In today's episode of Podcast Smarter we speak with with Bethany Hawkins, the founder of Crackers and Soup, a podcast production company.   We'll share a look into the effective strategies that have empowered black-owned podcast businesses to excel. The conversation sheds light on Bethany’s distinctive methods for creating engaging podcast content, offering valuable insights for podcasters aiming to attract and retain a diverse listener base. This episode not only highlights Bethany’s success in the industry but also prompts podcasters to consider how they can adopt similar tactics to enhance their own growth and reach. "You really have to know and understand what you're doing in your business... So you are getting your audience excited about that particular topic before you even drop it, before you even launch it." - Bethany Hawkins, Crackers in Soup Bethany's journey from the corporate world to becoming a successful black-owned business owner is nothing short of inspiring. With her keen insights, Bethany has been instrumental in guiding podcasters to create authentic connections with their audiences, leading to remarkable growth and impact. Her unique approach focuses on aligning the client's personal strengths with their podcasting goals, ensuring genuine and enduring engagement. Bethany's expertise and dedication have empowered countless individuals to find their voice and build thriving podcast communities. Here are the main takeaways of today's episode: Mastering the Art of Growing Your Podcast Audience Launching a Successful Podcast Service Business Empowering Black-Owned Podcast Businesses with Effective Strategies Crafting Engaging Podcast Content to Captivate Your Audience Harnessing the Power of SEO for Explosive Podcast Growth The key moments in this episode are: 00:01:00 - Bethany's Journey to Podcasting 00:07:44 - Overcoming Initial Podcasting Challenges 00:13:07 - Keeping the Audience Engaged 00:14:36 - Leveraging Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey News 00:15:06 - Keyword Utilization and SEO 00:15:22 - Gaining Traction and Building Audience 00:15:39 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information 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