There are a few reasons why you might be stopping yourself from starting your podcasting journey. Maybe you’re unsure what equipment would be best to use, or you’re not sure if you have time in the day to record, or maybe you’re worried that it won’t work out the way you envisioned. All of these what-ifs are what’s stopping you from podcasting. Don’t worry, though, we’re here to help you defeat the doubts!

Overwhelmed by Technology

We get it, there are dozens and dozens of equipment and software dedicated to podcasting. Of course, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is the right fit for you! Many beginner podcasters falsely believe that they need top-of-the-line recording equipment and editing software to just get started. It’s no secret that you don’t! Really, you just need a computer (or even a tablet) that’s capable of editing and a microphone that’s able to capture your voice.

You can use what’s already at your fingertips to start creating content. Plenty of podcasters, even currently well-known ones, started recording with whatever they could get their hands on. You don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars to share your voice with the world. But, if you’re looking for some recommendations, we do have a few in our blog post here (including free ones!)

Finding the Time

Time is a scarce commodity these days, so it’s understandable that it may cause some hesitancy. We always have something to do, whether that be work or relaxation, our time is valuable. But that doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible to find a bit of time in the day to dedicate to podcasting. Especially if it’s something that you’ve been wanting to do for a while!

The key to finding time is to be okay with small moments. As we covered in our blog post, How to Start Your Own Podcast, there’s more work than you might expect that goes into creating a podcast. Not only recording and editing, but planning, researching, and practicing play an essential role in crafting an amazing podcast. This isn’t meant to discourage, but rather, to help understand the small moments in your routine where you can spend time working on your podcast. During your commute, you could edit your script or practice what you want to say, or on weekends when you have a breather you could spend a few minutes editing aspects of your podcast. Sneaking time in your day to focus on your podcast can help you cross the finish line.

Nothing beats dedicated time, though. If you’re able to, then finding a set time each week to sit down and really focus will make a world of difference. Hobbies and projects require committed time in order to see the light of day. Each of us has time in our day for what we deem as important. Mark your podcast as one of those priorities!

The Perfect Fit

With a sea of other shows, it can seem intimidating to share your work. But no one else has your voice, your opinions, and your unique outlook on life. Many beginner podcasters can get stuck at this stage – what’s the right thing to talk about? There’s no magic answer for what topic to cover, but we can share a secret with you; pick something you love and just go from there.

You don’t need to find the perfect topic, the perfect artwork, the perfect words, you just need to find something you are passionate about and speak on it. Your sincerity will pour through your listeners’ speakers if you choose something you care about.

Julie Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way, puts it, well, perfectly: “Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn’t know how to say, ‘Good try,’ or ‘Job well done.’ The critic does not believe in creative glee–or any glee at all, for that matter.” It can be all too easy to look at other podcasters and compare your work to theirs. And doing so can create quite a discouraging effect. It may even stop you from trying at all.

Fear of Failure

Perfectionism couples almost too well with the fear of failure. A major obstacle for podcasters, and many other types of creators, is the fear of failure. The fear that what they put into the world is not going to unfold in the way they want, in a way they perceive as “successful.”

However, reframing the idea of failure can combat the very idea of fear. You might have heard it said before, but it bears repeating, there is no such thing as failure. You had the courage to share your ideas with the rest of the world and that in itself is success. If what you created isn’t exactly as you had hoped, then treat it as the learning experience it is! You learned how to craft, record, edit, and market a podcast. Those are indispensable skills that can carry you on to your next project. Just because one idea didn’t work out the way you thought it would doesn’t mean the next one won’t! And even better, you have that whole experience under your belt. You’re not starting from square one anymore.

Failure is scary, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re passionate about podcasting, about the topic you’ve chosen, and proud of the work you’ve done, then it’s anything but a failure!

Podcasting is a wonderful journey for those who choose to embark on it. Don’t stop yourself from being one! Challenge yourself and sign up today!

The post Are You Stopping Yourself from Podcasting? appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

Of course, you’d want to keep the momentum going after successfully finishing, but how exactly do you go about doing that? The simple answer is to continue your campaigns. This article walks you through what you can do to keep your campaigns successful!

Metrics to Keep an Eye On

Metrics are essential to understanding how and why your podcast advertising campaign is working. There are plenty of metrics to watch, but the most important ones for podcast advertising, in particular, are those telling you where your customers are coming from. You can achieve this in a handful of ways!

