#25 – Joe Casabona on Why WordPress Is a Great Choice for Your Podcast – WP Tavern

[00:00:00] Nathan Wrigley: Welcome to the Jukebox podcast from WP Tavern. My title is Nathan Wrigley. Jukebox is a podcast which is devoted to all issues WordPress. The folks, the occasions, the plugins, the blocks, the themes, and on this case why WordPress is a good alternative on your podcast.

In case you’d wish to subscribe to our podcast, you are able to do that by looking for WP Tavern in your podcast participant of alternative, or by going to WP Tavern dot com ahead slash feed ahead slash podcast. And you’ll copy and paste that URL into most podcast gamers.

When you have a subject that you just’d like us to function on the podcast, effectively I’m eager to listen to from you and hopefully get you, or your thought, featured on the present. Head over to WP Tavern dot com ahead slash contact ahead slash jukebox. And use the contact kind there.

So on the podcast at the moment we now have Joe Casabona. Joe is a podcast and educator, which makes him excellent for the dialogue at the moment. Why WordPress is a good alternative on your podcast. He began his profession over 20 years in the past as a contract internet developer earlier than realizing his true ardour. Which is sharing his years of information to assist creators and small enterprise homeowners.

His objective is to assist folks earn a living with their content material. Which he does primarily by his podcast and his programs. We begin out the podcast at the moment speaking about Joe story. How he discovered WordPress and podcasting. It wasn’t all plain crusing. And Joe went by a number of iterations of his podcast earlier than he started to consider it much less as a interest and extra as a useful gizmo for his enterprise.

The dialog then turns to the aim of establishing a podcast. Proper now podcasts look like all the craze. Many individuals create them for enjoyable. As an outlet for his or her creativity. However there’s additionally a rising recognition that they’ll have a objective past leisure. They may aid you join with clients or be used as a means of speaking along with your staff.

We additionally cowl the topic of the issues that you just’ll have to create a podcast. And why this record will not be as daunting or as costly as you may assume. You may, in the event you like, purchase the newest and best tools, however Joe is of the opinion that, while that is good, it’s not important.

As this as a podcast about WordPress, we make sure that to debate how WordPress and podcasting are an ideal match.

While many podcast internet hosting platforms will help you have a primary web site, it’s probably that you just’ll have the ability to make your podcast simpler in the event you’re in a position to prolong the web site’s performance. WordPress is ideal for this. There’s no restrictions on what you are able to do and also you’re free to vary something everytime you like.

So, in the event you’re interested by easy methods to arrange a podcast, or in the event you’ve already acquired one going and simply wish to hear some contemporary views, this episode is for you.

In case you’re fascinated by discovering out extra, you’ll find all of the hyperlinks within the present notes by heading over to WP Tavern dot com ahead slash podcast. The place you’ll additionally discover all the opposite episodes. And so with out additional delay, I carry you Joe Casabona.

I’m joined on the podcast at the moment by Joe Casabona. Hey Joe.

[00:03:58] Joe Casabona: Hey, Nathan. Thanks for having me.

[00:04:00] Nathan Wrigley: You’re very welcome. Joe and I’ve truly spoken on plenty of events, however we’ve by no means truly spoken about this specific topic. And it’s good to have you ever on the WP Tavern podcast as effectively. Initially, Joe the generic query, which all the time ask, it is probably not probably the most fascinating, however a minimum of it units the tone for the episode. Give us a little bit little bit of a backstory about your self as lengthy or as quick as you want, inform us who you’re and the way come you’re speaking about podcasts and WordPress at the moment?

[00:04:24] Joe Casabona: Yeah. So I’ve been a WordPress developer since 2004. My origin story is a little bit bit, I used to be telling my good friend how I feel I’m going to construct my very own content material administration system, trigger I used to be doing consumer work since highschool. And he mentioned, have you ever heard of this factor known as WordPress? And I used to be like, no, I seemed into it, and I mainly used it ever since. I did it the unhealthy means for awhile earlier than pages had been supported, I might put like my very own PHP recordsdata into Core, however then pages acquired help in like 2006, I feel, and since then, just about all of my consumer work has been accomplished with WordPress. I additionally, since second grade was in drama membership from second to twelfth grade.

And so I really like entertaining. I really like performing, and podcasting appeared like a very good outlet for that, as I turned an grownup and moved away from theater, as different issues claimed my time. However in 2012, I launched a podcast, however it was horrible as a result of it was like a panel podcast. It was mainly simply me and my buddies speaking, which is rather like the worst type of podcast.

However in 2016 I launched an actual correct, I had a correct go at podcasting with my podcast, how I constructed it. And since then, that’s a important driver of my revenue. I’m self-employed, full time since 2017. I’ve three youngsters at residence, so this enterprise helps my household and podcasting is a significant a part of that. And so from 2016 on I’ve been in a position to mix my two careers of WordPress and podcasting right into a content material creation enterprise we’ll say.

