Questions About Manipulation, Conferences And More – PTC 501

Podcast Talent Coach

Do you have questions about your podcast?

YOUR QUESTIONS

I get questions quite often from coaches and podcasters ranging from building your audience, becoming an influencer and growing your business.

On this episode, we answer a variety of questions.

• Where do I find listeners in my target audience?
• If we try to control what people think about us, isn't that manipulation?
• Is it detrimental to skip a week?
• What is the right mix of relatable and creative for a show?
• When I promote the show, where should I send people?
• Are there unwritten protocols for podcast conferences?

If you have questions regarding your podcast strategy, email me at Coach at podcasttalentcoach.com. I might just answer your question right here on the show.

REFINE YOUR PERSONALITY

In a recent email, I wrote...

To become a known influencer in your niche, be intentional about your personality. Decide how you want to be known. Are you funny, logical, aggressive, loving, zany, generous, or something else? Be intentional. Then, share stories that show that side of you. Let your listeners get you know you in an authentic way.

Nancy replied with this...

I’m all of the list you shared and more. That is true for any human being. That is a calling in itself - to live in a way that reminds people to be their full, authentic selves. If we choose one slim aspect, then we are typecasted - and what we share suffers.

We really have zero control over what people think of us. If we try to control it, is that not manipulation?

I just can’t be one thing when I am (and everyone is) the universe in physical form.

Have a good day,

- Nancy

MANIPULATION QUESTIONS

Manipulation is a tough word.

And it's foolish to think we have zero control over what people think. If that were true, marketing wouldn't work.

To be clear, I'm not saying be something that you're not. And I'm not saying don't be something that you are.

Yes, you may be all of those things I listed. You may be funny, logical, aggressive, loving, zany, generous, or something else.

However, your listeners only have one file to keep you in. We mentally compartmentalize everything, so our brains can handle all of the information.

When you think of the Beatles, what do you think of?

If you're like most, you think of 4 lads from Liverpool performing their music on stage causing many girls to scream.

Why didn't you think movie actors? They did a few movies.

You think musicians, because that's their brand. That's the mental folder you have them in.

How about Matt Damon? What comes to mind?

Oceans Eleven? Jason Bourne? Good Will Hunting? Great actor?

Why didn't you think of co-founder of Water.org? https://water.org

Because you store him where his brand fits.

So you may be funny, logical, aggressive, loving, zany, and generous. But your brand needs to be one. And your role development on your show needs to highlight one of those characteristics.

Be intentional about your brand. Otherwise, your listeners will create their own files and put you where they think you belong.

FIND YOUR LISTENERS

Where to find listeners in my target audience?

- Greg

The first step in finding your listeners is to get clear who those listeners are.

You can't hit a target you can't see.

Clearly define as much as you can, both demographically and psychographically. Determine their gender, age, and family composition. But also define their wants, needs, pains and goals.

Go as deep as possible. My coach calls it the one inch mile. Go an inch wide and a mile deep.

The more you know about your ideal client, the easier it will be to find them.

And be specific.

I was working with a client the other day. We were defining his ideal client.

He said the his ideal client earns between $50k and $80k. I told him those are two very different people.

A person making $50k lives a much different lifestyle and has more discretionary income than a person making $80k. $80k is 60% more than $50k.

Those two people have much different needs and wants. And they can afford different fees when it comes to paying you.

Once you define your ideal client, determine already has their attention. Who is already speaking into their lives?

Now, partner with those influencers to speak to their audiences. Invite them to your show.

Kimberly Crowe of Podapalooza says never turn down a mic. If you're offered the opportunity to get on stage or on a mic, take it.

You'll be attracting listeners before you know it.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSISTENCY

How detrimental is it for you to skip a week in between episode releases OR delay a few days due to time constraints?

Leading from that due to time constraints, is it ok to push out for a season, i.e. you are needing to focus on another area of the business so you take a break for a couple of months from your show and then kick back up later in the year?

- Tony Brown

Lessons From the Pit

Consistency is key.

People are creatures of habit. Once you get people in the habit of listening to your show, keep them listening by publishing consistently.

I would suggest you record a few episodes at one time. This would give you time to take a week off and still publish.

Work ahead by a week or two. When you are working on this week's episode this week, any disruption in your schedule can throw off publishing.

If you work a week or two ahead, the episode to be published this week is already done. You're working on the episode for next week. If there is any disruption in your schedule, you have a buffer.

