Podcasting Step By Step

How often do you listen to podcasts? Are you what Edison Research calls a ‘super listener?’ That is someone who listens to five or more hours of podcasts every week.    I definitely fall into that category. I listen to podcasts when I’m falling asleep, when I wake up, when I’m cooking, and almost always when I’m walking out the door. Are you the same way?   Is this healthy? The perfect way to always be learning? Or are we overdoing it, leaving no empty space for our minds to rest?   Something happened this summer that made me question my habits and how I interact with and experience the world. I recorded an audio diary about it, which I’ll share with you here.   But spoiler: We need to be more present in this world. More attuned to nature and each other, and that means sometimes we have to take off our headphones. *** You're invited to join the Podcasting Step by Step Facebook Group!   Also, visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast.   Ready to start your own show? Download my free gui

’Tis the season for gift ideas for podcasters. You’ll see lots of suggestions for mics and mixers, and while these are fun — who doesn’t love unwrapping something new and shiny during the holidays — I want to give you something even more valuable.     In a special episode of Podcasting Step by Step, I asked some of my favorite podcasters to share an audio gift with you: Their best podcasting advice.   I asked them to answer this question: “What do you wish someone would have told you when you first started out? What have you learned that’s made all the difference?”    Whether you’ve been podcasting for years, or haven’t launched yet, I know you will hear something in this episode that can improve your show and increase your love for podcasting.  From marketing to mindset, we’ve packed a lot in here.   Huge thanks to the podcasters who shared such brilliant words of wisdom in this episode. I subscribe to, and recommend, all of their shows, and encourage you to check them out. Links to their shows can be found

In case you haven’t heard, telling listeners to rate and review your podcast won’t help new people discover your show. And now get ready for some more podcast myth-busting with Rob Walch, Vice President of Podcaster Relations at Libsyn.   Rob joins me on Podcasting Step by Step to answer burning questions, including:  How many episodes should I launch with?  How long should my episodes be? How do I get into New and Noteworthy?  and so much more!   Fun fact: Rob hosted the first podcast about podcasting (Podcast411) and has been podcasting for 15 years.   If you haven’t launched your show yet and are looking for a podcast media host, I recommend Rob’s company, Libsyn. If you’d like to get the rest of this month free AND next month free, you can use my promo code POSTCARD when you sign up.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

“If you found value in this episode, please leave a rating and review in Apple Podcasts, it helps people discover the show.”   You hear that call to action at the end of so many podcasts, but do ratings and reviews really help people discover our show? On Podcasting Step by Step, I dig into the truth behind podcast ratings and reviews.    But first, if you haven’t launched your show yet and are looking for a podcast media host, I recommend Libsyn. That’s where I host this show, and they’re offering my listeners a special deal. If you’d like to get the rest of this month free AND next month free, use my promo code POSTCARD when you sign up with Libsyn.    if you’ve been getting a lot of value out of this podcast, and have listened to more than three episodes, please leave me a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. :DIf 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

You might be wondering, “Is anyone listening to podcasts over Christmas? Will my show suffer if I don’t put out an episode on Thanksgiving?”   Yes, people are still listening to podcasts during the holidays. And because so many podcasters do take holiday breaks, if you publish an episode, it will have more space to shine.    But your show won’t suffer if you take a week off, and this might actually be a good idea.   To minimize stress, make a plan now about how you want to tackle podcasting during the holidays. In this episode, I give you five options to consider. (sarahmikutel.com for show notes).    *** You're invited to join the Podcasting Step by Step Facebook Group!   Also, visit sarahmikutel.com for more resources on how to podcast, including 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. I

*** Podcast Launch Academy is open for enrollment for a limited time *** If you’ve been wanting to start a podcast for awhile and are sick of struggling to figure it out on your own…   I invite you to join Podcast Launch Academy.    This online course will help you confidently launch your first podcast without the tech headache, overwhelm, or ‘where do I even start’ worries.   But it’s not just an online course. Podcast Launch Academy is an experience.    Because if you join this first class — which will close its doors at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 26, you’ll also get 2 months of free group coaching and mentorship from me.    Every week for seven weeks, you’ll get a new online session with video tutorials and action items that build upon each other. You’ll do your online work, and then later in the week, as a group, we’ll meet in our virtual classroom for coaching, Q&A, and workshops. And if you can’t make a live session, you can catch the recording.    By the end of Podcast Launch Academy, you’ll have 

