From the secret beach hut studio, Podcasting Veteran James Martell continues his discussion of how you can use podcasting to work less, earn more, and have more time to enjoy family, travel, and the things that matter most. In this episode of Podcasting Mastery, James talks to Rob Walch, Vice President of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn, about how to increase podcast listener interaction.

Rob Walch was looking for a hobby and heard about podcasting. Then, the hobby took over and became a career. Rob was inducted into the Podcasting Hall of Fame in 2016. He is the co-author of Tricks of the Podcasting Masters. He is listed as the fifth most influential person in podcasting. Rob is the host of the award-winning podCast411, which lets him talk to other podcasters. His son has decided to take after his dad and started podcasting when he was 5 ½ years old!

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Monetizing Your Show

Rob’s son said, “Dad, I am going to podcast every day this summer and make a million bucks.” Naitivity impacts a lot of podcasters. It just doesn’t work that way. A lot of people are enthusiastic about starting a podcast series. But they struggle with how to make money with their show, so learning how to increase podcast listener interaction is a great first step in increasing profitability.

You can’t get into podcasting just because you want to make money. You need to get into podcasting because you have a subject matter that you are passionate about and have a plan for it. Advertising is not usually successful. However, you have a better chance of monetizing your podcast if it focuses on a niche market. The most successful way to monetize your podcast is by building your brand and promoting your service(s).

Why Podcasters Are Among the Elite

The ratio of bloggers to podcasters is 2000 to 1. When you podcast, you are an elite company. Compared to bloggers, listeners can hear podcasters to determine if they are okay and make sense. They know you are not afraid to speak – whether it is in a studio or at a conference.

Podcasting can lead to other job opportunities, as well as being asked to speak on a panel or at special events. Other advantages include the extra reach to listeners that podcasts achieve. Bloggers miss a whole market segment via iTunes, Spotify, and other podcasting directories. Plus, there’s more time in the day to consume audio – while riding in the car, walking the dog, etc.

How to Increase Podcast Listener Interaction

Listener interaction leads to word-of-mouth marketing. Getting your listeners involved with your show means they are more likely to tell their friends about your show. It’s your listeners who are going to grow your show. But you have to ask for their interaction, and you have to make it easy for them. Utilize a call-in number, smartphone app, email address, contests, giveaways, etc. Let them be able to connect with you via a simple click of a button.

Don’t be afraid to ask for listeners’ feedback and help. And repeat your call-in number, making it easier for engaging listeners.

Here’s What You’ll Learn

• How to increase podcast listener interaction with little known and often overlooked, and easy-to-implement strategies
• The services provided by Libsyn to help podcasters promote themselves and their shows
• People can use various devices, including smartphones, computers, and mobile devices, to listen to podcasts
• Issues regarding apps on Android vs. iOS mobile devices for podcasting
• How to create, test out, and promote an app through your host or a third-party service to improve listener interaction
• What new podcasters should be concerned with, including the content of their show
• Importance of knowing and understanding your audience to develop content for them and stay on topic
• Research, obtain background information, and perform follow up on your guests to have a better understanding of them
• You are your audience, don’t do a topic because it is hot, but because you are interested in and know about it
• How to find and grow your audience by offering exceptionally good content
• Edit podcasts to improve the quality and allow guests to answer questions again to sound better

Resources

• Learn more about Rob Walch on Libsyn
• Find out more about Libsyn’s influence on podcasting
• Manager Tools was successful at monetizing its podcast
• Listen to James’ interview with Liz Covart, who does the Ben Franklin’s World podcast
• Check out Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast series
• Use IMDB Pro to find and invite guests for your podcast show

James’ Books on Podcasting

• Outsourcing Essentials for Podcasters – The Secrets to Hiring Freelance Talent on a Beach Hut Budget
• Basecamp – The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Manage a Successful Podcast

The post #051 | How to Increase Podcast Listener Interaction with Rob Walch, VP of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn appeared first on Podcasting Mastery.