Influential Voices of Authority

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

Creating Consistency – My Podcast Workflow – Episode 166 How do you find time to record your podcast? Consistency is an important part of building an audience. This week, I thought I would share my podcast workflow to help you create more consistency with your show. Before we begin, I want to share with you two things. First, I launched a Facebook group last week for podcast interviews. If you conduct interviews on your podcast, join our group here: [PODCAST TALENT COACH INTERVIEWING FACEBOOK GROUP] We are helping each other find great guests and become better interviewers. Next, I received a great e-mail from one of my coaching clients. This shows the power of taking action. Erik, I'm listening to the episode on how to get guests while driving home last night. As u go thru each tip, I say "yeah yeah yeah" until u said those magic words "make the ask short and offer something of value to the guest" and it was like a lightening bolt. I pulled off on the side of the road and messaged a top-of-the-food-chain guest I've been chasing w no results for a while ,,,,,, and said, "Hey I have an opportunity to highlight your vision (something I know he is pushing) and if u can give me a 30 second sound bite I can record it and put it out." It worked. I got the clip today and a commitment for an interview As I reflect on it, I've been trying to impress him w how good my podcast is instead of figuring out what he needed so I could offer that thing of value. One of your most important messages is of being a servant of guests and listeners and giving the something. Thanks Erik. Rick Sizemore VR Workforce Studio Regardless of the information and training I provide you, none of it will matter unless you actually put it to work. That is why I love working with Rick and his co-host Anne. When I make recommendations to them in our coaching sessions, they put the suggestions into effect and see results. They do the work. I'm so proud of them. If you would like information on my coaching services, get details here. [PODCAST TALENT COACH COACHING SERVICES] Now, let's talk about your podcast workflow and consistency. Many podcasters will post episodes consistently. Then life will get in the way causing them to miss a few. They will then get back on track. When this inconsistency happens, they will often reach out to me wondering why they cannot get their downloads to grow. Listening is a habit. Help your listeners to develop that habit. THE BENCHMARK Have you ever listened to a radio show where they do a bit at the same time every day? You know you are on time on the way to work if you hear the game or joke or trivia question when you are at the corner of 16th and Broadway. In news radio, the network news typically airs right at the top of the hour. These stations sometimes do "traffic on the tens", where they air the traffic report every ten minutes at ten past, twenty after, etc. Morning shows on music stations might play their contest every morning at 7:20, creating consistency on the show. The station might do a lunchtime feature playing nothing by 80s music. In radio, we call these a benchmark. The definition of a benchmark is a standard or point of reference against which things can be compared or assessed. When the radio feature happens at the same time each day, that is the point of reference for the show. The benchmark tells listeners they are in the right spot at the right time. It becomes a habit, because listeners are listening at the same time each day. The feature provides stability and consistency in the life of your listener. Your show can do the same thing when you are consistent. Listeners may not listen every Tuesday at 6pm when you post. However, they might listen every Thursday at 7am on their way to work, because they know a new episode is there when they tune in. When you don't publish, the promise and habit are broken. To create consistency, I have found focus is critical. My podcast is the center of all I do. If I do not create the podcast episode, nothing else matters. Therefore, I have scheduled a specific time each week to record the podcast. I built my podcast workflow to streamline the process. If it doesn't get scheduled, it doesn't happen. You should do the same thing. Schedule the time. Build your podcast workflow. Make it happen. There is another step that helps me create consistency. I batch my recording. Each time I go into the studio, I record three episodes. This step also helps me work ahead just in case life gets in the way. I use the podcast time during the weeks I am not recording to write the outlines for new episodes. Let's go over my podcast workflow for each episode. This will help you plan your episodes and schedule your time to record. Most of all, a plan will help you create consistency with your show and a habit for your listener. A good rule of thumb is one hour of preparation for every hour of show. That involves gathering your information and outlining it for the show. Once your show is recorded, you will probably spend another hour or two posting it and promoting it. If you want traffic, you need to spend most of your time promoting and marketing your content. MY PODCAST WORKFLOW 60-second blog content plan Show prep planning worksheet Write the outline Topic development worksheet Develop the lead magnet Write the show notes Set up my studio Record the episode Edit the episode Add the ID3 tags Post the show to Libsyn Create the cover art for the episode using 123RF.com and Canva Post the show to my website Add the appropriate links Send out a broadcast to my list Share on Facebook and Twitter If you wish to create more engagement and increase downloads with your podcast, begin focusing on consistency. Schedule your podcasts. Create a podcast workflow. Then, begin to market your show as much as you can. 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.