[00:05:58] Nathan Wrigley: So it’s truthful to say that as regards to podcasting and WordPress mixed, you’ve just about acquired it sussed. In order that’s excellent. Thanks very a lot certainly. You talked about in there that you just had a go at podcasting and the format was incorrect, however you persevered. And I’m simply interested by that. It appears to me that in the meanwhile, the phrases I’m going to do a podcast, just about fall out of everyone’s lips sooner or later. It’s very a lot in vogue. All people’s speaking about it. It’s the newest factor. Whether or not or not that continues, who is aware of, however proper now it appears that evidently everyone desires to get on that bandwagon. Do you assume it’s for everyone? Are there any gotchas that you’d put in folks’s means and say, truly earlier than you commit, simply reply these questions on your self. Simply take into consideration these specific issues. I do know that’s a really generic query, however do you imagine it’s really for everyone?

[00:06:49] Joe Casabona: I feel it’s for everyone, so long as the reply to why do you wish to begin a podcast is to not make some huge cash or to be well-known. I feel you want a greater motive than both a kind of, as a result of whereas I make a variety of my cash with podcasting, it’s not the rationale I began. I assumed that this was going to be extra of like a advertising device for my on-line programs which is one other strategy to earn a living. Don’t get me incorrect.

However in the event you go into podcasting considering, I’m going to be wealthy and I’m going to be well-known. I’m going to be the subsequent Joe Rogan or Conan O’Brien or whoever Then you definitely’ll be dissatisfied. However in the event you go in with a motive past that, I wish to assist folks study this factor I’m obsessed with. I wish to assist set up my experience in a selected space, then sure, it’s best to begin a podcast.

[00:07:44] Nathan Wrigley: Do you assume that the ability set is one thing which you can be taught in its entirety? As a result of there’s so much happening in a podcast. Once you eat it, it feels as if it simply fell out of the podcast participant. You already know, you won’t understand the quantity of labor that goes in. That is perhaps analysis. It is perhaps establishing the interview, redoing the interview, enhancing the interview, placing music in and looking for that. The time spent, in the event you’re doing visitor interviews and all of that.

Do you’re feeling that there’s a sure proclivity, a sure sort of one who suits greatest? In different phrases, In case you’re, let’s say extra on the reclusive facet, is that one thing that might put you off? And likewise, from a technical standpoint, are you able to simply be taught all the things that must be realized, or is it tough to accumulate the abilities and, you recognize, it’s worthwhile to mainly dedicate time to be taught all these earlier than you truly decide to beginning.

[00:08:36] Joe Casabona: Yeah, that’s a very fascinating query as a result of, I feel a lesson folks be taught time and time once more is the factor that appears easy on the entrance finish, proper? The best way we see it’s truly an enormous effort on the backend, by the creator, proper? The YouTube movies that seem like they’re so easy and simple, actually simply take hours of enhancing for instance, proper. And so I feel it does take time to be taught. I feel the toughest factor to be taught might be easy methods to have a very good dialog. I feel lots of people don’t actually know the way to do this, particularly with folks they don’t know personally.

And in order that takes some analysis. You already know, you and I had a pre-interview dialogue, although we all know one another. I do the identical factor with my podcast interviewees. We get out about 20 minutes earlier than we’re going to document and chat and get snug with one another. So I feel that there are some stuff you do have to be taught. Or it’s worthwhile to acknowledge your strengths and outsource the issues that you just don’t care to be taught or don’t love to do, proper.

Coming from the WordPress area, that all the time seems like a tricky dialog to have, proper? Why would I pay for someone to do it after I can do it myself, however one of many first issues and top-of-the-line issues I did after I began my podcast was rent an editor. I hated enhancing. And if I needed to edit my very own podcasts, I wouldn’t be the place I’m at the moment.

[00:09:59] Nathan Wrigley: So it’s a query of discovering the issues that you just’re good at. Discovering the issues that you just like. Concentrating on these and figuring out that there are business avenues for taking that off your plate and giving it to someone else. That’s actually good recommendation.

By way of the type of scope of the challenge, sometimes the podcasts that I listened to fall into two important classes, I listened to podcasts for leisure. So, there’s comedy podcasts and there’s information podcasts and issues like that. However then I additionally extra not too long ago have discovered podcasts the place I’m consuming data. It’s virtually like I’ve changed the TV documentary with podcasts.

And I simply surprise in the event you had any ideas about that. In different phrases, must you assume actually rigorously about the subject material at hand? Is a pet challenge adequate. Or do you actually should be introspective and considering lengthy and exhausting about what the character is? In different phrases, in the event you start, are you caught doing that?

Or are you able to pivot midway by such as you did, you kiboshed one podcast and began once more. Simply curious as to how a lot thought you assume the subject material of the podcast might have.

