Tag Archives: story

How To Build Know, Like & Trust – PTC 358

October 16, 2021 Erik K. Johnson Leave a comment

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To grow your audience and monetize your podcast, you need to build relationships. People do business with those they know, like and trust. That is the definition of relationship.

Today, I want to show you how stories help you build those relationships.

BOOTCAMP

Before we jump into it, I want to invite you to a powerful event that will help you build your podcast monetization strategy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

REGISTER

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

Right now, you can enroll for $97 if you act fast. This fast action deal is good until Tuesday, October 19^th at Midnight. Enroll now at a great deal and secure your spot. After Tuesday, the price goes to $197 and I’ll start promoting it heavily.

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

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

Let’s sweeten the deal for you a little more. If you enroll in the Podcast Profits Bootcamp, I will give you my Powerful Podcast Interviews course as my gift.

Powerful interviews are a great way to grow your audience and monetize your show. This course shows you how to leverage your interviews to engage your audience.

In this course, we talk about why we interview, the essential elements of creating unique interviews, the powerful interview questions and how to ask those questions in a way that will engage both your guest and audience. You get it as my gift with your enrollment.

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

FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH TRUST

Now, let’s talk about how you build trust and use it to grow your show and business.

People do business with those they know, like and trust. That is the definition of relationship. This is where friendship begins.

Think about your best friend. How much do you know about that person?

Do you know where they grew up? How about where they went to school? Do you know what they like to eat or something about their unique interests? There are things they haven’t told anyone but you.

That’s how friendships are formed. You probably weren’t there when they were growing up in their gradeschool neighborhood. But, they told you all about it.

Their embarrasing high school stories may not have included you. But, they told you all about it.

The stories go on and on. Your best friend tells you everything. You weren’t there to experience all of the events, but you heard about them.

That is the power of story. Friends share with friends.

Friendships are built by revealing things about yourself. When you reveal things, you show trust. The more you share stories with your listener, the more you build relationships.

ELEMENTS OF STORY

Powerful stories have 4 elements.

The first is your Provocative Point. My radio coach would always ask, “What do you want the audience to laugh at, marvel at or better understand?” That is your Provocative Point.

This is the goal of your story. Make your audience feel something.

Next, you need an Intriguing introduction. This should include your Provocative Point. Tell people where we are going. Nobody wants to get on a bus when they don’t know where it is headed.

When you start with your Provocative Point, your listeners can enjoy the journey. They can enjoy the details.

That is the third element … your Vivid details. When you include vivid details, your story become more believable. Your story stirs emotion. You transport your listener to your specific time and place. The details create images in the theater of the mind.

Finally, end your story with a Powerful Conclusion. Put a period at the end of your story. This should be a quick restatement of your Intriguing Introduction, just like a great speech.

STORY EXAMPLES

Let’s review an example of how story works in your podcast.

Mike Van Pelt is one of my clients. He gave me permission to share these examples from his True Man Podcast. You can find his amazing show at www.TrueManPodcast.com.

His podcast is designed for men who feel stuck in some aspect of their life.

Do you feel you’ve lost control of your goals or the ability to move in a new direction? Do you feel like you are navigating life’s journey on your own when you could really use a guide and a roadmap? That is what the True Man Podcast is all about.

These stories come from Episode 16 The Comeback. This episode is all about writing your comeback story.

When you tell stories, put your listener in the moment. Stir emotions and make them feel something.

STORY ONE

In the first story, Mike talks about his story. He talks about discovering what it means to be a parent. However, he doesn’t put me in the moment.

This story is not very specific. There are not many details. Give it a listen.

(first story)

There are a lot of generalities in this story. He didn’t put me in the moment.

Mike needs to tell me when he decided it was time to go back to school. Put me in that conversation.

Mike tells me he was talking to his kids about the importance of school. He comes to the realization that he was being hipocritical. Put me in that moment.

Where were you? What were you doing? Mike stirs some great emotions. He tells me about being embarrassed. When does the pivot happen?

