Segments Will Grow Your Podcast (Insider 234)

Why you need podcast segments, what happens when you DM every fan, the power of 30-day challenges, smarter ad reads, and the secret to building deeper listener relationships in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ... Why You Should Listen How to harness the power of podcast segments to multiply your audience and keep them hooked—no matter your experience level The "lazy podcaster's curse"—are you guilty of killing your own growth with long, rambling episodes? The irresistible secret to creating podcast episodes people devour—without burning out Why the Tim Ferriss "4-hour podcast" approach might be making your listeners secretly hate you The absolute shortest episode length proven to trigger instant downloads (and why size really does matter) The simple 30-day challenge that will have your listeners begging for more—and evangelizing your podcast everywhere When to say "NO!" in podcasting—and why mastering this tiny word can skyrocket your reputation and income How to turn a fleeting social media "like" into a hardcore fan, loyal friend, and raving evangelist The DM experiment: what REALLY happens when you personally message every fan—and how it can unleash a tidal wave of attention The "DIY Dumb Phone" trick—how to hack your productivity, outwork your competition, and get your life back (while everyone else is still doomscrolling) Why most podcast interviews are disasters—and how to never bore, frustrate, or lose your audience again The bulletproof method for attracting sponsors who beg to give you money (and keep coming back for more) How to make advertisers crave your podcast—even if you don't have a giant audience The three insider rules that keep top sponsors obsessed with your show (and your bank account overflowing) The ugly truth about feedback: why taking advice from the wrong people will destroy your podcast (and how to protect yourself with one simple question) You want these links ... Subscribe to Build a Big Podcast See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance Episode Timestamps [04:37] Why most podcasters' interviews are "just thrown up conversations"—and how this could be killing your growth [06:53] 30-day podcast challenges: The trick that builds listener loyalty, compelling stories, and community—with examples for every niche [09:58] What really happens when you DM every single person who likes your social media post (this guy actually tried it—and made money) [12:39] The "drive-by comment" method: How a simple follow-up turns your social media lurkers into lifelong podcast listeners [14:56] The "DIY dumb phone" challenge: What happens when you give your smartphone a lobotomy—and why your listeners might thank you for it [16:05] The American Idol problem: Why taking podcast feedback from the wrong people will derail your show (and the hilarious test you should use instead) [18:59] No more boring sponsor reads: How to turn ads into must-hear content—and the three secrets that keep those sponsorship dollars flowing Big Ideas in This Episode Shorter episodes steal more listeners, guaranteed Four-hour podcasts: Tim Ferriss's secret regret Tempt your audience with irresistible 30-day challenges DM everyone who likes your posts—get rich? Your "dumb phone" controls you—flip the power Feedback is gold… unless it's fool's gold Why generic ads kill your sponsor money dreams 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 234 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.