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Principled and Phenomenal Self Directed Education: Podcasts by @SBSLEducSoltns

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by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor

The ‘Why, Whom, How, When, & Where’ of Listening to Podcasts

Podcasting is a phenomenal medium for entrepreneurs in so many ways that it stood out to me as an ideal ‘sequel’ post to last month’s focus on self directed education.

Over a decade ago, as the entrepreneurial, “E” pathway in America quietly criss-crossed with the “C” pathway ( Corporate ), thereby becoming more viable & available to the masses than it had been since the latter decades in the 19th century; in parallel, many new educational options emerged to enable us to constantly learn outside of a classroom’s credentialized learning environment:

  • Webinars
  • Networking & business development combined [ e.g., H7 Network ]
  • audio books [ Audible & others ]
  • Seminars [ usually in person ]
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting
  • E-books

We’ve become more blessed than ever before, since its crucially important to be constantly feeding yourself the very best ‘brain‘ food as you pursue your dreams, turn those ideas into actionable strategies, goals, & plans, and, of course, serve your clients/customers thereby solving their problems, challenges, roadblocks, & pain points.

Mr. Chris Hewitt spoke of “‘The 4 P’s of Podcasting’ : Permission; Personality; Passion; Profit.”

[ ClicktoTweet this; it’s catchy!: https://ctt.ac/dSJUe ]

Here’s the fantastic article from the spring of 2018 which discusses these 4 P’s in far greater detail:  How to Turn your Idea into an Audio Hit – it’s well worth reading.

Why should I listen to podcasts?

Building further on the foundation of those P’s , podcasts are:

 

  • Highly portable’ via any smart device that huge majorities of us carry everywhere.
  • Their content “seeps in” easier during more ‘mindless’ activities, like many household chores.
  • They’re easier to adopt and grow a lifelong learning mindset than sitting down to read.
  • A majority of hosts & their created/curated content is NOT taught in conventional schooling courses/curricula.

 

Where & When to listen?

From my own story, I encourage everyone to listen anywhere & anytime they possibly can; you might be surprised at the opportunities in ‘cracks’ of time that you’ve not thought of!

 

  • Grocery shopping & other errands
  • While driving
  • During solo meals
  • Household chores as a positive add-on ; replace mind numbing television with a podcast episode or three.
  • Working out

 

How might I listen?   I’m so ‘busy’ !?

 

That’s one of the oldest mantras you’ll hear, and likely have used many times; let’s toss it aside, since we all have had the exact same number of seconds, minutes, & hours in our days since the beginning of time.

Trust me in this:  If you bucket your day into what we might call ‘time investments‘; ‘time expenditures‘; and ‘time wasters‘, you’ll be able to find and/or create the time to answer this to your own satisfaction.

 

Whom should I listen to?  

The number of options are mind blowing!

 

  • Over 550,000 active shows
  • 18.5+ million episodes
  • 100+ languages

Source & all credit to:   https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/

 

Whom?  Part 2 : Top 10(+1) List

 

With that many options, it’s beyond clear that this post is only scratching the tiniest portion of the surface of what’s available.

Yet, I’m confident that each of these are well worth your time investment; please either listen to an episode from the below sample &/or subscribe right away. I heartily welcome your feedback, both on this post and/or through my social channels, after you’ve done so.

 

 

The Rich Dad Radio Show w/ Robert Kiyosaki

  • Jan 31 (2018) : Blockchain will Change Everything in Business ; July 4 (2018) : Find out How Financial Education Sets You Free

How I Built This w/ Guy Raz

  • June 25 (2018) : Lyft: John Zimmer ; March 26 (2018) : Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s: Nolan Bushnell

Igniting Souls w/ Kary Oberbrunner

  • July 27 (2018) : Why podcasts grow your … (Jeff Brown interview) ; August 3 (2018) : Why your freedom, finances, & fulfillment … ( David Branderhorst interview )

The Go Giver w/ Bob Burg

  • 120 : My New Favorite Story ; 086 : Business is for Kids – JJ Ramberg

Entre Leadership

  • 267: Gary Kelly – Leading Through Tragedy ; 262 : Daymond John – Rise & Grind

Isaac Moorehouse

  • 138 : Bryan Caplan on The Case Against Education ; 128 : Robert Murphy on Austrian Business Cycle Theory