By Conversions

One of the best ways to determine whether your campaign was a success, and to track future success, is to review conversion metrics such as Promo Code/Vanity URL uses and employ pixel tracking (both of which you can do through RedCircle!)

A “tracking pixel” is a small snippet of code that allows you to gather information about visitors to your website. Tracking pixels often appear as a long URL string. Why is this important to podcast advertisers? Well, this provides the brand running the campaign information confirming that the ad was served. Brands will often use an “Impressions Tracking Pixel” to track the number of listeners their ad has reached. 

You can use these tracking pixels to see if the listeners visit your website in the future. Tracking pixels essentially drop on the listeners’ networks where the podcast impression occurred and lets you know when one of these listeners visits your website in the near future.

Promo Codes and Vanity URLs provide a direct look at how many customers followed the call-to-action (CTA) from the selected podcast’s ad(s). You can evaluate the strength of their ad by the number of folks who purchased from your site using the provided promo code or vanity URL.

By Website Analytics

But what if your campaign was more about brand awareness than purchases? That’s where website and social media analytics come into play. 

One way to track brand awareness is through direct traffic vs referred (referral) traffic. See how many visitors came to your site from links from the podcaster, perhaps through their show notes or even social media mentions.

Speaking of social media, you can check out the number of visits, follows, and engagements your brand received during and after the podcast campaign. These metrics are especially important if the podcaster interacted with your brand on social media in some way.

By Self-Reporting

And finally, you can just ask your visitors why they decided to check you out with a simple survey. You can create a survey that asks the age-old “how did you hear about us” question and see if the podcasts you worked with pop up. 

Provide Plenty of Feedback

A truly excellent way to continue your fantastic podcast advertising campaigns is to provide your partner podcasters with feedback! They won’t know what is and isn’t working if they’re not given that information. Our Advertising Team is always ready and available to work with you to share that feedback. (You can contact them here!)

And check out our blog post on how to set your partner podcasts up for success!

Keep Building the Relationship

If you found a podcast that works for your brand, then be sure to nurture that relationship! It’s vital to create a good working relationship with your partner podcasters so that you both benefit from the collaboration.

We encourage both our podcasters and our advertisers to go into campaigns with a partnership mentality. Meaning that you’re both working towards a common goal with these campaigns! Our blog post on setting up your partner podcasts for success also covers all the different ways you can build a relationship with podcasters. From providing constructive feedback to giving them the resources they need to do a stellar job, there’s plenty that you can do to create a fruitful partnership!

Podcast advertising can be an incredible way to generate buzz about your brand, as well as create life-long partners and advocates! The key to keeping up the success is to keep an eye on metrics, provide your partner podcasts with feedback, and build a relationship with your chosen advocates.

Looking to advertise on our catalog of hundreds and hundreds of amazing podcasts? Get in contact with our Advertising team today!

The post How to Keep the Momentum Going After Your First Podcast Ad Campaign appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

One-third (or 32%) of American adults listen to podcasts a few times a month. So, there’s a significant chance that your target consumers tune in to podcasts at least once during the month (and 10% of U.S. adults listen every day!) Learning how to run successful podcast ad campaigns can help you reach your consumers with ease.

Have a Budget in Mind

The first step to creating a podcast ad campaign is to have a budget in mind. A key thing to keep in mind when determining your budget is what type of shows you want to advertise on. While larger shows with huge audiences seem like the best bet, they can be pretty pricey and you may end up getting less coverage than you’d like. Smaller shows allow more bang for your buck, as you can run your campaign on more episodes which may reach a larger variety of listeners.

Select the Right Partners

With a budget in mind, it’s now time to decide where you want your campaign to run. As we noted earlier, larger shows may seem like the obvious play but keep in mind that you may get less than what you expect due to their pricing. Our Advertising team recommends a blend of podcast types when testing your first campaign. A couple of large shows to explore that avenue, and a few small shows to test those waters.

You also want to make sure that your brand fits with the selected podcasts. Look for podcasts that align with your industry or products, as well as those that have a dedicated and engaged following. Consider factors like the podcast’s content, audience size, and overall vibe. Smaller shows typically have a more dedicated and engaged audience than the huge shows, so it’s worth exploring those types of podcasts!

