Episode Summary: Puppies and Podcasts: The Weird Connection You Didn’t Know You Needed

Host: Dave Jackson
Podcast: Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting Mistakes
Date: July 10, 2025
Length: ~9 minutes

Overview

In this episode, podcasting Hall of Famer Dave Jackson tackles a seemingly simple, yet critical, listener question from Facebook: How should you share your podcast with others—and what’s the right URL to use? Through an engaging analogy comparing podcasts to puppies, Dave delivers crucial advice about podcast branding, the value of owning your domain, and how to make your show easy for listeners to find and share.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Podcast Sharing Dilemma (00:37 - 02:45)

• Listener Question: A new podcaster launched her show and wondered which link to use for sharing—Apple, Spotify, or something else?
  • Dave’s Response: Don’t just share app-specific links; these only serve listeners on that particular platform.
  • Quote (Dave Jackson, 00:51):

    “Not everybody uses Spotify and not everybody uses Apple. Send them to your website. Go get those links to Apple and Spotify and put them on your website.”

• Being on Multiple Platforms: Although Apple and Spotify cover 70-90% of the audience, every extra percent matters.
  • Dave’s Advice: Be everywhere! Claim every bit of listenership you can.

2. Why Not Use Free Link Aggregators Like Podlink? (02:45 - 04:38)

• Common Advice: Many recommend using Podlink or similar free service.
  • Dave’s Warning: Free services are rarely sustainable; they may vanish or start charging unexpectedly.
  • Quote (Dave Jackson, 03:17):

    “Free is not a good business model, or they’re gonna get purchased... and then people will go, ‘Well, we can’t just do this for free.’”

• Real Example:
  • Answer the Public started as a free service, became popular, then started charging after being acquired.
  • Lesson: Don’t build your core podcasting infrastructure on platforms you don’t control.

3. The Importance of Securing Your Domain Before Launch (04:38 - 08:10)

The Checklist Order

• Many new podcasters skip securing their domain before launching. Dave considers this a backwards approach.
• Domain Name Testing:
  • Test your potential show name with others. If their guess matches your intended content, you’re on the right track.
  • Always check if the domain is available before settling on the show name.

Multiple Domains, Minimal Cost

• If torn between names, grab the domains for each—domains are only about $20 per year.
• Real-World Example:
  • Several podcasters have lost out by procrastinating, only to discover their chosen domain was snatched up.
  • Dave shares his own story:

    “I know at least seven people who... they’ll check to see if the domain is available and they’ll go, ‘Great, I see the domains available. I’ll buy it later...’ and the domain won’t be available [later].” (06:05)

Domains as a “Leash” for Your Podcast: The Puppy Analogy

• Memorable Analogy: Your domain is like a leash for your podcast puppy—you want to show it off, but you need control or else it goes missing.
• Quote (Dave Jackson, 06:50):

  “Your domain name, your URL, your website address is a leash that you can put on the puppy... It’s right there on the end of the leash.”

• Domains can point anywhere—email signup, show promo page, or your actual podcast once it launches.

Real Estate Comparison

• Like a street address always pointing to the land, your domain can be pointed anywhere at any time—giving you total control over your presence.

4. How Should You Share Your Podcast? (08:10 - 09:30)

• Dave’s Recommendation:

  • Spend five minutes gathering all your show’s links (Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, iHeart, etc.).
  • Put these on your own website under a simple, branded URL like yourshow.com/follow.
  • Reinforces your brand and gives listeners something easy to remember and share.

• Quote (Dave Jackson, 08:50):

  “If you want to follow the show and get the episodes the minute they’re ready, just go to podcastconsultant.com/follow.”

• Don’t Depend on Others: Relying on Buzzsprout, Podlink, or other services makes your podcast’s home vulnerable to policy changes or business failures.

• Buying a Domain:

  • Recommended registrars: Namecheap, Cooler Websites.
  • Have a simple and clear landing page with follow buttons for all podcast apps.

5. Launch Realities and Search Discovery (09:30 - End)

• Discovery Challenges for New Shows:

  • At launch, your podcast is invisible in search engines.
  • Friends and listeners will ask, “Where’s your podcast?” The answer should always be your easy-to-remember domain.

• Building Search Traffic:

  • Each episode should have its own blog post.
  • As Google indexes your site, this builds up an audience over time.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | Dave | "Not everybody uses Spotify and not everybody uses Apple. Send them to your website." | | 03:17 | Dave | "Free is not a good business model, or they’re gonna get purchased..." | | 06:05 | Dave | "I know at least seven people who... the domain won’t be available [later]." | | 06:50 | Dave | "Your domain name, your URL, your website address is a leash that you can put on the puppy..." | | 08:50 | Dave | "If you want to follow the show... just go to podcastconsultant.com/follow." |

Actionable Takeaways

• Secure Your Domain Before Everything Else:
  Don’t launch—or even settle on—a name before you buy the matching domain(s).
• Aggregate and Control Your Links:
  Put all platform links on your own branded site, not third-party aggregators.
• Use Simple, Memorable URLs:
  Create easy URLs like yourshow.com/follow to reinforce your brand and ease word-of-mouth sharing.
• Don’t Depend on Free Tools:
  These often vanish or start charging once you’re relying on them.
• Think Like an Owner:
  Your domain is your leash—rein in your podcast puppy and make it easy to find.

Resources & References

• schoolofpodcasting.com/checklist — Dave’s launch checklist
• Name Registrars: Namecheap, Cooler Websites
• podcastconsultant.com/follow — Example landing page for follow links

Final Thoughts

Dave closes with encouragement and his trademark wit: whether your podcast is a puppy or a powerhouse, own your digital presence from day one. Secure your domain, control your listener’s journey, and make sharing your show dead simple. Don’t let your podcast wander the web without a leash!

For more tips, join Dave’s mailing list at podcastingobservations.com.