I want Mike to get to the point where he says, “Then one day I discovered …” or “That’s when … happened.”

Where is the pivot in the story where we see the transformation happen? Put me in that one place and time.

STORY TWO

The second story gets a little closer. Mike talks with his co-host Paul about the starting a men’s group. Here is story two.

(second story)

This story gets a little closer. They meet Friday mornings. The meetings are in Paul’s office. It is 7a. It is Mike and group of guys.

In this story, I am starting to be present in the room. Use those vivid details.

What does the office look like? Where is the pivot point in that story? The story is a little closer to a great story, but not quite where we need to be.

STORY THREE

The third story is much better. This is a story about a specific retreat.

In this story, we are very specific with the details. As you listen to this story, notice how vivid the details become.

As Mike tells the story, you are put right there in the moment. You can see the surroundings. You can feel the emotion of what he is going through. Take a listen to the specific details in this story.

(third story)

I love the specifics in this story. Mike uses all of the senses.

And, check out the details.

They go up to Virginia a couple years ago.

It was very powerful to be around 300-400 guys and spend the weekend in the mountains.

They got to enjoy a focus on God.

It was Saturday morning.

Michael Thompson walked in on Saturday morning.

He was going to play 3 songs.

The second song was by Josh Groban.

These details are very specific. It is one specific point in time.

The first story was very generic. It could have been anywhere at any time.

In this third story, we are talking about one specific Saturday morning, up in the mountains, when he experiences one specific song.

This is what I’m talking about when I talk about putting me in one moment in time. That’s what brings the stories to life and makes them powerful.

Details and senses make the story real and believable. It also builds that relationship with your audience by revealing things about yourself. Mike is building trust with his audience by trusting them with his vulnerability.

PROVOCATIVE POINT

At the end Mike says, “That song took me out. I was almost on my knees. Because I didn’t know that God loved me that intimately. And I didn’t know I could love him back that intimately.”

This statement is the provocative point. It is what Mike wants the listener to better understand. This is where the story should start.

He could have started the story with, “There was one day when I finally realized that I could love God so intimately.” With this intriguing introduction, we know where we are going.

The intriguing introduction could be followed by the story of being at a retreat one Saturday morning. We were up in the mountains with 327 other men.

This is like seeing the trailer for the movie. We know the premise of the story. Now, we get to enjoy the details.

Use stories in your podcast, and you will begin building powerful friendships with your listeners. This is how you build know, like and trust to monetize your podcast.

JOIN US

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

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

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

I’d love to see you there to help you build your strategy. Get in today. We’ll see you there.

Podcast

Your Why and My Story – PTC322

February 6, 2021 Erik K. Johnson Leave a comment

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If you want to create a successful podcast, you need a strong “why”. If you don’t have a powerful reason for creating your show, it will feel like work trying to record it each week. This week, I will show you my “why” and share my story.

TRAINING

Before we start, 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.

In this workshop, we will 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 your show 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.

WHY YOU NEED A WHY

To build your podcast audience, you need a strong “why”. Building an audience takes consistency. Consistency builds trust.

People are creatures of habit. They typically listen to your podcast on the same day each week. It is a habit.

When your listeners come for your show, you new episode better be there. If they come and you haven’t posted on schedule, your credibility begins to deteriorate. You said you would do something and you didn’t.

Getting into the studio and recording a new episode every week takes dedication. If your purpose isn’t well-defined, it can become a struggle to make yourself stick to the schedule.

When you have a burning desire to lose weight, going to the gym is much easier. The same is true with your podcast. When you have a true, devoted “why” and purpose, getting into the studio become easier.

Find your “why” somewhere in your story. How did you get here? Why are you passionate about your subject and niche?

MY STORY

My whole life I wanted to own my own business and be my own boss. I grew up with a single mom in a household that was probably in the low income bracket, but I never knew it.

Sure, we were challenged by money. We may have been broke at one time or another. But we were never poor. My mom never had that mentality.