A part of finding the right podcast to advertise on is understanding your audience. Take the time to create detailed customer personas, including demographics, interests, and pain points. This knowledge will guide you in selecting podcasts that align with your ideal customer base.

When you know your audience well, you can choose podcasts that share a similar audience profile, ensuring that your message reaches the right people. This targeted approach maximizes the impact of your ad campaigns.

Devise Your Ad Strategy

The next step after deciding on a budget and selecting podcasts is to figure out how exactly you want to run your first ad campaign.

There are 3 places in an episode where you can place your ad: Pre-Roll, Mid-Roll, and Post-Roll. 

Pre-Roll is the very beginning of the episode. Ads in the Pre-Roll position can be played before the show’s introduction or after the show’s introduction depending on the podcaster’s preference. Ads assigned to the Pre-Roll position are played within the beginning 25% of the episode.

Mid-Roll is the middle of the episode. Many podcasters create a special break specifically for ads in the middle of their podcast. They lead in with something like, “and now let’s hear from our sponsors this week…” Ads assigned to the Mid-Roll position play 25% to 75% of the way through the episode. On RedCircle, podcasters can manipulate where in the episode they want Mid-Rolls to be.

This position generally has the highest impressions due to listeners often being engaged in another activity while listening. This reduces the chance that listeners skip over the ad. Host-Read ads do well in this position!

Post-Roll is at the very end of the episode. Ads assigned to the Post-Roll position play during the last 25% of the episode. While many may believe this position isn’t ideal, it’s still valuable especially when ads are placed before podcasters sign off. These ads are also effective when listeners “binge-listen” to their favorite podcast. Rather than skipping to the next episode, they just allow the Post-Roll ads to finish and wait for the next episode to automatically start playing. Similar to Mid-Roll, many listeners are engaged in another activity so they may not want to fool around with their device just to skip.

If you’re just testing the waters, then opting for a blend of positions is always a good idea. Try starting with Pre-Roll and Mid-Roll positions as those two typically perform the best overall. However, be sure to keep in mind that Mid-Roll tends to be the most expensive as it’s usually the highest performer.

Track Your Success

In order to understand the success of your first campaign it’s recommended to use specific measurement tools such as promo codes or vanity URLs to track progress.

A promo code is a code unique to the podcaster you’re working with during the campaign. Typically, podcasters create their own promo codes, like “RC Insider”. Create discount codes using these promo codes and easily keep track of where purchases are flowing in from.

You can also use a vanity URL to track the progress of your campaign. A vanity URL is a URL for your website that incorporates the specific podcaster. Something like, “https://yourbrandname.com/podcastpartner”. This allows you to track exactly where your website visitors are first landing.

Be sure to check in during the campaign to see how many listeners are making their way over to your site. Visitors can trickle in even after a month since your campaign aired!

Keep Testing!

New shows are always being added to hosting platforms as more and more folks start to dip their toes into podcast creation. The number of podcasts in the United States is expected to keep increasing! New shows that fit your brand and style are cropping up every day. It’s wise to keep the door open for podcast advertising after your first campaign!

Be sure to check out these other blog articles for more information on how to absolutely ace your first podcast ad campaign!

• 5 Tips & Tricks on Running a Successful Podcast Ad Campaign
• Advertisers, Set Your Hosts Up for Success!
• Introducing Multi-Scripts: Create Infinite Personalized Scripts In Minutes
• Podcast Advertising for Small Businesses

Our Advertising Team would love to connect if you’re curious about podcast advertising. Sign up today to get started!

The post Running Your First Podcast Ad Campaign appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

This article fits nicely with our other blog posts dedicated to helping advertisers get the most out of their campaigns, including:

• 5 Tips & Tricks on Running a Successful Podcast Ad Campaign
• Advertisers, Set Your Hosts Up for Success!
• Programmatic Advertising for Podcasters 101
• Podcast Advertising for Small Businesses

Types of Podcast Ad Formats

There are two main types of Ad Formats in podcasting: Programmatic Ads and Host-Read Ads. These two formats differ quite drastically in multiple aspects and are often used for different purposes. In addition to Programmatic and Host-Read Ads, there’s also Branded Content which often integrates the brand into the entire podcast episode experience. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these formats entails.

Programmatic Ads

Programmatic Ads are typically professionally pre-recorded advertisements. Similar to old-school radio ads, these ads range from a large variety of categories including entertainment, education, real estate, technology, and more. 