You are cordially invited to a free, live podcast masterclass that I’m hosting next week

Last night I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Speak Up Storytelling, hosted by Matthew Dicks, who you heard on the How to Tell Better Stories on Your Podcast episode of this show, and he revealed a very hilarious secret. Hilarious now, but the story he told was something that he buried for a really long time (it involves an orange thong, awkward dancing, and McDonalds).   Matthew has won many many storytelling championships, authored several books, including Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling. And he’s got a new novel out: Twenty-one Truths About Love.   I asked Matthew if I could share his secret story with you and he said yes. I’m sharing it not only because listening to him is always a masterclass in great storytelling, but because I also want you to hear his commentary on how doing this thing that scared him set him free, he offers some really powerful realizations and takeaways.    We don’t have to reveal our deepest secrets or great

I'll jump right to the good stuff: This week I'm running a special giveaway. The prize? One lucky entrant will win access to Podcast Launch Academy, which will open its doors later in November. If you’ve been wanting to start a podcast for awhile, but fear of getting it wrong is keeping you silent, you are not going to want to miss this.    Enter to win a spot in Podcast Launch Academy.   This online course is the roadmap you’ve been waiting for to walk you through the exact steps you need to plan, launch, and grow a podcast that builds your brand and influence, connects you to your community, and shares your message with the world.    Now, I could have offered you a more generic prize, like an Amazon gift card, but anyone can offer you that. I know how important podcasting is to you, and I want my prize to be really beneficial to you. That’s what makes a great giveaway: Offering something really special that’s ideal for your ideal listener.    On this episode of Podcasting Step by Step, I’ll talk

Turning your podcast into a book is one way to monetize your show while growing your influence, so why not plan for that from the beginning? On Podcasting Step by Step, I share how you can map out an entire year’s worth of podcast content in an hour, which can then be repurposed into blogs, social media posts, books, and more. Visit sarahmikutel.com for show notes.   *** You're invited to join the Podcasting Step by Step Facebook Group!   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 deepe

When I hear people ask podcasters what their proudest, most satisfying achievement has been in podcasting, they never say ‘money,’ or ‘popularity,’ or ‘I get to be the boss.’ They tell stories of listeners writing in to them thanking them for saving their lives. For helping them to feel less alone. For motivating them to try something new or to get out of a bad situation.    People today feel more alone than ever. In fact, Yale Professor Laurie Santos, and host of the Happiness Lab podcast, says feelings of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s and that 60 percent of college students in the U.S. say they feel very lonely most of the time. The negative health consequences of this are equal to smoking 15 cigarettes a day!    People are desperate for to feel part of something, and I believe that’s why they are flocking to podcasts.    This year, 32 percent of Americans say they listen to podcasts monthly, up from 26 percent in 2018, the largest year-on-year jump since Edison Research started tracking this data

Don’t have a massive following on social media? No worries! Who needs a million followers anyway? Right now, sponsors are loving micro-influencers, people with smaller but loyal followings. This is, of course, fantastic news for podcasters.    On episode 31 of Podcasting Step by Step, I talk to Andrea Jones, founder of the Savvy Social School and the Savvy Social podcast, about how we, as podcasters, can grow our influence — and our podcast audience — via social media in only an hour a week.   Head to sarahmikutel.com for full show notes and to download your 6-Step Strategy for Social Media Growth.    You’re also cordially invited to join the Podcasting Step by Step community :D  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 sarahfm

You’re invited to join the Podcasting Step by Step community on Facebook.    What’s that? You have a love hate relationship with social media? Join the club. A lot of podcasters wonder if it’s worth spending time on social media to market their podcasts.    For a long time I felt completely burned out by the screaming and negativity found on some of the platforms. But social media does have some tremendous benefits, including the ability to attract a global audience. But we have to avoid some common mistakes.    On episode 30 of Podcasting Step by Step, I talk about four of the biggest mistakes podcasters make when it comes to social media.   Even though social has its problems, right now I’m loving Facebook Groups. I’m loving the conversations that are happening there. The connection. The learning. That is social media at it’s best, which is why I’ve just created the Podcasting Step by Step Facebook Group.   I love receiving email from listeners, and everyone I hear from is so lovely and curious and interest

