Two branding mistakes that impact podcast download numbers.

Hey Pod Pals!

This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 8:30am CST. 

The rainy day streak has ended in the St Louis area!!! I almost built an arc! 

I just enjoyed a sunshine filled stroll and now I'm sipping my cold brew coffee to get the brain mojo working....time to write!

 

This week's newsletter is being sponsored by my ME ⤵️ 

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Are you ready to get some help with:

Podcast launch/rebranding 🚀

Podcast growth 📈

Leveraging your podcast to build your online biz and get more clients 💰

Sign up for a FREE 20 minute Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call.

 

In this session I will:

✔️ Identify the pain point that is holding you back.

✔️ Suggest a next step strategy for solving the pain point.

👉 Then we will talk about working together to accelerate the process. 😎

*Please note that this is NOT a free coaching session.*

 

The Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call is for you if you are ready to be coached by a podcaster with:

🎯 10 years of podcasting experience.

🎯 Over 1,000 episodes recorded.

🎯 Over 1.1 million downloads.

🎯 Over 1 million dollars earned.

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This week we are going to talk about TWO branding mistakes that might be negatively impacting the growth of your podcast audience.

I've had quite a few conversations this week on the topics of podcast naming, podcast art, and podcast branding....so I felt like it was time to call out a few branding mistakes that I see SO MANY podcasters still making!

I hate seeing podcasters with hundreds of episodes with really low download numbers.

I think the root cause is that podcasters want to create a show with a "catchy" name and "creative" podcast art/branding....but these are usually the things that actually PREVENT their ideal podcast listeners from discovering them.

So...instead of trying to be "catchy"...let's get strategic with a couple of suggestions from your Pod Pal Adam.

I've got one tip for your show name and one for your podcast art/branding.

 

Podcast Branding Mistake #1: People try to name their podcast so that it is the same as their:

❌ Book

❌ Social media handle

❌ Website

Why this is a really BAD idea: There is a very low chance that any of these are optimized for organic discovery (SEO) on podcast player apps.

I know your heart is in the right place because you are trying to "simplify" your branding so that it's "easy to find you everywhere".....

...the issue is that this strategy will make it MUCH harder for people to find you anywhere!

Here's my very sad personal example:

I launched a health podcast back in 2015 and I named the show the same thing as my website.......(please stop laughing at me Pod Pals!) 😆

The TransformationCoach.Me podcast was a FLOP.....or so I thought.

Once I fixed the name to the Million Pound Mission Weightloss podcast I eventually eclipsed 500,000 downloads...not too bad!

 

Here's the key lesson: 

👉 Be STRATEGIC with the name of your podcast.

👉 Be CREATIVE when you create content for your podcast.

And...just as a quick reminder here is my Perfect Podcast Naming Formula for reference:

(BIG niche keyword) tips/strategies/conversations for (another keyword + identifying term)

Examples:

(Email Marketing) tips for (Health Coaches).

(Mental Health) conversations for (Female Business Owners).

(Podcasting) strategies for (Spiritual Entrepreneurs).

 

Now I know that there are a few smartypants podcasters out there that will call me out: "Adam! Aren't your social media handles ALL @PodcastingBusinessSchool???"

This is in fact correct!

But here's the key distinction: I named my podcast FIRST then I named my social media handles....the reverse will NOT work!

 

Podcast Branding Mistake #2: People think it's a great idea to put a giant picture of their FACE on their podcast art!

At first it makes so much sense...I'm the star of this show so let's feature a giant headshot on the podcast logo!

Not so fast Pod Pals.....let's consider things from the perspective of the potential podcast listener.

You have fixed the name of your show based off of the tips I've already given...so your keywords work....the right podcast listener has found your show!

BUT...the job isn't done yet because your show is on a search screen with about 10-20 other podcasts with similar keywords.

Now we need your podcast logo to come through for the WIN.

So let's say the potential new listener is a health coach that searched "email marketing" and your show is called Email Marketing Tips for Health Coaches.

