Podcasting Step By Step

You’ve heard me ask: ‘What do you stand for? And what is the conversation you want to have with the world?’    On today’s episode, we’re talking about how this conversation can change and evolve.    Joining me again is Alexis Teichmiller, Affiliate Manager at ConvertKit and host of the Deeper Life, a podcast about vulnerability, connecting with others, and showing up unapologetically in the world.   I love featuring podcasters focusing on the deeper aspects of life and that is Alexis in a very literal sense.    We discuss vulnerability, forgiveness, getting in alignment with our values, working with our feelings instead of against them, how to increase our self-awareness, and more.   It’s so easy to get stuck in a routine and lose track of what we believe in, and to not give ourselves space to reflect on whether our beliefs still ring true.   Consider this episode your opportunity to reflect on what matters to you, and whether you are becoming the person you want to be. *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and fou

Let’s talk about money. Specifically, making money with your podcast.   In previous episodes of Podcasting Step by Step, I’ve talked about how the traditional podcast sponsorship model — where you get paid per 1,000 downloads per episode — is a pretty bad deal for most podcasters. You’re much better off negotiating your own sponsorship with a brand that’s perfect for your audience.   Or, you can try becoming an affiliate for the products and services that you love. As an affiliate, you’re sort of an advertiser / brand ambassador.    Alexis Teichmiller, the Affiliate Manager at ConvertKit, joins me on Podcasting Step by Step to talk about how podcasters like you can get started with affiliate marketing.   We answer your burning question, including: What is affiliate marketing and how does it work? Where do you find products that have affiliate programs? What are the top mistakes affiliate marketers make? What strategies are the most successful affiliates using? And more.   If Podcasting Step by Step has hel

We’re living through a global pandemic. It's okay to have down days and to be upset about the way things are. None of us want to be locked up in our house or to lose our job.   But if we wallow in that negativity for too long, that doesn't mean we're going to get extra days in our life, right? We're not going to get bonus months at the end of our life because we survived lock down.    Author Ryan Holiday has a podcast called the Daily Stoic. Lately, he’s been talking about Alive Time versus Dead Time, something writer Robert Greene told him about.    According to him, we can spend our time in one of two ways, passively (Dead Time), where we’re just zoning out and letting life happen to us, and actively (Alive Time), where we’re learning, trying new things, and consciously choosing how to spend our time.   As the Stoics taught us, we can't control what's going on in the world, but we can control how we react to it. You’ll never get today again -- will you make it matter? *** Hello

Do you often feel like you never have enough time to do what you want, including podcasting? It’s the worst!   You’re spending hours at your computer and yet nothing is getting done. What is going wrong? And where did the day go?   Imagine how great it would feel if you had all the time you needed to podcast. My guest today says it’s possible because time is more abundant than you think. We can actually stretch it.    Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, I Know How She Does It, and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.    She also speaks at conferences, including at TED; writes for publications like the New York Times; hosts the podcasts Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office, and co-hosts the podcast Best of Both Worlds.   She has five kids and blogs almost every day at Laura Vanderkam.com.   So if Laura can find time to do all that plus hang out with friends and get eight hours of sleep, then there is hope fo

On the last episode, I spoke with Idelle Erickson, producer of the Girl Talk podcast for the Girl Scouts. We talked about the mission of the show and about the role of a podcast producer, and Idelle mentioned that she and her colleagues and guests usually record their episodes in person.   Today Idelle explains the set up she creates in her basement to capture studio-like sound for her podcast. This information is incredibly valuable because most people do not record good audio when they’re in the same room with someone. I hear a lot of audio bleed and reverb on shows I’ve edited, but never on Idelle’s.   Of course, recording in person might not always be possible. Your guest could be 1,000 miles away or maybe the entire globe is on lock down due to a pandemic. But one day, when you do record an episode in person, you will be happy to have this knowledge.    Idelle and I recorded this remotely using Squadcast, which is how I usually record my interviews. If you’d like to support this show, you can do so by te

