#31: New Year, New Podcast Editing Resolutions
Podcast Editing Plus is a global podcast editor community where we dive into the growing pains of being a freelance podcast editor, running a small podcast editing business, or transitioning between the two like I am!
Podcast Editing Plus (PEP) has a:
LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12589124/
TWITTER LIST: https://twitter.com/i/lists/1467474855150989314
And this is the newsletter component where I’m sharing my own podcast editing and business growth as well as podcast editing tips, resources and conversations.
My current tools:
-Audio podcast editing: mostly Hindenburg & occasional Audacity
-Video podcast editing: Reaper and Windows Video Editor
(Yes, I know that I can use Reaper for the audio editing. There is a reason for my workflow and it was detailed oh so much in the PEP podcast in November 2021.)
Date: Thursday, January 6th, 2022:
Location: Rome, Italy We’re in Rome, Italy for 1-3 months. The you know what has turned us into accidental digital nomads. So nope, this is not a glamorous or intentional thing. But lemons, lemonade…
NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
-Business
-Podcast Editing Community
-Storytelling
-Technology
-Podcast Growth (for your clients)
-Professional Development
BUSINESS
FINDING NEW CLIENTS: Cold DMing
Cold DMing, it finally paid off. And it didn’t.
I apparently reached out to someone who had a podcast that I thought I could help sound and promote better last year. Last year! At the time he was just starting the podcast and didn’t have the funds to hire an editor yet, even at my lower rates last year.
This week he DMed me and wanted to set up a call to go over details. A year later. Wow. I never thought that method would work. I haven’t reached out to anyone that way in so long because it felt unsuccessful. But this is making me rethink doing it. I must admit that this year his budget and my fees didn’t fit anymore but that’s okay. He remembered my outreach and contacted me a year later. That’s amazing. Has this happened to you?
PRICING SERVICES
It’s not just how long it takes you. The longer I do podcast editing for clients and time track my tasks, the more I realize that there’s so much more to this than time spent. Here are some other factors in our rates:
-time spent learning the skills used
-income tax factors
-tools for the job: hardware AND software. yes, they may be considered a business expense in your country BUT they are still funds that you need to pay for.
-membership fees (see below info on the Podcast Editor’s Academy)
-vacation time
-rent
-advertising: I advertised in a couple of podcast specific newsletters this year. How did you spend your advertising budget?
-medical insurance fees (if you live in a country that doesn’t have national health care)
-knowledge: in that, time we are saving our clients by sharing, recommending, etc things for their podcast that they didn’t know how to do OR, even more delightful, didn’t know was possible.
This is probably at the front of my mind right now because I’m getting my 2021 U.S. income taxes ready for my Tax Accountant. Even though I live outside of the U.S. , because of my freelance status, I need to pay U.S. taxes.
In my pre-pandemic expat life I was always working for a local company abroad. I had to report my overseas income but as a language teacher, I never reached the income level required to pay U.S. tax while livung abroad.
But as a freelancing American, there is a set freelance fee I need to pay on my overseas income. This is new to me.And I’m numerically dyslexic so this is a challenging task in good moments. Wish me luck.
Takeaway:
Do a back of the envelope calculation when you first start freelance podcast editing to get a more accurate fee rate to charge clients. Unless you don’t have to. Don’t need to. In which case, man you’re lucky:) But the vast amount of podcast editors I’ve talked to share stories of how much they were under pricing their services when they first started. And I think NOT considering the above factors may be a large part of why.
CLIENT EXPECTATIONS+
While editing this episode of the real estate podcast Agent Upgrade for my clients a couple of months ago, I heard guest Ally May say, “I have all the tough conversations first.” I paused. I took my earbuds out (yes, I’m that editor that does not use headphones. I did an episode on why for NaPodPoMo). I sat in that thought.
I generally like to have overview conversations during my discovery calls, yes yes. But I do not address all the tough issues up front. But I’ve recently been addressing more and more of them. Why? Because when I don’t, clients seem to do more podfading. And their podfading is sad on two levels: their voice, message and stories are not out into the world anymore AND my business is less stable.
