Best Podcast Microphones For Great Audio (All Budgets)

By Ross Winn. Originally published here and updated January 2, 2022

Photo by Terrillo Walls on Unsplash

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You’re starting a podcast and are wondering “what’s the best microphone for podcasting?”

The good news is that for most people, that answer is easy: get the ATR2100x-USB here.

But where things can get a little tricky is when you need to record multiple people, or maybe you want something a bit more on the pro end.

Don’t worry though, we’ll try to make it easy (and not list 300 different options that just make you more confused) so you can get what you need and get back to podcasting!

The first thing you need to know is there are two ways to connect a podcast mic to your computer: USB and XLR.

USB is fast and easy to set up and great if you only need to record one microphone at your location.

Remote guests are fine, but you’ll want to avoid USB if you need to record 2 or more people locally.

XLR connections require additional equipment to connect them to your computer, but the sound quality is better. You’ll also be able to connect more than one mic at the same time.

Now that we have that cleared up, here are the best podcasting microphones – we’ll start with USB and then go into XLR:

Best USB Podcasting Mics

These USB mics are great for lower budgets or those that want the easiest way to start a podcast in 2022.

ATR2100x-USB

I’ve recommended the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB in many other articles and now there is a new version! The ATR2100x-USB updates the quality and now uses USB-C.

It performs well above its price point, has both USB and XLR connections, and is small enough to travel with if needed.

Samson Q2U

The Samson Q2U is basically the same mic as above. I’ve had reports that you can’t seem to get the ATR2100 outside the US, so this is what I would get if that’s the case.

It comes with a stand, windscreen, USB and XLR cables.

Rode NT-USB

The Rode NT-USB is a cardioid mic (ideal for voice recording) that comes with a pop filter, tripod, boom mount, a 20′ USB cable, and a travel pouch.

Best XLR Podcasting Mics

Most people will want a dynamic mic, especially if you are recording multiple people in the same studio, so that’s what you’ll find in this section. We do have a separate article on condenser microphones if you’re interested in learning more about what’s available.

Rode PodMic

The Rode PodMic is my favorite XLR podcasting mic under $100.

This dynamic cardioid mic has an internal pop filter and shockmount to help get the best audio quality in a simple and small package.

You’ll want to get a boom arm for the best results.

Rode Procaster

I actually have 3 of these and love them. The Rode Procaster does tend to need a little extra gain to not sound noisy.

When compared with other mics, the frequency range of 75Hz – 18kHz doesn’t seem like it quite compares but the results have been great.

Heil PR-40

The Heil PR-40 is used by many top podcasters.

Its price point puts it just below the higher-end mics below, but the sound quality and specs more than compare.

You’ll get a 28Hz – 18kHz frequency response, internal shockmount and pop filter, and a padded case for safe transport.

Shure SM7B

You’ll find the Shure SM7B in Joe Rogan’s podcast studio – as well as many others.

This is a classic broadcasting mic and performs really well. With a built-in shockmount and pop filter, and a frequency range of 50Hz – 20kHz, you’ll never need to upgrade or get additional accessories.

You will need a Cloudlifter or preamp to power the SM7B as it is notoriously “gain-hungry”.

Electro-Voice RE20

The Electro-Voice RE20 is another classic broadcasting mic. It has a feature called Variable-D that gives you some flexibility with your mic technique, making it great for both beginners and pros.

Mobile Podcasting Mics

Planning to podcast on the go? There are several small mobile mics that sound much better than any built-in microphone you might have.

There are also some great iPhone mics and Android mics if you want to go that route as well.

Samson Go Mic

The Samson Go Mic is a great cheap podcasting mic (under $30) and is designed for travel.

It can clip to your laptop or simply sit on your desk, folds up small, and can switch between cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns.

Comes with a travel case and USB cable.

Blue Snowflake

The Blue Snowflake is another cheap podcasting mic (also under $30) designed for use on the go.

It can be used on top of a laptop or on a desktop, folds into itself for compact carrying, and comes with a USB cable.

Final Recommendations

What about the Blue Yeti? Well, it’s not really the best choice for podcasting. We do list the Blue Yeti as a top choice for gaming and streaming mics, but when it comes to podcasting, you’ll want something that minimizes background noise.

Other great podcasting microphones not highlighted above include the Audio-Technica BP40, Telefunken M82, and MXL BCD-1 (these are all dynamic mics with XLR connections).

The best mic for podcasting is the one you have with you, so don’t let our recommendations stop you from recording if you don’t have exactly what we recommend.

Every podcaster has different needs and varying quality of recording space, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works for you! 

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Article By Ross Winn

Ross Winn is the founder of Podcast Insights, the industry-leading podcast education site. He has helped thousands of people start and grow a podcast and loves to test out new gear and software.

How podcasting is revolutionizing communications

Article originally posted here

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The human voice is said to be one of the world’s most persuasive communication tools.

Perhaps this is why many people believe we are in the midst of a podcast revolution.

Since podcasting consists of audio broadcasting on the internet, it is in the powerful position to combine the persuasiveness of voice communication with the dominance of online interactions over our daily lives.

Unlike traditional radio news and broadcasting which was once the apex of audio communication, podcasts have the huge advantage of being listened to at any time at the listener’s convenience.

Indeed you can listen to podcasts on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other portable device, and you can subscribe to podcasts much like you subscribe to blogs.

Podcasts Benefit Both Listeners and Hosts 

Podcasts have become a powerful source of specialized information on numerous categories, and many of today’s podcast hosts are effectively positioning themselves as subject-matter experts.

The popularity of podcasting has surged in recent years according to most estimates. Some sources gauge the number of current podcasts to be in the hundreds of thousands and growing.