[00:11:06] Joe Casabona: Yeah, that’s a very nice query, proper, and generally it’s a scenario of you don’t know what you don’t know, proper. It’s like while you do consumer work and also you say effectively, what do you, what would you like? I’ll know I don’t like one thing after I see it. And so I feel if you wish to begin a podcast, attempt your first or third or fifth thought, don’t spend an excessive amount of time on laboring over that and simply get began. Document a few take a look at episodes, and see how effectively you fall into the behavior of recording and the format and see if it really works for you.

Yeah, trigger I’m listening to a extremely produced podcast proper now known as Depraved Sport. It seems at the entire American elections from the very first to the 2020 election, American presidential elections, I ought to say. And it’s extremely produced with music and sound results and it’s deeply researched. And it’s so fascinating, however my podcast is nowhere close to that. I’m having a very good dialog with someone. And it’s a little bit bit researched.

I look into my visitor if I wish to have them on the present. I take a look at the questions I’m going to ask them, for instance, I’m interviewing Chris Coyier later at the moment. And I listened Nathan to your interview with him from a couple of weeks in the past, to ensure that we didn’t cowl the identical precise issues, as a result of there’s most likely some overlap, and I’m certain Chris doesn’t wanna, I’m certain he’s not happening like a podcast junket, to inform the identical tales again and again. So I feel that was possibly a meandering reply. I might say when you may have an thought, you assume is nice sufficient, begin, you’re not caught, however it is going to aid you perceive what works for you and what doesn’t be just right for you.

[00:12:42] Nathan Wrigley: The use case, so I discussed two classes there, broadly leisure and data. I caught sight of a very fascinating thought of podcasting the opposite day. And I confess having been a podcast and myself for a couple of years, it was caught quick by this re-purposing of audio content material. And that was that the CEO of an organization, had determined that the day by day huddle of his, I don’t know what number of employees let’s say 20 or so, was it a little bit of a waste of time. And he thought to himself, effectively, the general public that work for me are commuting. They’re all utilizing iPhones or Android telephones and so they’re all consuming podcasts.

Why don’t I create a podcast episode telling everyone what would have been within the morning assembly the next morning. And though that’s a really particular use case, it simply all of a sudden made me assume, oh, so it’s not nearly data. It’s not nearly leisure. You actually might finesse this down, and make it one thing very particular certainly. I don’t know in the event you’d come throughout some other curious examples of how audio podcasts had been used.

[00:13:48] Joe Casabona: Yeah, I feel that’s an excellent, and I had someone method me final 12 months fascinated by mainly doing the identical factor. They run an organization of truck drivers, and as a substitute of constructing their truck drivers, who may very well be all around the nation, tune right into a go-to assembly each month, they wished to place these go-to conferences, which had been normally simply displays by the CEO, out as podcasts.

That means truck drivers who’re of their automotive or their truck many of the day, might hear at any time when they may extra conveniently. I’ve seen use instances of lecturers utilizing podcasts to place out lectures, or to announce new homework assignments or add extra context to a homework project. So there are, particularly with the appearance of personal podcasting, I feel there are a ton of unbelievable use instances as a result of audio is a less complicated medium than video, and it’s simpler on bandwidth and you’ve got a podcast app the place new episodes robotically get downloaded, proper? You don’t need to go to a web site to examine, to see if it’s up to date. You may get a push notification when a brand new episode drops.

[00:15:01] Nathan Wrigley: One of many issues that I discover actually superb about audio is simply the truth that I can truly be doing a number of issues on the similar time. You already know, I might be sitting at my laptop working and I can tune right into a podcast. And if I don’t want it to provide my full consideration, it’s simply there. And if one thing piques my curiosity, I’ll most likely pause what I’m doing and get engaged with it for a little bit second.

But in addition equally, I may very well be giving it my full consideration while I’m finishing up some family chores, it may very well be vacuuming the ground or one thing. And that requires virtually no cognitive means from me in any respect. And I try this quite a bit and I’m, I’m actually engaged in it. And so that you don’t need to be, as you’d be for a, a chunk of video content material, you don’t have to use all thought in the direction of it.

Issues might be happening on the similar time. Particularly, as you mentioned, issues like commuting. It’s the proper time to have audio content material, as a result of most individuals are most likely throwing on the automotive stereo sooner or later anyway, so. Yeah. That’s actually fascinating.

Do you see this as an avenue, by way of WordPress web site builds, do you see this as a rising avenue for let’s say businesses or freelancers, as an space that they’ll bolster their providing to their purchasers. In the mean time they’ll say issues like, we are able to construct you a web site. We will give you a care plan. We will do the upkeep, we are able to do web optimization and so forth. Do you assume persons are extra ceaselessly asking, are you able to do me a podcast? What profit might I get from a podcast?

[00:16:26] Joe Casabona: Yeah, I’m not the very best marketer. And I get these inquiries. I’ve a few purchasers for whom I produce podcasts. However even from the WordPress facet, proper, I feel extra podcasters are realizing they want a very good web site for his or her podcast. And I feel, even when we’re not impartial podcasters, you recognize, who’re extra reluctant to spend cash at first, as a result of there isn’t an actual, tangible value related to podcasting from the very starting.

However you may have businesses and establishments who’re like, possibly we must always have a podcast. Constructing a very good web site round that’s going to be essential to them, particularly in the event that they wish to supply one thing to their members or their workers, or their college students, the place there’s some type of privateness facet concerned.

[00:17:16] Nathan Wrigley: Yeah, you talked about privateness or non-public podcasts. Maybe individuals who don’t take heed to podcasts or, like us, are ordinary about podcasting. Simply inform us what a non-public podcast is. As a result of it’s an entire totally different space of podcasting that many individuals don’t even learn about.

[00:17:31] Joe Casabona: Non-public podcasting, I assume if I’m going to generalize the definition, it’s a podcast for which you management entry to. So for me, I’ve a non-public podcast known as construct one thing extra. That’s for my members. They get add free prolonged episodes of my podcast, however additionally they get, on Fridays, an episode known as the weekly wrap, the place I simply inform them what I labored on this week. And a few of my struggles, a few of my wins, and it’s a 15 minute or so replace for simply my members. However as you talked about, a non-public podcast may be an organization solely podcast, proper? The place possibly the CEO is speaking about their roadmap for the subsequent quarter.

And that’s not essentially public data, however he nonetheless desires, or she or he desires to disseminate that data to the workers. A podcast may very well be an effective way to do this. When you have a classroom based mostly podcast, that’s the identical factor, proper? You’re placing out classes that you just don’t need the entire world to listen to. Perhaps you’re speaking with pupil suggestions or one thing like that. That may very well be a non-public podcast as effectively.

[00:18:36] Nathan Wrigley: Yeah. Okay. Thanks. That’s cleared that up. By way of development of podcasts, it seems like there’s been kind of exponential development in the previous couple of years. If we rewind the clock, possibly ten or eight years, they existed, however they had been pretty area of interest. You most likely needed to sit at a tool after which alongside comes the iPod and adjustments all of that. After which after that alongside comes the iPhone and smartphones generally. And hastily, these things is simply in your pocket. It’s fully there on a regular basis. It’s a tool which you’re kind of assured to carry throughout the time that you just’re awake.

So it felt prefer it was getting larger and larger and larger. And everyone appears to be leaping on the bandwagon. Do you may have any, any perception into whether or not or not that’s nonetheless the case. In different phrases, if at the moment is the second that you just’re fascinated by a podcast, you’d wish to be considering, okay, it’s a rising medium. I wish to hop on while it’s nonetheless rising, however possibly that’s not the case. Perhaps it’s in decline.

[00:19:34] Joe Casabona: Yeah, actually fascinating query. And I feel as with something with information, you can most likely twist the stats to inform your individual story, however Edison analysis is a group that does a variety of totally different sorts of stats. They’ll do like a factor known as terrestrial radio as effectively. They’ll do normal content material consumption by family, however, they’ve a report known as the infinite dial, the place they take a look at listening habits and podcasts particularly. Proper? So for instance, smartphone possession grew by about 250 million during the last couple of years. Web linked watch homeowners and so they have all of the, all of those stats.

However one of many stats is podcasting. How many individuals are listening to podcasts? How many individuals are conscious that podcasting is a factor. And for the primary time, since they had been doing this research it’s I feel month-to-month or weekly listenership decreased. I’m looking for the stat. I want I had it up, however it was all a buzz once they introduced it in March, that for the primary time podcast consumption went down.

[00:20:40] Nathan Wrigley: It seems like there’s all the time going to be a second in any market the place it has plateaued, however it feels as if the brink which we’ve reached continues to be kind of everyone. It nonetheless seems like there’s loads of viewers to share round, and the sky will not be essentially falling in simply because within the newer previous the numbers haven’t stored rising. I feel in our pre-recording chat you talked about that there is perhaps some type of COVID pandemic information that explains that a little bit bit higher.

[00:21:10] Joe Casabona: Yeah, that’s precisely proper. Actually, I’m wanting by this information proper now and I can not discover, oh, month-to-month podcasts listening went down from 41 % to 38 % from 21 to 22, it seems like. Yeah, a small lower. And what occurred in that point? The world opened up once more, proper.

As a result of once more, from 19 to twenty, we noticed a 5 % improve. From 20 to 21, we noticed a 4 % improve. So if we examine 20 to 22, we see a 1 % improve. Individuals are going again to their regular lives. What’s the extra fascinating stat to me is round consciousness. Much more persons are conscious that podcasting is a factor. Much more persons are listening to a couple of podcast now.

So yeah, possibly I’m listening to fewer podcasts on a month-to-month foundation than I used to be a 12 months in the past, however that doesn’t imply that podcasting is reducing in recognition. And on that very same token, podcasting has not hit essential mass but. There’s 2.2 million podcasts solely about, I feel it’s one thing like lower than half of them are energetic. And so we now have 38 million YouTube channels, you inform me is podcasting has podcasting hit max capability but?

