Thank you for purchasing a book in the Expert Authority Builder series
Expert Authority
Builder Toolkit
by Alastair McDermott
Accompanying resources for the Expert Authority Builder series
Table of Contents
- Your Podcast Launch Workbook
- Essential Equipment List for Podcasters & Content Creators
- Microphone & Camera Comparison Video
- Guest FAQ Page Examples
- Media Kit Page/Speaker Onesheet Example
- The Specialization Workbook
- Podcast Hosting Companies List
- Listen to a Content Strategy Planning Coaching Call
- Free book: “How to Sound & Look Good on Zoom & Podcasts”
- Free Online Microphone Check
- State of Business Podcasting Report from One Stone Creative
- Authority Maturity Model
Your Podcast Launch Workbook
Download the free PDF workbook that walks you the essential steps in planning your podcast including:
- prioritizing goals
- choosing the right topic
- selecting the right format
- deciding on publishing frequency
- recording your first episodes
Essential Equipment List for
Podcasters & Content Creators
When you’re starting out podcasting & content creation, you need to tread a careful line.
- On one hand, you can’t allow a lack of knowledge or equipment to prevent you from getting started.
- On the other hand, there is a minimum level of audio/video quality that you should be aiming to achieve.
That’s why you’ll often see contradictory advice given to podcast newbies: “don’t worry at all about podcast audio quality” or “audio is everything, so you should buy the best equipment”.
That’s why I created this free guide to help you figure the right option for you.
Microphone & Camera Comparison Video
Today, we’re diving into high-quality audio and video—and why it’s non-negotiable for anyone serious about building authority.
I’ll be testing four different mics—the Logitech H390 headset, Logitech C920 webcam, ATR2100 mic, and the high-end Shure SM7B—to show you exactly what difference a good mic can make.
I also compare the Logitech C920 webcam with a Sony a6100 mirrorless camera to compare video quality.
I’ll also share some tips on how to get the most out of your microphone.
Guest FAQ Page
Here are some examples of Guest FAQ pages:
- The Recognized Authority Guest FAQ – in-depth FAQ page
- The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Guest FAQ – this is done as a series of short videos, worth checking out
- The Marketing Book Podcast Guesting page – not in an FAQ format, but includes tons of info for potential guests
- The Lose Threads Podcast Guest FAQ – straightforward & professional FAQ page
Podcast Hosting Companies
Your podcast host is where your podcast audio files are stored. When you are ready to publish an episode, you upload it to your host and hit the publish button.
I recommend that you don’t host your audio files on your own website, and that you don’t use free hosting based on the adage “if it’s free, you are the product” — this is particularly true for a business podcast where your podcast impacts your brand.
These are all well known and recommended by many podcasters:
Acast, bCast, Blubrry, Buzzsprout, Captivate, Castos, Fireside, Podbean, Resonate, RSS.com, Spreaker, Simplecast, Transistor
There are hundreds of smaller podcast hosting companies, too many to list.
I have signed on as an affiliate for these three hosting companies, and if you sign up with any of these I should get a small credit from their affiliate program. Two of these will give you credit towards your hosting if you use this link. I have used and can recommend all three.
One-Sheet / Media Kit Example
Your one-sheet gives a clear snapshot of you and your business, allowing you to quickly communicate the most important elements of your message.
It should pique the interest of media, podcast hosts, event organizers, agents, and anyone else who might be able to give you publicity or a platform.
Alastair McDermott
Marketing Consultant & Coach
Author · Speaker · Podcaster
The Specialization Workbook
Struggling to choose the right niche for your business? Find it hard to narrow your focus? This free workbook will walk you through exercises to help identify your ideal specialization based on your skills, interests, and client opportunities.
Inside the workbook you’ll find:
- A client analysis spreadsheet to reveal your best niche opportunities
- Fun exercises to tap into your natural talents and interests
- A fill-in-the-blank bestselling book title page to help you envision your niche
- An accountability option to get feedback on your specialty decision
Take the guesswork out of choosing your niche with this comprehensive workbook. Get clear on your zone of genius so you can become the go-to leader in your field.
Download the free Specialization Workbook now to get started!
Behind The Scenes:
Content Strategy Coaching Call
Here is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a content strategy coaching call. Podcasting coach Alastair McDermott coaches video expert Nina Froriep through various aspects of her podcast and livestream strategy and launch plan.
Alastair and Nina discuss how to provide value through entertaining and educational content, how sponsorship can add credibility to a podcast or livestream, and explore the significant impact of high-quality guests on the success of your podcast.
Free Book: How to Sound & Look Good on Zoom & Podcasts
If you’re a consultant or other professional and you’re using Zoom (or Teams) for client meetings or you’re podcasting, you need to read this ebook.
HOW TO SOUND & LOOK GOOD ON ZOOM & PODCASTS does exactly what it says on the tin!
It provides you with useful tips & tricks to make you sound and look better.
This is important, because research shows that poor audio quality can influence listeners’ perceptions negatively – and you definitely don’t want that!
Published 2022 by Oak Tree Press
Online Mic Check
Adobe have created a free AI powered online tool to check your microphone quality. It checks:
- If you are too close or too far from your mic
- If the gain (volume) is appropriate
- If there’s background noise coming through
- If you have echo
You’ll need to log in with a free Abobe account and then give permission in your browser for the Abobe site to access your microphone for the test.
The State of Business Podcasts
My friend Megan Dougherty and her team at One Stone Creative have looked at over 7500 individual podcast related datapoints every year since 2021.
They looked at branding, social media, show format, sponsorships, and collected all of that information into one report – complete with comparison and analysis.
More Podcasting Resources
- Authority Maturity Model
- Equipment Reviews coming soon (Q2, 2023)