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Podcast

Your Podcast Strategy – PTC 360

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How is your podcast strategy? Do you even have one?

Lots of podcasters struggle with finding constructive, intentional ways to get the word out about their show. The marketing stuff can get tricky.

Many podcasters I talk with would be happy to have enough downloads to get 2 or 4 coaching clients paying a fee. How do you bring a few listeners through the funnel?

Let’s look at your whole strategy today on this episode.

BOOTCAMP

Before we jump into it, I want to invite you to a powerful event I am holding where I will help you build your podcast monetization strategy. We actually get stuff done in this day-long bootcamp.

So many times, we go to webinars hoping to learn something only to find out it is full of fluff. We might walk away with one or two ideas after an hour. But we are really only there for the sales pitch.

You now have a chance to join me for a 6-hour Podcast Profits Bootcamp where I will walk you through the entire process to build your podcast monetization strategy. It’s actually 7 hours, but you get an hour for lunch.

During this event, we will build a few ways to monetize your show that are perfect for you. This isn’t one size fits all. It is specific to your podcast.

You can enroll at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

You will get a workbook that will help you stay on track as we develop your strategy. During the bootcamp, we walk through the workbook step-by-step.

HOW IT WORKS

We will start with your foundation to ensure you are building on solid ground. Then, we will develop your purpose. I’ll show you why most podcasts don’t make money, so you can avoid those pitfalls.

Many people think ads and sponsorships are the way to make money with your show. That is a myth. It is the worst way. Sponsorships require a very large audience and a lot of sales time. Ads also have a revenue ceiling.

I’ll show you a better way during the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. I won’t just show you, we will build it together. We will discuss the various ways you can monetize your show, and we will pick the strategy that is right for you.

Finally, you will have plenty of time to ask me questions to refine your strategy.

This is so much more than a webinar or workshop. It is a bootcamp where we will actually get things done.

Where most webinars last an hour, this is an all day event.

REGISTER

Registration for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is $197 for this 6-hour bootcamp and your workbook. More importantly, you walk away with your monetization strategy for your show.

Right now, you can enroll for $197. Enroll now and secure your spot.

You can enroll at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

If you are ready to build your podcast monetization strategy, the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is for you. You’ve spent enough time attending empty webinars and trying to find sponsors. Now is the time to build a real strategy.

Let’s sweeten the deal for you a little more. If you enroll in the Podcast Profits Bootcamp, you will also get a bonus prep call to get you ready for the event. This is where we help you gather all of the information and ideas you’ll need before the bootcamp begins.

Let’s get you registered for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. Jump in right now at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

BEGIN YOUR STRATEGY

As you build relationships with your content, start with the end in mind. This is where your strategy begins.

What do you want your listener to take away from this episode?

Decide what emotions do you want to stir?

What do you want your listener to do when the episode is over?

When you know those goals, your content will be easy to create.

On your podcast, stir emotion by talking about the “why” to your solution. Agitate the hopes, needs, fears and dreams of your listener.

Then, give your listener a little of your “what”. Let them engage with your coaching, courses or other offerings for the “how”.

MONETIZATION STRATEGY

Then, you need to determine your revenue goal.

You make money with your podcast, not from your podcast.

The podcast doesn’t generate any income. Ads are a lot of work with very little return.

To monetize your show, leverage the attention you have built to drive your business. How does the podcast fit into your overall marketing plan?

Start with the goal.

Your podcast is the top of your funnel. This is where you build the relationship with your prospective client.

So, what do you want them to do when the show is over?

Have one clear, concise call-to-action. Get them started on their journey with you.

This could be a free download, strategy call, webinar, or ask me anything session. Give them something in return for their name and email address.

Nurture the relationship, serve them well and move them through the sales journey.

MARKETING STRATEGY

When it comes to marketing, begin again with the end goal in mind. Intentionally build the marketing plan for your business.

I was looking at the calendar the other day and realized we are 8 weeks from New Year’s Eve.

The new year always brings new goal and a renewed energy to what we are doing.

Unfortunately, studies show that 60%-80% of people give up on their resolutions by the middle of February.

You’re probably saying, “Erik, we just finished Halloween! What’s all this resolution stuff?”

Well, I believe most people give up on their resolutions, because they don’t have a clear plan to achieve their goals.

Lose weight. Start my own business. Grow my podcast audience. Spend more time with my kids.

Those are all great. But, they are not specific and are not connected to a plan.

Now is the time to start planning. Create your strategy to reach those goals.

Spend the next 2 months getting things in place to execute your plan when the resolution kicks in.

A plan is something like go to the gym 3 times a week, appear on 2 other podcasts a week or have one-on-one time with each kid once a week.

That’s a plan.

If you build your strategy now, you will have a much better chance of reaching your goals.

On top of that, who says it needs to be January 1st to start working on a new goal?

Get after it.

AUDIENCE STRATEGY

In radio, we had a saying. Frequency to the target.

The first time a prospect hears your marketing message, it goes in one ear and out the other.

The second time, the message might start to sink in.

The third time, it might ring a bell in their memory.

When your prospect hears your message the fourth, fifth and sixth time, he might begin to remember it.

Therefore, you need to deliver your message to your prospect six or eight times prior to the moment he is making a buying decision.

You cannot try a marketing tactic once and decide if it works. It requires frequency to the target.

Don’t expect your audience to grow overnight. Your prospective listeners need to hear about your show multiple times before they will push play.

How many times have you said, “Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to listen to that podcast.”

It’s like snowfall. Mother Nature doesn’t make it snow for 3 minutes and then think, “Well, that didn’t work.”

It takes millions of little flakes over time to create a 5 foot drift.

As you work to grow your audience, be consistent.

Pick three marketing strategies. This could be other podcasts, appearing on summits and stages, social media, YouTube, partners, guest blogging or various other ways.

Select three that you enjoy and can do consistently.

Then, spend 30 minutes each day taking action on those vehicles to get in front of new potential listenes.

Over time, your audience grows.

YOUR PLAN

Are you frustrated because your podcast makes no money?

So many podcasters come to me struggling to find a path to riches.

It is possible to monetize your podcast. However, you need to understand that it takes three things to make that happen.

  1. Something to sell
  2. A strategy to sell it using your podcast
  3. Patience

If you have those three things, you have a much better chance to use your podcast to build and grow a business.

If you are willing to put in the time and effort, good things will happen.

GET SPECIFIC

One of the most common questions from podcasters is, “How do I monetize my podcast?”

I’ve tried it all.

When I first started, I put everything I knew about building great shows into a comprehensive course. It was a masterpiece.

Then reality cracked me upside the head.

Nobody wants a comprehensive course. They want a focused solution to their problem.

To monetize your show, you must …

  • Have something to sell
  • Ask for the sale
  • Serve first
  • Find your listener’s true pain
  • Explain their transformation with your solution
  • Build rappport

As you develop something to sell, find what works for you. It should be something that …

  • You enjoy
  • People want (different than need)
  • You can deliver
  • Can scale

TAKE ACTION

Those are the steps. If you would like my help crafting your monetization strategy, join me for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp.

Join me for a 6-hour Podcast Profits Bootcamp where I will walk you through the entire process to build your podcast monetization strategy. It’s actually 7 hours, but you get an hour for lunch.

During this event, we will build a few ways to monetize your show that are perfect for you. This isn’t one size fits all. It is specific to your podcast.

You can enroll at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

You will get a workbook that will help you stay on track as we develop your strategy. During the bootcamp, we walk through the workbook step-by-step.

If you enroll in the Podcast Profits Bootcamp, You will also get a bonus prep call to get you ready for the event. This is where we help you gather all of the information and ideas you’ll need before the bootcamp begins.

Let’s get you registered for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. Jump in right now at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

Podcast

Answers To Your Podcast Questions – PTC 359

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I did a Facebook Live “Ask Me Anything” the other day on the Podcast Talent Coach Facebook Page. On it, you got answers to your podcast questions.

We talked about everything from selling and monetizing your show to using text messaging as a way to interact with your listeners.

I thought I would share those answers with you today.

BOOTCAMP

Before we jump into it, I want to invite you to a powerful event I am holding where I will help you build your podcast monetization strategy. We actually get stuff done in this day-long bootcamp.

So many times, we go to webinars hoping to learn something only to find out it is full of fluff. We might walk away with one or two ideas after an hour. But we are really only there for the sales pitch.

You now have a chance to join me for a 6-hour Podcast Profits Bootcamp where I will walk you through the entire process to build your podcast monetization strategy. It’s actually 7 hours, but you get an hour for lunch.

During this event, we will build a few ways to monetize your show that are perfect for you. This isn’t one size fits all. It is specific to your podcast.

You can enroll at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

You will get a workbook that will help you stay on track as we develop your strategy. During the bootcamp, we walk through the workbook step-by-step.

We will start with your foundation to ensure you are building on solid ground. Then, we will develop your purpose. I’ll show you why most podcasts don’t make money, so you can avoid those pitfalls.

Many people think ads and sponsorships are the way to make money with your show. That is a myth. It is the worst way. Sponsorships require a very large audience and a lot of sales time. Ads also have a revenue ceiling.

I’ll show you a better way during the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. I won’t just show you, we will build it together. We will discuss the various ways you can monetize your show, and we will pick the strategy that is right for you.

Finally, you will have plenty of time to ask me questions to refine your strategy.

This is so much more than a webinar or workshop. It is a bootcamp where we will actually get things done.

Where most webinars last an hour, this is an all day event.

REGISTER

Registration for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is $197 for this 6-hour bootcamp and your workbook. More importantly, you walk away with your monetization strategy for your show.

Right now, you can enroll for $197. Enroll now and secure your spot.

You can enroll at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

If you are ready to build your podcast monetization strategy, the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is for you. You’ve spent enough time attending empty webinars and trying to find sponsors. Now is the time to build a real strategy.

Let’s sweeten the deal for you a little more. If you enroll in the Podcast Profits Bootcamp, You will also get a bonus prep call to get you ready for the event. This is where we help you gather all of the information and ideas you’ll need before the bootcamp begins.

Let’s get you registered for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. Jump in right now at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

QUESTIONS

My biggest challenge is growing the audience. What’s the best way? – David

How do I maximize the content while minimizing the time & effort? – Anne

I’d love to know if you have any thoughts on SMS text marketing? I think I’d be able to get more engagement if my busy moms could simply text me a question about a product or service instead of sending in a voicemail or sending an email. Do you have any recommendations for a service provider to work with? – Laura

How do I direct people to more than the freebie. – Karen

How do you know your worth? I’m not good at selling. – Mike

Offer things without making it sound like an ad. Hard to make yourself likable while selling something. – Cheryl

How does the podcast fit into the whole marketing plan? – Bruce

GET ANSWERS – ASK ME ANYTHING

I will be doing more “ask me anything” sessions on the Podcast Talent Coach Facebook page. If you are not following me there yet, head to PodcastTalentCoach.com/Facebook.

I would love to have you join us and get your questions answers to your podcast questions.

BOOTCAMP

Come join us for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. It is a powerful event that will help you build your podcast monetization strategy.

So many times, we go to webinars hoping to learn something only to find out it is a big sales pitch. We might walk away with one or two ideas after an hour. But we are really only there for the sale.

You have a chance to join me for a 6-hour Podcast Profits Bootcamp where I will walk you through the entire process to build your podcast monetization strategy.

During this event, you will discover 9 different ways to monetize your show. Then, we will build your specific way to generate revenue that is perfect for you. This isn’t one size fits all. It is specific to your show.

You will get a workbook that will help you stay on track as we develop your strategy. During the bootcamp, we walk through the workbook step-by-step.

We will start with your foundation to ensure you are building on solid ground. Then, we will develop your purpose.

Many people think ads and sponsorships are the way to make money with your show. That is a myth. It is the worst way. Sponsorships require a very large audience and a lot of sales time. Ads also have a revenue ceiling.

I’ll show you 9 better ways during the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. I won’t just show you, we will build it together. We will discuss the various ways you can monetize your show, so you can pick the strategy that is right for you.

Finally, you will have plenty of time to ask me questions to refine your strategy.

This is so much more than a webinar or workshop. It is a bootcamp where we will actually get things done.

Where most webinars last an hour, this is a 6-hour, all day event.

REGISTER

Registration for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is $197 for the 6-hour bootcamp, your workbook and your monetization strategy for your show.

You can get the details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

If you are ready to build your podcast monetization strategy, the Podcast Profits Bootcamp is for you. You’ve spent enough time attending empty webinars and trying to find sponsors. Now is the time to build a real strategy.

Let’s get you registered for the Podcast Profits Bootcamp. Jump in right now at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/bootcamp.

Podcast

7 Steps To Podcast Monetization – PTC 356

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You know I am a big fan of “don’t make it harder than it needs to be”. This is true when it comes to podcast monetization. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Stop adding in all of the unnecessary steps and tools.

PODCAST RELATIONSHIPS

Imagine being able to have a conversation with your ideal customers on a weekly basis.

On top of that, those ideal clients request that conversation every week. How great would that be?

A podcast makes that conversation possible.

A podcast provides you a huge opportunity to demonstrate your authority to your prospects and invite them to become clients.

If you structure the show properly, your podcast can be an amazing marketing tool to drive your business and grow your revenue. You build trust every week.

When I have conversations with podcasters, they often tell me they want to make money with their show. I then listen to an episode.

There are usually one of two big issues when it comes to monetization. First, the podcaster has nothing to sell. Second, if they have something to sell, they don’t ask for the sale.

If you want to monetize your podcast, you need to make the offer often. Build your audience, so you can make offers to many people at the same time.

SPONSORSHIPS

Many people want a big audience so they can get sponsors.

This is the worst move you can make for three big reasons.

First, people are fleeing traditional media to escape the ads. Why would you want to clutter up your show?

Second, it takes a huge audience to attract a sponsor. The number is usually over 5,000 downloads per episode. Only about 7% of all podcast hit that number.

Finally, it takes a ton of work to land a sponsor and you only get paid once. You would cry if you calculated the dollar per hour rate you’re getting paid for that sponsorship.

Instead, market your own stuff on your show. Get paid every time something sells for podcast monetization. If not, at least create an affiliate relationship so you get paid on sales and not one, flat sponsorship fee.

7 STEPS TO MONETIZATION

There are seven monetization steps to use your podcast to grow your business:

  1. Launch your podcast talking about content that you love
  2. Have something to offer and sell that is a solution to the problem of your audience
  3. Build an audience to which you can make that offer
  4. Demonstrate your solution on your podcast
  5. Give them a free resource to get them started that allows you to capture their email address
  6. Nurture the relationship through your podcast and email
  7. Make the offer

MONETIZATION CONTENT

When it comes to step number 4 Demonstrate Your Solution on Your Podcast, there are seven ways you can show your prospects how you are perfect for them.

1. Demonstrate Your Authority

Simply share your solution on your podcast. Explain how you became an expert in your space. Follow the information with a strong, single call-to-action. This is a great way to get your listener to begin their journey in your funnel and become a client.

2. Demonstrate Your Coaching

Share a bit of a coaching session as an episode. This will show your listeners the transformation you offer your clients. Demonstrate how your coaching can help her as well. Then, tell her how to sign up to get a discovery/strategy call with you or get your coaching.

3. Demonstrate Your Products

Your podcast can be like a weekly webinar. However, your ideal clients actually subscribe to it. They come to hear you speak every week. Give them a sample of your courses, books, templates, etc.. Create excitement and intrigue. Then, tell them where to buy it.

4. Network With Others

Swap interviews with other podcasters to grow your audience. Help each other get exposed to a new listners. This is like a joint venture for your content. Podcast listeners listen to podcasts. Therefore, go get on more podcasts. Bring people to your show and start the process.

5. Listener Coaching Examples

This is similar to demonstrating your coaching, but shorter. Create an interactive show using listener audio or questions. Demonstrate your coaching without using actual sessions. Just answer questions and solve problems. Then, tell listeners how to sign up to get a discovery/strategy call with you or get your coaching.

6. Attract Media Interviews

Get media to view you as an available expert in your field. Offer your services for their stories and reports. This will allow you to get in front of new, potential listeners and grow your audience. Your podcast demonstrates your interviewing ability. Reporters will trust that you can hold your own during an interview. Ask the reporter to share your podcast information to the new audience.

7. Listeners Share Your Content

Word-of-mouth is the number one way people discover new podcasts. If you want your audience to grow, make your content easy to share. This is free marketing when your listeners share your great content and expose you to new, prospective listeners (and clients).

CONSISTENCY

Your business won’t grow until you take action. Pick one of these ideas and get started today. Then, stick with it. Consistency helps your podcast and business grow.

If you would like help launching and developing your very own podcast strategy, visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply for your FREE, no strings attached strategy call with me.

This isn’t a sales call in disguise. You and I talk about your goals and develop a strategy to achieve those goals. If I have something I think might help you, we can talk about it. However, we need to get to know each other first.

Let’s chat. Visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply and schedule your call.

Podcast

Grow Your Podcast Downloads – PTC 342

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There are three important steps to growing your podcast downloads. The three steps are awareness, attraction and retention. I like to call it promotion, programming and personality. Today, I want to help you grow your downloads by focusing on promotion.

TRAINING

I will be holding a free training called “How To Make Money With A Free Podcast … Without Ads and Sponsorships.” This is the exact step-by-step process to grow your audience, attract your ideal customers and clients, and make money with your podcast.

You can join us for free. Register at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

On this free training you are going to discover:

  • How to create a successful podcast using your personality
  • Why some podcasts don’t make money and how to avoid those pitfalls
  • How to attract your ideal clients with your podcast
  • How to keep listeners coming back episode after episode
  • And more!

Register for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

DOWNLOADS

Before you can make money with your podcast, you need to grow your podcast downloads. You don’t necessarily need a big audience. To drive your business, you need the right audience.

Less than 7% of all podcasts have an audience large enough to attract big sponsors and advertisers. There are much better ways to monetize your podcast.

Many people believe sponsorships and advertising are the only ways to make money with a podcast. Untrue.

In fact, you shouldn’t clutter up your show with ads. Instead, use your podcast as a powerful marketing tool for your business.

Podcasting is huge. You have incredible power in front of you. Let me show you some numbers.

There are just under 2 million podcasts today. On the other hand, there are over 600 Million blogs and more than 1.3 billion YouTube videos. Where do you want to compete?

Podcast search engine Listen Notes reports there were 246,782 podcast debuts in 2019 alone. Today, more than 90 million people in the U.S.— approximately 32% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 — have listened to a podcast in the past month according to Edison Research.

According to The Nielsen Company, the total podcast audience is growing at a compound average growth rate of 20%. And that could mean the overall audience for the medium could double within the next five years. Now is the time to stake your claim in your niche. Get noticed and build your audience.

Let’s talk about why many podcasts don’t make money. There are a 6 reasons podcasts don’t make money or attract clients. Let me give you the big two.

You already know that ads and sponsorships are a tough sell, especially if you are not in the top 7%. If you are part of the other 93%, how can you make money?

It’s all about the right audience.

WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?

The first issue most podcasters face is you don’t have anything to sell.

When podcasters contact me for coaching, our first step is a podcast strategy session. During that call, we define goals and the strategy to achieve those goals.

Though the questions vary, one seems to consistently come up. “How can I make money with my podcast?” I ask, “What are you selling?”

Can your listeners currently give you money for anything?

As coaches and content creators, you probably have something to sell. You just need more people to buy it.

ARE YOU ASKING?

The second problem is you are not asking for the sale

Podcasters say, “Yeah, Erik. I have a course for sale. Nobody is buying it.”

Have you told anyone about it?

One of my buddies has a great course available. I had known him for six months before I knew anything about it.

Once you build your rapport through your podcast, the “yes” should become a formality if you actually ask for the sale and help your listener succeed.

THE RIGHT PODCAST DOWNLOADS

The big challenge is the audience. You need to find an audience full of your ideal clients.

When I started building my e-mail list, I developed multiple lead magnets that would help my podcast audience. I then offered those on my show.

My list grew nicely. My podcast downloads grew as well.

Before too long, I had about 500 people on my e-mail list. My show was getting about 200 downloads an episode.

Then it happened. I hit that plateau. Has that happened to you?

My podcast downloads stopped growing.

What I discovered was what worked yesterday doesn’t necessarily work today. That doesn’t mean you need to chase the next big thing. It simply means you need multiple streams of traffic.

That’s when I discovered my ability to diversify my traffic.

I participated in a few gift giveaways. My list doubled. My podcast downloads grew as well.

Then I gave a few presentations on summits and did a few podcast interviews. My downloads ended up doubling in a few months.

If you want to grow your downloads, find ways to get in front of your ideal audience.

MULTIPLE STREAMS

You should not try everything at once. Pick 3 that you enjoy and can do well.

My former coach Marc Mawhinney calls this his three pillars. What three traffic sources are you going to use to reach your ideal clients and potential listeners?

You could use stages. By stages I don’t only mean physical stages. The term stage refers to any platform where you can speak in front of a group of people.

Stages could include real stages. It also includes podcasts, radio shows, summits, webinars, Facebook lives and other speaking opportunities.

You could also use social media as a strategy. Be active in groups.

Gift giveaways are a great way to reach new people. This is where a group of similar experts team up to provide a bunch of valuable free gifts to their e-mail lists.

In a gift giveaway, each expert contributes a gift. All experts typically e-mail their list a few times and post on social media inviting people to get the gifts. When people opt in for your gift, they are added to your e-mail list.

Gift giveaways are a great way to build your list and reach a new audience.

YOUR LIST

Building your e-mail list is a great way to start the relationship with your listener. By e-mailing your list with valuable resources and information, you build your credibility and trust.

You need to serve when you e-mail. Send information your listeners can use.

When I send my daily e-mail, it always contains a tip or piece of information my listeners can use. This varies from content to growth to monetization. Every e-mail begins with something my listeners can use.

The tip is typically followed by an opportunity to go deeper and get even more help. Sometimes this is from me. Other times it is from one of my partners.

My e-mails are rarely 100% focused on sales. There is always value. If I only send sales e-mail or only send when I have a pitch, people stop opening my e-mails.

I understand your inbox is valuable. Therefore, I deliver value.

MONETIZATION

If you want to monetize your podcast, it all begins with building the right audience.

You need to find ways to promote yourself to new listeners. Continuing to market to the same pool will not help you grow. Find new fans.

Once you find listeners, find ways to help them. Then, keep them coming back again and again.

Those are the three steps to grow your podcast downloads. Promotion, programming and personality.

JOIN US

Come join my on my new training called “How To Make Money With A Free Podcast … Without Ads and Sponsorships.” This is the exact step-by-step process to grow your audience, attract your ideal customers and clients, and make money with your podcast.

This is the process I use. I will teach it to you in this training. You can join us for free. Register at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

On this training you are going to discover:

  • How to create a successful podcast using your personality
  • Why some podcasts don’t make money and how to avoid those pitfalls
  • How to attract your ideal clients with your podcast
  • How to keep listeners coming back episode after episode
  • And more!

Register for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

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

How A Meathead Podcast Makes Money – PTC 328

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Podcasters often think you need to be a business coach or teach people how to make money online in order to make money with your podcast. That isn’t the case. To make money with your podcast, you simply need a passionate, thirsty audience.

Then, you need to be willing to take some smart chances until you find what works.

Today, I want to show you a podcast that is less than a year old and well on their way to generating income with their podcast. Grab a pen and paper. You’ll definitely want to take notes.

FREE TRAINING

Before we jump into it. Let me give you a great resource to help you make money with your podcast.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way to grow your audience and make money with your podcast, please go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth and join us for a free training to see if we can help you get some clarity, build a plan and reach your goals.

Come join us as I present “6 Ways To Use Your Content To Attract Your Ideal Clients”.

On this free training you are going to discover:

  • How to develop your personality to attract your ideal clients
  • Why sponsorships and ads are NOT the ideal way to generate revenue
  • How to grow your network with your podcast
  • And more!

It happens on Saturday, March 27th at 11a ET, 8a PT. Sign up for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

If you are looking for a mentor who can help you shortcut the process of making money with your podcast and avoid all of the pain of trial and error, this free training is for you. Let’s grow your community and start making money with your show.

MEATHEADS

Let me give a case study today of how this works. Sadie took my training, followed my program and launched her podcast with her cohost Sausha.

Their podcast is called Meathead Test Kitchen. The world of fitness and nutrition can be intimidating, but they are here to help make it a whole lot less scary. That’s what the podcast is all about.

They launched Meathead Test Kitchen in August. Their first episode was released on August 16th.

BE UNIQUE

The first thing you will notice about Meathead Test Kitchen is that it isn’t your middle-of-the-road podcast. These two have a definite style, swagger and personality. This isn’t your mom’s fitness and nutrition podcast.

If you want to stand out and get noticed, develop a brand and stand for something. You don’t have to be brash or in your face. You do need to pick a side and defend it. If you try to please everyone, you will please no one.

The reviews of Meathead Test Kitchen shows how they cut through. Here are some of their reviews.

“Dieting and fitness doesn’t have to be boring or tedious. Sadie and Sausha are here to prove it! Fun hosts and honest, easy to understand advice.”

“These ladies don’t beat around the bush, they are honest and easy to relate to. If swear words offend you, find another podcast.”

Pick a side and get noticed.

CONNECTION

Next, make powerful connections. If you want to grow and make money with your show, you need to connect with the right people.

Sadie and Sausha are growing their audience by connecting with the right influencers.

They are 31 episodes in. Just over six months of episodes and they have interviewed local business owners, a Titan games athlete and current Mrs. America contestant. They have interviewed a Bellator MMA fighter, CrossFit Games competitors, coaches, and a world record holding power lifter.

Sadie and Sausha use these guests to help get their show noticed. When influencers talk about your show, people take notice. Give them a reason to talk by interviewing them on your podcast.

If you want to make money with your podcast, you need to have the right people listening. These people should be your ideal clients. Interview guests who are already talking to this audience.

THIRSTY AUDIENCE

Gaining an audience isn’t enough. It needs to be the right audience.

The one thing you need to make money with your show is a thirsty audience. If you were selling water in the desert, you wouldn’t need much of a pitch to sell it at a great price. You just need a thirsty audience.