Compelling Podcasting Facts

Here are 10 things to know about this growing communication tool and the influence it is having on how we get our information:

1. While audio files have been around for decades, the first actual podcast is said to have debuted in 2003.

2. The term “podcasting” was introduced in 2004 by The Guardian newspaper in the U.K.

3. George W. Bush was the first US president to deliver his weekly address as a podcast in 2005.

4. Podcast listenership grows an estimated 23 percent+ year over year.

5. Some estimates indicate more than 80 million Americans listen to podcasts every month.

6. Today it’s estimated there are more than 700,000 podcasts available online, a number that continues to grow.

7. The most popular podcast categories are: religion, music, comedy, TV & film, literature, and news & politics.

8. The average podcast is 22 minutes in length and provides a new episode once a week.

9. 64 percent of podcasts are listened to on a smartphone, tablet or other portable device, rather than a computer.

10. Podcasts attract a relatively young audience; the median age of a podcast listener is 30.

Sources: CopyBlogger / PodcastInsights

Podcasters Are the New Influencers

Hiring an influencer can be expensive, and you only reach people on social media. Being on a podcast allows you to network and be seen across social media and search engines.

By Morissa Schwartz October 18, 2021 (Originally published here)

Photo by Kate Oseen on Unsplash

Hiring influencers can get expensive for startups. You pay them and give them free products. They post about it on their social media, and you go on your merry way and hope that their audience sees it and acts.

Most reputable podcasts, on the other hand, don’t charge you to be on their show, and if one does ask you for money, nine times out of ten, run! Podcasts typically have a substantial audience comparable to many influencers or micro-influencers. Additionally, your audience and theirs get to learn more about you and your business straight from you.

How do podcasts work? 

On podcasts, you typically give about 30 minutes of your time interviewing with the host, talking about yourself and your business. The podcaster will post about the episode with a link to you and your business on his or her social media, where it will be available forever, whereas many influencers post a story that disappears after 24 hours. Podcasters also typically publish a short blog about the interview with the interview link or video on their website and backlink to you. This provides you with valuable SEO juice that will allow more organic users to find your website. 

You can and should also share this interview on your own website and social media. There’s great creative content for your audience that you don’t have to make or have a marketing team create, which means more time and money saved. This is especially great for B2B companies that are bootstrapping. 

Perks of being a guest on a podcast 

Being on a podcast is an excellent alternative to paying an influencer because not only are you saving the money you'd pay an influencer, but you also get more marketing fodder out of it. You get the basic 360 — SEO, social media and PR — all for the price of being a guest on a podcast. In other words, being a podcast guest is a powerful thing. 

Many people think it’s intimidating, but it’s just like the networking conversations so many business owners have. Podcasts are great for networking. Most of the hosts are also business owners, and I’ve even become friends with a lot of the podcast hosts that I’ve talked to. If you have ever been to a card exchange, done a sales call, or spoken to others at a business event, you can speak on a podcast.

Besides, at a business event, there is no edit button, whereas on a podcast, you can usually take solace in the fact that if you stumble, it can always be edited out.

How often should I go on podcasts?

I’m a big proponent of going on many different podcasts. Personally, I interview on about two podcasts per week. Each show is different. I have gotten so many followers this way. My Domain Authority for my business has gone up, and there are many Google results when a potential client searches my name.

I have also gotten many great new clients who have heard me on these podcasts. They hear me on the podcast and say, “I feel like I know you. I love what they do. I am ready to hire you.” I hardly have to tell them anything about my company because they already know it from the show. It happens often — and not just to me. I also have helped dozens of clients secure regular podcast spots and have seen the same results across various niches and industries. 

Podcasts have been a game changer for so many people. It could work for business-to-consumer (B2C), but it especially works for business-to-business (B2B). So if you are a B2B looking to get out there more and inexpensively advertise your product with 360, being on a podcast is the way.

Audacity Tutorial - 17 Essential Podcast Recording and Editing Tips

This article was originally posted here.

Audacity is an amazing program, but the price tag is even better.

Podcasters like you - beginners and pros alike - can use Audacity to edit your podcast to make it sound professional and help you captivate listeners.

Despite Audacity’s strong points, sometimes it isn’t the most intuitive program. Though, after you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll see that the features make it worth the learning curve.

Now, before we start - remember, remember to save a copy of your podcast before you import it into Audacity.

How to Set Up Your Podcast for Success

#1: Get Audacity to recognize your mic

The show can’t start unless your recording program recognizes your microphone. Here are the step-by-step instructions to get Audacity connected to your mic:

On a Mac (OS X)

1. Go to System Preferences from the little Apple logo at the top left of your desktop. Click on Sound.

2. Click on the Input tab, and select the microphone you are using from the available options. Finally, adjust the input volume levels as necessary.

3. Open Audacity on your Mac. Make sure that Audacity is set up to recognize your microphone. Click Audacity in the main menu then Preferences.

4. Click Devices, and make sure that the selected microphone under Recording > Device is set your external microphone.
   
   Note: Make sure to plug in your recording device first, and then turn on the program. If you turn on Audacity before plugging in your microphone, Audacity won’t be able to see it.

5. Test your microphone by pressing the record button and recording a quick audio snippet. It can be something random like “This is a test, this is only a test” or something like that.

In Windows:

1. Get Windows to recognize your microphone. Go to the control panel and access sound settings.

2. Click on “change system sounds or manage audio devices”. Select your microphone under audio input devices. Check and adjust audio input properties to improve sound quality, by adjusting levels.

3. Open Audacity and make sure that Audacity is set up to recognize your microphone. First, go to the Edit menu.

4. Check your Preferences and Settings for Audio I/O. Make sure that the selected microphone (recording device) is set for your microphone.
   
   Note: If you turn on Audacity before plugging in your microphone, Audacity won’t be able to see it. Make sure to plug in your recording device first, and then turn on the program.

5. Test your microphone by pressing the record button and recording a quick audio snippet.

#2 Using pop filters

Recording a studio-quality podcast is easier than you think. The first step is using a good pop filter. These simple devices improve your sound quality by limiting the *pop* sound and excessive puffs of air (plosives) your voice makes when you speak naturally.

Some podcasters speak into the side of their mic to minimize noise, but a pop filter is an economical option that will give you great results.

