show, but it also helps make your show sound professional. So, where do you begin? Consider these 3 tips.

Music plays an important role in shaping the mood and tone of your podcast. It can completely enhance a scene, underscore a point you’re trying to drive home, and influence emotions.

Choosing music for your show is exciting but can be confusing. Before you start even considering any music, ensure that you have rights or permissions to use it. If you do not follow this advice, you could end up in trouble. With that disclaimer out of the way, how do you choose the right music for your podcast? These 5 questions will help.

Your podcast description matters. It shows up on every major platform such as Apple and Spotify. It is generally the thing that people read to decide whether they even want to listen to your show. So, how do you write a stellar podcast description that entices a new audience to listen? Tips on how to execute this on today’s episode.

Naming stuff is hard. And naming a podcast is no exception. Your podcast’s name should communicate the goal of your show clearly and pique your audience’s interest. “But how do I fit all that into a show title?!” you might be wondering. Don’t worry. Today, we will be going over the proven processes and principles that Come Alive Creative leverages to name engaging shows.

Choosing a podcast name can feel like a big deal. You’ve taken the time to develop your show topic, and you can’t really move forward with production until you have chosen the right name for your podcast. How do you choose a name that highlights what your show is about while still intriguing people? In this episode, I will be sharing some tips and guidelines to keep in mind when deciding. First, you’ll want to ensure that your show title is clear, concise, unique, specific, and evocative. Next, I will explain the importance of being representative, searchable, and unique. Most importantly, remember you’re writing for other humans. Search engine optimization and algorithms matter but not as much as the actual humans who will be listening to your podcast.

What do tone, style, and format have to do with your podcast? The answer will probably surprise you.  Being consistent is one of the most popular pieces of advice that you receive as a podcaster. But most people mistakenly assume that this wisdom only applies to your release schedule. Consistency in tone, style, and format are also central to building trust and loyalty. In this episode, you will discover clear action steps for deciding what your host will sound like and the “vibe” of your show. You will learn the three main show styles that exist and how to format your show to align with your goals.  When you provide consistency in your tone, style, and format, listeners learn what to expect and look forward to each new episode you create.

You’ve got to take time to build a brand for your podcast if you want to build a loyal audience. In order to figure out how to brand your show, you’ve got to think about it in a broader context. Is your podcast going to be a resource that stands alone or is it part of a larger effort, such as your business’s marketing campaign? If your podcast is standing alone, you have as much freedom as you need. If it’s part of something bigger, you’ll likely want to follow existing branding guidelines and decisions so it functions within the same world.  If you’re creating a podcast as part of a business, several brand guidelines that you might want to consider are the vision or mission, the values, the tone of voice, or the color scheme. In this episode, I will be sharing what you can do to solidify your brand strategy if you’re still feeling unsure after these initial guidelines have been met.

With the podcast industry constantly growing and new shows coming out daily, how do you make your show stand out from the crowd? Marketing ShowRunners refers to it as “developing your original premise” and Pacific Content calls it “creative bravery.” We refer to it as making the podcast uniquely yours. In this episode, I will be sharing steps you can take to ensure your podcast attracts attention. Why should someone listen to your show and not one of the other podcasts on the market? This really comes down to the type of content you are creating and how much of it you are giving to the audience. Listen in as I go over transactional versus transformational content, and which of these two will make a real difference in helping your podcast stand out.

Categories and sub-categories are used by directories such as Apple Podcasts to organize shows by topics in order to help your show get discovered by new listeners. In this episode, I will be discussing four tips for choosing which category to put your podcast into. With all of the different categories, you can list your podcast in, it may feel as though you have an overwhelming amount of choices. Remember that the primary category matters the most and that it is important to choose a subcategory when possible. From there, choose the least crowded category that is suitable for your podcast and you will be well on your way to a successful category choice.

One of the most challenging parts of figuring out how to be a successful podcast host is finding podcasting ideas that are interesting to not only you but your target audience as well. First of all, understand that choosing a podcast topic that you are passionate about is the key to creating an interesting podcast. However, that is not all you need to consider. In this episode, I will share five techniques that my team recommends to make your life a little easier. Think about your interests, hobbies, or areas of expertise, and then conduct research on websites such as Reddit or Quora. There are other options such as reading book reviews on Amazon or joining social media groups. If you follow these guidelines, you will have a topic picked out for your podcast in no time.

You’ve made the exciting decision to create a podcast. Congratulations! But now you’re faced with one, somewhat intimidating question: What are you going to talk about? In this episode, I will discuss five tools that can make your life easier when it comes to choosing your show’s topics. When you’re feeling stuck, you can rely on tools such as Google search suggestions or Google trend comparisons. However, there are several other options you can use to help power your brainstorming sessions. Listen in as I share how to narrow down your ideas and make strategic content decisions for your podcast.

You have decided to create a podcast and you have a pretty good idea of what you want your topic to be. However, before finalizing your decision, there are a few things you should consider. So, in this episode, I will be sharing my advice for brainstorming topic ideas so that you can create your podcast without any regrets. Pursue what you enjoy and what will benefit your audience - find something that will interest you both. Talk to people who you think are your target audience and find out if they are interested in what you want your podcast to be about. Trust your gut and refine as you go. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be starting your show off on a great foundation.

Are you unsure about what your podcast topic should be? Maybe you are wondering what your episodes should be about to engage the audience? You are not alone. So, in this episode, I’ll share 8 questions to consider before deciding.  These are several questions I encourage our own clients and students to consider before deciding on the topic of their podcast. They will help you get clear on the journey you want to go on with your podcast as well as the value you will be adding to your listeners’ lives. Ready to nail down a topic for your show? Let’s get started.

What you make your podcast about is obviously very important. This decision will help you map out many other variables such as who this podcast will be for and why we’re creating it in the first place. However, there are millions of options out there to choose from. So, how do you narrow it down? In this episode, I will be sharing my advice for deciding on your podcast’s topic. You really have two ways to think about podcast topics: the content you cover and the format in which you deliver it. Once you have determined the topic, person and theme as well as how you will organize your show, you will have a solid foundation to base your podcast topic on.

Podcasting has proven to be a lot more work than you expected and you’re interested in hiring some help. So, what will this end up costing you if you’re looking at hiring an editor or a production team? In this episode, I’ll break down the three options you will come across and explain the prices you should expect for each. Listen in as I describe the service you will get if you’re willing to pay $15,000 for an episode, as well as what you may have to pay if you’re simply looking for a consultation or the editing of an episode. If you want to see a detailed version of this, you can find an in-depth description on our blog titled How Much Should It Cost to Produce a Podcast.