Don’t try to sell something without asking your ideal listener what they need. I know you feel like you already know. Believe me, you don’t. I thought I knew as well until I built 4 different offers that nobody wanted.

When I finally started doing market research before I built the course, people started buying before the course was even complete. Do your homework. If you want to know how to do that, let’s connect.

BE WHERE THEY ARE

Once you know who your ideal listers are, go play where they are already playing.

Sadie and Sausha recently started releasing the podcast with a full video component on their YouTube channel. They discovered their listeners were also big consumers of exercise videos.

They also have their podcast distributed through all major streaming platforms. Give your listeners plenty of options.

GIVE ‘EM WHAT THEY WANT

Now that they have built the audience, they can start offering the listeners solutions to their problems to make money with their show. They can also begin building a tribe of raving fans.

Sadie and Sausha recently started selling Meathead Test Kitchen merchandise, and have partnered with a local athleisure company to boost both brands. Again, leveraging more powerful influencers.

FIND OPTIONS

Sadie and Sausha will be releasing the first of many cookbook projects in the next few months. On their website you will find a “Shop” page with Amazon affiliate links to things their audience is already purchasing along with things the two mention on the show.

It is all about multiple streams of income selling things your listeners want to buy. They also have some other cool stuff up their sleeves for when the pandemic is over.

THE MAKE MONEY PLAN

Here is your plan. Build your brand. Stand for something. Find a thirsty audience. Figure out what they want. Build it and sell it to them. Then, build solutions to their other problems for multiple streams of income.

Everyone wins. Your listeners solve their problems. You make money with your show. Don’t overcomplicate it.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Are you really serious about building your audience and making money with your show? Have you been talking about it long enough and really ready to take action?

A hope and a wish isn’t going to make it happen. You need to get serious and take action. Take that first step.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way to grow your audience and make money with your podcast, please go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth and join us for a free training to see if we can help you get some clarity, build a plan and reach your goals.

Come join us as I present “6 Ways To Use Your Content To Attract Your Ideal Clients”.

On this free training you are going to discover:

  • How to develop your personality to attract your ideal clients
  • Why sponsorships and ads are NOT the ideal way to generate revenue
  • How to grow your network with your podcast
  • And more!

It happens on Saturday, March 27th at 11a ET, 8a PT. Sign up for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

If you are looking for a mentor who can help you shortcut the process of making money with your podcast and avoid all of the pain of trial and error, this free training is for you. Let’s grow your community and start making money with your show.

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

How Brodie’s Niche Made Over $1k In 3 Episodes – PTC 326

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There is a big misconception that narrowing your niche limits your potential. The truth is actually the opposite. The more narrow you make your niche the more defined your expertise will become.

CAN YOU HELP?

Before we jump in, I would love your help. I am refining my Audience Explosion Blueprint program, but I need some input from you to improve it. Could you give me 20 minutes of your time to answer 8 questions?

If you have been trying to grow your audience and make money with your show, it would help me a ton to know what you’re struggling with. This will help me understand where to improve the program.

You can grab a time on my calendar over the next two weeks at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/input. I promise to respect your time. Just 8 questions the help me understand what you need.

Let’s talk about your niche. 

MEDICAL NICHE

The best example of a niche is your doctor. When you have a general illness, you go see your general practitioner or family doctor. This is the physician that knows a little about everything.

When your doctor figures out the problem, you are then referred to the specialist. Which doctor gets paid more? The specialist gets paid more, because they are the best.

If you need knee replacement surgery, do you have your general practitioner do the work? Of course not. You go to a orthopedic surgeon. You want to see the expert who only focuses on knees.

PODCAST NICHE

The same is true with your podcast. Will your show be more popular if you are a business podcast or an online funnel marketing podcast?

All things being equal, the funnel podcast will be more popular. You know exactly what you get on that show. There is a really good chance we are going to talk about marketing funnels. I get it.

What is discussed on the business podcast? It could be renting retail space, negotiating contracts with your sales team, how to structure your board of directors, how to hire a media specialist, where to find your next director of operations, how to create online courses, what to look for in an accountant. Who knows what gets discussed? You never know if the topic is appropriate to your particular situation.

Do you need marketing funnels? If you are an online entrepreneur you do. Do you need business topics? Who knows?

YOUR NICHE

If you don’t have my Ideal Listener Development Worksheet, please download it and use it to develop your niche. This will help you define exactly who you attract and exactly what they need.

When you decide what your ideal listener needs, you will then know how to define your niche.

You should niche down at least twice to get to a niche that is narrow enough. If you want to be seen as the expert, your area of expertise needs to be focused.

Let’s say you want to create a podcast that helps salespeople. What does that mean? Will this podcast help business-to-business salespeople, retail salespeople, online salespeople or something else? We need to niche down.

Our podcast will help business-to-business salespeople. Now we need to decide what that looks like. Are these salespeople selling advertising to mom and pop businesses or salespeople doing large corporate sales?

If we niche down one more level, we could create a podcast that helps people transition into pharmaceutical sales.

Now, we can be an expert. Would it be easier to be known as the sales expert or the pharmaceutical sales transition expert? The narrow niche becomes easier to own.

NICHE CASE STUDY

I have a great case study for you. Today we talk to Brodie Sharpe, founder of RunSmarter.Online. He is a physiotherapist from Melbourne, Australia.

About 2 years into his career he became a recreational runner and loved it. Wanting to spend more time around runners, he started his passion project. This became the ‘Everyday Running Legends’ podcast where he would interview runners who had inspirational stories to tell.

Brodie also transitioned out of his private practice physio job and opened his own online physio clinic tailored only to helping runners.

After struggling to grow the business with an interview podcast, he launched a solo show that centered on his expertise. Still searching for success, he niched down and launched the ‘Overcoming Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy Podcast‘.

Talk about niche. This show has been live for about 3 weeks now and only getting 80 listeners. However, the show has attracted 4 customers and generated over $1000! This is how a niche makes you so much more powerful.

We talk to Brodie about his journey, how and why he niched down and where he is going next.

Enjoy the conversation.

YOUR INPUT

I need a little input from you. I am refining my Audience Explosion Blueprint program. As I do, I need to know where you struggle. Could you give me 20 minutes of your time to answer 8 questions?

If you have been trying to grow your audience and make money with your show, this will help me understand where to improve the program.

You can grab a time on my calendar over the next two weeks at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/input. I promise to respect your time. Just 8 questions the help me understand what you need.

I really appreciate the help. Thanks for being here.

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Attract Clients With Your Podcast [Part 2] – PTC 321

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Roger Killen and the Vancouver Business Network recently invited me to present to their group. I taught them how to attract clients with a podcast.

Over the course of an hour, these entrepreneurs learned how to grow a podcast audience and attract their ideal clients with their content. I thought you might benefit from the content as well.

This presentation was an hour long. Rather than doubling the length of my typical episode, I’ve divided it into two episodes.

This is the is the second half of that presentation. You can hear part on in episode 320.

TRAINING

I have a few great resources for you this week.

I am doing another free workshop for you. It is called “6 Ways To Make Money With Your Podcast”. If you want to make money with your podcast, this will help you develop your strategy.

This workshop will go deeper than the training I’ve given you on these two episodes. We will actually develop ideas for your show. You will receive a workbook to give you a clear focus for your strategy.

Do you want to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show?

Do you want to grow your audience to consistently produce and promote your content in just a few minutes a day?

On this training, you will discover …

  • How to transform your show into a successful podcast using your personality
  • Why some podcasts don’t make money and how to avoid these pitfalls
  • How to attract your ideal clients with your podcast
  • How to keep listeners coming back episode after episode to grow your audience
  • And much more

Get registered at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/growth.

LIBSYN

If you need a host for your audio, be careful of the free services. Companies that offer their service for free often have a difficult time making money. If they aren’t making money, they can’t stay in business very long.

If your hosting company closes their doors and goes away, your audio goes away as well. All of your work is down the drain. Find a solid company and pay for great service.

I am now an affiliate of Libsyn. My show has been hosted on Libsyn since it began back in 2013. They also have fantastic support to help you set up your feed and move your show if you need it.

You can get your first month free using the coupon code PTC at Libsyn.com.

PODCAST EDITING

If you are spending too much time editing and posting your podcast and not enough time trying to attract listeners or building a business around your show, I now have a team ready to takeover your editing.

There are three packages available. You can start with the basic service that includes simple editing, mixing and mastering. Or you can go all in with the premium service that handles YouTube video, promoting, SEO, timestamps, show notes, and more.

You can find all of the packages at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/editing.

TRAINING

In this second half of the training I did for the Vancouver Business Network, I will show you the 3 big challenges most podcasters face when growing their audience and how you can overcome those challenges.

The 6 reasons podcasts don’t make money are laid out in this episode.

Many people make podcasting more difficult than it needs to be. I will show you how to make it much easier.

You also will learn the three Ps necessary for successful content. These are secrets most podcast gurus don’t teach you.

LAUNCH HELP

If you haven’t launched your podcast yet, I offer a free mini-course in this presentation as well. You can find it at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/launch.

I also mention 7 ways to attract your ideal clients using a podcast. You can find that free training atwww.PodcastTalentCoach.com/attract.

Again, you can catch up with the first part of this presentation on in episode 320.

Enjoy the session.

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Attract Clients With Your Podcast [Part 1] – PTC 320

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Roger Killen and the Vancouver Business Network recently invited me to present to their group. I taught them how to attract clients with a podcast.

Over the course of an hour, these entrepreneurs learned how to grow a podcast audience and attract their ideal clients with their content. I thought you might benefit from the content as well.

This presentation was an hour long. Rather than doubling the length of my typical episode, I’ve divided it into two episodes.

COURSE CREATION SUMMIT

I have a few great resources for you this week.

When I built Audience Explosion Blueprint, I already had four paid participants before I even launched the course. To make it even better, they told me what I should put in the program to make it easy for them to give me money for it. How great is that!?!?!

Would you like to learn how to fill up your classes with paying clients before you have even launched your program? Join the upcoming Course Creation Summit FOR FREE! Experts will share with you their secrets for how you can create profitable online courses.

In fact, I will be part of the summit on Thursday, January 28th around 11:30a Central Time.

Courses allow you to do the work once and then sell it over and over again.

Get your free ticket now to course creation summit. The event runs all week. If you want to do the work once and sell it over and over again, a course can help you do that. Come learn how.

You can get your seat for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/CreateMyCourse.

LIBSYN

If you need a host for your audio, be careful of the free services. Companies that offer their service for free often have a difficult time making money. If they aren’t making money, they can’t stay in business very long.

If your hosting company closes their doors and goes away, your audio goes away as well. All of your work is down the drain. Find a solid company and pay for great service.

I am now an affiliate of Libsyn. My show has been hosted on Libsyn since it began back in 2013. They also have fantastic support to help you set up your feed and move your show if you need it.

You can get your first month free using the coupon code PTC at Libsyn.com.

PODCAST EDITING

If you are spending too much time editing and posting your podcast and not enough time trying to attract listeners or building a business around your show, I now have a team ready to takeover your editing.

There are three packages available. You can start with the basic service that includes simple editing, mixing and mastering. Or you can go all in with the premium service that handles YouTube video, promoting, SEO, timestamps, show notes, and more.

You can find all of the packages at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/editing.

MENTORSHIP

Finally, this is the last call for my Podcast Profits Mentorship. This opportunity is very limited.

This is a special no-risk opportunity for a very limited number of podcasters.

You won’t have to pay thousands or even a few dollars to join this exclusive group. However, you will need to be a great fit.

In this group, I will help you grow your podcast and make money with your show. It comes with no risk to you.

I am looking for 6 podcasters to join Podcast Profits Mentorship.

In this exclusive group, you will …

  • Grow your audience and influence
  • Develop a product or service to sell
  • Build a framework to make money with your show
  • Participate in a small mastermind to help you reach your goals

Membership in this group comes with no risk. You pay me nothing up front. I only get paid a commission of 20% when you make money with your show, similar to most affiliate programs.

To keep the group small, 6 podcasters will be selected from all applications. I want to be sure I have time to give each member the attention they need to succeed.

To qualify for the group, you must …

  • Have published 25 episodes
  • Be willing to attend a 90-minute call every week
  • Be willing to spend 30 minutes a day to grow your audience and business
  • Share with me your download and revenue data during the program
  • Allow me to use your success as a case study

The program begins February 2, 2021. Application deadline is Thursday, January 28, 2021.

If you fit and you’re hungry to grow and win, click here to apply:

www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/mentor

TRAINING

In this training, you will discover three ways you can use your content to attract your ideal clients.

You will discover why now is the ideal time to begin using your podcast to turn your ideal listener into your ideal client.

In this training, I also give you a way to repurpose your content across multiple platforms without adding a lot of extra work to your week.

On the next episode, I will show you the 3 big challenges most podcasters face when growing their audience and how you can overcome those challenges.

The 6 reasons podcasts don’t make money are laid out in the next episode.

Many people make podcasting more difficult than it needs to be. I will show you how to make it much easier.

You also will learn the three Ps necessary for successful content. These are secrets most podcast gurus don’t teach you.

That second part of the training comes next week.

LAUNCH HELP

If you haven’t launched your podcast yet, I offer a free mini-course in this presentation as well. You can find it at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/launch.

I also mention 7 ways to attract your ideal clients using a podcast. You can find that free training at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/attract.

Enjoy the session.

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Know Your Numbers With Millen Livis – PTC 317

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As we move into a new year, you are probably setting some new goals. If you want to reach those goals over the next 12 months, you need to know your numbers.

You can use your podcast to grow your business and make some money. In order to do that, you need to set specific goals with specific targets. That includes knowing exactly what you want to achieve.

BE SPECIFIC

Let’s say you want to grow your downloads. That goal isn’t specific enough. It is like losing weight. You will never lose weight unless you are specific about the amount of weight you want to lose.

When you state that you want to lose 30 pounds by May 1st, you can measure your progress and determine if you reach your goal. When you say, “I want to lose weight”, you can’t tell if and when you’ve reached that goal.

Over the next 12 months, how much would you like to grow your podcast downloads? Be specific.

This past summer, I was able to double my monthly downloads by knowing my numbers. I set the goal and took specific action to hit those numbers. Doubling my downloads wouldn’t have been possible without knowing exactly what I wanted to happen.

DOUBLE YOUR DOWNLOADS

What would it take to double your downloads over the next 12 months?

If you want to grow your downloads by 1,200 over the next year, you will need to grow your downloads by 100 each month.

In order to grow by 100 downloads per month, you will need to get about 3.3 new listeners each day. What can you do everyday to get in front of new listeners and encourage 3 to 5 new people to listen each day?

By breaking down your numbers in this way, reaching your goal becomes much easier. Attracting 5 new listeners consistently is much easier than finding 1,200 people.

MAKING MONEY

How much money would you like to generate with your podcast this year? Revenue potential depends on the viability of your niche and the work you dedicate toward the effort.

For example purposes, let’s say you’d like to generate $60,000 over the next twelve months. How can we break that down to small steps and benchmarks?

$60k over 12 months would mean generating $5,000 each month. If we assume 4 weeks a month, you would need to create $1,250 each week. Working five days a week, you would need $250 each day.

What could you create that could generate $250/day or $5,000/month? You could sell one course a day at $250. You could also create a membership that is $50/month. If you enroll 100 people, that would be $5,000/month.

You need to know your numbers in order to reach your goals.

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

On the episode today, we talk with Millen Livis. She is a financial independence mentor, best-selling author, investor and entrepreneur.

Millen combines her traditional and holistic education to help professional women become financially independent and retire early, so that they enjoy more choices and more freedom, without having to worry about money.

Most people feel financial independence is just a pipe dream. Millen tells us how to break that mindset and jumpstart your pathway from the pipe dream to financial freedom.

With the pandemic, financial education is more vital now than ever before. Job security is no longer a guarantee. Millen shows us how to begin our journey to financial freedom.

You can reach out to Millen for your own consultation. Visit https://speakwithmillen.com.

Do you need help with your podcast? Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Leverage Your Attention With A Product In Five Steps – PTC 316

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Over the last few episodes, we’ve talked about defining your listener, finding your ideal clients and attracting them to you show. Are you now ready to leverage that attention to make money with your podcast by creating a product or service?

This week, I am conducting a training called “How To Attract Your Ideal Clients and Make Money With Your Podcast”. This will help you kick off the new year on the right foot.

Do you want to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show?

Do you want to grow your audience to consistently produce and promote your content in just a few minutes a day?

On this training, you will discover …

  • How to create a successful podcast using your personality
  • Why some podcasts don’t make money and how to avoid these pitfalls
  • How to attract your ideal clients with your podcast
  • How to keep listeners coming back episode after episode to grow your audience
  • And much more

Get the registered at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/growth.

Today, let’s talk about 5 steps you can take to generate revenue with your podcast.

CREATE YOUR PRODUCT

Your first step is to create something to sell. Create a product or service that will help your listener solve their problems.

Last week, we discussed solving the struggles and problems of your ideal listener. This is how they transform from your ideal listener to a paying client.

What you create could be a digital product, a physical product, a service or an event.

Build your minimal viable product and ship.

OFFER

Once you have created your product or service, you need to offer it to your listener.

Build a store front to offer your product or service.

Courses can be offered on Teachable or Thinkific.

Physical products can be sold on Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, Ebay or a variety of other platforms.

Services can be sold through your website, Fiverr or other ways depending on the service you are offering. Your website for coaching. Fiverr for contract work.

Don’t make this too complicated. Get your listener to send you money and then do the work.

PAYMENT

When you listeners say they want what you’re offering, you need a way for them to pay you. Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be.

Create a payment system so people can give you money for it. This can be PayPal, Stripe, money order or a number of other ways. This will depend on your sales platform.

When I first started selling my Podcast Talent Coach workbook, it was in a 3-ring binder. People would send me money via PayPal. I would mail them the 3-ring binder. It doesn’t need to be harder than that.

DELIVERY

We have created your product or service. You have offered it to your audience. They have given you money for it. Now, it is time to deliver it.

Develop a method to deliver your product or service.

Again, this depends on what you are selling. Just like I sold that 3-ring binder, be creative until you prove the concept.

My first coaching client would send me a money order after I e-mailed him the invoice. Then, we would get on a Skype call each week for the coaching.

Delivery doesn’t need to be fancy. Be more concerned with the result your product or service delivers.

MARKET YOUR PRODUCT

After you have the first four steps working, it is time to ramp it up.

This is how you begin to use your podcast to make money. Once you have an idea for a product or service that solves a problem for your listener, and you know they are willing to pay for that solution, start talking about it on your show.

Market your product or service on your podcast. Let your audience know you have the solution to their problem. Then, tell them how to get it.

So many podcasters mention their product once or twice on their show and then think everyone knows about it. Mention it when the topic comes up in conversation.

If you have a course that helps people lose weight, mention the course when your are talking about the solution. You might say, “You need to eat five small meals a day to lose weight. In my course, we actually lay out what each of those meals should include. For instance, breakfast should consist of this and that.”

Your listeners are getting value. You are also mentioning that you have a course without being over-the-top about it. You aren’t selling all the time. It is an offer to help your listener.

TALK ABOUT IT

I have a friend who has a book out. I knew him for 6 months before I ever knew anything about it. Every week I would listen to his podcast. He would never mention it.

When I asked why he didn’t promote it on the show, he said he didn’t want his listeners to feel like he was always trying to sell to them. There is a difference between avoiding the over-the-top salesperson and not mentioning it at all.

You need to talk about your products and services on your show. Explain the transformation they experience by using your stuff. Then, tell people how to buy it.

Use your podcast to promote your revenue generating thing. You don’t make money from your podcast. You make money with your podcast by using it as a powerful marketing tool for your business.

TRAINING

Let me help you get started.

Come join my workshop to find your idea. “How To Attract Your Ideal Clients and Make Money With Your Podcast”.

Get registered at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment. Get coaching info at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

Podcast

Solving Your Listeners’ Struggles And Problems – PTC 315

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Your podcast serves a variety of purposes in the life of your listener. All podcasts need to entertain. But your podcast needs to specifically solve the struggles and problems of your ideal listener.

If you have a true crime podcast or a comedy podcast, the problem of your listener is probably escapism. They simply want to get away from their everyday troubles for a bit. Help them do that.

When it comes to making money with your podcast, you need to figure out how to create a product or service that helps solve those struggles and problems. On your podcast, tell your listeners what to do to solve their problems. Then, offer to teach them how with your products and services.

I would love to invite you to a free training with me. It is a workshop designed to help you find your idea. It is “How To Attract Your Ideal Clients and Make Money With Your Podcast”.

This free training will happen on Thursday, December 31st to help you kick off the new year. Get all the details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

I would love to see you there and help you discover how to attract your ideal clients with your podcast. Get signed up and come join us.

THE PLAN

This is the fourth episode in a series designed to help you create a plan to make money with your show. These shows will take you from plan through execution.

I can’t guarantee that you will make money, because only you know your niche, drive and work ethic. You control your destiny.

We started in the first episode with your 2021 podcast roadmap. Then, you learned how to clearly define your target client and listener. Last week, you discovered 7 places to find your client.

Now that we’ve found your ideal client, how to we convert them from prospect to customer? A client is someone willing and able to pay for the thing you have to sell at a price that you are willing to sell it.

How can you create that willingness? Solve problems.

FREE PODCAST

You are trying to make money with a free podcast. Listeners aren’t paying to listen to your show. We need to figure out how to make money with a free product.

Many podcasters feel the only way to make money with a free show is to load it up with ads and sponsorships. I completely disagree. That is the last option you should consider.

There are three big reasons sponsorships are wrong.

First, people are leaving traditional media to escape all of the ads. Why would you clutter up your show with a bunch of ads if your audience is trying to get away from the commercials?

Next, it takes a lot of time and effort to land sponsors. There are over one million podcasts. The average audience size isn’t big enough to generate big sponsorship revenue. You need to kiss a lot of frogs to find that prince.

Finally, there is a limit to the revenue. How many sponsors can an episode possibly handle … four or six? There is a ceiling. Lots of work for limited income.

OPTIONS

Let’s talk about the other options. What happens if you use the show to market your products and services or those of affiliates that solve the problems of your listener?

With products or services, you keep your show clean from the ads. Instead, you provide value to your listeners every episode. Then, you tell them how to get more value with your stuff.

When you promote your products and services instead of using sponsors, you do the work once and make money with every sale. Sponsors pay you once. When you spend the time to create a course or program, and you can sell it over and over.

Finally, you can theoretically sell a digital program an unlimited number of times. You market the product or service once on the show and who knows what the revenue potential could be. It all depends on the value your stuff delivers and how many people buy it.

You don’t make money from your podcast. You make money with your podcast. Use the podcast to market the thing you have to sell.

THE NEED

When we discussed defining your ideal listener, we talked about a few things that make your listener unique. We talked about what they need.

Your listeners have goals and pains. When you can help your listener reach those goals and solve their pains, you can find a solution to their problems that they would be willing and able to buy.

Revisit your ideal listener. What do they want and desire? Where are their problems? Clearly identify their goals. This is beneficial when it comes to building your revenue stream.

When you can clearly identify your listener’s needs, fears, and pains, you will be well on your way. People will pay more to get out of pain than they will pay to achieve pleasure.

People buy more aspirin than vitamins. More money is spent on doctors than gym memberships. More money is spent to fix cars than to pay for upkeep.

Help your listener solve problems and overcome struggles.

MONEY

So, how do you make money with a free podcast? Create a product or service that will help your listener solve those problems and overcome that struggle.

I am all in favor of multiple streams of income. However, you need to get one stream flowing before you can create multiple streams.

Find your listeners’ biggest pain. Create something they would be willing and able to buy. Then, offer to help them.

On your podcast, show the audience your ability to help them. This could be coaching, teaching, demonstrating or a variety of other ways.

Give them the what. Back it up with the why.

The why will be most powerful. The why creates the desire. When you uncover the true why, listeners see what is possible and understand that they need your solution.

Once you create the desire for a solution, tell your listeners what they need to do. The what is the solution.

Now your listener says, “Yes, I can see why I need a solution.”

You show them what they need to do. Your listener says, “I get it. How do I do that?” You sell the “how”, step-by-step.

People can spend time or money. Sure, most everything is available on YouTube. You can spend hours and hours searching for the solution. Or, you can spend a few dollars and have the solution now.

Smart people realize the investment of a few dollars to save a ton of time is money well-spent. This is especially true when you spend the time saved taking action to solve your problem. You are out of pain much quicker.

People pay for convenience. Those are the people you want to attract with your solution.

TRAINING

I would love to invite you to a free training with me. It is a workshop designed to help you find your idea. It is “How To Attract Your Ideal Clients and Make Money With Your Podcast”.

This free training will happen on Thursday, December 31st. Get all the details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

I would love to see you there and help you discover how to attract your ideal clients with your podcast. Get signed up and come join us.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment. If you could use the help of a podcast coach, reach out. I would love to be that help.

Podcast

Why You Don’t Make Money With Your Podcast – PTC 304

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You get held back when you don’t know what you don’t know. There are 7 pitfalls that you need to avoid if you hope to make money with your podcast. If you are struggling to figure out how to make money with your podcast, be sure you have solved these issues.

Your podcast allows you a great opportunity to demonstrate your authority while talking about a topic that you love. How great is that?

If you structure the focus of your show properly, your podcast can be an amazing tool to drive your business and generate revenue.

FREE TRAINING TO MAKE MONEY

I want to invite you to a training on Tuesday where I will teach you 7 different ways you can easily attract your ideal clients using a podcast. Register for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Using what I learned attaining my MBA, I have spent the last 30 years in radio refining how to create effective marketing campaigns to attract listeners and clients alike. I have used those skills to teach podcasters how to do the same since 2013. Those proven ideas have now been distilled into these 7 concepts that I will teach you.

You can learn them all on Tuesday. I will offer a replay as well, but only if you preregister. Get in now at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Do you want to grow your audience, increase your downloads and add subscribers to your podcast?

Would you like to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show?

Do you want to grow your audience in just a few minutes a day using time-saving tips to consistently produce and promote your content?

You can get all of that and more on Tuesday. It is a 60-minute training with a replay available. If it is time to let go of the trial and error, come get the step-by-step formula.

MORE THAN ONE WAY

Many people believe sponsorships and advertising are the only ways to make money with a podcast. Untrue. In fact, you shouldn’t clutter up your show with ads. Instead, use your podcast as a powerful marketing tool for your business. Today, I am going to teach you how to do just that.

Podcasting is huge. You have incredible power in front of you. Let me show you some numbers.

There are nearly 1 million podcasts today. On the other hand, there are 600 Million blogs and 1.3 billion YouTube videos. Where do you want to compete?

Podcast search engine Listen Notes reports there were 246,782 podcast debuts last year alone. Today, more than 90 million people in the U.S.— approximately 32% of the U.S. population over the age of 12 — have listened to a podcast in the past month according to Edison Research.

According to The Nielsen Company, the total podcast audience is growing at a compound average growth rate of 20%. And that could mean the overall audience for the medium could double within the next five years. Now is the time to stake your claim in your niche. Get noticed and build your audience.

Let’s talk about why many podcasts don’t make money. There are a few reasons podcasts don’t make money or attract clients.

WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?

The first issue is you don’t have anything to sell.

When podcasters contact me for coaching, our first step is a podcast strategy session. During that call, we define goals and the strategy to achieve those goals.

Though the questions vary, one seems to consistently come up. “How can I make money with my podcast?” I ask, “What are you selling?”

Can your listeners currently give you money for anything?

As coaches and content creators, you probably have something to sell. You just need more people to buy it.

ARE YOU ASKING?

The second problem is you are not asking for the sale.

Podcasters say, “Yeah, Erik. I have a course for sale. Nobody is buying it.”

Have you told anyone about it?

One of my buddies has a great course available. I had known him for six months before I knew anything about it.

Once you build your rapport through your podcast, the “yes” should become a formality if you actually ask for the sale and help your listener succeed.

THE PAIN

Next, podcasts don’t make money because you haven’t uncovered the true pain

It is much easier to “not sell” when you are solving a pain rather than offering a benefit. There is a saying that “more people buy aspirin than vitamins.” People are more willing to pay to get out of pain than experience a pleasure.

When you are solving that pain, you need to ensure you have uncovered the true pain.

On your podcast, you could be answering questions from you listeners. You will see some commonalities develop that uncover the true pain of your audience. It is like market research right on your show.

MORE REASONS

There are 3 more reasons podcasts don’t make money. I’ll be covering those in the free training on Tuesday. I will also give you 7 ways to make money with your podcast.

Sign up for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Would you like to have a clear, step-by-step blueprint to grow your audience? You will learn how to get that when you join us on Tuesday. You can build a plan to grow your audience that you can consistently implement in as little as 15 minutes a day.

Podcasting is only getting bigger. Now is the time to lay the foundation to be known as an influencer and respected authority in your niche. When you build you show the right way, you can consistently attract listeners who become raving fans, share your podcast, and purchase your programs.

Learn how on Tuesday. Sign up for free at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth. I can’t wait to see you there.

Do you need help with your podcast? Check out www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

[Coaching Session] Creating Revenue Ideas – PTC 303

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Would you like to make money using your podcast? Today, I am going to take you through an actual coaching session where we develop revenue ideas for a non-traditional podcast.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY

Most people think there are two ways to make money with your podcast. You could sell ads and sponsorships if you have a huge audience. Or, you need to be a coach or expert in order to sell your courses and services.

If you can be a little creative with your brainstorming, you can find many unique ways to make money with any podcast.

FLORIDA FOCUS

Brandon Marsters is the co-host of Florida Focus: A College Football Podcast. Find it at FloridaFocusPodcast.com.

Brandon and his podcast partner would like to make a little money with their show. Enough money to cover the costs of the show would even be good.

The show is currently making just a few dollars a month from Patreon. When I say “a few”, I mean about $12. Not quite enough to cover the expenses.

The show is into its third season with almost 90 episodes published. The podcast is all about college football in Florida. On this episode, Brandon and I create a variety of ways to leverage his podcast to make money.

There are a variety of unique ways to make money with your show. You simply need to be creative. These are just a few.

If you would like a free podcast strategy session like this one with Brandon, visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. I would be happy to talk with you and see how I can help.

THE PLAN

That’s how it works. You simply need to be creative.

Based on what Brandon told me, it sounds like we could make money with his podcast by giving fans something they can’t get anywhere else.

He first needs to build his audience by creating listener interaction on the show.

Next, he can build his e-mail list in order to begin conversations with his audience. The list could be built using the free stuff he is giving to the Patreon members.

GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT

Once Brandon is engaged in conversation with his fans via e-mail, he just needs to find ways to give them what they want. Florida fans want experiences like meeting old players/coaches or tailgate parties. He could put on some events and charge money to get in the door.

Fans also want access. Brandon could get access to the news conferences by making connections with local media to use their content. He could then create a membership site to curate the info for fans.

Then the last thing – connect with people on social media. Direct message people to get them on the show. Let’s not make them jump thru hoops.

If we do those things, we can create unique opportunities for his fans and allow the show to make money without having a course or coaching program to sell.

You need to find things that are in your wheelhouse. If you enjoy live events, create a live event. If not, find something else. Maybe you enjoy writing. Create a paid subscription. Memberships, curated content and experiences are a few other ways to make money. Then, use your podcast to promote it.

FREE TRAINING

Making money with your show all begins with building an audience. I will show you how to do it. Visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Thanks for being here. See you again next week.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? Get a free podcast strategy session at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

How To Keep Listeners Returning – PTC 301

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How can you keep you listeners returning week after week? We are going to talk about that along with marketing tips and podcast profits this week.

We are answering your questions on this episode of Podcast Talent Coach. If you have a question, e-mail me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. I read all of those notes and answer as many as I can here on the show.

MARKETING

I’m looking for marketing tips on how to get the podcast noticed and ranked.

– Dirk

In order to get your podcast noticed, you need to get in front of new listeners.

So many podcasters try to grow their podcast audience by posting on Facebook and sending e-mail to their list. The problem with this tactic is that all of these people already know you. They are already aware of your podcast.

If you are active on Facebook in groups and are allowed to mention your show there, you could get in front of new listeners. Be careful with regard to the rules of the group.

Many group owners don’t want you to promote in their group. You will need to mention your show while you serve.

If someone asks a question in a group regarding podcast growth, I might say, “On my podcast, I often recommend podcasters find ways to get in front of new audiences.” By doing this, I mention my podcast while answering the question and serving.

There are many other ways to get in front of new listeners. This could include summits, podcast interviews, guest blogging, e-mail shares and others.

GROW YOUR AUDIENCE

If you would like to learn how to grow your downloads, join me for a free training. It is called “How To Explode Your Podcast Audience In 6 Weeks Or Less”. It will be a live, hour-long training on Oct. 6, 2020 at 12 Noon CT.

You can register for this free training at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Do you want to grow your audience, increase your downloads and add subscribers to your podcast?

Would you like to become a respected authority in your niche that will help you monetize your show?

Do you want to learn time-saving tips to consistently produce your podcast, find interesting guests, promote your episodes, record the podcast and edit your content?

In this free training, you will discover how to create a simple plan that you can consistently follow in just a few minutes a day to grow your podcast.

You can register for this free training at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

BORED LISTENERS

I would really like to learn how to create content that will keep listeners returning. I haven’t started yet, but I’m worried of running out of ideas or guests to interview, or that listeners will get bored and not listen anymore.

– Elizabeth

Wow, Elizabeth. What a packed question. Let’s take these in parts.

First, let’s start with the last part. How do you prevent listeners from getting bored and not listening anymore?

Many podcasters make the mistake of trying to create content for others. You need to create content that you find interesting and engaging. The key to being interesting is being interested.

When you try to force content simply because you think your audience wants to hear that information, you will suffer three problems. The content will feel hollow, because you aren’t excited about it. Producing the content will start to feel like work, because it isn’t your passion. Finally, your audience won’t grow, because you will be creating average content.

Instead, create content that stirs your passion. You will have great stories. Your shows will bubble with excitement. Listeners will be attracted to the energy of your show, because it is designed specifically for them. If you love it, they will love it. Be interesting by being interested.

GET THEM TO RETURN

Next, how do you create content that will keep listeners returning? The first thing to understand is the difference between promoting your content and teasing your content.

Promoting your content is just information. In my free training I mentioned, you will learn how to grow your audience. That is only the info. It doesn’t pique your interest or create any excitement.

Teasing my training creates interest, excitement and fear of missing out. When I say, “In this free training, you will discover how to create a simple plan that you can consistently follow in just a few minutes a day to grow your podcast”, that creates some excitement.

A tease is more than the ingredients in the box. A tease is the benefit and transformation the information provides.

TOPIC IDEAS

Let’s talk about your ideas. If you are worried about running out of ideas, you may not be in the right niche. If you are creating a podcast around your passion, the ideas should come easily.

Here is how you can be sure you are in the right niche. Take out a piece of paper and start brainstorming possible podcast topic ideas. You should be able to come up with 40 or 50 ideas in about 10 minutes.

What do beginners need to know? Talk about the biggest mistakes made by people in your niche? What do people need to know about your topic.

Don’t worry about the quality of the topics. Just write. Let topics lead to other topics. If you concern yourself about evaluating the topic, you won’t open your mind to produce 50. Just write.

INTERVIEW GUESTS

Finally, how can you get guests when you have very little to offer?

It is a misconception that people won’t come on your show simply because you are new. You won’t always be new. When you are on episode 50, episode 2 will still be there.

Episode 2 may only have 23 downloads this week. A year from now, episode 2 could have hundreds of downloads.

Your episode can live for years. Smart guests understand that value.

When doing interviews, you won’t start at the top with the biggest guests. Let your guests build on each other. At the end of every interview, ask your guest if they know two or three people who might make great guests for your show and find a benefit by appearing on your show.

If they can provide you a couple names, ask them if they will make an introduction. A warm introduction is much more likely to land you additional interviews. This is especially true if your guest had a great experience.

In each of these points, don’t let that little voice in your head get in your way. Getting your listeners to return, running out of ideas, a lack of interviews and bored listeners are all just symptoms of the Impostor Syndrome. You’ll be great. Just get started.

PODCAST PROFITS

I’m at that critical place of needing to make my podcast significantly profitable in order to continue. As my wife told me, “You are spending an enormous amount of time for a freebie.” I’d like to set up an efficient process to provide paid consulting for listeners. I did a little free consulting to test the waters and it went well, but I let the hurdle of logistics get in the way of moving forward with offering paid consulting.

– Dean

So many people want to make the process much more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t get all hung up in the funnels and back end and all the jargon.

When I started, my first client was from Canada. He reached out to me looking for help to refine his content and make it more engaging.

I quickly created a coaching program. For $500, he would receive 4 coaching calls with me. We discussed his goals and I made him the offer.

When he accepted the deal, I emailed him an overview of the plan and an invoice for our coaching. He mailed me a money order. We started coaching.

He had discovered a blog I was writing. Then he listened to my podcast. In that content, I would mention my coaching. That got things started.

As I picked up more clients, I moved to having clients send me payments through PayPal. My systems grew as my business grew.

It was no more complicated than that.

If you want to scale and begin doing group coaching, webinars and joint ventures, you will need more back end systems. But, you don’t need all of that to begin. Just find someone you can help and give them a way to pay you.

If you have questions, e-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

GROW YOUR AUDIENCE

If you would like to learn how to grow your downloads, join me for a free training. It is called “How To Explode Your Podcast Audience In 6 Weeks Or Less”. It will be a live, hour-long training on Oct. 6, 2020 at 12 Noon CT.

You can register for this free training at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

Do you want to grow your audience, increase your downloads and add subscribers to your podcast?

Would you like to become a respected authority in your niche that will help you monetize your show?

Do you want to learn time-saving tips to consistently produce your podcast, find interesting guests, promote your episodes, record the podcast and edit your content?

In this free training, you will discover how to create a simple plan that you can consistently follow in just a few minutes a day to grow your podcast.

You can register for this free training at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

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

The Podcast Revenue Roadmap – PTC281

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Are you ready to take the information you share on your podcast and turn it into a product you can sell? Would you like to make a some money with your show, generate revenue and monetize all of that hard work.

Today, we are going to lay out the roadmap from your content creation to your monetization. Without a plan, it will be difficult to reach your goal.

Imagine being able to leverage all of that great content you are creating each week, use it to attract an audience and then have them buy your information product to help you generate some revenue. That’s the plan we will create today.

EVENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Last weekend, I attended a virtual event that changed my life. I know that sounds over the top. But, it’s true.

It was called JVX Live and was put on by the guys over at Joint Venture Insider Circle. The link is in the show notes at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/podcasts.

Have you ever met a person who showed you what is possible and exactly how to get there? You thought, “Wow! How did I not know about this?” That’s what happened.

Over the years, I have been climbing the hill step-by-step and learning a ton. At this event, it felt like I jumped on the learning gondola that supercharged my growth like you wouldn’t believe.

Here, I was surrounded by people who coach just like me. During the event, we would be split into small groups of 8 where we could talk about what we did and meet the other people. We were all looking for great business relationships.

PARTNERS

Of the 300 people in attendance, I was eventually in small groups with about 80. Out of those 80, I found 40 that I personally spoke with who might make great affiliate and joint venture partners for me. It was fantastic.

We all shared ideas and helped each other grow. It was amazing. Now over the past week, I have been on the phone and Zoom calls talking with these people, learning so much and discovering how we might help each other.

The connections were so energizing. Every time I would tell someone I help coaches and experts demonstrate their expertise and attract their ideal clients with a podcast, they would say, “Oh, I have 3 or 4 people to introduce you to.”

The power of the collective mind is amazing. In addition to meeting and learning, I have found a ton of free resources for you that I will be sharing over the coming weeks. The sphere has just grown exponentially. And, you get to benefit from all of it. How great is that?

Before we get into creating your podcast revenue road map, I want to give you three incredible, free resources that are going to help you immensely in this journey. They are all at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/roadmap.

FREE GUIDE

The first resource is my free guide “Six Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast.” This guide will give you some great ideas along with a dozen examples.

FREE SHOPPING CART

The second is a free shopping cart. If you want to sell digital products online, you need a system that can be your checkout page and deliver the goods.

This is where I really struggled when I started. I didn’t understand the difference between your shopping cart and your payment processor. Your shopping cart is where people come to shop for your goods and buy them. The payment processor is like PayPal or Stripe. That is the system that actually processes the payment. You link the two together to sell your digital products.

Now, you can get this shopping cart for free. It is called GrooveSell and it has been developed by Mike Filsaime.

Mike is a digital marketer. He helped build Video Genesis, one of the first digital products I ever bought back in 2013. Over the years, he helped build WebinarJam, EverWebinar, Kartra and others. He is amazing.

He has now built an amazing shopping cart platform that rivals One Shopping Cart, Infusionsoft, Ontraport, Samcart and others. It even has affiliate systems built in that are similar to ClickBank and JVZoo.

GrooveSell is usually $99/month just like the others. However, he has given me an affiliate link that will allow you to get it for free for life.

What’s the catch? First, he wants to help a ton of people during this crazy time. So the offer is for a limited time. He also wants people to test drive the system and report any bugs. Mike wants to make sure it is perfect before his big rollout. You can help him and in return get the system for free.

THE FEATURES

The link for GrooveSell is also on the page at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/roadmap.

With GrooveSell, you get:

– Unlimited Products and Funnels

– Flexible Pricing Structures

– Powerful checkout options

– The most powerful Affiliate software on Earth

– Dynamic thank you pages

– Upsells, Downsells, and Order Bumps

– 1-Click Upsell

– Robust Integrations

– No Monthly Fees

– ZERO transactions fees

And, you can use your own PayPal, Stripe or other account.

There are other products Mike sells in the suite. However, this one is free for you with no “gotchas”. Check it out at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/roadmap.

COLLABORATION CIRCLE

The final opportunity is also free. It is a way for you to find partners to help you grow just like I did. Where my event last weekend was 3 days, this event is once per week for 2 hours. You get in small groups and see how you can help promote each other and grow. Make it on the weeks you can.

The group is call Collaboration Circle. It is free to join. You can find my referral link at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/roadmap.

Three great, free resources that will help you get on this path. Get them while you can.

YOUR REVENUE ROADMAP

Now, let’s talk about your own Podcast Revenue roadmap. We need to define your goals before these tools will help you get there. The key is to start with the end in mind and work our way back to build our roadmap.

Look into the crystal ball 12 months from today. Where would you like to be? How many downloads? What would you like to be selling and how much would you like to be making?

WHAT IS FEASIBLE?

Now, let’s take those numbers and see if that is feasible.

Let’s say you would like 1,000 downloads per episode and making $100,000 per year. Some tasty numbers.

Where are you today? Maybe 120 downloads per episode and $0 as an example.

So, if we do the math we see we need to grow your downloads by 880, or about 17 new downloads each week. What can you do to find 20 new listeners this week while keeping the listeners you already have? That doesn’t sound so difficult. It just takes consistent action. 4 new listeners a day.

To hit $100,000, we also need to create $8,333 per month or about $1,925 per week. That might be a little more challenging. What can you offer your audience that they would buy?

WHAT CAN YOU CREATE?

Think of the things in your niche that you have purchased. Directories, lessons, software, books, accessories, tip sheets, apps, instructions, resource guides. If you are like me, you probably have a bookshelf or file on your computer full of them.

What could you create and sell at a reasonable price that your audience wants and needs? Digital products are the best. You do the work once and make the sale over and over again. No inventory. There is no additional production. Every new sale is almost pure profit.

If you could create a digital product that sells for $20, you would need to sell 97 per week to hit your $100k. That’s pretty steep.

What if you created a $100 course? Could you sell 19 of those per week? Still a pretty big hill. This is why you need to work backwards into your numbers. $100k sounds great. However, you need the audience to convert to sales.

Could you create a $497 group coaching program and enroll 2 people per week? Combine that with 6 sales of your $100 course and 20 copies of your $20 step-by-step guide. Now you’re talking $103,000 per year. Find your sweep spot and spend time there.

START THEIR JOURNEY

Once you have defined what your audience wants and needs to solve their problems, what free item could you give them to start them on their journey.

Ideally, each level builds on the previous level. Your lead magnet, or free piece of content, would be a small sliver of your digital product. It could be a free chapter of your book or one particular step of your process. This gets your listeners started on the path to see what is possible.

Lead magnets solve one specific problem. We talked about this in detail in episode 235. Check it out if you need help here.

Where you lead magnet gives your listener a taste, you $20 step-by-step guide shows them the full process and teaches them “what to do”.

Your digital product shows your listener “what to do”, your $100 course shows your listener “how to do it”.

The course is part of your group coaching. Your course shows them “how to do it”. Then, your coaching then helps people implement your how-to course.

It climbs the value ladder. Each rung of the ladder offers a higher level of help with a little higher price tag.

YOUR PODCAST

So, how does your podcast fit into all of this? Your content is the step right before the lead magnet.

On your podcast, teach your listener what is possible. Here, we are showing you what is possible with your show in terms of generating revenue.

It just like like me showing you what is possible with selling your digital products. Then, I send you to my website to get my “Six Ways To Make Money With a Free Podcast.” The lead magnet solves one specific problem. It helps you come up with a way digital product you can create and sell.

Start with the end in mind and work your way back to your content. Once you have the group coaching defined, turn that into a course. Peel off a piece to create a digital product. Use little pieces of the digital product for various lead magnets. Then, use each lead magnet for an episode.

If you talk about Jeeps, create a way for Jeep enthusiasts to find the best off-roading in every state.

Let’s say you talk teaching piano. Create a way to learn 3 of your favorite songs in 30 days.

If you talk genealogy, create a program that teaches people how to track their family tree and hold a huge family reunion.

Do you talk bullying? Create a program that teaches parents how to help their kids develop strong self confidence.

If you love music history, create an affiliate program that helps people visit the historic musical sites around the country.

GET STARTED

Start creating your roadmap. Once you have your plan created, you will know exactly what you need to talk about on your show.

Get those free resources at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/roadmap.

Let’s get started today. Most importantly, enjoy the journey.

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.

 

 

  • Links may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may make a commissions. However, I only recommend products and services I believe in and trust. Monetary numbers are examples only. No promises or guarantees are being made. Demonstration purposes only.
Podcast

No Ads Allowed – How Quin Makes Money – PTC280

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You have worked hard to develop some great content. The show is beginning to attract an audience. How can we turn this great podcast into a business and multiple revenue streams?

Let me give you a free resource. It is a video and accompanying checklist called “6 reasons your podcast isn’t making money”. It also includes ways to avoid those pitfalls. Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/pitfall to get it for free.

NO ADS

First, let’s make one thing clear. As you develop your podcast, understand that it is difficult to have the show itself be your sole source of revenue. Sponsorships and donations can only take you so far. Your inventory and sources will be limited.

The commercial on a podcast is the idea that comes to mind most frequently. However, there are a few issues with commercials on your show.

First, many people are turning away from traditional radio and to podcasts to get away from the long commercial breaks. Listeners are tired of interruption marketing that really doesn’t pertain to them and sells products and services that do not interest them.

THE CEILING

Another issue with advertising on your show is your limited inventory. How much advertising can you possibly put into a show? There is a ceiling with regard to the revenue you could earn.

Commercials on your show also turns your show into a commodity. Advertising converts your listeners into price. How many listeners do you have? Let’s put that into the formula and figure out the price for your commercials.

You don’t want to be a commodity. You have something special to offer. Don’t let advertising turn your show into something similar to salt or gasoline or cotton balls.

As we have discussed before, sponsorships are a tough sell. Most traditional buyers want to buy podcast ads just like they buy radio ads. They simply are not the same.

With broadcasting, the ads are reaching a broad audience. Therefore, only a small portion of that audience will be interested in the product advertised.

An ad on a podcast, if positioned properly, should appeal to the entire audience. Therefore, it should be more valuable. Yet ad agencies expect to pay the same price as radio ads. You are fighting an uphill battle.

Making your podcast your lone revenue source is possible. However, it is limited to the biggest of the big podcasts. Most podcasters needs another revenue stream.

How do we create other revenue streams using our podcast?

REVENUE STREAMS

We need to be creative. Once we start creating some unique ideas, you will see many others begin to open for you.

In this episode, we are going to devise various opportunities to generate revenue using your free podcast. Each of these ideas uses a different approach. You can tailor each approach to your niche and passion.

The foundation of the book “Free: The Future of a Radical Price” centers on using a free product or service to create demand for a paid product or service. The concept is similar to the lead magnets you see quite often in online business.

You are producing a podcast that is free for your listeners. How can we use that free product to create demand for a paid product or service?

We are not going to cover all of the ideas in Anderson’s book. There are 50 different business models. Let’s look at a couple ideas.

Section one is called “Free 1: Direct Cross-Subsidies – Any product that entices you to pay for something else.”

This section will give us a few business models to discuss. These should give you a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing to create multiple revenue streams for your podcast.

BUSINESS MODELS

1. Give away services, sell products

Book example: Apple Store Genius Bar tech support

Podcast example: Your podcast explains how to set up and use products and then sells those products online

Podcast example: Your podcast provides content and information, sell books, CDs and DVDs about that information

2. Give away products, sell services

Book example: Free gifts when you open a bank account

Podcast example: Giveaway e-books, sell individual coaching

Podcast example: Giveaway podcast info, sell webinars and seminars

CASE STUDY & INTERVIEW

Quin Amorim generates revenue with both ideas. However, he doesn’t allow ads on his podcast at all. He joins us today to discuss his business and podcast model.

Quin Amorim in an online entrepreneur who started with drop shipping back in 1997. He has now evolved to private label brands and selling professionally online using Amazon FBA and Shopify eCommerce stores.

His first online sale was on eBay in 1997. In late 2014, Quin switched to Amazon FBA, where he has since created several brands of his own “Private Label”. He also manages several multi-million dollar accounts with his team.

The Prolific Zone is an agency that Quin founded to work with startups, professional Amazon sellers, International eCommerce companies, and supplement companies. The agency even performs product research for a couple of fortune 500 companies.

He is now the host of QA Selling Online Podcast & Fail Fast Podcast.

In this episode, Quin tells us how he uses his podcast to drive his business without allowing ads on his show. He doesn’t even promote his own agency on his show, and he will tell you why.

GENERATE REVENUE

It is difficult to have the show itself be your sole source of revenue. Sponsorships and donations can only take you so far. Your inventory and sources will be limited. Find other unique ideas to generate revenue just like Quin.

You could use your podcast to drive traffic for your Fulfilled By Amazon business. You could use a similar idea for an Ebay business or affiliate links to create revenue streams.

Grab that free resource I offered you. It is a video and checklist that contains 6 reasons your podcast isn’t making money, along with ways to avoid those pitfalls. Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/pitfall.

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

The Podcast Profit Path – PTC265

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Let’s talk about creating your plan to make money with your podcast. What would it mean to you to generate some profit from your podcast?

You could be looking to make this a business and career. You might want your podcast to be your side hustle. Maybe you are just looking to make a few dollars to cover the costs of this crazy hobby.

Whatever the goal, you need a plan. You cannot succeed unless you know what the destination of success looks like and then develop a plan to get there.

There are four steps to creating your plan. And then there is some special sauce that can make it incredibly powerful.

THE AUTHOR

I was on a coaching call with a client the other night. He is an author. Doesn’t that sound impressive? We worked together to refine his plan and get him closer to doing this full-time.

When I tell you he is an author, I actually mean he self-published a book. The book is available on Amazon, and anyone can buy it. It looks a lot like every other book on Amazon, especially when you buy it on Kindle.

It has never been easier and cheaper to self-publish. The book gives him big credibility.

However, the book shouldn’t be the way to profits. It is took difficult to sell enough books to make a living.

That is where we started on his plan.

We talk about this show being a way for you to learn how to transform your information into entertainment so we can turn your podcast into powerful, profitable relationships.

People do business with those they know, like and trust. The content I give you each week is designed to move your listeners along that continuum.

We want your listeners to first become aware of you. Then they decide they like you. Finally, they trust you enough to do business with you.

Those three elements are part of the process to developing a business around your show. Attract an audience. Create a relationship with them. Turn that relationship into a trusting friendship and help them solve their problems.

We fold those steps into your plan to generating money with your show. Without a plan, you could end up anywhere. A plan helps you focus on the destination.