These ads are usually pretty short (about 30 seconds max) and are provided by an agency or advertiser. On RedCircle, these ads are dynamically inserted across hundreds of different podcasts in Pre-Roll, Mid-Roll, and Post-Roll positions (we’ll get to what these positions mean in the next section.) 

Host-Read Ads

Host-Read Ads are essentially what they sound like – advertisements read in the voice of the podcast host. Advertisers commonly provide podcasters with pre-written ad copy, resources on and about their brand/products, and any additional information they think will help create the best possible read! (For more advice, check out our blog post on setting up podcasters for success!)

These ads are longer in length and have a more conversational feel to them. Podcasters often have tried out the product, or are loyal customers already, and share their true experiences with your brand and/or product with their audience. The key to making this type of ad work for all parties involved is to treat it like a partnership. Work with the podcaster to make it a memorable and trustworthy ad!

These types of ads are mostly placed in the Pre and Mid-Roll positions as those tend to have the highest impressions.

Branded Content

This is a much newer form of podcast advertising but still worth mentioning! Branded content can mean an advertiser sponsoring an episode, a series of episodes, or even an entire dedicated podcast. 

For branded episodes, take a look at this excellent example from the podcast “My Brother, My Brother, & Me”. Totino’s worked with these hosts to create an episode all about their pizza products. But what made this branded episode a success wasn’t just the sponsorship, but the fundamental understanding Totino’s had about this podcast. They understood the hosts’ audience, their content, and allowed them to create an episode around their product and brand. This led to successful brand recognition and engagement.

What’s key about branded content is the alignment between brand, podcast, and audience. Brands that align well with the podcast and their audience can create a non-intrusive and overall entertaining experience, all while building awareness and engagement!

Where to Place the Ad

There are three places in a podcast where ads can be played: the beginning, middle, and end. These positions are known as “Pre-Roll”, “Mid-Roll”, and “Post-Roll”.

Pre-Roll is the very beginning of the episode. Ads in the Pre-Roll position can be played before the show’s introduction or after the show’s introduction depending on the podcaster’s preference. Ads assigned to the Pre-Roll position are played within the beginning 25% of the episode.

Mid-Roll is the middle of the episode. Many podcasters create a special break specifically for ads in the middle of their podcast. They lead in with something like, “and now let’s hear from our sponsors this week…” Ads assigned to the Mid-Roll position play 25% to 75% of the way through the episode. On RedCircle, podcasters can manipulate where in the episode they want Mid-Rolls to be.

This position generally has the highest impressions due to listeners often being engaged in another activity while listening. This reduces the chance that listeners skip over the ad. Host-Read ads do well in this position!

Post-Roll is at the very end of the episode. Ads assigned to the Post-Roll position play during the last 25% of the episode. While many may believe this position isn’t ideal, it’s still valuable especially when ads are placed before podcasters sign off. These ads are also effective when listeners “binge-listen” to their favorite podcast. Rather than skipping to the next episode, they just allow the Post-Roll ads to finish and wait for the next episode to automatically start playing. Similar to Mid-Roll, many listeners are engaged in another activity so they may not want to fool around with their device just to skip.

Where you decide to place your ad is up to you! Keep your budget and goals in mind to help you select the most optimal spot.

How to Choose the Right Ad Format

This might feel like an impossible task but evaluating what’s most important for your ad campaign can help you make this an easy decision. There are several factors to consider when choosing the right ad format for your campaign. It’s up to you, though, to weigh them out and decide which are the most pressing.

Advertising Goals

What are your goals for the campaign? Do you simply want to reach as many ears as possible, or do you want to build trust and authenticity with a specific set of people?

Budget

How much are you willing to invest in podcast advertising? The budget for your campaign can help determine which ad format to move forward with. Host-Read Ads tend to have higher CPMs when compared to Programmatic Ads, but they have the benefit of authenticity and higher listener engagement. On the other hand, Programmatic Ads allow for more testing and are a more cost-effective way to reach a larger audience.

Target Audience

Who are you looking to reach? If you just want to spread awareness of your brand and reach as many folks as possible, then Programmatic Ads would be the more appropriate option. But if you want to reach a more niche audience, one with high engagement, then pursuing Host-Read Ads would be ideal. For Host-Read Ads, choose shows that align with your product and your target audience’s interests. If you’re a sporting brand, then select shows that dive deeply into specific sports and teams.

