Tag Archives: engage

Podcast

The Power of Being Vulnerable – PTC 355

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It is scary to put yourself out there and be vulnerable. But, it is also powerful. When you are working to build engagement with your audience, you need to be a bit vulnerable. That’s what makes you lovable.

BOOTCAMP

Before we jump into it, I want to give you a little update on the project I’m working on.

Last week I mentioned that I am putting together a workshop where I will take your hand and walk you through every step of the way to your goals.

You’ve given me a ton of great feedback, and I really appreciate it. So much feedback that I’m still going through all of it to determine exactly what you need and what the workshop will do for you.

It will take me another week or two to get it all put together. I can’t thank you enough for all of the responses to the survey.

This workshop will be something where we actually get work done. I don’t want to create just another empty webinar like you find everywhere else. I want to create a full day event that will help you get the work done. That’s why it’s a workshop. We will actually do the work together.

Once all of the feedback is reviewed, I’ll put it all together for you. Thanks for being patient. It is coming.

Now, let’s talk about building engagement, being vulnerable and attracting your ideal clients so you can make more money with your podcast.

THE PROFIT

You’ve heard the saying. People do business with those they know, like and trust.

I was watching an episode of Streets of Dreams with Marcus Lemonis the other night. You might know him from the CNBC television show The Profit.

On the episode, Marcus was researching the diamond district in New York City. It is a one-block stretch of 47th Streen in Manhattan between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This block is one of the primary centers of the global diamond industry.

As Marcus was talking pricing with the jewelers, he asked about appraisal. How do you know the diamond is actually worth the asking price?

The jeweler said, “You just have to trust me.”

Now, this bracelet Marcus was buying had an asking price of $30k or $35k. This guy just wanted Marcus to trust him.

Even as they looked through that little magnifying glass at the perfection of the diamond, the jeweler told Marcus that most people have no idea what they are looking at. They have no idea how to price a diamond. You need a trained eye.

The same is true when you get your car serviced. You just need to trust the mechanic when he tells you that your car needs new brakes or the seal on your header is cracked. I have no idea what good and bad brakes look like.

THE TRUST

The sale is all about the trust. Your potential client needs to trust that you are telling the truth. However, they also need to trust that your solution will work for them, that they can actually do it and that it delivers the results you promise.

Many people want to learn the art of the close. Closing the deal is only about 10% of the sales process. Building rapport is the majority of the journey.

Trust is the primary reason you need to build rapport with your potential clients. They need to believe what you are telling them.

If you are simply talking about the features of your stuff and how much it costs, you’ve already lost your prospect.

Build a relationship with your future client before you ever discuss your solution.

To build that friendship, you need to be open and honest. You need to be vulnerable.

Trust your guest with some of your stories and flaws. Put yourself out there.

When you do, the Law of Reciprocity will kick in. The Law of Reciprocity basically states that when people receive something from someone else, the receiver feels compelled to return the favor.

If you are vulnerable and trust your prospect by using your stories and flaws, they will feel compelled to trust you in return. It isn’t that quick. The trust grows over time.

MANIPULATION

Some people think using the Law of Reciprocity is just simply manipulating their prospective clients. It is the opposite.

Think of your past relationships. Did you instantly tell the other person all of your secrets the first time you met them? Of course not.

As they told you a few things, you told them a few things. Over time, you learned just how much you could trust that other person.

There is a “right” time to be vulnerable and reveal things in a relationship. That time comes when the trust level is high enough. The give and take builds each time you share something and they share in return. Being vulnerable builds trust.

Now, are you manipulating the other person? Of course not. You are simply building a relationship.

Putting yourself out there is a great way to grow your relationships and attract more of your perfect clients.

GLIMMER LEARNING

Today, I’ve invited a special guest on the show to talk about your presentation and putting yourself out there. How can you be authentic and engaging with your audience and prospective clients?

Lisa Hannigan is the Founder of Glimmer Learning LLC, a company specializing in virtual engagement training and coaching for speakers. She helps them increase the impact of their message and maximize results.

Lisa is a certified Master Trainer and Virtual Facilitator. She offers her almost two decades of experience, along with tools and techniques to her clients and teaches them how to deliver high-impact, engaging presentations that inspire and connect every time they speak.

You can find all of Lisa’s info at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/glimmer.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

Ways To Grow Your Podcast Engagement – PTC 341

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Many podcasters ask me how to get more listener interaction with their show. How can you get more listener feedback and comments? They are looking for ways to grow their podcast engagement.

We need to transform your information into engaging entertainment. When your content is engaging, people take notice and take action. If you want your listeners to interact more with your show, make your content engaging.

