Fan Mail FAQs

We're excited that you're engaging with your listeners through Fan Mail! In this article, we'll walk through some specific questions you might run into.

Why should I use Fan Mail?
Through your podcast, you communicate with your listeners. And, with Fan Mail, they're able to respond to you! This provides a place for them to react to your podcast or ask a question. Our team talks about the impact it's had on our podcasts and listeners here: Why podcast listeners rarely reach out.

How do I change the "Send us Fan Mail" text?
When you enable Fan Mail, we'll add the hyperlink to your episode descriptions. You'll be able to customize that text and choose its location. To update it, head to Episodes > Fan Mail and click the Settings icon on the top-right of the page.
  
Under "Link Location," you can decide if you'd like the text to appear before your episode descriptions, or after. Under "Link Text," you can write what you'd like the link to say!
How do I disable Fan Mail? 

Also on the Episodes > Fan Mail page under the Settings icon, you'll see the option to completely disable Fan Mail. Just toggle the "Enable Fan Mail" button off. This will remove the hyperlink from your descriptions and the messages from your Fan Mail page. 

What phone number is attached to Fan Mail?  
We'll generate a phone number so that your listeners can text the show directly. It isn't your personal phone number! This number allows all your Fan Mail messages to show up in the Episodes > Fan Mail page of your Buzzsprout account.

Do I get access to my listener's phone number?
No. We will not share your listener's phone number with you or anyone else. When someone writes in via Fan Mail, you'll just see the last four digits of their number.

How do I respond?
When you click into each of your Fan Mail messages, you'll see the option to "Reply to Fan Mail." You'll be able to send one message back to your listener!   Pro Tip: You can also add a Fan Mail segment to your episodes and read and respond to messages that way! Each message that comes in through Fan Mail will include a location and the last 4 digits of the phone number. Use those details to let the listener know their message reached you! Check out this example in Buzzcast.  

How do I pin Fan Mail messages to my Buzzsprout Website?
Including Fan Mail on your Buzzsprout Website is a great way to feature your current listeners and give potential listeners a taste of your show!

From the Episodes > Fan Mail page, you'll be able to click into a message and select "Show on your Website." The message will then be featured on the Fan Mail tab on your Buzzsprout Website.

How do voicemails work?
Listeners will have the option to leave you a voicemail! When they click the link in your episode description for Fan Mail, they can send a voicemail or a text message to your show. If they choose voicemail, they'll record it directly from their device, preview it, and send it to you!

You'll get to hear them respond to your show, ask a question, or leave an encouragement, in their own voices! We'll also transcribe the audio message and include both within the message on your Episodes > Fan Mail page.

Why is my microphone not working?
If your listener is running into any issues with their microphone while recording a Fan Mail voicemail, send them this link to our Microphone Access help article!

Can I block messages?
Yes, you can block senders! If you get Fan Mail that you'd rather not see, you can block that sender through the Episodes > Fan Mail page. Click the "..." and "Block Sender."  You can unblock them at any time, too.
If you have any more questions or need anything else, please reach out to us at support@buzzsprout.com, and our Podcaster Success team would love to help you!