🏆 How winning an award can help your podcast🏅
🤸♀️Podcast marketing: let's have some fun. 🌈
Quick note: we’re official!
Hello! If you’ve been reading the past few issues of Podcast Marketing Magic, you’ve probably noticed something different – Shreya Sharma is supporting Lauren with this newsletter now 🎉🎉🎉. We just wanted to officially welcome Shreya onboard.
And she’s got a question for y’all: are you cool with a weekly release of the Podcast Marketing Magic newsletter, instead of its current bi-weekly schedule? Just respond with a Y if yes and N if, you guessed it, no.
Also, if you’d love to read more of a specific kind of podcast marketing-related content or have any burning questions, let us know.
Let’s get to the good stuff.
This week we meet 🥁 🥁 🥁
Deondric Royster! Deondric is the Managing Director for the inaugural Signal Awards. From Webby Media Group, Signal Awards are focused solely on podcasts and celebrating content that broadens podcasting’s horizons. Deondric has been in audio for over 11 years, with his journey spanning from CBS Radio to Spotify, before leading the charge at Signal Awards. We wanted to get to know him, his vision for these awards, and why winning a Signal Award matters to a podcast.
But first…
September 30th is International Podcast Day. A holy day! There will be many celebrations around the internet (and IRL) that day. Tink Media wanted to get in on the action in the best way we know how...by listening to podcasts.Join us for a Podcast Break. We're inviting you to join us for a an hour --- if you can swing it -- away from your desk (or place of work). It's a walk-out of sorts. But of course, you can also just sit and listen. From 2-3pm ET on September 30th, let's all listen to a podcast. Any podcast. Have a break, have a podcast!Need a recommendation? We're partnering with a few podcasts so you've got options!Let us know if you can make it and help us spread the word! Take a screenshot of what you’re listening, use #PodBreak22, and tag us on Twitter or Instagram—we’ll share!
🥇 If you take one thing from this newsletter 🥇
If you’re short on time and can’t read the whole interview yet, we loved what Deondric had to say his key learning for new podcasters was:
I always tell up and coming podcasters to get their hands dirty as often as possible! Whatever audio equipment you have access to make sure you use it as often as you possibly can! Find your community then lean into it and collaborate often. Learn as many roles in the podcasting space as possible because each one lends itself to another and your longevity increases tenfold. Last but not least, LOVE what you’re doing and live in the moment because these experiences are growing you as a human.
Okay, let’s get to it!
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What’s the role you hope Signal Awards will play in making the podcasting industry a more equitable place?
There are a few roles I hope Signal Awards will play in making the podcast industry more equitable.
The first role is becoming the biggest podcast showcase platform in the industry, bringing more notoriety and mass awareness to the industry as a whole.
The second is that of Signal being an oasis for the entire podcast community: a place where all audio creators can come together to build more opportunities for equity as a collective.
The last but far from least role I’d like Signal to play is to celebrate our independent creators and the humans that make this industry go. Celebrating them on the biggest platform possible makes them the toast of the industry thus, creating more opportunities for them to take their brands and careers to the next level!
How does winning a Signal Awad help a podcast?
Winning a Signal Award helps a podcast in a number of ways. The podcast is reviewed by our esteemed jurors panel which is made up of some of the biggest names in the industry; your team is highlighted throughout the year in our press; and your team along with your podcast will be recognized as the industry's best of the year!
What category of the Signal Awards are you most excited about?
It might sound like a cop out but I truly can’t choose which category is my favorite! They’re kind of like my children in an odd way hahaha I love them all for the different things they bring to the table.
What would you say to anyone who feels their podcast isn’t “good enough” or “awards ready”?
I would encourage a creator(s) that if they feel their work isn’t “award ready” to not be discouraged at all. Follow Signal Award winners to get a better example of what their next level of work could use from past winners, and engage in meaningful dialogue as well as collaborating with other creators to truly grow in the community!
You’ve worked with podcasters of all types in your experience. What key learnings would you share with up and coming podcasters?
These are always my favorite types of questions! In my 11 years of podcasting and creating in the audio realm, I always tell up and coming podcasters to get their hands dirty as often as possible! Whatever audio equipment you have access to make sure you use it as often as you possibly can. Find your community then lean into it and collaborate often. Learn as many roles in the podcasting space as possible because each one lends itself to another and your longevity increases tenfold. Last but not least, LOVE what you’re doing and live in the moment because these experiences are growing you as a human.
Thank you so much, Deondric! The entries for this year’s Signal Awards are closed and the judging commences September 26.
🪄Arielle Nissenblatt and I are conducting Masterclass all about Podcast growth on Sunday! Everyone is welcome! RSVP here.
🪄And sign up for my 10/3 Podcast Marketing Boot Camp here.
🪄 More Magic 🪄
💃 Find someone to dance with.🕺
🗃 From the Desk of Tink ✏️
We recently started working with an independent podcast called Everyone’s Talkin’ Money. Okay so while we definitely have a biased love for indie shows, this one is TRULY brilliant. Shannah Game shares stories around money that are inclusive and forward-thinking. Sometimes, conversations about money can seem unapproachable but Shannah makes them less so. A great episode to start with is on “13 Money Secrets No One Tells You But You Need to Know.”
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I really enjoyed this interview and I look forward to hearing and learning more about Deondrick and Podcast.
Thank you so much for the feature! One of my career highlights!!