network Archives - ErikKJohnson.com

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In this interview on networking, we discuss:

The biggest benefit of networking
How podcasters can use networking to grow their show
The biggest challenges of networking
How to network without the awkwardness
Much more

Connect with Basile Lemba here:

Profitable Networking Blueprint
BL NETWORKING
(571) 263-4190
Basile@basilelemba.net

HOW WE THINK OF NETWORKING

When you think of networking, you probably imagine walking into a room filled with salespeople all trying to jam their business card into your hand and sell you something. Why else would you network?

The purpose of networking is to grow your network. It is not to make a sale to one person.

One year at New Media Expo, I bought a ticket to Cliff Ravenscraft’s networking event. I thought it would be a great way to introduce my show to a ton of other podcasters who could benefit from my information.

Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to network properly.

When I walked into the room of about 100 people, nobody noticed. I got a drink and few snacks from the table. Still, nobody cared.

I finally made my way over to one of those stand-up cocktail tables and joined a couple other podcasters. They were talking about their shows.

I introduced myself and they asked about my show. After I told them a bit about this show, we talked about their shows.

The conversation came to that awkward end where we have nothing left to say. One of made an excuse to go get another drink or something.

It continued like that for the next 30 minutes. I finally faded out of the room unnoticed just like I arrived.

Looking back on that day, I realized I was doing it all wrong. People don’t want to know about me and my show. They want to talk about themselves. If you want to be interesting, be interested.

NETWORKING TO GROW

As you connect with others, find out as much as you can about that person. If it would make sense to partner and help each other grow, get their contact info. Agree to follow up to see how you might help each other reach your goals.

Networking is intended to find partners, not push your stuff on people.

If you create a partnership with a person who can introduce you or your stuff to 100 other people, you’ve leveraged the opportunity to make as many as 100 new listeners or better yet … clients. If you sell only to the person you’ve met at the event, you’ve only created one new client.

To grow your podcast, we need to find people who can introduce your show to groups of people. If you tell one person about your show, you get one new listener. If that person can put you in front of a new group of people, or simply tell their audience about you, your show can find hundreds or thousands of listeners.

A PODCAST EXAMPLE

I was on a coaching strategy call the other night with a producer of a real estate podcast. Just like most of my clients, he is trying to grow the audience.

The podcast helps people buy and sell their home. They give tips to sell the house quickly, get the best deal and mistakes to avoid.

He told me they promote the show on Facebook and through e-mail when new episodes are released. Unfortunately, those people already know about the show. Those activities are doing nothing to gain new listeners.

We brainstormed ideas to get in front of new listeners. I suggested they partner with complimentary services in the real estate industry to market the show. They could get mortgage lenders, closing agents and staging consultants to tell their clients about the show.

If these agents could promote the podcast to their audiences, the podcast could make mention of the services. Everybody wins.

The key to growing your audience is finding new potential listeners in big groups. Find partners who are already talking to your target listener.

This is why developing your ideal target listener is so important. When you know what your listener is all about, you can determine who is already speaking into their lives. Partner and grow.

You can use networking to grow your show if you use it in the right way.

BASILE LEMBA

Today, we talk to Basile Lemba. He teaches people how to network properly.

Basile was born in Cameroon in West Africa. He moved to France, then Florida. He now lives in Virginia. Each time he moved, Basile was forced to rebuild his connections and network.

As he attended various events, he realized most people lacked the specific know-how to properly connect with each other. That is how he founded BL Networking. Over the past 14 years, Basile has been teaching people how to properly network with each other to get results and grow their business.

We are lucky to have Basile here today to share some tips that will help us grow our podcast audience and connect with powerful partners.

Basile Lemba has over 30 years of experience in Networking.

He is the creator of “PROFITABLE NETWORKING BLUEPRINT” and the Founder of the NETWORKING INSTITUTE.

He has helped over 30,000 businesses acquire the right clients and dramatically increase their revenues. These companies range from “Mom and Pop” to MICROSOFT.

He has an upcoming book on Networking titled: “Everything you think you know about Networking is Wrong!”

Find Basile’s program at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/network.

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.

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A mastermind group can be very powerful for your podcast. If you bring a powerful group of people together, the collective mind can create big things.

NAPOLEON HILL

Napoleon Hill first coined the phrase in 1925 in his book the Law Of Success. He expanded on the idea in his 1937 book Think And Grow Rich.

Here is an excerpt from Think and Grow Rich where Hill explains the concept …

The “Master Mind” may be defined as: “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”

No individual may have great power without availing himself of the “Master Mind.”

The two characteristics of the Master Mind principle, one of which is economic in nature, and the other psychic.

The economic feature is obvious. Economic advantages may be created by any person who surrounds himself with the advice, counsel, and personal cooperation of a group of men who are willing to lend him wholehearted aid, in a spirit of PERFECT HARMONY.

This form of cooperative alliance has been the basis of nearly every great fortune. Your understanding of this great truth may definitely determine your financial status.

The psychic phase of the Master Mind principle is much more abstract, much more difficult to comprehend, because it has reference to the spiritual forces with which the human race, as a whole, is not well acquainted.

You may catch a significant suggestion from this statement: “No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.”

Many people have used Hill’s mastermind concept to create great things. The book goes into the idea in greater detail. Today, I want to give you four specific ways a mastermind can supercharge your podcast.

MENTAL

Like minded people who understand you
Think bigger
Support
Energy and motivation
Impostor Syndrome into confidence
Habits
Focus and clarity
Power of helping others

RELATIONSHIPS

Connections
Create an instant network and extend your current network
Exclusive community
New friendships

GROWTH

Collaboration
Shared goals to improve
Pushed and challenged
Honest feedback
Work through problems out loud
Progress

KNOWLEDGE

More ideas from more contributors for variety solutions
Different opinions
New & better perspective
Insights
Brainstorming
Been there, done that experience
Shared resources
Specific knowledge of others

NOT ALL EQUAL

Not all masterminds are the same. A powerful mastermind needs a leader. This is someone you respect who can hold all members accountable.

A good mastermind also needs structure. Members need to agree when to meet, how to meet and why to meet.

The group requires respect, trust and a desire to contribute. Without a common purpose, it will be difficult for the group to succeed.

A successful mastermind also requires all members to have skin in the game. Every member needs to have incentive to show up and be present every single time. If members have nothing to lose, the effort will be less than optimal.

The mastermind also needs commitment with a timeline, so separation isn’t awkward. There will always come a time when it is time to separate. Plan for it at the beginning.

JOIN US

I am combining my coaching with the power of a mastermind into the Podcast Grad School Mastermind. This will be a small group of 8 podcasters with common goals helping each other succeed.

It will include a weekly call where we all come together. These calls will include 30 minutes of teaching to empower you with new knowledge. That will be followed by a hot seat for each member to work through your challenges with group contribution.

You will also be a member of a private group to allow you to collaborate between calls.

As a member of the Podcast Grad School Mastermind, you will get a bi-weekly one-on-one laser coaching call. You and I will get on a call every other week to personally help you with your goals.

This group will help you demonstrate your authority and market your business through your podcast in order to get more clients.

To get you the attention and accountability you need and deserve, the group will be limited to 8 people.

You need to be a good fit for the group. A podcast should be part of your content marketing. You need to be open-minded and willing to accept constructive feedback with the goal to improve. As an ideal member you should also have a desire to use your podcast to drive your business while helping others do the same.

If you would like to apply for a spot or get more information, head to PodcastTalentCoach.com/mastermind.