How to use your pop filter: 

1. Choose a good NYLON pop filter. Metal ones are out there, but not as effective. Expect to pay roughly $25. You don’t want to use a windscreen as a pop filter - they aren’t the same.

2. Attach the filter following the manufacturer’s directions.

3. Speak into the mic - not to the side of it. Try to remember to reign in your ‘p’s, ‘b’s, and ‘d’s. No matter how good your pop filter is, those sounds may get past it.

Tip: Try playing back some audio recordings with and without the pop filter to hear the difference.

#3: Check your levels before you start recording

You can check your levels in two places - from your main computer setting and from Audacity. We recommend using Audacity for a more accurate reading.

Here’s how to check your levels:

1. Choose your recording device from the Device toolbar.

2. Use the Mixer Toolbar to adjust your recording levels.

3. Keep your maximum peak levels around -6dB in order to leave some space for editing.

Note: If you don’t see the recording volume slider in Audacity, you might need to tell your operating system or sound card to let you set the volume from Audacity.

Perfecting the Sound of Your Podcast

#4: Use a fade in or fade out to give professional polish to your podcast

A clean fade in and fade out, will give your podcast episode a polished and professional feel.

1. Highlight the section of the audio track you want to fade in or out.

2. Under the Effect menu,

3. Select either Fade In or Fade Out.

Tips: Use a longer fade out than your fade in. For a more professional sound, consider using a Studio Fade In or Studio Fade Out, which smooths the sound and varies slightly in speed. It’s a popular effect for music recordings.

If you want your intro or outro to continue for a longer period of time at a reduced volume level, apply an adjustable fade over the selected section and vary it to meet your needs. If you’d like to fade between two tracks, use the Crossfade tool.

#5: Use chains to combine effects and save your settings

Chains are used for either Batch Processing or Effects Automation. Audacity ships with a single chain included. If you find yourself using the same effect over and over, chains are the ideal way to speed up your workflow.

1. Identify the techniques you use for every podcast.

2. Write down the sequence of these techniques.

3. Consider including an audio file (like your intro or outro) as part of your chain using the Export WAV command.

4. Create your chain by selecting File >> Edit Chains >> Add.

5. Add commands and set parameters for each technique you want to apply in the chain.

6. Click Ok to exit.

7. To apply a chain, click File >> Apply Chain. Click the right option to apply the chain to either the entire project or specific files.

#6: NEVER edit in MP3 format

MP3 is an amazing sound format that is great for keeping file sizes small while still preserving sound quality. But it is a delivery format, so you shouldn’t be using it while editing.

Use your native file format (WAV or AIFF) to edit for better results. Then you can export as an MP3 after you have your episode in it’s final form.

#7: Save a copy of your episode, before you start making changes

The changes you make in Audacity are irreversible. If you accidentally delete a section of your audio, or ruin the sound, you can kiss the original goodbye. That’s why you always want to save a copy of your audio file before importing it into Audacity.

#8: Create an EQ setting to repair plosives

Not sure what a plosive is?

Try saving this three times fast - "Peter Piper picked a patch of pickled peppers."

The popping p’s are plosives. Even if you have a pop filter like we recommend in Tip #2 some plosives might still sneak into your recording.

You can use this tip to minimize their effects:

1. Highlight the problematic section of your recording.

2. Open Effect and select Equalization.

3. You should see a flat line. If not, click Flatten.

4. Starting roughly at 160 Hz, set a curve the drops from the midline gradually by intervals of 2dB, with the last four set to -20dB.

5. Save this curve with a title you can remember, like Plosive Fixer.

6. Click Ok, and watch the highlighted section correct itself.

7. To adjust multiple sections, click Repeat Equalization under the Effects menu.

8. Finally, listen to the section again to see check the changes the equalization has made to your sound file.

Use Amplify, Compress, and Normalize … in the Right Situations

It’s easy to get carried away with the wide array of editing and processing effects in Audacity, but too much of a good thing is exactly that - too much. The following Audacity tutorial tips will help you get the best sound from your recordings by using three of the most popular techniques in the right circumstances.

#9: Using Amplify

1. Check your audio track for peaks or dips that fall outside your ideal volume levels.

2. Apply the amplify technique with a positive number if you are aiming to increase a dip, and by a negative number if you need to decrease a peak. You can do this by clicking Effect >> Amplify.

3. Remember: You do NOT want to use Amplify if DC offset is present, and you do NOT use Amplify if you are using a chain.

#10: Using Compress

1. If your entire track is filled with peaks and dips, apply this technique to the entire track to bring the levels closer together.

2. Use this technique carefully. It can leave a track sounding too flat if overdone.

3. Highlight the portion of your track that you’d like to compress. Then click Effect >> Compressor.

#11: Using Normalize

1. Apply this technique to bring the gain of the entire track to its max without clipping.

2. Note: If DC offset is present, you can and should use Normalize with DC Offset Correction.

3. Never normalize multiple tracks that include intentional variations in peak volume, because you’ll lose the effect.

4. Highlight the audio you’d like to change. Then click Effect >> Normalize.

#12: Truncate Silence

Nobody wants a bunch of dead air in the middle of their podcast. Use this tip to remove some of the silences to keep your podcast episode flowing:

1. Highlight your audio track.

2. Click Effect >> Truncate Silence.

3. Set your Operation mode to Truncate Detected Silence.

4. Set your Level to the appropriate level; anything that falls below this will be deleted.

5. Choose the Duration that a pause must last for in order to be considered silence. Silences that last longer than this amount of time will be ignored. Periods of 10 seconds are good candidates for truncation.

6. Set the Truncate control to 2-5 seconds.

7. Set Compress to 50 percent.

#13 Remove The Snakesssss

If your podcast is plagued by hissing, don’t worry you can eliminate it.

Remove excessive ‘s’ sounds with a D-esser plugin like Digital Spit Fish D-esser, or you can do it from within Audacity by following these simple steps.

NOTE: This tip works best if you are editing a podcast with significantly higher intensity on your s’s.

