Podcast Freq

A website visitor is just a website visitor. You can’t really say that you have a relationship with someone who has only visited your website can you?

But when the web visitor subscribes to your mailing list or subscribes to your blog RSS feed or subscribes to your podcast RSS feed - you have the beginnings of a relationship.

Now, for a relationship to grow - you need to communicate. You have to send emails, blog regularly and podcast - podcasting being my personal favorite form of communicating

Podcasts provide a consistent line of communication between you and your subscribed listeners and that is a powerful benefit for being a podcaster.

It has been proven over and over that regular communication with your customers improves both your overall relationship with them and has a strong influence on buying frequency. A regular podcast strengthens your relationship with your subscribers and help to build a real sense of community.

People who feel like they have a relationship with you are more likely to spend money with you.

I see this in my podcast. Some relationships warm up quickly but others develop over a period of years. Many of them eventually pay off in some form of purchase whether it is for coaching, an info product or taking my advice on an affiliate product.

By the way, don’t just stop at Podcasting.

Thinking outside of the box of podcasting, simply adding audio or video of you to your website and email messages, enables customers and prospects to access information from you in a more personal way. You can add video or audio testimonials from customers and invite others to0 share quick “how to” segments. This all helps to entice new visitors into a new relationship with you.

Today we have published Show 24 of The Podcast Sisters which is a fascinating talk with Krishna De about how to generate income from your podcast and your blog. Often people think purely of producing the show but there are many tools that you can use to “reap while you sleep!”.

I think this is also where it is important that you combine a blog with your podcast. Your blog can help provide a platform from which you can sell from and also provide more content that can help generate income.

In terms of podcasting, it is important to see that podcasts themselves can earn income but they can also be a marketing tool to bring people to your site to look for more products that you offer. If people are coming to the site because they are engaging with you, with your content, with your expertise then why not offer other audio products for a small cost. You could do a series of podcasts on a particular subject, you could offer a CD of the best of your show - remember some people would prefer it on CD for their car. You could offer a special edition podcast or CD that is not on the RSS feed…..key is thinking about your consumers, not what is easy for you to produce, what will provide value to their life?

So if you are looking for ideas on how to create income or cost effective tools available on the web that allows you to easily produce products to sell then check out Show 24…and if you have any ideas to share then leave a comment on this blog post or let us know by e-mailing podcast.sisters@googlemail.com.

As I mentioned the other day in the post Podcasting for Profit, I have been lucky enough to be mentioned in the new book by Leesa Barnes. I have been impressed with the mix of information that Leesa gives in the book, examples of how to use the techniques, examples in the ‘real world’ and also the use of personal stories that make this book very readable. Often books about technology are dry, but Leesa uses personal experiences to engage with you as a reader.

As I go through the book I want to pick out areas that may help you, but I would recommend that if you are struggling to see how you are going to make your podcast profitable..buy the book!

Leesa stresses the need to have SMART goals. One that is specific, measurable, agreeable, realistic and time sensitive. She describes
1) The wrong way - “I want to make money with my podcast”
2) A good way - “I want to make $500 with my podcast”
3) A better way - “I want to generate $500 in 30 days with my podcast”
4) The S.M.A.R.T way - I want to make $500 in 30 days with my podcast using sponsorship, text ads, and tip jars”

What is your SMART goal? Do you know specifically what you are trying to achieve? Have you set that goal out there, to be your aim - no excuses - that you will succeed at? If not, then stop and assess what you want from podcasting - be it leads, be it fame, be it money, be it personal satisfaction . Taking that time to really understand what and how you are going to achieve those personal goals, will save time and heartache later.

leesa barnes, podcasting for profit, podcasting + making money, podcasters

I am at the Podcast Expo and yesterday saw Franklin McMahon present 10 tips on how to become a podcasting rock star. Here is a summary that I hope you will find useful

1) Market outside your podcasting community.
2) Take aim at profitability - aim to make money.
3) Promote your strengths, what people cannot get anywhere else…
4) Create a community.
5) Be confident sell your show!
6) Think content
7) Don’t “make a show” - build a brand
Have a game plan - take control of becoming successful.
9) Delegate what you are not good at
10) Be smart with any interaction that you have.

podcasting, podcast + success, podcasting community, franklin mcmahon, podcast expo

Mashable.com has just put together a 70+ list of podcasting resources which is an excellent summary.

“Podcasting may not have lived up to the early hype, but with iPods and other MP3 players still selling like crazy, the potential audience for these audio shows is huge. We’ve compiled a monster list of 70+ tools and resources for podcasters and wannabes.”

A great list of all podcasting areas - tutorials, directories, advertising, forums - well worth checking out.

I started my first podcast on my own, mainly because I didn’t know anyone who wanted to co-host and also because it was an experiment. The podcast - The Engaging Brand - has gone from strength to strength and although I still do not have a co host I interview so therefore I am not on my own. The reason that I enjoy guests is that they offer different opinions, different outlooks and hopefully that expands my thinking and that of the listeners.

I enjoy the fact that I am in sole control of content and that I can invite whoever I want to the show, I like the fact that I can continue to experiment. However, I now do 2 shows ( The Podcast Sisters and Middle Age Shed) with co hosts and I love the fact that there are other people involved. I love the fact that there are other people to come up with ideas, people who keep me motivated, inspired and who share the workload.

Here are some questions that I would ask myself in the future before deciding whether to fly solo or to co host.

1) Are you someone that works better solo or with someone else?
2) Do you need other skills to bring to the show?
3) Is the show instructional or would it benefit from discussion?
4) Would a co host help spread the workload and prevent the risk of podfading?
5) Do you want total control? Do you have a colleague that you want to podcast with and that you trust will help you develop the show?

For the shows that I produce there are different goals. Middle Age Shed is a journey to lose weight, co hosting brings humour and increases the motivation to lose 56lbs. The Podcast Sisters is a discussion podcast and is much better for having different opinions and different backgrounds. The Engaging Brand is my own exploration of how to motivate, inspire and engage people at work, it is a personal journey of giving something back to the corporate world.

For you to make the right choice think about your time commitment, your motivation and your goals.

I was honoured today to speak to Leesa Barnes in a round table discussion with some great European podcasters - Karin Hogh, Alex Bellinger, Krishna De, to name a few, on how people are podcasting for profit. Leesa is busy writing a book which we are all eagerly awaiting to understand how people are making money from podcasting!

For me there are 3 main ways to think about making money from podcasting

1) Providing services to podcasting - directories, production, coaching etc
2) Monetarising your podcast - through affiliate links, advertising etc
3) Using the podcast as an advertising or marketing tool to sell your other services.

You need to be clear about which area you fit into and then plan how you are going to achieve that aim. I also like to see podcasting as not only driving sales but also reducing costs. Costs in terms of advertising, development, communication etc Profit is a function of the two.

At the Online conference Leesa Barnes presented an insight into how people are making money form podcasting - cannot wait to see the book!

In summary she looked at 3 areas and gave examples of each one

1) Direct Methods. “Monetarise your content” Examples are Adevertising, sponsorship, tip jars, premium content, licensing

2) Indirect Methods. “Monetarise your skills” Examples - Consulting, teaching, books, speaking, shows

3) Integrated Methods. “Monetarise your audience” Examples - Affiliate marketing, merchandising, selling services/product

The Top 2 earners come as no surprise - advertising and sponsorship. Leesa also says that during her research she has found that it takes a minimum of 6-12 months to build a “podcast brand” to then extend it to make money.

A great insight and one that gives you a structure to think about how you want to grow your earning potential. Much depends on where your skills lie, which one of the methods plays to your strengths, which one fits with your audience profile?