Tag Archives: revenue

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

The Difference In Your Next 12 Months With Lisa Sasso – PTC 323

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Where do you want to go in the next 12 months? If we are a year from today and we are looking back over the past year, what would need to happen for you to be happy with your results? This is where your goals begin.

CREATE SPECIFIC GOALS

Be specific as you set your goals. How many downloads would be a success? If you have a goal to make money with your podcast, how much? What is the timeframe?

When you are specific with your goals, you are able to visualize that victory.

What are you selling? Do the math. How much do you need to sell to reach your specific goal?

As the old saying goes, when you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. Let’s not wander through the next year. Set specific goals. Then, take specific action to reach those goals.

Let’s say you have a goal to lose weight. At the end of the year, your weight has gone from 234 pounds to 232 pounds, did you reach your goal? You lost two pounds. You lost weight. Is that a success? Possibly. But probably not quite what you were expecting.

Without a specific goal, you will not be able to make a big difference in your journey.

CRUNCH THE NUMBERS

Do you want to grow your downloads? What is that number? What does growth look like?

Do you want to make money with your podcast? How much? How will you do that?

You need to crunch the numbers to define your actions. If you haven’t clearly defined your goal, you can’t make the numbers work. You haven’t determined the sum of the actions yet.

If you want to grow your listeners, pick a number. Let’s suppose you want to grow your downloads by an average of 50 downloads per episode. How many subscribers do you need to attract to your podcast each week? About 12. 50 downloads divided by 4 weeks is a touch over 12. About two a day.

Now that we have worked the numbers, we can figure out the actions that will help us attract two subscribers a day.

How much money do you want to make with your podcast? Do the math and figure out what that would equal per week. Then, find something to sell that could bring in that income. Just crunch the numbers. Break it down.

Once you break it down, determine the steps you need to take to help you reach those goals.

FREE TRAINING

I can help you put all of this together. Join me for a free training on Tuesday called “6 Ways To Make Money With Your Podcast”. In this workshop, I will walk you through the process of creating your strategy. And, it’s free.

Sign up at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

If you haven’t set your goals, you will get the same thing in 2021 that you’ve been getting for the last few years. No specific results. Very little progress toward your dreams. More frustration.

Spend an hour with me and let me help you lay it out. Sign up at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

GOALS WITH LISA SASSO

Today, I’ve invited Lisa Sasso to join us to help us clarify our goals. She is a goal-setting expert.

Lisa Sasso has an MBA from Bentley University and is a Certified Executive Coach. She is a Certified Professional Coactive Coach, certified by the Coaches Training Institute. She is also a Professional Certified Coach from the International Coach Federation.

Lisa empowers professionals to achieve their personal and professional goals with accountability, balance and gratitude to reach their greatest potential.

Find Lisa at www.LisaSasso.com.

Start setting your goals today. As Lisa suggests, use SMART ART goals to be specific and visualize your destination.

If you want the same as you’ve always been getting, keep doing the same thing. If you want different results, take action. Define your goals. Develop your strategy. Then, take action.

Your journey starts today. Enjoy the ride.

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

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

Why Your Podcast Promotion Does Not Work

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Have you ever struggled balancing content creation and podcast promotion? We all want to grow our audience. How do we increase those downloads? Focus.

I was working with a client the other day. He spends a lot of his time during the week creating his podcast and working with clients. However, his goal is to grow his show.

When you’re creating a business around your podcast, even if it is a side hustle, it feels like there is an endless amount of stuff to do.

When you don’t have structured time to do something, it expands to the allotted amount of time. That is where your flexible hours create an issue.

There needs to be time when you work “on” your business.

Michael Gerber’s “The E-Myth Revisited” lays this out perfectly.

First, determine the activities that actually drive downloads. This could include online activity in social media, marketing to your list or other activities that get you noticed.

Then, determine the actions that drive your business. Who are your ideal clients? What type of clients make up the top 20% that drive 80% of your business? It is the Pareto Principle. Figure out how to reach those people.

Now that you know the activities that attract listeners, and you know the activities that grow your business, find a day you can dedicate to those activities.

Dedicate time for driving business.

Define the time. Then fill it. You can’t budget your money until you know how much money is there. It is the same with your time. You cannot budget your time until you know how much time you have to work with.

 

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

The Problem With Podcast Pricing – Episode 221

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If “how do I get more downloads and engagement” is the question I am asked most often, “how do I make money with my show” is a very close second.

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 question I ask is about the biggest struggle they are facing.

Some podcasters jump right to sponsorships. “How do I attract sponsors for my show?”

You need to understand that sponsorships and ads within your show will most likely NOT be your answer.

Let’s look at the facts.

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, $257 million was spent on podcast advertising in 2017. This is up 116% from the $119 million spent in 2016.

Now, you are probably thinking, “Erik, I can surely get a share of that $257 million!”

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

According to the same IAB study, Cost Per Thousand (CPM) is the dominant pricing model. 85% of those surveyed reported using this model. CPM defines the price of ads at a rate per one thousand listeners to an episode. This means a podcaster could charge $18 (or $25 depending on the ad) for every thousand listeners to an episode.

In a study by Entrepreneur.com, CPM for a 15-second pre-roll ad (beginning of the show) was $18 and CPM for a 60-second mid-roll ad (middle of the show) was $25.

If the CPM is $25, and you have 2,000 downloads per episode, you can charge $50 for each commercial ($25 x 2 “thousands”). If you include 4 advertisers per show, you are generating $200 per show. At 52 shows per year, you are earning $10,400 per year.

Now, $10k isn’t bad money. However, there are 3 problems with this strategy.

First, it takes a lot of work to land 4 clients to sponsor your show for the year.

Next, it clutters your podcast with a bunch of ads that your listeners probably don’t enjoy.

Finally, this also assumes you have 2,000 downloads per episode, which is roughly 10 times the median number reported by Libsyn.

There must be a better way to generate revenue with your podcast.

I was on a coaching call with Shane the other day. He is launching his third podcast and would like to make money with this one.

Shane intends to sell sponsors into his podcast and newsletter as the primary source of income. The difference between Shane’s model and the CPM model is his understanding of his audience.

When I explained the issues with the CPM model and sponsorships, Shane said, “Yeah, but I don’t accept the CPM model. I find great sponsors that want to reach my specific audience and charge them a price equal to the value.”

You see, the CPM model is adapted from radio. That medium reaches a broad audience. Hence the name broadcasting.

When a business advertises on radio, there is only a fraction of the audience that is ever interested in their product or service. Therefore, the value is determined by the return on investment.

With podcasting, you are reaching a niche audience with your show. Your listeners should have something in common. Therefore, they should be much more valuable than the broadcast audience, because most of them will be interested in the product or service you are advertising if you select the right sponsor.

Let’s say you host a podcast about weight loss. All of your listeners should have an interest in losing weight. I don’t know many skinny people who love a weight loss podcast.

If a business that sells green smoothie mix or a healthy food subscription is looking for marketing opportunities, your show would be a great vehicle. That business could reach a much more focused audience by being on your show rather than broadcasting. Only a portion of the radio audience would be interested in weight loss products.

If your audience is much stronger, and the business gets a better return on their investment, you should be able to charge more.

Your other choice is to create products or services of your own. We talked about ways to generate revenue with your podcast in “Episode 199 – Can You Make Money With Your Podcast“. You can download 6 ways to make money with your podcast here:

[DOWNLOAD: 6 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WITH A FREE PODCAST]

Do you need help with your podcast? 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 Man Who Chases Two Rabbits … – Episode 220

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Ugh. If I only knew then what I know now.

Are you like me? Have you said that to yourself more than once? Things could have been so much easier.

I’m like most podcasters. I wanted to make money with my podcast. It sounded so easy.

As I was building Podcast Talent Coach, I had always heard about the concept of the product suite. It sounded great. Create a suite of products along with multiple streams of income. You then have money coming from every direction.

That’s where my journey started. I created my Podcast Talent Coach workbook. I was also working to create my course, my speaking platform, my coaching and my live events. It was going to be the ultimate product suite around my expertise.

How many streams did I have launched after 3 years? One.

Yep. Only one.

And it didn’t get much better.

How many did I have launched after 7 years? Two.