Brand Alignment

One difference between Host-Read Ads and Programmatic is the ability to select the exact shows you want your ad campaign to run on. Selecting specific podcasts that align with your brand may get you better in touch with your ideal audience.

Ad Performance Metrics

Providing podcasts with a specific promo code or vanity URL can help you easily track the effectiveness of your campaign. You can view which customers visited your website after hearing your podcast advertisement campaign in comparison to your other methods. 

Reviewing your goals and figuring out what’s most important to you will help you select the perfect format for your campaign.

But why stop at one or the other? Both Host-Read Ads and Programmatic Ads have their advantages, and a combined strategy can help boost your brand awareness and bring in customers. You don’t need to commit forever to only one format; you can experiment with them, figure out what works best for your brand, and spend some time understanding the landscape of podcast advertising.

Ready to begin your adventure into podcast advertising? Let us be your trusty guide!

The post Advertisers Guide to Podcast Ad Formats appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

Did you know that one-third (32%) of American adults listen to podcasts a few times a month? There’s a significant chance that your target consumers tune in to podcasts at least once during the month (and 10% of U.S. adults listen every day!) It’s an advertising avenue worth adventuring down!

What is Podcast Advertising?

At its simplest, podcast advertising is a type of advertising where the ad is placed in a podcast. Advertisements in podcasts were traditionally “baked-in”, meaning that the ad was placed in the raw audio of the episode. Podcast advertising has grown more sophisticated these days with dynamically inserted Programmatic Ads and Host-Read Ads. Instead of having the podcaster add the advertisement directly in their episode indefinitely, platforms like RedCircle allow for dozens of campaigns to cycle through podcast episodes. Advertisers now purchase a set amount of time for their campaign(s) to run across multiple episodes and multiple podcasts. This helps to keep advertising content fresh. Listeners hear up-to-date info on your business including relevant promo codes (instead of super old promo codes they can’t use!)

There are two types of ads in podcasting: Programmatic and Host-Read. Programmatic Ads are typically professionally pre-recorded advertisements that play on a podcast either in the pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll spot depending on the Dynamic Insertion configuration. Similar to old-school radio ads, these ads range from a large variety of categories including entertainment, education, real estate, technology, and more. 

Host-Read Ads are pretty much what they sound like – the podcaster reads the ad to their audience. Either straight from the heart or off of paper! We usually recommend that advertisers send along a script or talking points. We have an entire blog post dedicated to helping your partner podcast absolutely nail your Host-Read campaign!

As a small business, your best option is to pursue the Host-Read option as you can rely on your partner podcaster to spread the word about your business in a compelling way!

The Host-Read Ad

Host-read ads are one of the best ways to spread awareness of your business. A recent report shows that podcasts are the #1 trusted medium for US consumers. Podcast listeners are highly engaged and trust the recommendations of their favorite podcasters. Finding the perfect podcast partner can help draw in new customers to your business.

A part of finding the right podcast to advertise on is understanding your audience. Take the time to create detailed customer personas, including demographics, interests, and pain points. This knowledge will guide you in selecting podcasts that align with your ideal customer base.

When you know your audience well, you can choose podcasts that share a similar audience profile, ensuring that your message reaches the right people. This targeted approach maximizes the impact of your ad campaigns.

Once you understand who you’re looking to entice, the next step is to find podcasts that match your vibe. Small businesses should research and select the podcasts that best fit their niche and marketing goals. Look for podcasts that align with your industry or products, as well as those that have a dedicated and engaged following. Consider factors like the podcast’s content, audience size, and overall vibe.

While larger podcasts may have a broader reach, niche podcasts can be highly effective for small businesses. These shows cater to specific, dedicated audiences, making them an ideal platform for reaching your target market. Audiences of niche podcasts tend to be very involved and passionate about the topic. Look for podcasts that align with your industry, products, or services, as they often have a highly engaged and receptive audience.

If you’re a local games shop, for example, then finding podcasts centered on board games or similar is a great place to start. Or perhaps you create natural beauty products, you’d want to look for a beauty podcast that delves into the natural side of the industry. You’ll also want to consider their audience demographics and how well that aligns with your own.