If you have a GIANT face picture and tiny little scribbly looking text with the name of the show....there is NO WAY they are going to click on your show to check it out.....even if you are super good looking....LOL!

 

Here is my Optimized Podcast Art Protocol:

✔️ 1. The WORDS need to be the star of the show. I would personally take the words "Email Marketing" and make them as large as I can so that they go all the way across the square podcast art.

✔️ 2. Use a thick font that is really easy to read (no cursive..etc).

✔️ 3. Highlight an important keyword in a color that isn't anywhere else on the screen.

✔️ 4. Once you optimize for the size and readability of the text...then you can play with any open space available.

This is where you can put your headshot, a microphone icon, etc.

✔️ 5. Use a SOLID COLOR background! Remember that the TEXT is the star of the show and if you have an image of a podcast studio set as the background it makes the text even harder to read!

Pro Tip: My two favorite podcast art solid background colors are black or white.

I just hopped over onto my Canva account and spent 2 minutes creating an example of good vs bad podcast logos....use these as examples!

 

So...let's make a bet Pod Pals.

I bet that if you apply my Perfect Podcast Naming Formula AND my Optimized Podcast Art Protocol you will DOUBLE your current download numbers in 2025.

I see my clients getting results like this every single week...now it's your turn!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

 

 

🎤 Podcasting Business School Episode 569: Email Marketing Tips for Podcasters with Mike Millner.

Top takeaways:

-How to leverage email marketing to get more (and better) clients.

-Key features of emails that convert.

-How to leverage email marketing to promote and grow your podcast audience.

-How to find your email cadence.

-Tips for strategically selling via email.

 

 

📈 Download Growth Club question of the week:

"If I decide to rebrand my show, what is the best way to tell my audience about it?" 

I've got a specific three week strategy that I like to use in the rebrand/relaunch process:

✅ Week One: At the end of your podcast episode quickly mention that you are preparing to rebrand and you will have all the info in the NEXT episode.

✅ Week Two: Do a solo episode and spend some time talking about why you are rebranding and what your listeners can expect. Inform your listeners that this will be the final episode of the current brand.

*Note that this episode topic doesn't necessarily need to be all about the rebrand but it can be if that makes sense.

🚨 Important Additional Step: After the week two episode drops wait THREE DAYS and then update the cover art, podcast name, podcast description in your hosting service.

✅ Week Three: This is the first episode of the new brand! 

 

 

🚀 Podcast Launch Tip of the week:

If you can get your podcast ranked in your podcasting category Top 200 lists on Apple/Spotify it will really boost your numbers during your podcast launch.

Ranked shows are more likely to show up when your ideal fit listeners are searching your keywords in the search bar.

BUT...is it possible for someone with a small audience to get ranked when they launch.....YES...I've helped many of my clients do this!

⭐️ In episode 091 of Podcast Launch Tips I do a deep dive on the strategy I use to help my clients get their podcasts ranked in their podcast category on Apple/Spotify.

  

 

 🤩 Client testimonial of the week: My client Rayna Rokicki has a show called Podcast Growth Club.

Check out what she has to say about working with me inside of my Online Business Academy for Podcasters:

"The Academy has been super helpful because you can hyper analyze where your business funnel isn't working. In addition, Adam has created some business efficiency tools that would take us hours to create for ourselves. This Academy has been a game changer for me!"

 ➡️ If you are ready to get some help with learning how to leverage your podcast to get more clients..... Hop on my Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call Calendar and we can talk about working together.

 

 

✍🏻What's happening on the Threads app this week: Here is a long form SuperThread post that you might like:

"3 podcast content simplification strategies that will take you 3 minutes to learn and save you 3 hours per week...." Full post HERE

 

I hope that you are enjoying this weekly newsletter! 

Don't forget to check out the free workshop I'm hosting next week:

⭐️ FREE 90 Minute Workshop: Five strategies for growing your podcast without social media. Tuesday, May 20th.

Talk to you next week!

Your Pod Pal,

Adam

 

⭐️ P.S. Ready for some help with your podcast launch, growth, or with getting more clients from your podcast?⭐️ 

Sign up for a FREE Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call.