Mom waited tables at night, cleaned houses during the day, and created amazing wedding cakes on the side. She did whatever it took to provide for us.

That is probably why I never knew how little money we had. It wasn’t until I had to fill out financial aid forms for college that I discovered our situation. The application required parental tax forms.

My mom’s tax return said she made $12,013 in the past year. Even in the 80s, $12k wasn’t a lot to live on.

She taught my brother and me the value of hard work. And I started early.

I was hustling Christmas cards door-to-door off the back of Boys Life magazine by the age of 10. When I was 12, I bought two cases of gum at a white elephant sale and sold it out of my school locker.

If there was a gig to be had, I was trying it. We held magic shows and homemade haunted houses for the kids in the neighborhood in our garage. I was throwing newspapers and babysitting.

When I was 15, I was doing magic shows for birthday parties. My sister-in-law was my agent booking me gigs. Her son was my first show.

ARCHITECTURE

By the time I was 12, I knew I wanted to be an architect and own my own firm. I loved being creative within a set of strict parameters. It was my creative and analytical sides working together.

I started taking classes and had my first job as a draftsman by 17. I was on my way.

College took me to the University of Nebraska to study architecture at one of the best schools in the country. However by the third year, I realized I was on the wrong path.

Computers had come in and taken over architecture. It lost the magic drafting had once held for me. My corporate ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.

THE NEW DOOR

Then one day, a new door opened for me. I discovered radio.

My brother was working part-time at a local radio station. The manager called to see if my brother could fill in for somebody, but my brother wasn’t home. I knew the manager from another job I held. He asked if I would be interested in some part-time hours at the station.

I was a broke college kid at the time. Extra money is always a good thing when you’re in college. So, I took the gig.

For my architecture degree, I needed a few electives. Like any good college student, I looked for the easy classes and found Broadcasting for the Non-Major. I was already working in radio. How hard could that class be?

One night in class, the manager of the campus station came into the room. He said he was looking for a music director for the station. No experience necessary. No need to be a journalism major.

I had always loved music and was a broke college kid. Extra money is always a good thing when you’re in college. So, I took the gig … and loved it.

That gig turned into a full-time opportunity at another local station. Soon, I was building a career in broadcasting.

I finished my architecture degree and stayed in radio. That first full-time job paid me $12,000 a year. Though it was the same money my mom was making, my parents thought I was crazy. We just paid for a degree in architecture and I was taking a radio job for $12k.

NOT ENOUGH

Though I was having a lot of fun, the credit card companies and the tax man were soon hunting me down. Turns out it is hard to make ends meet on $12k.

I picked up another job in a warehouse and a third job DJing weddings. Just like mom taught me, I did what I had to do to climb out of that hole.

Soon I was making $26,000. Then $36k. Then $46k. I paid my dues doing overnight radio, but it was paying off.

My goal was to eventually own my own radio station. My desire to own my own business and be my own boss was still there. It just looked a little different. I even got my Masters Degree in Business Administration to help make my dream come true.

I had a passion for creating great radio. Coaching the talent was my favorite part of the job. I learned all I could building amazing radio stations with great music, entertaining personalities and fun promotions.

One time, we had half a dozen contestants spend a week in a truly haunted house doing various challenges to win a trip to the Grammy Awards.

Another contest we created involved putting 6 listeners in a van to travel across the country to New York City. Along the way, they would do various challenges in different cities and vote someone off the trip. That loser would get bussed back to town as the others continued along the journey. The winner got to see the Michael Jackson tribute concert in NYC.

One winter, we invited listeners to build sleds out of cardboard boxes and clear plastic tape. They could decorate the racer any way they would like. On Saturday, we brought everyone out to the ski park to race the boxes down the hill. The winner got a wad of cash.

The promotions and marketing plans we were creating were generating buzz in the market. This was my life and I loved it.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Until one day, radio became big business. With the passage of the telecom act in the late 80s, radio started to change over the next decade. Suddenly, the little guy was out and large corporations were in.