Collaborating with smaller podcasters also allows you to create a fantastic rapport with one another. They can become one of your biggest advocates! Engage with them on social media, attend podcasting events, or even offer to collaborate on unique content. These relationships can lead to more favorable ad rates and opportunities to feature your business on their shows.

Have a Test Budget in Mind

For small businesses new to podcast advertising, it’s advisable to start with a pre-planned test budget. Experiment with a few podcasts and ad placements to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns. As you gather data and insights, you can gradually scale up your podcast advertising efforts.

While it may be tempting to spend all your budget on one huge show, it’s a more reliable strategy to choose frequency over popularity. Advertising experts recommend running your campaign anywhere between 2 and 10 shows as it allows you to test different reads, types of shows, new audiences, and more. RedCircle is home to hundreds and hundreds of independent podcasters with dedicated audiences!

Podcast advertising offers a promising avenue for small businesses to connect with their target audience and enhance brand visibility. Start small, learn, and gradually expand your efforts as you become more familiar with the podcast advertising landscape. With the right approach and strategy, podcast advertising can become a valuable asset in your marketing toolkit, driving growth and success for your small business.

Browse hundreds of shows on RedCircle and get started advertising today!

The post Podcast Advertising for Small Businesses appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

In order to have a successful podcast, you need to make sure that it’s planned thoughtfully. A part of planning your podcast is coming up with the topic you want to spend time on. So, let’s dive in and help you discover your topic!

Passion Above All Else

Growing up, you may have heard the famous quote, “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” from the adults in your life. The same can be applied to podcasting; talking about a subject you’re passionate about can carry your podcast to incredible heights.

Think about what piques your interest. What makes you stop in the middle of your day and really go, huh? Ask yourself why you want to podcast. What’s the thing burning inside you that you just have to share with the rest of the world?

Looking inward and discovering what’s important to you will help you find your perfect topic. An engaged and passionate host creates an engaged and passionate community of listeners!

Testing the Waters

The beauty of podcasting, and any art really, is the ability to try and try again. It’s not uncommon to start a podcast and learn that you’re not as into the subject as you thought. Don’t see these ventures as failures, though! Instead, see them as successes as you learned all the nuances of podcasting while testing the topic. So, when you find the topic that fits you best, you’ll be more than ready to produce it.

Finding Your Place in the Space

There are between 3 to 4 million podcasts currently available worldwide. So, it’s not unreasonable that you share a topic with another show. And that’s totally okay! The key is to find a “niche” for your podcast. Make your topic less general and more specific. Create a podcast with a specific audience in mind. Instead of just creating a show about cooking, create a show about cooking for college students. Focus your recipes on the challenges of cooking in a dorm and/or on a budget.

Finding a niche will help you to stand out amongst the other shows (and lends itself nicely to SEO practices!)

Creating a hyper-specific show allows for a dedicated, passionate community to grow around it!

Deciding on a Format

Podcasts have evolved beyond a couple of friends chatting in their living room. There are interview-style podcasts, long-form fiction podcasts, short and timely news podcasts. The list goes on. Deciding on the format of your content can create a unique listening experience for your audience.

Think about the content you want to talk about to help you figure out the format. Are you covering a sports team or a political movement? Then it might make more sense to make your show short and timely. If you’re really digging deep into the topic and the content could remain relevant for years to come, then a long-form podcast could be the way to go.

The type of content you want to produce will help you to determine the format for your show!

Podcasting can be a huge joy in life! And finding the right topic that you’re passionate about can help to create a show unique to you and your audience.

If you’re ready to launch your show, then give RedCircle a try! We’d love to help you on your journey to new podcasting heights!

The post How to Pick a Topic for Your Podcast appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

It’s best practice to share your podcast as far and wide as possible. There are dozens of podcast listening platforms and aggregators that help to share your show with their users. So, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out the optimal place to distribute your podcast.

We looked at our top-performing shows and discovered where a majority of their listeners are tuning in from. At the very least, be sure your show is being distributed from these platforms!

Apple Podcasts

It’s not surprising to see that a significant portion of listeners use Apple Podcasts as their listening platform of choice. It’s the largest podcast directory in the world, and some consider it the first. Podcasts supposedly got their name from iPods after all! If you’re not on Apple Podcasts then you’re missing out on a crucial space for listeners.

Learn how to distribute your show on Apple Podcasts in our Help Center.

