One of the best things I’ve always found about the podcast industry is the lack of competition. Yes, we (as podcasters) might see other podcasters as “competition” for listeners – and while that may be true, at the same time it’s not really a competition.
That’s because indie podcasters, by and large, are hugely supportive of each other and want other podcasters to succeed. It truly is a community of creators, where if one podcaster succeeds we all do.
That might seem all a bit kumbaya to “outsiders”, who might be used to their peers wanting to step over them and vice versa, but I’ve yet to really see that in podcasting. It’s why you have podcasts about podcasting share so much for free, because their hosts don’t see other podcasters as competition – instead, we see each other as collaborators, and supporters, ready to offer guidance and support using earned experience over many years in the space.
It’s also why you see some great newsletters being published, sharing tips and advice for podcasters of all experience levels, as well as publications that are more geared towards the highlighting and promotion of indie podcasters and podcasts.
To that end, here are three podcast newsletters you really should subscribe to if you’re an indie podcaster, or even if you’re looking for some great indie podcasts to follow.
Ear Worthy, by Frank Racioppi
The Ear Worthy newsletter, by Frank Racioppi, is one of my very favourite podcast newsletters for a few reasons.
One, Frank is good people, and one of the biggest and most vocal supporters of indie podcasters.
Two, Frank has a very educational yet conversational tone in each newsletter, that makes it very easy and flowing reading.
Three, Frank is very knowledgeable about the space, having been in audio for many years.
But perhaps the biggest reason I love this newsletter so much is the way it really puts a deep-dive focus on the indie podcasts (and the show’s host or hosts) in every single feature. Frank doesn’t just say, “hey, this is a good show to follow” – instead, he breaks down why he liked it and why you will, as well as give examples of episodes and why he enjoyed those.
He’ll also often interview podcasters for the publication, and gives equal attention to every podcast and podcaster, with no bias depending on how new or established they are. Each feature is done with so much love for the subject that you can’t help but be inspired to check out each featured podcast.
And that’s a win in any podcaster’s book.
The Weekly Tweak, by Ashley Hamer
Next up is The Weekly Tweak by Ashley Hamer. At its core, this newsletter offers “one podcast tip every week to refine your show over time”. And as someone who’s subscribed to this newsletter from the very early days, I can attest to this 100%.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a relatively new podcaster or a more experienced one, Ashley’s knowledge ensures there will always be at least one tweak you can make to your show to help it grow. As a hugely experienced podcaster herself, Ashley shares the things that have helped her own podcasts, including:
why listener survey are useful
how to make your Calls to Action as tight as can be
why you should revisit your show description
how to create more engaging episode titles
how to determine your podcast “why”, and more.
Seriously, I’ve used at least 10 of her tips and always look forward to a new one arriving in my inbox – you will, too.
Podcast Marketing Magic, by Lauren Passell
The third newsletter I highly recommend is Podcast Marketing Magic by Lauren Passell and the team at Tink Media. Ask any indie podcaster what their number one pain point is, and more often than not the most popular answer will be marketing their show.
This is where Podcast Marketing Magic comes in.
Initially created by Lauren, Podcast Marketing Magic now also includes other Tink Media team members, including Shreya Sharma, Wil Williams, and Devin Andrade.
The combined expertise of these four authors ensures this is a newsletter that makes podcast marketing more accessible for indie podcasters everywhere. Not only that, but the advice on offer covers a wide gamut of marketing and growth tips:
how to market yourself as well as your podcast
what fiction podcasts can teach you about marketing
how to use user-generated ideas for your show’s episodes and associated content
what you need to know when pitching sponsors
how a newsletter can grow your podcast’s community, and more.
If the archive on Podcast Marketing Magic doesn’t help your show grow, then I really don’t know if anything will. 🙂
Your Go-To Podcast Newsletters?
So that’s the three podcast newsletters I feel every indie podcaster should follow.
But what about you? What newsletters would you recommend, and why? I’d love to hear about the newsletters that have helped your podcast and check them out. Just leave a comment with your recommendation(s) if you’re reading this online, or hit Reply if you’re reading this via email – I’m looking forward to hearing your recommendations!
Until the next time, happy podcasting.
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