Don't Do This (Insider 236)

Clever (and risky) marketing tricks, the truth about podcast gear and guests, essential pre-interview tips, AI voice options, and free podcast artwork templates in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Big Ideas in This Episode The dangerous cost of clickbait podcast titles Why tricking listeners kills your show's growth Envy alert: how niche podcasters leapfrog celebrities The seductive myth of "perfect" podcast gear How AI voices tempt you—should you resist? Sponsor dollars: easy money or creative handcuffs? Confessions: the lies podcasters tell themselves Why You Should Listen The little-known "Free Beer" trick to fool an entire audience (and what it means for your podcast title) Sneaky "bandit" signs: The dirty tricks musicians and marketers use to hijack attention (and how to turn their mischief into loyal listeners for yourself) How a single word—hidden in plain sight—built million-dollar web traffic empires overnight (and how podcasters still abuse this today) The "lost dog" heartstring ruse that tricks passersby—and why you should never deploy similar stunts on your show (unless you want hate-listeners) How hiding your true podcast intent could backfire—and the smarter shortcut to building fan loyalty faster than your rivals The #1 rookie mistake in podcast episode titles … and the foolproof way to turn curiosity into binge listening instead of anger Why wasting the first 10 minutes catching up with your co-host is a crime against audience retention—and how to make every moment count The seductive lie of "more time = great podcast"—and what the hustlers who thrive on deadlines know that you don't Booking "big name" guests: Will it rocket your podcast to the top—or could it ruin your chances at real influence? Discover the surprising answer The dangerous myth of your "personal story": Why sharing your tale rarely triggers mass subscriptions (and the secret story they'll pay attention to instead) How to transform a train wreck interview into gold—using David Hooper's method for scavenging irresistible audio clips Revealed: The gear-envy trap keeping broke podcasters broke, and why one simple microphone can level the playing field against media giants The real path to high-end audio—why most "sound quality" advice is pure gluttony for your wallet (and the $0 solution that rivals studio perfection) The ugly truth about podcast sponsorships: Why chasing advertisers could poison your show—and how to make real podcast profits instead The forbidden hack for pre-interviews that 99% of hosts ignore—unlock the lazy shortcut to elite-level guest rapport and on-mic power plays Episode Timestamps [00:04:52] The musician who tricked Nashville with a "lost dog" QR code—and why it backfired [00:06:21] Bait-and-switch marketing: fake dollar bills, Bible tracts, and why tricking people kills trust [00:07:11] How misleading podcast titles are sabotaging your audience—and what not to do [00:11:36] The myth that celebrity guests will make your podcast successful (and what really happens) [00:13:51] Why your personal story won't convince listeners to subscribe—and what does [00:14:19] The dangerous "all or nothing" thinking that ruins podcast episodes (and how to avoid it) [00:19:28] How a simple pre-interview can supercharge your podcast—plus what to do when guests say no You want these links ... Subscribe to Build a Big Podcast See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance The Newsletter for Podcasters Big Podcast Insider - Weekly Podcasting Newsletter ​ This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...​ Riverside is online recording software that makes it easy for podcasters to record studio-quality interviews from anywhere. Try it free and, if you like it, get 15% off any membership plan when you use the code BIGPODCAST.​​ About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:​ This is the audio companion to Issue 236 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.   ​ Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.​ Want more help growing your podcast audience? Big Podcast Extra - Podcasting Tips Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program) Click the icon below to listen.