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Spotify

Spotify is a newcomer to the podcasting space in comparison to legacies like Apple but that doesn’t mean their platform isn’t wildly popular with listeners. It consistently ranks as a close second in our findings.

Learn how to distribute your show on Spotify in our Help Center. For new shows created on RedCircle, you can distribute your show on Spotify with one single click.

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Amazon Music

Unexpected to some, but Amazon’s influence in the podcast industry is weighty, to say the least. Not only do listeners have access through the web, they can even tune in to your show through their Alexa devices. Amazon’s helpful AI assistant takes up a majority share (nearly 70%) of U.S. household smart speakers.

Learn how to distribute your show on Amazon Music in our Help Center.

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Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict started as a side project of Xavier Guillemane in 2011 and has quickly become an indie favorite among listeners. It’s also the #1 podcast app on Android!

Learn how to distribute your show on Podcast Addict in our Help Center.

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Castbox

A uniquely interesting listening app as they’ve dedicated a majority of their resources on their search functions. They’ve invested heavily in artificial intelligence making podcast discovery incredibly easy. Listeners can painlessly find new podcasts, like yours, when using this app.

Learn how to distribute your show on Castbox in our Help Center.

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Honorable Mentions

While these podcast listening platforms didn’t make the Top 5, they still have tons of active listeners ready to discover new shows!

Google Podcasts: Google Podcasts boasts a high number of downloads, but we moved them to honorable mentions as they’re unfortunately shutting down in late 2024. However, they’re switching shows over to YouTube Music!

Right now, though, you can submit your show to YouTube and automatically post episodes to your channel on RedCircle.

iHeartRadio: A well-known player in the podcast industry, iHeartRadio has been around for quite some time. It tends to be a favorite among older demographics (perhaps reminiscing on the heyday of radio.)

Learn how to distribute your show to iHeartRadio in our Help Center.

Overcast: Similar to Podcast Addict, Overcast was started by one person passionate about podcasts. Unlike the others on this list, though, this platform automatically pulls from Apple Podcasts. So, if you’re distributing on Apple then you’re distributing here, too!

Don’t stop your distribution journey with the Top 5 platforms! Be sure to spread your podcast across the web by distributing it on every platform you come across.

Check out the Distribution section in our Help Center for a full list of platforms and in-depth instructions on how to set them up.

The post The Top 5 Places to Distribute Your Podcast appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

Sharing your podcast with as wide an audience as possible is always a good growth strategy!

Embed on Websites

Creating a podcast website allows you to take advantage of SEO best practices. It’s also a great way to distribute your show! Visitors to your website can listen to your podcast while they read the transcript or accompanying blog post. Embedding the episode directly on your website makes it so much easier for your audience as they don’t need to go searching for the show. They can simply just click play!

Websites dedicated to blogging, like Medium and WordPress, make it fairly easy to add your podcast, or even individual episodes, to your posts. Combining your written content with your audio in one single place makes the experience that much more seamless for your audience!

Embed in Emails

Do you already send a newsletter to your dedicated audience? You may be able to send them your podcast right in the email itself! Should your audience use Apple Mail, which according to Litmus (an email testing suite), about 58% of all open emails are Apple Mail users. So, it’s a good bet that many of your own audience members would be able to hear your podcast right in your newsletter!

Podcasters can add audio directly into their newsletter by utilizing HTML, specifically a piece of code that allows for the audio file of your episode to be played. (You can learn how to grab the mp3 file for any of your published episodes in our Help Center here.)

The code can be as simple as:

<audio controls preload="none" src="https://YOUR_AUDIO_MP3_LINK.mp3">

Only Apple Mail users can play audio

</audio>

Adding this to your newsletter would populate an audio player right in the email itself!

For a full breakdown of how to achieve this, check out Podnews’ Blog Post on embedding mp3 files in an email.

There are a myriad of underrated ways to share your podcast with the world! The best way to grow your podcast is to shout it from every mountaintop you can climb!

The post Embed Your Podcast for More Downloads appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

Build Your Brand

Podcasting is an incredible way to build awareness of your business. But it’s more than just another marketing avenue. Podcasts are a unique medium as they often create an intimate and personal connection between host and listener. Studies have shown that listeners greatly trust the word of their favorite hosts, especially when hearing about brands and companies. Unlike blog articles and other mediums of the written word, podcasting allows you to create a closer relationship with your audience. Your expertise and passion are delivered directly to their ears rather than being interpreted through their own biases while reading.