4 STEPS

There are four steps in creating your money plan. First, build your audience. Second, create a relationship with that audience.

Next, build a framework to move your audience from casual observer to consumer of your content to client. Finally, offer to sell them something they want and need in order to solve their problems.

AUDIENCE

The first step in the path is your audience. You need to define your ideal target listener.

We talked about the benefit of creating a target listener in various episodes.

When you are hyper-focused on one, single individual, you can define exactly what they want, need and desire. You can articulate their hopes, dreams and fears. You will know exactly what they need and are willing to pay for.

Focus on a single person makes your content much more relevant. You can frame it from their perspective. Your focus allows you to speak their language in their terms.

When you know everything about your target listener, you will know exactly where to find them. That makes your marketing easier and cheaper.

You won’t need to fish in the ocean. You can look for your ideal fish right in the middle of their school. It will be easy to see where they are all congregating.

When the message is laser focused, the conversion rate is much higher. The message is relevant to a greater share of the audience. Your content means more.

Define who do you help, what do you help them do and why.

My “who” is podcasters.

My “what” is transforming information into entertainment. Making their content more engaging.

My “why” is all about growing a business. It is to help podcasters create powerful, profitable relationships. I want to help them make money by creating engagement with their audience.

RELATIONSHIP

That relationship is the second step in your profit path.

Once you gain attention by knowing exactly whom you are targeting, you then need to begin the relationship. Begin helping her.

How will you attract your target audience other than with your podcast? How will they begin to know things about you?

People get to know you by the things you share. Tell them what you believe and value. This will happen through the stories you tell on your podcast, on social media, in your e-mail and various other ways you connect with your audience.

FRAMEWORK

Now that your audience knows a little about you, they want to see what you have to offer. She wants to know how you can help her achieve her goals.

What could you offer your audience for free to help them solve their problems and overcome their struggles?

Create a lead magnet that you can offer your listener in exchange for her name and e-mail address. This will allow you to begin sharing even more information with her.

Your lead magnet should be short and easy to consume. It should also solve one specific problem.

Examples of great lead magnets are worksheets, checklists, top 10 lists, a list of resources and case a study.

Help her solve a problem that she knows she has. This begins to create goodwill and strengthen your relationship.

PRODUCT OR SERVICE

Now that you have created a relationship with your listener, it is time to offer her even more help. This is a chance to go a little deeper with you.

How can you turn what you have to offer into a product or service?

As you try to create this product or service, look for two things.

Find your lead magnets that are getting the most traction. If they are getting downloaded a lot, this is a sign that your listeners want more of that.

You should also see what your audience is asking. If there are frequent questions, that is another sign. If you are asked the same question three or four times, there is a good chance you could turn that into a product or service.

SPECIAL SAUCE

As you have developing these four steps, there is one thing you can do to make it easier to succeed. The special sauce is focus.

When you focus on one thing, it makes it much easier to accomplish that thing. Focus prevent a bunch of projects that are half way complete.

Start one lead magnet. Promote it for a while to see if it gets any traction. Center your content around that topic. Focus.

Once you have determined whether or not that lead magnet has any potential, you can then start a second.

Offer one product or service until you determine if it a viable product.

Focus will help you reach your goals much faster.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

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

Your Podcast Business Framework – PTC264

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Are you like most podcasters who contact me for help? Are you trying to make money with your podcast?

STRATEGY

When podcasters reach out to me for my complimentary podcast review and strategy session, I ask them a few questions to see where I might be able to help most. One of those questions asks about the biggest struggle they are facing.

I recently went through all of the questionnaires looking for commonalities. The struggle mentioned most often had something to do with making money with their podcast.

It reminds me of listening to a presentation by Brendon Burchard. He was describing a session at his Experts Academy. One of the speakers asked the audience how many had a website. He then asked how many wanted to make money with that website. Finally, he asked how many of you have something to sell.

That is typically the problem with podcasts. People want to make money with their podcast, but few have anything to sell.

If you have listened for any length of time, you know I am not a fan of relying on sponsorships or ads to generate revenue. I feel they clutter up your show. People are leaving radio and coming to podcasts to escape the ridiculous number of ads.

THE PROFIT

I cut the cable. If we are watching tv, my family now subscribes to a few streaming services.

The other night, we wanted to watch The Profit. It is the CNBC series where Marcus Lemonis finds struggling businesses to invest in.

We have always watched it on Hulu. Now it seems that the latest episode is on Hulu. The rest of the episodes are now on the NBC streaming service.

I clicked on NBC. It made me go to the website to enter the activation code. When I did that, the site wanted me to link it to my cable subscriber. I skipped that step, since I don’t have a cable subscriber.

NBC then generously gave me 3 credits to use to watch their programs. I figure after these 3 credits, it will be a pay-for-play service like the others. I get it.

While I am watching one of my 3 free episodes of the Profit, I get the same stupid commercial breaks I would get if I was watching the show on free TV.

Why do I have to sit through commercials when I am paying them a fee? I am trying to escape commercials. Needless to say, I won’t be subscribing to NBC after my 3 free credits are gone.

If people are leaving broadcast and coming to podcasting and other on-demand services to escape commercials, why would you want to clutter up your show with them and risk sending them elsewhere?

THE INTERRUPTION

Seth Godin calls it interruption marketing. Companies interrupt whatever the listener or viewer is doing with a marketing message that may or may not be appropriate or pertinent. How many Audible and Blue Apron commercials can you sit through?

The other reason you don’t want to rely on commercials is because it makes your show a commodity. Your 1,000 listeners are the same as 1,000 listeners to any other show.

Ad buyers place their ads using a CPM model. They pay a certain price per 1,000 listeners. In radio, buyers will tell us they want to come in at a particular CPM. Our 1,000 listeners are the same as every other station.

Do you want your podcast treated that way? Are listeners to another show just as passionate and valuable as your listeners? Can you live on $40 per thousand listeners?

In order to make serious money with sponsorships, you need a pretty sizable audience. Most podcasters are not in this stratosphere.

Whether you want to turn your show into your career or simply want to cover the costs, I have a few ideas that can help get you there.

THE PROCESS

Let’s look at the facts. You have a podcast that is free to listeners. How can we take something that is free to consume and convert that into some revenue?

There are many ways to take the attention you are generating and leveraging that attention to make money. The first step is the gain the attention. We talked about building your audience in the episode last week.

You don’t need to have hundreds of thousands of listeners. You simply need to have passionate listeners that want more of what you share. Then, develop a product or service to sell. This way, the more you sell, the more you make. You control the output and the quality of help your listeners receive.

Are you teaching your listeners? Are you providing them with tools and information they can use? Are you interviewing interesting people that share great information that might be stretched into something more?

Perfect. Turn that in to a product or service.

PROFIT IDEA

I was on a coaching call with a podcaster struggling with making money. She has a podcast where she talks about healthy diets and how people can eat better. She loves teaching, talking in front of people and giving presentations.

We talked a lot about the people who reach out to her for advice. Many of these people had similar questions and similar struggles.

After we peeled the onion and discovered a few different layers, we determined she could start small group coaching to generate a few hundred dollars a month.

When people think of coaching, they think of some intricate system to market the program, bill the participants, and conduct the training.

I suggested she send an e-mail to the few hundred people on her list. If she could find 5 people willing to pay her $97 per month for group coaching, she could earn $485 per month.

In the e-mail, she could simply say, “I am starting a small group that I will coach each week providing A, B and C. We will get on a call each week to discuss it, answer questions and help with struggles. We will create some accountability to help you eat healthier and lose weight. Participation will be limited to 5 people and cost $97 per month. If you are interested, reply to this e-mail.”

When the people respond, have them send you $97 via PayPal. Then, set up a private group call on Google Hangouts, Zoom or the free platform of your choice.

At the end of the month, you ask, “Who want to go again?” Sign them up and recruit more with your e-mail list.

You only need 5 people and you’re making money each month. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.

THE FRAMEWORK

That is just one example of using a model called “Give away products, sell services”. She is giving away recipes, spreadsheet tools and other .pdfs. Then, she sells her services.

1. Podcast example: Giveaway lead magnets, sell individual coaching

2. Podcast example: Giveaway podcast info, sell webinars and seminars

I am putting together a new project to help you make money with your podcast. It will include a lot of examples and ideas like this.

Do you have a few hundred people listening to your show? Have you started gathering their e-mail addresses using an e-mail service?

Let’s get started. If you want to make money with your podcast, you must have something to sell. I can help you do that.

THE WORKSHOP

Money doesn’t fall off of the money tree. You need to leverage your audience and give them an opportunity to get even more value from you.

You can watch the free videos. Find them at PodcastTalentCoach.com/MoneyProject. You can learn all about the project there and get started with the free videos.

I can wait to help you make this year the year you start generating some money with your show. But, you need to take the first step. Go watch the videos at PodcastTalentCoach.com/MoneyProject. I’ll see you over there.

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

Now, understand I cannot guarantee you are going to make a million dollars. I can’t even guarantee you are going to make one dollar.

I don’t know you, your abilities and talents. I don’t know your level of commitment or how much you take action.

So, I cannot promise you that. In fact, it is against the law here in the U.S. for me to guarantee anything like that. Your results will vary.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Incorporate Your Podcast Into Your Business – PTC260

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Your podcast allows you a great opportunity to demonstrate your authority while talking about a topic that you love. If you structure the focus of your show properly, your podcast can be an amazing tool to drive your business and generate revenue.

OSCAR’S PODCAST

When Oscar Trimboli came to me for coaching, he had the desire to strengthen the connection between his podcast and his consulting business.

Season one of his podcast consisted of interviews. He was headed into season two and wanted this season to be more about teaching his five levels of listening.

Oscar Trimboli is a mentor, leadership coach, speaker, author and podcaster. His podcast and book are both entitled “Deep Listening – Impact Beyond Words“.

OSCAR’S BUSINESS

Oscar Trimboli has 30 years experience in bringing out the best in senior executives and next generation leaders.

Leaders seek Oscar’s help when they feel frustrated with their organizations’ results and their own performance. They’re drowning in information and feel stressed, time poor and swamped by their day-to-day workload.

Past beliefs, assumptions and decisions are no longer serving these leaders. They need a different way to think, a fresh perspective, renewed focus and energy.

Leaders that work with Oscar say they soon learn to think with laser-sharp focus and clarity. They become more self-aware and experience greater personal alignment with who they really are. With that awareness, these leaders gain a clear perspective, deeper understanding and a true grasp of their purpose and legacy.

Clients say Oscar quickly takes them from feeling disoriented and confused, to feeling energized and ready to create their legacy.

THE PODCAST & BUSINESS CONNECTION

As Oscar and I worked together, our challenge was to bring that power and authority to Oscar’s podcast.

Our goal was to create engagement with his audience and demonstrate his authority in the space. Over time, this would help him grow his consultancy.

In order to reach Oscar’s goals, he needed to start asking for feedback in order to get feedback. This would help drive engagement.

Oscar also created a Facebook group to begin building community for each level of listening and interact with his audience.

To build his authority in his space, I suggested that Oscar interject himself more into the episodes, so listeners get to know him.

PODCAST EVALUATION

In this episode, we review examples of what Oscar is doing today on his show to connect with his potential clients. We look at specific clips of his show where he in incorporating, explaining and promoting his business within his content.

Oscar Trimboli is now the author of 3 books. He also offers the “Deep Listening – Impact Beyond Words” playing cards set that helps improve your skills as a listener.

Over the last 7 years, Oscar has coached, mentored and advised people in a wide range of roles from founders, CEOs and CFOs to a variety of other leadership roles in financial services, technology, professional services, education and not for profits.

He has been asked to speak to leadership teams and their organizations about the importance of clarity to create change, how to embrace the digital economy and the role values play in the achievement of your purpose.

People who have worked with Oscar have a few things in common. They want to bring alignment to their work and life.

Once they have personal congruence, they very quickly accelerate their business and personal impact. Their energy and passions are now focused and they feel alive rather than distracted and frustrated. As a result, they achieve high impact outcomes aligned to their passions.

His podcast is now focused on the same material. He demonstrates his authority in and mastery of the space. This allows potential clients to experience what his coaching, mentoring and consulting is all about.

YOUR BUSINESS

If you would like some guidance refining the focus of your show and creating a plan to build a business around your podcast, grab my free show focus worksheet at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/focus.

This worksheet will help you gain some focus on your goal and strategy. It will help you start with the end in mind and then work backward into your content.

Download it today and let me know how I can help.

 

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

From Podcast To Profit – Episode 257

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If you want to create a business around your podcast and generate revenue and profit, you need to have a plan and process. Move your listener from casual interest to buying fan.

You cannot start with making money. Start with you and your superpower. Then, you need to figure you what your audience needs. Where those two intersect is the solution to your business.

There are 4 Steps in the process of moving from podcast to profit.

1. Define your superpower.

Flush out your super power. What do you do better than most? When people seek advice from you, what are they asking? What topic do you love and can you talk about for hours?

2. Shape your content into entertainment.

Begin building your audience. Grow your engagement by adding value and helping.

3. Figure out the business profit proposition.

What does your audience need to solve their problems? Maybe they are looking for a job. They might need to learn what you know. Maybe they need to know how to negotiate.

There are three levels of teaching. Each comes with a different price. What to do, how to do, and do it for you.

“What to do” is typically free. This is usually your podcast and blog content, your lead magnet and free webinars.

“How to do it” is typically the entry product and a reasonable price. This could be a course, book or membership.

The “do it for you” level is typically the highest level. Your offering could either be a full-service offer or one-on-one coaching. This level is individualized.

4. Begin the funnel.

Now that you know your subject and have defined your business, it is time to begin moving your listeners through the funnel.

Attract your audience to your podcast.

Offer them a lead magnet to help them solve one problem quickly. This will start the relationship. Let the lead magnet be the start of the “how to do it” entry level product you have to offer. Many times the lead magnet is one resource from that course.

After they consume the lead magnet, offer your listener an low ticket item. This could be a $7 quick video course. It should be something a little stronger than the lead magnet, but inexpensive with huge value that will be a no-brainer purchase. Sometimes this is one module from your full course.

From the low ticket item, offer bigger help with your full course.

Get a few of your full course customers to purchase your complete “do it for you” level.

It is called a funnel, because fewer people make it to each level of the funnel. Many will consume your free podcast. A percentage of listeners will request your lead magnet. Only a fraction of those lead magnet consumers will buy your low ticket item. A portion of your low ticket buyers will pay for the full course. Just a few of those people will want the “do it for you” level.

Naturally, each time the price increases, the number of prospects that choose to participate decreases. The key is to get as many people in the top of the funnel to increase the number of people at the bottom of the funnel.

Start With Engagement

It all starts with engagement with your listener and building your audience. There is a resource available for you that will help you grow your podcast.

You can download my “75 Ways to Drive Engagement”. Go to PodcastTalentCoach.com/IncreaseDownloads.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

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 Podcast And Business – Episode 256

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GROW YOUR PODCAST

As Thanksgiving approaches in the U.S., Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming. Along with it come big sales and great deals. It is a great opportunity to grow your show.

But does it really need to be a special day like Black Friday or Cyber Monday in order to grow your business and podcast?

On this episode, you will get 7 ways to build relationships, grow your audience and build your business.

When you are done with the episode and you are ready to take action and build your plan, sign up for your FREE podcast strategy call with me at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

Thanksgiving in the United States is a day of the year when we pause to give thanks to those treasures in our lives. Whether you are celebrating in America or just working another day somewhere else in the world, I would like to thank you for all you have done for me by simply being part of this community. Thank you.

GROW

This week, I would like to share with you 7 Thanksgiving concepts to drive your podcast and business any day of the year.

1. New Relationships

Take a few minutes today to plant the seeds of new relationships. Reach out to five people you do not know, and thank them for what you have learned from them.

2. Old Relationships

Next, take a few minutes to strengthen the relationships you have already built. Reach out to five people you know, and thank them for enriching your life.

3. What Gets Scheduled Gets Done

Use a day off to plan the next 12 months. Thanksgiving is a great time to look forward.

4. Great Offers

Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring great deals. This is especially true in the online world. It seems everyone has a great deal.

Just as with goals, the calendar shouldn’t dictate your strategy. It doesn’t need to be the day after Thanksgiving in order to make a great offer to your tribe.

5. Fill Your Heart

Take pause and ponder all of the things in your life for which you are thankful. Fill your heart. Be grateful.

6. Walk Away Wednesday

We need to take time away from the “to do” list and devote it to a bit of housekeeping. This is a concept I learned from radio great Mike McVay.

Mike created “Walk Away Wednesday” for radio program directors. It was a day to get away from the radio station and just listen. We would listen to everything to ensure it had a purpose. The goal was to review the radio station from top to bottom.

7. Give

Pretty simple. Help someone. As Zig Ziglar always said, “You can have anything you want as long as you help enough other people get what they want.”

It is true. Giving does something to us. Giving makes us more attractive as a person. Serve people.

THANKS

Take time this week to put a few of these concepts to use with your podcast and business. You never know what good things might come your way in the next year.

Thank you for being part of this community. I truly value the time you give me every week. My hope is that you find value and some useful nugget in the content I provide in each episode.

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

Go Beyond The Sponsor Ad – Episode 255

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When I talk with podcasters about their goals, many tell me they would like to make money with their podcast. Some tell me they want this to be their only job. Others tell me they would like to earn enough to cover the expenses. When we talk about the “how”, podcasters often tell me they would like to pursue a podcast sponsor for the show.

If you would like my help creating revenue streams with your podcast, you can get my free list of 6 Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast at PodcastTalentCoach.com/makemoney.

PROBLEMS WITH THE SPONSOR

The commercial on a podcast is the idea that comes to mind most frequently. However, there are a few issues with commercials on your show.

First, many people are turning away from traditional radio and to podcasts to get away from the long commercial breaks. Listeners are tired of interruption marketing that really doesn’t pertain to them and sells products and services that do not interest them.

Another issue with advertising on your show is your limited inventory. How much advertising can you possibly put into a show? There is a ceiling with regard to the revenue you could earn.

Commercials on your show also turns your show into a commodity. Advertising converts your listeners into price. How many listeners do you have? Let’s put that into the formula and figure out the price for your commercials.

You don’t want to be a commodity. You have something special to offer. Don’t let advertising turn your show into something similar to salt or gasoline or cotton balls.

As we have discussed before, sponsorships are a tough sell. Most traditional buyers want to buy podcast ads just like they buy radio ads. They simply are not the same.

With broadcasting, the ads are reaching a broad audience. Therefore, only a small portion of that audience will be interested in the product advertised.

With a podcast, the entire audience has an interest in common. If the product or service advertised is a good fit, it should be of interest to most of the audience. Therefore, you should be able to charge more for those ads than a traditional radio commercial.

STACK THE VALUE

I recently worked with a client on a very successful proposal. He had the opportunity to pitch a large governmental agency on sponsoring his show. His podcast reaches the exact audience they were trying to reach. The fit was ideal. He priced the sponsorship with regard to value and effectiveness rather than cost per listener.

When you approach potential clients, make your sponsorships more than commercials on the show. Sell them a whole package. Go beyond the simple sponsor commercial. Give them something more and make it special.

You can convert your sponsorship into a marketing partnership by adding other features that only you can provide.

  • Add them to your website
  • Include them in your newsletter
  • Showcase them on the show with an interview
  • Share them on social media
  • Create affiliate programs to promote their goods or services

MAKE IT SPECIAL

Make the commercials special. Keep in mind when you do the commercials within the show, make your ads unique and entertaining. Your ads should be just as entertaining and informative as your content.

Sponsorship is just one way to create revenue with your show. There are many others. You can find my list of 6 Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast at PodcastTalentCoach.com/makemoney.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? Get details here: PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Turn Podcast Listeners Into Customers – Episode 241

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I was hopping around on Facebook this weekend checking out a lot of podcast Facebook groups. The questions keeps coming up. “How can I make money with my podcast?” Regardless of the vehicle you use to generate revenue with your show, you will make no money unless you get your listeners to take action.

There are many ways to make money with your podcast. You could sell sponsorships and advertising. Joint ventures are a possibility. Affiliate programs are an option. However, each of these ideas usually work only if you have a audience of a decent size.

If your audience is small, you could create courses or a membership program. You could sell coaching and consulting. If your platform is speaking, you would write a book and use the podcast to promote both.

I have a free resource that can help you with your ideas. It is called, “6 Ways To Make Money With a Free Podcast”. Get it at PodcastTalentCoach.com/MakingMoney.

ACTION

Making money with your podcast is a great idea. However, it won’t happen unless you get your listeners to take action.

“Join my membership.” “Sign up for Audible through my affiliate link.” “Download my free resource.”

None of it happens until your listeners move and do something.

Getting your listeners to take action begins with solid show prep. Before you do anything with your content, you need to define a goal for your show. What do you want your listeners to do after they are done listening to the episode?

Your call-to-action could ask your listeners to buy your product. It could encourage them to visit your website or the website of your guest. Maybe you ask your audience to just provide feedback on the show.

What is the strategy? In the long run of this relationship we are creating with the listener, what is the ultimate goal?

Let’s say you have a one-on-one coaching program. You would like to get listeners into that program. What is the step right before that program?

Maybe you have a group coaching program that feeds your one-on-one program. What is the step right before that?

Your $19 short course on your superpower might be the step just before the group coaching. How do you get people aware of and interested in that course?

The free download on your website might describe how your superpower can transform the lives of your listener and why they need to do it now. The free download helps them take the first step in that transformation.

Now, you need to get people to download the free resource. How do you do that? You create a great call-to-action on your podcast.

SHOW PREP

Now that you know what you want your listener to do after this episode, you can begin to create the content.

What are the interesting topics you want to address on this particular episode? Maybe you are interviewing an expert in the area of your superpower. He is going to describe to people why the superpower is so important and how he used it in his life.

Next, determine what you hope to accomplish on the episode. With this guest, we hope to get our listeners excited about the transformation. We want to get them to the point where they have to have the free resource now.

How will you treat each specific topic you hope to address? What will you do with the content? In addition to your interview, you might be answer listener questions, doing a demonstration of some sort, playing some example audio, presenting data and case studies or giving an example of your programs.

Take all of this content and create an outline for the flow of the show topics. This is important for the show introduction. Your intro should tell listeners exactly what they are going to get from the episode.

What supporting information will you need for the show? Organize and highlight for easy access during the show.

Make sure your call-to-action is clear. I suggest you put it at the open and close of each episode. Not all of your listeners will make it to the end. You don’t want them to miss it.

There are a few things to keep in mind with your call-to-action. First, ask your listeners to do one thing.

Make your call-to-action easy for them.

Be clear with the call-to-action. Tell them exactly what to do.

I have a new coaching program that will help you begin making money with your podcast.

POWERFUL, PROFITABLE PODCASTING

12-WEEK COACHING PROGRAM

Each week, you will get a module of videos to help you build your podcast business.

Once a week, you also get access to a workshop where I teach some of the nuance of building your podcast business and I answer any of your questions regarding the modules.

To make sure you are making progress specifically for your business, you and I have a one-on-one coaching call once a month.

 

The 12 modules include …

1. YOUR MONEY BASE

The show focus and foundation for your business

2. ATTRACTING YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER

The more you know about your listener, the better you will be able to communicate.

3. THE PODCAST AND PROFIT CONNECTION

Each episode must have a goal in mind that builds your authority and moves your listeners closer to becoming clients.

4. GET YOUR LISTENERS TO TAKE ACTION

Defining a goal for your show

5. THE POWER OF STORY

Use storytelling to engage your audience

6. GROW YOUR AUDIENCE

How to use interviews to grow your audience

7. MONEY MAKING IDEAS

Using your podcast to build a business

8. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND GROWTH

Review your show with a purpose

9. GROW YOUR NETWORK

Creating engagement and building relationships

10. ATTRACT MORE POTENTIAL CLIENTS

Building ideal lead magnets

11. SHOW ME THE MONEY

Tying it all together

12. THE LONGEVITY PROCESS

Podfade prevention

 

Are you ready to connect your podcast to a business and start making money? Let’s see if this program is right for you.

Take advantage of my free podcast strategy call. We can develop a strategy for your podcast to build your structure and reach your goals.

The strategy call is free. There are no strings attached. It isn’t a sales pitch in disguise. I just help you get clear. At the end of the call, if you feel like Powerful, Profitable Podcasting coaching program is right for you, we can talk about it. That is up to you.

 

Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s get you started today.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

The Podcast and Profit Connection – Episode 240

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Many people want to make money with their podcast. However, the podcast isn’t structured to help achieve that goal. How do you generate a profit?

If you would like ideas to make money with your show, get my free guide “6 Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast” at PodcastTalentCoach.com/MakingMoney.

I see a lot of podcasts and online businesses in my coaching. Podcasters reach out to me to help make their show stronger and help drive a business, but they are missing the connection.

THE PROFIT CONNECTION

A consultant got in touch with me to help refine his show to drive his business.

One of the first questions I ask is about goals. If we are a year down the road, what would you like to see happen over the next 12 months to be happy with the results?

Answers to that question range from revenue to profit to downloads to speaking engagements and a variety of other things.

This guy wanted to do 2 things. He wanted to get more speaking engagements and wanted to build his authority in the space in order to get more clients. Perfect. We can make that happen.

Then, we listen to the show. It never fails. I listen to the show and nowhere in the episode does he mention he is a speaker. Nor does he talk much about his consultancy.

The podcast is an interview show. He does a nice job interviewing the guest. The show demonstrates the expertise and authority of the guest. He even does a nice job directing listeners to the guest’s website.

How is this building this podcaster’s authority or gaining him speaking gigs?

THE GOAL

Each episode must have a goal in mind that builds your authority and moves your listeners closer to becoming clients.

We simply refined the structure of the show a bit to allow him space to do these two things. We added a little at the beginning and a segment at the end where he could talk about speaking and consulting while giving the listener something they could use.

Once you determine what you hope to accomplish, look at the format of your show. Is it conducive to your goals? Are you doing a solo show that has room for you to really nail your goals, or are you doing interviews where you need to build in features to help you accomplish your goals?

Maybe you’re doing a magazine-style show or one with narration. Whatever the format happens to be, you need to make sure there is room in the episode to achieve your goals.

