Podcast Help Desk

Today I want to go back to the REAL basics of how podcasting works.   So, without going into a history lesson,  podcasting has worked the same way since it started  16 years ago.  (some say longer). 

Why would build your podcast on someone else's platform when you can build your own?

In 2020, the podcast industry added over 1 million shows.  Out of 1.7 million shows listed on Apple, 60% (ish) are inactive. 

Here is what I do. I do more show prep.  It seems I get more motivated to podcast if I do show prep on a show I'm about to record. 

There are lots of apps you can use to play podcasts.   As a podcaster I'm sure you are also a podcast listener.  Here is my top 6 (in reverse order of use).

RSS is what powers podcasting.  In fact, this is why podcasting even exists. The enclosure tag in RSS2 allows you to “attach” a media file. Mainly an MP3 but you can also attach just about any media like a video file, a PDF or ebook file.

Podcast Index: "Lets preserve podcasting as a platform for free speech!"

I failed miserably at completing the NaPodPoMo 30 episodes in 30 days this year.  OH well,  Such is life getting in the way.  The Good News and part of the "big" announcement I teased is this show is going 2 times weekly starting on Dec. 16, 2020.  

I'm not only a podcaster, but an avid podcast listener.  I have something like 30 shows that I subscribe to plus I listen to a lot of one-off shows that I don't subscribe to.   Here is my top 8 (as of late November 2020) Also, not in Rank order.

Keeping it simple makes it easy for you to produce your podcast and not worry about waisting a lot of time if you don't have a lot of time.  

YES, I really did just say don't look at your stats for 3 months! THIS MEANS YOU!

So, who exactly is your show for?    - When you try to make a podcast for EVERYONE, you really are making a show for NOBODY.  

There are many things about a podcast that a podcaster needs to know even if you don't do everything for your show.  A lot of indie podcasters do everything.  Prep, Talent, Recording, Editing, Producing, Publishing, Booking guests and ALL of it.

As a Podcaster, your RSS Feed is your connection to the world for your podcast.  The transmitter for your "Radio Station".  Your RSS feed address is just like a "Frequency" Like "101.9 FM".  

Do you use ID3 tags? If not, no worries. It's only used in very unique circumstances.

There are reasons you might want to number your episodes in the title of your post. Also, there are reasons you might not want to.

We talked yesterday about why you need a website.  Here are my top 6 web hosting platforms and why (Plus a few I don't recommend). 

Do you need a website for your podcast?  YES! Here are my 5 reasons.

Do you do advertising in your show?  Do you WANT to do advertising in your show? 

I don't care how you listen to Podcast Help Desk.  I just want you to listen. 

How long should your Podcast Episode be? Only as long as it needs to be to get what you want to say, said. Period.

Do you need good shownotes? Yes, you should put SOMETHING for the search engines to find.

Today I talk about keeping your podcast simple.  Simple to use, simple to subscribe, simple to produce, simple to post and keeping the website easy to manage.  Complicated always turns out to be harder than simple. 

I go into the history of Podcast Help Desk and why I am doing #NaPodPoMo in 2020. - This podcast is posted on PodcastHelpDesk.com.  Go there and subscribe!

I I will be joining with a bunch of other podcasters this year doing National Podcast Post Month in November. That is 30 episodes in 30 days for the entire month of November. - This will be the 4th or 5th time trying it for me.

Free Speech,Spotify, Podcast Index, REAL podcast apps and more on today's show!

I'm doing an experiment for Show Notes. This text is typed in the Description tag.

Just a quick note to let you know I will no longer be on Spotify with this show. IF you are listening there, please go to podcasthelpdesk.com and resubscribe using another platform by September 7th, 2020. - Thank You! -  

I took my portable setup on a walk in the woods in a industrial park. I talked about RSS, big shows vs. Indie shows, Joe Rogan's deal with Spotify and a bunch more. - Recorded using a dynamic clip on microphone from Shure.