Two streams after seven years. It sure wasn’t happening as fast as the experts made it sound.

What happened? Where was my traction?

Now that I look back using what I now know, I realize I didn’t get things up and running until I learned how to focus on the single task at hand.

It was all about focus.

As Confucius said, “The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.”

Once I focused on the single, most important thing until completion, my momentum multiplied exponentially. It was crazy.

Focus helped me reach my goals so much faster.

Now, I have a plan in place to launch 4 more streams. But, all in due time. And all one at a time.

Had I learned to focus from the start, it would have saved me so much time, energy and pain.

Take time to find the idea that is right for you. Look for the low-hanging fruit. What is the easiest idea to select that you could get launched quickly without a big investment of time?

Dan Miller from “48 Days To The Work You Love” tells the story of selling his original version of his book in a 3-ring binder. He took orders, printed them at a copy shop and mailed the binder to the customer. He got proof of concept and launched. It wasn’t perfect. But, it was done.

Pick one idea and go. You won’t know until you try.

If you want help refining your strategy, take advantage of my FREE podcast strategy session.

[GET YOUR FREE PODCAST STRATEGY SESSION HERE]

There is no hard sell during the call. We talk about you, your podcast and your goals. We create a plan. At the end, if we work well together, I’ll ask if you would like my help with the plan.

That’s it. That is the whole pitch. If you are comfortable executing it on your own, we are all good. If you’d like my help, we can talk about how that would look.

I just hope to help you learn the lessons I learned the hard way without putting you through the time, effort and pain.

You have probably heard the saying, you can spend money or your can spend time. Do you want to go through the process with trial and error, or would you like to take the fast path?

I was on a coaching call with James the other day. He is struggling with the process of creating his podcast. He feels it consumes a lot of time during the week that he would rather be dedicating to his business.

As we talked about his process, we realized he touches his podcast many times throughout the week. This includes developing the topic, researching the idea, creating his outline with the Show Prep Planning Worksheet [ Click here to download], finding time to record, editing the show, creating the show notes, publishing the show, and marketing the podcast.

James and I developed a plan where he would batch a bit of his work. Rather than spending time every week developing topics, James began using a content planner. He now has topics for the next 12 weeks planned out. He now just needs to create the episodes. There is one big chunk of his week back.

How can you batch part of your process? Maybe you can record a few episodes at a time to save on studio set up time. Maybe you can publish a few at a time and schedule them to be released according to the plan and save time there.

Find areas of your process that you can refine. Just because everybody does it one way doesn’t mean you need to follow along.

If you would like help with your process like James, give the FREE Podcast Strategy Session a try. You can find the info at podcasttalentcoach.com/coaching.

Have fun and 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.

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

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

Getting The Sale vs. Building The Relationship – Episode 198

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Getting The Sale vs. Building The Relationship – Episode 198

Building The Relationship
How to focus for long-term success and lifetime value

Are you focusing on the sale or are you focusing on the building the relationship with your client?

I am often asked how to make money with a podcast. The short answer is easy – have something to sell. The longer answer is build a relationship with your audience that includes trust, and cultivate that relationship over a long period of time. That is what we are going to discuss today.

RADIO RELATIONSHIPS

While in radio, I programmed in many different formats. Top 40, country, alternative, adult contemporary, classic hits. There have been many.

As a program director, I would be responsible for everything that came out of the speakers. The music, on-air personalities, contests, promotions, imaging, commercial production and anything else you heard was under my direction.

While programming country and top 40 stations, I would often be asked about the differences between the two genres. Garth Brooks and Thomas Rhett couldn’t be more different than Usher and Katy Perry. The differences don’t simply lie in the music. They way they handle their relationships are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The relationship an artist has with a program director at a radio station has a great deal to do with the longevity of the career of that artist, because the program director determines what music gets heard on the radio. It is just like any business. If you want your product displayed prominently in the store, you need to have a solid relationship with the storekeeper.

In the country format, the artist works hard to develop the relationship with radio. Many country artists are working to build a career that will span decades.

Garth Brooks had his first hit in 1989 and still has hits on the radio today, though it is more of a comeback. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Blake Shelton all began two decades ago. Even New Artist of the Year nominees like LOCASH have been around for 10 years.

Country artists will put in the time and effort today in order to have a career for years. They will make radio visits at the beginning of their career just to meet the station staff and play a few songs. We have had Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Eric Church and many others at the station for a visit. That is how they start their careers.

Artists on the top 40 side are a complete different story. The career lifespan of a top 40 artists is usually less than a decade. It is rarely longer than an album or two. Many have a hit and never release an album.

With such a short career on the radio, top 40 artists need to get it while they can. They have meteoric rise and fall just as fast. They have very little interest in building a relationship, because the longevity of their careers don’t give them time to do so.

It is interesting to wonder if the career of the top 40 artist would be lengthened if they worked on the relationship. It may not extend their life on Top 40 radio. However, it may keep them in favor in some of the adult formats.

Let me give you a few examples of the differences between working on the relationship and focusing on getting paid.

Please don’t think I’m special. In telling these stories, I’m not dropping names trying to make you think I’m important or I think a lot of myself. Artists do this for many radio program directors. That is how they create their relationships.

THE COUNTRY RELATIONSHIP

First, the country side of things. Blake Shelton is everything you think he would be. Fantastic guy.

Blake Shelton had been a television judge on NBC’s musical talent show The Voice for a few seasons when I headed backstage to meet him for the second time. I had briefly met him at an industry party a couple years before this.

On this particular hot, sweaty, summer day, Blake was headlining the Country Stampede near Manhattan, Kansas. This is a multi-day, outdoor music festival that involves tens of thousands of people camping, drinking and enjoying some of their favorite country bands.

Prior to Blake’s set, he was scheduled to do a meet-and-greet with a bunch of fans and radio listeners from around the area. It would last about 20 minutes under a hot tent meeting fans, taking photos and signing autographs before he went onstage to perform for 90 minutes.

I was out front-of-house chatting with my rep from the record company. He said, “I want to take you back to say ‘hi’ to Blake before he goes on.”

The two of us head back to Blake’s bus and rap on the door. Blake comes out, give us both a big “how ya doin’?”, and we get to talking. We talk about everything. He tells us about the drama with The Voice judging. He tells us about working on the new album, his relationship and his love of this part of the country (he’s from Oklahoma).

We are chatting for about 10 minutes or so when I notice his road manager beginning to linger around and checking his watch. I know Blake still has to do the meet-and-greet and then hit the stage on time. I don’t want to be the guy to hold him up.

In order to keep him on time, I say, “Well, we’ll get out of your hair and let you get at it.”

Blake says, “What, you’re leavin’ already?”

I said, “Well, this guy looks like he has a few things for you, and I think you have a little something to do after this.”

“Ok,” he says. “Thanks for comin’ by. Hope you enjoy the show.”

He is awesome. Always gracious and shows appreciation that we came to the show. I have met him a few other times backstage and it is always the same. He is a class act always building the relationship.

THE TOP 40 DOLLAR

On the top 40 side of things, radio people are usually treated just like everyone else. Sometimes, it isn’t even that good.

Usher is a great example of “get it while I can”.

Usher was playing Kansas City. He was also doing a meet-and-greet prior to his show. I was allowed to accompany our few station winners backstage to meet him prior to the show.

Our winners to added to winners from various other stations, plus fan club members, friends and family. There must have been 60 or 70 people in this group.

The entire group was led backstage to a small meeting room. We all packed in and then grouped by classification. Fan club winners were first. They were followed by radio winners. Finally, friends and family wrapped up the end.

After we waited in the room for 10 or 15 minutes, a large gentleman came into the room wearing a shirt that I’m pretty sure was a size or two too small. His arms alone were stressing the stitching.

I am assuming this guy was a personal assistant or bodyguard for Usher. Not sure. He didn’t take time for warm greetings and salutations. He had a radio to communicate with others, so I figured he was important somehow.

He says, “Can I have your attention? Here’s how this is gonna work. I need you all to form a single-file line along that wall. In a few minutes, Usher is going to come through this door. He is going to stand right here. When you get to the front of the line, you will hand your bags to this lady to hold and your camera to this gentleman right here. He will take your picture with Usher. He will give your phone to the lady with your bags. You will collect your belongings and step into the hallway where we have pre-signed 8x10s for you. Usher will not sign anything in line. Please do not ask.”

