5 "Rules" for Great Podcast Artwork (Insider 227)

Late-night recording realities, must-know rules for standout podcast artwork, creative promo ideas, and lessons from HBO's production magic in this episode of Build a Big Podcast ...

Why You Should Listen

• The 5 unbreakable rules for podcast artwork that hook strangers and make your show impossible to ignore (break these rules and watch your show disappear into oblivion!)
• Why putting your face on your podcast art could be the #1 mistake crushing your downloads—even if you think you’re famous in your niche!
• How to create irresistible, thumb-stopping visuals—no art degree, big budget, or fancy tools required
• The hidden power of “less is more” that magnetically draws listeners while your competitors wave their brand in desperation
• The secret font trick that keeps your show out of the “scroll and forget” graveyard (ignore it and only your mom will squint to read your title)
• The color contrast code that screams “LISTEN NOW!” to casual browsers, even if they’d previously sworn off podcasts for life
• How to use a swipe-worthy podcast promo so contagious, fans share it for you (your show spreads like gossip at a high school cafeteria!)
• Why memes might be the most criminally overlooked path to podcast virality—and how to hijack them to seduce new listeners
• The quick and greedy way to turn a podcast “time-waster” into a lead-generating machine—influencers and bestselling authors are using it right under your nose
• This “graphic recording” hack can morph your episodes into art people crave and share… even if your show is “just audio”
• How to unlock the untapped creative genius hiding in podcasting’s earliest days—unplug, go analog, and watch your show explode with edge and personality
• The HBO “million dollar intro” lesson: Why money and fancy tech are overrated, but limitation could turn you into a podcasting legend almost overnight
• Discover the anti-perfection story formula—makes even audio stumbles feel like genius, while “over-editors” drive away their audience in droves
• The simple 3-step creativity trigger any podcaster can use—turning technological envy into your secret weapon for audio power
• Why podcasting is the new business card … and how you can dominate your space while others look and sound exactly the same

You want these links ...

• Subscribe to Build a Big Podcast
• See Big Podcast AMP for personalized podcast growth assistance

Episode Timestamps

• [04:59] Why you should almost never put your photo on your podcast artwork—even if you’re “known in your niche”
• [07:10] The hard rule for podcast cover art: No more than five words—here’s why
• [09:17] The secret danger of text on top of photos: How most podcasters ruin their first impression
• [10:37] The meme-inspired podcast promo strategy you can steal—even if you have zero graphic design skills
• [13:43] What making a 10-second HBO intro in 1982 can teach you about forcing creativity with limited tools
• [14:55] The Bob Barker microphone limitation: How to spark breakthrough interviews with fewer resources
• [21:33] Why everybody having a podcast is actually your opportunity—and the video that proves it

The Newsletter for Podcasters

• .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}