Success to Significance hosted by Rick Coplin **

  • StS035: How to be an Extraordinary, Life Centered Mentor ; StS001: Get Out Before They Carry You Out

** the podcast is on hiatus & will resume with season II

School Sucks

  • 567: Noah Tetzner – The Unschooler Podcast Star ; 550-51 : Blake Boles – What It Means to Be Educated

Our Modern Heritage

  • 023: The Importance of Soft Skills to Prepare for the Future ; 035: Kirstynn Evans – Starting a Business with Your Child

Conversations on Communications w/ Joel Kessel

  • 033: Let’s Not Lose Sight of Basic Fundamentals ; 028 : The Most Damaging Thing to a Child

Columbus Entrepreneurs

  • 026: Claire Coder of Aunt Flow ; 006: David Butcher , FlyBy Entrepreneurship

 

In short …

  • There are so many ways to be self educated; create & expand your lifelong learning culture & related habits.
  • Know of the 4 P’s to podcasting.
  • The answers to the Why, When, & Where Q’s are more valuable than How.
  • Feel welcome to start, or grow, your podcasting habit by listening in to any of the ten/10 recommended hosts & sample episodes above.

________

Thank YOU for reading!

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Podcasting For Marketing: A Smart Content Marketing Strategy by @kerijaehnig

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by Keri Jaehnig | Featured Contributor

Podcasting For Marketing: A Smart Content Marketing Strategy outlined by Keri Jaehnig of Idea Girl Media at SheOwnsIt.com

3 Ways Podcasting For Marketing Benefits Your Brand

If you think radio is an old-school thing, think again. It has merely taken on a different form and name, and is increasing in momentum even as you are reading this article: Podcasting for marketing.

Shocked?  Follow along with me…

Podcasting

In simple terms, “Podcasting is the preparation and distribution of audio files using RSS to syndicate to subscribers.” Podcasting, for marketing purposes, is a great way to share knowledge and news, be it for business or personal brands.

According to Infinite Dial findings, podcasting listening has grown by a impressive 23% since 2015. Almost one quarter of the world’s population is tuning into podcasts to know more about their active interests. And this is only expected to increase in the future.

 

Monthly Podcast Listening - Podcasting For Marketing as explained by Keri Jaehnig of Idea Girl Media for SheOwnsIt.com

Podcasting For Marketing

Why podcasting? 

What advantages are brought to well-known entrepreneurs, like James Altucher, who are using it on a daily basis?

James, in his blog post ‘Why You Absolutely Must Do A Podcast’ lists 7 reasons why you must podcast.  Some high points:

  • You get to talk to your heroes (or people who you want to hear from)
  • It is easier than writing a blog post or shooting a video
  • You can pick on any topic even if you are not an expert
  • You get exposure to massive amounts of information
  • Your listening, oratory, questioning and interviewing skills improve

On a similar note, there are considerable benefits of podcasting for business. If your business relies on the Internet for client acquisition, then podcasting should be an integral part of your content marketing strategy.

Podcasting For Marketing: A Smart Content Marketing Strategy

Here are three benefits that podcasting for marketing – or even being a guest on a podcast – will bring…

1. Repurposing Popular Content

Every good marketer knows that the key to creating brand identity lies in repeating and repurposing content. But, how do you do that without bullying your customers or being a nuisance? 

Podcasts show the easy way. Business owners can present themselves as podcast guests and share: 

  • News about their products/services
  • The story behind their big idea
  • Their inspiration and what keeps them motivated 

And so on. 

Think of podcasting for marketing as a conversational way that of achieving everything that writing a blog article, publishing an ebook, or sharing a video can do. 

Podcasts also offer you an opportunity to convert top performing content with limited life, like Facebook Stories, Instagram Stories, Snaps, etc. into full-length podcasts that can attract and engage viewers at large. 