[00:22:37] Nathan Wrigley: Yeah, it actually feels to me as if there’s tons extra development. And it’s curious, the type of up and down of the final couple of years, and there positively appears to be some information factors, which clarify possibly the newer dip, as a result of life goes again to regular.

If someone is listening to this, and so they assume to themselves, wow, I actually should find time for this. I’ve lastly been persuaded. I’m going to do my podcast. Whatever the topic, let’s get into the tooling that’s wanted. And to start with, let’s keep away from, let’s simply keep instantly from WordPress and simply focus on the issues that you’d want in your life in the event you had been to develop into a podcaster.

And now we don’t have to go to the extremity of the entire totally different bits and items, however on the very fundamentals, what would you say could be the important after which possibly we are able to go onto the extra that might be fascinating. So let’s begin with the important stuff. What is required to do a podcast?

[00:23:28] Joe Casabona: I feel that you just want 4 issues to do a podcast, excluding your voice, proper. That will be quantity 5. I assume that’d be primary. Actually? You want a not in-built microphone, proper? So you will note weblog posts they’re like what microphone must you get? Do you have to purchase the Shure SM7B? Each podcaster that you just see on a TV present has the Shure SM7B, and I guarantee you as somebody who’s talking into one proper now, you don’t want that. You may spend 50 bucks or 40 bucks and get an honest in-built microphone since you’re not singing, most likely. You’re speaking. So that you simply want one thing that has cheap noise rejection, that has a devoted perform for capturing your voice.

You additionally want headphones. There are going to be individuals who say, I don’t want headphones. I’ve accomplished podcasts with out headphones and it’s, it’s effective. It’s not effective. What occurred was the particular person whose podcast you went on was too well mannered to ask you to placed on headphones, after which too well mannered to inform you that the recording gave the impression of crap.

You want headphones, as a result of in the event you don’t, you’re going to get a variety of interference. So mic, headphones, that’s one and two. Three is a strategy to document. Fortunately, no matter gadget you’re consuming this podcast on has a strategy to document. It may very well be Quicktime on a Mac. It may very well be Home windows Recorder on Home windows, or your telephones have recording apps as effectively. Heck the iPhone has like a model of Storage Band I feel you should use.

And then you definitely want an audio host. We’ll most likely get into audio host suggestions later, however you’ll be able to’t simply throw an MP3 up in your WordPress media library and name it a day. You want a devoted audio host for a bunch of causes.

[00:25:14] Nathan Wrigley: Simply develop that additional. I imply, everyone knows what a WordPress web site host is and the the reason why you wouldn’t put your WordPress web site on your property laptop, except you had been actually expert and knew what you had been doing. What’s the aim of a number, and why is that an integral part?

[00:25:27] Joe Casabona: Yeah. So I’ll put it to you this fashion, proper? In case you wished to journey throughout your nation, no matter nation you occur to be in. You possibly can placed on like these Seventies curler skates, proper? With the 4 wheels on all sides of the shoe. Or you can get a bicycle, which a kind of sounds higher?

Or in america, like biking throughout the nation sounds horrible to me, however some folks do it. I’d most likely need a automotive or a aircraft. So if you wish to put your audio on-line, technically you’ll be able to simply add it to any previous server, however you need a server that focuses on serving audio, identical to YouTube or Vimeo or not simply any previous video internet hosting suppliers, proper.

They do a variety of issues behind the scenes to ensure that persons are getting these movies served up shortly and effectively. And it’s the identical factor for an audio host. They do a variety of issues behind the scenes to verify your audio is obtainable and that stats are being captured on it. And that If possibly one server crashes, they’ve redundancy, proper? There are issues in place that audio hosts try this normal hosts won’t do.

[00:26:39] Nathan Wrigley: In addition they compile one thing known as an RSS feed, and WordPress customers had been actually conversant in this, however there’s a specific sort of RSS feed which must be consumed by a podcast participant. And so they additionally sometimes take that heavy lifting as effectively, in order that while you subscribe to the podcast, it comes with the entire album artwork and the entire episode descriptions and all of that. So, yeah, extremely really useful to look into that.

By way of then issues which you fairly like. So it’s not the 4 important issues. What about a number of the issues which you discovered to be fairly helpful though not vital.

[00:27:13] Joe Casabona: Okay. So strictly gear I, heavy caveat right here, that I really like tech and equipment and I’m going overboard proper? However I do have a elaborate microphone, and I’ve one thing known as the Rodecastor Professional. It is a 500 or $600 gadget that permits me to seize audio from a number of channels, and sound results, et cetera.

What I like concerning the Rodecaster Professional is it’s a soundboard constructed for podcasts. I’ve a few mikes plugged into it and so they’re all dialed in based mostly on the microphone. So I sound good, regardless of which one I take advantage of, and it permits me to do issues like monitor my audio. You may even document audio straight onto the {hardware}. That’s a chunk of {hardware} I actually like.