You can download the list at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

The one struggle that I hear most often is the desire to gain more engagement. How do we get more listeners? How do I increase my download numbers? What do you do to create more engagement? The problem may be worded differently, but the struggle is the same.

Are you making the problem more difficult than it needs to be?

The solution is easy to understand, yet difficult to execute properly.

Through all of my research and years of experience in both radio and podcasting, I’ve discovered a few key steps to create interaction. This week, let’s cover 7 steps to create more podcast engagement with your listeners.

Some of these steps may sound a little too simplistic. Just remember … don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Step back and ask yourself if you are truly executing on each step to the fullest.

ASK

1. Ask Them To Engage

How do you expect them to know you want them to be part of your show if you don’t ask?

Be sure to make your request specific. Tell your listener exactly what you want her to do.

If you want your listener to e-mail you or leave a voice message, tell them how to do that. Tell them where to go and what to do. When you want more podcast engagement, you need to ask for it.

EASY

2. Make It Easy To Engage

You may use social media, your website, an e-mail address, voicemail, or a number of other methods to reach you. Simplify it.

Create one contact page on your website containing the info to avoid the need for a laundry list during your show. Then, always provide that one contact source.

By using that one source, you also prevent your listener from getting caught in the decision paradox. If someone must decide which options to choose, they will choose to do neither.

It is much safer to make no choice than to make the wrong choice. Don’t put them in that situation.

Make the questions specific, so they don’t have to think. Give your listener a question to answer or specific piece of information to provide.

If he isn’t forced to be creative and “work” to create content for your show, you will have more success creating podcast engagement.

DEMONSTRATE

3. Show Them How To Engage

Give examples of podcast engagement. Show your listeners what you want them to do.

If you want people to leave you voice messages, play some examples on the show. When your listener hears others asking questions or giving opinions, they will know exactly what to do.

On the radio, we always had trouble getting the first call. Nobody wants to be first. We would set up the first call with someone who called about something completely different.

If we wanted to get into a conversation about best movie theater, we would set it up. When someone called to request a song, we would ask them the question. Then, we would play that call to demonstrate to others what we wanted.

Prime the pump to get more podcast engagement.

REWARD PODCAST ENGAGEMENT

4. Reward Podcast Engagement

What do your listeners get by engaging? What is it in for them?

Reward listeners who engage. This doesn’t need to be a gift or physical reward. You could acknowledge them on the show or highlight their journey.

Rewarding your active listeners can take many forms.

SUPERFANS

5. Use Superfans

Reach out to your superfans to begin the podcast engagement. They are more likely to engage than others. Use this to your advantage.

Connect with three or four to start the engagement. When your superfans start the conversation, others will follow.

NAMES

6. Use Their Name

Know your frequent listeners by name and use their name often.

Like Dale Carnegie says in “How To Win Friends And Influence People“, there is no sweeter sound than the sound of one’s name.

Jon and Dave and Regina listen to my show each week. They support my show and all I do. Find those frequent listeners for your show and mention them.

HIGHLIGHT

7. Highlight Members

Highlight a member of your community or audience on each show.

If you want more members and more engagement, highlight a member each week. Rather than simply acknowledging them, do a full feature on them. You might even invite them on the show and coach them.

Really shine the spotlight on a member and it will pay off when they share it.

Here are two bonus ideas …

SHARE

8. Share Tips

Have listeners share a tip of the week. Creating a crowd sourced show is a powerful way to create podcast engagement.

Dave Jackson at School of Podcasting does this as the final episode each month. He has a question of the month. He then tells people exactly how to leave their answer.

For the final episode of the month, he combines all of the answers into a show.

TEXT

9. Text

Let listeners text to make it easier. When podcast engagement is easy, engagement goes up.

We would often be told to get more callers on the radio during our show. Unfortunately, people would rather text than call. It’s a way of life today.

If your listeners are in the habit of texting, find a way to allow them to text you. Make it easy.

TIP SHEET

Would you like 75 ways to drive podcast engagement and grow your audience? You can get my list at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

You will get ideas to engage your audience with your content. There are tips to increase your podcast downloads. There are also ways to encourage your listener to visit your website.

You can download the list at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

7 Places To Find Your Clients – PTC 314

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If you are trying to make money with your podcast, this series of episodes will help you create your plan. Last week, we discussed defining your ideal target listener. Today, I want to help you find those listeners and potential clients.

This started in episode 312 where we discussed your 2021 podcast roadmap. That is the foundation for these next few episodes. If you haven’t listened to that show, I would suggest you start there.

This series of episodes will help you create big things in the coming year if you take action and do the things I’m putting in front of you.