2. Serving It On A Massive Scale 

Edison Research estimates that 67 Million Americans listen to podcasts monthly. WOW!  That’s a huge population by any means. Perhaps, big enough as your target market itself. Podcasting provides a quick shortcut to reach this target market easily on a massive scale.

Additionally, podcasting is easy to consume compared to other forms of content.

The only content formats which come close in this comfort level are video and images. Images are not dynamic, videos may not always load quickly and require paying direct attention to watch. Podcasts, however, give an audience the flexibility to walk, drive or multitask and still have an understanding of the message through listening.

Businesses that use podcasts have an active content distribution channel that can comfortably reach large masses. 

3. Improving Personal Brand Value As A Subject Matter Expert

Keri Jaehnig of Idea Girl Media explains Improving Personal Brand Value As A Subject Matter Expert by Podcasting For Marketing for SheOwnsIt.comAppearing as a guest in a podcast adds some weight to your profile as a subject matter expert. Only an expert who really knows about a topic can approach questions that the host quickly includes in a large list.

A good example is this Social Chatter episode which interviews digital marketers (that you should recognize) on latest social media updates at the time. Appearing as a guest ensures that viewers know and recognize you as an individual with expertise in the field.

Here is how you can prepare for a podcast and establish yourself as a niche expert:

  • Mention real life instances from your life and business journey
  • Point out common mistakes made by people in the same boat as your clientele
  • Explain the right way of doing something and offer solutions
  • Discuss the possibilities of corrective action in case something goes wrong
  • Suggest books, blogs, and trusted thought leaders as resources for listeners
  • Quantify and mention the results you have achieved in definite terms

If you are nervous at first, rest assured that podcasting for marketing will become second nature and more something you look forward to rather than an obligation.

Conclusion – Podcasting For Marketing

Podcasting in business is an interesting way to win customers. By ending each podcast with a call-to-action, you can turn a podcast into a magnet to bring more traffic to your website, landing pages, blog posts and other published content.

Why wait any longer?

Consider podcasting for marketing a top priority – Either start your own, or try being a guest on a few podcasts first!

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Keri Jaehnig is the Founder and CMO at Idea Girl Media and writes for She Owns ItKeri Jaehnig is the Founder and CMO at Idea Girl Media, an international Social Media Marketing Agency. Keri helps business brands, public figures, and non-profits achieve and positive online reputation. You may have seen Keri online at Forbes, Social Media Today, Search Engine People, Business Insider, AOL Small Business, TabSite, WiseStamp, SteamFeed, and other social media marketing websites. She also writes for her own blog at ideagirlmedia.com. In 2013 Keri received a Small Business Influencer Honorable Mention Award, and a commendation for Outstanding Attainment in Social Media from the State of Ohio Senate. Non-fat lattes, travel & quick wit make her smile, and Keri is always enthused to meet new people!

Connect with Keri on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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How to Find Ideal Clients Through Podcast Interviews by @AshClayWill

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by Ashley Williams  | Featured Contributor

“You get a podcast! You get a podcast! Everybody gets a podcassstt!”

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of everyone and their next door neighbor launching a podcast. Even the Queen of television herself Ms. Oprah Winfrey has recently jumped into the podcasting game with her SuperSoul Conversations which repurposes old SuperSoul Sunday interviews for people like me who prefer to listen on the go.

If you’re an entrepreneur you’re probably starting to catch on to the fact that podcasts are not a passing trend and that audio is one of the most intimate ways you can connect with potential clients.

With well over 400k podcasts available, deciding where to invest your time to pitch yourself for a podcast interview can feel daunting and overwhelming.

Which is why I’m going to walk you through a few super easy steps to finding the right podcasts for you. I’ll also let you in on a trick to save yourself tons of time by only pitching shows that are a perfect fit for your brand or message.

Before you start digging deep with your search you’ll need to decide whether to go for big and broad audiences vs. smaller niched shows.

I know your first inclination might be to try and land yourself on one of the biggest shows out there like: The Tim Ferriss Show, The Chalene Show or Smart Passive Income.

Why? Because these shows are easy to find and some of your heroes have been guests in the past, so of course you’re going to feel drawn to them.