1. Select and Duplicate the control track.

2. Put your control track into Waveform dB.

3. Identify the dB barrier that most of your track falls below, but your s’s go above.

4. Auto Duck the selected audio, most likely between -18dB and -20dB. The maximum pause and fade in and fade up lengths should be significantly shorter than normal (0.1 seconds max).

#14: Use keyboard shortcuts during playback to save time

Audacity includes many keyboard shortcuts that can take time to discover. Use this cheat sheet to see all the shortcuts in Audacity.

During playback, the following shortcuts are the ones you’ll need on hand. Courtesy of Midnight Music (PDF).

• Start playback → Space bar

• Stop playback → Space bar

• Listen to a selection → Space bar

• Play up to selection → B

• Record → R

• Append record (add recording to the end of the current track) → Shift+R

• Pause → P

• Skip to start - move playback cursor to beginning → Home

• Skip to end - move playback cursor to end → End

• Move playback cursor a little right/left (while stopped) → Right/left arrow

• Loop play - play selection over and over → Shift+space

• Preview a cut - play 1 second before and after a selection → C

• Skip playback cursor back one second during playback → Left arrow

• Skip playback cursor forward one second during playback → Right arrow

• Skip playback cursor back 15 seconds during playback → Shift+Left arrow

• Skip playback cursor forward 15 seconds during playback → Shift+Right arrow

#15: Whatever you do, don’t overdo the effects

With noise reduction, compress, truncate silence, etc. You’ve got a lot of toys to play with. It’s better to use these effects in moderation. If they are overdone your podcast can be left sounding uninviting and artificial.

#16: Add intro and outro music with studio-quality sound

Create separate intros and outros instead of recording them with each episode. You can import them as audio files later, and save yourself plenty of time and hassle in the process. Using prerecorded stock or royalty-free audio is usually a good option.

How to add an intro or outro with Audacity:

1. Find audio you can use legally.

2. Import the audio by clicking File >> Import >> Audio.

3. Use Tip #4 to fade your music in and out.

#17: Export to the highest quality

After you’ve got your episode sounding exactly how you want you want, you’ll want to export it in the best delivery format. We’d recommend exporting as an MP3 (Constant, 256 kbps, Joint Stereo?) or Ogg Vorbis (Quality 8).

Tip: Think twice before exporting in .AU. Windows does not support .AU so we don’t recommend using it.

Now that you’ve learned the basics, get out there and start podcasting! Remember that while pro-quality sound is important, it’s the content of your podcast that is going to win you listeners.

How To Build An Email List From Scratch: 14 Powerful Tactics

Published by John Desyllas. Originally posted here.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Email Marketing

Figuring out how to build an email list from scratch may seem daunting, especially if you’re planning to do it fast and efficiently. However, it’s definitely worth putting in the work early on since your email list is going to be your most important investment. 

Targeting your audience through email marketing is a proven and effective method still driving an impressive ROI of $42 for each $1 spent.

This guide will explore and explain 14 effective tactics that you can leverage to build your email list from scratch quickly. And best of all, by following these tactics, you’ll not just acquire new email contacts but a loyal and engaged subscriber base.

So, without further ado, let’s see those tactics!

1. Choose A Trustworthy Email Marketing Platform

The first step to building an email list is to select an email marketing platform. At first, sending basic email campaigns and managing your first contacts may be feasible through platforms like Gmail and Outlook.

But to efficiently manage and organize your growing email list as well as send automated email campaigns, you need a reliable email marketing tool. So, you need a platform that you can grow with and rely on its features to create engaging emails.

Choosing to invest in a robust email marketing platform will help you not only save precious time while building your email list from scratch but also capitalize on the full potential of email marketing right from the start.

If you’re planning to build your list organically, you might want to look for other useful features in the email marketing platform of your choice. Such features include a landing page builder, marketing automation, and finally, A/B testing capabilities.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 50-60%

2. Give People Incentives to Sign Up

Having chosen an email marketing platform, you need to set up a way to start collecting emails on your website. But before you do that, you need to be able to entice people to sign up, namely, give them a reason to want to give you their email address.

Naturally, people won’t provide you with their email addresses for nothing. So, creating a simple email signup form saying “Sign up to our email list to receive our latest great content” will probably see low conversion rates.

One of the best ways to capture someone’s email is to create a lead magnet that entices them to sign up. Some ideas include:

·        A free eBook

·        A checklist summarizing steps from a blog post

·        A PDF version of a blog post or case study

·        A cheat sheet

·        A coupon

·        A webinar registration

·        A template or worksheet

·        A free course or email series

All of these offers give the visitor an incentive to sign up using their email address. Depending on your target audience and their needs, you can create lead magnets that will work best.

But generally, you’ll find out that using a combination of these different ideas will give you the best results. Moreover, as your marketing strategy evolves, content upgrades (a bonus piece of content specific to a particular blog post) will give you optimal results.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 25%-50% depending on how strong the incentive is!

3. Create Pop-Ups For Your Website

Pop-ups may have the “notoriety” of being annoying and disruptive, but if they are carefully crafted and have a clear purpose, then they can be the game-changer in building your list.

One key tip I can give straight away is that you must have user experience in mind when creating your pop-up forms. This ensures that your pop-ups are relevant and well-timed.

Now, there are various ways to utilize pop-ups. For example, you can create a “surprise” pop-up box that appears after the user has spent some time on the page or alternatively has scrolled and interacted with the page. This can offer a discount for their first purchase, for instance.

As you can see in the example by Sierra Designs, your pop-up can be simple and straightforward, without the need to spend tons of time and effort to create it.

On the other hand, if you have a clearer understanding of your audience, you can leverage that and create a more visual form that also emphasizes the value of your offer. You’ll also see that Flash Tattoos’ form asks for the user’s DoB, which will help create personalized birthday campaigns.

So, in general, marketers have to make their pop-ups appealing through high-quality content and irresistible incentives such as freebies, coupon codes, etc. There are various online form builder tools that can help you create beautiful forms that look like they were made by professionals!