I have created a workshop to find your money making idea. It is “6 ways to attract your ideal clients with a podcast”. This free training will happen on December 30th. Register for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Let’s talk about 7 places to find your ideal clients.

GROUPS

Social media groups can be a great way to get in front of your ideal clients. However, you need to obey the rules.

You cannot get into a group and become an instant salesperson. You need to provide value.

If members of the group get tremendous value from your posts, they will seek you out for more. One way to offer value is to reply to many of the posts. Even replies of encouragement help.

Every time you post in the group, you create an opportunity to be seen. You are creating top-of-mind awareness for your potential clients.

Studies show that a person needs to be exposed to a marketing message three times before it registers in the mind. Create frequency to the target by being seen often. Engage and interact.

Join 3 groups in your niche and offer value.

PODCASTS

Landing interviews on podcasts isn’t as difficult as it seems if you do it the correct way.

How many times have you been approached by a potential guest or representative of a potential guest asking to be interviewed on your show? I’m sure there have been times when you read the summary of the guest and realize it isn’t anywhere close to being a fit for your show.

I get these all of the time. It was especially true when I didn’t do interviews on my podcast. They would e-mail me about their latest book and say, “I think it would be a perfect fit for your show.”

Really? I don’t usually interview people. I especially don’t interview people about that topic.

That is the wrong way to land interviews.

First provide some value. Pursue fewer shows that are right in your roundhouse.

Last week we talked about your ideal target listener. One of the reasons we define our listener is so we can find them. Here is where that comes into play.

Find 5 to 10 podcasts that also speak to your ideal client. Actually listen to a few episodes of each.

Reach out to those hosts and tell them what you love about their show. Ask if there is any way you can support what they are doing. You might even provide a resource you love or a blog post from another creator that talks about a similar topic.

Start the relationship and conversation. When you have developed some rapport, mention that you speak to a very similar audience. Ask if you might get on a call to discuss how you might help each other.

Do this on a call and not over e-mail. If you are willing to commit the time to a discussion, you appear much more willing to help and partner.

On the call, find ways to support each other. This might be interview opportunities. It might be other ways. Get creative.

Work to land interviews on 3 complimentary podcasts.

GIVE

Creating content is hard work. Offer to help a content creator do just that.

You have great content that can be repurposed across other platforms.

Offer to create guest content or conduct an ask me anything for a complimentary content creator in your niche.

This should not simply be a reposting of something you already used. Either create something new or refine one of your pieces specifically for their audience.

By offering to create content for another creator, you lighten their workload and get in front of their audience. Everybody wins.

I first learned of Erik Fisher on Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcast. Erik would do a weekly segment on Cliff’s show where he would highlight a new tech resource he discovered, such as an app.

This added content to Cliff’s show while getting Erik in front of a new audience.

Find opportunities to provide your content to other content creators.

CROWDS

Empowering your audience to help you is a viral way to find new clients. Let your audience help you create an episode.

Dave Jackson does this on his School of Podcasting show every month. He presents the question of the month at the beginning of the month. Listeners are then invited to submit audio of their answer.

The final episode of the month is a collage of the answers Dave has received. Each submission gets highlighted on the show and is allowed to promote their own podcast.

By creating this episode, Dave helps his listeners. He gets great content for an episode. Dave also creates the opportunity to get his listeners talking about his show. “Hey, Mike! I heard you on Dave’s show last week.”

This creates goodwill between Dave and his listeners. It also gets his listeners in the habit of reaching out to Dave if they need help with something.

Create a crowdsourced episode of your own around your solution to their problem.

VIDEO

Do the work once and use it many times over. You would hard to create your podcast every week. Don’t make it a one-and-done.

Find ways to repurpose your content. If you start with a video of the show, you can then use the audio as the podcast. You can also use the transcript as a blog.

Now, you are doing the work once, you are creating the content once, but using it in three different ways. You can also use pieces of it on social media and in your newsletter.

People like to consume content in different ways. Allow them to consume your content in the way they enjoy most.

To get in front of new clients, repurpose your content on YouTube.

NEWSLETTERS

I hope you have an e-mail list. This is one connection to your audience that you actually own. Facebook can kick you off anytime they would like. You own the list of e-mail addresses of people who signed up with you.

Leverage this list to get in front of new listeners. The people on your list already know you. How can you use it to find new clients?

Partner with other creators in your niche. Just like you would include their segment on your show, include their content in your newsletter. They could do the same for you.

This should be part of your conversation when you reach out to partner. If they have an e-mail list that they send to frequently, swap content.

You can give them great content for their newsletter. They can give you great content for your newsletter. You both win.

Swap newsletter mentions with two complimentary content creators.

