If Your Podcast Is Important, Why Are You Wasting HOURS Trying to Podcast On The Cheap?
Is it REALLY Important???
This newsletter is inspired by my buddy Thomas who helps authors. I help podcasters, so it inspired me to. write this.
I see this every day on Facebook, Reddit, etc.
“I want to start a podcast but I don’t have any money, or I want to start a podcast. I need equipment. My budget is $27.13”
When I was growing up my sister needed braces. People could use her overbite to open beer bottles. We were not wealthy, but my parents found the money for braces (my Mom was the coupon queen). Why?
Because it was important.
I pay around $70 a month to have an $800 computer called “A phone” in my pocket at all times. Why?
Because it’s important.
I pay $80 a month for the Internet. Why?
Because it’s important.
We find the money for important things. I’m not talking about charging up your credit cards. As someone who has gone through bankruptcy, that is a REALLY bad idea. You can start a podcast using a $5/month plan on Libsyn (I work there).
If you can’t afford $5/month you don’t need a podcast, you need a job.
You can start a podcast for the price of an Xbox (and people seem to find the money for those, and Apple Vision Pro Goggles….
So people start a podcast on Spotify (the WORST free option for hosting - behind their walled garden), they try to record on their phone (set on speaker on the desk which sounds horrible) with no planning, and wonder “Why isn’t my show growing?”
If it’s important like you say it is, then use your two most prized resources. Your money and your time. If you have more of one than the other, start with that. For me, I got plenty of time (so I don’t outsource much).
We make sacrifices for TRULY important things. I recently bought new windows for my house. I took out a loan that added to my monthly expenses. Previously, I used to have Max, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and YouTube TV. I now just keep YouTube TV and one other streaming service. When I find myself bored looking for GOOD shows to watch I cancel and move to another. Why? Because new windows have saved me on my heating bills this winter. It was important (and they were from 1963).
There are plenty of ways to start free. Mailerlite for Email (or hello Substack if you’re not too salesly), Red Circle for Media Hosting, you can get by. The “fun” tools are often on the platforms you have to pay for. Also, you are taking a risk. Many free podcast hosts have gone out of business.
FREE MEDIA HOSTS THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS
Podshow/Mevio 8/2005 – 4/2014 (116 months – 38.8 million dollars spent)
Podango 9/2006 – 12/2008 (27 Months)
wildvoice.com 7/2006 – 7/2009 (36 months)
mypodcasts.com 2007 – 2011 (estimated 48 months)
Audiometric.io 11/ 2012 – 8/2014 (21 months before being purchased by panoply and taken off the market)
Opinion Podcasting 11/2015-10/2017 (23 months)
Zcat 1/2016 – 1/2019 (36 months)
Whooshkaa 6/2016-5/2021 (53 months)
Red Circle.com 4/2019 -
Libsyn Studio 2/2022 - 12/2023 (10 months)
So while some have survived, most have not. The issue with free hosting is their business plan. They will pay for the hosting with ad revenue. When the podcaster gets enough downloads to get a sponsor, they leave and take their audience with them so they don’t have to split the revenue and the company goes out of business.
Quit doing things the hard way. If your show is important give it the love it needs so it’s not so frustrating, and you don’t quit. You don’t need to spend a ton of money, but you should spend some money. If it’s important, you will find the money.
Now if your podcast is a hobby for fun, feel free to ignore this entire post. But don’t ask me to help you grow your show when you sound like you’re underwater, and frustrated that you can’t embed an email form on your free website.
I recently spent money on a coach using money I didn’t think I had. The TIME it saved me was SO worth it.
My Latest Episodes
What Podcast Strategies Are You Going to Stop in 2024, and Which Ones Will You Start?
Should I Share My Emotions? Can You Be Too Transparent?
When You SHOULD NOT Start a Podcast
Say No to Reruns: Increase Your Podcast Downloads with this Smart Strategy
Dave at 59: Reflections on Life, Facing Aging, and Ditching Dairy Queen…
Do You REALLY Need That Gear? (video)
What Caught My Eye
Giveo is a video site where you get free video hosting, and your audience can give you money (and they take a small percentage. Here is an explainer video.
Resound is a pretty cool editing tool. You upload your audio, and it analyzes your file and you can jump to the next filler word (um, ya know), which in a client’s episode was 422. It really speeds things up. It’s not perfect (I found a bug) but the support is great. Right now Resound is on App Summo so you can get a lifetime deal. If you don’t have an editing tool, you might check this out.
What’s Coming In The Future
I’ve got a ton of interviews. One person has been featured in New and Noteworthy and will explain what it did (if anything) to his show.
Follow the School of Podcasting at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/follow
Need Help With Your Podcast?
No matter if you’re just starting or a seasoned podcaster, the School of Podcasting can help. Helping podcasters is what I do, and I’ve been doing it since 2005
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