In case you’re considering, look, I wish to sound higher than only a common previous USB microphone. Then you will get an XLR microphone and you will get the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, which is a interface that permits you to plug an XLR microphone mainly into your laptop. These are two issues that I feel in the event you’re seeking to improve, that’s a very good place to begin.

The remainder of my podcast gear, I imply, the remainder of my recording gear actually is extra round dwell streaming. I assume the opposite type of piece of drugs I actually like, I’ve a Zoom recorder, the Zoom H5, which is sort of a moveable type of podcast recorder that you can once more, plug an XLR microphone into. And after I’m quote unquote on location, normally on location means at my dad and mom’ home. I’ll use that to document.

[00:28:46] Nathan Wrigley: What concerning the software program? Do you obsess about that in the identical means? Do you obtain the most costly audio software program that cash can purchase or do you simply go for a number of the freely accessible stuff like Audacity?

[00:28:57] Joe Casabona: Yeah, I’m truly, I’m recording this on my finish into storage band, which simply comes with the Mac. So far as different software program goes uh, you recognize, one thing I forgot to say within the {hardware}, is the Stream Deck. Once more, that’s not one thing I take into consideration with podcasting, however there’s a variety of stuff for podcasting on my Stream Deck.

Perhaps that’s one other piece of drugs that’s actually fascinating, and we are able to speak about that if there’s time later, however, so far as the software program goes, I take advantage of riverside.fm to document. Of the entire on-line recording platforms that get good audio out of your company. That’s the one I’ve appreciated the very best. I like having video on, trigger I like seeing my visitor. Once more, riverside.fm is a very good device for that full disclosure, they’ve sponsored my podcast prior to now.

[00:29:45] Nathan Wrigley: So as of late it’s truthful to say that there are mainly instruments which dwell contained in the browser. You now not should be utilizing an app like Skype or one thing like that. You may join with a number of company, dozens probably by browser based mostly options, and Riverside.fm is certainly one of them, and there’s an entire tranche of them and so they all appear to have comparable function parity, however that’s the one that you just’ve chosen.

Let’s flip to the web site facet of issues. It’s a WordPress podcast. There’s going to be issues that we want to implement on our web site. What makes a very good podcasting web site? Now that may very well be the way in which it seems. It may very well be the plugins that you just’re placing in there. It may very well be lead seize, something like that, that you just wish to focus on.

[00:30:29] Joe Casabona: Yeah. In order that’s an excellent query proper. And I feel, so I feel what a variety of podcasters endure from is a weak name to motion, proper? They’ll say subscribe in Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast proper. Initially, if persons are utilizing a podcast app and so they already know that, proper? They know easy methods to get your podcasts.

What I like is having a name to motion for my web site. So my name to motion will all the time be, you recognize, go go to URL slash episode quantity. And there you will get all of the present notes, you will get a transcript and you will get this factor I’m providing. In case you give me your e mail deal with, no matter that occurs to be. Your web site serves because the canonical place for all folks to go, it doesn’t matter what platform they’re utilizing to get extra details about your podcast.

So, that is once more, type of like mission-based proper. Why are you beginning a podcast? In case you’re beginning it to have sponsors, then nice. You possibly can have a very good part for sponsors. And I’ve, I’ve a web page the place I don’t know if that is so anymore trigger I needed to like shortly redesign it as a result of there was one thing incorrect with one thing I used to be utilizing.

However for awhile, in the event you visited a sponsor web page, it could record the entire episodes they sponsored. Proper. I ought to most likely flip that again on. So you can also make it very nice on your sponsors. You may add transcripts in a means that works actually properly. And I, once more, I simply up to date my web site. I’ve a customized put up sort for transcripts, and as a substitute of when someone searches my web site, if they arrive throughout a phrase within the transcript, they don’t go to the transcript or they go to the episode web page, proper. There’s like a little bit magic you are able to do with Search WP to make that occur. So it will depend on what you need. However utilizing WordPress as I’m certain everyone listening is aware of provides you a variety of flexibility, sponsors, merch.

If it’s your company say, you’ll be able to simply, you’ll be able to add a podcast feed utilizing the best plugin. Directing folks to your podcast web site permits you to get a greater return, let’s say, in your funding. Particularly in the event you’re an company or a freelancer who’s doing this to open up extra avenues of revenue.

[00:32:28] Nathan Wrigley: Yeah. it’s the identical piece that we’ve used for the longest time when constructing web sites, only for purchasers. You might be in charge of the content material. And in the event you select to go for the default web site, which might be constructed probably by your podcast host, you actually aren’t in charge of that. Issues might go incorrect. There may very well be an outage, they may exit of enterprise. You might simply determine that you just want to go away them and so forth. Whereas in the event you’ve acquired all of that by yourself area and also you’re working it and proudly owning it, I fully concur. I simply assume that’s one of the best ways to do it. You are able to do what you want.

