by Bob Tinsley
Why should you as a visitor to TVWriter™ be interested in making audio fiction? Why should you be interested in making podcasts? Discoverability, that’s why.
The meaning of the word podcast is evolving to include any episodic, audio-only production whether nonfiction or fiction. Agents and major studios have started trawling through podcasts and their creators for new content and talent.
So here’s the latest news to help you and your podcast get discovered:
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“The Builder” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
- I TOLD YOU SO.
Manhattan Beach Animation Director Turns ‘spaghetti Western’ Animated Tale Into ‘audio Drama’.
Manhattan Beach‘s David Schaub and Surf’s Up animator, Roger Vizard, created Spirits of the Western Wild, as an audio drama that is part spaghetti western, part The Twilight Zone. They didn’t feel they could raise the money to make an animated film, so they decided on an audio fiction show.
According to Schaub and Vizard, the idea was busy producers could listen to the story on their commutes instead of the “dread” of reading a script. Were you paying attention, there? I hope so. The audio is available on Audible and as an illustrated Kindle book.
- RESOURCES, PART 1.
What is Apple Building Next in Podcasting?
Apple is making new, more user-centric podcast software, says Mark Asquith, the CEO and co-founder of Rebel Base Media, and looking to work with even more creators to, in turn, drive the user base up. From there, there’s an opportunity for Apple to create a suite of tools and platforms at relatively low cost to them that will help to drive the industry through the next decade. Apple might be the only brand in the world that can heavily invest in podcasting without needing to see a return immediately. It’s a long read but essential to understand the behemoth of the podcasting space.
- RESOURCES, PART 2.
Podcast Marketing Strategy: The Podcast Discoverability Triangle.
Mark Asquith is back with another long, but necessary, read about discoverability, otherwise known as marketing. As I said, it’s a long read, but at the bottom of the article is an entertaining 6-½ minute video summarizing the whole thing.
Bottom line: “Whilst technology in podcasting is always evolving and bringing us new toys to play with when it comes to our marketing, none of these will work effectively over the long-term without a solid and sound understanding of base marketing strategy and running these multi-layered marketing campaigns for your show will help you to win the long game. Because that’s what podcasting is.”
https://rebelbasemedia.io/discoverability/
- WE NEED MORE LISTENERS.
Audience Growth Isn’t An Accident: Your Podcast Needs A Web Strategy.
Radio Public has produced a twelve-part video series on how to create an audience growth strategy using websites, email newsletters, and social media to gain and retain listeners. Having a web strategy is integral to growing your audience. One more brick on the road. The videos will help you grasp the concept and start implementing it right away.
- WE NEED MORE LISTENERS, PART 2.
Advertising A Podcast, Part 3.
Another must-read article from the tireless and unselfish Sean Howard. “In this installment, I share the results of experiments designed to gain listeners via cross promotion. This is about leveraging our shared reach as podcasts for mutual benefit. We are going to cover three types of cross-promotion: promo ad swaps, episode drops and crossovers.” A data geek’s delight, Sean gives us some solid, actionable strategies.
- IF YA WANNA WRITE, YA GOTTA LISTEN.
Counterbalance.
A high-fantasy fiction podcast about three friends trying to fix a hole in the weave that creates magic and find out who caused it. Written by Kessi Riliniki the series shows the attention to detail, in both writing and production, that also makes her a wonderful graphic artist. She’s done cover art for a lot of podcasts out there and is available to do yours!
Until next week, same Pod-time, same Pod-channel, keep listening and keep creating.