STAGES

The final way this week to find your clients is stages. I don’t mean physical stages. We are talking about any opportunity to get in front of an audience.

Summits are a great way to get in front of a new audience and build your e-mail list. A virtual summit involves various experts giving presentations around a specific topic.

People submit their name and e-mail address to get access to the summit. Sometimes you are allowed to offer your lead magnet during the summit to build your list as well.

Find a summit where you can give a presentation.

TWO-WAY STREET

Remember with any of these ideas, you need to give first. Seek ways to help the other person succeed. It will come back around.

If your partner knows you are there to help them, they will be more willing to help you.

It needs to be a win-win-win situation. Your partner needs to win. The audience needs to win. Then, you need to win. Provide great value and everybody wins.

Use a few of these ideas this week to get in front of your ideal clients.

Then, come join me at the workshop I’ve created to find your money making idea. It is “6 ways to attract your ideal clients with a podcast”.

This free training will happen on December 30th. Register for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth. I’ll see you there.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

5 Steps To Podcast Engagement – PTC 309

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On a coaching call the other day, I was asked about my most effective way to grow my audience. You can get more podcast engagement in 5 easy steps.

DOUBLE DOWNLOADS

Over the last four months, I have been able to use this system to double my downloads and increase my e-mail list by 60%.

When I look back at some of the greatest personal and business successes in my life, I have to admit that I didn’t achieve the majority of them alone. If you look at your own successes, I’m sure you will come to the same conclusion.

My audience doubled and my e-mail grew by doing one thing. I partnered with others. Two minds are better than one.

Over the past four months, I have appeared on summits, on podcasts and in giveaways. I have leveraged the audience of others to grow incredibly fast.

I have always believed that my ability to develop long-lasting relationships and build mutually beneficial partnerships with others is my secret superpower.

Strategic partnerships are the most powerful way to scale any venture.

Find people who can help you double your results. Connect and collaborate.

COLLABORATE

If you want to join an amazing event that will help you follow this path, check out www.podcasttalentcoach.com/Collaborate.

At the upcoming, highly anticipated live virtual event COLLABORATE November 13 – 15, you will have opportunities to build these powerful alliances and find your ideal joint venture partners.

You will be among hundreds of top leaders and experts that have already signed up to attend. Don’t worry … there are plenty of people just getting started as well.

If you have been going it alone, or need to scale your results to an even higher level by bringing in more joint venture partners, this event is a must-attend for you.

See full details and register at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/Collaborate.

This will be my third time attending Collaborate. It happens on Zoom and it is a lot of fun, even if networking makes you uncomfortable.

PARTNERS

At the beginning of event, you will learn how to refine your collaborating pitch. You learn how to tell others what you do and how to explain what makes a great partner for you.

Then over the weekend, you will take part in about 20 small networking circles. These are groups of about 8 people. Everyone gets 2 minutes to explain what they do and how they can partner. If someone sounds like a great partner for you, the two of you agree to exchange info and connect at a later date.

The first time I attended, I met 40 people that made sense as partners for me. This is how I’ve been part of summits, giveaways and podcasts. It was great.

At the next event, I decided to be much more selective on my partner selections. I still found 20 people as potential partners.

What could 20 partners help you accomplish in the next year? If you had 20 people promoting your podcast and programs to their audience, how could your audience and engagement grow?

Here is your chance to make those connections. Visit www.podcasttalentcoach.com/collaborate.

ENGAGEMENT

Let’s talk about the five steps to create engagement with your audience.

These steps are going to sound easy. The concepts are easy to understand. You simply need to be diligent and consistent about implementing each.

ASK

First, ask for engagement. If you want engagement, you must ask.

Your audience won’t engage with your show unless you ask them to do so. If you want them to e-mail you, ask. If you want them to share the show with others, tell them how.

People don’t know what you want unless you tell them. Be specific.

SHOW AND TELL

That bring up the second step. Offer an example. Show them what engagement looks like.

Many podcasters say, “Find the details in the show notes.” I listened to podcasts for about 3 years before I figured out where I could find the show notes.

Don’t assume people know how to subscribe to your show. Your listeners may not know where to find your show notes. If you want them to e-mail their questions, show them an example of a great question.

EASY

The third step is the ease of engagement. Make it easy for your listeners to engage.

Nobody wants to jump through 3 hoops to help you. “Visit the website. Click about. Scroll down a third of the page. Look on the right and find the green button. Click that and visit that webform. Fill out the form and click submit. Check your e-mail for the link you’ll get. Click that link and submit your question.”

You lost me at scroll down. If it isn’t easy, you won’t get action.

Easy also means FEWER options. Many people think more options are better. That is false.

