How Did You Get That Voiceover Gig? (Insider 207)

Unlock the secrets of voice-over gigs, podcast growth, and insider stories, plus exclusive tools and tips in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Episode Topics

1. Voice over opportunities
2. Podcast marketing tips
3. Audience growth strategies
4. Twitter vs. Blue Sky
5. Microphone recommendations
6. Political podcast reach
7. Podcast monetization programs

1. Opening Remarks

• Personal anecdotes about voice-over gigs

  • Audiobooks vs. Commercials

  • VeggieTales and knockoff of "King of the Hill" experience

• Introduction to the podcast's purpose and audience

2. Voice-Over Gigs: How to Get Them

• The story of the Budweiser frogs

  • An ad agency employee gets the gig unexpectedly

• The story of the AOL "You've Got Mail" voice

  • Recording to cassette, wife’s connection to the company

• Corona beer holiday commercial

  • A guitarist hired to whistle instead

• Importance of saying yes to opportunities

3. Key Announcements and Housekeeping

• Introduction to the podcast's sponsor, Riverside.fm

  • Features: Studio quality recordings, multi-track recording, AI editing tools

  • Promo code for listeners: "bigpodcast" for 15% off

• Explanation of sound cues used in the episode

4. Blue Sky and Twitter Updates

• Blue Sky adds 1,000,000 new users in a week

  • Creator of Blue Sky is also the creator of Twitter

  • Comparison to Twitter, user engagement, advice to claim usernames

• Mass exodus from Twitter

  • Austrian Airlines' and The Guardian's creative exits

  • Use of Tweet Deleter to cleanse old posts

5. Podcasting During Elections

• Impact of podcasts in elections

• Audience reach statistics for Trump and Harris via podcasts

  • Trump: 23,500,000 Americans reached

  • Kamala Harris: 6,400,000 Americans reached

• Reflections on podcasting’s reach and specialized audience

6. The Best Microphone for Podcasting

• Humorous take on microphone debates among podcasters

• Advice on making a cheap mic sound better

  • Quiet recording environment

  • Proper distance from the mic

• David’s setup: using an Electro-Voice RE20

7. Tribute to Elwood Edwards

• Death of Elwood Edwards, the voice of AOL’s "You've Got Mail"

  • Historical significance of his voice work

  • Recording on cassette thanks to his wife's suggestion

• Other famed voice-over stories

  • Encouraging listeners to share their voice-over stories

8. Big Podcast AMP

• Explanation of Big Podcast AMP program

  • Goals: Grow podcast audience, increase engagement, monetize skills

• Invitation to reach out for personal coaching

9. Closing Remarks and Additional Resources

• Classified ads for tools to help podcasters

  • Book Like a Boss for automating guest booking

  • AudioPen app for converting thoughts into podcast outlines

• Subscription links for the podcast

  • Links for iPhone, Android, and RSS feed

You want these links ...

• Subscribe to Build a Big Podcast
• See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 This podcast episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm, offering studio-quality remote recordings, multitrack and text-based editing, AI tools for removing silences and filler words, and creating magic clip highlights
• 05:56 Share your stories via Mastodon, Blue Sky, or threads. Keep showing up for more opportunities
• 06:53 Seize opportunities; say yes 
• 11:14 Twitter - Community collapse imminent; prepare to leave soon
• 13:31 Connect with experts or authors via interviews
• 17:30 Unexpected success stories

The Newsletter for Podcasters

• Big Podcast Insider - Weekly Podcasting Newsletter ​

This episode of Build a Big Podcast is brought to you by Riverside ...​

Riverside is online recording software that makes it easy for podcasters to record studio-quality interviews from anywhere. Try it free and, if you like it, get 15% off any membership plan when you use the code BIGPODCAST.​​

About this episode of Build a Big Podcast:​

This is the audio companion to Issue 207 of Big Podcast Insider. If you're interested in more info on what I talk about on this episode and also links, that's where to go. On this episode, I dive into where the money is made in podcasting. how to get more reviews (and subscribers) for your podcast, podcast hosting, and more.   ​

Big Podcast Insider is a weekly newsletter on podcasting. If you like the content of this episode, you can subscribe here – it's free and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.​

Want more help growing your podcast audience?

• Big Podcast Extra - Podcasting Tips
• Big Podcast AMP (Audio Monetization Program)