But here’s the thing, unless you yourself have both a huge audience and a super successful business on your hands these podcasts are still a bit out of your league.

Even if you’re making 7 or 8 figures in your business these shows are still incredibly hard to get on. I’m pretty certain Tim Ferriss doesn’t even take pitches, he mostly interviews friends, close colleagues or people he’s personally a fan of.

A show like Smart Passive Income is much more “get-able”, but still a bit out of your reach until you’ve got business success crew to justify him putting you in front of his huge loyal advice.

Don’t let that discourage you though!

Going on podcasts with such huge audiences can look great on your press page and will impress your colleagues, but do they actually put you in front of your ideal clients?

Maybe.

When you’re swimming in such a massive pond, chances are not every single listener is going to be interested in your topic.

A small percentage of a huge audience might be a little interested but on you’re missing out on the chance to speak directly to a highly engaged, incredibly niched group of people.

This is why I highly recommend looking for smaller shows who may not have 100,000 downloads per episode, but do have a dedicated following of fans that are perfect for you.

No matter your industry there’s a podcast niche for you. Anything from crafting and DIY projects, to treating anxiety, infertility or addiction. If you’re a business coach there are podcasts all about course creation, social media, being a work from home mom and on and on.

So how do you find these shows in the sea of hundreds of thousands of bright, sparkly podcast covers?

Follow this super easy process and you’ll soon be ready to start pitching to the podcast that’s ideal for you!

Let’s get started:

Head to the iTunes Store on your computer and switch the dropdown menu to “Podcasts”

Then in the Search bar you’re going to start searching a few names, digging deep into the podcasts you find and adding them to a list or tracking sheet.

Start by searching for someone doing similar work to you thats at the upper echelon of the industry. Search their name and look for the shows they’ve be on.

Next you’ll search someone in your industry that is not at the very top of the industry, but that is  5 or so years further along than you.

Depending on how similar your work is to theirs you’re probably not going to get on the same podcasts talking about the same topic (unless you want to do a rebuttal or counter point to what they talked about).

But what these searches will give you is a list of other podcasts listeners also subscribe to.

This is pure gold!

Dig through these other suggested podcasts and add the ones that feel like a good fit to your tracking sheet.

You’ll also want to make sure to search by category.  Keep in mind that iTunes makes it insanely hard to find some of the smaller sub-categories, so you’ll really have to dig all the way down to the bottom of the screen on your computer (they’re not visible at all on mobile) to find more niched categories like “Alternative Health” or “Spirituality”.

Lastly you’ll want to search for round up blogs that highlight the best podcasts by category. Like this one or this one or this one. Get creative with your search terms and see what you can find.

Once you’ve got a whole bunch of podcast in your tracking sheet it’s time to start cutting out some of the shows before you start sending pitch emails.

Cool artwork or a catchy name doesn’t give you enough info to decide if the show is the right fit for you, your brand, and your dream clients.

Make sure to read the show description and scroll through past episodes to make sure they’re actually on brand and in alignment for you.

If you’re an outspoken feminist life coach, going on a podcast that calls it’s listeners lady-girl-boss-bitches would probably not be in-line with where you should be marketing yourself.

Or if you’re a die hard vegan, going on a paleo podcast doesn’t really make sense.

Don’t waste your time trying to convert people and instead focus on people who are actually speaking the same language you are.

I always tell my podcasting clients to listen to at least one interview on each podcast before they send a pitch. Sometimes the branding and even the show description can be misleading and it’s important that you get a feel for the show, the host and their interview style.

This information will also come in extremely handy when it comes time to write a pitch email and will save both you and the host a ton of time by making sure your pitching yourself to absolutely ideal podcasts whose listeners can’t wait to hear from you.

Do you have any other ideas for finding podcasts to pitch yourself to? Leave a comment below and we can all brainstorm together!

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3 Reasons Podcasts Are Ideal For Introvert Entrepreneurs by @AshClayWill

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Photo Credit: Anomalily Flickr via Compfight cc

by Ashley Williams  | Featured Contributor

Remember that ideal client profile you spent so much time on where you identified the daily habits of your ideal client? These days podcasts allow you to actually become a part of those daily habits.