If I suggest you e-mail me, text me or visit the website to submit your question, you now have to decide which is better for you. This is just more work.

More decisions mean your listener needs to evaluate the options, decide which is best for them, and then take action. Too much work.

If you have multiple options, rotate them through different episodes. Offer the e-mail this week and the texting next week.

LOCATION

The fourth step is engagement location. Engage where they are.

If you listeners love chatting on Facebook, don’t try to get them to comment on your YouTube channel. When your listeners are comfortable e-mailing you, stick with it. Don’t waste your time trying to get them to text you if that isn’t their preferred method of communication.

You need to get out of your comfort zone and go play where your listeners play. If they are in Facebook groups, be seen in Facebook groups. If there is another podcast they love, find ways to partner with that podcast. Be where your listeners are.

BENEFIT

Finally, include a benefit to engagement. This is the fifth step.

A benefit could be a lead magnet or other piece of value they receive for engaging. Maybe everyone who e-mails you receives your checklist or cheat sheet.

Benefit could also simply be highlighting them on the show or answering their question. When you answer their question, give them love. Direct people to them.

When engagement benefits the listeners, they are more likely to engage.

8 IDEAS

If you would like a ton of engagement ideas, I have created a resource for you. It is 75 Ways To Drive Engagement With Your Podcast. You can get it at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/engage.

The ideas are separated into half a dozen different categories. Here are 8 of those ideas.

  • Run for office by meeting as many people as possible. People vote for those they have met.
  • Ask great questions.
  • Have listeners submit questions for question of the week. They get attention.
  • Create a crowdsourced episode.
  • Include a link to engage in your e-mail signature.
  • Ask your listeners to share.
  • Create community. Highlight members.
  • Create partnerships to promote each other.

Get more on the idea list at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/engage.

Come join me at Collaborate. It will be the best 3 days you could spend to make the next year larger and more successful that you can imagine. Get all the details at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/collaborate. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

 

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

An Inch-Wide Engagement – PTC 282

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What is the one thing you struggle with most with your podcast? If you are like 90% of the people who come to me for coaching, it is growing your engagement.

That might mean growing your downloads. It might be getting more feedback from your listeners. Engagement might mean attracting more clients.

Connecting with our listeners is an important part of what we do. You need to ask yourself what you’re doing to create engagement.

YOUR PLAN

Have you created an engagement plan? Are you taking consistent action?

You can get my list of 75 free engagement tips. Find it at PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

These tips will help you engage your audience with your content. There are ideas to increase your podcast downloads. You also get a few ways to encourage the audience to visit your website.

Before each coaching call, I get a form that talks about your goals and current situation. Then, I listen to the show to determine what needs to happen to accomplish those goals.

Get coaching details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

I was on a coaching call the other night. The form listed the struggle as growing downloads and increasing engagement.

As I listened to the show, the host did a great job interviewing his guests. The content was great. The production value was solid.

However, the show was missing any element that encouraged engagement. The only call-to-action was “subscribe and review the show”.

THE BENEFIT

Simply asking your listeners to subscribe isn’t going to move the needle. There needs to be a benefit. What’s in it for me?

Start the relationship with your listener. Provide value. Serve. Then, ask for the subscribe. Give them a real reason. “In every episode, we deliver … If you want to continue to get this, subscribe.”

Be sure to get my list of 75 free engagement tips. Find it at PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

IDEAS

Here are four of those ideas.

– In your show notes, add a link with an upgrade/resource with each episode.

– Ask questions on other podcasts to get in front of other audiences.

– Offer a bonus for people who share your podcast.

– Create a contest or giveaway

– Don’t blow your first impression.

Ready to get your 75 FREE engagement tips? Learn to engage your audience with your content, increase your podcast downloads, and encourage the audience to visit your website.

Download the list at PodcastTalentCoach.com/engage.

Next week we will dive into your first impression. You can’t catch up to a slow start. We will create your intro next week.

 

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Better Audience Engagement – PTC 271

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Would you like to create a deeper connection and relationship with your listener?

There is one adjustment you can make to your podcast to help you achieve your podcasting goals. Whether you’re hope to motivate your audience to action, entertain them with a story or simply get them to listen again, one change to your approach can help you succeed.

This small modification to your approach will have a big impact on creating a trusting relationship with your audience.

It is this. Treat your listener as an audience of one.

FREE WORKSHEET

I have a powerful free resource that will help you define your ideal target listener. This will help you frame you content, words and communication style.

You need to communicate differently with a 25-year-old single guy who is willing to spend money on a BMW than you would with a 51-year-old married female who has grown children and is saving heavily for retirement.

You can get the free download at PodcastTalentCoach.com/listener.

