Jen Briney is a trailblazer in crowdfunding podcast journalism. During this episode, we talk about what actually goes into producing an episode of Congressional Dish, and discuss downloads, listener-based financial models, what it’s like to get bad reviews, and how you can grow a big audience by focusing on creating solid content.

 

Main Questions Asked:

• When did you introduce the Listener Contribution Model?
• Talk about the behind the scenes production work on Congressional Dish.
• Do you mingle with the other podcasters in your category on iTunes, or just focus on your own thing?

 

Key Lessons Learned:

Congressional Dish Podcast

• The first episode released in Sept 2012.
• Congressional Dish involves reading and outlining a bill. It is entertaining, educational, and has opinion.
• The show has two episodes per month, and Jen does all her interviews in one week. 
• The research alone takes a solid week.
• The show is high in the Government category on iTunes, but Jen doesn’t feel as though she is in the political clique.
• Jen will fire at certain people for job-related scandals but not personal scandals.

 

The Funding Model

• The show is an advertising-free space and makes money from listener contribution.

 

Show Notes & Outsourcing

• The show notes are the most valuable part of the show, as there are links to actual provisions.
• Jen hired an audio engineer to edit the show, which saves her a day of work.

 

Download Stats

• After 30 days, if your episode has 165 downloads, you are doing better than 50% of the podcasts on iTunes.
• Congressional Dish garners 10,000 downloads per episode.

 

Marketing

• It’s good to market your podcast from the beginning, but don’t let it replace quality content.

 

Point of Difference

• So many podcasts are using the same ‘recipe’ and same questions. Be different.

 

Journalism & Journalists

• There are a lot of people who call themselves journalists but are actually pundits.
• The question is, ‘Are you delivering information or opinion?’
• Congressional Dish also has opinion and slant, but the information is always backed up rather than made up.

 

Resources:

Congressional Dish

Electoral College Episode

Horse Radio Network

Walking Deadcast

Heather Havenwood: The Win

The Ladygang

 

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic 

My biggest FAQ is “How do I do it all?” During this episode, I pull back the curtain and reveal my top 5 secrets on how I do it. 

 

Key Lessons Learned:

Secret #1: Decide That You Want To Do It

• At some point you have to decide you want to create a weekly podcast, blogs, and videos.
• You have to want it enough to do the work it takes to get there.
• Hire and manage a team.
• Hiring your first team member is putting the cart before the horse, as you are hiring them before you truly know if it will lead to more clients and greater revenue.
• Wealth rewards risk.
• Wealth rewards speed.
• Every time you bring in a new team member, delegate, or create a new system, you are taking a risk.
• Delegate.

 

Secret #2: Hire A Coach 

• Invest in coaching.
• Mastermind from an early stage.

 

Secret #3: Mindset

• Embrace solutions, not excuses.
• Live abundantly.
• Make a conscious decision to have a solution-oriented mindset.
• The common denominator of failure is excuses.
• When you own your failure, you won’t like it, but only then can you own your success.

 

Secret #4: Million Dollar Platform

1. Video Marketing.
2. Podcasting.
3. Speaking and getting interviewed as a guest.
4. Become a celebrity expert (embrace your authority as a celebrity in your niche).
5. Social Media Marketing.
6. Client Retention.
7. Become an Author.
8. Masterminding.
9. Content Marketing.
10. Email and E-Zine.

 

Secret #5: Attend Conferences

• Go to the conferences where your potential customers and clients will be.
• Ask questions at the end of sessions (make sure to clearly say your name and business before asking your question).
• Network and start to build relationships.
• The retention aspect of attending conferences is taking existing clients out to dinner.
• Invest in attending a conference, and promote it before you apply to be a speaker.
• Invite the conference founder on to your podcast.

 

Resources:

Podcast Mid-Atlantic 

The Messengers Doc

Natalie Eckdahl

Jim Palmer

Melanie Benson

Million Dollar Platform (Graphic)

 

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

 

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic 

This episode of Rhodes to Success we cover how to grow your podcast audience. If you implement all the ideas in this episode, and don’t give up after a few months, you will definitely see your audience grow. During this episode, we discuss online and offline marketing, as well as networking. 