The bodyguard guys then says, “When Usher comes into the room. Do NOT take any photos of him. Put your cameras down. This gentleman is the only person who should be taking photos. If you DO take photos of him, your camera will be confiscated, your tickets will be taken and you will be escorted out of the building and not allowed to see the show. Any questions? Good. Usher will be here in just a few minutes.”

When we did get to the front of the line, I followed the directions as we were told. Usher stood there with his hands folded in front of him and sunglasses on. He didn’t say a single word or shake my hand. I smiled for my photo, collected my belongings and went about my business.

That was the only time I ever met Usher. He hasn’t had a hit on Top 40 radio for quite some time. That’s the way it is with top 40. Get paid while you can.

LIFETIME VALUE

I have had dinner at Reba McEntire’s house. I couldn’t even get back to say hi to Bruno Mars.

Brad Paisley invited me and my kids onstage during a show. I have been on Zac Brown’s tour bus. Katy Perry wasn’t meeting people. Beyonce stayed on her bus until it was showtime and went straight back to her bus when it was over … and I was the one putting on the concert. There was not even a thank you.

Top 40 artists are looking to get paid now, because they aren’t sure how long their careers will last. Top 40 artists that were on the radio ten years ago are rarely heard from today.

Country artists are working to develop the relationship for a long-term career. They realize they could easily still be on the radio twenty years from now.

With regard to your podcast and online business, are you working to generate the sale and get rich quick? Or, are you working to develop a long-term relationship where you might make less now, but the lifetime value of the relationship could be worth many times more?

Take your time. Build your tribe methodically over time and cherish each relationship. Make each member of your tribe feel special. The stronger the foundation, the longer the house will stand.

 

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

The Six Essentials Of A Lead Magnet – Episode 197

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The Six Essentials Of A Lead Magnet – Episode 197

Powerful Lead Magnets
Copyright: alphaspirit / 123RF Stock Photo

Many of my clients and those that join Dave Jackson and me on the Podcast Review Show want to grow their e-mail list. Rather than offering a powerful lead magnet, many of them simply have a “subscribe to my newsletter” button. How often are you hoping somebody will send you another newsletter?

Let’s talk about building a powerful lead magnet that people will actually want. One that will drive your opt-ins.

What is a lead magnet?

Ryan Deiss at Digital Marketer defines a lead magnet as “a small chunk of value that solves a specific problem for a specific market that is offered in exchange for an opt-in.”

By that definition, “subscribe to our newsletter” is NOT a lead magnet.

Your lead magnet is the beginning of your relationship with your listener. Our intention is to eventually make them a customer. By having their e-mail address, you can provide them with some quick value and start building likability and trust.

I love Ryan’s definition, because you can look at your piece of content and know instantly if it is a true lead magnet.

Let’s look at each piece individually.

 

A SMALL CHUNK

A small chunk means your piece of content is easy to consume. It is small.

This should be a quick report and not a 148 page e-book. I can’t tell you how many free e-books I have saved on my computer that I intended to read, but never got around to it.

My quick count is 47. Very quick, but rough enough for you to get the idea.

I love the idea of getting an e-book. I just never set aside the time to read them. It takes too long. Therefore, I don’t move along the value ladder. The content doesn’t serve its purpose.

Create a lead magnet that offers quick results for one big thing. Give your listener results quickly that will move them along your value ladder and closer to becoming a paying customer.

When I first started creating lead magnets, I created 3 free videos. One is the power of one-to-one communication. One is the difference between marketing to men and women. The third is the power of theater of the mind.

Each video was 30-minutes of some of my strongest teaching. I saw Brendon Burchard release videos like this for his programs. I saw Jeff Walker release videos like this with Product Launch Formula.

What I didn’t realize was their videos were further up the value ladder. These videos were part of their launch sequence. I had already received their lead magnets. We had already started a digital relationship. Their videos were part of their training, not lead magnets.

My 30-minute videos were not successful in gaining opt-ins. I got a few, but nothing like my worksheets.

I offered a Show Prep Planning worksheet. It contains five questions that help you lay out your entire episode. This list is by far my largest list. 90 minutes of video training gets crushed by a checklist with five questions.

Make it easy and quick to consume.

 

OF VALUE

Do people actually want your piece of free content?

Not only does your lead magnet have value, your customers/listeners/tribe must be able to understand that value. Your lead magnet must have high perceived value.

If I tell you my list of 17 of the Most Powerful Podcast Interview Questions Ever will help you creating one-of-a-kind interviews without hours of preparation, you should be able to understand that it will save you hours of time.

My videos probably had trouble here as well. Long doesn’t necessarily mean valuable.

What will your piece of content do for your listener? Make that benefit and value clear to your listener.

 

THAT SOLVES A SPECIFIC PROBLEM

Your product will do one of two things. It will give your prospect pleasure or remove a pain. This is often referred to as vitamins or aspirin. When you look at marketing that usually works best, it contains a promise to solve a problem. Aspirin sells better than vitamins.

Your lead magnet should solve one problem. Not 17. One.

That problem should be specific, well-defined and easily understood by your audience.

Shave 3 hours off of your prep time.

Cut your post production in half.

Double your Facebook followers.

Lose 8 pounds in the first week.

Singular and specific.

When you get your listener quick results, you move your prospect up your value ladder. They experience the results quickly. This creates a niche that is very focused on a single problem you can now solve with the rest of your autoresponder series.

 

FOR A SPECIFIC MARKET

We know the problem. Now, we need to know that target audience. You cannot market your solution to an audience unless you have defined that specific audience with the specific problem.

When we know who they are, we know where to find them. We know what they want, need and desire. We know how to structure our communication. We know the pain points to address.

In radio, clients would often come to us to help create their marketing plan. I met with an owner of a local jewelry store. He was looking for ways to reach an audience he didn’t typically reach with his direct mail and newspaper campaigns.

My first question to radio clients is always, “Who is your target customer.”

This guy tells me, “Our customers are everybody, but mostly people 25- to 54-years-old.”

“Well,” I say, “that’s not a target customer. That is a family reunion.”

The 27-year-old male coming into the store is buying jewelry for a completely different reason than a 52-year-old female. He might be getting married for the first time. She may be looking for a college graduation gift for her daughter.

These two people probably have different budgets, different needs, different pain points, different language and a different sense of humor. You cannot communicate and persuade to both using the same message.

Define your target, so you can tailor your communication.

 

THAT IS OFFERED

People won’t know about your lead magnet unless you tell them. If you have a lead magnet, offer it to your audience in various ways.

“If you build it, they will come” only happens in the movies.

There are many ways you can get people to your lead magnet.

Tell your audience about your great piece of free content on your podcast.

Use your newsletter to spread the word.

Make sure it is prominent on your website.

When you are giving interviews, tailor the lead magnet to that specific audience.

Post the link on your social media.

If you have a few extra dollars, run some ads. However, only do this once you know the audience wants your lead magnet by testing it through the other methods.

 

IN EXCHANGE FOR AN OPT-IN

The whole reason we built the lead magnet is to get the e-mail address. Make sure you have set up your e-mail system to collect the addresses.

As you create your opt-in, make it easy. Reduce the number of hoops your listener needs to jump through. This is easier said than done.

When you build the steps, you add in their name and e-mail address and a bunch of other stuff. After the opt-in is complete, step back and look at the entire process. Do you really need all of it? Can you make it easier?

Only collect the necessary info. The easier you make the opt-in, the more success you will have.

 

LEAD MAGNET IDEAS

Resource kit/tool box.

Report or guide.

Free trial.

Cheat sheet.

Checklist.

 

Digital Marketer is a great membership. I get so much value from the Execution Plans. If you are looking for help in any aspect of your online business, chances are there is a course inside of Digital Marketer that can help.

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

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

How You Can Make Money With A Podcast That Is Free – Episode 167

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How You Can Make Money With A Podcast That Is Free – Episode 167

8 business models to make money with a podcast
Copyright: nexusplexus / 123RF Stock Photo

One of the most popular and controversial questions in our industry is, “How do I make money with a podcast?”

