In today's episode of Podcast Smarter we return with our third of three episodes with with Bethany Hawkins, the founder of Crackers and Soup, a podcast production company.   Explore the essence of building and utilizing a faithful, interactive podcast community and monetize that community in this episode of 'Podcasting Smarter'. Learn about the importance of consistent listener engagement and innovative methods, such as the 'question of the episode' and interactive Q&As on Patreon. Discover how a listener-centric approach can revolutionize your podcast outreach and enhance your revenue. We dive into the art of humanizing communication to build a stronger audience bond, emphasizing that every listener should feel personally connected with despite the thousands of downloads per episode. The conversation expands on podcast monetization methods, illuminating the idea that monetization could mean a new follower or client, not just revenue. The episode moves forward to the significance of collaborations with brands you love. Hear about how delivering authentic recommendations to your listeners can increase your income. Learn the trick to naturally weave in product talks into your chats. This episode is invaluable for podcasters wishing to engage authentically with their audience and diversifying their revenue streams. We further delve into the rich world of podcast monetization with Podbean, uncovering the benefits sponsors bring to the podcast content and how promotional partnerships form a beneficial scenario for both parties. It includes strategies for managing your podcast successfully and compelling insights from Bethany, a podcast guru specializing in Black and BIPOC podcasts. Understand the power of resilience in the over-saturated podcast market. Finally, we discuss strategies for making the best use of various programs and tools for quicker and easier editing and production, allowing you to concentrate on the creative and engagement aspect of your podcast. Tune in to this enlightening discussion and start making your podcast work harder for you today! "Developing that one-on-one connection, I always try to emphasize the importance to my clients that they are talking to one person. They may have 10,000 downloads for that episode, but when that person is listening, they think that they're talking to them. One person" - Bethany Hawkins, Crackers in Soup Bethany is an experienced podcast consultant known for her innovative strategies to enhance audience engagement and improve podcasting efficiency. With a passion for creating meaningful connections, she emphasizes the importance of fostering one-on-one relationships with listeners and leveraging platforms like Podbean for live Q&A sessions. Bethany's expertise extends to monetization strategies, where she encourages her clients to think outside the box and seek partnerships that resonate with their audience. With her insightful approach to podcasting, Bethany has helped numerous podcasters establish deeper connections with their listeners and achieve sustainable growth. Here are the main takeaways of today's episode: Mastering Strategies for Engaging Your Podcast Audience to Keep Them Coming Back for More Uncover the Importance of Crafting the Perfect Question of the Episode to Ignite Audience Interaction and Participation Unleash the Power of Utilizing Podbean for Live Q&A Sessions to Foster Real-Time Engagement and Connection with Your Listeners Unlock Monetization Strategies to Turn Your Passion for Podcasting into a Lucrative Venture Discover the Benefits of Hiring Help for Podcast Production and Growth to Streamline Your Workflow and Elevate Your Content The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:26 - Building a Loyal and Interactive Community 00:03:12 - Strategies for Patreon and Monetization 00:09:27 - Diversifying Monetization Strategies 00:15:23 - Importance of Promoting Your Own Product 00:15:43 - Resilience of Marginalized Voices 00:18:21 - Hiring Others for Podcast Support 00:20:11 - Leveraging Strengths and Tools for Podcasting 00:21:09 - Conclusion and Podcasting Tips 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