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 10-30%

4. Craft CTAs For Your Website/Landing Page

It’s understandable that very few people are going to search for the way into your mailing list. Therefore, you need to provide them with various options to do so through your content or web pages in general.

If your digital marketing strategy includes any form of content marketing, then this is what you need.

First of all, it would be a waste to have great resources for your audience and not leverage them to grow your list.

For example, suppose you have created a beginner’s guide on buyer personas and you have substantial traffic. In that case, it’s more than a must to entice people to subscribe to your email newsletter by creating a CTA like “Get these 4 BONUS Buyer Persona examples and increase your sales today!”

Even if you don’t have a ton of resources to create such high-quality material, as long as you provide value to your audience, people are going to appreciate it. And, of course, they won’t feel “forced” to subscribe to your newsletter.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 15-20%

5. Create A High-Converting Landing Page

When building your email list from scratch, it’s smart to utilize other ways apart from your homepage. In this case, by creating one or more landing pages that are directly linked to your LinkedIn ads, Facebook ads, etc.

Let’s say you want to offer free shipping, an exclusive offer, or a limited-time sale. It’s far better to direct users to a dedicated landing page than send them to your homepage and risk them getting lost.

As you can see in ProBlogger’s landing page, the message is clear (exclusive offer for new subscribers) and the value is emphasized (receive 180 blog post ideas). So, in comparison with the homepage, it is highly focused on converting people and acquiring their email addresses.

In order to capture the user’s attention and lead him towards the desired action, online businesses have to create a seamless experience for them. The transition from the ad to what users see next has to be “frictionless” and relevant.

Generally, to create a high-converting landing page, you need three key elements:

·        a strong headline emphasizing the benefits that the users get

·        enticing copy to capture their attention

·        a powerful image to accompany the message

6. Leverage Your Social Media Accounts

Social media are a strong aid that can help propel the building of your email list. If your business is doing social media marketing apart from email marketing, then it’s a necessity to leverage this channel.

First of all, you can include a sign-up button or opt-in form on your Facebook page to boost your overall lead generation. It’s easy to do and if you’re just starting out, it can mean a lot.

Additionally, you can run a social media campaign encouraging your social media followers to join your newsletter. As you know, social media offer a huge reach and increased visibility, so whether you have a small business or not, this is definitely worth doing.

Moreover, social media can be utilized to help with advertising. It’s a good idea to run ad campaigns offering exclusive discounts and coupons for people that sign up on your list.

Facebook also offers the chance to run Lead Ads, which allow in-platform form submission that minimizes friction. Such ads are mobile-friendly and don’t require the creation of a landing page.

Finally, as it will become apparent in the following tactics, social media are an excellent way to promote your contests and giveaways and maximize their reach.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 15%

7. Run A Viral Contest

A viral contest is a contest that encourages people to share it in exchange for bonus entries. For example, you may provide 25 bonus entries for each referral that then signs up to the contest. In order to sign up, the person has to enter their email, which makes this a great list building technique.

This option is a great one to start out with because it encourages participants to do your marketing for you and entices people to sign up.

But that’s not all to it! Viral contests are a cool way to have people make user-generated content (UGC). This kind of content, apart from being original and authentic, has the power to increase trust in a brand and encourage more people to connect with it.

This practically means more signups, some of which will inevitably turn into new customers. So, you have a double benefit by utilizing UGC.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 35%

8. Manually Reach Out To Your Personal Contacts

Another idea regarding how to build your email list is to reach out to your personal contacts. There are likely at least a few people on your contact list that would be interested in signing up. Send an email to let them know that you are creating an email list and explain why it will be beneficial for them to sign up.

You can also encourage them to share the news with their own contact list.

You can do the same thing if you have a user base for your product but don’t have an email list for promoting content. Reach out to your users, asking if they would also like to receive your emails regarding your latest and greatest content.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 80%

9. Create A Referral Program For New Signups

Nothing can be more impactful in growing your email list fast than having your own customers spread the word about you and your brand.

A direct recommendation from friends is a sure way to convince people to join your list, let alone trust your brand and purchase from you.

Therefore, it’s essential to craft and establish a referral program for new subscribers. People naturally want to make their friends happy, so you need to give them the chance to do so.

What’s more, you’ll be giving them a good reason for doing so. Of course, by providing additional incentives for them. And that’s the most basic rule in marketing, namely providing more value!

Discounts, special offers, redeemable store points all work well. The secret of hacking your way into a bigger and more engaged email list is to make people who like what you’re doing a part of the process and your growth.

Referral programs are among the most popular tools used in eCommerce to build a strong and loyal subscriber base.

Fortunately, there are various tools out there that make the whole process straightforward and user-friendly while eliminating the need for advanced knowledge. Such tools include ReferralCandy, Tapfiliate, and Partnerstack, to name but a few.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 30%

10. Host A Giveaway

Giveaways are yet another powerful tactic that most eCommerce stores leverage nowadays to acquire new email subscribers. The reason behind their efficiency is that news of the giveaway spread fast and you can collect tons of email contacts in a short period of time.

This is especially true when you’re utilizing social media channels, such as Facebook or Instagram, which are not only popular but also reasonable in terms of advertising costs.

There is one essential rule you need to follow when creating your giveaway. The prize that you’re giving away has to be relevant and directly aimed at your target audience.

In this way, you’re not just getting more subscribers to your email list. You’re acquiring qualified leads, which are essential to the growth of your business.

To give you an example, if your audience is interested in tech products, then your giveaway should feature a relevant prize rather than a car, let’s say.

There are various other giveaway tools or WordPress plugins that you can use to create cool giveaways, such as Rafflecopter and Woobox. Another way of running sweepstakes is  FindKeepLove.

FindKeep.Love is a full-service co-sponsored sweepstake facilitation service, FindKeep.Love contributes to the traffic and reach of your campaign, which is a major differentiating factor from the sweepstakes software on the market.

Last but not least, giveaways have the additional benefit of increasing brand awareness. There is no harm in luring in new potential customers while growing your list at the same time.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 30%

11. Use A Scroll box

Presenting your audience with a call-to-action at the right time is of utmost importance. This is why scroll boxes are necessary for lead generation.

Depending on the content of the page, a popup triggered when website visitors reach a certain point can be a subtle yet effective way to capture their email address. It all comes down to determining when users are likely to be ready to convert.

This “right time” can be identified by business owners through A/B testing, based on the visitors’ on-page behavior.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 10%

12. Experiment With Pop-Up Forms (Exit-Intent, Inline, Full-Page)

We’ve talked about some of the triggered pop-up forms, but there are more options for you to utilize and experiment with.

There are also hundreds of pop-up examples out there to draw inspiration from!

First of all, you must consider using exit intent subscription forms, which essentially appear before website visitors when they “sense” their intention to leave the page. They are helpful to have as they can bring signups that might otherwise be lost.

To maximize their effectiveness, be sure to craft engaging copy.

Next, try out some attention-capturing alternatives, such as inline forms or full-page ones. Inline forms have the ability to blend perfectly with the rest of the page’s content while at the same time grabbing attention.

This is a discreet yet intriguing way to encourage new subscriptions without interfering with the user’s experience.

On the other hand, if you want to make sure you have the visitor’s attention, you can leverage the power of a full-page one. Make a strong value proposition and it won’t go unnoticed.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 10-15%

13. Encourage Signups Through Your Email Signature

Another practical tactic to boost the growth of your email list is to include a newsletter signup link in your email signature.

It requires minimum effort, it’s easy to set up, and of course, it’s perfect if you’re growing your list from scratch.

Think of it like this. You and the other company employees communicate daily with various other people through email. By having a signup link in your email signature, you give people the chance to explore your company in more depth.

Of course, if those interactions are successful and fruitful, the chances are that those sent emails may attract more new subscribers.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 5%

14. Complement List Building With Offline Methods

Pop-ups, sidebars, landing pages all work great. But it would be a waste not to leverage the available offline methods to grow your list.

First of all, if you have physical stores, be sure to leave your business cards on the counter or booth.

Additionally, encourage people to leave their own business cards for an effortless email signup experience. However, this means you’ll have to manually do the work afterward and send a double opt-in email.

Finally, if you’re participating in events or fairs, be sure to have a registration list having a box for email addresses so that you can collect them.

Estimated percentage of new subscribers: 7-8%

Takeaway

Building an email list from scratch cannot happen overnight. However, by following these simple and effective tactics mentioned above, you’re increasing your chances of building your new email list in half the time!

Some methods will work better than others. But at the end of the day, what’s important is to combine them and get the best possible result for your business.

As you familiarize yourself with techniques on how to build an email list, you’ll want to move on to more advanced ones like webinars and podcasts.

Remember! What matters is not how fast you can build your list but how effectively you acquire new leads to be able to retain them.

Here are the best podcast services available in India

Originally posted here.

Here's a list of some of the best Podcast services available in India.

Image Source: Pixabay

Here are the best podcast services available in India

In the times of COVID-19, we are seeking new ways to entertain ourselves. While music and movies are something most people go to for relaxing their minds, there are also podcasts that people can tune into. However, most people do not know which apps to use for podcasts. So, here's a list of some of the best Podcast services available in India:

Khabri

Khabri is India’s fastest growing vernacular audio platform targeted at the next billion internet users. Knowledge through the spoken word has been the cornerstone for the upward economic movement of any society for ages, and we at Khabri are committed to delivering that in the most advanced way in the current era. 

While offering listeners to discover and consume enriching audio content which is informative and helps users to prepare for government job exams in various formats for passive consumption. Khabri also offers users an opportunity to create content and get discovered. Given the ease of content creation in Audio, Khabri is a big hit among audiences from tier II & III cities of India. Khabri offers an exclusive array of creators who range from popular YouTubers to eminent educators. Each creator comes with a unique style and flavour to give the user chooses to find content best suited to him. The app is free of cost and offers users the option to download the content and consume it offline, as well.

Recently, during a pandemic, Khabri witnessed an unprecedented growth of 6x in terms of users and 4x in a number of creators respectively. Subsequently,  Khabri again became a choice for the worlds leading investors who believed in the value Khabri is creating for the next billion users from Bharat.

Aawaz.com

Agrahyah Technologies has launched aawaz.com, audio a demand platform with professionally generated content in vernacular languages. With this, people can listen to podcasts, chat shows, interviews and also read articles and features. Aawaz.com is currently available in Hindi, and as both website and Android app.

Aawaz.com will also have ML (machine learning) and AI (artificial capabilities) based capabilities to recommend and personalize content based on user’s preferences. With the app, people can listen to over 150 hours of audio content which is scripted, recorded, and presented as podcasts and shows. Both audio and text content is spread across multiple genres including entertainment, lifestyle, health, fiction, literature, devotional, comedy, humour and more.

Audiomatic

Audiomatic is India’s first podcast network that launched in April, 2015. As of June 2015, the website hosts four programmes, each of which has episodes ranging from 15–20 minutes. The podcasts are either weekly or fortnightly, and offer content in genres such as food, science, culture, current affairs, entertainment and humour.

As of June 2015, Audiomatic has four podcasts – The Real Food Podcast, The Intersection, Ask Aakar Anything and Our Last Week. All the programmes are in English, and release a new episode fortnightly, except Ask Aakar Anything, which is a weekly podcast. The Real Food Podcast is hosted by food writer Vikram Doctor, who explores ingredients and Indian food habits and obsessions. According to the show’s page on Audiomatic’s website, the podcast offers information about the origins of and legends associated with various Indian ingredients and recipes. 

Headfone

Headfone specializes in vernacular podcasts, talk shows, short stories, and other forms of audio content. Its podcasts on religion and spirituality, kids and family, news and politics (including the PM’s Mann Ki Baat) are quite popular. Interestingly, Headfone lets users record their own podcasts and publish them on a public profile. 

Cast Box

Castbox is an app that distributes free podcasts. As of 2019, it has about one million podcasts available through it, including about fifty million podcast episodes. It also has a premium platform. In June 2019, Castbox integrated with Waze, allowing playback controls to pause, skip, or restart episodes. 

In addition to its library of podcasts from other distributors, Castbox also produces its own shows. In 2018, Castbox partnered with Heard Well on the podcast series Heard Well Now, which highlights early-career musical artists. As of 2018, Castbox produced 25 different original podcasts, with This Sounds Serious being released in 2019. 

Apple Podcasts

Podcasts is a media player application developed by Apple Inc. for playing podcasts from the iTunes Store. It is available for the iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS operating systems.

A standalone Podcasts app was initially released for iOS on June 26, 2012, after formerly being a section of the iTunes app. It was followed by launches on Apple TV on September 24, 2012, tvOS on January 26, 2016, and watchOS on September 17, 2018. It was released with macOS Catalina on October 7, 2019 as one of three applications created to replace iTunes.

5 Upcoming Trends About Instagram Marketing in 2022

By Erick Zaldivar - originally posted here.

In this post, we will be talking about 5 upcoming trends in 2022 in Instagram Marketing and how you can use them to grow your small business online.

So without further ado, here are the top trends to make you more money in 2022.

Upcoming Instagram Marketing Trend #1: Instagram Is a Shopping Platform

That’s right folks, instagram is becoming a platform for shopping. Between the new Instagram updates and stories being put to use already as well as third party apps following suit, this trend has been in development for some time now. You can now shop directly within your stories. Take a look at how @secondhandsilver does a great job of utilizing Instagram’s shopping features. They’re able to capture your attention in real time, you’re able to see the full array of products all without leaving your stories.

They also do a great job of making sure they’re taking advantage of the same feature within their feed posts. Not only are you able to quickly get information about what you might like to buy, it makes the brand look cool by incorporating all of Instagram’s shopping features.

Upcoming Instagram Marketing Trend #2: Automation Tools

Automating instagram is becoming more and more popular, so get in on the action while you still can. It’s a great idea to start automating your instagram now that way you’re ahead of the trend and you get to take advantage of the growth trends that favor early adopters.

Instagram DM Automation Tools – Using an Instagram DM automation tool is a quick and easy way to get qualified leads into your inbox.  

Upcoming Instagram Marketing Trend #3: Influencers

With big companies like Apple and Google making privacy a big focus, Targeting your ideal customers using Facebook ads may become more challenging in 2022.

That’s why Influencers are going to have a BIG year in 2022. If you want to make instagram work for you, influencer deals are going to be a big part of your strategy.

If you’ve never worked with influencers before, now’s a great time to get started. With over 900 million users on instagram, you can easily find an influencer in your niche who can connect you with an audience who is ready to listen to what their trusted influencer has to say.

A great way to find influencers is through instagram by using a tool like Ninja Outreach or you can even look up potential instagrammers via your niche’s hastags.

Influencers usually charge based on their number of followers. A quick and free tool you can use to vet the authenticity of an influencer’s followers can be found Influencer Marketing Hub’s website. 

Upcoming Instagram Marketing Trend #4: Live Videos

What’s better than Instagram stories? How about Instagram live videos! Once again, Instagram has provided small businesses with new tools to grow on their platform and this time they’ve added them to their IG lives.

If you want to make Instagram live content work for your business, it’s a good idea to think about who you’re going to target. If you’re a local business, Instagram live videos are going to be a great tool for your insta-story.

You can easily promote Instagram live videos in your insta-stories to gain a bigger audience, all you have to do is add the Instagram icon and people will be able to watch them in their Instagram stories.

Further, you can also promote your Instagram live videos on other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming Instagram Marketing Trend # 5: Instagram Polls

As Instagram continues to evolve, it’s important that you do too. If you want your Instagram marketing strategy of the future to be successful, Instagram polls are going to have a BIG effect on how well they work for your business in 2022.

If you’ve never used insta-polls before or if they aren’t working out too well for your current Instagram marketing strategy, now is the time to start taking advantage of this awesome tool!

You can upload photos with different options and ask people which one they would prefer as an engagement tactic or even as part of a contest – there’s really so much more than meets the eye when it comes to using instapolls as part of your strategy.

That’s it for this Instagram marketing trend post!

What Is The Best Time To Release A Podcast?

Originally published here by the Podcastle Team

Aug 17, 2021, 4 min read

Have you ever noticed that the amount of likes on your IG photo differs depending on where you posted it? It works better at certain days or hours, and those “magical” days and hours are what bloggers constantly try to identify.

The same mechanism works for podcasts. It’s not only enough to have a quality podcasting episode. You should also know the best time to release a podcast so that it grasps as much attention as it really deserves.

Of course, the phenomenon of “the best time” is highly subjective. It largely depends on your chosen niche and your target audience.

So, don’t expect to see below the calendar days marked in red as the best time to release a podcast. Instead, you will receive some advice on what you should consider when choosing the podcasts’ release time.

Morning is usually a great idea

 There is a rule of thumb that posting your podcasts in the mornings (usually around 5AM) can positively impact the number of listeners it reaches. There are several reasons for that.

1. Morning posts increase the likelihood that your podcast will be put at the top of your listeners’ feeds during the day. This works for different podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.

2. Posting in the morning ensures there will be less time lag between your posting and the actual appearance of the podcast in the feeds. Podcast directories post content from the RSS feeds by regularly refreshing them. Therefore, the sooner you upload your podcast, the sooner your chosen directory will publish it.

3. Early morning is also beneficial because it works in different time zones. If you post a podcast, let’s say, at 5 am, this will work both for West and East time zones. Therefore, you will have chances to reach more awake listeners.

Try to tie it to something more predictable

Understanding when your audience will be more ready to listen to your podcasts can be too abstract at times. That’s why we recommend you link it to more trackable things, such as the events and happenings that might trigger your audience to listen to your podcast.

