5 "Rules" for Great Podcast Artwork (Insider 227)

Late-night recording realities, must-know rules for standout podcast artwork, creative promo ideas, and lessons from HBO's production magic in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Why You Should Listen

• The 5 unbreakable rules for podcast artwork that hook strangers and make your show impossible to ignore (break these rules and watch your show disappear into oblivion!)
• Why putting your face on your podcast art could be the #1 mistake crushing your downloads—even if you think you’re famous in your niche!
• How to create irresistible, thumb-stopping visuals—no art degree, big budget, or fancy tools required
• The hidden power of “less is more” that magnetically draws listeners while your competitors wave their brand in desperation
• The secret font trick that keeps your show out of the “scroll and forget” graveyard (ignore it and only your mom will squint to read your title)
• The color contrast code that screams “LISTEN NOW!” to casual browsers, even if they’d previously sworn off podcasts for life
• How to use a swipe-worthy podcast promo so contagious, fans share it for you (your show spreads like gossip at a high school cafeteria!)
• Why memes might be the most criminally overlooked path to podcast virality—and how to hijack them to seduce new listeners
• The quick and greedy way to turn a podcast “time-waster” into a lead-generating machine—influencers and bestselling authors are using it right under your nose
• This “graphic recording” hack can morph your episodes into art people crave and share… even if your show is “just audio”
• How to unlock the untapped creative genius hiding in podcasting’s earliest days—unplug, go analog, and watch your show explode with edge and personality
• The HBO “million dollar intro” lesson: Why money and fancy tech are overrated, but limitation could turn you into a podcasting legend almost overnight
• Discover the anti-perfection story formula—makes even audio stumbles feel like genius, while “over-editors” drive away their audience in droves
• The simple 3-step creativity trigger any podcaster can use—turning technological envy into your secret weapon for audio power
• Why podcasting is the new business card … and how you can dominate your space while others look and sound exactly the same

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Episode Timestamps

• [04:59] Why you should almost never put your photo on your podcast artwork—even if you’re “known in your niche”
• [07:10] The hard rule for podcast cover art: No more than five words—here’s why
• [09:17] The secret danger of text on top of photos: How most podcasters ruin their first impression
• [10:37] The meme-inspired podcast promo strategy you can steal—even if you have zero graphic design skills
• [13:43] What making a 10-second HBO intro in 1982 can teach you about forcing creativity with limited tools
• [14:55] The Bob Barker microphone limitation: How to spark breakthrough interviews with fewer resources
• [21:33] Why everybody having a podcast is actually your opportunity—and the video that proves it

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 227 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.​

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