Margie Barkley: Rob Walch Libsyns expert podcaster gives you some tips on how to use your Microphone.

The podcast explosion has inspired or hindered you from adding podcasting into your marketing mix. You may need a few podcasting tips to kickstart your marketing efforts.

Mike Allton, the host of “Partnership Unpacked”, invited Rob Walch, an industry expert, to give suggestions and motivation.

Rob is the Vice President of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn. He works with Fortune 100 companies such as Microsoft, Google and Oracle to help them achieve success in podcasting. He owned podCast411, where he provided podcasting advice to Tim Ferriss and Dave Ramsey.

This “Partnership Unpacked”, episode with Rob will show you that podcasting is not as impossible as you might think!

Rob Walch, a podcasting expert with over 17 years’ experience, shares his podcasting expertise with the Partnership Unpacked audience.

Podcasting is a great way to share ideas, stories and expertise. It offers a variety of equipment at affordable prices, as well as the ability to form strong partnerships.

Follow Rob’s tips for podcast beginners to get started, run, network, and cruise the podcast charts.

1. Understanding the podcasting landscape

Rob gives you a brief overview of the podcasting space. The good news is that it’s not as saturated as you might think.

Oh geez! Here’s what the truth is. “There are so many podcasts already available.”

There are. No, they don’t.

Rob breaks it all down. It’s a bit overwhelming to learn that there are over 2.4 millions podcasts (and possibly even more according to the Podcast Index statistics). But here’s a catch: Only 260,000 of them have active episodes. There are a lot of podcasts with less than 10 episodes, and they haven’t been active in the past 90 days. Your podcast can thrive and last a long time with some planning in advance and constant motivation.

2. Create a foundation for your podcast

Rob shares the advice that he gave to his son who wanted to start a blog but did not know where to start. This fatherly advice is for this podcast novice (and you). It’s important to answer these questions before you get up on the microphone.

What would you like this podcast to be called? What do you want this podcast to be called?

It’s more than just a brainstorming session at the bar. This is an important strategy for search.

Apple Podcasts is a great place to start. Apple searches only the title of a show and its author.

Once you have the answers you need, you can learn about how to record, measure, and grow your podcast.

Related: How to create a podcast: A step-by-step guide

3. Buy equipment with care

Speed Round Question: What’s your first thought when you hear “podcast”?

Most people use their trusty microphone.

Let’s just get started. Rob explains how you can buy high-quality equipment without spending a lot of money. Rob’s budget-friendly choices include:

Zoom H6 portable recorderAudio-Technica ATR2100 microphoneSamson Q2U microphone.

The total cost for all three is less than $500 USD. (Dare I call that a “sound” investment?)

Zoom H6 product shot

Rob Walch has chosen the Zoom H6 as Rob’s top pick for a portable recorder that is affordable and of high quality.

Rob recommends being cautious when purchasing other equipment. You don’t have to spend money on a studio or soundproofing. Start by recording your podcast in a quiet space at home. This is where he produced podcasts successfully for 17 years prior to having a studio.

Consider buying a Quiet Please door sign if you are worried about the noise that comes from your house.

recording in progress sign

This door sign costs only $13 on Etsy. That’s a lot less than sound insulation.

4. Connect with your voice

What will you say when you plug in the microphone?

Audio is intimate, and you won’t find that on any other platform. You can connect with your audience by simply using your voice. Rob’s Podcast Tip here? Take advantage of being “right in the middle of their heads” when you’re talking to your listeners.

Consider the last podcast you listened to. What made their voices resonate with you? How did they tell their story through their vocabulary, industry jargon and idioms, cadence and pitch, volume, and cadence?

What lessons can you learn from the episode’s assessment of storytelling to use in your own podcast?

5. Strategic partnerships

Podcasts can be a powerful tool for connecting not only with customers, but also with partners.

You can build relationships by inviting guests to your podcast. These interactions may lead to partnership opportunities such as joint ventures or collaborations.

This tip on podcasting is particularly useful for courting thought-leaders in your field. You can maximize your chances to make that first connection if you invite them to speak on your podcast if you do not already know them. Rob elaborates:

Which approach will get you the best response?

Call someone cold and tell them, “Hey I think that you should use my tool for marketing.” Or, reach out to the same person and tell them, “Hey I think that you are brilliant.” Why don’t I invite you to my show?”

Rob’s show “podCast411” with over 200 episodes, which features Quincy Jones, Leo Laporte and other luminaries, is the most popular.

This tactic is not unique to Rob. Rob mentions marketing visionary John Jantsch, who has created “The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast” with over 900 episode to date. This podcast is used to interview prospective clients.

The “Partnership Unpacked”, hosted by Mike Allton, was created to give him a way to meet and talk with potential new partners of Agorapulse. (So far, it’s working!)

This method can be easily used with existing partners. You can strengthen your partnership by having current partners appear on your podcast. This will demonstrate how valuable you are to each other. This can lead to increased loyalty and partnership opportunities.

You’ll also likely benefit from increased reach by inviting current and passionate partners to your podcast. After all, these guests will likely share their appearances with your followers.

6. Realistic goals are important

You might be wondering what success looks like for you if you are starting a podcast from scratch. Rob says that you must understand these three things when defining your podcast’s success.

Podcast metrics should not be compared with social media metrics or blog metrics.

Repeat this last sentence to ensure that you understand the message and set realistic goals for your Podcast. Rob’s podcast tip is probably one of the most important.

Rob is a consultant for a golf manufacturer with 6 million Facebook fans. Recently, they came to Rob distraught after only getting 50,000 listeners per episode.

He said that podcasts are a completely different game, with both good and bad.

The bad news is that Joe Rogan may be the only podcaster who gets 6 million listeners per episode.

The good news is that this client’s rate at 50,000 listens each episode places them in the top 1 percent of all podcasts. This is a completely different field.

Rob offers another realistic way to look at podcast metrics. He uses an analogy of “podcasts versus real-life” here. Some podcasters worry that they only have 500 subscribers. If they were to give a keynote speech at an industry conference, the room would likely have 500 seats.

You may not be “Serial”, “Radiolab” or “Serial” with 500 subscribers, but you have made it. You’re the keynote speaker.

Consider your niche market. Rob, for example, has a client who has a hydro pump show. We’re not discussing true crime or celebrity gossip. He tells his client to set a goal of 200-300 subscribers.

What about these podcast tips?

Rob Walch is a podcasting expert with more experience than we can ever hope to possess. Why should we believe him when he says that podcasting can be easy to get started with and find success?

Rob gives podcasting tips to Mike Allton in “Partnership Unpacked” that will help ease the fears of many podcasters. He says that you don’t need expensive equipment and the competition isn’t as fierce you may think.

Rob’s advice will help you to start your own podcast. Your first podcast will help you unleash your creativity, spread your voice to the world and grow your business. You can do it!

Listen to Rob’s appearance on Partnership Unpacked on SpotifyAppleStitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.