How To Find Great Podcast Guests – Episode 165 The best podcasts are those that stand out from the pack. To get noticed, you need to make your show unique. When everyone else is creating their interview podcast, how do you differentiate your show from their podcast? To become unique, find great podcast guests and ask great questions. Those two steps will help you create a solid podcast. Last week we discussed great podcast questions. This week, let's talk about finding great podcast guests. I have been in radio 30 years. I have had the pleasure of interviewing great artists and musicians. I have talked with Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Mustane, Nelly and many, many more. Through the years, I have learned to refine my interviewing skills and techniques. I have learned what works and what doesn't, mostly the hard way through trial and error. Most of these great artists came to me through the record label pushing their latest project. This made it easy for me to get them on my show. I have also interviewed everyday people. These were guests from places like the ballet, the YMCA, the children's theater, and the food festival. My job was to figure out how to make these regular people just interesting to the audience as the big stars. The key was to get the guests to tell great stories. PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP To help you with your guests, I have created a private Facebook group. This will be a month-long challenge to book great guests on your show. Let's fill your calendar for the remainder of the year. This group will help you find great guests. We will share leads. I want to help you get the ultimate guest on your show. I want you to land your ideal guest. If you want to be part of it, get details here. Click here to join Let's talk about where to find great podcast guests. There are many places to find guest for your show. You want to always be looking. In this episode, let's talk about 15 specific ways to find great podcast guests. 15 TIPS 1. Ask every guest for two people who would benefit by being on your show 2. Post a link on your website with the guest criteria 3. Reach out to public relations firms that work in your niche 4. Be active in online groups 5. Explain it on your podcast 6. Reach out to complimentary businesses in your niche 7. Connect with people who write for publications in your niche 8. Keep the ask short 9. Step up connections – find the people who know the people 10. Network at events 11. Talk to other podcasters about their best interviews 12. Find authors that you love 13. Find common people with interesting stories to tell 14. Ask your listeners who they would like to hear 15. Become part of the PTC Interviewing Facebook Group. We'll share leads and hold each other accountable. Click here to join Interview Guest Challenge – Become part of the group. Let's help each other find great guests. Let me know how I can help. E-mail me at 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.

PLEASE, STOP TALKING – HOW TO CONDUCT GREAT PODCAST INTERVEWS – EPISODE 164 Do you want to know how to create and conduct great podcast interviews? Stop talking. Have you ever had a personal crutch or cliché that you used more often than you thought? It may have been something you didn't realize until somebody brought it to your attention. Have you ever said, "Wow! I had no idea I did that all the time"? I'm here to tell you to stop it. A good coach will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear. You need to hear this. When you are interviewing anyone on your show, stop talking. Ask the question, then get out of the way. Let your guest shine. Here is an example. This is a recent question I heard during an interview. Host: "Doesn't money just really make you more of who you already were? It's like money affords your personality to flourish, right? If you're loving and generous and then you become wealthy, you're going to be able to express more of that love and generosity to a greater degree. If you're a jerk and you become wealthy, you're just going to become become a colossal jerk. So, isn't it really just an expansion of who you were at the core anyway? I mean, it's not the money's fault. It's basically just a magnifier of it." Guest: "And it's ... that's a good way of putting it. It just amplifies who you are, and makes it more apparent. It has a greater impact. Yeah, absolutely." This host kept talking to the point that he answered his own question. The guest had nothing left to say. The guest tried to paraphrase the same thing the host said, but couldn't even make that happen. The host made his own point. The host's question was seven sentences. The guest's answer was basically, "Yeah." There are three points to remember when interviewing guests. If you keep these in mind, your guests will feel great about being on your show, and you will look like a brilliant host. Just stay out of your own way. 1. KNOW THE ANSWER Your job is to make your guest look great. You have invited your guest to your show to provide something you couldn't provide alone. They have a story to tell. It is your job to help them tell it. Lead them to the punchline, climax or conclusion. You need to do your homework prior to the interview. You need to know what makes your guest interesting. What will make your guest engaging to your audience? Find that story, and help your guest bring it to life. The story will have a conclusion that you should already know. You've done your homework. You know what happens at the end. It is an art to help your guest tell that story without telling it yourself. Prior to their appearance on the show, guests on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon are interviewed ahead of time by a show producer. It is that producer's job to find the interesting story. If the producer discovers the guest was recently stuck on a roller coaster during a family vacation, Jimmy will tee it up. He will help his guest shine by asking, "How's the family? Have you had time to get away with them lately?" Suddenly, the guest is off and running telling the hilarious story of the roller coaster. It looks like Jimmy got lucky. Jimmy just happened to stumble across a great vacation story. Reality is homework. Jimmy already knew what would make a great story. His homework (or that of his producer) revealed the gold. He simply helped his guest get there. Our host above knew the answer to his question. It was obvious by the lengthy set up. Unfortunately, he proved it rather than letting his guest flourish. The host could have simply asked, "Doesn't money just really make you more of who you already were?" The guest would have been off to the races. The guest could have really explored that theory. The host would have looked like he has great questions. The guest would have looked like he knows his stuff. Everybody wins. Instead, we get, "Yeah, exactly." Know the answer, so you can let your guest shine. 2. STOP TALKING Make your questions brief. If you want to make your guests look great, you need to give them room to spread their wings. Short questions will allow that to happen. Ask your short question, then stop talking. If you are talking, your guest is not. Your listeners have come to hear your guest. Let the guest talk. If your listeners have come to hear you, your guest isn't necessary. Stop wasting everybody's time. Many hosts feel the need to prove how much they know. Hosts want to display all of their knowledge to impress the guest. Unfortunately, this is a myth. By showing how much you know, you are only trumping your guest. If you appear to be the most knowledgable person on the show, your guest will feel uncomfortable. You will soon find it hard to get guests. When you ask brief questions that make it easy for your guest to tell great stories, your guest will look like a star. He will truly enjoy being part of your show. Your guests will want to return. Word will spread. Your show will grow. Finally, your audience will love the new information and engaging stories. Everybody wins when you talk less. 3. NO YES/NO Ask open-ended questions. When you ask questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no", some guests will take the opportunity to answer "yes" or "no". Your interview will go nowhere. Yes/no questions make it difficult for your guest to elaborate. When your guests tell stories, they become engaging. Stories are easy for your guest. Stories have natural flow. Elaborations take a lot of thought. Make it easy for your guest. Our host above started with, "Doesn't money just really make you more of who you already were?" All of a sudden he is faced with a yes/no question. He has forced his guest to elaborate. In order to help his guest, he continues with another yes/no question. In fact, he follows with two additional yes/no questions. Suddenly, his guest has nothing left to say. The host knows that money simply makes you more of who you already are. He could have positioned his guest with, "How does money affect the core beliefs of an individual?" With that short question, the guest is now able to expound with his "more of who you already are" theory. The guest looks great. The host looks brilliant by somehow knowing that money affect the core of individuals. The listener gets to hear a great story. Everybody wins when you stop talking. It is your job to make your guest the star. That is the reason you've invited her to your podcast. She offers something to the show that you cannot deliver as well by yourself. Let her do it. Lob that ball to your guest, so they can hit it out of the park. You don't need to prove how well you can pitch. The goal is to let your guest hit home runs. Make your guest look great. She will love you for it. Your listener will love you for it. You will learn to love yourself for it when your podcast begins to flourish. Ask the question, then get out of the way. Please, stop talking. I'm working on a new project on interviewing. If you would like to get early, inside information on it when I have it ready, sign up. I'll keep you informed before everyone else. Let me know how I can help. E-mail me at 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.