People pleasers, raise your hands! Do you feel guilty speaking up or saying no to people? Like when a fan writes to you asking to be a guest on your podcast but you don’t think it’s a good fit and then you start stressing and asking your friends ‘what should you do’ and before you know it an hour has gone by and why did you check your email instead of recording your show?    On this episode of Podcasting Step by Step, I share actionable steps to help you let go of the stress, take control, and become the leader your show needs you to be.    Visit sarahmikutel.com for more articles 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

As podcasters, we want to do what we can to help people discover and listen to our show. This means being in all the podcast directories, like Apple Podcasts, but should we be on YouTube, as well? On Podcasting Step by Step, I dig into why this can hurt us if we do it the wrong way, and how to use YouTube right.   Visit sarahmikutel.com for more articles 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 ano

Just Breathe! That’s actually the name of the talk today’s guest gave at Podcast Movement in 2019. One of the biggest mistakes new podcasters make is over-editing -- taking out every um and deleting all the breaths.    Carrie Caulfield Arick, owner of Ya-Ya Podcasting editing services; founder of the Just Busters Facebook Group for female podcast editors; and host of the podcast Just Podcasting wants us to take a deep breath and relax.   In this episode, we discuss some common audio problems and how to prevent and fix them. We’ll also share some tips and tricks to make your podcast editing go faster.     Visit sarahmikutel.com for more articles 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

One of the biggest peeves listeners have is when podcast host/s waffle on for too long before getting to the point of the episode. Your audience wants to know where you’re taking them, or they’re going to bail. In fact, the average podcast loses about a third of its audience in the first five minutes, according to NPR One. So how can you create an above average podcast?   In this episode, I’ll talk about how to keep your podcast audience listening by hooking them with a great intro.    Key takeaways: Hook your audience from the beginning. Let them know what they’ll get out of spending the next 30 or 60 or however many minutes with you.  Teasers, stories, and questions are great ways to hook your audience.  In addition to your hook, your intro should include your name and the name of your show.  Music is a nice way to brand your show and get your listeners in the right mood to hear your message.  Speak to one person. Use the word ‘you’ instead of ‘all of you.’  Consider including a call to action in your int

What should you name your podcast? This is an important question. You’re pouring your heart and soul into this show and can literally name it anything you want (as long as it’s not trademarked). So how do you choose a good name for your podcast, also known as a podcast title?    Well, if you want to help listeners discover your show, follow the tips I share in today’s episode of Podcasting Step by Step.    Snapshot of this episode  Keep your podcast name short and sweet and choose clarity over cleverness (but do both if you can). Don’t keyword stuff your title, and stay away from numbers. Make sure no one else is using your podcast title.    Visit sarahmikutel.com for more articles 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

When you’re new to podcasting, everything can seem like a challenge. Choosing the right equipment; learning to edit audio; coming up with great content. But one of the biggest challenges — maybe the BIGGEST thing holding back people from podcasting — is imposter syndrome. Those feelings that we’re unworthy. That we don’t know enough or aren’t good enough.     “Who am I to start a podcast? What if no one listens? What if people hate my show?”    These are totally natural feelings that most people suffer from. I put off podcasting for years because of those thoughts. But you can greatly minimize these negative feelings with a few simple actions to shift your mindset, and I dive into those in today’s episode.    Show notes and a cheat sheet of questions to keep you in a positive, motivated mindset.    Visit sarahmikutel.com for more articles 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

Have you ever traveled to a place that was absolutely phenomenal...the food tasted amazing, the architecture blew you away...you know your friends back home would love it.    But when you try to share your experience with them...it falls flat. They’re just not interested in your story, and, quite, frankly, neither are you. Your words aren’t matching up with what you want to convey.    The good thing is, storytelling is both an art and a science, and you can learn techniques to become a better storyteller. As podcasters, this is a craft that we should at least know about, even if we don’t plan on producing a storytelling or narrative show.    Since, it is summer in most of the world as I’m recording this, I thought this would be a great time to share an interview I did with Matthew Dicks on my travel show Postcard Academy.     Mathew is a five-time Moth GrandSLAM storytelling winner and the author of Storyworthy. On this episode, Matthew coaches us on the craft of storytelling, and at the end of the show, weav