How many hosts are on your show? Make sure everyone is aware of the goals.

Will there be any listener interaction? How does that connect to your goals? You might use questions to help build your authority or demonstrate your service.

Determine the length of the show. There is no right answer. There is never too long. There is only too boring. Keep the momentum moving forward.

How will your audience benefit from each show? Give them a taste of your superpower and what you can do for them.

Find ways to demonstrate your authority in each episode. This should be part of your show prep.

Create your show clock. Lay out the plan for each part of the show.

COACHING

I have worksheets that will help you through each of these steps to monetize your show. It is part of my new coaching program that will help you start making money and generating a profit with your podcast. It is called …

POWERFUL, PROFITABLE PODCASTING

12-WEEK COACHING PROGRAM

Each week, you will get a module of videos to help you build your podcast business.

Once a week, you also get access to a workshop where I teach some of the nuance of building your podcast business and I answer any of your questions regarding the modules.

To make sure you are making progress specifically for your business, you and I have a one-on-one coaching call once a month.

The 12 modules include …

1. YOUR MONEY BASE

The show focus and foundation for your business

2. ATTRACTING YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER

Focus your show on your ideal listener. The more you know about your listener, the better you will be able to communicate. Keep this person in mind while recording each show.

3. THE PODCAST AND PROFIT CONNECTION

Each episode must have a goal in mind that builds your authority and moves your listeners closer to becoming clients.

4. GET YOUR LISTENERS TO TAKE ACTION

Defining a goal for your show

5. THE POWER OF STORY

Use storytelling to engage your audience

6. GROW YOUR AUDIENCE

How to use interviews to grow your audience

7. MONEY MAKING IDEAS

Using your podcast to build a business and generate a profit

8. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND GROWTH

Review your show with a purpose

9. GROW YOUR NETWORK

Creating engagement and building relationships

10. ATTRACT MORE POTENTIAL CLIENTS

Building ideal lead magnets

11. SHOW ME THE MONEY

Tying it all together

12. THE LONGEVITY PROCESS

Podfade prevention

ARE YOU READY?

Are you ready to connect your podcast to a business and start making money? Let’s see if this program is right for you.

Take advantage of my free podcast strategy call. We can develop a strategy for your podcast to build your structure and reach your goals.

The strategy call is free. There are no strings attached. It isn’t a sales pitch in disguise. I just help you get clear. At the end of the call, if you feel like Powerful, Profitable Podcasting coaching programis right for you, we can talk about it. That is up to you.

Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s get you started today.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

The Benefit Of Podcast Show Structure – Episode 239

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In this episode, we talk about the importance and benefit of a structure for your podcast. Build your foundation. Then, build each episode upon that foundation.

Do the little work daily to build your foundation upon which to build your brand.

CHRIS YOUNG

Country artist Chris Young is in town tonight. Probably the 6th time he has been here.

The first time he came was about 10 years ago. He played in the radio station conference room to about 20 people.

The next time here, he played to a small club with a few other artists for a few hundred people.

Then he came to town multiple times opening for other bands.

Tonight, he headlines his own show for about 5,000 people.

Here is a guy that got great exposure on a television singing competition with a big audience. He has put in the consistent and methodical work over time to get where he is today.

Other artists on the singing shows don’t make it, because they haven’t put in the work to create the relationship over time. You can’t create a relationship in 20 weeks of a tv season. It takes years.

DO THE WORK

Do the work. Get rich slowly.

This all starts by creating a structure for your show. You need a focus around a topic that you love. This is your “why”. We discussed this in Episode 233 – Why Are You Creating A Podcast.

You need an idea of what the structure of each show will be. Are you doing interviews or a solo show.

Using that structure, you need to create a show clock that has some consistent elements. This should be your introduction, content and close. Maybe a few features.

Create a clear introduction. Remember, you always have new listeners joining the show. Tell them what you do and why they are here.

Each episode should have a goal. What is it that you are trying to achieve in the episode? Your close should end with a call-to-action.

I have worksheets that help you do all of this. It is part of my new coaching program. It is called

POWERFUL, PROFITABLE PODCASTING

12-WEEK COACHING PROGRAM

Each week, you will get a module of videos to help you build your podcast business.

Once a week, you also get access to a workshop where I teach some of the nuance of building your podcast business and I answer any of your questions regarding the modules.

To make sure you are making progress specifically for your business, you and I have a one-on-one coaching call once a month.

The 12 modules include …

1. YOUR MONEY BASE

The first module is all about show focus and building a foundation for your business

2. ATTRACTING YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER

Learn how to define your ideal customer and listener. Focus your show on your ideal listener. The more you know about your listener, the better you will be able to communicate. Keep this person in mind while recording each show.

3. THE PODCAST AND PROFIT CONNECTION

Each episode must have a goal in mind that builds your authority and moves your listeners closer to becoming clients.

4. GET YOUR LISTENERS TO TAKE ACTION

Defining a goal for your show with a strong call-to-action.

5. THE POWER OF STORY

Use storytelling to engage your audience.

6. GROW YOUR AUDIENCE

How to use interviews to grow your audience.

7. MONEY MAKING IDEAS

Strategies to use your podcast to build a business.

8. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND GROWTH

Review your show with a purpose.

9. GROW YOUR NETWORK

Learn how to create engagement and build relationships.

10. ATTRACT MORE POTENTIAL CLIENTS

This module is all about building ideal lead magnets.

11. SHOW ME THE MONEY

This will teach you to tie all of the pieces together.

12. THE LONGEVITY PROCESS

Learn how to prevent podfading.

STRATEGY CALL

Are you ready to connect your podcast to a business and start making money? Let’s see if this program is right for you.

Take advantage of my free podcast strategy call. We can develop a strategy for your podcast to build your structure and reach your goals.

The strategy call is free. There are no strings attached. It isn’t a sales pitch in disguise. I just help you get clear. At the end of the call, if you feel like Powerful, Profitable Podcasting coaching program is right for you, we can talk about it. That is up to you.

Visit PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s get you started today.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

How We Got $2k Per Episode By Adding Value

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In the last few free strategy callsI’ve had with podcasters, we have been talking about money and generating revenue with your podcast. I had a call just the other night. She wanted to figure out how to sell sponsorships for her show.

One of my clients wanted to get his show on the radio. He wanted to work together to figure out how he could make it a profitable endeavor.

If you would like my help creating revenue streams with your podcast, you can get my free list of 6 Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast at PodcastTalentCoach.com/makemoney.

As we have discussed before, sponsorships are a tough sell. Most traditional buyers want to buy podcast ads just like they buy radio ads. They simply are not the same.

With broadcasting, the ads are reaching a broad audience. Therefore, only a small portion of that audience will be interested in the product advertised.

With a podcast, the entire audience has an interest in common. If the product or service advertised is a good fit, it should be of interest to most of the audience. Therefore, you should be able to charge more for those ads.

I recently worked with a client on a very successful proposal. He had the opportunity to pitch a large governmental agency on sponsoring his show. His podcast reaches the exact audience they were trying to reach. The fit was ideal.

His podcast is getting about 1,000 downloads per episode. How much would it cost to do a direct mail campaign or broadcast advertising campaign to reach 1,000 interested, qualified buyers with a message?

If we estimate 1 out of every 4 people that receive a direct mail piece is actually interested in the message, we would need to send the piece to 4,000 people to find 1,000 interested people.

When it comes to direct mail, you need to add in all of the costs. Those would include design costs, marketing copy costs, the cost to buy the mailing list, the cost to print the mailer, and the money to actually send it out.

According to Media Space Solutions, total costs range anywhere from 30 cents for the do-it-yourself type to $10 per person for the professional job.

So, let’s say you have the ability to do a bit by yourself. You can do the copy and design, but hire out the printing, buy the list and pay for the mailing. We’ll say your direct mail piece is $2 per piece landed. That would be $8,000 per mailing to reach the 4,000 people if we are figuring it takes 4,000 direct mailers to be as effective as 1,000 rabid podcast fans.

To reach those 4,000 people on a weekly basis at $8,000 a pop, you would be spending $416,000 per year.

My client and I discussed laying out this scenario for the agency. First, discuss with them the marketing costs they would possibly already be spending. Then, educate them on the rich value of the podcast audience.

Now that we have them envisioning the cost it would take to reach that audience weekly, we then tell them we can help them achieve that reach for a fraction of the price. We decided on $100,000. Less than 25% of the direct mail costs.

Then, we stacked up the bonuses. He offered to include them in the radio show, in the newsletter, on the website and in social media posts at no extra charge.

He sold the value and the ability to measure the downloads of the podcast.

The prospects were very interested and plan to budget the expense for next year.

This is what he e-mailed me after the meeting …

“Erik – Here is why you are worth $150 an hour….(I think you are worth more). I started off with the question – So is it important to be branded to a growing audience of highly engaged listeners? They said absolutely – I reinforced this with the NPR 75% retain sponsor information from listening to a podcast. While I didn’t get the big fish at the conference yet and let me emphasize yet- I happened to be in a target-rich environment and kept digging with those other pots of money from the same organization and I sold sponsorship for 12 episodes at 2k each to grant managers lower in the food chain. And still going after the 100k in upcoming cycle. Our discussion was extremely helpful.”

That is one way to make money from a podcast. It is all in the framing of your value.

When you approach potential clients, make your sponsorships more than commercials on the show. Sell them a whole package. Give them something more and make it special.

  • Add them to your website
  • Include them in your newsletter
  • Showcase them on the show with an interview
  • Share them on social media
  • Create affiliate programs

Keep in mind when you do the commercials within the show, make your ads unique and entertaining. Your ads should be just as entertaining and informative as your content.

This is just one way to create revenue with your show. There are many others. You can find my list of 6 Ways To Make Money With A Free Podcast at PodcastTalentCoach.com/makemoney.

Do you need help with your podcast? Let me help you develop a plan. I can help you find ways to build a business around your podcast just like I did here. Get a free strategy session with me under the coaching section online at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

How To Ask For The Sale When You’re A Horrible Salesperson – Episode 217

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Selling
How to close the sale

Does the thought of selling make your palms sweaty? Do you get that pit in your stomach? There is a way to ask for the sale even if you are a horrible salesperson. You can close the deal without having to be pushy or use a hard close.

Zig Ziglarhad many great quotes. One of my favorites is, “You can have anything you want in life just as long as you help enough other people get what they want in life.” How true that is.

It is also the key to great sales.

 

GIVE

As you turn your information into engaging entertainment with your podcast, keep in mind that helping people is part of the foundation of a strong relationship. If you take, take, take, your relationship won’t last long. If you are there to give and help, you will develop friends for life.

Ziglar is a great example of helping people. His speeches always offer great tips to improve your life, sales or attitude. The organization bearing his name also has great books, CDs and other products they sell. However, most of Zig’s time was spent on helping others. There is a lot of free Ziglar information available. He consistently helped others and eventually the sales come.

I have learned a lot about sales through my 30 years in radio. Our stations have created my great campaigns for clients.

The successful sales process at our radio stations always began with a customer needs analysis. Rather than simply selling them commercials, we set out to determine their goals. Then, we would create a campaign to help them succeed.

Many clients would come to us to help market their business. When we would ask what they hoped to accomplish, they would say things like “make more sales” or “get more people in the door”.

We would then dive deeper to really determine the client’s pain and how we could best help them overcome those issues.

It wasn’t about selling commercials. It was about helping our clients achieve their goals.

 

THE SALE

There are four essential steps present and necessary in every sale. The four steps must be followed in order for the sale of everything. If one step is skipped, it will derail the entire sales process.

The four steps in the sales process are qualify, rapport, educate and close.

Your podcast is always selling something. It could simply be your ideas. You could also be selling an actual product. You are most likely selling your listener the idea of listening again. Be sure you follow the four steps.

 

QUALIFY

First, you qualify your prospect. Are you right for them and are they right for you? Accept that your show, product and service will not be perfect for everyone. However, it will just right for a few.

The qualification step will probably occur in the description of your show. If your show is about gardening, you probably will have a difficult time attracting someone not interested in gardening. They are not a qualified “buyer”.

 

RAPPORT

The “rapport” step is where you are building the trust. You are creating a relationship where your listener truly believes you are there to help them.

When you get your listener to tune into the show, you begin building rapport from the start. Help your audience where you can.

 

EDUCATE

Next, educate your listener. Explain what problems are solved by your “product”. Explain the importance of solving those problems. Explain how you have succeeded in that process in the past. Describe the transformation. Help your listener solve their problems.

Most podcasters have very little issue with the first three steps. The heartburn comes with step number four … closing the deal.

How do you ask for the sale without feeling like a slimy salesperson? How can you close the deal without the pressure of the hard sell and the discomfort that comes along with it.

 

THE CLOSE

If you have completed the first three steps successfully, the close should be easy. It should handle itself.

If you have truly helped your prospect to this point and clearly explained the steps to the transformation, your prospect should be ready to buy.

The first three steps have found a qualified “buyer”, developed a relationship with that individual, and explained to your listener how you can help them. If the close is difficult, you have probably made a shortcut through one of the steps. Make sure each step is fully executed.

 

SELLING

Marketer Joe Polishsaid great marketing gets people properly positioned, so they are pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you (or act on your call-to-action). Great marketing therefore makes selling easy and unnecessarily.

If you have truly engaged your listener and created that strong relationship we’ve been discussing, the selling should take care of itself.

Selling becomes difficult when you are trying to get your listener interested. Selling before your listener is motivated is a challenge. Trying to sell to a listener that isn’t qualified is hard work. If your listener isn’t predisposed to taking action, you will need to sell hard.

When you have taken the time to build the relationship, your listener will be pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. They will be ready to buy.

Selling, in terms of convincing your listener to buy, will be unnecessary. Your marketing and engaging relationship will have them ready for your call-to-action.

When I have a FREE podcast strategy call with a podcaster, we talk about their goals. We also talk about the pain and struggles they have encountered attempting to reach those goals.

Once we have determined the destination and figured out where they pain is, we then develop a plan to reach those goals. I have showed them the transformation. They can envision what is possible.

If I feel I can help them achieve those goals, meaning I have qualified them as a potential client, I simply ask, “Would you like some help making it happen?”

If I have built rapport with them and educated them during the call, they will feel I am the right person to help them reach their goals. If I failed in some point along that path, they will tell me no.

Regardless of whether you use me or not, it is my commitment to help 1,000 podcasters this year learn to leverage their podcast. It has been my experience through my 30 years in radio that your content is much more powerful when it is relationship-based. During our 30-minute call, I hope to teach you a few ways to reach your goals.

 

HELP FOR YOU

I want to help 1,000 podcasters reach their goals. These FREE podcast strategy sessions are part of that journey.

When you seek to serve first, selling becomes much easier. It literally takes care of itself. Give it a try.

 

If you would like a FREE podcast strategy session, get the details at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s see what we can do.

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

Real Podcast Business Results With James & Amy Hebdon – Episode 216

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Real Podcast Business Results With James & Amy Hebdon – Episode 216

Coaching
James and Amy Hebdon of Paid Search Magic

Have you ever dreamed of turning your podcast into a business? It sounds so easy when the gurus talk about it. They all say, “Build an audience and sell them something.” The “what” is easy. It is the “how” that gets a bit more difficult when creating a podcast business.

A mentor can help you get where you want to go.

Can I share the story of Amy and James Hebdon with you?

 

THE PAID SEARCH MAGIC PODCAST

The Hebdons are a married couple who host the Paid Search Magic Podcastand publish articles to help businesses grow in every aspect of pay-per-click. Their podcast has been helpful with building their authority in their space.

Amy and James run a boutique agency called Paid Search Magic. They offer services for profitable businesses to improve their pay-per-click performance. The agency also helps digital marketers and startups get the training and support they need to take paid search to the next level. The couple manage paid search for clients and teach people to do paid search for clients through their coaching.

You see coaches everywhere. Life coaches. Career coaches. Sport coaches. Birthing coaches. Speaker coaches. Executive coaches. It seems coaching is a big part of the world today. Why is that?

Coachingis so prevalent in our society, because coaching works. Coaching gets results. Communication is improved through coaching. Most importantly, coaching works, because the goals of your coach are your goals. Coaching helps you face difficult truths, learn how to make powerful change and maximize your potential.

The best speakers, the best executives and the best athletes all have coaches. Coaching helps the best become the best and stay at the top. Coaching is a powerful, secret weapon of those at the top of their game.

Not only are Amy and James Hebdon coaches, they also use coaches in their business. They have been using me as the coach for their podcast.

 

BUILDING AUTHORITY

Through our work together, we have really been able to define who their target listener is. This has allowed Amy and James to speak directly to those people. This helps build their authority.

The Hebdons want to grow the podcast and use it to get more coaching clients. Therefore, building authority and credibility to let people get to know, like and trust them was our focus.

When they began the podcast, Amy was doing a solo show. After the show took a break and then relaunched, James joined. The couple realized they didn’t know how to really create a podcast. There was a lot of conflict between the two with regard to content, direction and process. They needed to figure out how to work cohesively with multiple viewpoints.

There was a bit of fear when Amy originally launched the show. There was so much to learn. Where should she start. She worked to figure it out along the way. Unfortunately, that meant inconsistency. She would post daily at times and every other week at other times. After two years, they only had 33 episodes published. The couple needed to streamline their process.

The material being taught on the show by Amy and James is very hard to learn without a visual component. They needed to find a way to make the content more accessible.

As James says, “We didn’t know what we didn’t know.”

Do you ever find yourself in that position? Have you ever found yourself asking, “Where do I even start?”

That is what I mean about all of the good intentions by the gurus. Telling your what to do is easy. Telling you how to do it is more difficult.

 

THE INTERVIEW

I sat down with Amy and James to discuss their podcast and what they have learned over the past few months as we have been working together.

If you would like to get a free podcast strategy session to determine your next steps toward your “what to do”, head to PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

Enjoy the interview with James & Amy Hebdon from the Paid Search Magic Podcast.

 

Do you need help with your podcast business? 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

6 Reasons Podcasts Don’t Make Money – Episode 215

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6 Reasons Podcasts Don’t Make Money – Episode 215

Make money with your podcast
Review these 6 areas of your show

You have tried to make money with your podcast, but nothing seems to be working. You have searched the internet and see many with the same question. Many people ask, but few have any real concrete answers.

The gurus make it sound so easy. Launch a podcast, create a course, sell it to your audience and vacation in the Bahamas while working your four-hour workweek. What else could there be?

There are a few reasons you are not making money with your podcast. Your audience size probably isn’t one of those reasons.

 

You don’t have anything to sell

When podcasters contact me for coaching, our first step is a FREE podcast strategy session. During that call, we define goals and the strategy to achieve those goals.

Podcasters will tell me they want to drive engagement and increase downloads. It could be they want to improve their interviewing skills. I might hear, “How can I streamline my workflow?”

Though the questions vary, one seems to consistently come up. “How can I make money with my podcast?” I ask, “What are you selling?”

I will usually get, “Well, I thought about sponsorships. I am working on building a course. I have a book in the works.”

“Can your listeners currently give you money for anything?”

The conversation is quiet. And there lies the problem.

If you are not making money with your podcast, it may be because you have nothing to sell. Yes, a donation button might get you a few nice gestures. It usually won’t pay the bills longterm.

Find one thing you can create that will really serve your ideal listener. This could be coaching, a course, a workshop, or something else that will add value. Ask your audience what they need. Then, focus on one thing until you sell it.

Don’t make it too complicated. Test the idea until is sells. Then, ramp up. Either way, make it valuable and available as soon as you can.

 

You are not asking for the sale

“Yeah, Erik. I have a course for sale. Nobody is buying it.”

Have you told anyone about it?

One of my buddies has a great course available. I had known him for six months before I knew anything about it.

One day, I asked him why he doesn’t talk about it on the show. He told me, “It has been available for over a year. Everyone knows about it already. I don’t want my listeners to think I am only here to sell them stuff.”

I get it that you don’t want to be high pressure sales. However, if they don’t know you have something for sale, how do you expect them to buy it?

About six months ago, I sent out a survey. One of the questions was, “Why haven’t you taken advantage of my free Podcast Strategy Session?” One respondent said, “I didn’t know it existed.”

Now, I reference my free coaching session in nearly every show. It is incorporated into my content. But there will always be someone who doesn’t know it is available.

If you want to make money with your podcast, you need to ask for the sale.

 

You don’t seek to help first

You may not be making money with your podcast, because you are not seeking to help your audience before you try to sell them.

If you are concerned about talking about your product or service too much, make sure you are actually serving your listener. Have a good heart. Help your listeners succeed.

When you are offering something of value to your listener that will truly help them overcome some pain or benefit in some way, the guilt of selling should go away. It transforms from selling to helping. Your listener is simply giving you the value of money for the value of your solution.

Let’s say your car won’t start. You take it to the mechanic to fix it. He puts a new starter in it for a reasonable price. Do you feel like he put the hard sell on you to get you to buy a new starter? No. He fixed your car and solved your transportation problem.

Approach your show with the heart of a teacher. Help your listeners win. When your product or service is a tool to facilitate that success, you won’t come across as the hard sell. You will be just the help they are looking for.

 

Haven’t uncovered the true pain

It is much easier to “not sell” when you are solving a pain rather than offering a benefit. There is a saying that “more people buy aspirin than vitamins.” People are more willing to pay to get out of pain than experience a pleasure.

When you are solving that pain, you need to ensure you have uncovered the true pain.

For instance, someone might say they would like to learn how to start a business. If you explore their goals, you might discover she is really looking for independence from the 9-to-5 grind in order to have more control of her life.

A little more examination might reveal that she has two kids and would really like the time to homeschool them. A business that allows her to control her time would help her spend time with her kids.

How to start a business looks like the pain on the surface. Spending more time with her children is really the true pain. By knowing this, you can better frame your content, products and services. You may sell the same thing while the marketing of the thing changes to fit the pain.

 

Haven’t explained the benefit and transformation

You may not be making money with your podcast, because your listeners don’t want or value what you are selling.

This doesn’t mean what you sell is not good. It means that listeners don’t fully understand the benefit of your stuff or the transformation they will experience by using your product or service.

People do not buy products and services. They buy what the products and services can do for them. They are not buying the flour, sugar and frosting. They are buying the joy of eating the cake and celebrating their event.

People are not buying your service. They are buying the transformation they will experience. A person does not buy the privilege of attending a gym. They buy the weight loss transformation they will experience.

Where do you take your listeners? Make sure you can clearly explain it to them.

 

You haven’t established trust

Once you have explained the transformation, be sure your listeners believe you. A reason you may not be making money with your podcast is the lack of trust.

People do business with those they know, like and trust. Be consistent in delivering on your promises over time to build trust with your listeners.

This will not be an overnight process. It will take time. Serve them well every chance you get. Eventually, you will earn their trust. They will believe you can help them. They will get to the point of doing business with you.

 

If you cannot figure out why you are not making money with your podcast, check these six areas. Make sure you actually have something to sell. Ask for the sale. Always seek to serve first. Uncover the true pain. Be sure you are clearly explaining the transformation. Finally, work to establish trust over time.

 

If you would like my help defining your goals and determining the area where your revenue plan is struggling, let’s chat. Sign up for my FREE podcast strategy session at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. Let’s see what we can do.

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

The Top 3 Episodes of 2018 – Episode 213

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The Top 3 Episodes of 2018 – Episode 213

Most popular episodes
The 3 most downloaded episodes of 2018

As we bring 2018 to a close, let’s look back over the year at the 3 Podcast Talent Coach top episodes that received the most downloads this year.

 

#3 – INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

The number 3 episode of 2018 was based on my list of 17 of the Most Powerful Interview Questions Ever. This episode showed you how to use these quesstions to create unique content and make your podcast stand out from the crowd.

 

Episode 189 – 7 Of The Most Powerful Interview Questions Ever

How do you make your podcast unique when every interview asks the same questions and sounds the same? Use storytelling.

Storytelling can transform your podcast.

People do business with those they know, like and trust. Stories let people get to know you through the things you reveal in your stories. Listeners learn what you like, value and believe. Your stories help develop that likability and trust.

Stories help you connect, motivate and inspire.

They do the same for your guests. If you would like to get unique answers from your guests and create powerful podcast interviews, download my 17 Ultimate Podcast Interview questions. They are free for you at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

There are a few questions you should avoid.

“Tell me a little bit about yourself.” This questions is a time waster. It also tells the audience and your guest you didn’t do your homework. You should know your guest and provide the important background information necessary for this episode.

“Did you enjoy (blank)?” Yes/no questions receive yes/no answers. Find ways to turn yes/no questions into open-ended questions.

“Was it A or B?” Questions that require one word answers do the same as yes/no questions. There is nowhere for the guest to go with the answer.

Here are 7 of the Most Powerful Interview Questions ever from that list. Use these to generate fantastic stories.

 

This process was developed over my 30 years of radio. It also complimented my free download of my 17 of the Most Powerful Interview Questions Ever. They are free for you at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Whether you are brand new to podcasting or have been creating podcast interviews for years, this worksheet will help you develop more powerful podcast interviews.

You will learn how to create amazing content using powerful podcast interviews.

This isn’t just theory. I have been in radio for 30 years and teaching broadcasters and podcasters for over 20 years. I have interviewed some of the biggest artists in music, including Lady Gaga, Blake Shelton, Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Eric Church, Mariah Carey, the Samples, Big & Rich, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Dave Mustane of Megadeth, Nelly and others.

Stations I have programmed have dominated the market. My own show has been top of the ratings for years straight. Podcasters I have coached have used my training to drive their shows to new heights.

Grab the list of questions a get rolling this week.

 

#2 – BEHIND THE SCENES

The second most downloaded episode this year was Behind The Scenes Of A Podcast Coaching Session – Episode 204.

Dave Jackson and I do a show together called The Podcast Review Show. We invite podcasters on the show to have their content reviewed. It is getting two podcast coaches for less than the price of one. We do this in order to create great content and help a ton of podcasters.

I also coach podcasters one-on-one. In 2019, my goal is to help 1,000 podcasters. This will happen through coaching, speaking and interviews.

Tony Muckleroy of the Jeep Talk Show podcastwas a guest on the Podcast Review Show with Dave and me. Then, Tony worked with me to coach him on his show. He used that coaching session as an episode of Jeep Talk Show. I also used the coaching session for episode 204. It came in at number two in 2018.

