May on Cloud10
Your source for all things Cloud10 Audio
Hello, podcasters! 🎙️
Spring is here! And we’ve got good news about the Cloud10 network: we are officially in the top 15 podcast networks in the U.S. based on average monthly downloads. This is HUGE. And it’s all because of you, Cloud10-ers. Thank you!
Here are the things you need to know about the podcast world and how they affect you⬇️⬇️⬇️
Table of Contents
If you’ve got something to submit to one of the sections, please shoot us an email: newsletter@cloud10.fm.
Podcast Marketing Tip
Cloud10 Episode Spotlight
Question Corner
Cloud10 Interview
Podcast Industry Happenings / Cloud10 Network Updates
⚡Quick Podcast Marketing Tip
If your primary podcast audience is women, you should consider spending some of your marketing time on Pinterest. Lauren Passell writes about why Pinterest presents such a big opportunity for podcasters in the latest Podcast Marketing Magic.
Cloud10 Network Spotlight
American Girl Launches New Family-Friendly Podcast Network
American Girl, a longtime children’s publisher and a cornerstone in the Mattel portfolio of purposeful brands launched the American Girl™ Podcast Network, which is rooted in the brand’s popular stories, characters, and real-world advice to connect and entertain girls, their parents, and the entire fan community over their shared love of all things "AG." Read more.
Question Corner with Sahiba
Welcome to the Question Corner! In this section, Sahiba Krieger, Cloud10’s Head of Operations, shares a frequently-asked, podcast-related question and then a helpful answer. Let’s get to it!
Question:
Why do I have a bunch of ads one week, and not so many another week? Am I doing something wrong?
Answer:
The podcast ad world is very cyclical. Historically, Q4 is the best, followed by Q1, Q2, and then Q3. Companies have very specific budgets, particularly in Q2, and tend to cancel more frequently than in other quarters. If you're not seeing as many ads as you're used to, don't fret!
We have the non-host read commercials and more ad opportunities coming up. If conversions are the issue, adding in bonus spots or added value through socials with the codes always helps. I'm always available to talk more about how to increase revenue and drive more conversions. A lot of the time it isn't about the number of downloads or impressions, but rather the engagement of the audience.
Submit a question to Question Corner by replying to this email!
Cloud10 Interview
In this section, we share short, written interviews between the Cloud10 newsletter team and YOU, our wonderful hosts and producers.
Want to answer a few questions about your show? Your goals? We’d love to hear from you. Reply to this email and we’ll get the ball rolling.
Meet Rachel Nielson, Host of 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
Cloud10: Where did the idea for your podcast come from?
Rachel Nielson: Back in 2015, I was a stay-at-home mom to two strong-willed toddlers. Motherhood was so much harder than I'd imagined, and I craved getting insight and ideas from other moms, so I started listening to podcasts. I found that most motherhood podcasts were very long interviews with a few gems sprinkled in. As a busy mom, I wanted short podcasts with defined and actionable takeaways that I could actually remember and use with my children. Since I couldn't find a show like that, I decided to start my own in 2017. Every episode of 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is 30-minutes with 3 actionable takeaways. Perfect for a busy mom!
C10: How have you changed as a podcaster since first starting the show?
RN: When I started my podcast, I had no idea it would become a business. I'd taught high school before my kids were born, and I really missed teaching, so I decided that starting a podcast would be a fun hobby for me. Then the show grew quickly, and I found I had so many ideas to expand it into workshops, products, and coaching for women. I was surprised to realize that I am a natural-born entrepreneur. Almost five years later, I truly LOVE my work and feel empowered using my podcast to make money to support my family AND make a difference in the world.
C10: What takeaway(s) that you've heard on the show do you always come back to in your everyday life?
RN: Early in my podcasting journey (episode 030), I interviewed a Gottman-trained relationships expert about the power of becoming your child's "emotion coach." This basically means that when they are feeling big emotions and acting out, you stay with them and walk them through it. You are building their emotional intelligence, while also strengthening your connection with them. This interview truly changed the way that I parent my two intense children, and I use emotion coaching in my home every day. This skill has made me a MUCH happier and more effective mother.
C10: What aspect of marketing your podcast has had the biggest impact on growing your show?
RN: When I think about podcast growth, I often think about a metaphor from nature: before a tree can grow its branches, it has to grow its roots. In my first few years of podcasting, I poured all of my efforts into making my episodes the very best they could be. I surveyed my listeners to find out what they needed and meticulously planned episodes to meet those needs. I was strengthening the roots of my show, rather than focusing on growing all of the branches (which I think of as all the "flashy" marketing techniques). This really paid off because my listeners became my biggest marketing tool. They became raving fans who told all of their mom-friends, and the podcast grew organically as moms shared it with other moms. Almost five years in, I am now focusing more on the "branches" because my roots are well-established. I am doing more strategic efforts like podcast swaps, feed drops, social media campaigns, and such. I know that my show is ready to handle big growth because the roots are solid. I am grateful to Cloud10 for being part of this next phase in my podcast's growth!
Podcast Industry Happenings
From PodNews.net
Exclusive: In new research from Podtrac, YouTube is the most popular platform for podcasts that post full video. 22% of Podtrac’s top 250 podcasts are posting full video episodes to YouTube - which do particularly well on the platform, with bigger and more engaged audiences. You can grab a copy of the research here.
The US’s largest podcast publisher SiriusXM has acquired podcast producer Team Coco, and its podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend. Conan has entered into a five-year talent agreement with the company. The Wall Street Journal reports the deal is valued at $150m.
Ad buyers want to buy short podcast ads; podcasters are pitching longer ones, says Digiday. The website suggests it’s because the longer ads earn podcasters more money (though it might be because they’ll work better for the client).
Cloud10 Network Updates
Got news to share with us about your podcast? Reply to let us know and we’ll include you here next month.
New shows in the network — welcome!
That’s it for this month!