Better Radio Websites

Better Radio Websites

The podcast for radio professionals who want to see their website generate more traffic and revenue. Each week your host, Jim Sherwood, and his special guests give you time-tested tips and secret tricks to ensure your radio station dominates digital in your market.

Episodes

February 2, 2026 20 mins

In this episode, we explore the trend of "vibe coding" — using AI tools to quickly build websites with just a prompt. Sounds great, right? But should you trust your radio station’s digital future to AI alone? We dive into the pros and (many) cons of vibe coding and why it might look good on the surface but fall flat where it really matters.

What You’ll Learn:

  • What vibe coding is and why it’s gaining popularity

  • The surpri...

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Your station’s app might have thousands of downloads—but if hardly anyone is using it, what’s the real return?

In this final episode of the Metrics That Matter series, we break down why daily active users, session time, and push notification engagement are far more important than raw install numbers. You’ll also get a practical step youcan take this week to boost app usage.

Read the full post at: https://www.skyrocketradio.com/216.

Ne...

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January 12, 2026 5 mins

Your station might have thousands of followers on Facebook or Instagram… but if no one’s engaging with your posts, those numbers may be doing more harm than good.

In this episode, we break down why follower counts are overrated and highlight the metrics that actually matter—like engagement rate, shares, comments, and video completions. You’ll also get a simple action step to help improve your social strategy this week.

Read the full ...

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January 5, 2026 9 mins

Your newsletter might have thousands of subscribers—but if barely anyone is opening or clicking, are you really getting results?

In this episode, we dig into why open rates, click-throughs, and even unsubscribes matter far more than the size of your list. Plus, why cleaning up inactive or bounced subscribers is actually a smart move—not a loss. If you’re still measuring success by total subscriber count, this episode is for you.

Lear...

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December 29, 2025 10 mins

Are you tracking the right numbers on your station’s website—or just the ones that look good on paper?

In this episode, we kick off our Metrics That Matter series by focusing on your website. It’s easy to celebrate traffic spikes and page views, but those vanity metrics don’t tell the full story. We'll look at the numbers that actually reflect value—like time on page, bounce rate, and return visits—and how to start improving the...

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December 15, 2025 10 mins

Are you making the most of your morning newscasts?

In this episode, we highlight an easy, high-impact strategy used by BreezyNews.com—turning their daily newscasts into a podcast. With just one upload, they update their website, reach listeners on podcast apps and smart speakers, and create new sponsorship opportunities. It's a smart way to repurpose existing content, streamline workflow, and keep your website fresh without any ...

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In this episode, we share how to create a “Year in Review” feature page that boosts your radio station website traffic, increases engagement, and opens new sponsorship opportunities before the year ends. From top news and events to staff picks and listener polls, a Year in Review page is a smart way to close out the year strong.

For more detailed show notes, visit: https://www.skyrocketradio.com/211.

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If it feels like the job has changed… it’s because it has. Radio isn’t only audio anymore—it’s blogs, video clips, podcasts, reels, and everything your audience consumes between songs. And the truth is, stations are already creating the content… they’re just not capturing or distributing it with purpose.

This episode digs into how to shift your mindset from “repurposing” to pre-purposing—thinking ahead so everything you do on-air fe...

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November 17, 2025 9 mins

Push notifications might look like text messages—but they’re actually one of the most powerful tools in your station’s digital toolkit. While social media buries your posts in algorithm soup, push lets you speak directly to your listeners, on their schedule.

In this episode, we cover:

  • Why push beats social in reach, speed, and loyalty

  • The key differences between push notifications and text messages

  • Smart ways to use push: contests,...

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If you're chasing more website traffic, better SEO, and deeper community ties, local content is the answer. In this episode, we’re breaking down why it works—and how you can do more of it without overwhelming your team.

We’ll cover:

- The difference between RSS widgets and imported feeds—and why both fall short

- Why national content often harms your SEO and engagement

- Real-world ideas for simple, high-value local content

- How ev...

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November 3, 2025 6 mins

Today’s radio listeners are constantly connected—and mostly through their phones. If your station doesn’t have a mobile app, or if it’s just a basic stream player, you’re likely missing out on real engagement and revenue.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why “Listen Live” alone doesn’t cut it anymore
  • The types of mobile apps available and what to watch out for
  • How content and advertiser features can turn your app into a revenue engi...
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The homepage is no longer your audience’s first stop. AI-first browsers like ChatGPT Atlas and Perplexity Comet are rewriting how people discover information online. Instead of clicking through websites, users now get summarized answers directly from AI—no visit required.

So, where does that leave your radio station’s website?

In this episode, Jim unpacks how AI is reshaping the digital landscape—and what radio stations must do now t...

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October 13, 2025 5 mins

When listeners click your station’s Contests page, what do they find? If the answer is “nothing,” you might be doing more damage than you think.

In this episode of Better Radio Websites, we talk about why an empty or outdated Contests page sends the wrong message—and how to fix it fast. From showcasing past winners to teasing upcoming promotions or even temporarily hiding the page, we’ll give you practical strategies to keep that pa...

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If your radio station’s website still has an “Under Construction” page—or worse, a dead-end link with no content—you’re sending a message you didn’t mean to. And it’s not a good one.

In this episode of Better Radio Websites, we’re digging into why these outdated placeholders are doing more harm than good. We’ll cover how they hurt your station’s credibility, tank your SEO, and frustrate both listeners and advertisers. More important...

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Are you training your listeners to follow your station—or just follow Facebook? Social media is valuable, but if it’s not driving people back to your station’s website, you’re building someone else’s empire instead of your own.

In this episode of Better Radio Websites, Jim breaks down five essential social media goals every station should set:

  • Turn listener questions into website traffic, not endless Facebook DMs.

  • Use your site—no...

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September 22, 2025 11 mins

What happens when being the “local news hub” just isn’t realistic for your radio station? Maybe you don’t have the staff. Maybe a competitor already dominates that lane. Or maybe your format simply doesn’t fit daily news coverage. That doesn’t mean you have to step back from being a content leader—it means you need to get creative.

In this episode, we dive into practical strategies for building a content-rich station website without...

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“WordPress is outdated and slow.” You’ve probably heard that one before—but is it true? In this episode of Better Radio Websites, Jim tackles the myths and misconceptions surrounding WordPress.

From speed and security to scalability and flexibility, discover why WordPress remains the most powerful and future-ready platform for radio station websites. If you want your site to be fast, secure, and built to grow, this episode will set...

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How many banner ads should really live on your radio station’s homepage? That question came up during the Texas Association of Broadcasters conference when Radio Update’s Andy Meadows asked me point-blank.

Some stations go all-in with what I call the “NASCAR approach,” plastering ads on every spare pixel. Others strip things so clean that you wonder if they’ve sold a single advertiser. Both extremes send the wrong message.

In this ep...

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Banner ads are still one of the most effective ways for radio stations to generate digital revenue—but only if they’re done right. In this episode, we reveal 10 proven tips to help you design banner ads that grab attention and generate clicks. From choosing the right sizes to writing compelling CTAs, wecover what really works in 2025.

You’ll learn:

  • The banner sizes that get the most traction
  • Why simple design almost always wins
  • How...
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When’s the last time you explored your own station’s website like a first-time visitor—or a curious competitor? In this episode, we slip into detective mode and show you how to “secret shop” your website, mobile app, and social channels to uncover hidden flaws, frustrating user experiences, andmissed revenue opportunities. It's one of the simplest ways to boost engagement, trust, and income—no magnifying glass required.

What You...

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