In today's episode of Podcast Smarter we return with our second of three episodes with with Bethany Hawkins, the founder of Crackers and Soup, a podcast production company.   Uncover the surprising key to making your podcast stand out in a sea of competition. It's not just about content, but the strategic use of branding and design. Find out how to captivate your audience and create a lasting impression. Stay tuned for the unexpected twist that will change the way you approach podcasting. "Your podcast is your brand. If you have a business that has particular hex codes, that has a particular mood board, you're going to want to incorporate those type of things that make your business aesthetic you into your graphics, into your cover art so that everybody knows all of this flows and coincides." - Bethany Hawkins, Crackers in Soup Bethany Hawkins is a seasoned podcast consultant with a knack for elevating shows through intentional branding and design choices. Her expertise lies in crafting show notes optimized for SEO, leveraging transcripts for accessibility, and implementing AI tools for content creation. Bethany's commitment to empowering podcasters to enhance their visibility extends to her meticulous strategies for marketing engagement and her keen eye for developing distinctive podcast branding. With her unique approach and dedication, Bethany has become a trusted authority in the podcasting community, helping aspiring podcasters maximize their impact and reach a wider audience. Here are the main takeaways of today's episode: Unlock the secret to boosting your podcast's visibility with SEO-optimized show notes. Enhance your podcast's accessibility and reach a wider audience by leveraging transcripts. Discover how AI tools can revolutionize your podcast content creation process. Elevate your podcast engagement with innovative marketing strategies. Unleash the power of intentional branding and design choices to elevate your podcast's impact. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:22 - Importance of Search Engine Optimization in Podcasting 00:02:06 - Strategies for Better Visibility 00:05:56 - Multi-channel Content Marketing 00:08:02 - Building Relationships with Guests 00:12:08 - The Importance of Podcast Branding 00:14:53 - Importance of Thoughtful Immersion in Podcast 00:15:35 - Rebranding and Graphic Considerations 00:16:01 - Importance of Consistent Branding 00:16:32 - Graphic Usage and Brand Association 00:17:25 - Conclusion and Invitation for Interaction Resources: Subscribe to our email newsletter to get industry updates: https://www.podbean.com/email-subscribe  Watch the video of this event on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub4l6a6wjZ4  Sign up for all of Podbean's Free Live Events here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/podbeancom-31329492977  Other episodes you'll enjoy: Podbean's Apple Subscription Integration  Podbean's Descript Editing Integration Connect with Bethany and Crackers in Soup: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bcrackersinsoup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcrackersinsoup/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crackersinsoup/  Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crackers_in_soup About us: Podcast Smarter is the official in-house podcast by Podbean.  Podbean is a podcast publishing and monetization service, hosting almost 640,000 podcasts.  If you’re looking to start your own podcast, monetize your podcast and livestream directly to your listeners, you can set up an account at podbean.com  Connect with us: Subscribe to our email newsletter to get updates from the team head over to: https://www.podbean.com/email-subscribe Find us on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podbean  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podbeancom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0H3hvTa_1_ZwFg6RjGNXGw/  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/podbeancom   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/podbean  Website: https://podcast.podbean.com/    Email us: To contact Podcasting Smarter with questions get in contact at podcastingsmarter@podbean.com