Big companies started buying all of the stations. Radio become homogenized. The little guys could no longer buy the good stations. It all started sounding the same.

This was no longer the dream I had. The creativity and entrepreneurial nature of radio had been sucked out. It was replaced with best practices and formulas.

PODCASTING

That’s when I discovered podcasting. The creativity returned. All of the freedom was back. We could one again entertain and control our own shows.

I finally started to really be myself and develop my own personal brand. Rather than being somebody others wanted me to be, I was allowed to be me.

Now, I have a thriving business helping others discover that same passion. I show podcasters how to create great content, grow an audience and build a business around their show without spending 30 years learning it like I did.

The magic is back and I’m spreading it as much as I can.

MY WHY

That is why I do this show every week. My “why” drives me to give you great content you can use each and every week. A burning desire makes it easy to get into the studio every week and produce this podcast.

Take 30 minutes this week and write your story. What is your true “why”? When you find it, your podcast content will start pouring out of you.

I would love to help you even more. Join me for my for my free workshop.

It is a free workshop for you 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.

In this workshop, we will develop ideas for your show. You will receive a workbook to help you develop a clear focus for your strategy.

If you want to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show, and grow your audience and promote your content in just a few minutes a day, this workshop is for you.

Get registered at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/growth. I’ll see you there.

Have a great week.

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

Why You Should Clearly Define Your Target – PTC 313

December 5, 2020 Erik K. Johnson Leave a comment

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There are many reasons why you need to clearly define your target listener. Today, I want to show you six really important reasons you should be able to visualize that ideal target listener before you ever begin recording an episode.

Last week we discussed your 2021 podcast roadmap. That is the foundation for these next few episodes. If you haven’t listened to that show, I would suggest you start there.

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

To help you clearly define your ideal target listener, download my Listener Development worksheet. www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/listener.

This tool will help you be able to visualize that single individual you are talking with on every episode. You content will be much more powerful and connect in a deeper way.

FIND THEM

By clearly defining your ideal target listener, you know where to find them. This is the first benefit.

When you are trying to grow your audience, you need to get in front of people who are not aware of you and your show. You need to let them get to know you. Then, you need to invite them to listen.

It is difficult to get in front of the right people if you don’t know who they are.

Imagine if I wanted you to market a new vehicle that has been developed by a new auto company. How would you begin to market it?

I believe you would begin by trying to figure out the typical driver of a vehicle like this. That driver would be different if it was a pickup truck or high end sports car or an entry level sedan.

Marketing for a Porche Carrera would be much different than advertising for a Ford Fusion. You would look for those ideal customers in different places.

The same is true for your podcast. Know your audience, so you can find them.

HELP THEM

By knowing your ideal target listener, you know how to help them. When you clearly define your listener, you know exactly where they struggle and how you can help them solve those problems.

If you are in the finance niche, the financial problems of a 23-year-old just out of college are probably much different than the problems of a 58-year-old empty nester.

When you can speak directly to those problems, your content becomes much stronger and more powerful. It is like you are reading my mind.

Now you can attract those people to your podcast and offer them additional help with your products and services.

You can’t help everyone. You want to help the right people.

RESULTS

That brings us to the third benefit of defining your ideal target listener. When you know exactly who you are speaking to, you know you can get them results.

If you help people with an online business for instance, you need to decide where they are in the life cycle of that business. Are you helping people who are just starting and trying to make their first dollar? Or, are you helping people who are making $100,000 per year and are trying to scale to $1 million?

Those are much different conversations. When coaches and information experts already have a podcast and have produced at least 25 episodes, I know I can help them grow their audience and drive their business. I’ve done it and know it works.

Does that mean my content isn’t helpful for brand new podcasters or those who do it as a hobby? Not at all. The info is still helpful. But, it is most helpful for those information experts like coaches and speakers who are ready to take it up a notch.

Define your ideal target listener based on who you know you can help.