With each episode podcasts are literally laser beamed into people’s ears while they’re commuting, walking the dog, working out at the gym or even sneakily while at work.

Podcasting is one of the fastest growing mediums for entrepreneurs, thought-leaders and cultural influencers to reach directly into the ears of their ideal clients. It’s an industry that’s exploding and having an ever increasing impact.

One of the reasons they’re so popular is because podcasts create an intimate experience between host and listener.

For entrepreneurs, this is especially valuable.

We are after all endlessly working to create that Know, Like and Trust factor, right?

The benefits of podcasting or being interviewed on podcasts is huge for everyone, but there is one particular group of people who naturally thrive in the podcast arena.

And that is introverts.

Now I know what you’re thinking, aren’t introverts too “shy” to broadcast themselves to millions of people?

My answer as both an introvert and podcast host is a resounding no. Some of the most well known podcast hosts are in fact introverts: Tim Ferriss, Jonathan Fields, Tara Gentile, Chelane Johnson and Pat Flynn to name a few.

Even Susan Cain – the women who literally wrote the book on introversion has a podcast!

“Almost every good broadcaster I know is an introvert. It’s one of those weird things in life that for many, it’s easier to speak to a microphone than to people.” ~ Stacey Simms, host of the podcast Diabetes Connections

Here are 3 key reasons why hosting or being interviewed on a podcast is ideal for you if you’re an introvert:

1 . No One Can See You

Podcasts can be recorded from the privacy of your own home (I sometimes record while still in bed!), which means you won’t have to face the outside human world draining you of your energy. You can record them on your own time from the coziness of your living room couch which feels so much easier than getting up on a stage or going to tons of networking events.

And if you’re nervous about public speaking, podcasts allow you to get away with checking your notes or even reading directly from them. And because very few shows are broadcast live, you can always edit out any mistakes

2. Real Talk Wins

As an introvert small talk probably makes you want to lay on the floor and rock back and fourth because it’s just so awful and pointless and OMG, how do people actually make friends this way??

This is the biggest area where you get to shine with podcast!

Podcasts are an intimate medium. People want depth, honesty and authenticity.

There is something about audio that strips away all pretenses and puts everyone on an even playing field. Language and storytelling has connected us as humans for centuries and continues to do so for millions of podcast listeners each day. Pod fans want to hear personal stories, asides and antidotes from you to build real connection and community with you. The more you’re willing and able to open up and tell detailed stories about the things that matter to you the easier it will be for listeners to nod along and say “OMG me too!”

Spoiler: That “OMG me too” feeling is crucial if your goal is to convert clients!

3. One To Many

One of the reasons I started my own podcast, Green Is the New Black was because it felt so much easier to talk about things that were important to me to a lot of people instead of small groups or one on one.

The power of podcasts is getting to say something one time and it reaches thousands, instead of having to go person to person or networking event to networking event to share your work.

As introverts, it’s easy to feel drained by person to person conversations so podcasts will give you a much bigger bang for your buck!

Many popular podcasts feature interviews between the host and a guest which is another area where introverts will shine. Being a great listener is a survival skill we develop early on to avoid small talk. We also use our words sparingly and focus on impact instead of just dominating the conversation.

If you’re an introvert and you’re thinking of starting a podcast there’s a lot to learn and I’d suggest digging into some free online tutorials like this one or this one.

An even easier place to start dipping your introverted toe into the podcasting waters would be to start promoting your work on existing podcasts that are perfect for your niche.

Getting interviewed on podcasts is free, fun and great practice in front of the mic.

I’ll be posting even more tips on how and where to land the perfect podcast interview opportunities in my next article, but for now you can use this link and take a short survey to find out if you and your business are ready for the big time!

Introverts! I’d love to hear from you in the comments, what are some other unique ways you’ve used your quiet power to benefit your business?

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How to use podcasting to connect with your clients, it’s easier than you think by @XLConsultingGro

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A radio DJ announces news in a studio

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

We are overwhelmed with information.  Sometimes we are tired of reading and viewing and we just want to listen to sound.  One advantage of sound is all we need to do is plug in our headset and listen while we are busy completing other tasks.  Sound is completely portable.  You can listen while in your car, jogging, walking the kids to school or at the gym.  Your business could take advantage of snapping up the audio space by podcasting.

