Podcast Launch Pad
98 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingA weekly podcast for grown up business people. It's delivered in bite-sized episodes to help you launch straight into the business podcasting stratosphere. Hosted by former BBC radio reporter and international satellite TV journalist Serena Gay.
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Episodes
When Is A Podcast Not a Podcast?
August 15, 2022 23:00 - 4 minutes - 3.45 MBA podcast is not a random piece of audio that upload onto your website. A podcast is just a tad more involved than that. In this episode, Serena explains not just the definition of a podcast but the commitment required when you launch one. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former international satellite TV presenter. I have many years of news and audio production experience which I now use to great effect as CEO of a podcast making company called "Made4U Po...
Best tools to podcast for free
August 08, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.97 MBThere are some outstandingly good free tools out there to help you put your podcast together for free - or for very little. The providers of these tools are, of course, hoping that you might take up their paid plans sometime in the future - but there is no pressure on you to do this. Given the stormy economic times that we are promised lie ahead, it's good to know that you can still launch a podcast for relatively little money. Here are the featured podcasting tools: Audacity - free au...
Telling a podcast guest you can't use their interview
July 28, 2022 17:00 - 5 minutes - 3.88 MBMost podcast guest interviews go well. But sometimes, your podcast guest is a disappointment and you just cannot publish the episode. What do you do? How do you break the news to them? This episode provides help with finding the most diplomatic solutions. After all, you don't want to hurt their feelings or earn yourself a reputation as a time-waster. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former international satellite TV presenter. I have many years of news an...
Revisiting tips on how to sound podcast-confident
July 18, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 5.12 MBHow many of my lovely clients say to me .... "but Serena, we wouldn't have any confidence in front of the mic". I totally get it. It feels so alien to listen back to your own voice. But thousands of people every day from all walks of life (who have no more right than you do to speak into a mic) warble away happily on their podcasts. It is all partly about mindset but there are also some valuable tips that I think are worth resharing from an episode earlier in the series. About me H...
A Grandmother's Podcast Creation Journey
July 11, 2022 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBLots of people hang back from pursuing their podcast creation ambitions for fear of the technical obstacles. Not Linda Leverman of Lindy's Audio Cafe - and she's a grandmother! Some people set their mind to achieving a certain goal and just persevere until they achieve it and Linda is just that sort. Listen to how she did it on this episode and find out what equipment and software she recommends.
A Grandmother's Podcast Creation Journey
July 11, 2022 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBLots of people hang back from pursuing their podcast creation ambitions for fear of the technical obstacles. Not Linda Leverman of Lindy's Audio Cafe - and she's a grandmother! Some people set their mind to achieving a certain goal and just persevere until they achieve it and Linda is just that sort. Listen to how she did it on this episode and find out what equipment and software she recommends.
Saving a bad podcast interview - part 2
July 04, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBWhat podcast interviewer has not experienced that heart sinking moment when you realise a podcast interview is disappointing? But there are post-recording tricks you can play to save the day. Software programmes like Descript can be helpful by removing all the ums and ers for you or allowing you to visualise the parts that can be cut thanks to the side-by-side layout of the transcript with the audio. If your own interviewer performance is to blame, you can always simply remove your live...
Saving a bad podcast interview - part 1
June 27, 2022 23:00 - 8 minutes - 5.94 MBWe've all heard podcast or radio interviews that have hit the buffers. And it's excrutiating! The monosyllabic answers to questions. The desperate rephrasing of questions by the interviewer. The sense that everything is imploding. You literally live the participants' panic with them. Fortunately, a pre-recorded podcast interview is nothing like as traumatic as a live radio interview and on this episode Serena gives plenty of tips for what to do during the interview if your guest seizes ...
Podcast Volume Levels - How to Get Them Right
June 20, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBSetting correct podcast volume levels both at the start of recording and in the editing process is pretty important. No one like having to tweak their volume controls while listening to a podast. And if they ARE inconsistent, it is a sign of sloppy post-production work... so don't let anyone accuse you of that! Besides which, it is not a difficult issue to sort - as Serena explains on this episode. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former international sa...
Podcast Volume Levels - How to Get Them Right
June 20, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBSetting correct podcast volume levels both at the start of recording and in the editing process is pretty important. No one like having to tweak their volume controls while listening to a podast. And if they ARE inconsistent, it is a sign of sloppy post-production work... so don't let anyone accuse you of that! Besides which, it is not a difficult issue to sort - as Serena explains on this episode. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former international sa...
Should You Podcast with a Co-host?
June 13, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.19 MBIn this episode, Serena sets out the pros and cons of podcasting solo or with a co-host. As with all such decisions, it ends up being a personal one to suit the individual. You might really enjoy and benefit from the input of a co-host and your conversations with guests might be livelier, better informed ... funnier even. On the other hand, unless you are completely certain you can rely on your co-host - it might prove to be a disaster if they drop out after a while. What's more, the...
Should You Podcast with a Co-host?
June 13, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.19 MBIn this episode, Serena sets out the pros and cons of podcasting solo or with a co-host. As with all such decisions, it ends up being a personal one to suit the individual. You might really enjoy and benefit from the input of a co-host and your conversations with guests might be livelier, better informed ... funnier even. On the other hand, unless you are completely certain you can rely on your co-host - it might prove to be a disaster if they drop out after a while. What's more, the...
Why My Podcast Following Dipped
June 06, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.77 MBOuch - that was a hard lesson to learn. What happened? I needed a break after a year's worth of uninterrupted weekly podcast editions and the podcast itself needed a refresh. I promised my following that I would be back in just a couple of weeks. In the end, it took me about 7-8 weeks to revamp the podcast and to re-energise myself while working all the while on some important client accounts. But some of my followers simply turned elsewhere. They are slowly returning to the fol...
When to Get Professional Podcast Help
May 30, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.56 MBLaunching a podcast is fun and rewarding. But there are new skills to learn and sometimes it saves you time to seek help elsewhere. Most podcasters are naturally gifted with the talking bit! Otherwise, they wouldn't have started one. But the technical aspects of editing, mixing and mastering audio can be time-consuming and possibly not as much fun as interviewing your peers. So, consider outsourcing that. You can also seek professional help in the marketing of your podcast. It's really...
Don't say THIS at the start of your podcast episode!
May 23, 2022 23:00 - 4 minutes - 3.05 MBIn this super short episode, Serena implores podcasters to focus on getting straight down to the content of their production. There's nothing worse than listening to the podcast host or hosts rattle on about how their week was, or about insignificant stuff that has nothing to do with the podcast theme. This is especially true for business podcasters because people are making the time to listen to you to learn something. Generally, they are not interested in people's mundane lives unles...
Does Your Podcast Really Need to Sound Professional?
May 16, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 5.1 MBWe used to think we had to record our podcasts in sound-proofed booths. Maybe we thought about hiring a sound engineer too to make sure everything ran smoothly. But the pandemic changed everything, as this podcast episode makes clear. Listeners are now more accepting of the kind of noises you might expect to hear at the end of any telephone line. Like dogs barking or children playing. This podcast episode discusses what that might mean for podcasters, old and new and what measures you s...
New Trends and Awful Errors in British Podcasting
May 09, 2022 23:00 - 8 minutes - 5.79 MBIn this episode, I bring you news of exciting new trends apparent from entries in the first round of the British Podcast Awards which I helped judge in April 2022. Exciting new trends, yes, but also evidence that some podcasters are still making basic errors which I also report on. It was a huge privilege to be involved in the British Podcast Awards and I loved to see how podcasters are becoming more inventive, experimental and imaginative in their productions. There were some amazing ...
New Trends and Awful Errors in British Podcasting
May 09, 2022 23:00 - 8 minutes - 5.79 MBIn this episode, I bring you news of exciting new trends apparent from entries in the first round of the British Podcast Awards which I helped judge in April 2022. Exciting new trends, yes, but also evidence that some podcasters are still making basic errors which I also report on. It was a huge privilege to be involved in the British Podcast Awards and I loved to see how podcasters are becoming more inventive, experimental and imaginative in their productions. There were some amazing ...
Rant Alert - Leaving Reviews on Apple Podcasts
May 02, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.26 MBMore than a rant - this episode makes it crystal clear how to leave a podcast review on Apple for your favourite podcasts. Go on - have a quick listen and then do as Serena suggests! Follow the easy steps she outlines and leave a nice review for the podcasts you love to listen to. You really will be doing the podcast teams behind the productions a huge favour. Up to now you may have found it tricky to work out how to leave reviews. This is because it is easy to confuse the podcast land...
The best choice - a podcast website or a podcast page?
April 25, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.56 MBThere are important decisions that have to be made when you first launch a website. And one of them is where to host information about your podcast. Hosting a podcast on your existing website will take up too much band width. That's what podcast hosts like Buzzsprout are for. But you do want to host links to each new episode as well as information about the podcast and its producers in addition to news about your services and special offers. So this episode supplies a handy solution to...
The best choice - a podcast website or a podcast page?
April 25, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.56 MBThere are important decisions that have to be made when you first launch a website. And one of them is where to host information about your podcast. Hosting a podcast on your existing website will take up too much band width. That's what podcast hosts like Buzzsprout are for. But you do want to host links to each new episode as well as information about the podcast and its producers in addition to news about your services and special offers. So this episode supplies a handy solution to...
Don't Miss Out on Older Podcast Listeners!
April 18, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBAre there enough podcast-savvy older listeners to make it worth launching a targeted podcast? You bet. A bunch of reliable statistics from established market researcher such as Edison Research show that older listeners are huge audio fans - and they're fast catching up with the number of younger podcast listeners. As ever, it's all down to nailing your ideal podcast listener and catering exactly for their needs. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former int...
Don't Miss Out on Older Podcast Listeners!
April 18, 2022 23:00 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBAre there enough podcast-savvy older listeners to make it worth launching a targeted podcast? You bet. A bunch of reliable statistics from established market researcher such as Edison Research show that older listeners are huge audio fans - and they're fast catching up with the number of younger podcast listeners. As ever, it's all down to nailing your ideal podcast listener and catering exactly for their needs. About me Hello, I'm Serena Gay, a BBC-trained journalist and a former int...
Write a stellar podcast guest intro
April 12, 2022 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.2 MBThere are good and bad ways to introduce a podcast guest - but, in my experience, the podcasts that pull in listeners bother to do it right. In this episode, Serena literally spells out - word for word - an introduction lasting about 45 seconds that achieves the following: 1. pronounces the name of the guest correctly (disastrous when you can't even get that right!) 2. chooses a few relevant details to highlight your guest's impressive background and relevance to your ideal listener 3. he...
Sounding confident tips for older podcasters
April 04, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.76 MBSounding confident is something that concerns many would-be business podcasters - especially older ones. They worry that podcasting is either for professionals or the young and brazen! But this couldn't be further from the truth - especially for niche business podcasters whose ideal listeners are more interested in first class content than in slick celebs or youth for youth's sake. This episode tackles that mindset and - hopefully - puts it to rest once and for all. It's business exp...
Should You Use Your Smartphone to Podcast?
March 28, 2022 23:00 - 8 minutes - 6.11 MBYou can literally hear the birds tweeting as I use my smartphone to record this episode outside on a glorious sunny spring day. As long as you use the right microphone, it is definitely possible to use your smartphone in the recording process. But beware of using the smartphone's inbuilt mic. I carry out a little comparison to show you the difference between using a good external mic, the phone's inbuilt mic and the sound I normally produce in my recording booth. My much-loved Rode's S...
The Best App to Record a Podcast Panel Discussion
March 22, 2022 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.5 MBPeople often think a business podcast format is simply a one-to-one interview set-up. But it can be made to be more exciting with a panel discussion. Don't get me wrong - a one-to-one interview podcast can be amazing - but you do get a different vibe with several good contributors rather than just two. This episode is about the practicality of recording several people remotely. The app I recommend using is Cleanfeed.net because it has served me well. What I like particularly about it i...
Make the Most of Your Podcast Call to Action
March 15, 2022 00:00 - 5 minutes - 3.83 MBYou don't want to leave your podcast fans hanging around aimlessly after the end of each episode. You want to entice them to take action! So you need to devise a short but sweet call to action (or CTA). It might be visiting your website to find out about new offers, leaving you a review on Apple Podcasts, following up on an affiliate link or simply getting in touch with you. Regular listeners are important assets! And if they're listening frequently to you it is because you have built ...
Make the Most of Your Podcast Call to Action
March 15, 2022 00:00 - 5 minutes - 3.83 MBYou don't want to leave your podcast fans hanging around aimlessly after the end of each episode. You want to entice them to take action! So you need to devise a short but sweet call to action (or CTA). It might be visiting your website to find out about new offers, leaving you a review on Apple Podcasts, following up on an affiliate link or simply getting in touch with you. Regular listeners are important assets! And if they're listening frequently to you it is because you have built ...
How I Save Time Using Podcast Templates
March 08, 2022 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.01 MBWhen I first began to host and publish my own podcast (a few years back) I hadn't yet worked out the short cuts. Writing my script took a while - because I was always referring back to this and that. And cutting in all the recurring audio (like the intro, call to action and outro) and mixing it afresh with the music took foreeeeeeeeever. Over time, I improved my act and learned how to deploy a podcast script template and a podcast audio template during the mixing process. The time-co...
Julie Kent MBE - 60 and Podcaster Extraordinaire
March 01, 2022 00:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBMy guest this week is a woman honoured by the Queen for her outstanding fund raising efforts and services to charity. The MBE honour was presented to her by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at Windsor Castle. But has Julie sat back, put her feet up and told herself she's done her bit for her community? Hell no. Julie Kent never does anything by halves. She is forging ahead raising more money and awareness for her charities with her podcast What's in the Goody Bag . Find out why she...
You're Never Too Old to Podcast
February 22, 2022 00:00 - 5 minutes - 3.85 MBWelcome back to the second series of Podcast Launch Pad. Hope you like the new music and the new artwork. This series is for grown up business people for whom the moving parts of a podcast are a complete mystery. My aim is to demystify it all for you. Because if a woman like me in her 60s who's never been especially techy can get her head around it then so can you. Obviously. Need I add that podcasting is the most amazing creative fun and such a satisfying way to stay in touch with yo...
Winning Reasons to Podcast For Your Business
November 16, 2021 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.29 MBIn this episode you will find out how podcasting for your business can win you: new clients amazing new business contacts confidence on a public stage and loads of material to repurpose Now couldn't be a better time to start a business podcast with everyone discovering the accessibility of niche podcasts and the enjoyment they can bring as you carry out mundane tasks. This episode brings to an end Series 1 of Podcast Launch Pad. Series 2 launches very shortly with a new "look" - or s...
Winning Reasons to Podcast For Your Business
November 16, 2021 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.29 MBIn this episode you will find out how podcasting for your business can win you: new clients amazing new business contacts confidence on a public stage and loads of material to repurpose Now couldn't be a better time to start a business podcast with everyone discovering the accessibility of niche podcasts and the enjoyment they can bring as you carry out mundane tasks. This episode brings to an end Series 1 of Podcast Launch Pad. Series 2 launches very shortly with a new "look" - or s...
9 Secrets to Help You Interview Podcast Guests Like a Pro
November 09, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 7.24 MBThere are podcast-makers who quail at the thought of interviewing their business peers. But if you get to grips with the 9 secret tips I discuss on this episode, you'll soon be totally at ease with it all. In this revisiting of one of the most popular episodes of Podcast Launch Pad you'll find out how preparation is key to success. It's also important to read the conversational clues - to know when to push further for a better answer and how to phrase it. Treating each interview lik...
Pretend To Be Confident On Your Podcast - It Works!
November 02, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 7 MBWhat have you done in the past when you weren't sure how to cope? Did you brazen it out? If the answer is yes, and surely it was at some point in your life, then rest assured, you can do exactly the same on your business podcast. Get in front of that mic, prepare what you have to say carefully, and then....? Well, pretend you are the master/mistress of all you survey. Of course, the truth is, you ARE in control of all you survey - you know your business and you know what your listen...
PR Tips to Boost Your Podcast
October 25, 2021 23:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBWe could all do with a little PR help to promote our podcast episodes. But if you're launching a new business podcast, wise use of PR is a must. In a re-run of episode 16, I'm bringing you a very popular interview with Kerryn Fields - who definitely knows a thing or two about PR for business. On this epsode we cover: what sort of coverage you should aim for which platforms you should target how to find the right contacts to send out your press releases to how to formulate a press...
Tips to Overcome Your Podcast Anxieties
October 18, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 7.16 MBPodcast Launch Pad is in the throes of a redesign and a relaunch. But in the meantime, I'm revisiting some of my most popular editions because I think they're worth another share. Far too many people (in my humble opinion) are scared of launching their own business podcast for fear of what other people will think of them. Well, I hope the advice on this episode will help put some steel into your spine and confidence into your psyche. Believe me, there are people out there who want and...
Can You Give Your Podcast a Makeover?
October 11, 2021 23:00 - 5 minutes - 4.07 MBEvery new venture - be it a podcast, a blog, or even a website - is going to need a makeover at some stage. Because what you thought you originally needed to create, can quickly evolve into a different entity. And then you need to reflect that in the way you market it. In the case of Podcast Launch Pad, I want to niche down on my ideal listener and appeal to an older demographic who is perhaps a bit more shy of the technology than younger people. I dream of a new format, new music, n...
Eye-popping Reasons Why Podcast Advertising is So Effective
October 04, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 5.26 MBNeuroscience research is throwing up some truly fascinating insights into the success of podcast advertising. And every entrepreneur with podcasting ambitions should know what they are. So this episode focuses on two revelations from a trusted source - the Audio:Activated report which was commissioned by BBC Global News' branded content division. (This report dates back to 2019 but given the continued growth of podcasting since then, you can assume their findings are still valid. Even...
Listen, listen, listen to your podcast voice
September 27, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.72 MBThis episode is all about the importance of listening back to your podcast recordings. It is the ONLY way to overcome any problems you have with the sound of your own voice. And that's something I think I need to persuade my friend Julie Kent, MBE, to do a bit more of. She has a fabulous podcast called "What's In the Goody Bag" that is still quite new. In it she talks to successful people who have also given back to society in some way. But she admitted to me recently that she can...
Listen, listen, listen to your podcast voice
September 27, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.72 MBThis episode is all about the importance of listening back to your podcast recordings. It is the ONLY way to overcome any problems you have with the sound of your own voice. And that's something I think I need to persuade my friend Julie Kent, MBE, to do a bit more of. She has a fabulous podcast called "What's In the Goody Bag" that is still quite new. In it she talks to successful people who have also given back to society in some way. But she admitted to me recently that she can...
Walk Before You Run With Your New Podcast
September 20, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 5.48 MBAre you an entrepreneur with dreams of producing a podcast but unsure where to begin? Then this bite-sized podcast edition will introduce you to the baby steps you need to take to start you off on your exciting podcast journey. Podcasting is an amazing marketing tool but the idea of buying in new equipment and learning how to use it, can be off-putting. Download the Ultimate Podcast Starter Blueprint for great suggestions for microphones and headphones and for lots more succinctly-deli...
Stay Out Of Legal Trouble With Your Podcast
September 13, 2021 23:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBMost podcasters won't fall foul of the law - be it over copyright issues, libel, factual inaccuracies or guests withdrawing permission. But it's wise to be prepared - especially with business podcast production. Lawyer Clare Hoban from specialist media lawyers Reviewed & Cleared is our special guest this week with brilliant advice on how to avoid a dip in legal hot waters! She advises on the risks you face, why you should check your sources and why it's is important to challenge guests...
Don't Launch Your Podcast Without a Trailer
September 06, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.77 MBYour podcast trailer is your podcast's shop window. It broadcasts to the world about what's inside. And it's really important. It could just be a simple voice-over overlaid with your podcast music explaining what it's all about. Or it could be a more sophisticated production with excerpts from interviews or highlights from the shows you've already recorded. Whatever you do, you need to keep it between 1-2 minutes in length and have it ready to upload when you register your podcast at ...
Don't Launch Your Podcast Without a Trailer
September 06, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 4.77 MBYour podcast trailer is your podcast's shop window. It broadcasts to the world about what's inside. And it's really important. It could just be a simple voice-over overlaid with your podcast music explaining what it's all about. Or it could be a more sophisticated production with excerpts from interviews or highlights from the shows you've already recorded. Whatever you do, you need to keep it between 1-2 minutes in length and have it ready to upload when you register your podcast at ...
Secrets For Attracting The Best Podcast Guests
August 30, 2021 23:00 - 9 minutes - 6.67 MBAre you thinking? Who'd want to be interviewed for my podcast show? Well, think again. Most people in my experience are ready to spare time to make a guest appearance on a podcast. The trick comes in to how you make that first approach and how to make it worth their while. You also have to use your best persuasive skills with potential guests who you know will make good interviewees but who are reluctant for whatever reason. This episode is packed full of advice on who to pick in th...
Ban Podcast Banter - It's Just Boring!
August 23, 2021 23:00 - 4 minutes - 3.17 MBGo on - turn off podcast fans is by using up precious podcast-listening time with meaningless banter! A bit harsh of me perhaps - but I have had it with presenters chewing the cud and cracking in-jokes. It just makes listeners drop out in droves. Successful podcast banter is an art that very few have mastered. It's probably best done by professional comedians with teams of writers behind them. Avoid at all costs unless you can be certain of using banter time to entertain and inform....
Ban Podcast Banter - It's Just Boring!
August 23, 2021 23:00 - 4 minutes - 3.17 MBGo on - turn off podcast fans is by using up precious podcast-listening time with meaningless banter! A bit harsh of me perhaps - but I have had it with presenters chewing the cud and cracking in-jokes. It just makes listeners drop out in droves. Successful podcast banter is an art that very few have mastered. It's probably best done by professional comedians with teams of writers behind them. Avoid at all costs unless you can be certain of using banter time to entertain and inform....
10 Ways to Sound More Enthusiastic!
August 16, 2021 23:00 - 9 minutes - 6.49 MBSound professional on your business podcast by making use of these 10 tips. It all starts in the mind. Doesn't everything?! But if you start off confident in the knowledge that you are delivering interesting and useful content that people want and need - you are more than half way there. This episode will help you inject that oomph into your voice that listeners love and find inspirational. And they are: 1. As above, be confident that you are delivering a useful service with yo...