Starting a podcast for your business can help establish yourself as an expert in your industry. The format allows you to explore topics thoroughly and provide thoughtful insights during discussion. Inviting other expert guests only helps to solidify your place in your chosen industry as it shows your ability to network with other leaders.

Hosting a podcast also easily demonstrates your passion for the subject you’re speaking about. Your tone, your tangents, and your advice are all coated with your spirited enthusiasm. It’s much easier to detect levels of passion when listening rather than reading. Listeners can truly grasp your words when hearing them!

How to Create a Podcast

Now that launching a podcast seems to be the right move for your business, you may be wondering what that entails exactly. How do you record it? Where do you post it? What should it be called? How often should you create episodes?

These questions are common amongst all beginner podcast creators whether they’re doing it for fun or want to make it part of their full-time job. Podcasting seems deceptively simple, you just pick up a microphone and start talking. But many folks are caught off-guard by the effort needed to create and maintain a podcast. Not to worry, though! Here at RedCircle, we’re all about making things as easy as possible!

We’ve written an extensive guide meant to help you create an awesome podcast! The key to creating such a podcast is the 5 P’s:

• Plan
• Prepare
• Practice
• Publish
• Prosper

Put simply, you need to put some time into planning, preparing, and practicing your podcast before you even think about picking up a microphone. Following these guidelines will help to set you off on a better foot!

Where to Host Your Podcast

There are tons of options when it comes to hosting platforms! We, of course, have our own bias, but we do recommend finding a home for your show that marks all your checkboxes.

Not sure what those checkboxes should be? No problem, we’ve got you covered with what to look for when deciding on where to host your podcast. The top things to look for? We suggest growth & monetization tools, basic hosting capabilities like unlimited storage, and ease of distribution.

Ready to take the plunge and start podcasting for your business? You can get started for free (yes, actually free) right here on RedCircle.

The post Why You Should Start a Podcast for Your Business appeared first on RedCircle Blog.

You want to keep these things in mind when deciding when to publish your show: Whether or not you want to monetize, who your audience is, and your own schedule. Each of these factors can help you determine when the best time to publish your podcast is for you.

Monetization in the Mix

An important question to ask yourself is whether or not you plan to monetize your podcast. If you do plan on monetizing, especially through ads, then the best time to launch your podcast is in early Autumn. It’s also an excellent time to re-launch your show, start a new season, or even migrate to a new hosting platform.

Why? Well, early Autumn is when both Programmatic Ads and Host-Read opportunities start to increase, at least in our experience. Brands have spent the summer planning their strategies for the end-of-year holidays and execution time is looming closer. (We’re on that Christmas creep, after all.) Podcasts often see a bump in revenue in the last few months of the year thanks to all of this advertising spend.

If you’re looking to monetize your podcast, then joining a new hosting platform or re-launching a new season in Autumn is the way to go!

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Think About Your Listener

A great way to understand when, and how often, to publish episodes for your podcast is to tap into your audience. Who are they? What do their routines look like? When are they choosing to tune into podcasts? Getting to the heart of these questions will help you to determine the prime time upload episodes.

RedCircle’s analytics can help you to find answers to those questions. (It’s even covered in our blog here!) Using our analytics, you can know exactly what time of day folks are listening to your show, what day of the week, and where in the world they’re listening from.

Additionally, think about the type of content you’re creating. Is it for working professionals? Or perhaps for college students? Are they listening to your show on the way to work or class? When would that be? Whoever your audience is, there’s a time and place that they prefer when they listen to your show. You can use an abundance of clues to figure out the optimal time for posting.

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Don’t Forget Your Own Schedule

Knowing the habits of Advertisers and Listeners alike can most certainly help you to determine when to launch, re-launch, or migrate your show. But only you know when you have the capacity to put in the effort to grow your podcast. Consistency is absolutely key to growth, but be mindful not to overcommit and burn yourself out trying to pump out podcast episodes. Attempting to adhere to a schedule that just doesn’t work for you will end up hurting you in the long run.

We say it because it’s true; podcasting is an exciting endeavor! But there are always questions you may not expect as you begin to dive deeper and deeper into the medium. Understanding these key points will help you to know when to publish your podcast and continue on your journey to success!

The post Best Time to Publish a Podcast appeared first on RedCircle Blog.