 

Behind The Scenes Of A Podcast Coaching Session – Episode 204

A few months back, Dave Jackson and I reviewed the Jeep Talk Showon the Podcast Review Show. Tony Muckleroy, one of the hosts of the show, reached out to me for a follow up review. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of that coaching session to show you how things work. It is my hope there are a few things in this session that might help you improve your show.

Tony hosts the Jeep Talk Show with his two co-hosts Josh and Tammy. They started the podcast about 8 years ago.

The primary reason Tony reached out for coaching is audience growth. Their show has plateaued around 1,700 downloads a month. Tony is hoping to discover how they might increase their audience and grow the show.

During our coaching session, Tony and I discuss the points Dave Jackson and I made on the Podcast Review Show, the progress the hosts have made toward those points and where they might go from here.

Jeep Talk Show has some passionate followers. The team posted our coaching session as an episode of their podcast. It is Tony’s hope that sharing the session with his audience might get listeners to provide the show with additional feedback.

This episode features the coaching session with Tony and his show.

If you would like details on a free strategy session with me just like this one, get the details at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. I’d love to help you.

 

I want to help 1,000 podcasters in 2019. Will you be one of them? Let’s create a strategy and plan for you in 2019. Take me up on your FREE podcast strategy session. Get the details at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

 

#1 – MONEY MAKING TOOLS

The episode with the most downloads covers my money making tools. This is really no surprise to me. “How to make money” is what most podcasters come to me seeking.

This episode was created to show you what tools I use to create my podcast and business. The info is still all good. However, the affiliate links are dead due to issues with Amazon. You can still find the tools. It will just take a bit of searching. I still use all of it.

 

My Tools To Make Money With My Podcast – Episode 184

(These tools can be found on the resource page atPodcastTalentCoach.com. Most links on that page are affiliate links. I may receive a variable commission for any purchase made using those links.)

How do I make money with my podcast? I get asked this quite a bit. Many podcasters want to make money to at least pay for the expense of podcasting.

I thought you could get some great help if we reviewed the tools I use with my podcasting and in my business. This includes the tools I use to create my podcast, website and newsletter. We will also review the resources I use to learn, create products and generate revenue.

This list includes affiliate links. Please understand I would never recommend anything I didn’t already use and love. I have been using most of these resources for years. That is why I feel confident recommending them to you. You can find affiliate links to and discounts for most of these in the resource section online at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

I want to give you a quick overview of my gear. Then, we will get into making money with your show.

If you would like some great, FREE tools to get your revenue started, I have an amazing, FREE online training course for you online at PodcastTalentCoach.com. Plus, you get two of my best two of my best resource guides, “16 ways to make money with a free podcast” and “75 ways to drive engagement with your podcast“. Get them now online at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

 

If you have any questions about any of the tools in this episode, shoot me an e-mail. I’ll help you through it.

Before you seek to make money, you need a strategy. You need a plan. You need to build an audience. Then, you can leverage the attention.

 

Again, I want to help 1,000 podcasters in 2019. Let’s create a strategy and plan for you in 2019. Take me up on your FREE podcast strategy session. Get the details at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

 

Thanks for the great support in 2018. I’m looking forward to helping you even more in 2019 by transforming your information into entertainment. It is the beginning of turning your podcast into powerful, profitable relationships.

Catch up with these 3 episodes. These are the 3 top episodes with the most downloads of 2018.

Next week, we are digging in with one of my coaching clients to see how he landed on Apple’s list of Best Podcasts of 2018.

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

Your Key To Success In The Next 12 Months – Episode 206

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Your Key To Success In The Next 12 Months – Episode 206

Your Key To Success In The Next Twelve Months
Copyright : Przemyslaw Koch

What does success look like for you over the next 12 months? You hear so much about setting goals. How specific have you made your goals to ensure success in the next year?

Now, this episode isn’t all about setting goals. We are not going to talk about SMART goalsand the five goal-setting steps. You know your goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time bound. You know you need to write them down and create an action plan. You can find that information anywhere.

What I want to talk about today is putting your goals in the right place to ensure success. What are the specific actions you can take that will get you to your goals?

If you lean the ladder against the wrong wall, it doesn’t matter how high you climb. Your goals and action plans need to be focused on the right areas. Only then can we create an effective action plan for success.

I was in a coaching session with my business coach the other day. We were talking about where I want the business to go. We were discussing my goals for the next year.

The goals I had set were centered around dollar goals for my business. I know where I want the business to be in order to be happy with the results.

My coached asked how I planned to get there. What it would take to hit the goals in terms of coaching clients and products sold?

He wanted me to break it down in terms of the number of new clients I would need to find, how many products I would need to sell and what I would need to create.

That’s when it hit me. I didn’t have those numbers.

 

YOUR PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

I hadn’t translated my financial goals into number of business transactions that would need to happen to find success. I couldn’t possibly begin taking steps toward my financial goals without defining those steps.

We worked together to put the money on paper in terms of business action steps and clients. We defined the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)that help me land a new client. We determined how many free strategy sessions I need to conduct to find the ideal clients that get the most benefit from my coaching.

Ideal clients are key. Not every podcaster is the right fit for my coaching. There are specific podcasters that can truly use my coaching to really improve their podcast and business.

James and Amy Hebdon at Paid Search Magicare a perfect example of podcasters that benefit greatly from my coaching. They have a fantastic business helping their clients with paid search. They use their podcast to attract new clients and build their authority in the space.

On the other side, there are many podcasters I help with my free strategy session that are not a great fit for my coaching program. Those podcasters get a great deal of benefit from the session by defining their strategy and improving their show. Their show simply isn’t at the level where it can support coaching.

It is just fine that these podcasters aren’t ready. They will eventually be in a place where they are ready. We just work together to figure out where they are today.

 

YOUR COACH

That is the benefit of having a coach or accountability partner. An outside perspective can ask the questions you don’t see, because you are too close to the situation.

If you would like to see where you are, check out my free strategy session online at PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching. You can get the details and schedule your free session right there.

You need to take time this week to not only set your goals, but truly define the areas that will really move the needle for you. Define the Key Performance Indicators that will move your podcast and business toward your goals for success.

 

THE NEXT STEPS

Looking back at my process, the most productive week I ever had occurred when I was specific about the very next steps I needed to take. Then I put them in writing.

That week, I accomplished more than I had in the previous 2 months. It was all because I determined what actions would make a difference, I wrote them down, and then did the very next thing on the list. Focus.

I also shared those goals with my mastermind, which helped tremendously.

Jeff is one of my clients right now. He wants to get his show on the radio. I love working with Jeff. He is incredibly creative and a great sales guy. If I had him take the DISC personality profile, he would probably be a high “i” … influence, persuading others, openness and relationships.

In working with Jeff, he sometimes suffers from shiny-object syndrome. He loves the “next” exciting thing. He is writing a book. He is creating his show. He is trying to get on the radio. He wants to create a course. He wants more public speaking opportunities.

I love multiple streams of income. We just need to build one at a time. Jeff needs to get one up and running, and THEN get to the next one.

My whole goal working with him is getting Jeff to focus on the next task that needs to be done. We then check up on progress to ensure he hits the deadlines we set. Jeff benefits most when I hold him accountable. We are close to landing a few big clients for him and getting his radio show up and running.

Do you know what your next steps need to be? Start by working backwards from your vision of success.

 

FIVE YEAR GOALS

Where do you want to be in five years? Define your long-term goals first.

Use the SMARTmethod to get clear. You might consider creating realistic goals along with some stretch goals.

Five years is a long time. You can get a lot done in 1,825 days.

How much do you want to be earning? What do you want your work life to look like? What does your family look like? How does your health look? Where are you in your spiritual walk?

 

GOALS NEXT YEAR

Next, where do you want to be next year? Be clear on the goals and lay in some stretch goals.

If you want to make $24k over the next year, $2,000 a month could be realistic. Maybe $8,000 a month is possible if a few key things happen. That would take you to $100k next year. That would be a nice stretch goal.

Just like the saying says, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” It has been credited to Norman Vincent Peale. I’ve heard the great Les Brown say it. Regardless of where it originated, there is truth in it.

Shoot for your stretch goal. You may just outperform your realistic number.

 

QUARTERLY GOALS

Now, let’s break the yearly goal into four parts. What do you need to accomplish in each quarter of the next 12 months to get you to your yearly goal?

You eat an elephant one bite at a time. Break your yearly goal into quarterly milestones. Be clear and specific. “Get more clients” is not a goal. How many do you need? If you need 24 clients over the year, can you land 6 per quarter?

As you break your goal into smaller steps, you will see if your goals are feasible with the tools and time you currently have. You may find that you need to add help or give up something in order to make the goals happen.

 

WEEKLY GOALS

Next, we take the quarterly goals and break those into week-by-week goals. You have 13 weeks in the quarter. What needs to happen every week to make the goals a reality?

 

THIS WEEK

Now that you have your weekly goals, what are the things that need to be completed this week? Create the task list.

 

TODAY

Take a look at this week. What are your objectives today?

 

REVIEW

Review each step of the way. Are your goals realistic? Can you really put in that much time everyday, every week and every month to make your goals happen?

Build in a little time to catch up. You do not want falling behind to be an excuse to give up. Give yourself a “catch up” day every now and then.

 

CONSISTENT ACTION

Finally, stick with it. The only way you will achieve success and realize your goals is with consistent action. Take steps forward every day. Little by little, you will eat that elephant.

To help you take those steps, find an accountability partner. Maybe join a mastermind. Hire a coach. Enlist a partner. Whatever it takes to keep you moving forward toward your goals.

Setting goals and writing them down won’t be enough. Focused action on the next step is the key to making your goals a reality. Stay accountable to action.

I’d love to help you find success. Check out my Free Strategy Sessionwhere you and I will sit down for 30 minutes to lay out an action plan for your show and business. Get the details at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching.

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

Can You Make Money With Your Podcast? – Episode 199

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Can You Make Money With Your Podcast? – Episode 199

Make Money With Your Podcast
Copyright : dolgachov

Are you like most podcasters who contact me for help? Are you trying to make money with your podcast?

When podcasters reach out to me for my complimentary podcast review and strategy session, I ask them a few questions to see where I might be able to help most. One of those questions asks about the biggest struggle they are facing.

I recently went through all of the questionnaires looking for commonalities. The struggle mentioned most often had something to do with making money with their podcast.

WHAT ARE YOU SELLING?

It reminds me of listening to a presentation by Brendon Burchard. He was describing a session at his Experts Academy. One of the speakers asked the audience, “How many of you have a website?” He then asked how many wanted to make money with that website. Finally, he asked, “How many of you have something to sell?” The room went quiet.

That is the typical problem with podcasts. People want to make money with their podcast, but few have anything to sell.

You can download 6 idea starters to make money with your show here:

DOWNLOAD: 6 MONEY-MAKING IDEAS FOR YOUR PODCAST

BIGGER IDEAS

First, you need to understand that sponsorships and ads within your show will not be your answer.

In order to make serious money with sponsorships, you need a pretty sizable audience. Most podcasters are not in this stratosphere.

You may not want to earn a living with your podcast. Maybe you simply want to cover the costs of podcasting – that break even point.

Whether you want to turn your show into your career or simply want to cover the costs, these ideas can help get you there.

Let’s look at the facts. You have a podcast that is free to listeners. How can we take something that is free to consume and convert that into some revenue?

LEVERAGE ATTENTION

There are many ways to take the attention you are generating and leveraging that attention to make money. The first step is the gain the attention.

You don’t need to have hundreds of thousands of listeners. You simply need to have passionate listeners that want more of what you share.

Are you teaching your listeners? Are you providing them with tools and information they can use? Are you interviewing interesting people that share great information that might be stretched into something more?

You can use a lot of these ideas to leverage your audience.

I was on a coaching call last week with a podcaster struggling with making money. She has a podcast where she talk about healthy diets and how people can eat better. She loves teaching, talking in front of people and giving presentations.

We talked a lot about the people who reach out to her for advice. Many of these people had similar questions and similar struggles.

After we peeled the onion and discovered a few different layers, we determined she could start small group coaching to generate a few hundred dollars a month.

When people think of coaching, they think of some intricate system to market the program, bill the participants, and conduct the training.

I suggested she send an e-mail to the few hundred people on her list. If she could find 5 people willing to pay her $97 per month for group coaching, she could earn $485 per month.

In the e-mail, she could simply say, “I am starting a small group that I will coach each week providing A, B and C. We will get on a call each week to discuss it, answer questions and help with struggles. Participation will be limited to 5 people and cost $97 per month. If you are interested, reply to this e-mail.”

When the people respond, have them send you $97 via PayPal. Then, set up a private group call on Google Hangouts, Zoom or the free platform of your choice.

At the end of the month, you ask, “Who want to go again?” Sign them up and recruit more with your e-mail list.

You only need 5 people and you’re making money each month.

 

BUSINESS MODELS

That is just one example of using a model called “Give away products, sell services”. She is giving away recipes, spreadsheet tools and other .pdfs. Then, she sells her services.

1. Podcast example: Giveaway lead magnets, sell individual coaching

2. Podcast example: Giveaway podcast info, sell webinars and seminars

 

Give away services, sell products

3. Podcast example: Your podcast explains how to set up and use products and then sells those products online

4. Podcast example: Your podcast provides content and information, sell books, CDs and DVDs about that information

 

GET MORE

If you want the list of 6 money-making models, download the list here.

DOWNLOAD: 6 MONEY-MAKING IDEAS FOR YOUR PODCAST

Do you have a few hundred people listening to your show? Have you started gathering their e-mail addresses using an e-mail service?

Let’s get started. If you want to make money with your podcast, you must have something to sell.

Money doesn’t fall off of the money tree. You need to leverage your audience and give them an opportunity to get even more value from you.

 

Would you like me to help you create some ideas? You can get a “no obligation” strategy session with me. Head over to PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching for the details. I would love to see what we can do.

PodcastTalentCoach.com/coachingis where you will find the info. It is a free 30-minute call with me to review your process and help you develop a plan to overcome your struggles. I’d love to chat. Check it out right now.

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

The Difference Between A Pitch And Service With True Help – Episode 190

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The Difference Between A Pitch And Service With True Help – Episode 190

Copyright: logoboom / 123RF Stock Photo

Making money with your podcast doesn’t need to be seen as a bad thing. You shouldn’t feel guilty trying to generate revenue with your podcasting efforts. If you are offering something of value for your listeners while serving them well, selling something of greater value should be the next logical progression.

 

[Registration for The Powerful Podcast Interview Workshop is now open, but closes Sunday night (4/15/18). Enrollment is limited to 24 attendees. Learn more HERE.]

 

MAKING MONEY

The key to making money with your podcast is serving. You must serve your listener well first and foremost before you can every offer to sell.

If you haven’t built trust with your audience, any offer will simply be seen as a pitch. If I don’t know you, how do I know you have my best interest at heart with this product or service?

A sales pitch is defined as a talk or way of talking that is intended to persuade you to buy something.

Service is defined as the help provided to a customer by someone. It could also be the work done or help provided, especially for the public, the person or an organization.

Service doesn’t say anything about being free.

The difference is persuasion. If I have to convince you to buy something, I am making a sales pitch. If I am offering something you want and need that will help you, I’m offering service.

Serve first, many times over. Then and only then can you effectively sell.

Shows like the “Dave Ramsey Show”, “48 Days To The Work You Love” and “The Audacity To Podcast” are all designed to help their listeners first. Sure, they all have products to sell as the end result. However, they never begin with their product. The discussions on these shows always begin with the listener’s needs in mind first.

 

WHY IS SELLING BAD?

Why is it bad to sell? Why must podcasting be only altruistic? If I have something that might help you solve your problems, why would it be wrong to recommend it to you while making a few dollars at the same time?

If you loved mowing grass, would it be right to expect you to mow my grass for free? You love to do it. Why should I pay you? If it is acceptable to charge you for mowing your yard, why isn’t acceptable to earn some money for helping you with your business?

As you prepare for your show, find great ways to help.

 

SELLING IS EASY, RIGHT?

I was listening to an interview with Founder and President of Piranha Marketing, Inc. Joe Polish. During that interview, Joe said great marketing makes selling easy and unnecessary.

Marketing is simply the process of providing your audience useful information.

Marketing is defined as the business activity that involves finding out what customers want, using that information to design products and services, and selling them effectively.

The process of marketing, by definition, is three steps. Find out what your customers want. Design products and services for that audience. Then, sell them effectively.

How do you find out what your customers want? You create a relationship with them. You offer information they can use. You test things. You give them the “what” for free. Eventually, you can sell them the “how: after you have designed the product around those wants.

Polish’s statement was bold. As he went on to explain himself, Polish made perfect sense. In fact, his comments were very similar to the marketing and branding information we’ve been discussing with regard to your podcast.

Polish said great marketing gets people properly positioned, so they are pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. Great marketing therefore makes selling easy and unnecessarily.

Consider any long form sales letter you’ve read or watched. Or, platform presentation you have seen where the speaker gives you great information for about 75 minutes and then pitches his product for the last 15. The majority of the information in that content is information you can use.

If you choose to not buy, you have still received information you can use. You have been helped. You have been served. You are also pre-interested and pre-motivated for the product.

Toward the end of the content, the pre-qualification takes place. If you are a podcaster who does interviews, and you seek to get better, create unique conversations and be seen as a pro, then my Powerful Podcast Interviews course could be exactly what you need.

This is a pre-qualification. “If … then”.

My audience is saying to themselves, “Yeah, I want to have interviews that are different from all the other people in my niche. I want to be seen as a podcaster who belongs with the big guys. I want guests to tell me this is the best interview they’ve done. Tell me more.”

If you have used your free content to truly engage your listener and create that strong relationship we’ve been discussing, the selling should take care of itself. Making money with your podcast should take care of itself.

Selling becomes difficult when you are trying to get your listener interested without the relationship. Selling before your listener is motivated is a challenge. Trying to sell to a listener that isn’t qualified is hard work. If your listener isn’t predisposed to taking action, you will need to sell hard.

When you have taken the time to build the relationship, your listener will be pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. They will be ready to buy. Selling, in terms of convincing your listener to buy, will be unnecessary. Your marketing and engaging relationship will have them ready for your call-to-action.

The key to making money with your podcast is serving first and serving well.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

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

My Tools To Make Money With My Podcast – Episode 184

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My Tools To Make Money With My Podcast – Episode 184

Make Money With Your Podcast
Copyright: szefei / 123RF Stock Photo

How do I make money with my podcast? I get asked this quite a bit. Many podcasters want to make money to at least pay for the expense of podcasting.

I thought you could get some great help if we reviewed the tools I use with my podcasting and in my business. This includes the tools I use to create my podcast, website and newsletter. We will also review the resources I use to learn, create products and generate revenue.

This list includes affiliate links. Please understand I would never recommend anything I didn’t already use and love. I have been using most of these resources for years. That is why I feel confident recommending them to you. You can find affiliate links to and discounts for most of these in the resource section online at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

I want to give you a quick overview of my gear. Then, we will get into making money with your show.

If you would like some great, FREE tools to get your revenue started, I have an amazing, FREE online training course for you online at PodcastTalentCoach.com. Plus, you get two of my best two of my best resource guides, “16 ways to make money with a free podcast” and “75 ways to drive engagement with your podcast”. Get them now online here:

FREE REVENUE GENERATING TOOLS

 

COACHING RESOURCE

This overall list doesn’t include much technical information, such as mixers, processors and software. I leave that to Dave Jackson at the School of Podcasting. He is the tech expert that helps me. If you are looking for help setting up the studio, Dave is your guy. He leads off my resources.

 

TECHNICAL TOOLS

A few technical tools from my studio include my mic, my mac and a few web tools.

My studio mic is an ElectroVoice RE20. This runs about $450. It is a high quality mic. This mic is probably much more than a beginning podcaster needs. However, if you are serious about podcasting, this is a great mic.

My backup mic is an Audio-Technica ATR-2100. It s a great USB mic for about $60.

For editing, I use Adobe Audition in the studio. I will occasionally use Garage Band for quick projects or when I’m traveling. Dave Jackson recently turned me on to Hindenburg Journalist. I am considering that option. Audacity is also a great tool. Daniel J. Lewis is very knowledgeable with this platform if you are looking for input.

I use a Mac Book Pro 13″ for the flexibility. It cost me $1,200.

My mp3s are tagged with ID3 Editor from PA Software. The price tag was $15.

I host my audio with Libsyn. It runs $20/month.

My URLs were purchased through GoDaddy. The price really depends on the URL. You can usually find a deal. After the initial deal, I pay about $45/year.

I have a website on Homestead and one on Host Gator with WordPress. Homestead is a stand alone site builder. Host Gator just hosts my WordPress site. Homestead is $20/month. HostGator is $135/year, just over $11/month. They each have various plans. WordPress is free.

On my website, I use Paypal for my transactions. Most of my providers accept it. Plus, they have a card option for my customers. I like this because most of my customers are familiar with it.

Aweber is my newsletter provider. The subscription is $19/month at the time of this writing. I looked at Mail Chimp. Both are very similar services if you have a list under 5,000.

Canva.com is a decent resource for creating graphics. I use it primarily as an editing tool. They have a decent photo library. Most photos are about $1/photo. However, most of my photos come from 123RF.com. I find those photos to be a little better than the Canva photos.

My workbook was self-published through Create Space, an Amazon company. You simply upload a .pdf. It is fairly simple to use. Not very expensive. They also sell the workbook through Amazon and converted it to Kindle. That made things super easy for me.

I am in the process of creating a membership portal through WishList Member. It was $297 when I purchased it. They have solid training videos. I am not yet complete with this one.

 

LEARNING TOOLS

Dan Miller and 48Days.com is where it all started. He has great tools to help you find your passion and the work you love.

Internet Business Mastery is a great podcast and course that has helped me refine my business focus. Jeremy & Jason have been there and done it.

Audible.com has turned my car into a mobile classroom. I am usually listening to a couple books a month on top of the podcasts. You can get a free book when you use my affiliate link on the resources page.

I cannot say enough about Dave Jackson and the School of Podcasting. If you want to learn the technical nuts and bolts, check out his course, membership and training tools.

 

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Now that you have your gear set, let’s talk about making money with your show. Don’t forget to get the free training online at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

To make money with your podcast, you need something to sell. When I’m coaching clients, we review goals. Many will say, “I’d like to make money with my podcast.” When I ask, “What do you have to sell?”, they say, “Nothing.”

Nothing to sell equals no revenue. A few ads in your show will not generate enough revenue to make a difference. You need to create a product. Then, let your podcast promote that product while helping and entertaining your audience.

The best thing about a digital product is that you do the work once and then sell it over and over again.

When I was struggling to launch a product, I had no idea what my audience wanted. So many gurus say, “Figure out what your audience wants and then make it for them.”

That sounds so easy. But, how do you figure that out?

A Seed Launch is the perfect place to start.

The Seed Launch is part of Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula. The Seed Launch is one of my favorite parts of the PLF course. I’ve watched that module multiple times and learn something new each time.

I love the Seed Launch and want to share it with you. If you embrace this, you will find the product creation and launch process so much easier to understand.

Jeff teaches you exactly how to figure out what your audience wants. With the Seed Launch, your listeners tell you what they need as you create the product. It is brilliant.

Let’s walk through it.

One of the fastest and easiest ways to make money is with the Seed Launch. You start with no list or product and you get paid to create your product. Tell me that doesn’t sound great.

If you are just starting out or want to test a new idea, a Seed Launch works very well.

When you are building your online revenue stream you need to take small, incremental steps. Those small steps add up to huge results. You start building your list with your opt in. Promote that opt-in on your podcast and through your e-mail. You let that opt-in teach people about your product. Finally, you execute your product launch. These are the baby steps to revenue.

With the Seed Launch, you don’t need a huge list or a product.

This is an interactive process. The Seed Launch helps build relationships. It helps get feedback and case studies that you can use with even bigger launches. Each launch builds on the last.

Most of us are not trained teachers or trainers. We don’t instinctively know how to teach correctly or appropriately. The Seed Launch will help you refine those skills as well.

When creating your product and teaching, be careful of the Curse of Knowledge. You forgot what you didn’t know when you were staring out. You forgot what it was like to not know the basics.

You’re likely an expert in the subject matter of your product. As an expert, it is very hard to remember what it was like as a beginner. Now, you do it without thinking. Like riding a bike. If you have ever taught a child to ride a bike, you know what it is like to try to remember the basics.

The Seed Launch helps you avoid the Curse of Knowledge. It is interactive with webinars or teleseminars.

That’s what makes the Seed Launch a fantastic way to create and launch a product. Your fans tell you exactly what they don’t know and need to learn.

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

So, how does the Seed Launch work?

With the Seed Launch, you create an outline for your course. You then get a group of people to join you as you conduct a series of webinars.

Through the surveys you perform before and after each call, you’ll find out what they really want to know, where the gaps are, and what you need to revisit or teach better. They tell you exactly what you need to teach, which helps you build a product your audience wants and needs.

As you conduct the webinar series, you record all of the calls. By the end, you have a product that your audience has helped you create. It is exactly what they want, because they told you during the process. You have answered all of their questions, because they asked. The Seed Launch helps you determine the market need while avoiding the curse of knowledge.

Keep in mind, the Seed Launch is not just for beginners. If you have a business but want to launch a new product, this is a fantastic way to get started. It prevents procrastination, because you get paid and are forced to create the product.

The Seed Launch brings in money, creates a great product, and leads to new learning.

 

GET PEOPLE INTERESTED

“But I don’t have a list.” How do you get people in the webinars when you don’t have a big e-mail list?

We all started at zero. You are not alone. The best things about the Seed Launch is that you don’t need a big list. You only need a small group to help you with the creation of your product. You need enough that you can create some community and receive valuable input.

Where can we find those people?

Think about your circle of influence within your expertise. Do you have a group of people you know who might be interested in your knowledge? How about your e-mail contacts. Look at your Facebook friends and your Twitter followers. Your podcast audience is a great pool of people. These are all solid ways to get people interested in your webinar series.

If you can get 20 people on your webinar each paying your $100 to be there, you are earning $2,000 to create your product. How great is that?