How I Battled To Overcome The Impostor Syndrome – Episode 163 Have you ever struggled with your confidence to launch or record an episode of your podcast? Have you worried that you were just pretending to know what you're doing? That someone might find out that you didn't really belong amongst the podcast professionals? That's the Impostor Syndrome creeping in. I've been there. I was at that point when I started in broadcasting. I continue to fight it today. Proper preparation will help you feel more confident in your content. You can find a free show prep sheet online at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com. This will help you set a solid foundation. MY BATTLE WITH IMPOSTOR SYNDROME I learned the value of preparation by fighting my own battle against the Impostor Syndrome. Impostor Syndrome is defined as a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud". Despite external evidence of their competence, those exhibiting the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved. While in college getting my degree in architecture, I became a party DJ to make some extra cash. Music had always been a big part of my life. I had been a musician since I was 11. However, I had wanted to be an architect since 6th grade. Getting my architecture degree was never in question. Around my junior year of architecture school, I started becoming disenchanted with the field. It was then that I picked up a part time summer job at a radio station where my brother worked. Just to make some extra cash. The drafting firm where I had been working recently closed its doors as the owner went to work for a larger, manufacturing company. As my passion for architecture waned, my passion for radio grew. Next thing you know, I'm taking classes in the College of Journalism and becoming the music director of the college radio station. My music director position at the college station turned into another part time commercial radio job. That position eventually became full time. Architecture was still part of my life. I was nearly done with my degree and didn't want to throw it all away at that point. So, I finished my degree in architecture and continued to work in radio. Oddly enough, my only architecture job came at that drafting firm while I was still in high school. When I began in radio, the impostor syndrome heavily kicked in. I had an architecture background. What right did I have to be on the radio? Who was I to think I was in a position to be amongst these radio guys who had been doing it for many, many years and had paid their dues. When I would interview famous musicians, the Impostor Syndrome would really fire up. I'm just a kid out of college with an architecture degree faking my way through radio. I felt like I was playing dress up and pretending to be one of them. It took me years to get over that and build the confidence to perform on a daily basis. After doing it for over 25 years, I got to the point where I was programming multiple radio stations at the same time. Some of those station were recognized with national awards from the National Association of Broadcasters. The stations I was programming ranked #1 quite often. My own show was regularly #1. I built the confidence within myself to deliver content that was compelling and connected with my audience. IMPOSTOR SYNDROME RETURNS When I launched my podcast, I quickly went back to the beginning. The imposter syndrome kicked in again. Who was I to think I could build a successful podcast amongst these greats that had been doing it for years? Dave Jackson at the School of Podcasting has been podcasting since 2005. I'm just starting. How can I possibly think I belong in the same arena as Dave? Then, I started thinking about my story. I had been here before. My knowledge and experience sets me apart from a lot of podcasters. Even podcasters who had been producing content for years. That helped me shake the impostor syndrome and publish my content. MY NEXT BATTLE Recently, I ran into that little voice again. I was in a discussion with my mastermind about the next step we each needed to take to move forward. What was the "next thing"? As we were talking it through, I finally came to the conclusion that the voice was holding me back. What if I put all this work into creating a course or book or workshop and nobody came? The group helped me once again recognize my experience and knowledge. An episode of "DailyVee" with Gary Vaynerchuk today did the same thing for me. Gary said, "Going 0-for-5 is better than going 0-for-0. At least you're learning something." That made total sense to me. HELP FOR YOU Ignore the voice and move forward. Regardless of the outcome, you'll learn something and be able to do it better next time. That's what I want to help you do. I want to be that cheerleader for you if you don't have the history that I have to overcome that little voice inside your head doubting your ability. You can do it. You belong. You have just as much authority on your opinion as anyone. Let's get it out to the world. It is fairly simple to set up a mic, mixer and laptop. Heck, you don't even need a mixer. Plug straight into your computer. Load up some software and record some audio. Setting up a website with Wordpress, creating a Libsyn account and posting a show isn't very complicated. Even if you are not very technically savvy, there are great people like Dave Jackson and the School of Podcasting that can help you with every step along the way. He even has a great class at www.HowToPodcast.com. You'll have a podcast launched in 6 weeks. Creating the platform is only the first step. Creating great content is up to you. Your content isn't something you can outsource. You need to find the confidence to put your thoughts and feelings out into the world. HOW YOU CAN STAT A PODCAST How do I suggest you bootstrap to begin? Make it simple. Get an inexpensive microphone, like a $60 ATR-2100. Plug directly into your computer with the USB cable. If you're adventuresome, pick up an inexpensive mixer like a $99 Yamaha 4-channel. I just purchase an 8-channel mixer at a pawn shop for $65. Get a free Wordpress site. Create a Libsyn account for $15 a month. You'll need a computer and some free Audacity software. If you already have a laptop, you're up and running for under $100. Again, Dave Jackson has a whole list of recommendations for you at www.SchoolOfPodcasting.com. I leave the technical stuff up to him. WHAT IS YOUR PODCAST NICHE My goal is to transform your content and beef up your confidence. So, how do you define your niche? Will anybody really care? It is easy for the impostor syndrome to sneak in here. Your internal impostor will tell you nobody cares about that topic. Your niche is too small and nobody will come. You'll be talking to yourself. Fight it. Your niche size doesn't matter as much as the passion of the niche community. If you have a group of people that you are passionate about, and they are loyal to a particular subject, run with it. The more narrowly you target your niche the better. If you are interested in fishing, pick a small niche. If you love fly fishing, but create your show around fishing in general, you will find it tough to build loyalty. If your show is only on fly fishing, you will primarily attract those interested in fly fishing. The niche is smaller than fishing in general. However, every show will be of interest to your audience. If your show is "the Fishing Show" and all about fishing, you'll be hit and miss. One week you talk about fly fishing. The next week you discuss deep sea fishing. Now, your fly fisher friends only get what they seek on occasion. You aren't catering specifically to them. People will only check our your show now and then. You will find it difficult to build a passionate tribe. The audience for "The Fishing Show" looks like a bigger audience than "The Fly Fishing Show". But, it is deceiving. The passion lies in the niche. Be confident in your topic. You will start slowly. But, it will grow. Stay the course. PLANNING YOUR PODCAST How do you get ready? How do you overcome the pre-launch jitters? Planning your podcast will help relieve a bit of the anxiety. If you know where you're going, you can stay focused on the goal and fight through the self doubt. Plan your show before you begin. Let's discuss the 5 Speech class basics and how they pertain to your show. 1. Lead with a provocative point – capture their attention right at the beginning. 2. Dazzle with details – make the story come to life. 3. Take the first exit – Get out when you have the first opportunity. 4. Don't repeat yourself and overstay your welcome – In talk radio, it's called the call circle. 5. Include a call to action – this is the whole reason you're doing a podcast and creating a tribe. Have confidence in your content. Fight the impostor syndrome. Do all you can to push forward and get your content out. When you plan your show, it makes it easier to stay focused on the goal. Know what you hope to communicate on this episode. Lay out how you plan to communicate that information. Then, define your intro, details and exit. Define your call-to-action and determine where you plan to incorporate it into the show. Now, all you need to do is record the show and post it for the world to hear. The more work you do ahead of recording, the easier it is to believe in yourself while the show is rolling. Remember, the main reason you are podcasting is because it is fun. Enjoy the process. TO DO THIS WEEK This week, plan your show. Determine the topics for the show. Lay out your intro, details and conclusion for each topic. Define your call-to-action. You can find a free show prep sheet online at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com. Use solid preparation for your show to gain more confidence in your content and battle the Impostor Syndrome. Let me know how I can help. E-mail me at 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.

Your Favorite Podcast Events – Episode 162 This week, I wanted to review your favorite podcast events. I put out the call for suggestions. Most replies that I received said, "Erik, I haven't attended any podcast events." That's a shame. There are quite a few great gatherings that can really help you grow. BENEFITTING FROM EVENTS There were a few suggestions. I also received an e-mail from Cynthia, who was really dejected after attending a conference. Dear Erik, I actually attended the National Religious Broadcasters Convention twice hoping to find a way to boost my show and possibly find a radio station that would want to pick it up. Sadly, I spent a lot of money, but didn't feel I was able to justify the expense. I was looking for people who were interested in helping me, but all I met were people looking for people who could enrich themselves. It wasn't a total waste because some of the sessions were informative and educational. However, I didn't have one contact that materialized into anything lasting. I may have found some guests, but they were just "one time guests". I appreciate your ideas of how to have a real conversation with others for a lasting impact. Podcasting can feel very lonely. I don't have a team working with me. There will always be people who want to have us buy their services, but there's not much to buy until we have a funding stream. Sincerely, Cynthia Home Front www.CynthiaDavis.net GIVE FIRST When you attend an event, I think you need to approach it differently. Seek to give. Seek to help. What you send out will return to you. Cynthia, it is time for some tough love. You say you were "looking for people who were interested in helping me, but all I met were people looking for people who could enrich themselves." You mention that you "didn't have one contact that materialized into anything lasting. I may have found some guests, but they were just 'one time guests'". Rarely do people go to events wondering, "Hmm. Who can I help today." That means you can stand out and be unique by asking that very question. You can have a real conversation with others for lasting impact by seeking to help them. Talk about them. Discover their struggles. Where you can you help them succeed. The theory of reciprocity will naturally take effect. People will be more open to helping you if you first help them. However, don't expect reciprocity. Let it happen organically, and don't be upset if it doesn't. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. MY UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP Being in radio for nearly 30 years, I have attended many, many conferences. I have attended conferences for radio, podcasting, coaching hockey and others. The opportunity to learn and grow excites me. My first conference came when I was in college. As the Music Director of the college radio station (and a member of a rap group), I attended the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City put on by the College Music Journal. It was the summer of 1989. October 26th at the Vista Hotel in New York City at the foot of the World Trade Center. George Clinton and Ice-T were the keynote speakers. I had a great chat with Ice-T in the lobby of the hotel. One of my most bizarre relationships began at the CMJ Music Marathon that year. Each night during the conference, there would be music showcases all around town. Most were free with your conference pass. Doc and I grabbed a cab and went to NYU to see a hip-hop show. Doc was the other half of my rap duo. Yep. True story. On the bill that night were quite a few artists. Third Bass, Black Sheep, Young Black Teenagers and others performed. Heavy D. was in the audience checking out the show. The Geto Boys even tried to get up on stage at the end of the show before the sound guy cut their mics. Third Bass was made up of MC Serch, Prime Minister Pete Nice and DJ Richie Rich. Third Bass was also notable as one of the first, successful, interracial hip-hop groups. "Pop Goes The Weasel" was the biggest single of Third Bass' career. They also had a minor hit with "The Gas Face" from "The Cactus Album". It was their first album, which the group had just released a month after this concert. On my show on the college station, I had been playing Third Bass for a few months by this time. Their first single was a tune called "Steppin' To The A.M." It sampled Pink Floyd's "Time". I played the tune a lot on the radio at a time when rap and hip-hop were not part of the mainstream. This was 1989. My airplay helped the song climbed to #5 on the U.S. Rap Chart in some small way. Jump ahead 17 years to 2006. By this time I was the Program Director of a Top 40 radio station. Third Bass had broken up for a second time 6 years earlier. MC Serch had left his job as a morning radio host to work full-time at Serchlite Music, a promotion company he ran. Serch was calling radio stations to talk to Program Directors and trying to convince them to play particular singles. I happen to be one of his weekly calls. During our first call, Serch tells me my name sounds familiar. Johnson isn't the most unique name, so I figure he is just trying to be friendly. He asks where I have worked in the past, that maybe our paths had crossed before. Unlike many in the business, my radio career had not taken me all over the country. I had worked in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska at this point in my career. That is what I told Serch. We got to talking about my start at the college station in Lincoln. I told him I started one of the first shows dedicated to rap and hip-hop in the state. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That is when it happened. Serch said, "That's it! You were a huge supporter for us back then!" I said, "Oh, yeah. I played the crud out of 'Steppin' To The A.M.' I loved that record." That's when Serch said, "Yeah, you did. We thanked you in the credits of that album for all of your support." What!?! I'm in the liner notes? How did I not know this? I said, "Are you kidding me? I didn't know that." "You bet," he told me. "You were a big part of getting us off the ground." That night, I went home and got out my "Cactus Album" CD. Sure enough, there I was in the liner notes. I had made a connection and difference at that conference 17 years earlier and hadn't even realized it. And that's my point. When you are at a conference, you never know what might happen or who you might meet. The meeting may not mean anyting at the time. It may not make a difference in the next decade. However, it may just change somebody's life in ways you never intended. When you are at a gathering, seek to give and help first. It will all come back around. Cynthia did say, "It wasn't a total waste because some of the sessions were informative and educational." So, where can you find podcast events to make meaningful connections? SOME OF THE TOP PODCAST EVENTS Many people who responded to my ask haven't attended podcasting events. This is a list I have gathered from a few of the best podcasting minds in the industry. I have attended a few of these. I also received recommendations from Dave Jackson at School of Podcasting and Daniel J. Lewis at The Audacity To Podcast and Podcasters' Society. Ticket prices and info are as accurate as I could find as of this date. All are subject to change and the accuracy is not guaranteed by any means. Please visit the site for complete details, as they change quite often. Podcast Movement August 23 – 25, 2017 Anaheim, California "We've formatted PM17 to cater to anyone who is currently involved with, or looking to get into, podcasting and the podcast industry. With the help of over 120 speakers from the best podcasts and the most successful podcast networks and companies, taking part in over 80 different sessions, we try our best to have all our podcasting bases covered. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in their choice of over 80 breakout sessions and panels, including sessions on the Technical Track, Creators Track, Business Track, Industry Track, and more!" $409 but will increase up to the event. Hivio June 2 – 3, 2016 Los Angeles, California "Hivio brings together more than 100 of the most influential people in audio and media for two days of candid, unscripted conversation. Amazing thought-leaders and provocative presentations. No boring panels. No celebrity keynoters. Media strategist and researcher Mark Ramsey and Slacker's Jaime Solis host a 'hive' of smart people and amazing speakers to see, discuss, and develop big ideas and rising trends in on-demand, radio, content, social, mobile, and technology that will shake up all audio entertainment and information platforms." Only 100 tickets. 2017 not set yet. Podfest February 23 – 25, 2017 Orlando, Florida "Podfest Multimedia Expo is the conference for podcasters, digital influencers and changemakers who want to grow their brand and audience and maximize their income. Conference tracks include monetization, audience building, multimedia, and technical. Plus keynote speakers and social opportunities." 2-day GA tickets were $447 in 2017. 2018 not yet set. DC Podfest November 10-11, 2017 Washington, D.C. "We have partnered with one of the coolest event spaces in DC again! The third annual,DC PodFest will be back at The Wonderbread Factory Event Space to bring you an incredible, passionate podcasting event! You can call it a conference if you want to! We think of it as an independent podcast intensive for podcasters and podcast fanatics. We will focus on the business, creativity, and influence of podcasting in various ways throughout the two days. Prepare to be engaged, entertained, and productive. We like to think of it as a family reunion with the family you haven't met yet. Oh, and everyone in this particular family, has a microphone! You can feel good about coming to DC PodFest too! Fifty percent of our ticket sales benefit Youth For Understanding's Intercultural Exchange Programs!" Tickets in 2016 were $99. Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference September 8-9, 2017 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania "Mid-Atlantic Podcast started (December 2014) as a Facebook group for podcasters who live in the Mid-Atlantic States (North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut). The idea was to bring podcasters together for meet ups, Google Hangouts and eventually grow into conferences. After seeing the interest to have a podcast (exclusive) conference in the northeast, Joe Pardo jumped on the opportunity to make it happen. Mid-Atlantic Podcast Conference (MAPCON) is an extension of Joe Pardo's passion to host amazing events with great people." Tickets are $140. Werk It 2017 October 3 - October 5 Los Angeles, California "The only all-woman podcasting festival on the planet, Werk It presents workshops, demonstrations, mentoring sessions and NSFW conversations about working in audio and digital media. Plus: Networking opportunities, cocktail parties, and live podcast tapings at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles! New this year: Podcast Bootcamp. This one-day course will be taught by the top women in our field. It is designed for entry-level or early-career audio producers, as well as women who work in media or other related fields and are now moving into the podcast realm. Werk It is a production of WNYC Studios, the beautiful people behind Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, 2 Dope Queens, Note to Self, Snap Judgment, Sooo Many White Guys, Here's the Thing, the New Yorker Radio Hour, On the Media, Only Human and more." Festival pass is $499 Podcast Cruise 2017 February 11 - February 16 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida From the guys at Podcast Movement About the 2017 cruise... "Podcast Cruise 2017 will combine some of the world's top podcast personalities with an elite group of attendees as they join forces to discuss emerging strategies, latest trends, and best practices that will help you create, grow, and monetize your podcast. Space is limited! Podcast Cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on February 11, 2017, and return on February 16, 2017. Registration is limited to the first 40 attendees to ensure they get the full benefits of this exclusive gathering. The podcast conference includes two full days of elite level training and masterminding, including keynote speeches, panel discussion, small group roundtables, and more." The next cruise is not yet scheduled. There are also many local and regional groups that meet. Google events in your area. Look for meet-ups. Get out to one of these great events. In the episode last week, we discussed the best way to make connections at podcast events. Most of the suggestions focus on seeking first to help. As Zig Ziglar always said, "You can have anything you want in life as long as you help enough other people get what they want." Help people. Serve. That is where your next relationship will begin when you attend your next podcast event. 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.

3 Ways to Build Relationships At Events – Episode 161 Building relationships is critical when it comes to growing your podcast or business. Whether you need interview guests on your show, business peers to help brainstorm ideas, or joint venture partners to help launch your products, relationships are the foundation of all we do. Last week, we discussed the steps involved in creating new relationships. This week, we will focus solely on events. With Podcast Movement coming in August, now is a perfect time to begin planning. When I attended New Media Expo a few years ago, I developed a specific plan to be most effective over those three days. That plan included rekindling current relationships with longtime friends, strengthening relationships with casual acquaintances and developing new connections with other key individuals. There simply wasn't enough time to be able to meet everyone at New Media Expo. Therefore, I needed to be sure I met the right people. It is all about purpose and focus. There are three phases of networking at an event. The process includes planning before the event, acting during the event, and following up after the event. Let's look at all three. 1. PLANNING Have a goal/purpose. Do your research. Research the attendees that fit your goal before the event. Find the individuals you're hoping to meet (and impress). Dress to impress. Bring business cards. 2. AT THE EVENT Have questions ready for every session you attend for the open Q&A at the end. Don't spread yourself too thin. Don't work the room. Focus on quality vs. quantity. Don't be afraid to join in the conversation. Treat people like friends. Consider their network – can you help each other make connections? Be a connector. How can you help them? Be yourself. Have conversations. Make an effective introduction – I am _(name)_, I help _(niche)_ do _(attribute/skill)_ so that _(benefit)_. Listen first, then speak. Ask a lot of questions. Who are you? What do you podcast about? How did you get into that? If someone wanted to get into that niche, where would they begin? I've enjoyed our conversation. How can we stay in touch? Swap business cards to stay in touch. Be sure you don't use your business cards as spam by giving a card to every person you meet. Give them with a purpose. Discuss commonalities. Be specific. Get to the point. Don't be a product-pusher. Seek to help. Take notes about each meeting. Write on their business card. Be friendly – smile, open posture, great handshake, show sincerity and interest and focus on how people feel when they're with you. Do not, under any circumstances, ditch a conversation partner for someone more "important." Give your full attention. 3. FOLLOW UP Follow up is critical. Reach out to them on the trip home. Have a purpose to reach out. Use this sample script: I enjoyed our conversation at ____. Your story about _____ was fascinating/intriguing/hilarious. Would you be willing to discuss ____/be on my podcast to promote your _____/tell me more about ______. Focus on helping them. This is not a time to sell. 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.

Steps To Create New Podcast Relationships And Grow Your Audience – Episode 160 In the recent weeks, I have really found a new energy. My productivity has increased in both my podcast and business. I believe this is all due to the mastermind I have recently joined. The mastermind was formed through connections I made as a member of Internet Business Mastery. (Find my affiliate link HERE.) These three guys are in online business, but completely different niches than me. They hold me accountable and push me to succeed. It has been a great experience. Over the next few episodes, we will dive deep into the process of creating new relationships. This week, I want to help you develop new relationships. Though I have found the experience very helpful, your new connections do not need to include a mastermind. In the next episode, we will discuss making connections at events. The third episode of the series will involve masterminds and a list of listeners' favorite podcasting events. If you are interested in getting connected to like-minded people in a mastermind, e-mail me. I'll try to connect as many as I can. Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com NEW RELATIONSHIPS Let's talk about the five steps to create new relationships. 1. Find New Relationships Get involved with Facebook groups by answering questions Join podcast memberships, like Podcasters Society (of which I am a mentor) and School of Podcasting (led by Dave Jackson, with whom I occasionally partner) Network at conferences Ask your interview guests E-mail hosts of complimentary podcasts that are not in the Top 10 or "On Fire" Invite your listeners to chat and ask them Interact on blog posts Form a mastermind with people from other industries, both in person and online Ask your vendors or suppliers Connect with your customers 2. Make Contact Introduce yourself with "I help _(niche)_ do _(talent)_ so that _(benefit)_." Send an e-mail with, "I find your business/podcast/product interesting. I would like to learn more about it and see if there are ways we might help each other. Would you have 30 minutes for a phone call?" 3. Find Ways To Help Each Other Use the abundance mentality. There isn't one pie that needs to be divided between everyone. There is a flame that can be shared an unlimited number of times. That is the power of an idea. 4. Stay In Contact And Give If it isn't on your calendar, it will not happen Find reasons to make contact with your new friend, and schedule that contact Share useful articles Share affiliate opportunities Wish them happy birthday Ask if they are attending conferences you are attending Interact in their groups – Everyone is looking for engagement 5. Create mastermind groups When you find the right 3 or 4 people, create a mastermind group Find people with different backgrounds and perspectives Give the group structure Shape it in a way that will help everyone Check out Dan Miller's mastermind course HERE. 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.

Are You Moving Your Podcast Forward In 2017 – Episode 159 Where is your podcast going this year? We are one-third through the year. Are you moving forward in 2017? We often set goals at the beginning of the year. Studies show that most goals and resolutions go by the wayside by mid-February. How are you doing with your goals? We need to take time to review our goals often. You do not need to wait for the beginning of the year to set those goals. A goal is a dream with a deadline. What are your dreams for this year? If you don't have a map and destination, you'll only wander. You'll never get anywhere. Let's be specific and set some deadlines. I am a member of Digital Marketer with Ryan Deiss. He has some great products and plans. One of them I use regularly is his "60-Second Blog Plan". This plan helps me lay out a clear path and plan for my content for the year. Find it here: http://www.digitalmarketer.com/lp/60-second-planner/ What is the one big thing you want to accomplish over the next year? Let's develop little steps to get there. Break the big goal into bite-sized pieces. If you create a weekly show, you have 52 shows over the next 12 months. It may sound like a lot. However, you need to be intentional to reach your goals. What is your call to action within your podcast? How can we make that call-to-action more effective? Where are you sending your listener each episode to get more info? Be specific and write it down. Are you monetizing your podcast? There are many possibilities, such as books, speaking engagements, seminars, affiliates, products and more. If you have yet to monetize your podcast, schedule your time to create something powerful. Be sure to include deadlines. Do you interview guests on your show? Create a list of guests you'd like to get on the show. Be brave and reach out to those people. Let's get them on the show. Give yourself a goal with a deadline. Are you effectively planning each show before you begin? Sometimes it is difficult to get motivated to record your show on a regular basis. Plan ahead. Download the Show Planning Worksheet. When you lack motivation, revert to plan you've already created. Are you reviewing your show on a regular basis? To get better, you need to look at game tape. All great sports teams review tape of previous games. You should do the same. Again, get the Show Review Worksheet. Finding someone that can help you honestly review your show will help as well. The next year can be huge for you if you plan. Set deadlines to turn your dreams into goals. Be sure to find balance in all areas of your life. Take some chances. Go for the big interview or launch a product. Dream big. You might just reach your dreams. 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.

How To Promote Your Podcast Without Being Obnoxious – Episode 158 It is a given that you need to promote your podcast in order to get the show to grow. Make people aware of the show, and ask them to listen. The process is simple to understand yet difficult to execute. How do you promote your podcast without being obnoxious? In the marketing environment today, people are tired of interruption advertising. I didn't ask about financial planning while watching the hockey game. Why am I being interrupted with these commercials? The answer is easy. Ads are the revenue model. That doesn't mean it is smart or effective. Mainstream media has struggled with this conundrum for quite some time. Radio and television continue to look for ways to share the marketing message without turning off listeners and viewers. Promoting your show is very similar to selling. We offer a product (your podcast) and then ask people to consume it. Think about your relationship with commercials. On the surface, you probably generalize and say you hate all commercials and never listen to them. If we start peeling the onion and examine your interaction with advertisements, I think you might be surprised by your true relationship with ads. RELEVANCE For the sake of argument, let's say you are 25-years-old, single, a few years out of college, and living in a small apartment with a roommate. You have no kids and recently got a new job that doubled your income. Got it in your mind? You are watching your favorite television show when a commercial comes on for Life Alert Medical Alert system. It's that little button elderly people can push when they need help. Remember the "I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial? This is frustrating, interruption marketing that isn't relevant to you. I can see why you hate commercials. Now, let's say you're watching that same show and you see a commercial for the new 2017 Ford Mustang. This might be more fitting for you. With that new job, you might be in the market for a new car. Maybe it is the Mustang, maybe not. This commercial is a little closer to relevancy. Let's now envision that same show on your television when a commercial comes on advertising a concert with your favorite band. Holy cow! All of a sudden, you don't hate advertising as much as you did sixty seconds ago. First lesson: your advertising message must be relevant. HELPFUL Let's think about that same concert commercial. If the ad simply told you the band is coming to town and stopped there, you would probably lose your mind? What!?! Tell me more! When is the show? When do tickets go on sale? How much do they cost? Simply telling you the concert is happening doesn't provide all of the information you need. You cannot take action unless you have more detail. Now pretend you need a new mattress. It isn't something you buy every day. A mattress is a purchase you make every ten years or so. Things have changed a lot in the last ten years. Where do you start? Google of course. Mattress companies cannot make the hope find them in a search their entire marketing plan. They try to create some top of mind awareness. If you have been considering a new mattress when you see a commercial about a mattress sale this weekend. You can save half off brand new mattresses. The store has mattress specialists who can teach you all about the latest technology. You can also lay on various mattresses to find the one you like. Pretty sweet deal. And, just the information you needed. When you need the information in the advertisement, and that information is helpful, you no longer hate the commercial. Second lesson: seek to help first before you sell. INVITED The problem with this mattress advertising is the target. The percentage of viewers of that commercial who are interested in buying a mattress is very small. The large majority of viewers are back to hating commercials. If you want your marketing message to be well-received, you need to have a relationship with the target market. Your audience will be much more receptive to your message if they have asked for the information. Ask your audience if they are interested. You could ask, "I have a product that solves this problem. Would you be interested in hearing a little more about it?" If your audience says yes, you have an open door to make the offer. This is where a segmented e-mail list comes in handy. If your listeners have opted into a particular list asking for more information, you can first provide them help and then offer a product or service that offers even more. If you tell your best friend that you are in need of a new mattress but really have no idea where to start, and they tell you about the mattress sale, I doubt you are going to say, "Hey, stop selling me. I hate commercials." When you have asked for the information, you rarely see the answer as a sales pitch. Third lesson: prequalify your target audience before asking them to buy. TRUST Do you ever wonder why companies pay crazy amounts of money to celebrities to endorse their products? Michael Jordan for Hanes. Matthew McConaughey for Lincoln. Samuel L. Jackson for Capital One. Why would a company spend millions of dollars just to get Michael Jordan to talk about their products? The answer is simple. Trust. A company can spend a lifetime developing trust. Or, they can buy it. My guess is you are going to develop it. After nearly 30 years in radio, I have learned the power of endorsements. Radio advertisers have found endorsements by radio DJs to be very powerful. These endorsements work, because the DJ has built a relationship of trust with the listeners. As the DJ is talking about the product or service, the listener feels like their friend is helping them solve a problem. It is all built on trust. If your listener trusts you, and you have their best interest at heart, your sales offer will be seen as helpful rather than obnoxious. To get to this level of trust, you must first help your listener solve their problems. Give, give and give. We go back to the second lesson of help. If you have spent enough time helping your listener, trust will develop. Then, if you are offering a solution to their problem within your product or service, your ask isn't viewed as obnoxious. Fourth lesson: build trust. So how do we use these four lessons to promote your podcast without being obnoxious? First, we find the audience that would be interested in your content. It needs to be relevant. So, we fish where the fish are. Find communities already discussing your topic. Join the discussion. Include the podcast name in your signature without asking for anything in return. Simply get noticed. They will determine if your show is relevant to them. Next, help people. As you are interacting in those communities, seek to help by answering questions. Get involved. Be a resource for people. Give, give and give. When they see you as someone who can help them they will give your show a try. Then, get invited to offer more help. As you are demonstrating your knowledge by helping people, others will ask how they might get more from you. When this happens, you can direct them to the podcast. Finally, build trust. When people trust that you will continue to provide consistent information that will help them, they will subscribe. As you are interacting with people, avoid constant promotion of the show. Instead, casually mention the show when it makes sense. "We were talking about this very topic the other day on my podcast." "I get this question a lot from my podcast listeners." A casual mention, when it makes sense, can go a long way. Be careful that you don't overstay your welcome by mentioning it too often. This is how you promote your podcast without being obnoxious. 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.