Thread by @apollopods

STOKED to talk about podcast cover art here at #PM22! This panel is all about standing out in a sea of other podcast cover art with panelists @michelegdale @Kristen_Hayford @joshua_trae and @galenbeebe! Live tweet starts here!

Step 1: Establish your purpose

You need your podcast name, obviously, but what else is podcast art for?

It's taking your audio's vibe and giving your audience a visual intro to what they're going to hear #PM22

Podcast art is also part of your podcast's brand. It'll be there on all of your marketing, including "out of home marketing" eg billboards, taxi tops, etc. ads outside of the home #PM22

Podcast art is the listeners first point of contact, even before the description

And it's also something platforms care about: Spotify et al LOVE working with shows that have great, distinct art #PM22

Step 2: consider your mission

How do you find artists? How do you find someone who will represent the brand? Who gets your vision?

You need a strong vision and mission even before you start making your podcast

Tip: try finding and working with LOCAL artists! #PM22

Think about episodic art as well (if you can afford it) and make sure it meshes with the overall podcast art

Think about the kinds of artists you want to compensate and platform!

Give lots of reference and inspo images to artists, too #PM22

When looking for an artist, think about the identity of your core demo, too, and try finding artists that actually represent that audience!

If you want a younger audience, try for a younger artist, etc. #PM22

A great resource for finding artists? Instagram! Look for artists you love and reach out, even if they've never made podcast cover art as well. #PM22

How much should someone expect to spend on show art in money and/or time?

These panelists are largely working with budgets--one spent $2k on art, but got full rights to the art AND the multi-layered .psd so they could pull individual elements from the art for branding #PM22

To be clear: working with budgets from studios, public radio resources, etc.! Everyone should have *a* budget whether or not they have outside funding of course 😂 #PM22

At @wondermedia they're very clear about having three rounds of art. They're "not gonna go back and forth editing this thing for ten rounds, because that's not fair"

Be mindful about how many drafts you expect from an artist! #PM22

Shoutout to this WONDERFUL resource from @maayanplaut about podcast cover art! We love you Ma'ayan 😭💙 #PM22 about.radiopublic.com/2019/06/13/gen…

Also be mindful: is the artist just making your art, or your whole BRAND? Are they giving you a design kit with a color palette, logos, font guides, etc.? #PM22

Next, think beyond the tile (that shows up in podcatchers)

Think about your color palette. Think about how you can use your podcast show art in different ways: social media graphics, website graphics, promotional graphics, etc. #PM22

Try to think about what your socials will look like each week, and bring that into conversation with your artist, especially if they're doing more than just the cover art. #PM22

One panelist used the show art on bookmarks and handed them out at their local library!

Think creatively about how you can use your art for different types of marketing #PM22

For standing out, do your market research. What is everyone else on your category using?

Don't necessarily go with the trend--try standing out. (Fiction folks: I know we all love purple. I know. But we're gonna stand out more with other colors, I promise.) #PM22

But you also want to make your podcast's genre clear. Art is about balancing standing out AND conveying an idea.

If you play with colors, use clear images. If your colors send a strong message, your images can be more abstract. #PM22

In a network, how do you make each show's art distinct while also being cohesive?

First, always leave room to rebrand if you have to. You don't always know what each show will *become*

And a branded stamp is another great heads up to your audience #PM22

So how and why do you create briefs and brand guidelines?

It's sooooo helpful. Wil speaking personally here: a brand guideline has been CRUCIAL for me as I post across all of our socials. It always gives me a place to start and a method for cohesion. #PM22

If you're working with an artist, PROVIDE AUDIO! Give them as much as you can: logos, descriptions, inspirations, everything.

Reference images are vital, both for an outside artist and for making the art yourself!

Surprised there are no artists on this panel actually 😂 #PM22

For what audio to send--send what you have. Send a trailer, an episode, or if you don't have that yet, send inspiration podcasts for what yours WILL sound like #PM22

Omg another great idea: individual episode art needs to have a good return on investment, so think about how you use it

Like printing off episode art for a kids show to make it into COLORING PAGES! paging @Optimus_Mo on this one 💙 #PM22

Oh interesting--they're sharing comments from a podcast cover artist, who says they actually prefer knowing very little before starting?

So best bet may be artist by artist, talk to them and see what they want and need, how they want to discuss. #PM22

Also vital: if you say you like or don't like a draft of your art, EXPLAIN WHY.

Do not just say you like it or don't. Please. 😂 #PM22

Q&A time!

Q: How do you know the right font size?

A: Try looking at it on your phone! Look at it lots, on lots of devices. Keep text minimal. #PM22

Q: Is the cost for episodic art typically less costly than the main title art?

A: It can be cheaper, especially if it's a derivative of the original art, how much of it you own, what assets you're receiving, etc. #PM22

and that's another session wrapped! 🎨 #PM22