Smarter Podcasting: Making Podcasts Better SMB Podcasts

"As soon as you start doing something for money, whether you like it or not. It's gonna change."

Podcasting expert and host of Smarter Podcasting Niall Mackay is interviewed by Samantha an AI Voice powered by ChatGPT.

Niall shares his journey from being an avid podcast listener to becoming a successful podcaster himself. He candidly discusses the challenges of podcasting, strategies for attracting and retaining an audience, and the future of the industry. 

Niall's wealth of experience and practical advice make this a must-listen for aspiring and experienced podcasters alike.

Niall delves into the transition from hobby to profession, emphasizing how money changes the dynamics of podcasting. He also explores the importance of consistency, authenticity, and community-building in establishing a dedicated following. 

Additionally, Niall shares his thoughts on the impact of video integration and offers monetization strategies for podcasters.

Key Takeaways:
- Appreciate the time commitment required for podcasting, and consider outsourcing tasks like editing to save time.
- Consistency and being true to yourself are crucial for building a dedicated audience.
- Engage with your audience where they are, and provide value beyond just promoting your episodes.
- Sponsorships and Patreon are viable monetization strategies, but don't expect quick riches from podcasting.
- Video integration is the future of podcasting, but audio should remain the primary focus.
Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI

In this episode of Smarter Podcasting, host Niall Mackay talks with Erin and John, a husband-and-wife duo behind the Connect-Empower Podcast. They discuss the challenges of starting a podcast, the importance of quality equipment and editing, and the commitment required to produce a consistent show.

Erin and John share their journey from initially thinking podcasting would be as easy as hitting record on a phone to realizing the complexities involved, such as editing, hosting, distribution, and promotion. They highlight the value of Niall's guidance in navigating the technical aspects and overcoming common pitfalls like not hitting record or talking over each other.

Throughout the conversation, Niall emphasizes the importance of producing high-quality audio, staying consistent, and focusing on connecting with a niche audience rather than appealing to the masses. He also shares insights from his own podcasting experience, including the surprising growth of his older shows due to their evergreen content.

Key Takeaways:

- Podcasting requires a significant time commitment, often 8-10 hours per episode when accounting for all tasks involved.
- Investing in quality equipment and editing skills is crucial for producing a professional-sounding show.
- Consistency is key, even if it means releasing episodes less frequently or in seasons.
- Focus on connecting with your target audience rather than seeking mass appeal.
- Evergreen content can continue to attract new listeners for years after its release.

"Imagine if every week those amount of people were in a room listening to what you have to say. They showed up because they want to hear exactly what you want to hear." - Niall Mackay


Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI

In this episode, I take you through my personal experience of evolving from a podcasting novice in 2019 to a professional editor and producer for over 30 shows globally. 

I provide my top five tips for those interested in starting their own podcast on a budget. My recommendations include selecting basic but vital equipment, creating a workable home studio, utilizing efficient recording and editing software, seeking assistance and guidance from friends and the online podcasting community, and the importance of continuous learning and networking. 

The episode serves to demystify podcasting for newcomers and emphasizes the possibility of producing top-tier content without breaking the bank.

00:47 Podcasting on a Budget: The Scottish Way
02:16 Essential Equipment for Podcasting
10:35 Setting Up Your Home Studio
16:15 Choosing the Right Recording and Editing Software
18:43 Leveraging Your Network for Podcasting Success
20:52 Learning and Networking in the Podcasting Community


Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI

Niall Mackay shares his podcast audit of Debra Chantry-Taylor's show Better Business, Better Life. 

They discuss equipment and editing processes, defining a clear niche and audience, crafting compelling introductions, improving audio quality, editing techniques, balancing video and audio elements, optimizing calls-to-action, and more. 

Niall provides constructive feedback and tangible tips to elevate Debra's podcast.
Key Takeaways:
Clearly explain in the introduction who you are, what the episode is about, who the guest is, and what value listeners will get. This "frames" the episode.Narrow your niche as much as possible to attract the right listeners. Consider adding relevant keywords to your title.Edit out crosstalk, filler words, background noise, and anything distracting to keep the listener focused.Decide if you are making the podcast primarily for video or audio. Don't refer to visual elements on an audio show.Have just one call-to-action at the end, focused on your own business, not promoting the guest.Change up your intro jingle, ads, etc. to keep it fresh. Don't get too repetitive."The introduction is probably the most important part of your podcast because it's what you need to keep the listener listening."


Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI

Seasoned podcaster Garry Kelly,  Managing Director of GK Media, shares invaluable insights on creating a successful podcast, detailing how he built his professional studio in Galway and offering tips for new podcasters.

Key Takeaways:
- Start with just a good microphone - quality comes first. Acoustics matter more than equipment.
- Editing makes a big difference in polishing episodes. Be willing to trim and refine raw recordings. 
- Add video elements to expand reach on social media. Clips on TikTok and YouTube can draw new listeners.
- Seek to constantly improve audio, visuals, equipment. Successful creators build skills over time.
- Focus on providing value for your audience above all else.

"If you’ve lost interest, your audience have also lost interest."

Entities Mentioned:
- GK Media, Galway Races, Jerry Girls, Tommy Tiernan, Gary Talks, Zoom, Taskam, Road microphones, Sennheiser microphones, Shure microphones, Blackmagic cameras, Adobe Audition
Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI

I'm joined by a podcaster who I first met when we did a coaching call on how to use Descript. Then she heard about my podcast audits I've been doing and she was like, "yes, please give me an audit!"
My guest today has a background in customer service, and she just wants to serve people and help people. So started a podcast with her dad, which means they actually have a good rapport together, which she says that like it's obvious, but that's not obvious that you have a good rapport with your dad and you can do a podcast, but she created a podcast with her dad called The Human Being Project and their website is The Change Evolutionist. 

My guest today is Janelle Thiessen!

In this episode we cover;
- branding
- mic placement
- how to make a killer introduction!
- and more!!

So listen to find out how to make your podcast the best it can be!!
Ready to start sharing your story and launch your own podcast? Don't let fear, lack of knowledge, or technical barriers hold you back any longer. Enroll in "How To Start A Podcast: Get your voice out & share your story" today and take the first step towards creating a successful podcast that reaches and resonates with your audience.
With my comprehensive course, you'll learn everything you need to know about starting, recording, editing, and publishing your podcast. Plus, you'll gain access to exclusive tips, tricks, and strategies that will help you stand out from the crowd and grow your audience.
Enroll now and start your podcast journey today!
These are the programs the Seven Million Bikes Podcasts uses. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes Podcasts too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | Riverside | PodcastMarketing.AI