CONTENT

The fourth benefit of defining your ideal target listener is your content filter. When you know your listener, you know what content they want.

Creating content every week for your show becomes easy when you have defined your listener. You have determined their wants, needs, fears and goals. You know their struggles and problems.

Speaking directly to those areas each week becomes so much easier when you have them defined. Again, your content is much more powerful.

As we discussed earlier, if you are in the finance niche, the financial problems of a 23-year-old just out of college are probably much different than the problems of a 58-year-old empty nester. The same is true for their goals, fears and wants.

You can create a content calendar all around these areas when you have clearly defined your listener.

When you don’t have a clear picture, you start saying things like, “If you’re new, you should do A. But if you’ve been doing it for awhile, you should do B.” Now you are trying to be all things to all people. In reality, you’re serving no one well.

Pick a target so you can hit it with solid content.

CONTEXT

Once you have the content, you need the context. This is the fifth benefit of defining your ideal target listener.

With a clear definition of your ideal target listener, you understand the context in which your content needs to be presented.

I often hear the big internet marketing gurus talk about going to a conference in the Philippines or when they were at their $100,000 mastermind that only meets twice a year at Expert X’s beach house in the Bahama’s.

Those are people who either don’t understand their target audience or their target audience is other big time gurus and not renegades like us. The context is all wrong for people trying to find their way and make their first dollar online.

The first dollar people want to hear from the husband and wife who did it around their passion and have the message of “you can, too.” That is context.

If I know you are trying to create a side hustle around your podcast, I can’t talk about flying to New York and spending ten thousand dollars to do a 30-minute interview with some famous person. It is the wrong context.

Know your ideal listener, so you can create the right context.

STORIES

Finally, when you know your ideal target listener, you know how to frame your stories.

Stories allow your listener to get to know, like and trust you. Through your stories, you listener will know what you believe and value. You trust them with details of your life. They trust you in return.

When your stories elicit that “me, too” response from your listener, they stir emotion. That’s powerful.

In his book Storyworthy, Matthew Dicks teaches the art of storytelling. Matthew is a professional storyteller who has competes in and wins the Moth StorySLAM. These are open-mic storytelling competitions. He is fantastic at telling stories.

Matthew has died twice in his life and had to be brought back to life. He has stories he tells about these two instances. However, neither story is about dying.

One story in particular talks about how his parents don’t come to the hospital immediately after the crash. Instead, they check on the car first. He feels all alone. He then realizes all of his friends have come to the hospital to ensure he is ok and provide their support, and that is the best gift anyone could receive.

Matthew says the story isn’t about dying, because the audience would never say, “Oh yeah, I remember the time I died too.” That doesn’t happen.

Instead, the story is about feeling all alone in the world and then his friends supporting him when he least expects it. Listeners are much more likely to say, “Yeah, I’ve been there. I’ve felt all alone before.”

That is the power of knowing your audience and framing your stories. The fact that his heart stops catches your attention. But loneliness and friendship stir the real emotion in his listeners.

GET STARTED

There they are. Six reasons you really, really need to define your ideal target listener before you record your next episode. Know as much about that person as you possibly can.

If you haven’t listened to episode 312 from last week, go check it out. We talk about your 2021 podcast roadmap.

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

To help you clearly define your ideal target listener, download my Listener Development worksheet. www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/listener.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

What You’re Missing For Audience Growth – PTC284

May 31, 2020 Erik K. Johnson Leave a comment

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Most podcasters think the key to audience growth is attracting more listeners. However, that is only half of the equation. You have to work to keep the listeners you already have.

FIX THE LEAKS

If you are trying to fill a bucket with water, it becomes very difficult when your bucket has big holes in the bottom.

There are 3 keys to keeping your listeners and achieving audience growth.

Be unique and make them remember you.
Give them a reason to come back.
Get them to actually listen.

Today, let’s talk about being unique. Your listeners will remember you by the stories you tell. That is how they get to know, like and trust you.

You can get my Podcast Talent Coach Story Development Worksheet at PodcastTalentCoach.com/story.

IRELAND BOYS’ AUDIENCE GROWTH

My son watches a show on YouTube created by Ireland Boys Productions. These are videos created by a two brothers and their friends. They do crazy stuff like spending 72 hours in a WalMart, sneaking pumpkins into shopping carts of other people and ordering the entire Popeyes Chicken menu.

IBP has posted 201 videos and has 3.78 million subscribers. There have been 6.1 million views on the WalMart video.

These videos aren’t short, either. They are 20-30 minute videos.

These kids even go on tour, because they have created a tremendous following.

The brothers make their fans part of the show. Their viewers get to suggest crazy stuff to do on the show. You can even buy their merch on their website.

Most importantly, their fans know their story. Watching their show, you meet their parents. You see where they live. You see the awards YouTube has given them for their online success.

It is all about their story and the plot of the episode. Each time, you wonder if they will succeed or get busted by store security.

WHO AM I?

When I started in radio, I just copied the other big personalities on the radio. I was using their phrases and mannerisms. I wanted to be them.

One day, I was reviewing my show with my program director. She was helping me find ways to improve my show.

As we were listening to the show, she stopped the audio. She asked why I was using a particular phrase. It was a phrase that was used by the morning guy on our sister station. It was the rock station I was on before I got the gig here.

When she asked, I had no answer.

She said, “Why don’t we leave that to the other guys. You be you.”

That was the day I started being true to myself and defining my own story and personality. I started sharing who I am with my audience. That began my climb to the top.

YOU’RE NOT GARY

Many podcasters hear Gary Vaynerchuk and try to be Gary Vee on their podcast. So, they start dropping F-bombs and living the hustle.

The problem is … they aren’t Gary Vaynerchuk. They weren’t born in Belarus. These people didn’t immigrate to the United States unable to speak English.

Podcasters who want to be Gary Vee didn’t spend their youth working in their fathers’s liquor store. They didn’t grow up learning how to sell by hustling baseball cards. You can’t be Gary Vaynerchuk unless you’re Gary Vaynerchuk.

Stop trying to be Gary Vaynerchuk and start being yourself.

WHO ARE YOU?

What is your story? Where did you come from? What makes you unique?

Let your personality come out on your show. Make a list of your unique characteristics that make you different from everyone else.

Maybe you’re brash, or caring, or cold, or inspiring. People might find you matter-of-fact, or welcoming, or take-no-prisoners, or comforting.

Define your personality. Then, put all of your content through that filter.

Be true to yourself and your listeners will remember you.

With your content, tell your stories. Use your personality to make your listener feel something. People remember emotions. Get them invested emotionally. This is critical to your audience growth.

When you tell stories on your show, define what do you hope to make the listener feel with your story. Always start with the emotion.

FIND THE EMOTION

Once you know have defined the emotion, you will know how to tell the story.

The more stories you tell, the more your listeners will get to know you. They will get emotionally invested with your show. Your listeners will remember you and come back time and again.

As you are working for audience growth, be sure you are working to hold onto the listeners you have.

You can get my Podcast Talent Coach Story Development Worksheet at PodcastTalentCoach.com/story.

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 Power of Story – Episode 242

August 3, 2019 Erik K. Johnson Leave a comment

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WHY STORYTELLING

Have you noticed a lot of the business interview podcasts sound the same? We are hearing the same guests answer the same questions time and time again. How do you become unique in this sea of sameness? Story.

Story and storytelling can transform your podcast. Your personal experiences and stories make you unique. No one has experienced the things you have experienced in the same way you have. If you want to stand out from every other podcast, share your personal story during your show.

People do business with other people they know, like and trust. Your stories create that knowledge. That is where true friendships begin.

Friendship is developed through self-revelation. How much do you know about your best friend? You probably know almost everything. Is it because you were there for all of it? No. It is probably because they have told you the story of all of it.

Stories help define your character and personality. If you want your listener to get to know you, share those personal connections. Connect, motivate and inspire your audience with your stories.

Don’t fit in, stand out.

Your personal experiences are the only way to make the content your own. Great songwriters do it. Great filmmakers do it. Share your stories and stand out.

Was Walt Disneya great story writer? No. He didn’t write any of his big movies. Cinderellawas derived from a story written in 7 BC. Even the first literary European version was published in Italy in 1634.

Walt Disney was a great storyteller. Learn how to entertain through story.

ENGAGEMENT

In podcasting, you cannot afford to be boring. Interest in your story never remains constant. Your information can only become entertainment when interest is rising. A great story continues to develop the plot and raise the interest.

To create engagement, tell great stories. Keep the interest of your listener rising.

Date your listeners. You need to earn the privilege of talking to people who want to be talked to and selling things to people who want to be sold to. To earn that privilege, you need to build friendship.

Great friendships are developed through self revelation. When you share your personal thoughts and feelings with an individual through stories, you begin to create a bond with that person. It is life enrichment. Making our lives better through friendship is the reason we do not live is seclusion.

Over time, sharing stories will begin to build trust with your listener. Your stories share your values and beliefs. People learn what you value and believe.

Practice becoming a great storyteller.

GREAT STORYTELLERS

Great storytellers have the courage to listen to themselves. Hear and have courage to record your personal connections to the events happening around you.

When you use your podcast to create friendships, you are asking people to spend time with your every week. People share time with others that they like. They are asking themselves, “Would I enjoy taking a one-hour car ride with this person every week?”

People listen to audio while they drive, run and workout so they are not alone. They use the audio as companionship. Let your listener get to know you.

Your stories will also let others live vicariously through you. Your listener can enjoy your story of struggle and success without enduring the hard work and pain. Let them enjoy your stories.

ELEMENTS OF A GREAT STORY

There are four essential elements of a great story.

Engaging introduction

Reveal the details

Powerful Resolution

What else?

ENGAGING INTRODUCTION

Give them a reason to care. What do you want the audience to feel? Your stories make you human. Will it be humorous, compelling or tragic. My talent coach Bill McMahon would always ask, “What do you hope to make the audience laugh at, marvel at or better understand?”

Your listener can experience various emotions through your stories. You could elicit joy, sympathy, empathy, anger, tragedy, tenderness, humor, rage, patriotism or many others. Emotions make that personal connection to your story.

Pull your listener into the story. Your engaging introduction is a roadmap. It should be a solid headline that tells your listener exactly where your story will go. “Tell me if I’m gonna go to Hell for this …”

REVEAL THE DETAILS

Details are more believable than generalities. Your details will make your story come to life.

When you develop your details, use all 5 senses. Draw the picture in the mind’s eye of your listener. Make the story come to life. Put your listener right there in the moment. This is theater of the mind.

Your details reveal specifics about your thoughts, beliefs and character.

RESOLUTION

Your resolution should be a powerful reframing of introduction. Your will know when you reach your conclusion when you have successfully achieved the emotional goal set at the beginning. What did you hope to make your audience laugh at, marvel at or better understand? When you’ve achieved that goal, get to the resolution.

WHAT ELSE?

Asking “What Else” will transform your show. Let your story lead to something bigger. Maybe you turn your story into a discussion on Facebook. Maybe your story leads into an interview. What else can you do with it? Create some great entertainment.

HOW YOU CAN BE A STORYTELLER

What do you want to make your listener feel?

What is the engaging set up?

How will it be revealed in the story with vivid details?

What is the resolution?

What else can you do with it?

You can 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

Power of Storytelling – 002

July 22, 2013 Erik K. Johnson 2 Comments

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The Podcast Talent Coach podcast is created to help you with the ART of podcasting. Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment. I’d love to help you with your podcast. E-mail any questions or comments you might have to Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com.

This episode:

-The Power of Great Storytelling

-The parts of a great story

-How to structure a story