And, It’s true to say that sometimes, in the event you go to a podcast host web site, the standard ones that don’t have anything to do with WordPress, they may supply the performance for a primary web site. Do you simply wish to define why there’s drawbacks there, you recognize, by way of the choices to customise it, and in addition the issues that, the entire intelligent issues that you just simply talked about, presumably they’re all out of the window. You may’t modify, customise, replace it as you’d change the structure and so forth.

[00:33:34] Joe Casabona: Yeah. Most of them are simply horrible. They give the impression of being horrible. They don’t work effectively. I’ve seen some the place like, you don’t even get an episode particular hyperlink. Proper. It’s identical to, all of the episodes are like listed in line on a single web page. That’s not nice. After which, yeah, you’ll be able to’t actually customise something.

I feel the very best implementation I’ve seen is Castos. They rolled out their like web site templates. And even these are fairly restricted. When you have nothing Castos is so much higher, however you’ll be able to’t bolt a e-commerce possibility on to any of these, proper. Or you’ll be able to’t when someone turns into a member, proper? Perhaps you need them to get a member RSS feed and combine your podcasts into that. That’s so much simpler to do on WordPress. Or you’ll be able to’t have an account space generally for any non-public podcast in the event you’re utilizing the audio hosts implementation.

You’re simply locked in, in a variety of methods. You’re restricted in your present notes. You’re restricted in what you are able to do with sponsor stuff. And so it’s most likely higher than nothing, however I’m totally assured that the rationale that my present grew a lot over the primary couple of years was as a result of I had a very good web site proper off the bat.

[00:34:49] Nathan Wrigley: In case you are actually simply going for audio, then I feel an audio host is ok, however if you wish to have something ancillary to simply the audio, if you wish to put any phrases on pages or any pictures which may connect themselves to that or any upsells, then I, assume you’ve acquired to stray away as a result of it’s virtually just like the podcast has acquired the memo a couple of web site 5 years after it was wanted. I’ve but to discover a podcast host the place the web site isn’t one thing that you can put along with WordPress in a matter of moments.

Let’s go to some suggestions for podcast hosts, that are WordPress particular. Now, I’ve come throughout one, because it occurs. There could also be many, however the one which I’ve used earlier than known as Castos, and so they’re fairly distinctive, in that they help you do all of the issues within WordPress and also you actually don’t have to go away and go to a podcast home. It’s all taking place as metadata. Simply clarify how that works.

[00:35:49] Joe Casabona: Yeah so far as I do know except a brand new host has entered the scene not too long ago, Castos is the one type of WordPress based mostly podcast host. And you are able to do it each methods, which is a little bit bit complicated if I’m being sincere. However, in the event you inform Casto is I’m managing my podcast fully from WordPress, you are able to do all the things from there, add the audio, it’ll ship it to Casto’s server. Replace the title and outline and on the Castos finish, all the things will get sinked.

And so you’ll be able to handle your entire podcast from WordPress in a customized put up sort for podcasts. You may say, I need this in the primary feed or not. So you’ll be able to have a very separate part on your podcast. And it simply it makes all the things so much simpler, proper, as a result of after I was not on Castos, I must. Effectively, I arrange an automation to do that finally, however it was like, what if this breaks, and my entire podcast goes down or no matter, however I’d need to add the audio to Libsyn. That’s what I used to be utilizing. Libsyn was the massive canine for some time, however then they rested on their laurels and now they’re actually not good in any respect. They had been actually good in like 2002. But it surely’s not 2002 anymore.

And so I’d need to go there, add, copy the audio URL, proper? The audio recordsdata URL. Paste it into a special podcast plugin I used to be utilizing. And the entire course of was identical to womp or prefer it took a lot time. And so in the event you’re utilizing Castos, this seems like a business for Castos, however Castos is the one one who does this. That is their aggressive edge. Then you definitely don’t need to do all that. You are able to do all the things from the dashboard, out of your WordPress admin. And also you’re not going round right into a bunch of various locations.

[00:37:22] Nathan Wrigley: Yeah. So you’re mainly saving your self a little bit little bit of time and sure, caveats, all the things that we now have described on the Castos facet might be achieved. There’s simply extra little intermediate steps. Such as you mentioned, it’s a must to go over right here, and add the file after which paste possibly an iframe or one thing like that into your Gutenberg posts or no matter. It’s simply stuff you’ve acquired to do.

[00:37:43] Joe Casabona: Yeah, like possibly Bluberry is one other podcast host, like possibly they’ve this integration as a result of I feel the most important competitor to Casto’s plugin, which is Severely Easy Podcasting is PowerPress, which is Bluberry’s providing. However I nonetheless don’t assume anyone does it in addition to Castos.

