January 11, 2017

How to Get Your Podcast Heard By Re-Purposing Your Episodes

You’ve spent hours coordinating interviews, recording conversations, editing audio, and finally you’ve released an episode. Now you need to know how to get your podcast heard! Sure you’ve got a number of loyal listeners, but you’re looking to grow and reach that next download goal.

Your podcast should be so much more than your audio. That 20-45 minute conversation is just the beginning of a beautiful waterfall content strategy that will build your audience.

So how do you create content in addition to your podcast episodes consistently? By re-purposing the content you already have.

This time-saving, audience-building tip is the solution to how to get your podcast heard. Read on to find out exactly why you’ll want to include re-purposing in your podcast strategy and get the details on how (plus a FREE 25 PAGE GUIDE).

Why Re-Purpose Your Podcast Episodes?

Re-Purpose Your Episodes & Have Your Podcast Heard!

1. Better Social Sharing

What’s difficult about having your podcast heard is the format it’s shared in. Social media is full of blogs and videos, but not so much podcast episodes. Your content marketing strategy will work a lot better when you re-purpose audio into text. Take the same message from your podcast episode and turn it into a blog. Share the blog via social media and viola! New audience members will find your website and your podcast.

2. Better Relationship with Guests

What’s better than featuring a guest on your podcast? Also featuring them in another form of content! Building business relationships isn’t a one and done thing. You grow relationships by continually fostering them. When you turn your podcast into a piece of evergreen content, you’ll strengthen your relationship with guests and build them up as thought leaders.

3. Better Resources for Listeners

While re-purposing content is a fantastic way to introduce what you do to a new audience, it can also be a helpful resource for your current listeners. By listening to an insightful podcast episode once, your audience might begin to gain interest on a certain topic or tip you shared. Help them implement and dive in to what you shared on your podcast by sharing it with them again as a form of content that they can read over and over again. Plus, you’ll give your multi-tasking listeners a hand and give them another chance to learn and understand your message.

4. Better List-Building

A sweet opt-in offer is key to building your list, but where do you get the time to actually create that offer? Re-purpose the podcast content you have into a valuable freebie. Even if you’ve shared your podcast content with your community, you can transform it into a persuasive email opt-in. For new listeners who come to your site, they’ll get the best info you’ve shared without having to listen to 7 hours of podcasts. Current listeners will benefit from having your content in a new nicely-packaged format.

 

December 21, 2016

Setting Goals for Your Podcast & Starting Habits to Reach Them

New year’s is by no means the only time to set goals, but it is a great reminder to evaluate what you’re working toward and how to get there. While you’re looking over your business goals, don’t forget to include your podcast! It may seem scary to set big goals and possibly not be able to reach them, but you won’t get anywhere without trying.

My favorite technique for goal setting comes from Greg McKeown of Essentialism. He did this process of starting with your life legacy and writing down the things you want to have done and be remembered for. Working back from there, you set your five year goals and your one year goals. After writing down your goals for those timelines, then you write down the things you can do every day to accomplish them. I love this approach because you start with the big, overwhelming goals, and work them down into small things you can do every day to actually accomplish them.

So with that technique in mind, let’s get to setting goals!

Setting Goals for Podcasters Quote

 

1.Get Dream Guests

How are you going to get dream guests on your podcast if you don’t brainstorm who they are and work out a plan to get them on? Take 15-20 minutes and brainstorm. Whose blogs do you love to read? Whose book changed your life? Think it over and create that list. 

Even if you have a smaller audience, you can still get amazing guests. Highlight how your audience is exactly who your dream guest wants to talk to. Remind dream guests how podcasts are evergreen. Go ahead and flatter. Tell your dream guest what impact they’ve had on you and what you’d love for them to share with your audience. And last but not least, send the email. Or, if you get the chance, meet them at an event. You won’t get your dream guest unless you go for it.

2.Hitting a Download Number

Getting more listeners is a perfectly good goal for your podcast. Of course, when you’re setting goals, you want to be as specific as possible. Choose a number and get at it! While you may get there slow and steady by putting out content, it won’t be nearly as exciting and rewarding as doing the work to promote what you do.

Sarah Williams from the Tough Girl Podcast shared that one of the ways she would work toward hitting a very high download goal is by getting interviewed on other podcasts. What a smart way! By reaching out to other podcasters and getting on their podcasts, you’ll get in front of an audience that might be interested in what you talk about and already likes podcasts. To reach a brand new audience, you can also repurpose your podcast into blogs. This waterfall content strategy uses the content you already have to create content in another form. Check out my podcast-inspired blog service here.

 

Batching Podcasts and Scheduling them in Advance

 

3.Record Interviews in Advance

Tired of publishing your podcast last minute? Missing your deadline and posting it late? Setting goals to be consistent and on time (or ahead of schedule) can be very beneficial. You’re not likely to change your ways unless you make it a point to do so. 

How will you get your podcast ready in advance? One strategy to use is batching. Get all your episodes recorded in advance instead of week by week. Then edit them all at once and schedule them out to be published. It may be uncomfortable to do this all beforehand, but your weeks will be so much less stressful! 

4.Build Your Community

In love with your audience? Create a place for them! Your community doesn’t have to end with your podcast, and that’s not very fun anyway since you get few opportunities to interact with your listeners. Build something bigger than an interview platform and actually connect with your listeners.

Sounds great, but how do you actually do it? One way is to create a bridge from your podcast to your website with share-worthy show notes. These aren’t your typical show notes. They are branded to reflect you and that actually provide value to your audience. Take a look at how share-worthy show notes can benefit your podcast.

5.Get Sponsors

Getting an extra boost of income from podcast sponsors can be so nice. If their service is something you enjoy and something your audience would love, it could be a great fit for your podcast. 

So how do you go about getting podcast sponsors? My go-to guide is John Lee Dumas’ article on Podcast Sponsorships. He shares so much about his own experience. You don’t necessarily have to wait for a certain download stat. Engagement is what’s really huge for sponsors. Do the research and find out what you need to do before you reach out to potential sponsors. Then, make it a point to do it!

What are your podcasting goals? Let me know in the comments below. We all need a little accountability, right?

Happy Podcasting!

December 14, 2016

5 Reasons Why Podcasting Can Help You Reach a Wider Audience

These are the wonder days of podcasting. The media platform is relatively young and its audience is growing year after year. I recently read a stat that said there are 2,000 bloggers for every 1 podcaster. Aren’t those incredible stats? Now is the time to rock it as a podcaster. If you’re already on the platform, way to go! You are leading the curve. Check out these points and pat yourself on the back. I’d love to hear about how podcasting has helped you reach a wider audience. If podcasting sounds interesting to you, check out these reasons why it might help you increase your audience and look into how it might fit into your business. Podcasting isn’t necessarily for everyone, but when it’s right, it’s oh so right.

1.A Young Audience

As I mentioned with that handy little stat above, podcasts are only getting started. By launching your podcast now, you have the opportunity to build your audience and grow before the market becomes overcrowded (fingers crossed we won’t get there). Podcasts are still somewhat new territory. By settling down now, you’ll continue to grow as more people start tuning in. 

podcasting, listeners, wide audience

2. An Intimate Audience

When you listen to a podcast, you’ve literally got someone’s voice in your ear. Now compare that to scrolling through a Facebook feed. Podcasting is more intimate. You’re connected to people in a way that previously you could only do in 1-1 interactions. On platforms that are less intimate, your message may not be hitting your audience. They may glance at your post, but they hardly give it time before they move on to that tweet from Taylor Swift. You reach a wider audience with podcasting because the intimate format increases the connection between you and your listeners. They aren’t simply glancing at your feed, but they’re listening to you whisper in their ear. I would argue that podcasting helps you actually reach your audience. 

3. A New Audience

At this time in the world of entertainment, there are groups of people digesting content with their eyes and there are groups that digest content through their ears. Part of this probably has to do with what type of learner you are. Audio learners must love podcasts, while visual learners stick to things they can see. The people you reach via podcasting, you might not have reached through the web. That goes the same the other way around. Your audience may have different preferences for how they interact with businesses and learn. By putting out content both online and on podcasts, you can reach multiple sets of audiences.

Podcasting to a New Audience

4. Your Guest’s Audience

This point has its beginnings in influencer marketing. When you have guests on your podcast, you can ask them to share the podcast with their audience and boom! You’ve got new listeners. Amplify this overtime, and you’ll grow steadily just with the new listeners your guests bring in. Anxious about asking your guests to share the podcast? Don’t worry about it! You’re doing them a favor sharing their message, so it’s only fair they share the episode. Turn your podcast episode into a blog, and you’ll have another opportunity to reach your guest’s audience when you feature them and the ideas they shared.

5. An Interested Audience

While people may click away at eye-catching articles, they aren’t so fast to listen to podcasts where they think they won’t find value. Your listeners are interested in what you’re teaching. One of the main reasons people turn to podcasts is to learn. With podcasting, you’ll gain an audience that’s interested in what you’re talking about. Listeners may even find you by searching for a certain topic and finding your podcast from there. It just takes one value-packed episode to hook a new listener. Consider the ways that having an interested audience might grow your customer base. While making sales from a podcast sounds difficult, it’s made much easier when you get them to your website with resource-packed show notes.

 

I am a huge fan of podcasts and I think that there’s so much this platform can do for your business. With the right content creation strategies, you can share your message with more people and make a real difference!

 

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Grow Your Audience with Podcasting

December 7, 2016

10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Podcast Show Notes

Once you’ve gone through the work of interviewing and editing your podcast, show notes can be the last thing on your mind. But they shouldn’t be ignored. Your show notes are where your listeners come to interact with you and they’re often the first reason listeners check out your website. You’ll want your show notes to draw your audience in and leave them wanting more of you. 

The fact is, show notes are a powerful conversion tool. Your audience will look at them to see if you have that helpful resource you talked about and they’ll stay if you make it worth their while.

If the idea of creating show notes sounds less than exciting, have no fear. Check out these 10 ways to increase the value of your podcast show notes and convert the listeners who get on your webpage. If writing isn’t your thing or you just don’t have the time, you can also get a podcast show notes writer, like me :), to help you out. 

10 Ways to Increase the Value of Podcast Show Notes

writing-podcast-show-notes

 

1.Add Your Unique Perspective

As a podcast listener, it’s nice to hear what the host thinks about the guest or topic on hand. Adding your perspective on the show is a nice touch. It’s like what you’d tell a friend about the episode if they asked about it. What did the guest share that really had an impact on you? Why did you want to have this guest on? Why is this topic important to you? This is an opportunity for podcast listeners to connect with you personally. Don’t skip out on it!

Here’s an example of a perspective I wrote for my client Lauren Frontiera of the Grit and Glitter Co Podcast. I took what she said while introducing the guest and during the interview to craft a personal connection.

2.Talk About Your Guest’s Story

Copying and pasting a bio is one thing, but to give your listeners an idea about your guest’s personal story is another. Consider adding a section to your show notes that details a few interesting experiences your guest has had. I include this segment in almost all of the show notes I write, particularly in the 35-45 minute long interviews. It’s a nice way to give your listeners a preview of what you talk about and break up your show notes, so they’re not one long blurb of text.

Check out this one I wrote for Empire By Design.

3.Pick Out Quotes

Quotes can be so fun! They’ll show your audience what your show is about and work as awesome social media posts. This is one section not to miss. Your guests will appreciate their quotes too. You’ll make them feel like celebs!

Here are a few gems I picked up from Rosie Acosta’s (of Radically Loved Podcast) interview with Simon Sinek.

 

4.Get to the Epiphany

Have you ever had a guest on your show who sparks a major revelation? When something they say if just absolutely mind-blowing/life-changing? That’s what your listeners want. If your podcast is more of a talk show, chat kind of thing, you’re off the hook, but if you’re offering real lessons and inspiration, let it be known!

We call these epiphanies ‘Game-Changer Aha Moments’ on the Empire By Design Podcast.

5.Create Awesome Graphics

To really take your show notes to the next level, graphics are a great addition. They can be images with quotes from the episode that you can share on social media or a standard show image with the title or guest image changed out. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time to do this. Whip out canva and create a standard image to use, so you can go in and switch out the text and image. Creating graphics for your podcast show notes will take you seconds.

Here’s a social media graphic I created for the Wedding Pros Podcast.

graphics for podcast show notes

6.Be Your Brand

Your fans fall in love with you and your brand, so why stop at the show? Keep your brand going with fun show notes that are inspired by the way you work your show and the copy you use on your website. I do this for my clients by writing sections for the show notes that are inspired by their brand. Check out the example below from the Radically Loved Podcast to get to know what I’m talking about.

7.Link to Your Products/Services

While promoting her reINSPIRED course, Lauren added a section to the end of the Grit and Glitter show notes to remind listeners who stop by her site. If you’ve got your audience on your website, be sure to take advantage of it! I always try to add reminders about promotions and relevant services in the show notes. 

8.Include an audio widget

While your listeners might already be subscribed to your podcast, new audience members might not be. Make it super easy for them to press play and get a taste of what you do. Check with your podcast hosting service to see if they have a audio widget you can add to your podcast show notes. I know Libsyn does!

9.Get a Photo of Your Guest (& Customize It)

It’s nice to see who you’re featuring on your show and for people who visit your site, it gives another personal connection. Now we can see who we’re hearing from. Bonus points if you customize your guest’s image to match your podcast image. I’m a fan of Amber Lilystrom’s guest images.

10.Give Your Listeners a How-To on Supporting You

Always remind listeners to subscribe, review, and share your podcast. It often takes multiple times of asking before a listener will do it. Add the details on how to support your podcast to make it super easy for them to do. They probably won’t go out of their way unless you ask them to. Create a standard how-to or button and add it to every show note.

 

Happy Podcasting!

 

 

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10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Show Notes

November 30, 2016

Innovative Ways to Find & Book Awesome Podcast Guests

So you’ve exhausted your initial podcast guest ideas. You’ve emailed and googled and searched more than you ever thought you would, and now you’re coming to a dead end. I’ve been there. While working for a women in technology community, I was responsible for interviewing female tech founders every week and there was no excuse for not connecting with anyone. Needless to say, having this responsibility pushed me to move past my interviewee dead end, and when I did that. I found some very innovative ways of finding interesting interviewees and booking them for an interview.

How to Find Podcast Guests

looking for podcast guests

1.Search Twitter for Keywords

Twitter is a hub for people who get things done. They’re talkers with a message to share and they aren’t afraid to get straight to the point. This was a resource I went to continually to find interviewees. Think about the millions and millions of Twitter users. Your potential podcast guests are among them.

Now to get to the finding, search keywords related to your desired podcast guest in the search box and click on accounts to see Twitter users. For example, I would search ‘women in tech’ or ‘tech startup’ or ‘app founder’ and searched through hundreds of possible interviewees to look for the right fit. Are you interviewing female entrepreneurs? Think about what kind of business owners you might want to interview and search away. You could try ‘subscription box founder’ or ‘marketing strategist’ or ‘#ladyboss’. To find the exact kind of person I wanted, I would search through the accounts Twitter brought back for women and then check out there page to see what kind of following they had and how good their website looked.

It’s Your Turn-

-Decide what keywords might lead you to your guest

-Search them on Twitter and choose accounts only

-Keep trying different keywords until you fill your guest list

 

2. Peruse Medium

This is another sneaky tactic I used. The thing is, the people on Medium want to be heard. You’re more likely to get a yes to your interview request when you’re asking someone who is looking to become more visible. If people are writing articles on Medium, chances are they really want to be noticed. Get out the keywords related to your guest again and search for them on the Medium search bar. You’ll also want to choose accounts. When you scroll through these guest options, you’ll see actual thought leaders who want to talk about what you want to share on your podcast. You can search for job titles that are relevant to who you want to interview or stick to topics.

It’s Your Turn-

-Open up Medium.com

-Search for a topic or keyword

-Click on a profile to see their work

 

finding guests for your podcast

 

3. Skim Through List Articles

Now this one is taking you back to Google, but maybe in a different way than you’ve done before. If I were looking for female founders to interview and maybe specifically looking for more recognized entrepreneurs, I could search something like “successful female founders” or “rising female founders”. Searches like this will take you to lists writers have compiled of female founders. By searching through several of these articles I found numerous women to contact and importantly, they were women that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Looking at these list articles is almost like having someone do the research for you. Seriously!

It’s Your Turn

-Search Google with keywords that are likely to turn out list articles

-Do the skimming and find your next guests!

 

How to Book Podcast Guests

how to book podcast guests

 

1. Finding The Email

So you’ve found a handful of guests perfect for your show. Awesome! Getting a hold of them is the next challenge. My secret is one that may be a little underhanded, but all’s fair in podcasting, right? What I do to get in touch with the guests I find is email a cold request to theirname@theirwebsite.com. You may or may not be amazed to know that doing that has gotten me in touch with some incredible people. Hello, Envato CEO. Some people will have their assistants monitoring their email, but most will get back to me personally. If you’re requesting them to do an interview to share their advice with your community, chances are they’ll say yes. You’ve got to just try this one.

It’s Your Turn-

-Don’t have your dream guests email? Take a lucky guess.

-And then, thank me. (Just kidding, get them on your show!)

 

2. Writing the Email

Oh, the cold interview request. How daunting. First of all, you’ve got to save your time and start with a template. I’m not saying you should simply copy and paste the whole email, but it is a good place to start. Get your podcast mission and interview request down nicely and use that over and over again. Just leave space for a few sentences on why you admire the potential guests and what you’d like them to share with your audience. And please use their name!

It’s Your Turn-

-Work on your interview request email template

-Personalize the template EVERY TIME

-Hit send

 

And there you have it! I swear by these tips. And I want them to work for you too. 

 

Happy Podcasting!

 


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