When you are done with the webinar series, you have a great product to sell over and over again using the other forms of launches that Jeff teaches. You can use the Internal Launch, JV Launch and Quick Launch.

Jeff Walker teaches all of these in Product Launch Formula. He is getting ready to release PLF and kick off the training. Do you want to learn more? Do you want to see how this can propel your revenue?

The free video series Jeff releases to promote PLF is training Jeff calls the “Second Best Training” on the internet just after the PLF course itself. I own PLF and have watched his free video series three times AFTER I made the purchase. It is a great business resource.

If you want access to course, sign up at PodcastTalentCoach.com. You will learn a great deal with regard to making money with your podcast.

Just for signing up, I’ll send you two of my best resource guides, “16 ways to make money with a free podcast” and “75 ways to drive engagement with your podcast”.

Sign up online at PodcastTalentCoach.com. Hurry. Jeff’s free training begins on February 8th.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

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.

 

(These tools can be found on the resource page at PodcastTalentCoach.com. Most links on that page are affiliate links. I may receive a variable commission for any purchase made using those links.)

Podcast

9 Uncommon Books That Shaped My Podcast – Episode 120

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9 Uncommon Books That Shaped My Podcast – Episode 120

9 UNCOMMON BOOKS

We are all looking for great books and inspiration. In the online business space, the same books are often recommended and discussed. Godin. Ries & Trout. Think & Grow Rich. Those are the must-reads to be in the game.

Lesser known books can often offer powerful information and inspiration. They can also help you stand out from the crowd.

When I started in radio 25 years ago, I would read all I could about radio and business. I read the big books of the industry to keep up with the crowd. Those books were the center of many discussions at industry gatherings.

After I began programming my first radio station in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1995, I quickly realized keeping up with the crowd wasn’t going to put me ahead of the crowd.

To win, we need to think differently. To get ahead, we need to be willing to do what others will not. Find motivation and inspiration where others haven’t looked.

As you are trying to create a podcast that is unique and entertaining, one that will stand out and attract a following, take a chance on a few new ideas. Find a few nuggets that keep your heart pumping. Be a champion for a different way of thinking.

Here are few books that have inspired me. These books are not the typical fare you hear mentioned in every keynote speech. You won’t find these titles at the center of cocktail party discussions … unless you make it so.

However, these books have useful information you can put to work in your podcast and online business today. You can use these ideas to spark your creativity.

Find one book that looks exciting and inspiring to you. Give it a read. Maybe you’ll find your own wonderful spark of an idea.

THE POWER OF CULT BRANDING – HOW 9 MAGNETIC BRANDS TURNED CUSTOMERS INTO LOYAL FOLLOWERS (AND YOURS CAN, TOO!) – BJ Bueno and Matthew Ragas

This book covers the 7 rules of cult branding. As examples, the book explores the success of brands like Star Trek, Oprah Winfrey, Apple, Jimmy Buffett and Linux.

I love this book, because it explains the characteristics of brands that truly stand out from the crowd. These brands have created cult-like followings. The book gets me excited about what is possible.

PLATFORM – GET NOTICED IN A NOISY WORLD – Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt has a successful blog, podcast and membership site. In this book, he explores how to create a leverage your platform.

If you are in online business, this is a great read. I find another takeaway each time I read the book. This work is like a “how to” guide.

BEYOND POWERFUL RADIO – Valerie Gellar

Valerie dives into the characteristics of successful radio. These principles can also be applied to podcasting. From Valerie, I learned to never be boring. She says, “There is no such thing as too long, only too boring.”

THE MILLIONAIRE MESSENGER – MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND A FORTUNE SHARING YOUR ADVICE – Brendon Burchard

This book provides the steps to take to create your business. The process begins with selecting your area of expertise and ends with finding promotional partners and repeating the process.

It is an easy read. The book is the foundation of Brendon’s teachings. His work has really shaped my online approach.

MILLION DOLLAR COACHING – BUILD A WORLD-CLASS PRACTICE BY HELPIING OTHERS SUCCEED – Alan Weiss

If you coach, this book will help you build your process of finding clients.

This book was first recommended by Dan Miller of 48Days.com. Alan provides a great process to finding clients, converting leads and turning your coaching into a real business.

CIGARS, WHISKEY & WINNING – LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT – Al Kaltman

This book is full of great tips on management, overcoming obstacles, focus and competition. The lessons come from the actual events in the life of Ulysses S. Grant. It is an incredibly inspirational read.

THE KNACK – HOW STREET-SMART ENTREPRENEURS LEARN TO HANDLE WHATEVER COMES UP – Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham

This book discusses why start-ups fail, how to make sales and how to keep customers. Norm created a few businesses in New York City. He was also a contributor to INC. magazine. The lessons in the book come from his real-world experience and not simply theory.

THE E-MYTH REVISITED – WHY MOST SMALL BUSINESSES DON’T WORK AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT – Michael E. Gerber

This is probably the most popular book on this list. For the small business owner, this is a must-read. Learn to work on your business and not simply in your business. The lesson is fundamental for small business success.

CASH IN A FLASH – REAL MONEY IN NO TIME – Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen

This book shows you how to think differently to create quick cash, and then turn that cash into more cash. The lessons require action and courage. The book is creative in its storytelling.

 

I hope these books give you a bit of inspiration as you continue to grow your business. There should be at least one piece to spark some creativity for you.

Let me know what one you use. E-mail me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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

Case Study: How To Set Your Price – Episode 119

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Case Study: How To Set Your Price – Episode 119

 

Set Your Price

If you are like me, and many others in the online space, you struggle with pricing. You don’t want it to be too low and leave money on the table. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be too high and not make any sales.

So, where do you set the price?

Pricing is tricky. There is a lot of art to setting your price. Most is trial and error.

There really is no “correct” price. Price is determined by supply and demand. The price of anything is that point where a seller is willing and able to sell AND a buyer is willing and able to buy. It is a continuum.

If a seller is not making much money on a sale, she will focus on another area of business that is creating more profit. If she is a public speaker on self defense and earns $2,500 per speaking opportunity on the weekends, she is creating decent income.

If she then creates an online course teaching other women self-defense and creates sales of $3,000 per week with an hour of work online marketing the course, she may opt to do less speaking and more work online.

Her speaking gigs require her to find clients, travel to the location, give the presentation for an hour or two (depending on dinner and other presentations), possibly spend the night, travel home and miss time with her family. That is a lot to give up in order to make $2,500 when an hour a night on her schedule could earn $500 more.

People may be willing and able to buy her speaking at$2,500. However, she may not be willing to sell it for that. She may do a few speeches. It may just be less frequent. If her price increases to $5,000, the decision may be different.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE?

When I began coaching podcasters, I came to that very problem. I was in that place so many entrepreneurs find themselves. A price needed to be set for my services.

What would podcasters be willing and able to pay that I would be willing to accept?

In this episode, I take you step-by-step through the process I took to set the pricing for my podcast coaching.

So, how do you set your price.

OVERVIEW

First, ask your customers what they will buy. This could be a survey of your list. You could simply study the market and determine what they are already buying. Find a few people that could use your help and ask five or ten of them.

Next, determine what problem you are solving for your audience. People buy benefits and solutions. People don’t buy mops. They buy clean floors. Solve a problem they know they have.

Then, price on value. Know what value you have to offer. Your experience, knowledge and ability all play into your value. This will determine why it should be you rather than anyone else.

You can now set a price by looking at the market and seeing what they charge. Buy a few similar products to see what is included if necessary. You want your price to be competitive, but not necessarily the cheapest.

Your price does not need to be less than everyone else. It should probably be more expensive than others in order to stand out. Make it a great value for the price to justify being at the top end.

If you tell your audience what to do, you can charge a low price. If you teach them how to do, you are able to set a mid-level price. When you do it for the, you can be at the high end.

To be at the top of the range, go all out and solve all of their problems. Be a full-service machine. Prove the value and then add a bit more.

Most importantly, have a sales process. Know how you will attract people to your process. Define how you will demonstrate your value and benefits. Give your audience a ton of value, then the opportunity to buy.

I am not guaranteeing you will make money. I am not promising you that you will get rich, or even make a dime for that matter. I do not know you or your abilities.

I am saying this process worked for me. You may find a few helpful tips here that could help you in some way.

If you show your visitors the value of your product or service while giving them more than they expected, there is a good chance they will buy.

As in my example, there are times when the price doesn’t make sense. This is when you need to review your process.

Is the issue the price tag as it was with my program at the beginning?

Does the roadblock appear due to the structure of the product or service as it did with my 12-week program rather than weekly calls?

Are your clients looking for a product or service tailored to their needs, like my calls ever other week?

Rather than launching your product to thousands of people at one time, launch to a few. See if they are interested at that price and value. Gather some feedback. Make adjustments. Launch again to a few more people.

As you adjust your sales process, you will find a spot where clients are willing and able to buy your product at a price you are willing and able to sell. If you are not selling enough, add more value or lower the price. If you are selling too much, raise the price.

Tinker until it feels right. There is no correct price. There is only a price with which you are comfortable and that pleases your audience.

See the info page for my coaching services HERE:

PODCAST TALENT COACH COACHING

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

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

Podcast Resources – Episode 117

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Podcast Resources – Episode 117

Podcast Resources

(These tools can be found on the resource page at PodcastTalentCoach.com. Most links on that page are affiliate links. I receive a variable commission for all purchases made using those links. If you would like to support the show, please take advantage of some of these resources.)

I have recently received questions from listeners looking to launch a podcast in 2016. I thought this would be a good time to review the tools I use to in my business. This includes the tools I use to create my podcast, website and newsletter. We will also review the resources I use to learn, grow and develop.

This episode is an encore presentation of an earlier episode you may have missed. If you did catch it last time, let this serve as inspiration and a little refresher.

I have been using most of these resources for at least 24 months. Some have been used longer. A couple tools are more recent. For the most part, I have been a long-time user and have been quite happy with each of them. That is why I feel confident recommending them to you. You can find affiliate links to most of these online at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

COACHING RESOURCE

This list doesn’t include much technical information, such as mixers, processors and software. I leave that to Dave Jackson at the School of Podcasting. He is the tech expert that helps me. If you are looking for help setting up the studio, Dave is your guy. He leads off my resources.

TECHNICAL TOOLS

A few technical tools from my studio include my mic, my mac and a few web tools.

My studio mic is an ElectroVoice RE20. This runs about $450. It is a high quality mic. This mic is probably much more than a beginning podcaster needs. However, if you are serious about podcasting, this is a great mic.

My backup mic is a Audio-Technica ATR-2100. It is a quality USB mic for the money. This costs around $60.

For editing, I use Adobe Audition in the studio. I will occasionally use Garage Band for quick projects or when I’m traveling.

I use a Mac Book Pro 13” for the flexibility. I cost me $1,200.

My mp3s are tagged with ID3 Editor from PA Software. The price tag was $15.

I host my audio with Libsyn. It runs $20/month.

My URLs were purchased through GoDaddy. The price really depends on the URL. You can usually find a deal. After the initial deal, I pay about $45/year.

I have a website on Homestead and one on Host Gator with WordPress. Homestead is a stand alone site builder. Host Gator just hosts my WordPress site. Homestead is $20/month. HostGator is $135/year, just over $11/month. WordPress is free.

On my website, I use Paypal for my transactions. Most of my providers accept it. Plus, they have a card option for my customers.

I use Aweber for my newsletter. It is $196/year. Just over $16/month. I looked at Mail Chimp. Both are very similar services if you have a list under 5,000.

Canva.com is a decent resource for creating graphics. They have a decent photo library as well. Most photos are about $1/photo.

I self-published my workbook through Create Space, an Amazon company. You simply upload a .pdf. It is fairly simple to use. Not very expensive. They also sell the workbook through Amazon and converted it to Kindle.

I am in the process of creating a membership portal through WishList Member. $297. They have solid training videos. I am not yet complete with this one.

LEARNING TOOLS

Dan Miller and 48Days.com is where it all started. He has great tools to help you find your passion and the work you love.

Internet Business Mastery is a great podcast and course that have helped me refine my business focus. Jeremy & Jason have been there and done it.

Michael Hyatt has a great membership site with Platform University. It is based on his book Platform, which is a must read as you develop your podcast. There is great learning inside the community. He only opens membership a couple times a year for enrollment. I got in early on this one and haven’t looked back since.

Audible.com has turned my car into a mobile classroom. I am usually listening to a couple books a month on top of the podcasts. You can get a free book when you use my affiliate link on the resources page.

Most of all, I cannot say enough about Dave Jackson and the School of Podcasting. If you want to learn the technical nuts and bolts, check out his course, membership and training tools.

You can find affiliate links to most of these online at PodcastTalentCoach.com. I would appreciate the support if you choose to use any of these links and great products.

I would love to help you with your podcast. E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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

A Memorable Podcast Brand – Episode 088

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A Memorable Podcast Brand – Episode 088

Lionel Ritchie is a class act and every bit of a gentleman you would hope he would be.
Lionel Ritchie is a class act and every bit of a gentleman you would hope he would be.

Do they remember?

When you consider the options podcast listeners have, the importance of creating a powerful brand really becomes apparent.

I searched iTunes for podcasts about hockey. There are hundreds of hockey podcasts available. Thousands and thousands of episodes exist that deal with hockey. You can find various topics, including drills, NHL teams, coaching, fantasy hockey and many more.

How do you stand out? How do you get noticed?

Your listener needs to remember your podcast, so they can return and listen again. That is the way to build a following. It really doesn’t matter how many people listen today. What builds a strong podcast is the number of listeners that come back the next time, and the next time, and the time after that. You build your audience slowly with more listeners this week than you had last week. Get your listener to remember to return.

Using your brand to create strong relationships with your listeners is critical to the health of your podcast. If you are bland, you will get lost in the sea of average. There are over 100,000 podcasts available for consumption. Most of them are average or worse. If you refine your content, turn your information into entertainment, and transform your podcast into powerful relationships, you will easily stand out from the crowd. It is a must not only for your success, but your mere survival. Begin your brand today.

When it comes time for your audience listening again, do they remember?

Be Yourself

A great podcast is a great relationship. It is just like creating a great brand. In order to develop that solid relationship, you must be yourself. You can’t fake it.

When you try to be someone or something you are not, you will not sound authentic. Eventually, the truth will come out.

Have you ever met someone you had admired from afar, only to have them do something that didn’t fit with your image of them? Maybe it was a baseball player, or a movie star, or a politician or a musician. You met them with great expectations of an encounter with your hero only to find out they were rude and average. It turned out they were only being who they thought they should be for the public when really they were someone completely different in real life.

Everyone has their flaws. That is what makes them human. Howard Stern has flaws. He makes his flaws part of his show. Domino’s Pizza admitted the errors of their ways with their cheap, low quality pizza. They laid it out for the world to see in their marketing. Your listener will accept your flaws. They will feel like you are “one of them” when you admit your flaws upfront. Don’t be afraid to expose yourself.

When your listener discovers you are something other than the character you portray, the bond of trust will be demolished. Your relationship will be forever damaged.

Build a solid brand. Be yourself.

Unique, Vivid, Mental Images

When someone tells a story, on the radio or in a podcast, it is theater of the mind. When you hear the old time radio show describe the dim light on in the servant’s quarters, the scenery is playing out in your mind in a unique way unlike the way anyone else could envision it. No other person is imagining the clothing of the characters the exact same way you are imagining them. That mental theater is unique to you. You are listening and imagining by yourself.

Podcasts make the one-on-one approach even more important. Podcasts are often enjoyed through headphones. Your audience is truly listening by themselves. The headphones block out all other sounds and distractions. You have multiple “one person” audiences at the same time. Yet, it is still one person.

Connect with your “one person” audience by creating a great theater. The theater will be different for each listener, because they are using their individual imagination. Create a movie and put the listener in it. Make the story an individual experience for the listener. Engage the listener with vivid details and a fantastic storyline. Make them forget they are listening to a podcast. Create great theater of the mind. Create unique, vivid, mental images.

I would love to help you with your podcast. E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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

Create Results Without A Big Mailing List – Episode 081

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Create Results Without A Big Mailing List – Episode 081

Erik K. Johnson & Tim McGraw

This week I am at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee. It has been an amazing week so far. I am learning so much about audience engagement and am looking forward to sharing it with you in the coming weeks. That photo is me with the amazing Tim McGraw.

A few years ago, I saw an amazing presentation that debunked the 80/20 principle.

The 80/20 principle proposes that 80% of your results is created by 20% of your efforts. This could be 80% of sales from 20% of customers. It could also be 80% of success attributed to 20% of efforts.

This particular session focused on a study done in 2008 by Catalina Marketing that found that 80% of your results are driven by 2.5% of your efforts. Specifically, it found that 80% of sales at large companies like Coca Cola are driven by 2.5% of their customers. You can find the entire study here.

The study really proved that consumers no longer strive to be part of the crowd, but rather seek products that reflect their personal preferences, needs and lifestyle choices. Examples of companies that have built successful business models that appeal to the “me” consumer include Starbucks®, Apple®, Facebook® and Dell™.

This theory is perfect for podcasting. We can truly niche down and focus on the 2.5%. We can move the needle with a group of super fans much smaller than we once thought.

What are you doing to reach the 2.5%? How can you create results without that big mailing list?

Your podcast is a great vehicle to do just that. Let’s find the content to move your 2.5%.

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

Develop your brand by developing an emotional connection. Stories will help you create that connection by revealing things about yourself. Hype will not sustain a brand. You need to be true to who you are.

A brand is a promise. You must deliver on that promise every time.

A brand is a collection of perceptions. You must deliver those perceptions consistently.

Speak the language of your audience when you deliver on your promise and your perceptions.

USE YOUR ASSETS

Use your podcast and other digital assets to drive your 2.5% to your website with a powerful call to action. Make sure you convert the visits with a very specific call to action every time.

In order to create a powerful call to action, create your plan. What is the goal of your show? Use your goal to create content that helps your audience. Create fans with your great content. Then, move them with your call to action.

You do not need a huge audience or a big mailing list. You only need a very passionate few percent. What are you doing to motivate your 2.5%?
The Country Radio Seminar is teaching me so much. It is also an amazing way to meet new people. You can do the same. Join me at New Media Expo April 13-16 in Las Vegas. I would love to see you when I present my session on powerful storytelling.

Learn how to use stories to create that engagement and powerful call to action. Meet a ton of new people to help you move your business forward. Use my affiliate link and promo code to save $100 on your registration here.
I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

The Important Trust Ingredient – Episode 072

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THE IMPORTANT TRUST INGREDIENT – Episode 072

trust ingredient

You and I have often discussed the ingredients necessary to create powerful business relationships. People do business with those they know, like and trust.

How do we create that important trust ingredient?

In order to develop trust, we need to build consistent structure with our podcasts.

Structure is necessary to build consistency and trust with your fans. The audience expects specific elements each time they listen to your show. They expect your style to be consistent. Your audience expects the host to be the same for each show. You must deliver to that expectation to build trust with your fans. This trust is where podcast monetization begins.

TRUST DESTROYED

In a matter of one meal, lack of consistency destroyed my trust in one of my favorite restaurants.

My family and I went out to a steakhouse for a family meal. This was a restaurant that we visited frequently. In middle America, steak is a frequent meal.

At this particular restaurant, my favorite steak is their filet. It is thick and juicy. Usually medium-well done. Just a little pink in the middle. Oh, so good.

If I don’t order it medium-well, it is usually too red in the middle. I can’t handle steak that does not look like it has been cooked all the way. A little pink and I’m good.

A nice baked potato usually accompanies the steak. I’m in Heaven. Perfect meal.

On this particular night, I ordered it the way I typically order it. Nice and consistent.

That is not the way I received it.

Instead, the waitress delivers me a something that resembles a flat iron steak. Not even an inch thick. It looked more like a strip than a filet.

If you are not a steak eater, this would look more like a flat chicken breast. A filet is more akin to a square tennis ball. The two are nothing similar.

In fact, I don’t even think this particular restaurant has a strip steak on the menu.

If I were to order a strip, I would order it medium. Anything more than that gets delivered like a piece of shoe leather. Which is exactly what this was. The steak was tough and nothing like I ordered or expected.

The consistency wasn’t there. The restaurant destroyed any trust I had in them to deliver a meal like I ordered. My favorite meal was gone.

That was the last time we had dinner at that restaurant. It was probably a year ago. The trust was gone.

I LIKE IT LIKE I LIKE IT

Think of McDonald’s. When you order a Big Mac at McDonald’s, you expect it to taste exactly like the last Big Mac you purchased and ate. This is true whether you purchased your last Big Mac at the same restaurant, across town, in another state or around the world. You expect it to be consistent.

If the Big Mac you purchased today suddenly has mustard and sauerkraut on it, you would be a little hesitant to purchase another next time. You know what you want and want what you know. You want consistency.

Now, translate that consistency to your favorite television show. It may be a regular, primetime show, the evening news or a variety show. It really doesn’t matter.

All shows follow the same pattern. Your favorite show opens with some sort of theme. It’s the same opening for every show.

The show open probably introduces the main characters, actors or hosts. The open lets you know what to expect over the course of the show. If it is a sitcom, you might see a couple outtakes from previous episodes that define the character. If it is the news, you may see a tease for the stories coming up. If it is a variety show, they will probably tell you about the big events on this particular episode.

The show will then roll through the content.

Eventually, the show concludes in a consistent manner each time. The news will usually end with some sort of lighthearted kicker story. Variety shows may have a musical guest at the end. Dramas end happily ever after.

Every successful show follows a pattern. It is a consistent pattern. You want to know what you’re getting each and every time.

The consistency gained from the show structure helps the audience feel at ease and comfortable with the program. If your listener is new, she is brought up to speed quickly when you tell her what to expect.

If the listener is a returning participant, your introduction causes him to say to himself, “Oh, yeah. Exactly how I remember it. This is the right show.”

If you are watching the news and suddenly there are two new anchors along with different people doing the weather and sports, you will wonder if you’ve somehow stumbled upon the wrong channel. It will feel uncomfortable. It isn’t what you expected.

Consistency helps your audience feel at home. Work to achieve it every time.

You can build that consistency by creating a structure for your show that will allow you to fill the time with great content.

FIVE Ws

Just like a great news story, you can create a solid structure by defining by the Five Ws. Develop the structure of your show by determining Who, What, When, Where and Why. This structure will be the same for every show. The content of the show will vary within the structure and keep the show fresh.

Who will the audience hear on the show? Many podcasts are hosted by one or two individuals. These people are the only voices the audience hears. One person as the host is the easiest version. If you are the only person featured on your podcast, you can create the show whenever you’d like. The downside is the fact that you will need to fill the entire show with content while talking to yourself.

On the other hand, two hosts pose other problems. With two hosts, there is often no a leader of the show. The direction of the podcast is left to chance. If both are not in the same room, they will often talk over each other without the help of non-verbal cues. It requires much more work and planning to make a show with two hosts sound smooth.

There are many other versions of “who”. The host can interview a guest on each show. Callers can be part of your show with the appropriate equipment. The audience could interact with the show via e-mail. Any version of the “who” works.

Multiple styles can be combined as well, like a late night talk show. You simply need to select the style that makes you most comfortable and be consistent with it.

As you are deciding your “who”, determine what role each voice will fill. If there are two personalities with the same opinion, one of them isn’t necessary. You’ll just waste the listener’s time trying to get each personality mic time while communicating the same message. It would be very similar to debating yourself. There must be contrasting points of view between the personalities to justify the existence of each on the show.

What will be on your show? This includes topics, interviews, callers, e-mail, audio clips, highlights, sound bites, articles and other material you might include in your content. Your “what” might be answering e-mail from listeners with questions on your topic. Your “what” might be your comments and thoughts on various articles you’ve discovered on your topic. You could interview experts in your field.

As I mentioned in earlier podcast episodes, using the voice of the person asking the question is much more powerful than you reading an e-mail. That second voice adds depth to the conversation, adds validity to the question and creates a sense of eavesdropping on the conversation by the listener.

If at all possible, use audio to make your point. As you determine what will be on your show, find the “what” that excites you.

Do not get into a rut. Be creative. Find new ways to say the same thing.

When will you record and post your show? Find the time of day when you have the most energy to record your show. If you are a morning person, and you love getting up at the crack of dawn full of energy, record your show in the morning. If you enjoy staying up late long after everyone else has gone to bed, and the creative juices are just beginning to flow, choose to record at night. There is a time of day when your energy is highest.

You need to find the right time, because your energy level will be noticeable coming through the speakers. If you are tired, your audience will know. If you are smiling, your audience will be able to hear it. Find your sweet spot, and record at that time.

You do not necessarily need to post your show at the same time that you record it. You could record four shows on the same day and post them periodically over time.

If your content is time sensitive, you might need to post your show the same day you record it. For instance, if you’re discussing the day’s news or sports scores from last night, it might be stale if you wait a week to post it.

You simply need to be consistent with your posts. If you decide to post your show every Tuesday at 3p, your listeners will expect your show to be there on Tuesday at 3p. You can’t post it at 5p. The listener will not come back hoping it is there two hours late. That would be similar to the 6 o’clock news starting at 7:30. That’s not when you expect it and you wouldn’t tune it at 7:30 hoping the news is there.

Deliver on your promise. Post consistently.

You also need to decide how often you will create a show. It could be daily, weekly or monthly. It should definitely be regular and consistent to build an audience. Your fans need to trust that the show will be there when you say it will be there. Select a schedule that you can handle on a consistent basis.

Do not attempt a daily show if you cannot stick to that schedule. It is much better to post weekly and deliver too much than it is to attempt daily shows and miss a few. Humans are creatures of habit. If you can get them listening to your show as a habit every Wednesday at noon during their lunch break, use it to your advantage by posting consistently.

Where will you create your show? This is an important detail. Each episode of your show could come from your “studio”. You could also record your show on location if you are incorporating guests.

The technology available today will allow you to record almost anywhere. Find a place where you can focus on your show and control the surrounding ambient noise. You want the sound quality of your podcast to be as good as possible. However, don’t let that restrict your creativity.

Strive to make it good, but do not let perfect get in your way. Location is an important factor to the professional sound of your show. Content is as well. Balance the two.