NO GROUPSPEAK

When creating a podcast, it is critical to your success to address each member of your audience as an individual rather than a group, regardless of the size of your audience.

Many podcasters and broadcasters address their audience as a group. “Hello, everyone.” “Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.” “You guys are the best.”

Your listeners are not engaged with your show as a group. They are each listening as individuals with unique imaginations. You need to treat them that way.

Addressing your audience as a group is impersonal. Your listener doesn’t feel special. Speaking to a group allows each listener to feel like you are speaking to someone else. It is typical for your listener to feel like it’s alright to not take action, because another member of the group will handle it.

RADIO BEGINNINGS

This style began back when radio began. When radio broadcasting started, station owners needed something to broadcast. The content was typically stage performances broadcast over the airwaves.

The “Ladies and Gentlemen” salutation was meant for the live audience in the theater. It was not intended for the listening audience at home.

At the time, radio was the primary source of entertainment at the family home. Prior to the introduction of television, families gathered around the radio in the family room each evening for their entertainment. Addressing the audience as a group made sense. Listening was taking place as a group.

As radio broadcasts moved from stage performances on the radio to “made-for-radio” dramas that were produced in a studio rather than on the stage, the salutations didn’t change. The live audience was no longer present.

The audience however was still gathered together in the family room. The announcer continued to address the listening audience as a group, simply because it had always been done that way.

THEN TELEVISION

When television was introduced to the family room, long-form radio programming moved to television. Great radio stories like The Lone Ranger, Abbott & Costello and The Green Hornet left the radio for the promised land of television. Radio was quickly being replaced as the nightly family activity in the home.

Eventually, the radio performance was replaced with a disc jockey playing recorded music for the listening audience. Radios also progressed with the introduction of the transistor. Small, portable transistor radios took the place of the large console radios that once occupied the family room.

Listening moved from being a group activity in the family room to being a personal experience with these portable radios. Even as listening changed, most on-air personalities continued to address their audience as a group. It had always been done that way.

NOW PODCASTING

Today, podcast listening has become even more personal. Podcast listening typically takes place alone in a car or with headphones. People are no longer listening as a group. They are alone with your voice.

Even if your listeners are with others while they are listening, each individual is creating unique images in their head. Those images are different from the images created in the imagination of any other person in the audience. Audio is a very personal medium.

Since they are listening as individuals, you should address them as such. Your show should be a one-on-one conversation with your listener.

If most of your listeners are listening alone, it sounds out of place when you say, “Hello, everyone.” Your listener is then saying in their head, “Everyone? It’s just me. Who are you talking to?” “Everyone” is directed at no one. Adjust your language to fit your audience.

If I describe a car making a left turn at a busy intersection, you will envision it much differently than any other person listening to the same story. Television leaves very little to the imagination.

Audio helps create wonderful stories and stirs the imagination. The more personal and individual you can be with your stories, the stronger your connection and relationship will become.

TAKE ACTION

Finally, when you address a group, it is easy for your listener to shirk their responsibilities while expecting somebody else to take care of the tasks.

Let’s say you want your audience to visit your website. You say, “I would really appreciate it if you guys would log onto my website this week and let me know what you think.” Who exactly do you want to take action? You’re addressing the entire group. I don’t need to do it. There will be plenty of others that take action. It won’t make much difference if I don’t do it.

Unfortunately, most listeners are thinking the same thing. When you check your web stats, they’ve barely moved. Very few have taken action. Why? Because you didn’t address them individually. It was easy to assume somebody else would handle it.

THREE STEPS

There are three steps to treat your listeners as an audience of one.

First, get rid of the groupspeak. Change your nouns and pronouns from plural to singuar. Instead of using “ladies and gentlemen” or “you guys”, use “you”, “me” and “I”. Talk to one person. Most everything you say will apply to one person just like it will apply to a group of people.

Second, be personable. Reveal things to your audience that you would reveal to your friends. When you have trust in your listener, she will begin to feel appreciated. Your relationships will become stronger and more meaningful.

Finally, be real. Speak like a real person and not an announcer. Replace announcer words with words real people use. Instead of using “good evening” like a network news anchor from 1975, use “hi” like you would use when you call a friend.

If you hope to make your call-to-action effective, you need to create strong relationships with your listeners. If you want to create strong, meaningful relationships with your audience, you must treat each person in your audience as an individual.

Make each listener feel special. Talk directly to them one-on-one. Use words that sound like you are speaking to one person. Be personable. Be real. Create wonderful relationships as you create multiple audiences of one.

Get the free resource that will help you define your ideal target listener. You can get the free download at PodcastTalentCoach.com/listener.