You can also record an "emergency" episode. This would be an evergreen episode that you could publish when you run into time constraints.

I'm not a fan of seasons unless your content lends to seasons. If you do a podcast around a sport, school year, or TV show, seasons might make sense.

Most people create content around a topic. When that's the case, seasons make little sense.

When you view your podcast as a marketing tool, it becomes easier to find time in your calendar to create your content. If you stop marketing, you stop attracting clients.

Block out time, batch your tasks, and schedule production. Create a process, and it will become easier to publish consistently.

CREATIVE OR RELATABLE?

What is the right mix of relatable and creative for a show?

The FreeMatt Podcast

freemattpodcast.wordpress.com

- Matt FreeMatt

Why does it need to be either/or? Why can't it be both?

That's like asking what's the ideal balance of short or funny. Why can't it be both?

In fact, it should be both.

When you create your content, it should be relatable to your ideal listener. Use the ideal listener definition you created as a filter for all of your content.

Then, determine who you can be creative with it. What can you do with the content to make it unique?

Infuse the content with your story and personality. Brainstorm ways to be creative with it.

Could you do an interview or play a game? Maybe you tell a story or play some example audio. You could incorporate listeners or a roundtable of experts.

None of this prevents you from being relatable. It should all be relatable.

SENDING LISTENERS

Right now, I don't have a website for my podcast. When I share an episode (or my podcast in general) on social media, should I link to the podcast host (buzzsprout, libysn, etc.) or to Spotify, Apple podcast, etc.) Or should I send people to a site like pod.link that provides links to everything?

Thanks!

- Ken

"The Bad Boss Podcast"

https://pod.link/1689109552

My first preference would be your home base. That would be your website.

If you don't have a website, work to get one. You could build a simple site on Wordpress. It takes a bit of technical knowledge, but not much.

One great option is PodPage. Find it at https://www.podpage.com. They build websites specifically for podcasters.

You should never direct people directly to a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify.

The numbers vary. Some reports list Spotify as having 34.4% and Apple 32.5% of podcast listeners. That's according to Buzzsprout as of June 2024. https://www.buzzsprout.com/stats

So directing listeners to a particular platform will exclude most of your audience.

I do like the idea of directing them to Pod.Link. Unfortunately, it's not easy to send people to pod.link/1689109552 without seeing it in writing.

If you are sharing it on social, that link works. If you are mentioning it during an interview, it poses a problem.

At the end of the day, you own your website. Don't build your house on rented land. Invest in a website and send your audience there.

QUESTIONS ABOUT PODCAST CONFERENCES

When should I start going to podcast conferences and when I go, are there any unwritten protocols that should be followed? My #1 goal in attending would be to connect with other podcasters and exchange interviews to grow my email list.

-Edwin

It's never too early to start attending podcast conferences and networking.

Understand that not all conferences are created equal. Podcast Movement is quite large. Over 3,000 people attend each year. https://podcastmovement.com

There are many tracks, lots of people, and quite a few networking opportunities. More and more big companies are also attending each year.

Podfest is another great conference. Over 3,000 people attend this one each year as well. https://podfestexpo.com

Then there are small meet-ups and other podcast events throughout the year.

Attending to connect with other podcasters and exchange interviews is a great goal. Connect with the right people.

Find shows that are speaking to your ideal target listener. Know exactly who you help.

You want hosts to say, "I have those people in my audience. You'd be a great fit."

If I tell you my show is for entrepreneurs, what does that mean? Steve Jobs was an entrepreneur. So is my nephew Jimmy running his roofing business off his dining room table. Who are we talking about?

On the other hand, I could tell you I help coaches attract their ideal clients by using their podcast to become the known, go-to authority in their niche.

Now, that is a lot clearer than simply entrepreneurs.

Before you attend a conference, know exactly who you are trying to attract and who would make the ideal partner.

PROTOCOL

In terms of protocol, don't look for clients. Look for partners. Seek to help first, and you'll do just fine.

Get involved in the events. Have conversations in the hallways. Ask questions at every session, so people become familiar with you.

When my buddy Rem attended Podcast Movement, he was the first at the mic in every session I attended. By the end of that conference, everyone knew who Rem was and what his podcast was about.

It is one tactic most people miss. When they see you on the mic, you'll have more conversations than you can imagine.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions regarding your podcast strategy, email me at Coach at podcasttalentcoach.com. I might just answer your question right here on the show.

You can also apply to have a call with me by filling out the application form at

http://www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply.