Great Podcast Artwork Is…What?

Great podcast artwork is eye-popping and attention-grabbing.

In order to capture attention, you need to really jump out there and capture attention. Everyone is so time-crunched in their day-to-day and has so many things calling for their attention. Think how many social media posts you’ve looked at just this week. A very, very high number. This same “clutter” is rampant in the podcasting world as well. Great podcast cover artwork needs to stand out from the surrounding podcasts vying for attention. After all, your podcast is going to exist in a sea of millions of podcasts. You need to go with a design that makes people stop scrolling and go, “Whoa. What’s this? Let’s check it out.” (Ok, they don’t need to say those exact words in that order. But you get the point)

Great podcast artwork clearly shows your podcast name.

This sounds obvious, but its importance can’t be overstated. And I will do my best to overstate it. Your podcast artwork needs to clearly include your podcast name. That should be priority #1. Make sure it gets the time and focus it deserves. There’s a wide range of fonts and colors you can use, and there’s no right answer to what works best. Just make sure you include your podcast name, and it’s the biggest and easiest thing to read on the cover artwork. Your potential listener needs to be able to look at your artwork and know your podcast name in less than a second. *Snap* Just like that. Your podcast name is the most essential part of your podcast artwork.

Great podcast artwork makes clear what your podcast is about.

Yes, you already knew your podcast name should be clear. The main subject matter of your podcast should also be clear. What actually gets discussed on your podcast? What category does it fall in? You don’t need to be suuuuuuuper duuuuuper detailed, but you want your potential listener to have a good idea of what the podcast is about – just from looking at the cover artwork. Otherwise, they may not tap on the podcast at all, and will certainly never tune in. Integrate some helpful imagery into your design. Make some strooooong hints to the main topic of the podcast. Some subtle background designs can go a looooong way to doing that.

Great podcast artwork is simple enough to be legible as a tiny square.

This is a big one (get it). If you’re viewing this blog post on your computer, get up and look at it again from across the room. (Side note: realize this font is now too small. Sorry about that). And if you’re viewing on your phone, pinch to zoom out. That’s how small artwork often is when it gets viewed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and beyond. I’m talking 1-2 square inches. With that in mind, you need podcast artwork that looks great and is legible at that small size. Keep this in mind as you design your artwork. It’s fun to see your cover artwork blown up big in high quality, but the impact of the final result depends on whether the design packs a punch when small. Don’t overcomplicate it. If anything, oversimplify it.

What size should my podcast artwork be?

Speaking of size, your podcast artwork must meet the size requirements to publish on Apple Podcasts and other platforms. You don’t want to mess around here. If you fail to meet the required specs, your show may not get approved. That’s not a fun place to be. In most cases, meet the standards for Apple Podcasts and you’re set everywhere. Here they are:

• 3000 x 3000 pixels
• Max 72 dpi
• JPEG or PNG
• Under 500 kb

How do I create great podcast artwork?

The best way to bring these elements to life is to partner with a true professional who knows their way around awesome podcast artwork. For many of my clients and myself, we look no further than my go-to guy, Adam McGinnis. All the artwork in this post was created by Adam. He’s one of the most talented creatives I’ve ever met, and he’s had my “podcast artwork back” from the early planning stages of the Wild Business Growth Podcast to rocking it for many of my podcast production clients today.

Whether you work with Adam or find another design expert online (or offline), handing off the creation of your podcast artwork to a seasoned professional gives you the best shot at creating the stellar artwork you’ll want to show off again and again and again. Just make sure you share your ideas and inspiration, and stick to the essentials outlined in this post: make your podcast artwork thumb-stopping, include your podcast name as priority #1, don’t make the potential listener guess what the podcast is about, and make sure it works as a tiny square – with the required specs, for that matter.

If you have any questions on podcast planning, podcast production, or podcasting in general, you can always reach me at max@maxpodcasting.com. If you found this post helpful, you’ll also enjoy “How Do You Edit Your Podcast in Audacity?” and any of the 140+ episodes of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. Thank you for your time. Pod on!

10 Ways to Become a Better Podcast Interviewer

1. Prepare by listening to your guest on other podcasts

There are endless ways to research your guest before the interview, including their website, social media pages, and podcast (if they have one). In my experience, by far the best method is to listen to your upcoming guest on other podcasts. In every single interview you listen to, you learn something a little different about your guest, which helps spark questions and discussion topics for your interview. It also gives you a sneak peek at your guest’s personality, tone, and sense of humor. It always helps to research your guest online, but the best way to get a true understanding of your guest is to check out their previous podcast appearances.

2. Write down your bulleted outline before the interview

I always have a notepad in front of me for podcast interviews. And I always write down my bulleted outline at least 10-15 minutes before the interview. The best bits of podcast conversation come about naturally, but it’s suuuuper helpful to have your bulleted outline in front of you. That way, you know what other topics you need to cover before your guest has to hop off. I’m not talking a full script in front of you – I’m talking 5 bullet points down the page, with a few blank likes in between them to leave room for notes during the interview. Doing so with enough time before the interview starts gives you the peace of mind and confidence needed to deliver an outstanding interview.

3. Break the ice before the interview with a dad joke

Okay, it’s always a little awkward when you connect with your podcast guest for the first (or second) time. One of your jobs as podcast host is to break the ice ASAP. That could mean a dad joke, a compliment based on something cool you saw your guest just did, or a random thing you have in common. I’ve found laughs always get your guest in gear best, so let any bit of corniness and goofiness you have shine. What better way to pregame an interview than with laughing, smiling faces?! Break the ice and have some fun before you even hit record.

4. Kick off the interview with an original question

If you listen to a lot of different business podcasts, you’ll know there’s some sort of unwritten rule to start out each episode by asking the guest about their story. Screw that. Asking generally about your guest’s “story” has happened on every other podcast they’ve been on, welcomes an answer that goes on longer than needed, and might already be known by your podcast listeners. Find something surprising, curious, or unexpected about your guest, and start off the interview with a question they’re not expecting. It also serves as another icebreaker (ice-icebreaker?), and your listeners will thank you for the ear candy right out of the gate. Start that interview with a Dang!

5. Shut up and listen, listen, listen

This sounds harsh. But I was once told, “You know why you’re a good interviewer? You know when to shut up.” That doesn’t mean people don’t like to hear your voice. It means, people keep listening to your interview podcast for the entertaining and helpful guests you keep bringing on – not just because of the way you talk and ask questions. Keep the guest the star of your show, no matter what. And while you are being quiet (okay, that’s less harsh), keep your focus on listening. Any way you slice it, the interviews that flow best are due to the host identifying when to probe and when to move on. Pay attention to the words coming out of your guest’s mouth and what they mean.

6. Take brief notes during the interview

Remember that notepad? That thing is a lifesaver for your podcast interview. Take brief notes throughout the interview. And when I say brief, I mean 1-2 words Max (get it) at a time. For example, in this interview I did with Christoph Trappe, he asked me about the importance of listening while interviewing guests. I wrote down the word “Listening” once he brought it up, and was able to give a thorough answer since the note served as a brief reminder. The same thing applies when you’re the podcast host and your guest is talking. Notes on your notepad are the Post-Its or Meeting Reminders of the podcast world. Write it down and free your mind.

7. Ask questions your audience would love to ask

This one is more of a muscle you can strengthen over time. If your guest is giving an answer, and they say something that creates instant fireworks in your head of the “Ooooh” and “Hmmmm” variety, ask that question next! You’ll develop a strong sense over time of the golden time to probe. Ask yourself quickly, did that answer go deep enough? Or is there more, more, more to unpack here? When you ask a question your audience is actively wondering about, you’re sure to bring a smile to their face. And you may just win that listener for life.

8. Bring up a short personal story only when it adds to the interview

Again, your guest is the star of the show. Now, that doesn’t mean you can only ask questions and shut up/be quiet. Oftentimes, your guest will say something that triggers a memory of something from your lifetime. Think quick – If I share this anecdote, does it add anything? Humor, context, education? If not, and you’re going to end up talking for 3 minutes on “OMG saaaaaaaaame,” skip the personal story this time. Stories about yourself can put the icing on your interview cake, but too much icing isn’t good for anyone. Bring up personal stories only when it feels necessary.

9. Recognize when it’s time to move to a new topic

There’s a lot of talk about probing when it comes to interviews. I’m guilty of it in this post. The flipside of probing – sometimes more important – is recognizing when it’s time to move on. If there are 3 main topics you want to discuss with your guest, and you only have 30 minutes for the interview, you miiiiiight be in a bit of trouble if you’re still on Topic #1 at the 29-minute mark. Peek at the clock every 5-10 minutes so you can manage the topics and segments you’d like in the show. Additionally, look out for those moments when you find yourself getting bored discussing something with your guest. If you’re getting bored, your listener is likely getting bored, and it’s time to switch gears a little bit. There’s no shame in moving the conversation along.

10. Listen to your final interviews

How do you become a better interviewer after the interview? Listen to the final product. Yes, it can be painful, but there’s no better coaching than soaking up your own podcast episodes and critiquing your technique. This time, as an actual listener, keep an ear or two out for things you did well and things you can do better next time. Did you keep your guest the star of the show? Did you probe at the right times? Were there several things you were left wondering, or scratching your head as a listener? Give yourself some constructive criticism. Yourself will thank you(rself). Take some time to be your own podcast listener.

A Better Podcast Interview Makes for a Better Podcast

That’s how you become a better podcast interviewer. Rock the prep, make smart decisions throughout the actual interview, and genuinely listen back after it’s final. Use brief notes as your anchor, know when to probe and when to move on, and always keep the guest the star of the show. There are small tweaks at every touchpoint that can add up to a masterpiece of an interview. If you find yourself lagging in any of these areas, make it a priority to improve on that aspect in your next interview. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back 20, 50, 100 podcast interviews ago and realize how much you’ve grown as an interviewer. Make your podcast the best it can be by becoming a better podcast interviewer.

If you’d like help with podcast production so you can focus your podcasting energy on bigger and better interviews, you can always reach me at max@maxpodcasting.com. If you enjoyed this post, you’ll also appreciate my blog post on “How Do You Launch a Podcast in Less Than 10 Days?” and any of the 130+ episodes of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. Thank you for your time. Pod on.

**Please note** While these key decisions and actions were made during the course of 9 days, the team at BetPrep had of course been thinking about starting a podcast for much longer. They had all necessary equipment and personnel ready to go, which made this timeline possible.

What do you need to decide on to launch your podcast in less than 10 days?

Day 1 (Thursday) – Intro Call and Proposal Sent to BetPrep

A week after my friend Cody Darwick from Full Slate introduced management from BetPrep, management and I were able to connect for a quick intro call. In the call, we discussed the background for the podcast, what needs to happen to get it launched, and what it would look like to work together. I sent the proposal with all the details shortly after the call. Getting rolling right away was crucial for getting this launched efficiently.

Day 2 (Friday) – Test Episode Recorded and Shared for Feedback

Management sent over a test episode of the podcast, recorded by Host Michael Salfino and BetPrep’s Player Prop Guru Brad Feinberg. We agreed to listen to the episode individually and share feedback over a call on Monday. Getting the test episode together so quickly put Michael and Brad in a great place heading into the first official recording.

Day 3 (Saturday) – Previous Work Shared of Podcast Artwork Designer

I shared some past podcast artwork with management created by my awesome artwork contact, Adam McGinnis. Management requested an intro to Adam that night and expressed his goal to get the podcast and first episode launched by Friday. Podcast artwork is such an important consideration, it was essential to get this kicked off ASAP.

Day 4 (Sunday) – Introduction Made to Podcast Artwork Designer and Artwork Briefed

I introduced management and Adam over email that morning and included the key priorities for the design, as well as the key requirements for Apple Podcasts approval. It’s important to stick to those artwork size requirements, which are:

• 3000 x 3000 pixels
• Max 72 dpi
• JPEG
• Under 500 kb

Day 5 (Monday) – Podcast Name Decided, Licensed Music Options Shared, and Intro to Libsyn

Management and team finalized the podcast name, Givin’ Props, after researching availability and getting feedback on fit. I sent over 5 tracks of licensed music options to choose from based on the vision management and team had in mind, and pulled them from my favorite provider, Jamendo. I also shared directions for management to get an account set up on my favorite third-party podcast host, Libsyn. Sites like Libsyn provide a space for the podcast to “live” and create the RSS Feed, so the podcast and episodes can be pushed out to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.

Day 6 (Tuesday) – Licensed Music Decided and Show Set up on Libsyn

Management let me know which music track to license and provided confirmation on their new Libsyn account. Management, Michael, Brad, and Adam also connected for a quick chat on the podcast artwork after Adam sent his proposal. There were several quick phone chats throughout this week between management and I as well, which was super helpful for making quick decisions and discussing next steps.

Day 7 (Wednesday) – Podcast Description Decided and 1st Round of Podcast Artwork

Management sent over the draft podcast description, I gave feedback and we finalized it, and we finalized the show settings in Libsyn. Adam sent over the 1st Round of podcast artwork for review. Seeing potential podcast artwork for the first time is always one of the most exciting parts of launching a podcast – it’s getting real!

Day 8 (Thursday) – Music Licensed and 1st Round of Podcast Artwork Feedback

Management secured the music license for use in the podcast. We then connected for a quick call to discuss artwork feedback (after he consulted with his team), after which he gave 1st Round feedback to Adam. His feedback was exactly what it needed to be – feedback from lots of people, distilled down to the few most important points. It’s super key to stay actionable here as opposed to overwhelming with information.

Day 9 (Friday) – 2nd & 3rd Round of Podcast Artwork, Pilot Episode Recorded & Edited, Published to Libsyn, Submitted to Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Podcast Launch Day! What a day. Adam sent over Round 2 of the artwork in the morning. Management gave feedback, and Adam took the feedback and sent over the final podcast artwork that afternoon. Meanwhile, Michael and Brad recorded the 1st podcast episode that morning and sent it over to me for editing. I edited the episode that afternoon, integrated the licensed music, published the episode to Libsyn (creating the RSS Feed), and submitted the podcast to Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ta-da!!! The first podcast episode was available to listen on Libsyn almost instantly, Spotify within a couple hours, and Apple Podcasts a few days later (Apple Podcasts can take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks to approve your podcast). As we got in a rhythm each week, I also shared Show Notes and audiograms to help market each episode. The best part – once you knock out all the key decisions we knocked out in the planning stage, it gets much easier to share a new podcast episode every week.

Make quick, smart decisions to launch your podcast in under 10 days

There you have it. You really can launch your podcast in less than 10 days. It all goes back to teamwork, clear communication, and quick decisions. Enormous credit goes to management, Michael, Brad, and the team at BetPrep for making this efficient launch possible, plus Adam and his crazy good, crazy speedy artwork skills for making it pop. Big thank you to Cody as well, who connected management and I in the first place. It was suuuuch a blast bringing this podcast idea to life so quickly, and I would do it on this timeline again in a heartbeat. You can listen to the final product on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you’d like to start your podcast or need help with podcast production, you can always reach me at max@maxpodcasting.com. If you enjoyed this post, you’ll also appreciate my blog post on “What Should You Name Your Podcast?” and any of the 125+ episodes of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. Thank you for your time. Pod on.

What should I name my podcast?

Something that clearly identifies what your podcast is about.

The most important consideration about your podcast name is it must clearly identify what your podcast is about. A potential listener should have a great idea what to expect from your podcast just from the name. Write your potential podcast name down on a blank sheet of paper. Can you tell what your podcast is about just from those words? Above everything else, make sure your podcast name communicates what your podcast is.

Something that is attention-grabbing.

So, your potential podcast name does a good job of describing what you discuss in your podcast. Now, is there something about the name that would make someone stop scrolling through their podcast feed? Is it eye-catching, thumb-stopping, exciting, intriguing? No one likes boring podcast names. They allude to boring podcasts. Name your podcast something attention-grabbing.

Something that is around 2-5 words.

Hey, you – listen to my new podcast, A Podcasty Podcast About Podcasting Featuring Podcasters Being Podcasty on This Podcasty Podcast. Actually, don’t. Who wants to deal with a mouthful before they even listen to a single podcast episode?! You don’t want your podcast name too long. Name it something around a few words long, and stay sticky in the minds of your listeners.

Something that is clever.

Bonus points here. A podcast name that is witty, has puns, and/or is corny goes the extra mile for your podcast. Is there any sort of play-on-words you can come up with that fits the topic of your podcast? Could you use some amazing, astounding, and awesome alliteration? Maybe some prime rhymes? A podcast name that is clever will never be podcast lame.

Pick a good name for your podcast

A good podcast name starts your listener’s journey with your podcast on the right foot. Come up with a name that clearly identifies what your podcast is about, is attention-grabbing, around 2-5 words, and is clever. Brainstorm dozens of names and evaluate each under these guidelines. See if any jump out to you personally, then ask friends and family what potential names they like best. See what other podcasters in your industry are naming their show and if any create a spark, showcased here by top content marketer Christoph Trappe. If you pick an awesome name for your podcast, you’ve checked the first box toward having an awesome podcast.

If you have any questions on podcasting or podcast production, you can always reach me at max@maxpodcasting.com. If you enjoyed this post, you’ll also appreciate my blog post on “Should You Interview Guests or Host a Solo Podcast?” and any of the 125+ episodes of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. Thank you for your time. Pod on.