[00:37:58] Nathan Wrigley: So we’ve made the case for having a podcast, the totally different use instances. We’ve described a number of the tech that you just might need, on the WordPress facet and the tech that you just may personal within the bodily world as effectively, the bits and items, the microphones and so forth. Simply curious to know in the event you’ve through the years that you just’ve been podcasting, in the event you’ve had any aha moments the place you’ve all of a sudden strayed into one thing and thought, boy, why have I not been doing this for some time? Something that you just’ve discovered. Prime suggestions that will save our viewers generally, ought to they determine to podcast..

[00:38:31] Joe Casabona: Yeah, this isn’t essentially the method of podcasting, however construct your e mail record. As a result of what you’ll be taught shortly is podcasting feels so much like a one-way road. You’re speaking right into a microphone, the overwhelming majority of people who find themselves listening, most likely aren’t participating, but when folks join your mailing record, now you may have direct entry to them.

You may put names with listeners and have interaction with them on a deeper stage. So I might say construct your e mail record proper off the bat. That’s one thing I didn’t do for years and it harm me. I feel the opposite factor that a variety of podcasts was making a mistake about is. Once more, I discussed it earlier, however have a transparent name to motion, proper? As a result of normally what podcasters, myself included, will do is say, charge us and evaluate us on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. If you wish to be taught extra about this, go right here. And that’s too many issues, particularly for someone who’s most likely not totally paying consideration.

As a substitute, say, hey, be part of my mailing record. You may join on the present notes web page over at wp tavern.com slash no matter. There you’ll additionally discover the entire present notes for all the things that we talked about. Then point out it once more in the midst of the episode. Hey, by the way in which, you’ll find the entire present notes and join my publication over at blah blah.

After which on the finish the place your name to motion might be. And the nice half about that’s which you can have a hyperlink to charge and evaluate wherever. You may have the subscribe buttons. And within the e mail newsletters that you just ship out each week with the brand new episodes or each two weeks with the brand new episodes, you’ll be able to have hyperlinks to charge and evaluate, to subscribe, to take a look at this new book I launched. You may have early entry if you would like. There’s a variety of issues that I feel when folks first begin podcasting, they’re actually targeted on, all proper, I have to sound good, I have to make it good, I have to launch it. However these ancillary actions are the issues that develop into the bottom for which your podcast enterprise or your podcast revenue relies off of.

[00:40:30] Nathan Wrigley: Now you’re clearly very bullish about podcasting. You’ve actually made it your life in newer occasions. Simply curious as as to if or not that’s relentlessly the case. If we had been to solid the web a little bit bit wider and return 5 – 6 years, have you ever acquired any cautionary tales concerning the normal factor that begins when folks start to a challenge like this.

It’s all roses and all the things is sparkly and new, and also you’re fascinated by the method. And maybe it’s not as simple, maybe there’s a little bit of grinds to this as effectively. So simply questioning in the event you had any ideas about that.

[00:41:01] Joe Casabona: Yeah, it positively is a grind. It’s work. And the factor that made it much less like work for me at first is I’m an extrovert. I really like having conversations with folks. In an more and more distant world, I’m seeing folks much less and fewer. A good friend from highschool who lives in my space now invited me to get a beer on Thursday and there have been like a number of hurdles to that. And my spouse was like do you wish to see him? And I used to be like, I wish to see virtually anyone I’m not blood associated to you proper now. Like I simply miss seeing folks. That’s not a knock on my household, in fact. I just like the human connection.

And so what made it really feel much less like work for me was I acquired to have conversations. I’m obsessed with these conversations and while you’re beginning a podcast, once more, it goes again to that first query you requested me, like, why shouldn’t someone begin a podcast? In case you’re simply doing it for the cash and the glory. You’re in for an extended, irritating journey.

However in the event you’re doing it since you wish to inform the world about this factor that you just’re tremendous obsessed with, then yeah, it’s a grind, however it’s a grind the place you get to speak about this factor that you just love. And that’s what’s going to make an viewers join with you, and that’s what’s going to get your podcast to develop.

[00:42:12] Nathan Wrigley: I find it irresistible. That’s a very excellent place to finish the interview, however I don’t wish to finish fairly there as a result of I wish to give you a chance to inform us a little bit bit about the place we are able to discover you. So yeah, precisely that the chance now to provide us your Twitter feed or your e mail deal with, or presumably a web site.

[00:42:29] Joe Casabona: Sure. So in case you are fascinated by my podcast particular companies and content material, you’ll be able to go to podcast liftoff dot com, and you’ll find all the things podcast associated I’m doing there. In case you’re typically within the stuff I’m doing whether or not it’s WordPress or the rest that we now have, or haven’t talked about, you’ll be able to go to casabona dot org. You’ll discover all over the place I’m and hyperlinks to Twitter and all that enjoyable stuff.

[00:42:51] Nathan Wrigley: Joe Casabona, thanks for becoming a member of me on the podcast at the moment. I actually recognize it.

[00:42:55] Joe Casabona: My pleasure, Nathan. Thanks for having me.