 

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

7 Ways To Grow Your Audience This Weekend – PTC263

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There are things you can do this weekend that can grow your audience. Some tactics will have immediate effect. Others will grow your audience over time. Each tactic incorporates one powerful ingredient.

Word-of-mouth.

Word-of-mouth has worked for me time and again. You can start using it this weekend.

RADIO AUDIENCE

It was the spring of 1999. The company I worked for had just purchased a few more radio stations in town. Our general manager was going to let me program one of those stations as a Top 40.

Now, the biggest station in town was a Top 40 that had been around for about 20 years. They were the big dog. Everyone listened to that station. Getting people to change would not be easy. In fact, it had been my favorite station as I was growing up.

The station couldn’t just be better. We had to do something different.

We signed on the station playing Top 40 music that leaned a little rhythmic. Along with the biggest hits on the chart, we were playing the rap and hip hop that wasn’t being played anywhere on the radio in town. It got high school and college kids talking.

Our on-air team consisted of me in the afternoon and a 20-something kid at night. The rest of the day was nothing but music. We had a promotions director who helped a ton, but wasn’t on air. The 3 of us had to take down Goliath.

Since there was only 2 of us on the air, we started using our listeners as the voice of the station. Our listeners introduced new music. High school kids hosted our Top 9 at 9 countdown. Listeners were on the air all the time requesting songs and giving a shout out to their friends.

The week after we signed on our station, they big heritage station was having their annual outdoor concert. We set up shop along the only road in and out of the amphitheater. We were shaking hands and thanking people for listening all day long.

By campaigning along that road, we upset the big station. So much so that they came down to run us out. That was no problem. We had hired an airplane to pull a banner and fly over the event. The banner said, “Channel 977 – Move To It”. More importantly, the other station stood on stage and told the crowd to NOT look at the plane. More word-of-mouth.

Whenever we were on the streets for events that summer, we were recording more listeners to put on the air. Our entire goal was to make listeners feel like they controlled the station and really had input in what we were doing. They talked about it all the time.

One year later, we were the number one radio station in town. A few years later, that heritage station changed their name and their musical focus. Our listeners did it all.

PODCAST AUDIENCE

I took that experience and used it when I was launching my podcast.

As the podcast was taking off, I was networking with other great podcasters in the industry. Not only was I getting my listeners to talk about my show, other podcasters who came before me were helping.

That’s the difference between radio and podcasting. You have to choose between two stations. Radio is 24-hours a day. If you are listening to one, you are not listening to the other.

With podcasting, you can always listen to two podcasts … or three or four. Podcasts are only a few hours a week at most. There is still plenty of time to consume others. Podcasters are always much more willing to help each other.

When I ask people how they discovered me and my show, many tell me they heard someone else mention it. It may have been on a podcast, on social media or during a conversation.

Word-of-mouth is powerful. Use it to your advantage.

GROW YOUR AUDIENCE THIS WEEKEND

Here are seven things you can do this weekend to start growing your audience.

1. Deliver quality content in your newsletter that could be used and shared.

Ask listeners to bring along a friend & spread the word.

Deputize your audience.

2. Network with as many influential people in your niche as possible.

When others in your niche talk about you, it can give you instant credibility. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a podcast. This can be a website, publication, or any other well-known individual in your niche.

3. Create a flashback segment from an old episode on your current episode.

There are two ways to increase downloads. One is getting more listeners. The other is to get currently listeners to listen more. By getting current listeners to check out past episodes, this is a great way to increase overall downloads.

4. Do Facebook Live “ask me anything” sessions.

Demonstrate your expertise.

5. Get media to talk about you.

Become an available expert in your field. Send them a note about something newsworthy in your industry. Then, tell them you are available if they need an expert to expound on the details in the news story. Make it easy for them.

6. Create a survey for your super-fans to determine what they desire

7. Partner with another podcast.

Just like I did when I launched my show, reach out to other shows in your niche. Especially those that compliment your show. Trade resources with another podcast. Guest host for another show.

GET STARTED

Some of these can have an immediate effect on your downloads. If another podcaster or a news outlet mentions your show, your downloads can jump quickly. Creating content that can be shared and doing Facebook live sessions will take a little longer, but will create a solid brand for your show.

If you want to create revenue with your podcast, you need to first build an audience. This is where you start. Take action this weekend on two or three of these. See what is possible.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Engagement Tips – Increase Downloads – Episode 251

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Are you like most podcasters? Are you trying to find ways to increase downloads of your show?

I am building something that will help you increase your downloads, build your engagement and create some revenue with your podcast. I’m putting the finishing touches on it. It should be ready for you soon.

Part of this project will help you develop ideas. You can use these ideas every day to increase your downloads.

In the meantime, get my full list of 75 Ways To Drive Engagement With Your Podcast.

www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/increasedownloads

INCREASE DOWNLOADS

  1. Tease upcoming topics on future episodes. This will help listeners find other episodes that might be of interest.
  2. Ask for reviews and make it benefit your listener. Listeners don’t do much for you. However, reviews teach your audience to respond and engage. Recognize them on the show.
  3. Everything interesting is about people. Find the angle for your content. Tell stories about others that relate to the content.
  4. Ask listeners what you should ask your next interview guest. This will get your audience invested in the show. Acknowledge who submitted the questions.
  5. Highlight a new resource each week. Then tell the resource creator about it. This helps listeners. You also may get some free publicity if the creator acknowledges your mention to her audience.
  6. Promote your website with a benefit. Create instant gratification. “Sign up for my newsletter” is no real benefit. “Get a tip each week” is a benefit. If you are promoting your website, make sure you promote the benefit as well.
  7. Have listeners submit a tip of the week. This gets listeners invested in the show. When you acknowledge their idea, tip or submission, they feel rewarded. They may also tell others.

Get the full list of 75 Ways To Drive Engagement With Your Podcast.

www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/increasedownloads

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

IS PODCAST CHIT CHAT EFFECTIVE? – EPISODE 250

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CHIT CHAT

Some podcasts start the episode with some chit chat. This is the small talk at the beginning of the show that really has very little to do with the show topic.

“Hey, how are you?” “What have you been up to lately?”

The small talk at the beginning of the show is sometimes between co-hosts and sometimes between host and guest. But, should it be there? Should chit chat be part of your episode?

               Mentioned in this episode:

               Podcast Review Show: http://podcastreviewshow.com

               Podcaster’s Kit: http://podcasttalentcoach.com/kit

If you believe the Facebook discussions and episode comments, you would think chit chat is causing all of your listeners to leave your show in a stampede.

Some small talk could actually help you if you package it correctly.

First, let’s agree. Chit chat for the sake of hearing yourself talk does no one any good. That is definitely not the small talk I am recommending.

Your chit chat at the beginning of the show must support the content of the episode. It should add context to the discussion.

WHAT IS YOUR TURNOFF

There was a post in a podcasting Facebook group the other day. The question was, “What makes you turn off a podcast or click unsubscribe?”

As soon as someone said “Too much rambling before the subject i’m actually listening for gets going”, everyone jumped on the bandwagon.

Other comments include …

“I don’t like super long intros, bad sound quality and when hosts get too ‘in jokey’.”

“I hate when there is too much faffing about getting to the point of the episode. All that ‘so how was your week?’ stuff going on 12 different tangents for 15mins before we get to the meat.”

“BORING PREEEE AMBLE! – I don’t mind if your opening chit chat is fun or relevant or interesting, but if it’s you just you and your guest warming up – commmmmme onnnn! EDIT!”

“Boring interview babble at the beginning.”

“Episodes that don’t get quickly to a takeaway. I find many podcasts that meander around too much, especially co-host and Interview formats.

YOU CAN’T CATCH UP

The thing to remember is that you cannot catch up to a slow start. You need to give value right from the start.

When your show opens, tell listeners exactly what they will get from this episode. If they stay to the end, how will they benefit? Tease it by creating some anticipation for your listener.

Now, if you want to include some chit chat here, it should add some context to the content. This could be a story about something that happened to you this week and how it relates to the topic of the show.

Let’s say you are doing an episode about shaping your effective chit chat. You could start with a story about being on Facebook and the way everyone jumped on the bandwagon. If you had a co-host, you could talk about your feelings and opinions of small talk.

This story adds context to the show. This is the reason we have decided to discuss this topic on this episode.

There is one important thing the story does. Your chit chat allows your audience to get to know you.

People do business with those they know, like and trust. This part of your show allows your audience to get to know you and what you believe and value. You simply need to frame it correctly.

FOUR STEPS

Here are the four steps to add valuable chit chat to the beginning of your show.

First, open the show with “what’s in it for me”. Tell your listeners exactly why this episode is valuable and how they will be better when it is over. Make them want to listen to the entire episode. Create some anticipation.

Next, add a story and some chit chat that relates to the content on this episode.

Then, start the story and chit chat by making the connection between the story and the episode subject.

If your episode is about chit chat, start the story with something like, “Some small talk could actually help you if you package it correctly.” Make it a powerful headline.

Finally, don’t overstay your welcome. Once you make your point with the story, get into the meat of the content.

You can’t catch up to a slow start. If you are going to include some chit chat and small talk, make it valuable so it supports the content of the show.

 

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.