Did you know that there are at least 24 women whose podcasts are extremely popular as rated by Entrepreneur Magazine?    They cover all kinds of topics from wellness to tech, finance, and interviews with women CEO’s.  Why not check them out here?

You may not be a household name like these 24 women, but you can engage a new audience and build your credibility factor by podcasting, especially if you like talking versus writing or appearing on camera.

How to get started with podcasting?

You don’t have to spend a ton of money on equipment at the beginning, especially if podcasting isn’t your main income stream.

Here are the basics for your setup:

1)  A good microphone

2)  A POP filter (for the ‘P’ and ‘B’ sounds so you don’t get the ‘pop’ sound!)

3)  A headset

4)  A Skype account

5) Recording software

6) A podcasting hosting account such as Soundcloud

Eventually, you might need audio editing equipment, but to start with, don’t invest time and energy in this area for basic podcasting.  You can get excellent audio editing and audio mixing from freelancers on Fiverr.   I found an excellent contractor whose service was impeccable.  For a complete equipment setup,  check out this list.

What kinds of podcasting could you try?

1) One of the easiest ways to get started is by interviewing people.  Before you become the interviewer, why not be a guest on a podcasting interview show to get your feet wet?

2) Next, find interesting topics and speakers your audience would like to learn from and interview them (this is where Skype comes in).   I was recently interviewed on a podcast about entrepreneurship by Tracy J on Power Xtra Radio for her show called “Something for the Weekend”.   She was in the studio in London, UK, and I was on Skype.   Although there was a difference in the audio levels between the two of us, this was fixed by the great freelancer on Fiverr, so the sound was equalized.

3) One of my entrepreneur techie friends, Stacy Maynard, has partnered with  Javed Khan from Empression Marketing.   Their podcast reviews technology and the engagement comes from the lively exchange between them (His Way or Her Way)  as they often have opposing views.  You can listen to their podcasts on Soundcloud or i-Tunes. Here is their podcast on the 2017 social media trends.

4)  Teach classes via podcasting, supplementing with downloadable worksheets, e-books etc. via your website.

Understanding Soundcloud

If you are going to produce a series of podcasts, they have to live somewhere.    Recorded audio files can be stored on Soundcloud. It is the audio version of YouTube.   You create your own channel with your own branding and gain your own followers.   This is where you upload your MP3 files.   You can then link to these media files from your website page or blog through the embed code on Soundcloud.

Soundcloud has an i-Tunes app and is available in the Google Play store, too.  Your podcasts can stream for mobile under a subscription service that you can monetize.

Or individual instructional podcasts can be sold directly from your website, just like ebooks.  You may have to increase the bandwidth of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you want to store your MP3 files on your website in your media files.

Why not try podcasting as part of your social media strategy for 2017?

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Elaine SlatterElaine Slatter is a Small Business Expert, founder of  XL Consulting Group and author of the popular book, “Fabulous Fempreneurship”, a complete business guide for women.  XL Consulting Group helps entrepreneurs with market planning, strategy, branding, web design and social media. She has over 30 years of executive business and marketing experience and is ready to help you rocket your business to success.  Elaine is passionate about mentoring women to become successful women entrepreneurs.   To find out more, visit XL Consulting Group or join the Fabulous Fempreneurship mastermind.

You can connect with Elaine on social media at:  Facebook Group | Twitter | Facebook

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Women Can Say It Loud By Podcasting by @toninelsonbiz

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young_woman_hold_word_balloon_17024by Toni Nelson | Featured Contributor

You are sitting in your living room and the show “The Odd Couple” comes on. Oscar is in his bedroom doing his radio show.   Suddenly you take notice. Someone’s paying him to have his radio show in his bedroom!   You think, “Too bad I can’t do that.” But wait is there a way to you can have your voice heard like Oscar? Have your own show from the comfort of your home?

That’s where the idea starts.

Of course you realize that Oscar is not a real person but people are making money from their own homes. They don’t have to worry about hair, makeup or traveling to an office.

As you think more about this you can envision yourself sharing your knowledge and expertise. You know the room you’ll work from. It’s the one with the view of your beautiful backyard. How cool would that be?

Then it hits you. “Who is going to hire me to be on the radio?” Instead of that discouraging you hear a voice inside you that says there has to be a way and you know what? There is!

As an entrepreneur you’ve probably read all kinds of emails telling you they have the “magic bullet.” The truth is there is no magic bullet. When my parents started their first business it took hard work and building business relationships. They used word of mouth marketing and it worked.  The same holds true today even more so because many have been burned by unscrupulous people.

The good news is that we live in a day and age when we can virtually reach out to our ideal customers. We can start building those business relationships on and offline and we can have our online voice heard.

You need multiple ways to market your business. When I talk to clients about creating a marketing strategy for them one of the areas we talk about is face-to-face video. There are those who are ready to embrace it while others would rather have me create a series of videos for them.

There are those that tell me they have a face for radio. Ahh! There it is again. Radio.

What if you could harness the power of “radio?” Have your own show. Reach out to your ideal customers locally, globally, 24/7!

What is this marketing strategy that you can use to do this and more?

It’s podcasting!

With podcasting you will be able to “say it loud” and personally talk to the very customers you are targeting.

Podcasts are mp3’s or audio files that can be downloaded. Like a radio show, podcasters broadcast on a regular schedule, but unlike radio where they are only on at a specific day and time, podcasts can be made available to listeners for download any time.

Each episode of a podcast covers a certain topic that’s related to your niche or the interests of your audience.

Let’s be real from the start. For most podcasters there’s little money to be made podcasting.   Notice I said most. That’s because you have to have a plan, a reason why you are podcasting. You can think of new and creative ways to make multiple streams of income and when done correctly you can make money via your podcast. That comes with time and hard work.

In the beginning your goal when it comes to podcasting should be to start your “show” and gain popularity. There are strategies to do this.

Podcasts are popular.

Recently I read an article from Joe Pulizzi from the Content Marketing Institute. He said they had committed to doing 52 podcast shows and that was probably going to be it.

Then he was asked to speak at a CoppyBlogger conference. You know what people talked about when they came up to meet him? It was his podcast show! They were passionate about it. According to Joe they liked it even more than the articles! Is he going to continue podcasting? You bet he is.

In my second book The Secret Equation To Attracting More Clients” I talk about your P Factor and podcasting. Your P Factor is your personality and podcasting lets your personality show in your voice! People can get to know who you are and what you do by listening to you share information with them.

Using podcasts can help build your community as you can see from the example above.

If your programming resonates with your audience they will listen and tell others about it. This brings in more listeners.

Podcasts are an inexpensive way to market your business.

Podcasting can grow you audience, give you more exposure and bring new leads to your marketing channels. The best part is that it’s extremely low-cost. The gear you need to start podcasting is minimal.

Wondering how to get started?

Get my free “Getting Started” Blue Print by clicking the image below:)

Toni Universe_1

 

Be Savvy and Successful!

Host of Savvy Biz Talk on iTunes 

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Nelson-Photographers-Profile-Pic- 4x4_APP_5764 I’m Toni Nelson. My first business was started almost 30 years ago out of a desire to be home more for my daughter. Since that time I’ve helped others start and grow their business. Seeking to empower women I wrote my first book: Sexy, Savvy and Successful! – A Woman’s Guide On How To Start A Business, Gain Financial Freedom and Buy More Shoes! After reading my book people kept asking me what they needed to do next. How could they get training? That’s when I became the Founder of The Mine System Of Learning. I wanted to produce courses to help people gain or sharpen their skills so they could claim ownership of their business and say, “Yes! It’s MINE”!

My second book: The Secret Equation To Attracting More Clients – Marketing + P Factor + Video = $$$$ helps businesses find out what makes them different so they can stand out from the competition and attract more clients.

As an Award winning Videographer and Photographer I’ve been published in such places as DIY Bride, Kiss My Tule and the Florida Wedding Atlas. My video expertise has been featured on The American Express Open Forum.

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10 Reasons Women Should Podcast by @toninelsonbiz

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Photo Credit: TimWilson via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: TimWilson via Compfight cc

by Toni Nelson 

In a cluttered online environment it’s more important than ever to have your voice heard on multiple platforms.

While I work with many clients to get over their fear of video we often talk about podcasting.

A major benefit for those who are fearful of video is to start podcasting since you are not on camera. You can use a script and as long as you practice sounding natural you’ll be fine.

Podcasting is also a great way for you to get comfortable with a microphone and speaking in general.
Many women are starting to utilize podcasting.

For example Kathie Lee Gifford now has her own podcast show.  Sandra Rinomato who was the host of Property Virgins on HGTV has her own channel on YouTube titled “Sandra Says” Podcast.  There are many other celebrities that have their own podcast shows which makes you wonder why?

It’s because this is another avenue for them to connect with their audience.

There are many benefits when it comes to podcasting.

First let’s define what a podcast is.  They are downloadable digital files.  The can be in audio format, PDF, video.

They are produced episode by episode and are many times referred to as an online radio show.  Just imagine you can have your own radio show!

I thought I’d address the most frequently asked questions I receive when it comes to podcasting.

1. How often should you produce your podcasts?  That is up to you but here’s a major tip.  Be consistent.  I know that can be hard at times but if you record several podcasts at a time you will be able to release them and keep your show fresh.  For e example if you want to have your “show” every Monday then be sure that you are able to have that podcast done and ready to upload.

What’s appealing about podcasting is the fact that it’s not at all expensive to produce.

2. Do you need a lot of equipment?  That’s the beauty of podcasting because you can start as long as you have a high quality USB microphone.  High quality audio is extremely important.  As people listen to your podcast you wouldn’t want them straining to hear you or worse yet having you sound like you are in a wind tunnel. You will also need software that enables you to record.  Windows Movie Make has some basic audio recording features.  If you have a Mac you can use GarageBand.

3. How long will your show be?  It’s up to you!  Your shows length will depend on the topic and how in-depth you are getting.

4. What will my topics be?   That depends on who your audience is and what they need to hear about from you.

5. How can I use what I already have? You can also take your blog posts and create a podcast from them!  It’s a great way to repurpose your content.  You create it once and use it again in multiple ways.

When people subscribe to your RSS feed they will be notified automatically when you put up a new podcast.

6. How will people listen to my podcast?  People can consume your content while driving to work, exercising, walking etc.

7. How can podcasting bring attention to my products or services?  Podcasts can be used as a pre-selling tool.  What do I mean?  Let’s say you want people to sign up for a special program you are offering.

You create your podcast with the proper title that makes people tune in and listen.  When they do you can encourage them to sign up for that program.

8.  Where else can I use a podcast?  You can also use your podcasts as part of a membership site.   Provide your members with special podcasts that will help them with whatever niche you are in.

9. What type of format can I use?  You may want to consider taking it to a different level by interviewing others and sharing it.

This format has become quite popular.  Just start looking around at all the “summits that people are creating.  You can do the same thing with your podcast!

Whatever you decide make sure at all times it’s lively and informative.

10. Can I make money with podcasting?  Once you have a following you may be able to start making money from your podcast by having sponsors.  The important thing is to first start providing excellent content that people will want to consume.  Once you do that you can look into ways to monetize your podcast.

If you think this sounds like something you’d be interested in exploring then go here for my free report:  21 Ways to Gain Visibility and Credibility Through Podcasting

Remember it’s all about having your voice heard on multiple platforms.

If you’d like to be interviewed on my Podcast “Savvy Biz Talk” email me for details.

Be Savvy And Successful!

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Toni Nelson – Author of: Sexy, Savvy and Successful: A Woman’s Guide On How To Start A Business, Gain Financial Freedom and Buy More Shoes!

Award winning Videographer and Photographer

Founder of The MINE System of Learning.com – online business video courses for entrepreneurs.  Gain or sharpen your business skills so you can stand out from the competition and attract more clients.

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