 

Key Lessons Learned:

Online Marketing

 

Good Website

• Your website must have podcast show notes and links.
• If your website is bad, people won’t stick around.
• A fancy website and iTunes reviews can make your show look bigger than it is.

 

Social Media

• Be consistently marketing your show on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram.

 

Meet Edgar

• This is a social media scheduling tool that is $50 per month.
• Upload your content and set how often you want your posts shared on social media.
• Other options are Buffer and Hootsuite.
• Know that posts you create manually will get more views.

 

Graphic Design Tools

• Canva
• Pic Monkey
• Relay That
• Unsplash (stock photos)

 

Virtual Assistant

• VAs can be used to do the following busy work:
• • Write your tweets, posts, blog posts
  • Create graphics
  • Upload to the scheduling platform
  • Monitor engagement

 

Facebook Groups

• Create one for your podcast.
• Interact and engage in groups as a member.
• When you join a new group, it’s important to read the rules.
• The She Podcasts group is good for female podcasters.

 

Promote to Your Email List

• This is an action people often forget.
• Test and experiment with your email list.
• Regardless of how often you email, you must stay consistent.
• Email open rates are typically 5-10%.

 

Destinations

• iTunes
• Stitcher Radio
• Google Play
• I Heart Radio
• YouTube
• Sound Cloud

 

Networking & Relationships

 

Go on Other Podcasts

• Choose podcasts in your niche as a guest.

 

Interview your listeners, clients, and peers.

• Celebrities on your podcast is not the secret to success.

 

Be Bold

• Be vulnerable and say things people aren’t saying.
• People share shows that move them and stand out.

 

Resources:

Meet Edgar

Hoot Suite

Buffer

Canva

Relay That

Unsplash stock photos

Biz Women Rock

Course on Facebook Groups

Biz Chix

Podcast Junkies

The Coaching Jungle

She Podcasts

The Lady Gang

Profit Boss Radio

The Traffic and Leads Podcast

Dear Mattie Show

Get booked on other podcasts as a guest

 

Live Webinar: 

Text ‘rock’ 72000

Jessicarhodes.biz/webinar

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic 

Want to know how to become a marketing machine? This episode of Rhodes to Success we talk about the benefits of starting out in podcasting as a guest expert, marketing your business on multiple platforms, and the top 3 reasons you should start a podcast.

 

Key Lessons Learned:

Start as a Guest

• Being a guest expert is an excellent first step to getting into podcasting.
• There’s not pressure to produce and launch an entire podcast.
• Build your network.
• Every time you are interviewed you are expanding your business relationships.
• Leverage the power of being a guest.

 

Market Your Business on Multiple Platforms

• It’s important to create content on different platforms as audiences learn in different ways.
• This includes audio and visual such as podcasts, videos, blogs, in person events, online and hardcopy newsletter.

 

Reasons to Start a Podcast

Powerful Way to Market Your Business

• Having your own show is an amazing marketing tool for your business.
• Provide content that is valuable and relevant to your audience.
• When you provide content for your current and potential clients need they will stick to you.
• Everything you do with your marketing is like adding another layer of glue to the relationship with your customers.
• Interviewing guests make you as the host a peer rather than a fan.

Position Yourself as an Authority

• Podcasting positions yourself as an authority in your niche, listeners, and within the community.
• If you have a podcast centered around your topic, be a guest on other podcasts and create video you set yourself apart as the authority.
• Every time you create a piece of content it comes up in Google search results.
• Being the best at what you do isn’t enough. You have to be an authority figure who is creating content and attracting people to you via that content.

Provides Content to Share When People Ask Questions

• Instead of crafting a long response in forums and Facebook groups. Leave a link to your podcast.   

 

Use Your Platform to Highlight Your Clients and Listeners

• You have a platform and space where you can bring exposure to your community and clients.
• Interviewing clients and listeners on your podcast is a great way to deepen your relationship with them.

 

Resources:

Gene Hammett Leaders in the Trenches

Brad Baldridge Taming the High Cost of College

Dave Jackson School of Podcasting

Jim Palmer Stick Like Glue

 

Webinar:  Text ‘rock’ 72000

 

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

 

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic