I’m sharing how podcasting has helped my business. I’ll be talking about some of the things you will need to consider when setting up your own show, and give some hints and tips on how you can use the content as a marketing tool.
My podcasting show, Rock Your Fabulous Biz, started out as a personal challenge, I thought it would be a good platform to share useful content.
I gave myself 7 days to set it up. Nothing quite like a bit of pressure!
Ok so for the confession bit, I have a lovely VA that guided me through the process, so it wasn’t completely on my own, but still … in 7 days … really?!
If you prefer to listen to this post, click here to listen on iTunes or this for Stitcher
Let me share how it came about… I’d been running my Rock Your Biz Telesummit at the time (if you’re not familiar with the term a Telesummit is basically like an online radio or video styled show where guest speakers are interviewed and/or run a masterclass) We had a Facebook group where the speakers joined to answer questions around the content while the Telesummit was running. One particular day prior to the Telesummit commencing a person asked in the group which speakers had a podcast show. Only one of us said they did. Hmmm, I needed to sort that out, I had the podcast show on my list of things to do ‘one day’, but that was realistically where it would stay if I didn’t take some action, so challenge on.
Now, it’s a bit of a learning curve setting up your own show, there’s quite a lot involved, so if you can give yourself a bit more time!
Here’s an idea of what’s involved in the setup… You have to create a cover (notice I started with the visual fun bit first, that’s my favourite), your music (I had a great time working on that – lost hours of time trying out fun tunes). You need to set up different hosting accounts – I use LibSyn and iTunes/Stitcher, then you need to record an intro and outro (that chatty bit I do at the beginning and end of each one)
You need to think about keywords for your show, to decide on a category for iTunes, a publishing strategy (a grown up way of saying what days you’re posting) you need a title and you need to set up an RSS feed (the scary techie bit) You have to think about what your show will be about so that you have a good introduction, and you ideally start with a few shows in the bag ready to go out on day one when you launch. Oh and I forgot the big one – what you’re going to say! There are other things you need to consider too, how you will record, do you need a mic, how will you use the content once you’re done, how will you market it etc. etc.
I would never have pulled it off it hadn’t been for my lovely VA, Sandra Barter of Your Business Helper – she’s a star. She continues to work with me weekly piecing the intro and outro with my recordings. Thank you, lovely lady, you’re very patient with me!
As I said, a learning curve, but now let me share with you how it’s helped my business, and how easy it is to do now that I’m up and running.
Probably the biggie you want to know is this… Has it brought me more business? Yes, it has.
I’ve attracted clients that would not normally have come across me. Other benefits are;
- My list size has grown and continues to grow on a daily basis
- By checking my stats, I’m able to determine what topics are of interest. You can do this with blogging and other social media for sure, but this is the numbers game – you can easily identify which areas people enjoy and are downloading
- More paying clients
- It’s helped to establish me as the go-to gal on my area
- It’s helped me to be more visible and share my business
- It’s a great thing to talk about when you’re out networking, as it’s something free that you can offer
- I have content that I now repurpose. If you follow my blog you’ll know that I share my podcast posts on my blog as a mini player. I no longer have to write two things each week, I simply wait a couple of days and share the post on my blog
- I have a platform where I can interview guests. More of that coming next year
- It’s helped me to build a better connection with my audience. Yes I can be chatty in a blog post but it’s a bit like text, it can be misinterpreted if people aren’t reading in the tone you intended
- I’m sure there’s more, but I think you’ll agree, lots of great reasons to run your own show
Now that everything is up and running it’s just a case of recording the mp3 file, sending it over with a title to the lovely Sandra, and ta-da mission accomplished.
I have a little plugin on my WordPress site, called Simply Podcast Press, which generates a draft blog post and then I copy and paste my transcript into that post to create a written post for my blog. I share the podcast show on my social media one day, the blog post a couple of days later, and put a link to my blog in my newsletter. The text from the blog post is then copied and shared as a post over on LinkedIn, and finally each episode is shared in my free Facebook group. One piece of content, lots of different ways to share your message without killing yourself in the process.
So if you’re thinking about podcasting my top tip would be to allow yourself a bit more time than I did, BUT I think setting a challenge is a good way to help you if you’re procrastinating on getting something out there.
Does it increase your visibility – absolutely!
People listening to podcasts are on the increase. We are often time-pressured and this is a way to catch up on content while we’re on the go. This is a great way to become more visible in the noisy marketplace.
Are they fun to do? They are if you like to talk. If you don’t, then find the right medium for you.
It’s your business, do it your way.
Right now, I’m considering playing around with doing some videos; converting those into mp3’s for my podcast show and then doing the same process of a blog post, social media sharing etc. That way I have yet another medium with which to share my messages.
Call To Action: If podcasting is on your to-do list, get your diary out, set a date and make it happen. Let me know when you do, I’d love to follow you! I’m always on the look out for new podcast shows to listen to.
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