Remember a few episodes ago when I was talking to podcast editing extraordinaire Steve Stewart? We chatted about how to create your podcast editing side hustle, and he talked about finding clients at conferences.   Well, today I’m speaking with a client of mine whom I met at Podcast Movement last year.   I’m speaking with Idelle Erickson, who works for the Girl Scouts and produces the Girl Talk podcast.   We talk about what a podcast producer does, and Idelle walks us through her process of creating a Girl Talk episode, plus shares how she engages Girl Talk listeners.    Idelle is so lovely and I’m happy to have her as a friend. I was actually crying before we recorded this episode because l can't stop thinking about all the children forced to be in lock down in abusive situations. I want to create a recovery program for abused kids that uses audio to help them feel comfortable speaking up and healing. Want to help me? Get in touch.    *** Hello. I’m Sarah, your host and founder of Podcast Launch Academ

Imagine a magical world in which you can promote your podcast and your business online, generate lots of traffic back to your website, and you don’t need to worry about how many followers you have.   Well good news! That world exists and it’s called Pinterest, where, unlike social media, you don’t need to get caught up in vanity metrics like how many people heart your post. As my guest today says, “The only thing from a data perspective that matters is how many people are clicking through to your website.”    Today I’m speaking with Cara Chace, founder of the membership site the Pin Power Method, which teaches people how to use Pinterest marketing for their online business.   Whether you have your own business yet or not, the same strategies Cara teaches in her membership, and with us here today, can be used to grow your podcast.   Pinterest is a powerful search engine and a fantastic tool to help your ideal listeners and customers discover you. Consider this episode your the Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for P

If you’re like me, you love listening to podcasts and taking notes on all the great ideas you want to try, but many of us don’t make the time to take creative action on what we learn. We just keep consuming.    Well now, thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus, we are on lock down and podcast consumption is down 20%. You might be listening to an hour or two less a day of podcasts. Use that time to do something that will benefit your show.   Ready to launch your podcast? Visit sarahmikutel.com/course to learn how to build your brand and business, connect to your community, and grow your influence through the magic of podcasting.  If you’re a podcaster, one of the most important things you need is a podcast media host.I use and recommend Buzzsprout. Excellent customer service and so easy to use.And, you can try them for free for 90 days. If you like them and sign up for a paid plan, you’ll get a $20 Amazon gift card if you join using my partner link sarahfmikutel.com/Buzzsprout Who doesn’t love a little reward? Enjo

If you want to become a next-level podcaster, the kind of host whom people write to and say — “I just binged all of your episodes, I can’t wait for more” — you have to know what you stand for and who you are.    Seriously, how much space do you give yourself to figure out what motivates you and what your strengths are? How often do you reflect on how you move through the world and how others see you?   One way to get clarity on this is through Myers Briggs, an assessment that helps us better understand ourselves, and also the personalities of others.    Myers Briggs expert and MBTI® Certified Practitioner Caitlin Hawekotte joined me on Podcasting Step by Step to teach my listeners about the 16 personality types and preferences.   If you’re a podcaster, one of the most important things you need is a podcast media host.I use and recommend Buzzsprout. Excellent customer service and so easy to use.And, you can try them for free for 90 days. If you like them and sign up for a paid plan, you’ll get a $20 Amazon gi

We are human. We’re emotional beings, and sometimes we get swept up in the heat of the moment and our words don’t always line up with our intentions.   Before we podcast about it or tweet about it or email our list, pouring out our emotions. Pause. Write it out for yourself. Then reflect. Is this how you want people to see you? Is this reflective of your brand? Of your show’s goal? Of how you want to serve your audience?    How is your audience feeling right now, and how do you want them to feel after they listen to your show? How do you want them to feel when they think about you 10 years from now?   These feelings are your legacy. They are your brand.  If you’re a podcaster, one of the most important things you need is a podcast media host.I use and recommend Buzzsprout. Excellent customer service and so easy to use.And, you can try them for free for 90 days. If you like them and sign up for a paid plan, you’ll get a $20 Amazon gift card if you join using my partner link sarahfmikutel.com/Buzzsprout Who doe

Steve Stewart started listening to podcasts while driving around for his job as an internal auditor for the fast food chains Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. More than a salvation from boredom, Steve loved that he could learn from podcasts while he was at the wheel. Eventually he started his own show: Money Plan SOS and became known as THE podcast guy at FinCon, a conference “helping financial influencers and brands create better content, reach their audience, and make more money.” Soon, people from this conference started asking Steve for help with podcast editing, thus launching a podcast editing career Steve  fell in love with. In this episode, Steve talks about how he nurtured his podcast niche to build the podcast editing career of his dreams. If you’re a podcaster, one of the most important things you need is a podcast media host.I use and recommend Buzzsprout. Excellent customer service and so easy to use.And, you can try them for free for 90 days. If you like them and sign up for a paid plan, you’ll get a $20

The first time I attended a podcast conference, I left feeling kind of ‘meh. Don’t think I need to do this again.’    I realized later that I didn’t really think about what I wanted to get out of the podcast conference before I went. I knew I wanted to attend sessions and meet fellow podcasters, but I didn’t have a plan (I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of gal).    So...I asked my friend Steve Stewart, podcast editor extraordinaire and conference lover, to come on Podcasting Step by Step to discuss how we can get our money’s worth out of conferences, and not leave feeling like we’ve wasted our time.    Steve is hosting the first Podcast Editors Conference March 6! *** Ready to start your own show? Download my free guide: “8 Mistakes New Podcasters Make and How to Fix Them.”    Looking for a podcast media host? Use my Libsyn affiliate code POSTCARD to get the rest of this month for free and next month free.    I’m your podcast launch consultant, Sarah Mikutel. If you’d like to learn more about me, you

Special request: The podcast media host Blubrry is looking for nominees for Favorite Woman Podcaster.   I would love to spread the word about Podcasting Step by Step so I can help more people podcast.    If you feel I’ve helped you and I’m one of your favorite podcasters, I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, if you’d nominate me, Sarah Mikutel. Nominations close March 7, so you might as well head over there now before you forget :)   Go here

As someone who has podcasted from hostels, hotels, and bare-bones medieval apartments, I’m proof that you can record a quality podcast from anywhere. Want to take your show on the road? On this episode of Podcasting Step by Step, I walk you though my 5-step plan for recording while traveling.   Visit sarahmikutel.com for show notes, including on-the-road podcast equipment recommendations.   *** Ready to start your own show? Download my free guide: “8 Mistakes New Podcasters Make and How to Fix Them.”    Looking for a podcast media host? Use my Libsyn affiliate code POSTCARD to get the rest of this month for free and next month free.    I’m your podcast launch consultant, Sarah Mikutel. If you’d like to learn more about me, you can check out my other podcast, Postcard Academy travel podcast. This travel podcast is for the ‘experiences not things’ kind of person who believes travel goes deeper than a fantastic meal (though that is pretty great). Every week, I interview people who packed up everything to start

Today, you’ll learn how to create ads that people actually want to listen to, and that will motivate your listeners to buy. Because if you want to keep that sponsor you landed, you have to be able to demonstrate that you’re converting for them.   In this episode, my friend Lisa Orkin of Lisa Orkin Creative breaks down her storytelling formula for audio ads. You’ll learn how to: craft ads that keep people hooked  talk about benefits sound engaging and not scripted   Through her company Radio Ranch, Lisa has produced thousands of podcast and radio ads. She is also a podcaster and her latest show is called Project Woo Woo, which you’ll hear about.    I love Lisa’s playfulness and positive vibe. You’re going to get a ton of value out of this episode. Now onto my conversation with Lisa.    *** Visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast.   Ready to start your own show? Download my free guide: “8 Mistakes New Podcasters Make and How to Fix Them.”    Looking for a podcast media host? Use my Libsyn

