Last time, I started a discussion on “When You Should NOT Start a Podcast.”

The number one reason I went into detail on last time was, “To make money.” I shared how approximately only 1% of the podcasters out there make a full time living from podcasting. These are podcasters who have built up a brand, a loyal following and have close to a million down loads per episode. Something most of us will never achieve.

Today, I want to talk to those who think podcasting is interesting and it appears “easy to do.”

Yes, it is easy to do. But if you want to produce a quality program, one that will bring in additional listeners and a podcast that will generate loyal listeners, it gets to be a little more than that!

Are you a good speaker?

Do you have experience at public speaking?

You may notice all of the "ah's"and "umm's" you use. But I can guarantee you, your listeners will. And if they get annoyed with your grammar, they will click off and never come back.

So, a way to stop doing that is to join a group like "Toastmasters." They will guide you down the path of how not to use those fillers!

Next is the technology involved.

Podcasting is "technology." You must become proficient at using the technology available to you. If you are putting out a terrible product, nobody will want to listen to you.

Use a good microphone. Use a headset to cut down any echo (especially if you are conducting interviews).

Add an "intro" and an "outro" to your podcast.

Edit your program and eliminate any mistakes or "bloopers."

Yes, it may take you some time to learn how to do this. But the payoff in the end will be increased listenership and subscribers!

Lastly, do not start a podcast because "everybody else is doing it."

That is probably not a good reason to start a podcast.

Apple Podcasts reports they will soon have over ONE MILLION podcasts hosted on their platform! But, they also report that about 20% (or 200,000) podcasts have less than 7 episodes!

Why?

Because people started their podcast journey and decided it was not for them! Often, they spent good money in starting their podcast. Domain name; hosting platform; microphone and headsets, etc. Only to quit after just a few episodes.

I hope these tips helped to clarify some seldom talked about topics concerning podcasting. Especially the reasons for NOT starting a podcast! 

If you have a podcasting question, send it along to me. You can leave your questions in the comments section below. But a better way of communicating with me and making sure I am able to see your questions rapidly is by using the contact form on my website. Go to https://podcast-training.com/contactand click on the contact tab. Fill out the form and be sure to send me your questions.                                                

If your question is used on this podcast, I will be giving you credit for bringing it to our attention and you will receive a FREE download of my book, “The Complete Guide to Podcasting.”  That is a $37 value and you will receive it for FREE if you send along your questions and used on this “ASK BOB” program. If you include your website or podcast information, I will be referencing that as well and putting your information in the show notes of the podcast. 

Who knows, you may see some increased traffic to your website, your podcast, etc. just from asking a question.  If I get asked the same question, the first person to ask it will be getting the credit. 

So IF you have a question,...

This was a unique question and I thought it was deserving of a somewhat detailed answer!  It seems like everyone is giving information on who needs to have a podcast, why you should have a podcast and how to start a podcast. But nobody is talking about reasons NOT to start a podcast!

Some of the misguided assumptions about people wanting to start a podcast includes fame and fortune. So in this series of episodes, I want to cover some very good reasons you should NOT start a podcast!  If you find yourself wandering down a few of the trails I’m going to identify here, you should rethink your motivation for wanting to start a podcast!

As I covered in previous episodes, podcasting IS the new communication medium for this generation. It is easy to enter. It is fairly easy to produce. It is easy to promote. All of this makes it fairly easy for someone to just “hit record” and they are a podcaster!  But the same accessibility also means there are many, many podcasters out there. And many of them, truthfully, are not that great.

Only the top 1% or so of podcasters every make enough money from their podcasting to be in a position to quit their regular job and live off of their podcast.

Less then 20% of podcasters make "any" money from their podcast!

So if you are looking for a way to add some additional income to the family budget, and quickly, don't go into podcasting! Spend that time working at a part time job and get that extra income quickly that way!

Next time, I will discuss the “Skill and Knowledge Requirements” as reasons “When Should I Not Start a Podcast!”

If you have a podcasting question, send it along to me. You can leave your questions in the comments section below. But a better way of communicating with me and making sure I am able to see your questions rapidly is by using the contact form on my website. Go to https://podcast-training.com/contactand click on the contact tab. Fill out the form and be sure to send me your questions.                                               

If your question is used on this podcast, I will be giving you credit for bringing it to our attention and you will receive a FREE download of my book, “The Complete Guide to Podcasting.”  That is a $37 value and you will receive it for FREE if you send along your questions and used on this “ASK BOB” program. If you include your website or podcast information, I will be referencing that as well and putting your information in the show notes of the podcast. 

Who knows, you may see some increased traffic to your website, your podcast, etc. just from asking a question.  If I get asked the same question, the first person to ask it will be getting the credit. 

So IF you have a question, don’t wait!  Ask today. Just go to

https://podcast-training.com/contactand fill out the contact form.

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you can be notified every time we release a new episode and answer someone’s question!

So, until we talk again, “Keep Listening, You’re Awesome!”

I have been answering the question, “Why Should I Start a Podcast?”  We have already talked about the “Growth of Podcasting” and how “Podcasts Are Better Than Blogs.”

Today, I want to emphasize how podcasts will help you to “Become and Influencer In Your Market.”

First, when someone listens to your podcast, it is like you are being invited into their home, office or car. You are like a guest. They want to hear what you have to say! That is almost automatic credibility!

Next, reach out to a well known influencer in your market or niche! You may have to ask 10 to find one who will come on your podcast to do an interview. Don't let that get you down.

One major influencer that comes on your podcast will elevate you in your listeners eyes. They figure you are rubbing shoulders with other influencers. Therefore, you must be an influencer as well.

Do not think you will see significant downloads just from interviewing the other influencer. Usually, they will not be sharing anything with your audience that has not been shared elsewhere already. So the influencers audience may not jump at the opportunity to listen to your interview.

But you are interviewing the other person for YOUR AUDIENCE! Always remember that!

Your podcast is a way to grow YOUR BRAND and YOUR INFLUENCE.

So, don’t be shy – start your podcast!  

If you want information on how you can start your own podcast, or to help grow and make an existing podcast even better, visit my website at www.podcast-training.comand take a look around.

If you have a podcasting question, send it along to me. You can leave your questions in the comments section below. But a better way of communicating with me and making sure I am able to see your questions rapidly is by using the contact form on my website. Go to https://podcast-training.com/contactand click on the contact tab. Fill out the form and be sure to send me your questions.                                               

If your question is used on this podcast, I will be giving you credit for bringing it to our attention and you will receive a FREE download of my book, “The Complete Guide to Podcasting.”  That is a $37 value and you will receive it for FREE if you send along your questions and used on this “ASK BOB” program. If you include your website or podcast information, I will be referencing that as well and putting your information in the show notes of the podcast. 

Who knows, you may see some increased traffic to your website, your podcast, etc. just from asking a question.  If I get asked the same question, the first person to ask it will be getting the credit. 

So IF you have a question, don’t wait!  Ask today. Just go to

https://podcast-training.com/contactand fill out the contact form.

Until next time, “Keep Talking – You’re Awesome!”

How To Interview Authors and Monetizing Your Podcast Without Haggling

I wanted to share with you something that I have been using in my podcasting to monetize my podcast. I was talking with a group on a Mastermind and this subject came up. And when I explained this simple hack that I use when interviewing authors about their books, I was asked if I had shared this with YOU, my listeners. 

And, when I realized I had not, well – here is the information I shared with the Mastermind group. 

Trying to get a new author to give up some of their sales proceeds can be a sensitive area to tread. If you do not do so properly, the author may feel like you are holding their interview hostage! If they do not agree to your terms, you will not promote the interview!

Although YOU are promoting THEIR book on YOUR podcast to YOUR audience, it can still be a sensitive area.

The author may not even know how to track affiliate commissions or even how to pay them out to the appropriate people in the correct amount.

I have been using a work around for over three years now. It has worked for me and I believe it will work for you as well.

First, you need to have a Amazon Affiliate Account (link is down below). It is free to set up and you are approved almost immediately.

Next, you need to find the authors book you are talking about in the interview. Just search the name of the book in the Amazon search bar. Also type in the author name. It helps Amazon to find it quickly (it is looking just for that title and author).

Next, go up to the left corner and click on "Text" for the affiliate link. Copy that.

Go to your show notes and type in the name of the book (I always put "on Amazon" just so the person clicking the link knows where it will take them).

Use the "hyperlink" set up to make the link active. And that is all there is to it!

Every time someone makes a purchase through that link in your podcast show notes, you will get a commission from Amazon!

The author gets the sale, you get a commission and everyone is happy!

I was motivated to share this with by the prompting of my good friend, Sean Douglas. Sean is Master Resilience Trainer, podcaster, radio host and an in demand public speaker and coach. You need to check out his website at the link below. Tell him I sent you!

Also, you will find a link below through Amazon where you can donate a small percentage of your Amazon purchases to a non-profit of your choice. This is called "Amazon Smile Program." I have included the link to our non-profit. I would appreciate it so much if you would link to our non-profit. It costs you nothing and it handled by Amazon all behind the scenes.

If you made a $100 purchase on Amazon, our non-profit would receive something like 50 cents. It's not a lot, but if a lot of people did so, it does make a difference.

IF you have a question, don’t wait!  Ask today. Just go to

https://podcast-training.com/contactand fill out the contact form.

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you can be notified every time we release a new episode and answer someone’s question!

Sean Douglas – The Success Corps

Amazon Affiliate Program

Amazon Smile Charity Program

I’ve been answering the question, “Why Should I Start a Podcast?”

In our last episode, I explained how podcasting has become, in my opinion and backed up by statistical data, the most popular method of communication today. How long this is going to last is unknown, but for right now, if you are not using podcasting to promote your brand and your business, your competitors will pass you.

Now, some people think that having a blog on their website is a way to communicate their ideas, concepts and uniqueness to their target audience. And they are in correct, a blog is ONE WAY to do so.

Several years ago, you needed to have a blog on your website for SEO purposes. But times have changed.

The average blog post is about 700-800 words and takes the average person about 5 minutes to read.

A typical podcast will be between 25-30 minutes in length and the average listener will listen to all of it. That is like having 5 blog posts and the person consuming all of them in one sitting!

Next time, I will discuss how you can “Become an Influencer in your Market” by using podcasting. This is a way of growing your brand that using blog posts would be very difficult to obtain.

If you have a podcasting question, send it along to me. You can leave your questions in the comments section below. But a better way of communicating with me and making sure I am able to see your questions rapidly is by using the contact form on my website. Go to https://podcast-training.com/contactand click on the contact tab. Fill out the form and be sure to send me your questions.                                                

If your question is used on this podcast, I will be giving you credit for bringing it to our attention and you will receive a FREE download of my book, “The Complete Guide to Podcasting.”  That is a $37 value and you will receive it for FREE if you send along your questions and used on this “ASK BOB” program. If you include your website or podcast information, I will be referencing that as well and putting your information in the show notes of the podcast. 

Who knows, you may see some increased traffic to your website, your podcast, etc. just from asking a question.  If I get asked the same question, the first person to ask it will be getting the credit. 

So IF you have a question, don’t wait!  Ask today. Just go to

https://podcast-training.com/contactand fill out the contact form.

Next time, we will talk about how “Become an Influencer in your Market” 

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast so you can be notified every time we release a new episode and answer someone’s question!

So, until we talk again, “Keep Listening, You’re Awesome!”