So when I saw this Podcast Viability List from Nick Hilton mentioned in a newsletter recently, I read it with zeal. And I’m thinking that combining the items on this list with some of my own talking points as a middle ground discovery call check list.
I don’t need to go into every detail but I do think I need to present the complexity of podcasting more. It IS tough to keep going and I think that’s something I don’t share often enough.
How much of all the tough questions do you have in your discovery calls?
Would love to include some of your responses in the next issue. When you reply, do provide a link to your website.
OUTSOURCING
My outsourcing has calmed down because a lot of my clients were on break during the holidays. I don’t know exactly what 2022 will bring in this bursting at the seams industry.
What I do know is that I’m meeting with so many lovely people to get ready, should my workload explode again. If you’re a podcast editor, social media manager, or offer any service that’s not podcast editing but would help podcasting clients, email me and let’s have a coffee chat.
PODCAST EDITING COMMUNITY
Reader Feedback
None. Hope to hear from ya next time:)
PEP YouTube LIVES-UPDATE
We’re chatting with Podcast Editors like YOU every 2 weeks as long as we have guests. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve tiered the chats! There’s now a beginner podcast editor chat AND an experienced podcast editor chat. We NEED more guests in 2022, check out our schedule here: https://www.stephfuccio.com/podcasteditingplus
Another change we’ve made to allow for the global podcast editors we want to speak with is shifting the LIVE start times every month.
If you’d like to be a guest podcast editor, complete this form: https://forms.gle/XcVZp9Fhf7qELkX28.
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If you’re enjoying our newsletter, please let Substack know. Thank you!
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Podcast Editor Spotlight: Brandee Nichols (Audacity/Spain)
Brandee went from being a nurse to teacher to podcast manager. She’s finally found work that she enjoys AND that doesn’t stress her out. She offers podcast editing services as well as other podcast management services.
When not working, you can find her daydreaming about my next meal or taking pictures of her cat.
More info: https://www.brandeenichols.com/
»»» Want to be highlighted in the Podcast Editor Spotlight? Email me your info AND a photo of you and/or your DAW! «««
Podcast Editing Plus: Podcast Editing Communities List
I’ve made a PDF of all the podcast editing communities I’ve found over the past year or so. If you don’t have a copy OR want the most current one, just email me (or hit reply if you’re reading this in an email) AND add “podcast editing list please” in the subject line. And toss me a pic of your DAW in the email if you get a chance: Because, why not?)
Podcast Editor Academy
I’m a member of the Podcast Editor Academy and highly recommend this group for many reasons: community, live events, library of resources and job postings are but a few. Here’s some more information about them…from them!
“DAW demonstrations, scripts, support, and ‘how-to’ courses to help you start and grow your Podcast Editing business. Start your three month membership for only $199,”
https://www.podcasteditoracademy.com (affiliate link)
STORYTELLING:
Training Program
This week was a perfect example of when our passion for podcasting (our=Laura Davis of Shelter in Place and me) becomes part of a podcast episode. Here’s a tweet that Laura posted recently about this:
https://twitter.com/PodcastShelter/status/1478773982027386880
This passion that Laura and Nate have for podcasting is an extension of their finely tuned storytelling experience prior to podcasting. The program that they’ve put together for the Kasama Labs is exactly what is needed to get more voices into the space. And now it’s available to more people via this course.
Here’s how Laura describes the Labs.
“The Kasama Labs is a self-paced online course that invites you inside the story, sound, and structure of an award-winning narrative nonfiction podcast—and provides tools for creative living in podcasting and beyond.”
Learn more: https://shelterinplacepodcast.org/kasama-labs-online-course
Audio Storytelling: Shaping interview episodes
I’m a huge fan of moving chunks of an interview episode around to build the narrative arch but I’ve not learned how to talk my clients through this. I used to add it to the options but so few people added it to their wishlist, so I removed it. But I still strongly believe that interview episodes should be shaped. They ARE stories but stories that often need a bit of help getting clarity on their selves.
What? Am I losing it talking about a story being a thing? lols
So how do YOU package your services for this kind of editing. From the Podcast Taxonomy I want to label what most people want edited in their podcast is “dialogue editing” but what is this narrative shaping called? Is that a producer’s task? Do I need to be pricing for being a producer AND editor? hmmmm.
One quick thing that I do with my own episodes is taking one of the last things that we talk about and move it to the beginning of the episode. Yes, even before they introduce themselves and go into their background. I learned this from Dave Jackson of the School of Podcasting. In an episode ages ago he brought up that in movies we don’t start with the main characters beginning. Instead, we start in the middle of the action AND THEN go back and learn more about character(s). We need to be invested in the characters and their story before wanting to know their background.
In fact, I remember that in the American TV Show Broad City, Co-Creators Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson mentioned that they were advised to wait until season 2 to use the script about how their characters met. The reason was the same: the viewers needed to get attached to them to want to know more of their background.
And I think that this is true for podcast conversations as well. Guest or no guest. We are so straight forward sometimes in these talking oriented interviews and monologues that we often forget to weave a story. It’s time consuming. It’s not easy. And if you’re hiring an editor, it can be expensive.
TECHNOLOGY:
Recording & Hosting
We’re having a heated debate on how important IAB stats are in the PEP LinkedIn group. I hope you come join us and share your opinion on the matter.
Mics
I’ve been trying to record my own podcast episodes outside while walking on and off for awhile now. I’ve tried many different devices but nothing has been good. So as a treat for the hard work I did in December, I ordered my first Rode mic, the Rode Microphones Lavalier GO Microfono indossabile di livello professionale, in Italiano, to be exact. It should be here in a few days, so I’ll report back in the next issue on how it’s going.
IF you have any specific tips on using this mic, please email me. Thanks.
DAW TIP: Compression in Adobe Audition
This tip comes from AB, who is a podcast editor AND was in our first PEP Global LIVE Podcast Editor Chats back in November 2021 with Andy Wang and myself.
AB sent me a message with TONS of Audition tips after that PEP chat and now I’d like to share a really powerful bit that he wrote on compression in Adobe Audition. If this helps you with Audition, let me know!
“While using Audition compressors, take care that you don’t set the attack and release too harsh otherwise they tend to become really punchy. However the mutiband compressor is probably the best onboard compressor that is there on audition. It works both as an EQ & compressor it can provide some really nice results but one needs to have a certain basic level knowledge about frequencies & bands to operate this one. If you had like a really sibilant recording (Steph note: sibilant is a hissing noise), they can choose the high mid band and try and compress that to bring down the ssssssss a bit. Moderation is the key here, ratio of 2:1 is a standard, but sometimes it can go up to 3 & can be pulled down till 1.5 depending upon the voice.”
If you’d like to submit a quick DAW tip with brief explanation, email me your tip AND your podcast editing website or social media page link.
PODCAST GROWTH :
Accessibility
I’m sick of “create transcripts” being on my to do list but not my DONE list.
So, this new segment of the newsletter will take on two flavors, depending on the week.
I’m going to report on my process to create transcripts for the Geopats Podcast AND I’ll happily highlight any like posts from YOU about your own experiences adding transcripts to your clients podcast. The more detailed and process oriented the info, the better.
My first report will come in the next issue.
Accessibility Goal #1:
I’m going to create transcripts for the new Geopats episode that will come out in February. It’s a coffee one and it will be a challenge because we’re geeking out about Japan and coffee. All of that will make this a fine tooth comb edit after using Otter but I am determined to stop putting this off.
It’s embarassing how many episodes I have in the world withOUT transcripts. And after I get a decent workflow down, I’m going to recommend this task to my clients but will probably outsource the transcription process part. Because time and focus. Wish me luck!
Meaningful Growth
You need sustainable, slow builds for your client’s podcast. You do NOT have to do everything for them but it would be good if you could recommend things that might help them. That’s why I’ve invited Jeremy Enns to this section of the newsletter. I was blown away by a podcast marketing course I took from him last year and even more impressed with the year long course he’s planning for 2022. Spoiler, it can also be consumed in ala carte sections, if wanted. Personally, I want to take the podcast episode naming session.
Here’s what he has to say about the course.
“Learn effective podcast marketing without the overwhelm. This monthly series of approachable podcast marketing workshops will give you the roadmap and accountability to consistently grow your show, delivered in 12 snack-sized chunks. Each month, you’ll learn a new marketing chunk, and then be given a challenge to put it into practice. Most importantly, you’ll discover that marketing can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.”
The Elements of Podcast Growth:
https://counterweightcreative.podia.com/2022-workshop-series/4whv7
FREE Promotion Opportunities for your clients
I’ve been mostly off Twitter and have not kept up with my newsletter subscriptions for the past few weeks, which is usually where this info comes from. So, yea, we’re skipping the quick list part of this segment for now.
BUT, it’s a good time to remind your clients to have their podcast listen link in their email signature. That’s a free promo opp, right? It’s also one that Lauren mentions in the below amazing list.
100 FREE Podcast Marketing Tips: I’m going to keep this in the newsletter for a few more issues cause it’s THAT good! Which of these 100 tips are you gonna send to your clients?
From Lauren Passell of Tink Media and Podcast, The Newsletter. She’s brilliant and so are her tips. Maybe send 1 suitable one to your client every month? Get creative but always add value!
https://podcastmarketingmagic.substack.com/p/100-podcast-marketing-tips
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Stretch Goal
Speaking of newsletters, I LOVE writing this monstrous one. I try to add value but also have a narrative flow. Is it working? I hope so!
I’m starting a podcast editor newsletter creation course in Spring 2022. The point is this. You’re already writing and sharing content on social media. All you need now is a quick way to repackage it in a narrative way to send to your followers in a newsletter. That’s what this course is going to help you do!
More details AND a discount offer available here: https://forms.gle/Lwu4jVtdFV89NCXD7
Failure
Global Podcast Editor Chats.
Let’s talk about my inability to land on one name for the chats to start. How long can this name be?
Podcast Editing Plus Global Podcast Editor Chats.
Okay, that will take up the 30 minutes for the event in and of itself, lol.
But then there’s the inability to get the right guests. By right I’m not judging anyone good or bad as a person. Instead I’m trying to talk with podcast editors that would talk about the freelancing and small business aspects of this work that we talk about in the newsletter and in all our online communities.
That means that podcasters that edit their own podcasts are not included.
But what I’m also learning fast is that they are the extroverts of the podcasting world. And I think the podcast editors are the introverts? 100% guessing based on the lack of guest application forms. We are gathering quite a subscriber base on YouTube and comments about the chats on the socials, so the challenge is not lack of interest.
But then there’s the global nature of the event. I want to include more podcast editors globally because, well, I am very much a piece of myself in many countries kind of person and I also like to learn from people in different countries. But the language barrier is very real. I’ve had quite a few one on one amazing conversations with podcast editors who I then invited onto the chats. They just didn’t feel comfortable for this reason. I’m NOT talking about one person. Not at all. I respect your privacy. I’m talking about trends in the difficulty in keeping the chats going.
Lastly, there is the level issue. I had a few podcast editors suggest that we have different levels for the chats. I thought this was a great idea. So I set the 2022 schedule to have one beginner and one experienced chat per month. But no one is signing up for the beginning chats.
I take full responsibility for all of these complexities. And I admit that if this event keeps going, it will be nothing less than a miracle.
But for now, I’m feeling like it’s failing. I hope this feeling is wrong.
DAWingly yours,
https://www.stephfuccio.com/
Twitter:
Podcast Editing Plus: @stephfuccio
Geopats Podcast (my personal podcast, back in 2022!) @geopatspodcast
Instagram:
Podcast Editing Plus: @podcasteditingplus
coffee (my best IG grid by far):@geopatscoffee
Geopats Balkans (where I'm living): @geopatsbalkans
LinkedIn: @dstephfuccio