The question is popular, because many podcasters hope to monetize their content. That desire ranges from simply covering the costs associated with producing the show to making more than an average annual salary each month.

Earning money with an online business is a desire of many budding entrepreneurs. Podcasting is a great way to begin sharing your message.

The controversy arises between those who want to make money and those who see it as a hobby where profit is unnecessary. The fans of the hobbiest approach often wonder why people think it is so important to make money with your show.

Making money isn’t necessary. It also isn’t evil.

Both sides of the debate can be correct. It is all about your point of view.

 

THE POWER OF “FREE”

Today, we are taking the monetization route.

Much of the information I want to share with you on this episode is derived from a great book called “Free: The Future of a Radical Price” by Chris Anderson.

 

If you would like to purchase the book, I would truly appreciate it if you would find it through this affiliate link. It is a great read.

 

 

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?

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.

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 streams of income using our podcast?

 

STREAMS OF INCOME

 

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. We will only review part of one section. You can find all of the ideas in the book using the link.

 

 

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

This secion will give us a few business models to discuss. These should give you a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

 

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

 

3. Give away software, sell hardware

Book example: IBM and HP Linux offerings.

Podcast example: Podcast explains how to use the software and provides free downloads, sell hardware to use that software

Podcast example: Podcast explains how to plant a garden/get a better shave/paint, sell the supplies

 

4. Free with purchase

Book example: The loss leaders you see at many retails stores.

Podcast example: Free podcast, bonus audio subscription with purchase

Podcast example: Partial inteview in podcast, collection of interviews free with purchase of book/course

 

5. Buy one, get one free

Book example: The supermarket specials

Podcast example: Free podcast on a related subject with purchase of subscription to site

Podcast example: Two tickets/courses/memberships for the price of one (it’s all info)

 

6. Free gift inside

Book example: Cereal boxes

Podcast example: Podcast directs listeners to free download each episode, which puts listener on a mailing list that can be monetized over time

Podcast example: Podcast listeners use code to access bonus information inside of a membership site

 

7. Free samples

Book example: Everything from gift boxes for new mothers to supermarket samples

Podcast example: Podcast is a portion of a larger recording for sale

Podcast example: Giveaway a free chapter of the book with code word/url included in the podcast

 

8. Free trials

Book example: Magazine subscriptions

Podcast example: Podcast is a smaller portion of a membership or course

Podcast example: Podcast highlights the “what” and directs listeners to the “how” on the website or inside of a product

 

Those are 8 of the ideas in this first section. You can actually get 16 ideas in the direct cross-subsidies section alone. There are 50 business models built on free in the appendix of the book. It is well worth the time.

 

Free 2: Three-party markets – A third party pays to participate in a market created by a free exchange between the first two parties

Free 3: Freemium – Anything that is matched with a Premium Paid Version

Free 4: Non-monetary markets – like Wikipedia and Freecycle.

 

Find my affiliate link to the book here:

 

 

I would love to know how you are using the power of free to drive your business. 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.

Other items mentioned in this episode:

Podcast Talent Coach Coaching

Podcast Talent Coach Survey

Podcast

Build Podcast Fans Like The NFL – Episode 148

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Build Podcast Fans Like The NFL – Episode 148

Copyright: mblach / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright: mblach / 123RF Stock Photo

 

Watching college football (American style) this weekend, I was reminded of a few things you can do to improve your podcast.

The NFL Superbowl is a great marketing teacher if you look closely.

As much as the Superbowl is a game involving two teams, it is really about entertainment. If viewers aren’t entertained, it really doesn’t matter who competes or who wins. It would simply be another game.

The National Football League makes money by providing entertainment to fans. They build an audience for the sport, both live and on television. They then sell access to that fan base to other businesses.

Tickets to the games are only a small portion of the league revenue. Television rights, corporate sponsorships and licensing agreements also add huge revenue. None of these would be possible if the games weren’t entertaining.

Your podcast can mimic a lot of the steps taken by the NFL to create a successful show. Here are a four.

It’s Always Showbiz

Regardless of the topic of your show, it is always show business.

It doesn’t matter if you are talking about movie reviews or mortgage reduction, it must be entertaining.

Entertaining doesn’t necessarily mean funny. To be entertaining, you need to make a connection with your listener. Find a way to stir the emotions of your audience. Emotions make it entertaining.

Think of great movies. Some make you laugh. Some make you cry. Some make you angry. Some make you think. Some make you question authority. Emotions make them great.

The exceptional movie elicits multiple emotions.

Show business is about the “larger than life”. Show business makes you forget your problems and worries. Great entertainment takes you to another place and time. It stirs your imagination.

There is also a bit of amazement, sparkle and glamour in show business. Add some flash and pizzazz. Sound effects, big name guests, professional announcers, and quality production are ways you can add a touch of show business to your podcast.

The content of the Superbowl isn’t the critical element. The two teams playing are simply the foundation of the game. Most people are not big fans of either team. They are watching to be entertained.

People watch the Superbowl for the entertainment value. They watch for the pomp and circumstance. People want to see the half time show. They want to see the commercials. They want to have the same experience their friends have. Year-to-year, the viewing audience of the Superbowl is roughly the same regardless of the game’s participants. It’s all about the entertainment.

Create A Story

Stories help create relationships with your listener. Great stories reveal things about the storyteller. They also engage the audience. A great story can make an average topic compelling.

The NFL puts great effort into the story of the Superbowl. The organization works to find the stories that will captivate the imaginations of America. Then, they do all they can to spread that story.

The stories make the game personal. Tales create a connection between the spectators and the participants. A human feel is created about the game when personal details are revealed with great stories.

Great story lines also create interest amongst the cursory fan who would not normally be interested in the game. Fans of teams not participating in the game suddenly find themselves sucked into the drama of the stories. Those fans want to see how the stories play out.

Make Every Piece Entertaining

Every part of your show should add to the entertainment value. If you make a throwaway comment, your listener will also throw it away. Your listener should be delighted by every element of your podcast. Do not air anything on your show that doesn’t add value.

Find ways to make the generic content on your show compelling content. If you need to convey general “don’t forget” messages, find creative ways to make those announcements.

The Superbowl does a tremendous job of creating entertainment out of every piece of their show.

Some people watch the Superbowl just to see the commercials. In every other show broadcast on television, people sigh, groan and moan when the commercials air. During the Superbowl, you find others in the room quieting guests so they can hear those advertisements.

>> See the Geico – Ice T commercial here.

Hangin' with Ice-T "back in the day" - circa 1989
Hangin’ with Ice-T “back in the day” – circa 1989

The NFL also adds sizzle to other pedestrian elements of the game. The coin toss handled by an honorary coin flipper and is executed with a special coin. Intermission in play (half time) is turned into an over-the-top music performance by the biggest superstars, each year bigger than the last. They players don’t just show up on the sideline ready to play. They are introduced with an opening video piece and fireworks.

Every piece of the Superbowl adds to the entertainment. The field is customized. The exterior of the stadium is customized. The jerseys are customized. Every detail is special.

Make every part of your podcast memorable.

Create Multiple Streams Of Income

As the saying goes, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

If you only have one income source, you leave yourself vulnerable. If that source disappears, your revenue drops to zero. Play it safe.

With multiple streams of income, your revenue isn’t greatly affected by any one particular source. You have some buffer room. When one stream is diminished, you have time to make adjustments to get it back.

The NFL has monetized every part of the game possible. If something can be sold or sponsored in conjunction to the Super Bowl, it usually is. The NFL makes money in many, many different ways.

Word is the average price of a 30-second commercial airing during the Superbowl is $4 million. That revenue is received by the broadcasting network. However, the NFL is paid a hefty sum for the broadcast rights.

The pregame show, half time show and broadcast studios are sponsored. The coin flip, game clock and replays are all sponsored. Even the NFL donations are sponsored.

The Super Bowl Champion t-shirts and hats are for sale as soon as the game ends.

Revenue comes from many different streams.

Create some consistency in your income by creating multiple streams of revenue.
Copy a few of these NFL Super Bowl tactics with your podcast. You will make the relationships with your audience much stronger. You will create more consistent revenue streams. Your show will also be more consistently entertaining and successful.

In the last episode, I rolled out the Powerful Podcast Interviews Workshop. This will be an exclusive workshop for about 15 dedicated podcasters looking to improve their interviews.

The workshop will take place over 5 consecutive Saturdays beginning January 7, 2017.

If you would like to join me in the Powerful Podcast Workshop, no strings attached, simply e-mail me today. Send your request to join to Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. You can also find complete details HERE.

I will review all requests on Saturday, December 16, 2016. I will then select the 15 or so podcasters to join me in this workshop.
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

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

How Radio And Podcasting Are The Same – Episode 118

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How Radio And Podcasting Are The Same – Episode 118

The podcast “elite” will sometimes say, “This isn’t radio, this is podcasting. It’s different here.”

Well, I have news for you. Podcasting and radio are more alike than some will admit. You could benefit a bit by recognizing the similarities and borrowing the best practices.

There are many ways that radio and podcasting are the same.

The Same …

1. Same Tools

Both create with audio equipment.

This one is pretty obvious. Both are creating shows using a mic and other audio equipment.

The different ways the equipment is used makes it art. One sculptor may work with wood when another works with rock. Both are still sculptors and artists.

2. Same Approach

Both sit in a room alone trying to entertain people they cannot see.

It sounds crazy when you say it out loud. Both podcasters and broadcasters sit alone in a room talking with people they can neither see nor hear. Both try to predict the reaction of the listener while creating the entertainment.

3. Same Conversation

Both have real conversations with the listener.

Being authentic is critical to success of both podcasters and listeners. Both try to build knowledge and trust with the audience in order to develop a relationship.

4. Same Visions

Both create images in the mind of the listener.

When you tell great stories, your listener gets to know you. This is part of the “know, like and trust” philosophy of doing business.

Stories with vivid details allow the listener to develop images in the theater of the mind. These stories allow her to enjoy the story in her own way.

5. Same Experience

Both are individual activities.

When two people watch the same video, little is left to the imagination. When the same two people hear audio, each will develop individual images in their mind.

No two images will be identical. Listening is an individual activity.

6. Same Connection

Both try to make a one-on-one connection and create a following.

The podcaster and broadcaster are both trying to create a tribe for their content. If you are not trying to grow your audience, you will eventually be talking to yourself.

7. Same Episodes

Both produce episodic content that keeps listeners returning.

This is especially true in talk radio. Content is regularly produced by both podcasters and broadcasters. Those episodes of content build upon each other to create an ongoing show.

8. Same Goal

Both hope to capitalize on the attention using a strong call-to-action.

Content is created by both in order to attract an audience. Once the audience is built, both try to activate that audience with a call-to-action.

The goal may be monetization, support or simply returning for the next episode. Either way, both hope to move a group of people.

9. Both Can Interact

Both are able to interact in real time.

This wasn’t true a few years ago. However, now that technology has come such a long way, both podcasters and broadcasters can interact with the audience in real time.

Podcasters chat with their listeners in real time using phone systems, Google hangout, chat rooms, and other methods. No longer is this feature limited to broadcasters.

… And Sometimes Different

There are a few features of podcasting that differs from broadcasting.

1. Podcasters Time Shift

Podcasting can be time shifted. This can be a benefit over broadcasting.

Podcast listeners can enjoy the show anytime they would like. They do not need to be next to the radio at a given time in order to hear their favorite show.

This is a feature and not necessarily something that makes podcasting inherently different from broadcasting. When we are talking about the art and goal of the audio, this is just a different way of delivering.

2. Podcasters Benefit From The Beginning

Podcast listeners start at the beginning. Mark Ramsey did a great session on this at New Media Expo 2015.

Some broadcast listeners join the show at the beginning and some join in the middle of the show. Podcast listeners all start at the beginning of the episode.

Rarely will a podcast listener download a show, scroll through to the 17:00 mark and begin listening there unless there is a specific direction to do so.

3. Podcasters Can Niche Down

Podcasting can afford to be more niche. By nature of the medium, broadcasting must be mass appeal. This is definitely a benefit for podcasting.

4. Podcasting Is Inclusive

Almost anyone can create a podcast. Podcasting requires a minimal investment. This makes it easy for most to get involved. There is no limit to the number of podcasts that can be created.

Getting on the radio requires getting through the gate keeper. Your other option is to buy your own station. Both are quite difficult.

Again, advantage podcasting.

The nine similarities between the two formats are largely foundational. The essence of the art is the same. The goal, methodology and tactics are identical between the podcasting and radio.

Podcasting enjoys a few benefits over broadcasting. The few differences are hardly enough to proclaim podcasting much different than radio.

I’d love to know what you think. E-mail me anytime 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

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

How Do I Market My Podcast ? – Episode 114

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How Do I Market My Podcast ? – Episode 114

Answering listener questions

Thank you for allowing me to help you with your podcast. I get a great deal of joy helping podcasters achieve their goals.

A few weeks ago, I asked you for questions and ways I can help you with your show. I received some great questions from you. This week, I want to go through a few with you.

How do you market your show? How can I get to the point of launch? How do I fight the Impostor Syndrome? How do I name my podcast?

I’m struggling with promotion/marketing and spreading the word.
-Greg from the “I Want To Know” podcast

There are many ways to market and promote. Most of it takes time.

I learned a lot about marketing from Paige Nienaber from CPR Promotions. He often refers to this drip style of marketing as dog crap marketing.

Paige lives in Minnesota, where it snows a lot every year. The ground is typically covered with snow from November to March.

Paige also owns a dog. If you are a dog owner, you know all about cleaning the back yard. The dog makes deposits. You clean it up.

Just because there is snow on the ground doesn’t mean the dog doesn’t need to go out to do his business. It just makes it tougher to clean up.

When the snow finally melts in March, you find the results of all the hard work of your dog. It wasn’t done in a few days. It built up slowly over months of productive work by the dog.

The same is true for your marketing. Work on it daily and let the results build over time.

Here are six tips you can use.

1. Know your most frequent listeners by name and use them.
2. Use stories to stand out and be remembered.
3. Host events to create community.
4. Make it easy to share your content.
5. Don’t blow your first impression.
6. Write great show notes with helpful links that your audience can use.

You can find a worksheet of 52 podcast marketing tips at PodcastTalentCoach.com.

I am a beginner, not even live yet, in fact having problems getting from intro, outro, episode and artwork to live. So frustrating, feeling like I am THIS close.
– Corrine

This is a matter of finding the courage to launch. Fight the impostor syndrome. Learn as you go.

If you have your intro, outro, episode notes and artwork, you are ready to go live.

Create a WordPress site and sign up for a Libsyn account. This should put you in a great position to launch.

If it is belief in yourself that is holding you back, take baby steps. Record three episodes telling yourself you won’t really post these. You are just practicing. Get them recorded.

Once you have the episodes recorded, put them on Libsyn and post to your WordPress site to ensure the technology works. Test the links. Listen to the shows. Submit it to iTunes. Just tell yourself you can always change it if necessary.

After you are sure everything works, move on to the next few episodes. Changing those first three episodes is posible. However, it is more work. I think once you get them posted, you will be more excited and interested in working on the next few episodes rather than tinkering with the first three. Move forward in baby steps.

If it is the technology that is holding you back, check out Dave Jackson at the School of Podcasting. He has great tutorials that will help you create a website, set up a Libsyn account and submit your show to iTunes. He also has a great offer where he will set up your site if you order your hosting through him.

Dave always says if you can post on Facebook, you can create a website with WordPress and launch a podcast. Don’t let the intimidation stop you. There are many resources that can help.

I want to launch a show I can be proud of. I quickly get into my own head and get slapped down by the Nobody’s Going to Like This Fairy. Stupid fairy. Any tips for shutting that voice up?
– Greg

I began my broadcasting career when I was 19. It was completely by accident. I was going to college to get my architecture degree. Since I was 12-years-old, I had been tailoring my education to be an architect or engineer.

In college, I had the same fear of public speaking as most people. In our design classes, we had to do presentations in front of a panel of judges. I absolutely hated doing these presentations.

During class, four or five students would present during the hour. It would take about a week to get through the entire class. That was the worst part. The anxiety would build for presentation day only to not get your name called. I would have to live through the anxiety again in anticipation of presenting during the next class.

I never envisioned being a public speaker, radio talent or any other presenter.

My younger brother worked for a radio station at the time. I was home for the weekend doing nothing like most college students. That was when the phone rang. It was the manager of the radio station looking for my brother to fill in during a shift. My brother wasn’t home and I was offered a part-time job.

My career in radio started just running the board for long-form programs. I only talked on the radio between the 30-minute shows. I might give the time or temperature. Otherwise, I would sit around while the show played. Speaking was minimal.

As an elective for my architecture degree, I took a class called “Broadcasting For The Non-Major”. I figured being in a radio station for a part-time job should make this class a little easier. It would also help me learn more about my job.

That class eventually led me to become the music director of the college station.

That position got me a job working overnights at a commercial station. Suddenly, I instantly found myself talking to 10,000 people. I was no longer talking between long-form programs to a handful of old people. This was real radio.

Over time, I started to get comfortable talking on the radio. It took a little time. I eventually got there.

As I started picking up more hours on the air, my boss started to send me out broadcasting live in front of a crowd. I was being sent onstage to introduce concerts in front of 10,000 people. These were no longer people I couldn’t see. They were right in front of me.

It took me years to figure out how to overcome those butterflies I would get each time I stepped in front of a crowd. There were tips and tricks I learned along the way to help me. It was a combination of things I learned over the years that helped me defeat the jitters. Here are a few ways to shake the butterflies out of your system. It could save you years of trial and error.

Preparation is the key idea in the process.

Here are four steps to properly prepare for your show.

1. Overcome Jitters
– Prepare your material
– Rehearse
– Focus on one person – preferably your single target listener you have defined
– Tell yourself you are an expert at your opinion
– Making people either love you or hate you only means you are making people care.

2. Create Great Notes
– Bullet points – don’t script
– Tell stories
– Give examples – play audio
– Determine your open and close, intro and outro for show and each topic … “now it’s time for” is not an appropriate intro

3. Set the Room
– Get the temp correct – be comfortable
– Get some room temp water
– No distractions – phone, family

4. Prepare Your Equipment
– Close other programs
– Prepare your software
– Turn off your phone, close e-mail, close IM
– Test your mic and set your levels
Contact and prepare guests & co-hosts

The places I am struggling with my future podcast is mainly the what to name it. I have ideas for about 3 different podcasts (though I only want to start with one). The main problem is naming them also i.e. website name and so forth. I have an idea about formats but with never having done a podcast, they seem to escape me. I know I won’t be perfect at first and I am okay with that. But at the same time I would like to be somewhat in order. A little more guidance on this would be greatly appreciated.
– Richard

The name of your podcast sets up your brand. It should tell people exactly what they will get from your show. Don’t get cute.

If you name your show “Outside the Lines”, nobody will know if that is a show about paint-by-numbers, football or off roading. “School of Podcasting” is pretty clear. You know what you are going to get.

Take five minutes and brainstorm. Start writing every name you can think of that relates to your niche. There are no bad ideas here. Every idea will lead to another. Don’t critique. Just write as much as you can.

After the five minutes is up, review the list. Highlight the names you like.

These names should be clear about your content. Find names that capture the imagination. Look for names that sound interesting.

Once you have narrowed the list to five to ten names, ask others for their opinion. Explain the criteria of a great name. Have them give you their top three choices.

Read over the five or ten lists of three. Look for the names that get the most mentions.

Now, take action. Pick a name and run with it.

What is the worst that can happen? You get a year into it and need to adjust it. That’s ok. On a podcast the other day, I heard someone say, “If you wait until all of the stoplights turn green before you begin your journey, you’ll never start.”

Just begin. Don’t wait for things to be perfect. That will never happen. Just start.
Thanks for all of the questions. If 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

What If I Get Too Much Engagement? -Episode 101

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What If I Get Too Much Engagement? (Listener Questions Part 2) – Episode 101

FITTING IT ALL IN

THANK YOU!

We have made it through 100 episodes. With your help, I have been creating this podcast for nearly two years. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

On this episode, I want to finish the special show we began last week. This is part two of the questions I have received from listeners.

NEW PATHS

I have never had another person on the show. Up to this point, I have simply been sharing my 25 years of broadcasting knowledge with you.

For the 100 episode milestone, I invited a few listeners to join me on the show to share their questions about podcast content and creation.

The response and questions were so great, I had to split the show into two episodes in order to keep it to about 30 minutes each. This week is part two. If you missed the first half, subscribe to the show and give it a listen.

A few questions allow us to dive into some new material. A few help us explore a few topics a little deeper. There are even a few twists along the way.

FRIENDS & INSPIRATION

Here are the people who join me on this episode and inspire me to do this each week.

Kim Slusher – DIStracted Life Podcast
“How do I stand out without being someone I am not?”

Alex Exum – The Exum Experience
“What’s the one mistake podcasters are making?”

Rem Lavictoire – The Sci-Fi Movie Podcast
“How do I include listener feedback if I get too much?”
I truly appreciate all of the support you have given me over the past 100 episodes. This podcast would not exist if it wasn’t for you. Thanks for being part of this great community.

Next week, we will talk about defining your avatar and using that target listener as a filter for your content. Find that worksheet here.

-WORKSHEETS-
Do you have a question? 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

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

The Magic Of Know, Like And Trust – Episode 067

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The Magic of Know, Like And Trust – Episode 067

Know, Like And Trust

It never ceases to astonish me how our podcasts create friendships with people we have never met.

My family and I were at a hockey game a few weeks ago. A couple came up to us and started chatting about the game as if they knew us. We had a great conversation with them as if we had been good friends for years.

When the couple moved on, my wife was a little irritated with me when she asked why I didn’t introduce her. I told her I didn’t know who they were.

These people knew me from being on the radio. I am part of their lives on a daily basis. I share things with them everyday on my show. These people feel like they know me and we are good friends even though we have never met.

This happens all of the time. As podcasters and broadcasters, we have a strange friendship with our listeners. That friendship give us influence.

How can we develop those friendships with our podcast?

Here are five tips.

1. Reveal Things

Reveal things about yourself on your show as you would to your good friends.

2. Include Your Listeners

Make your listeners part of your show. Don’t distance yourself from your listeners with e-mail and text messages. It is much more compelling to hear the words of another individual in their own voice than it is to hear someone else tell the story (or ask the question).

The passion of the message, story or questions isn’t contained in the e-mail. Inflection and meaning are always different when read by another individual. A scripted e-mail lack spontaneity.

I believe this is why interviews are so powerful. You can talk about a book, or you can interview the author. Which is more compelling?

3. Make Your Listener Feel Something

Emotions are powerful.

4. Be A Companion

Make your listener feel comfortable, as if they are spending time with a friend. They will come back time and again. You are their companionship.

5. Help People

Helping others should be your first priority.

 

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

When Did Marketing Become Taboo? – Episode 063

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When Did Marketing Become Taboo?

When Did Marketing Become Taboo

I was listening to Daniel J. Lewis on “The Audacity To Podcast” Sept. 15th episode “How To Deal With Negative Feedback Toward You”. When did commercials become bad?

Here is the comment/quote:

“I feel like I just listened to an hour long infomercial. Daniel, I recognize your need to cross-promote and I realize that your income comes from podcasting. I feel overloaded with commercial information and have quite a difficult time separating out the real content from the commercial content. It’s just too much. Sorting out the things I would consider using from the things I have tried in the past but didn’t work from the commercials just wasn’t worth the hour I wasted this afternoon listening to your podcast today.”

Daniel goes to great lengths to avoid being self-promotional. He mentions his products at the end or when it is contextually relevant. Hence the “I have a tough time separating out the real content from the commercial content”. If one blends into the other, it fits with the content. Daniel hardly creates his podcast to be one big commercial.

On the other hand, why are the product mentions so bad? How do you find out about great products? How did you find out about the last great movie you saw? How did you discover the last great book you read? Didn’t someone tell you about it? Regardless if that person was a friend or part of a marketing message, that communication helped you discover new things. That is what marketing is all about.

Sure, not every marketing message is going to be tailored to your needs. There will be some that might miss the mark. It could be the mass mailing you received from the pizza joint down the street because you have a family of 4. It could be the political flyer you received because of your party affiliation.

Is it that difficult to ignore the irrelevant? Throw it out.

So, how do we make our marketing message relevant? How do we make the message valuable instead of an interruption?

Are You Shouting?

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.

Daniel does the opposite in “The Audacity To Podcast”. He usually starts by helping his listener. Then, if it fits, he will recommend a product or service to his audience.

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 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. 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? Develop the friendship by delivering companionship.

Are You Delivering What They Seek?

People listen to podcasts, the radio and other audio for companionship. They don’t want to drive alone. People have an inner desire to be around other people. Companionship is the reason people listen to your podcast, even if you are selling something. Your listener will always ask, “What’s in it for me?”

Make your listener feel comfortable, as if they are spending time with a friend. When people listen to guys like Adam Carolla, they feel like they know him. Women feel like they could actually hang out with Ellen DeGeneres when they watch her show. Leo Laporte comes across as your friend when you listen to his tech podcast. Each of these shows are about that comfortable connection.

When you make your listener feel comfortable, they will come back time and again. You are their companionship. Are you delivering what they seek?

This week, start with your listener in mind. Ask yourself, “What is in it for them?” I want you to feel confident about your content. You will not please everyone. Focus on your one target listener you have defined using the Target Listener Worksheet at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

If you upset a few people, they either get over it or they would never be your customer in the first place. At least you are doing something to make them care.

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

Top 11 Takeaways From Podcast Movement – PTC Episode 056

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Top 11 Takeaways From Podcast Movement 2014

Podcast Movement 2014
Podcast Movement 2014

Podcast Movement 2014 was held in Dallas, Texas August 16th & 17th. For an inaugural event, PM14 was well run and full of great information. The guys did an amazing job putting it together.

Earlier this year, Dan Franks reached out to me and asked if I would present a session at PM14. I was truly honored. My session on the power of storytelling went over very well. Many people came to the stage after my session to tell me how useful they found the information. I really appreciated the feedback.

I am already looking forward to Podcast Movement 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.

My notebook filled with great notes from PM14. On this episode, I want to share with you my 11 top takeaways from the event. I hope these spark a little something in your to move your podcast forward and transform your content.

1. Have a plan to make money.

This came from Chris Brogan’s Keynote “Podcasting As A Business Driver”. If you want to support your habit/hobby, have a plan to generate income. This could be from your product, service or other income stream. Figure out how to cover your cost at a minimum.

2. Copy = Pale Imitation = Ignored.

Srinivas Rao offered this insight in his Keynote “Genuine Curiosity – The Fuel Behind The Fire”. Chris Brogan said, “No one ever won a race looking sideways.” Be brave and have the courage to be unique. Tell some great stories.

3. What is your brand personality?

Who are you really and who do your clients need you to be? Kristin Thompson asked these questions during her session “Rock Your Talk & Profit Big … Beyond The Podcast”. Define your brand personality. Then, thread it through everything you do.

4. Don’t use white in your logo.

This was mentioned during “Top Podcasters Share Three Success Secrets For Podcasting”. It was a panel discussion with Michael Stelzner, Cliff Ravenscraft, and Chris Brogan. If you want it to stand out in iTunes store, get rid of the white. Make your logo pop.

5. Involve others.

During his session “10 Ways to Take Your Podcast From Average To Amazing”, Daniel J. Lewis suggested you use interviews, conversations, and shared presentations to get others involved with your show. Empower your audience to share your content. Delegate others to help you achieve tasks.

6. #1 goal of podcast marketing is opt-in.

Tim Paige mentioned this in his session “The Top 7 Ways To Grow Your Podcast And Turn Listeners Into Leads”. We’ve heard it many times that the money is in the list. Use your podcast to grow your list every opportunity that you get.

7. Think of your avatar in the car or excercising. What can you provide to make the experience better?

This was a great piece of advice from Jaime Tardy during her Keynote “The Future Of Podcasting”. If you want to connect and engage with your audience, put yourself in their shoes.

8. Learn what the knobs do.

To learn your equipment and what it does, press record and narrate your actions as you turn knobs. Hear how it sounds. This was a tip offered by Dave Jackson in his session “The Art Of Editing Audio – Finding The Diamond In The Rough”. What better way to figure out what all of those knobs do other than tinkering with it.

9. Ask your tribe questions about what they struggle with.

Jessica Kupferman’s session was titled “Your Commmunity Of Kindred Spirits: Why, How and When To Build One”. She offered this tidbit while helping us discover the power and connection of a community.

10. Give your guests resources to promote your show after they are on.

This came during a panel discussion called “Promote Your Podcast The Right (And Unique) Way”. If you want your guests to promote your show after they appear, make it easy for them. Give them graphics, quotes or audio clips they can use to help spread the word.

11. Comfort and awesome usually do not overlap.

I loved this line. It was another from Chris Brogan during his Keynote “Podcasting As A Business Driver”. Be brave. Try something new. Be unique. Have the courage to step out and tell personal stories that cannot be copied. That’s when you’ll get noticed. Don’t be comforable. Be awesome.

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 other tools including worksheets, a workbook and videos to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Find Your Motivation – PTC Episode 048

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Find Your Motivation – PTC Episode 048

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Are you like me? There are times when I find it difficult to find the motivation to take myself to the studio and create a great show. Sometimes it is so much easier to stay on the couch and watch some television.

Just like an athlete, we sometimes just need to find a way to get fired up.

This week, I received this e-mail.

 

I have a podcast about fly fishing that has pod faded. Because I am a fly fisher I thought such a podcast would be ideal. But, it became so much work from pre-production, to post-production, to hitting the publish button on iTunes, that I stopped after 10 months.

I enjoyed interviewing the people on the podcast and the preparation, but quickly grew tired of all the other work it took to publish. 4-6 hours for a 1 hour podcast.

My current challenge is that I enjoy doing several recreational things, but I am not “passionate” about any of them. I just enjoy doing them.

Also, I did not have a product or service to sell and still do not. Since this is not a hobby for me, I want to make a good income from this.

I have purchased your book for my Kindle and am reading it now. I am considering consulting with you for an hour or two to move things along faster.

Right now I am re-grouping and figuring out what to do next and your podcast is a great help.

Thanks again for a great podcast.

Name Withheld

 

There are a few issues within this e-mail.

  • How do we find the motivation to fight through the blahs and record consistently?
  • How can we streamline our workflow to make better use of our time?
  • How can we do more of what we love and less of what we dislike?
  • How can we generate some income?

 

Motivation

Like most podcasters, I sometimes fight the blahs. Are you like me? Do you have those days where you could record for hours on end when you have the drive and you’re fired up?

Then, I experience those other days where I just cannot find the motivation to get into the studio. I feel alone. I wonder if anyone is actually listening.

There are a few ways to find the motivation.

Tips:

  • Find the time of day and day of the week that gives you the most energy.
  • Be consistent with the day and time of the week you record – schedule yourself.
  • Record a few episodes in one sitting to batch similar functions.
  • Always work a week or two ahead to ease the pressure to produce.
  • Have a back up episode in the can in case life happens.

 

Streamline the workflow

Tips:

  • Record a few episodes at one sitting. Setting up the gear takes time. Logging in, gathering material, getting to the studio, getting in the right frame of mind all takes time. You can perform the tasks once for multiple episodes when you put it all into one sitting. You could conduct one recording session per month for 6 hours and be done.
  • Minimize your editing by relaxing on the perfectionism.
  • Find the areas that eat up a lot of your time and remove or condense them.

 

Do What You Love

If you hate editing or creating show notes or posting the episode, farm it out. Use virtual assistants or production assistants. Make it easy on yourself.

 

Much of this costs money, so …

 

Generate Income

  •  What do fly fishers need?
  • Find something that is easy for you to create. Develop your product funnel. In this case, it could be location guides, gear guide, gear reseller, instruction tutorials, tours, travel coordinator, make your own flies.
  • Build different tiers for the funnel.
  • Michael Hyatt & Dan Miller did an interview about making $150,000 a year from your platform. Doing a podcast for 10 months creates a solid base. There is surely something in that niche that could be monetized. It simply needs to be uncovered.

 

This week:

  • Find the motivation to fight through the blahs & record consistently
  • Streamline the workflow
  • Do what you love
  • Build your funnel and begin to generate income

 

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

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

Your Podcast Brand Revisited – PTC 044

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Your Podcast Brand Revisited – PTC044

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This week, we revisit my most popular episode. This episode has been downloaded almost twice as many times as any other episode I have released.

Maybe you missed it. Maybe you caught it and this will be a great refresher. Either way, I have received great feedback on the content and I am sure you will enjoy it.

On this episode, we discuss how to turn you, your content and your podcast into a brand. How do you create that powerful podcast brand to stand out amongst the sea of podcasts that are available online?

Find the original show notes HERE.

 

A few housekeeping notes this week.

Get a one-hour coaching session with Dave Jackson and me for only $50 if you act before June 30, 2014.

Dave and I are now hosting the Podcast Review Show together. Our guests appear on the show to have their podcast reviewed by the two of us.

Typically, hiring the two of us individually for an hour would be hundreds of dollars. Not only do you get an hour of consulting from us on this show, you get to plug your show for a sixty minutes.

Our guests typically pay $99 to be featured on the show. I’ve convinced Dave to cut you a break. By using the code “coach50”, you can appear on the show for only $50.

You get half off. Still an hour. Still feedback from both of us. Still plugging your show. Half the price.

The code is “coach50”. This deal ends June 30, 2014. Get in on it now before we close it.

GET REVIEWED – CLICK HERE.

 

If you are truly serious about building your podcast, improving your show and increasing your traffic, you should also be attending the Podcast Movement in Dallas on August 16 & 17.

Find my affiliate link online at PodcastTalentCoach.com. We are only 10 weeks away from the Podcast Movement. Register today.

 

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

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

Creating Powerful, Podcast Relationships – PTC Episode 022

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Creating Powerful, Podcast Relationships

It has been said may times before. People do business with people they know, like and trust.

To make your podcast successful, you must create meaningful, powerful relationships with your listeners.

In this episode, we review five of the many ways to improve and foster your listener relationships.

 

Their Voice Will Always Be More Meaningful

One major purpose of your podcast is to foster relationships with your listeners. Many podcasters use e-mail, texts, tweets and posts to interact with their audience. The podcast host typically reads these on the air.

Unfortunately, using these methods of communication puts distance between you and your listener. (read more)

 

Assume Your Listener Is New

The opening of your podcast should explain the purpose of your podcast and let your listeners know exactly what to expect as if this is the first time they have ever heard the show.

A well-crafted introduction serves two purposes.

First, it tells the brand new listener who is hearing the show for the very first time exactly what to expect from the show. Second, those that have heard the show before are confident that they are in the right place.

Your audience size is always changing. It is either growing or shrinking. The direction of the movement is your choice. Always work to grow your audience.

Your show will always lose listeners for various reasons. Sometimes they no longer have a use for your content. Sometimes other shows take the place of your show. Maybe they got a new phone and simply didn’t subscribe again. The size of your audience is always changing.

Since listeners are always moving through the “out” door, you need to continuously work to bring listeners through the “in” door. Always work to find new listeners.

As new listeners constantly join your show, treat each episode like it is your first, because it could be the first episode for your listeners.

 

Your Listeners Deserve a “Thank You”

Thanks for listening. I appreciate the help you give me.

It is such an easy way to strengthen your relationship with your listener. Time is something your listener will never get back. She has just chosen to give it to you.

Show your appreciation. If your listeners know you are honestly grateful for their time, you begin to strengthen your relationship. The relationship is a two-way street.

You must be honest and authentic. You can’t thank them in a gas-station-attendant-I’ll-never-see-you-again kind of way. You must deliver it from the heart. It should be the kind of thank you that you would give a stranger who stopped to help when you ran out of gas.

Your listener is your lifeblood. Your audience is the reason you exist. Without your listener you have no show. She has many, many choices when allocating her time. Let her know you appreciate her for spending her time with you.

Thank you for giving me your time. You have done a ton for me just by being here. I truly appreciate you.

 

You vs. Me

Great marketing is like a mirror. It is a reflection of the customer, not of the company. Great products that use great marketing are focused on the needs, wants and desires of their customers. To make turn your podcast into a great brand, focus on your listener and not on yourself.

Scheels had a great commercial for their snowboarding gear. The commercial was completely focused on the lifestyle of the snowboarder. (read more)

 

Be On Their Level

When you’re creating a relationship with someone, you never want to act as if you are better or above the other person. Even if your position allows you opportunities that your counterpart may not receive, you must be humble about those experiences. People like other people who are similar to themselves.

Take the approach of “I’ve been there and know what you’re going through.” You will empathize with your listener. When you come off like “I know everything”, you appear condescending. Nobody likes a know-it-all.

Show respect for your listener and her problems.

Because I am on the radio, I often get the incredible opportunity to meet many musicians. If I were to brag about these fantastic experiences, I would appear arrogant. It would sound as if I believe I was better than you. You probably wouldn’t find it easy to like me much.

Maintain your humility. Keep yourself on the same level as your audience. If you have an opportunity to interview someone famous, be as honored and excited as your listener would be.

You are building a relationship with your listener. Be likable. Be on the same level as your audience.

————

I’d like to thanks Andrew Hellmich and John Hames for their questions included in the show this week.

Find Andrew Photo Biz Xposed.  CLICK HERE

Find John at Sound Commentary.  CLICK HERE

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 FREE worksheets and other 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?

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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, Branding, Make Money, Podcast content

Emotionally Powerful? …

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Emotionally Powerful?

(photo by hvf)

A successful podcast is built on a strong relationship with the listener. It could be called a tribe as defined by Seth Godin in his book of the same name. The strong relationships with your listeners begin to develop your brand. You can then monetize your brand and associated relationships with an effective call-to-action. But it starts with the brand.

Powerful brands are more than just recognizable names. Powerful brands are full of emotion. A brand is a collection of perceptions, creating emotional connections, while consistently delivering on a promise. The more powerful the emotional connection, the more powerful the brand.

Take a moment to think of some very powerful brands and the associated emotions of the rabid fans of those brands. Nike. Volkswagen. Star Trek. Starbucks. Apple. Harley Davidson. Fans will go out of their way to interact with their favorite brand. These brands are unique, because they create powerful emotions within their fans that are not found in ordinary brands.

Ordinary brands lack emotion. Keds. Buick. Battlestar Galactica (either one). Dunkin’ Donuts. Hewlett-Packard. Honda. The powerful emotions are not present for most people in these brands.  Even the websites of these brands lack the emotion of the powerful brands.

An amazing book entitled “The Power of Cult Branding” by Matthew W. Ragas and B. J. Bueno describes the Seven Golden Rules to cult branding. Emotion is the key to all seven. Social Groups, Courage, Fun, Human Needs, Contribution, Openness, and Freedom. All emotional, not functional. It’s not the best, biggest, brightest, loudest, or #1 product. Cult brands are focused on emotion, not hype.

If you want to turn your podcast into a powerful brand that you can monetize with a strong call-to-action, stir emotion every time.

— 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.

Is your podcast emotionally powerful?

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?

Audience Engagement, Audience Relationship, Blog, Make Money, Podcast content, Podcast improvement

Is It An Ad For Everything Else? …

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Is it an ad for everything else?

(photo by crystalvenus)

Media consultant Mark Ramsey had a fantastic blog post this week regarding the monetization of podcasts.

Mark says:

“In the world of these upstarts (the world we all now reside in), anyone can create media and the goal isn’t necessarily for the media to be monetizable but for the media to enable the monetization of other things.”

As long as podcasters see their show as entertainment first and advertising second, a podcast can go a long way to building a brand.  Adam Carolla does an amazing job at this.  He is very entertaining and uses his podcast to promote all of his other ventures.

Entertainment could mean companionship, advice or any other form.  If podcasters make the mistake many advertisers make by beginning with the product features rather than product benefits for the listener, their podcast will be no more effective than their advertising.

A great podcast can help build a great brand if the intent of the podcast is to help the listener in some way.

Read Mark Ramsey’s great blog here:  www.MarkRamseyMedia.com.

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.

Is it an ad for everything else?

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.