Depending on your chosen niche, that might not always be possible. However, suppose you are recording podcasting-discussion on the Olympic Games, for example. In that case, the best time to release a podcast will be right after the games, when your audience is too emotional on that topic and is eager to listen to it.

In such cases, you might have to record a podcast on the spot. If you find that you don’t have time to go to a professional studio and spend hours post-processing the footage, here’s how to start a podcast at home and produce your episode faster.

Try to fit your podcast’s idea in the vibe of the specific weekday

There are different life routines, but the general flow is usually the same. At the beginning of the week, we seem to be motivated to organize everything better and plan things. In the middle of the week, we are close to tired and try to plan the fun times of the weekend. Finally, Friday is Friday, with its almost never-changing vibe of freedom, no matter which plans we have for the next two days.

Therefore, organize your podcast posting schedule depending on which vibe it carries to the audience.

On Monday, it would be a good idea to share something informative and motivational. The examples include podcasts on practical tips to start your morning or week, the effective practices of managing everything at work, and similar.

The closer it is to the mid of the week, the less informative podcasts are recommended to post. That’s because people are more tired, and they want to have more fun rather than informative content. That’s why on Wednesdays or Thursdays, you can choose to post something fun: comedy, Hollywood news, new music releases, etc.

Avoid times when your audience will hardly listen to your podcast

Which are those times?

It’s when there is certain “breaking news” happening in the community you target your podcast. When your potential listeners are too shocked or simply interested in a certain hot topic, you’d better not bother them with something that doesn’t fit at the moment.

For example, suppose there are days of national celebration, where most of your listeners celebrate and have fun. In that case, it might be a good idea to temporarily hold your podcast about sad and alarming topics like disappearing species of animals or global climate change.

We do not mean there are no chances that the podcast can attract many listeners. However, it’s more likely that people will not prefer something that makes them worry when they want to have fun or take vacations.

Don’t post at the time others do

Players in different industries mimic each other’s strategies, and in the majority of cases, that’s normal. Your competitors accumulate significant experience, so why not utilize it?

However, that should not be the case when deciding the scheduling of your podcasts.

As mentioned earlier, the right scheduling for your podcast episodes is very subjective. Your competitor’s scheduling strategy might fit their target audience’s specific behavior, but not that of yours.

Therefore, you’d better rely on either the analysis of your target audience or your logic and test different schedules until you find the one with the best performance. 

How The Pandemic Has Reshaped The Creator Economy

This story was originally published here.

Gatis Dukurs - Forbes Councils Member

Forbes Technology Council - COUNCIL POST| Membership (Fee-Based)

Innovation

Technical co-founder of Printify, a print on demand network to help merchants make more money in a simple and easy way.

GETTY

Throughout the past year, many people worldwide wondered how the new normal would look after the global pandemic reshaped the world and changed everything in our daily lives. In today's world of constant social connectivity, getting attention online has become one of the more effective ways to make a living.

We saw how the pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of our society. It also brought the importance of creators to an all-time high. Many companies have successfully incorporated creators into their campaigns, representing a massive opportunity to reach new, wider audiences and sell more products.

On the other hand, independent creators are motivated to build their communities and start working with businesses to help them grow.

What Opportunities Has The Global Pandemic Brought For Companies Working With Creators?

The concept of building an online business and making money through it is nothing new. Influencers have been capitalizing on their social media following for years now. The difference is that more and more companies are looking to start their campaigns with creators now because online content is constantly changing and has more extensive visibility.

If your company is looking to expand its reach by creating fresh content, there are several directions to go:

Work With Content Creators Online

The global pandemic has pushed us to stay online as much as possible. People spend more time on the internet than ever before — watching countless videos on YouTube, reading blogs and listening to podcasts about topics they are most interested in.

This inspires more and more creators to consistently start sharing their work online and growing an audience through that. Companies can benefit from their traction and partner up with these creators to introduce products to the new audience.

There are several types of creators that companies can benefit from:

• YouTubers. If your audience loves watching new videos daily, then working with YouTube influencers might be a great idea for your business. It can help you have a high reach, build your community and commercialize their performance effectively.

• Bloggers. These types of creators share their passions and effectively educate their audience while gaining exposure and building authority online. They can feature your products or services in their content pieces, which can help you bring traffic to your website and get more customers.

• Podcasters. These people love connecting with others and having interesting conversations with them. Offering podcast hosts a special deal for their audience could help them attract listeners to your product and come to your website to learn more.

• E-commerce sellers. Shopping online has become very popular during the last couple of years. The print-on-demand concept can allow creators to design an online store filled with digital products. Companies can form partnerships with these creators and produce merchandise that is associated with their brand. It can be a great way to promote products and reach wider audiences. 

Organizations can determine the most suitable creators to work with by assessing their business needs and aligning collaborations to their goals and objectives. For example, if your company's objective is to advertise a product, you should aim to work with YouTubers who can tell their followers about it.

It is important to understand where your audience likes to search for information and who the creators are that they follow.

Work With Social Media Influencers

During the pandemic, many creators realized that it was time to increase social media activities and produce more content on those channels. The goal was to entertain the audience while they were stuck at home.

Many social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Clubhouse saw a massive increase in their users during the lockdown. On the other hand, social media apps changed their approach and prioritized creators to give them a more organic reach.

Now, many companies are actively partnering with social media influencers and creators to reach more audiences and sell their products in their communities.

There are many ways for different organizations to start promoting their products or services online with the help of influencers. They can do it with help of agencies or simply by reaching out to the influencers themselves. 

The biggest challenge is to understand the different types of influencers. There are micro, macro and celebrity influencers who can be used for various purposes depending on your campaign's goals, objectives and budget. 

Finally, it is important to understand that online creators have built strong relationships with their audiences, and it can be very beneficial for businesses to promote their products or services with them. The creative industry is growing fast, and more people are trusting creators' advice now more than ever.