In March, I will be speaking at Podfest in Orlando, Florida,. I would love to see you there — and, you have the opportunity to attend the conference for free!! I’m giving away two tickets to Podcasting Step by Step listeners.   Enter to win by 4 p.m. (EST) Feb. 5, 2020   *** Visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast.   Ready to start your own show? Download my free guide: “8 Mistakes New Podcasters Make and How to Fix Them.”    Looking for a podcast media host? Use my Libsyn affiliate code POSTCARD to get the rest of this month for free and next month free.    I’m your podcast launch consultant, Sarah Mikutel. If you’d like to learn more about me, you can check out my other podcast, Postcard Academy travel podcast. This travel podcast is for the ‘experiences not things’ kind of person who believes travel goes deeper than a fantastic meal (though that is pretty great). Every week, I interview people who packed up everything to start a new adventure in another part of the world. You’ll learn

The most profitable way to make money through podcasting, for most people, is to promote your own products and services on your show, and what’s a better business than an online course?   I’m an online learning addict. I love taking courses online and even created my own: Podcast Launch Academy.    My guest today is going to teach you how you can start your own online course, which you can use to sponsor your podcast.   Natalie Sisson is the author of the bestselling book The Suitcase Entrepreneur and The Freedom Plan. She’s also founder of the live training program: Launch Your Damn Course Accelerator, which begins it’s next round Jan. 27, 2020.   I interviewed Natalie about online courses for the Postcard Academy podcast, but thought you’d get a ton of value from it, because, as I said, being your own podcast sponsor and promoting your own business is a lot more financially rewarding than having other companies sponsor you.   Another reason that I love online courses is that they’re the best way to support

We all want to make it as easy as possible for people to discover our podcasts. So how can we make sure the search engines find us? How can we “optimize our podcasts?”    My guest today says that when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), we should be less concerned about the robots and more focused on people.    I’m speaking with Daniel J. Lewis, host of the Audacity to Podcast, on how we can integrate SEO tactics into our content in a human-centric way to serve and grow our audiences.    If you’re unsure what SEO tactics are, no worries, we will break this down for you in today’s episode. But essentially, SEO when done right, increases your visibility and gets your content in front of the right people.    Daniel is founder of the online course SEO for Podcasters, as well as the online community Podcaster’s Society, which is open to all podcasters after they’ve published their first episode.   *** Visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast.   Ready to start your own show? Download m

Life is all fun and games when people are five-starring your podcast all over the place. But what happens when someone one-stars your show or leaves you a bad review in Apple Podcasts? Well, it feels bad, of course. But we can transform that negative energy from random haters into something that benefits us. Learn how in this episode (sarahmikutel.com for show notes) *** Also, visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast.   Ready to start your own show? Download my free guide: “8 Mistakes New Podcasters Make and How to Fix Them.”    Looking for a podcast media host? Use my Libsyn affiliate code POSTCARD to get the rest of this month for free and next month free.    I’m your podcast launch consultant, Sarah Mikutel. If you’d like to learn more about me, you can check out my other podcast, Postcard Academy travel podcast. This travel podcast is for the ‘experiences not things’ kind of person who believes travel goes deeper than a fantastic meal (though that is pretty great). Every week, I interv

Podcasting is a fantastic way to grow our brands and businesses, but you can podcast just for fun. In fact, no matter what the goal of your podcast is, podcasting shouldn’t feel like a burden, but it can if we fall out of alignment about our podcast’s purpose and start going through the motions of what we’re ‘supposed to do.’    My guest today has been podcasting as a form of self expression and discovery for years, and she shares experiences that can help us feel more comfortable exploring who we are and getting over the perfectionist roadblocks that hold us back.   Karly Nimmo has several successful podcasts under her belt, including Karlosophies. She’s a serial entrepreneur, a rebel, mad creator, connector and communicator who helps people stop playing the role of who they think they need to be, and express who they REALLY are to the world. And she does this through both podcast and life coaching, or guidance as she likes to say.   Karly recently ended one of her podcasts, Make Some Noise, after she felt l