The results are in!  Thank you for those that reported what you saw in your app of choice. - I put different images in different places. I put a Green logo image in the ID3 tags (embedded in the mp3 file),

In today's episode I am testing what episode artwork shows up in which apps and directories again.   Things are changing and I want to see what apps show which artowrk. -   - I have an RSS image for this episode with blue type,

In today's episode I am testing what episode artwork shows up in which apps and directories again.   Things are changing and I want to see what apps show which artowrk. -   - I have an RSS image for this episode with blue type,

I am going to leave PodcastHelpDesk active.  Just going on 'indefinite Hiatus"  or "once in a while" mode.    So no expectations of an episode every week or even every month, but I will put stuff in this feed once in a while.    Stay subscribed! -

Looking for some help here.  What do you think I should do with this podcast?   I am not consistent (as you can tell) and I want to pair down the number of shows I feel obligated to do. - Should I leave it online and just let it podfade and exist?

What is going to happen to podcasting in 2020? Who knows, but i make some predictions and ramble about podcast topics at random in this informal Podcast Help Desk episode. - Catch me on Evo's Podcast Pontifications as the Guest-host. -

Typed into the 'iTunes' Subtitle box

Every part of my studio, other than the mic boom and cable is new.  The Rodecaster Pro has replaced a whole rack of stuff.  I gush about how much Love this thing.  It may not be perfect but man-o-man does it make things a bunch easier for most average ...

A quick update of what is going on with Podcast Help Desk and Blubrry. Will be at Podcast Movement with "Podcast Help Desk" office hours.  Stop by the booth if you need some help with your show's tech.

Today I go through what I'm using currently for podcast production.   Here is the list: - Mackie 1202VLZ4 Mixer Behringer Composter PRO XL 2 channel Compressor, Limiter, Gate Denon DN-300R Rack Mount Digital Recorder Heil PL-2T Boom

The single best way to make sure your Title is what you want it to be EVERYWHERE is to use it as the blog title (assuming you are using WordPress to publish your podcast) or the TITLE box in whatever podcast service you are using.

This is Wednesday's episode of my Alexa News Breif Podcast Help Desk news. - In addition to killing off "iTunes" on the Mac Desktop, Apple is also changing up the categories.  (Later this summer) - Also adding some search and photo settings. -

One of the questions I get a lot is how to change your podcast's title. - In this short episode, I explain how to do it and why you might want to.  Also some of the things that won't change because you change your title. -

For those that do not know me, I’ve been podcasting since 2005 and made every single mistake in the book. I’ve also worked in support for a podcast company for 10 years (as of next month).  I think I might know what I’m talking about,

Apple seems to have backed down on Episode Numbers in Episode Titles.  Here is a partial quote from the email they sent out... We’ve received a lot of questions about metadata best practices on Apple Podcasts.

Apple sent a letter to podcasters today (It was a bulk email NOT just to you). The big takeaway is that you need to remove episode numbers from your titles. I have a way of doing that and keeping them in your blog titles (as you can see above) and Keep...

Is all Podcast advice applicable to your goals in podcasting?  Be careful about who you are getting your advice from. Do they have an agenda? (most do) Do they match YOUR goals in podcasting?    Not everyone wants advertisers.

Paul Colligan is a Podcast Pioneer, Marketing guy, Podcaster, Author and Speaker who was around in the early days of Podcasting. Paul sat down with me and we talked about, you guessed it, Podcasting (duh!). Paul's Links: PaulColligan.com

What does this accusition mean to the average independent Podcaster? Not much is my guess. - This is just me doing a bit of a brain-dump about the big news of yesterday. Is it good for Podcasting in General? Is it Good/Bad for Indy podcasters?

Elise Escobar stopped by the Podcast Help Desk a while back and we had a great conversation about podcasting (what else?) and what she is doing in podcasting. - Elsie is a Hall of Famer, Podcaster and Social Media at Libsyn - The Feed and She Podcasts...

My Alexa Skill (in the news brief area) is now 3 days a week.  Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Other days when there is breaking news. - Please enable the "Podcast Help Desk News" skill in your Alexa App. -