MY PODCAST IS A YEAR OLD!

I started my podcast, BR Not BS on December 1st 2021, so this month it is one year old! The aim was always to educate and inform about small business and the nebulous world of PR.

The 2022 series has had 34 episodes so far.  I’m looking forward to starting series 2 in January 2023.

I’m so pleased with the reception it has had. At the time of writing, my podcast has had 1,719 downloads, which is very encouraging. That generally means 1000s of people have listened to it as not everyone downloads it. Some listen at their leisure via the various hosting sites for podcasts.

 

Why did I start a podcast?  

As some of you may know, radio has always been a part of my life, although never the main focus, in terms of media.  I’m far more visually biased, so I rarely listen to the radio, but as podcasts are becoming more and more popular, it definitely seemed the time to embrace the medium, and start my own.

In my early years I ran a late-night radio show for Hospital Radio in Swindon for two years and, once I mastered the tech, I really enjoyed it. It was very different from my day job, although it was about stories and music.

In terms of podcasts, I’m a small fish in a very large ocean, as there are over two million podcasts in the world!  But, I love recording them and talking to my guests and I’m happy to have started on this journey around my own PR.

 

My Top Three Podcasts of 2022:

1. No BS PR Predictions for 2022 (with me) – 111 downloads.

I did some crystal ball gazing and predicted interesting story hooks and the type of things a business should be looking at in 2022. Also, what I thought the media would be looking for.

2. PR Brilliance with national journalist – (Jill Foster) – 94 downloads

I spoke to my friend and fellow journalist, Jill Foster. She works as a freelancer across the national and international media, specialising in human interest stories and features.  Jill shared examples of the best and worst PR and how it can help or hinder her when she is writing stories.

3. Why we need to start eating fish from the bottom of the ocean and not the top! –

(Jessica Shepherd) – 67 downloads

In this episode I talked to former journalist, PR and communications specialist, and straight talker, Jessica Shepherd. She focused on the best way to position your story and engage with journalists. Also, how to deal with requests asking you to work for free.

 

Some of my podcast stats:

The average number of downloads for a podcast is 49 at the end of this first year.

90 per cent of people listening are in the UK, which when broken down into area looks like this:

27 per cent London; 15 per cent Bristol; 8 per cent Swindon (which surprised me).

Other countries listening include Australia and the USA at four per cent each and 1 per cent South Africa. Then there are other odd downloads, too small to affect overall stats.

Thanks to Serena of Made4U Podcasts for getting me going, Hannah and Lis for taking on the mantle, Swindon 105.5 for allowing me to use their studios and all of the guests who gave up their time to share their stories, tips and insight.

Now I have a baseline for improvements and keeping an eye on the data. I’m pleased with the podcast’s performance and I intend to keep going. Indeed I’m already planning interviewees for Q1 next year.

 

Here’s to the next series in 2023 and please keep listening!