Why are you creating a podcast? You need to find your passion. If you are creating a podcast for reasons other than your passions, you will find it difficult to keep up the consistency required to be successful.

Find the one thing that you love to discuss more than anything else. That should be the topic of your podcast. Chances are, you already know a ton about your passion topic. You will also find it easy and rewarding to discuss that topic. Money will typically follow you if you follow your passion.

Work to create that important trust ingredient by building consistent structure with your podcasts.

Create a structure for your podcast that will remain consistent for each show. The consistency will help build trust with your audience. Deliver to the expectations of your listener. That trust is the first step in monetizing your podcast.

I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

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.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Can You Make Money With Your Podcast? – Episode 064

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Can You Make Money With Your Podcast?

People love to buy. They hate to have people sell to them. Create interest and desire. Make your fans want to buy. The hard sell rarely makes your fan feel good about making the purchase. How do we use our content to develop the desire to buy rather than the method to sell?

I believe it is possible to make money “with” your podcast. To make money “from” your podcast is much tougher.

Are You Important In The Life Of Your Listener?

The most important marketer in a person’s life is someone they know, like and trust. We all know this.

I used Dave Jackson’s affiliate link to build www.ErikKJohnson.com. This was after I got to know, like and trust Dave and his information at the School of Podcasting.

As I started in Podcasting, I hit Google to find information. That is where I originally discovered Dave. Then, I began seeing him in blogs and hearing him referenced in other podcasts. I began listening to his podcast to get to know him.

One day, I got an e-mail from Dave. He wanted to chat with me about podcasting to see if we might be able to help each other. It was great. That is where my trust really started.

After a few months, I used his affiliate link to build out my website for my podcast. It all started with the relationship.

This is the primary reason word-of-mouth is so powerful. The recommendation that comes from word-of-mouth usually only comes from a friend. A friend is someone you know, like and trust.

If the recommendation comes from someone you don’t know, the message is no longer word-of-mouth. The suggestion is now called “marketing”, or “sales” or “a pitch”.

If you want the call-to-action within your podcast to be effective, you need to build that trusting relationship with your listener. From your stories will come self-revelation. This will allow your listener to get to know you. By being yourself and sincere, you will become likable. Finally, if you continually help your listener get what they want by putting their interests first, you will build trust.

On the Dave Ramsey Show, Dave helps people with every call he receives. Out of six or eight calls in an hour, he may mention his books, websites or seminars once. He will always mention his “baby steps” philosophy. However, he will rarely suggest people buy his products.

Dave reveals many personal things about his past and his family. The listener gets to know him. He is often blunt and honest. Dave’s tough love makes him likeable. The help he provides his callers builds trust. These steps make Dave’s manta become a true following. His listeners spread the word to the point where The Dave Ramsey Show has around 5 million listeners.

If you have built a true friendship with your listener, where they know, like and trust you, your call-to-action will be powerful. Spend time creating that relationship between your brand and your listener. Then and only then can you effectively use word-of-mouth.

Are you important in the life of your listener?

After you build the trust, you can then create a powerful call-to-action.

Is That You Calling?

To create a successful podcast, you need to create an effective call-to-action within your show. So, how do we measure success? If we are trying to get our audience to do something by using a call-to-action (listen again, buy our product, visit our website, support our cause), our call-to-action should be our determining factor of success. Measure what counts.

When you create your podcast, you should measure your success not by the number of listeners or downloads, but by conversions to whatever you want them to be or do.

Let’s say your goal is to get people to visit the store on your website. If you have 1,000 people listening to your show, but you only get 2 of them to act and actually visit the site, you really haven’t been successful.

However, if you only have 200 listeners, but 100 love everything you do and visit your site regularly, I would consider that a success. Having 1,000 listeners may sound better than 200. By closer evaluation, I would much rather have 100 fans than 2.

Don’t get fooled by measuring the incorrect statistic. Measure what counts. Measure your call to action.

Create an effective call-to-action, and measure it.

Selling Is Easy, Right?

I was listening to an interview CD that accompanies each issue of Success magazine. Publisher Darren Hardy was talking with Founder and President of Piranha Marketing, Inc. Joe Polish. During that interview, Mr. Polish proclaimed great marketing makes selling easy and unnecessary.

You may not be selling in the traditional sense of products or services in exchange for money. However, you are making a call-to-action within your podcast. It may be selling for money. It may also be inviting your listener to come again, asking him to visit your website, requesting that she join your mailing list, inspire him to get involved with a cause or any other action. It all involves selling yourself.

Polish’s statement was bold. As he went on to explain himself, Polish made perfect sense. In fact, his comments were very similar to the marketing and branding information we’ve been discussing with regard to your podcast.

In summary, Polish said great marketing gets people properly positioned, so they are pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you (or act on your call-to-action). Great marketing therefore makes selling easy and unnecessarily.

If you have truly engaged your listener and created that strong relationship we’ve been discussing, the selling should take care of itself. Selling becomes difficult when you are trying to get your listener interested. Selling before your listener is motivated is a challenge. Trying to sell to a listener that isn’t qualified is hard work. If your listener isn’t predisposed to taking action, you will need to sell hard.

When you have taken the time to build the relationship, your listener will be pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. They will be ready to buy. Selling, in terms of convincing your listener to buy, will be unnecessary. Your marketing and engaging relationship will have them ready for your call-to-action.

This week, review your podcast. Let’s discover ways to make money with your podcast.

  • Are you building trust and properly positioning your listener to do business with you?
  • Have you developed something to sell (other than advertising within your show)?
  • Have you developed your strong call-to-action?

Let me know how I can help you with your podcast. E-mail your questions to Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

You can also find other tools including worksheets, a workbook and videos to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let me teach you how to turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Your Effective Call To Action – PTC 045

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Effective Call To Action – PTC045

(photo by Albo)
(photo by Albo)

I was listening to an interview CD that accompanies each issue of Success magazine. Publisher Darren Hardy was talking with Founder and President of Piranha Marketing, Inc. Joe Polish. During that interview, Mr. Polish proclaimed great marketing makes selling easy and unnecessary.  It makes your call to action powerful.

 

Selling is Easy

You may not be selling in the traditional sense of products or services in exchange for money. However, you are making a call-to-action within your podcast. It may be selling for money. It may also be inviting your listener to come again, asking him to visit your website, requesting that she join your mailing list, inspiring him to get involved with a cause or any other action. It all involves selling yourself.

Polish’s statement was bold. As he went on to explain himself, Polish made perfect sense. In fact, his comments were very similar to the marketing and branding information we’ve been discussing with regard to your podcast.

We have discussed the call-to-action in previous episodes of Podcast Talent Coach. We simply need to determine what we hope to accomplish with our podcast episode before we begin recording.

In summary, Polish said great marketing gets people properly positioned, so they are pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you (or act on your call-to-action). Great marketing therefore makes selling easy and unnecessarily.

If you have truly engaged your listener and created that strong relationship we’ve been discussing, the selling should take care of itself. Selling becomes difficult when you are trying to get your listener interested. Selling before your listener is motivated is a challenge. Trying to sell to a listener that isn’t qualified is hard work. If your listener isn’t predisposed to taking action, you will need to sell hard.

Building relationships with your podcast involves telling great stories. Revealing things about yourself through stories makes you real. Your listeners get to know and like you. As you continue to help them over time, you build the trust they seek.

When you have taken the time to build the relationship, your listener will be pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. They will be ready to buy. Selling, in terms of convincing your listener to buy, will be unnecessary. Your marketing and engaging relationship will have them ready for your call-to-action.

Do the hard work up front to make selling easy.

 

Shouting Will Not Help You

You can’t shout your way into a person’s trust circle. They only way to gain trust is to add value. Give them something they can use. Building trust is the foundation of revenue generation for your podcast.

As you build trusting relationships with your podcast, continue to ask yourself, “How am I helping my listener?” Continue to give, and the trust will develop over time.

When you begin every discussion with your product, needs or wants, people will tune you out. You will begin to sound (and be treated) like advertisements for used cars. Shouting doesn’t work. Your listener won’t care and will rarely return.

Serve first, many times over. Then and only then can you effectively sell.

Shows like the “Dave Ramsey Show”, “48 Days To The Work You Love” and “Smart Passive Income” are all designed to help their listeners first. Sure, they all have products to sell as the end result. However, they never begin with their product. The discussions on these shows always begin with the listener’s needs in mind first.

As you prepare for your show, find great ways to help. Your help may come in the form of entertainment. You may serve as companionship for your podcast listener. Help them find other forms of companionship as well. If your podcast is only one hour per week, there are 167 more hours in the week that aren’t occupied by your show. Your listeners will surely need more companionship to fill a few of those hours. Help your audience fill those hours, too.

Are you building trust, or are you shouting?

 

Ask For The Sale

After you’ve done the hard work building the relationship, don’t forget to ask for the sale.

One afternoon last week, I stopped by the quickie mart to get something to drink. As I waited in line at the cash register, the gentlemen in front of me set his purchase on the counter.

Among his items was a 2-liter bottle of soda. The bottle of soda was $1.69. The clerk said, “Did you know these are on sale two for $2? You can grab another and save yourself some money.”

The customers responds with, “Looks like I need to grab another bottle.”

By simply asking for the sale, the clerk doubled the purchase. The customer also benefitted by saving some money.

In fact, everyone wins in this transaction. The store is paying the clerk an hourly wage whether he sells one bottle of soda or 100. The cost of the clerk’s time to the store remains constant. Wages are the biggest expense to the store when figuring cost of goods sold. Therefore, by adding another bottle of soda to the purchase, even at the lower price, the store makes more money also.

It all happened because the clerk asked for the sale.

 

This week, review your show to ensure you are building those relationships.

• Start with the listener instead of your product or service

• Determine how you are going to help your listener with this episode

• Put a strong call-to-action at the end of the episode

 

Let’s Work Together

I would love to help you with your podcast. If you would like to improve your content, call-to-action and business, I have a few openings for coaching clients.

You need to be serious about making some money with your podcast. It may not be millions. However, you need to have the desire to make a little money.

We will work together to build a customized plan for you, your show and your business.

We have to date before we can get serious, right?

I’m offering a complimentary coaching call to a few candidates who are serious about their improvement. We need to see if we are a good fit for each other.

There will be no high pressure sales pitch. We can review your show to see if we work well together. If it clicks, we can lay out a coaching plan for you. If the call is not all you had hoped, no harm. We’ll just continue on as friends.

There is only room for a few. My calendar simply will not allow me to coach everyone.

If you are interested … and serious … e-mail me at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. We can get the conversation started.

 

Find tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Building Your Podcast Business – PTC Episode 028

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Building Your Podcast Business

Most every podcaster has the desire to turn their podcast into a business. Though some podcasters treat their show as a hobby and an outlet for their passion, many reach a point where they wish to monetize their efforts. Podcast profits are possible in many forms when podcasters get creative.

Most podcasts do not generate enough cash to stand alone as a business. There are ways to generate revenue from the podcast, such as advertising and sponsorships. These methods typically bring in money in direct relation to the size of the audience. It is traditionally called CPM, or cost per thousand. (M for mille – Latin for thousand; M is also the Roman numeral for thousand.)

There are two primary issues with relying on advertising as your primary revenue source.

The first downside of CPM is the direct relation of hours to dollars. When you stop putting in hours, you stop taking out dollars. When you stop creating the podcast, the revenue stream stops as well. When you exchange hours for dollars, that is called a job. When you create something one time and it generates a continuous stream of income, that becomes a business.

Limited inventory and revenue is the second problem with advertising. There is a limit to the amount of sponsorship time possible within any particular episode. If your podcast is an hour in length, how much advertising could the show possibly contain? Two sponsors? Four sponsors?

At some point, the adverting becomes a negative to the audience. This is the issue terrestrial radio is facing. The commercial time has expanded to a level that is negatively affecting time spent listening to radio. Stations are hoping listeners will sit through 12 minutes of commercials on music stations and nearly 20 minutes on talk stations. People are looking for other content that does not force feed them content they do not desire. This is where your podcast will thrive.

You can turn your podcast into a business by developing a suite of products. Brendon Burchard, the author of “The Millionaire Messenger” and creator of Experts Academy, describes it as an integrated product suite. The podcast attracts a group of followers without wasting their time. Your content and message builds a friendships. Listeners begin to know, like and trust you.

Once you have built a loyal group of listeners that trusts you and your message, you can ask them to join your list in exchange for something free. This gets people to take the next step to become engaged with your brand. I use this with free worksheets, videos and other content. Fans give me permission to e-mail them pertinent, valuable content. The additional free content continues to build the relationship.

After delivering content over time, you can begin to monetize the trust you’ve built. Start by asking your fans to purchase a low end product, such as this workbook. The low end product doesn’t cost much. It is simply a purchase to break the barrier to make your fan comfortable doing business with you. Your listener can risk $20 to see if your products are as good as you say. Again, we are building more trust.

If you could sell 1,000 e-books at $20 each to your audience of 10,000 listeners, you would generate $20,000 in revenue.

Let’s compare that to the CPM model. The average CPM in podcasting is around $25. Using that same 10,000 listeners, your CPM factor would be 10, because you have ten “thousands”. $25 CPM x 10 “thousands” equals $250 per episode sponsorship. Two sponsors per episode would generate $500 per episode. Producing 50 episodes per year would then bring in $25,000 annually. That is just a little better than the e-book model.

There is a big difference between the two methods. With the e-book, you write it once. It then continues to generate revenue. You must create your podcast every week to keep the revenue flowing. At the beginning of the next year, your podcast starts over again. Your e-book continues to sell with little additional effort. You can also write another book to begin doubling your revenue.

The next step is a mid-range product. This would be something in the $200 range. While you continue to deliver great, free content and your book continues to sell and build trust, you can then produce your mid-level product. At some point, you will ask for that sale. Convincing 100 of your 10,000 fans to purchase your $200 product will generate $20,000. We are talking about converting one percent of your audience at this level.

This style of product layering continues as you build your business. It is all based on the relationships you are creating with your podcast. You are building trust with your podcast. The fantastic, free content allows your fans to know, like and trust you. Your podcast is the foundation of your business.

Your podcast is not your income generator. The relationships you have build with your audience becomes the conduit to create income. Your friendships will be the basis on which your business is built. We will turn those relationships into a suite of great products centered around your content.

“Entrepreneur on Fire” with John Lee Dumas is arguably one of the most successful recent podcasts in terms of revenue generation. John releases a daily podcast 365 days a year. He has been able to monetize his podcast at a high level using sponsorships. In fact, he posts his monthly income report at www.EntrepreneurOnFire.com/income. According to his site, Dumas generated $39,400 from sponsorships in December 2013.

Even at that level of success, John Lee Dumas has other products. At nearly $40,000 a month, his show is bringing in almost half a million dollars in annual sponsorship revenue. If you examine the income report, advertising within the show isn’t even the largest source of income during the month of December. Entrepreneur on Fire generated $52,763 with John’s “Podcasters’ Paradise” program.

In total, Dumas lists 7 different revenue sources on his income report. These include a mastermind, sponsorships, an ebook, an audiobook, his program, one-on-one mentoring and affiliates. This is a great example of a suite of products. The entire program is built on the foundation laid by his podcast.

If you hope to build a business around your podcast, begin by developing your product suite. Brainstorm the various products and services you can create. Make a list of five to ten products that will begin to generate revenue for you. Then, start creating the one that will be quick and easy. This is where your business will begin to take shape.

Your entire business will be built around your podcast. This is where people will begin to trust you. Everything described in this workbook up to this point has been designed to get your audience to know, like and trust you. Only when we reach that point can we begin to monetize the show.

You are creating a relationship with your audience. The more you reveal about yourself on your show, the more you create influence through friendship. Your sales will be built on the trust you are developing.

Help your audience. In sports coaching it is often said that players will not care how much the coach knows until they know how much the coach cares. Show your listeners you care by helping them solve their problems. Develop that friendship.

Once your friendship is built, your listeners will begin to move through your product funnel.

Your product funnel is just as it sounds. We bring many people into the big end of the funnel. As they move through, the price goes up until only a few come out the small end. Your podcast and other free content is at the big end of the funnel. As we move to the low-tier $20 product, we lose a group of listeners. We then lose another group when we progress to the $200 product. Listeners continue to move along the funnel until we have a few dedicated listeners playing thousands of dollars at the small end of the funnel.

You cannot begin at the middle of the funnel. People do not begin by buying your $200 without knowing anything about you. The entire funnel is based around your podcast and the relationships you are creating.

Though your podcast will not be your primary revenue generator, it will be the foundation for your business. This is where it all begins. Make it great. Tell the truth. Make it matter. Have fun. Before you know it, you will be building great friendships on the way to an amazing business.

 

This week:

Develop your free bonus content

Launch an e-mail database like Aweber or Mail Chimp

Brainstorm a low-tier and mid-tier product you can create

 

I’d love to help you with your podcast. E-mail any questions or comments you might have to Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

You can also find tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Powerful Profitable Podcast Stories

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Powerful Profitable Podcast Stories

Our goal is to create meaningful relationships with our listeners. Powerful, profitable relationships. We use engaging content to solidify those friendships.

What did you reveal about yourself on your show this week?

From self-revelation comes friendship. Can you think of a true friend that you know very little about? Friendship become stronger the more you share with each other. People learn things about you through the stories you tell.

How can you use the stories you tell to solidify your brand and strengthen your relationships?

We’ve discussed storytelling in Podcast Talent Coach Episode 002.

-The Power of Great Storytelling

-The parts of a great story

-How to structure a story

Today, I want to teach you about three other areas of storytelling that can help transform your podcast into powerful, engaging entertainment.

What Did You Reveal Today?

When you tell stories on your podcast, you reveal things about yourself. Vivid details are critical elements of great storytelling.

Details are more believable than generalities.

Details reveal specifics about your thoughts, beliefs and character.

Details put your listener in the moment helping them envision your story in their mind.

Garrison Keillor, in one of his “Stories From Lake Wobegon”, describes a woman who endures crushing loneliness and town gossip. (read more)

Memorable Words

American children’s author Dr. Seuss (Theodor “Ted” Suess Geisel) was more interested in telling a good story than he was in telling a true story. He often exaggerated. He always used wonderful, colorful words.

The good story approach is even described In his biography at www.Seussville.com. Dr. Seuss and his wife were unable to have children.

“To silence friends who bragged about their own children, Ted liked to boast of the achievements of their imaginary daughter, Chrysanthemum-Pearl. … He included her on Christmas cards, along with Norval, Wally, Wickersham, Miggles, Boo-Boo, Thnud, and other purely fictional children. For a photograph used on one year’s Christmas card, Geisel even invited in half a dozen neighborhood kids to pose as his and Helen’s children. The card reads, ‘All of us over at Our House / Wish all of you over at / Your House / A very Merry Christmas,’ and is signed ‘Helen and Ted Geisel and the kiddies.’”

Part of the magic that was Seuss was created by the words he used. (read more)

Tease With Anticipation

Anticipation is a key feature to storytelling. Your story should build just like a good plot builds in a movie. You need to make your audience anticipate the content that is on the way.

Your podcast should be like a vacation you are planning to take. The fantastic anticipation for the trip is almost as pleasurable as the trip itself. You can’t wait for the trip to arrive.

You want your listener to feel the same way about your content. When they can’t wait for the story to arrive, you have created some great content.

Teasing is the art of creating anticipation for your audience to entice them to stick around for the payoff to your setup. It is a critical element of your show. Teasing helps create momentum for your podcast. (read more)

 

I’d love to help you with your podcast. E-mail any questions or comments you might have to Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

You can also find tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Audience Target, Blog, Make Money, Podcast improvement

Is That The Right Measurement? …

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Is that the right measurement?

(photo by bartekwardziak)

Many podcasters and bloggers measure their success by the number of downloads of, or visits to, their material. Unless you are blogging or podcasting simply as a hobby, this is a mistake. Downloads and visits really don’t move the needle for you. They don’t generate revenue or move your product.

You need to figure out what you want your audience to do and how you measure it? What is your call-to-action? Maybe you want them to visit your website. Maybe you want them to buy your product. Maybe you want them to donate to your cause. Determine the call-to-action.

Once you figure out what you want your audience to do, you will then know what to measure. It may be visitors to a specific URL on your website. It could be units sold. You can easily measure the donations to your cause. All three of those events move the needle. Those are the things you should be measuring.

What are you measuring?

— I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Erik@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Find your call-to-action. Is that the right measurement?

Blog, Branding, Make Money, Podcast content, Podcast improvement

Is That You Calling? …

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Is that you calling?

(photo by erwinova)

To create a successful podcast, you need to create an effective call-to-action within your show. So, how do we measure success? If we are trying to get our audience to do something by using a call-to-action (listen again, buy our product, visit our website, support our cause), our call-to-action should be our determining factor of success.

When you create your podcast, you should measure your success not by the number of listeners or downloads, but by conversions to whatever you want them to be or do.

Let’s say your goal is to get people to visit the store on your website. If you have 1,000 people listening to your show, but you only get 2 of them to act and actually visit the site, you really haven’t been successful.

However, if you only have 200 listeners, but 100 love everything you do and visit your site regularly, I would consider that a success. Having 1,000 listeners may sound better than 200. By closer evaluation, I would much rather have 100 fans than 2.

Don’t get fooled by measuring the incorrect statistic. Measure what counts. Measure your call to action.

— I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Erik@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Create an effective call-to-action, and measure it. Is that you calling?

Audience Engagement, Audience Relationship, Blog, Branding, Podcast content, Podcast improvement

Selling Is Easy, Right? …

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Selling is easy, right?

(photo by friday)

I was listening to the latest interview CD that accompanies each issue of Success magazine. Publisher Darren Hardy was talking with Founder and President of Piranha Marketing, Inc. Joe Polish. During that interview, Mr. Polish proclaimed great marketing makes selling easy and unnecessary.

You may not be selling in the traditional sense of products or services in exchange for money. However, you are making a call-to-action within your podcast. It may be selling for money. It may also be inviting your listener to come again, asking him to visit your website, requesting that she join your mailing list, inspire him to get involved with a cause or any other action. It all involves selling yourself.

Polish’s statement was bold. As he went on to explain himself, Polish made perfect sense. In fact, his comments were very similar to the marketing and branding information we’ve been discussing with regard to your podcast.

In summary, Polish said great marketing gets people properly positioned, so they are pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you (or act on your call-to-action). Great marketing therefore makes selling easy and unnecessarily.

If you have truly engaged your listener and created that strong relationship we’ve been discussing, the selling should take care of itself. Selling becomes difficult when you are trying to get your listener interested. Selling before your listener is motivated is a challenge. Trying to sell to a listener that isn’t qualified is hard work. If your listener isn’t predisposed to taking action, you will need to sell hard.

When you have taken the time to build the relationship, your listener will be pre-interested, pre-motivated, pre-qualified, and predisposed to do business with you. They will be ready to buy. Selling, in terms of convincing your listener to buy, will be unnecessary. The marketing and engaging relationship created with your podcast will have your audience ready to act upon your call-to-action.

— I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Erik@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Selling is easy, right?

Audience Engagement, Audience Relationship, Blog, Make Money, Podcast content, Podcast improvement

Are You Shouting? …

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Are you shouting?

(photo by Tobkatrina)

You can’t shout your way into a person’s trust circle. They only way to gain trust is to add value. Give them something they can use. Building trust is the foundation of revenue generation for your podcast.

As you build trusting relationships with your podcast, continue to ask yourself, “How am I helping my listener?” Continue to give, and the trust will develop over time.

When you begin every discussion with your products, needs or wants, people will tune you out. You will begin to sound (and be treated) like advertisements for used cars. Shouting doesn’t work. Your listener won’t care and will rarely return.

Serve first, many times over. Then and only then can you effectively sell.

Shows like the “Dave Ramsey Show“, “48 Days To The Work You Love” and “No More Mondays” are all designed to help their listeners first. Sure, they all have products to sell as the end result. However, they never begin with their product. The discussions on these shows always begin with the listener’s needs in mind first.

As you prepare for your show, find great ways to help. Your help may simply come in the form of entertainment. You may serve as companionship for your podcast listener. Help them find other forms of companionship as well. If your podcast is only one hour weekly, there are 167 more hours in the week that aren’t occupied by your show. Your listeners will surely need more companionship to fill a few of those hours.  Help your audience fill those hours, too.

— I’d love to help you with your podcast. Post any questions or comments you might have, or e-mail me at Erik@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Are you building trust, or are you shouting?

Blog, Make Money, Podcast Structure

Include A Call To Action …

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Include a call to action.

If you want to make money with your podcast, you must include a call to action. It seems logical. However, many podcasters believe, “If I build it, they will come.” It simply doesn’t happen that way.

Odd as it may sound, your podcast probably isn’t your product. Unless you are charging for your podcast, your show is only the marketing vehicle for some other product. Most podcasts are free. The show itself isn’t generating revenue. You need to create another product you can sell.

In his book “Free: The Future of a Radical Price”, Chris Anderson lists many ways to create revenue using the power of free. Many of these can be used to generate revenue from your podcast.

Some think access to the audience can be sold to advertisers as if it were traditional broadcasting. Unfortunately, audiences are not typically large enough for this model. Listeners also do not expect the traditional twelve minutes of commercials within their favorite podcast hour. Advertising is usually a very difficult path to revenue.

To generate revenue with your podcast, you need to create something else to sell.

You could make money by making your podcast a small portion of a larger show, which is available to paid members only. The free podcast becomes marketing for the member content.

You could turn your knowledge of some “how to” subject into a book, e-book, study course or other product. Your podcast could be the “why” behind your philosophy. The show would then promote the “how” that your listener will learn when they purchase the product.

There are many other ideas described in Anderson’s book. You could give away the product while charging for the service, such as consulting or coaching. Give away the content while making money referring people to retailers, like affiliate marketing. Rather than traditional advertising, you could give away the content while charging advertisers to be featured in it, similar to The Home Shopping Network. You could even take a cut of sales. You could podcast generic advice while selling specific, customized advice. There are fifty ideas in the book. To make money with your podcast, I suggest you give the book (or at least that section) a read.

If you build it, they may come. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will become instantly wealthy. You need to create something to sell. You need to tell your listener to buy. Then, you need to show them the way. If you desire to make money with your podcast, make sure your podcast includes the call to action.