Finding Guests for Your Podcast

Be-our-guest

Running out of guests for your podcast...say it isn't so? While you may feel as though your podcast guest well has gone dry, there are countless opportunities that exist to find guests for you show. Heck, with over 7 billion people on this planet, you can bet your bottom dollar that at least 12, 30 or 50 of them would want to talk to you! So how do you find these people? First things first, here are two simple facts that you must remember when it comes to finding guests for your show:

1. People like to talk about their business, themselves and their area of expertise. If you show an interest in what they have to say, they'll most likely be happy to come on your show to chat. All you have to do is ask.

2. Of course, some people may not have the time or inclination. That's okay. Understand that a response like, "No, thank you," does not mean failure. Move on to the next prospect. Keep going.

Now that we've gotten the facts out of the way. Here are some tips for finding guests for your podcast.

• Reach out to other hosts in your podcast genre to see if they would be a guest on your show. I've done this in the past and hosts are almost always happy to oblige. Plus, it might allow for some cross promotion too.

• Social media is your friend! Find guests on Twitter, Facebook, etc. You follow people you like, I am sure. A quick direct message invite to someone that has caught your eye, is all it takes. Seriously, it is that easy. When I first started production of, A Virtual Perception, Twitter was my go-to place for finding and conversing with potential guests.

• Invite people you know. If you are new to podcasting, it's a good idea to start with guests that you know. Invite friends, associates, clients or even family members. This will allow you to hone your interview skills. Then branch out from there.

• When you do branch out, don't limit yourself! Maybe there is a particular person that you've always wanted to have on your show, but because of their status you feel intimidated. First, stop that! Second, INVITE THEM. Don't limit yourself. Once you realize this, the podcast guest floodgates will open.

Bottom line: People LOVE to talk about their area of expertise. If you see they are chattering about it on social media or on their website (via a blog, etc) - nine times out of ten they are going to say yes if you invite them. It's just a matter of reaching out and asking.

3 Rules of Podcasting for Business

You’ve created a podcast. You now have a handful of podcast episodes available online. First, congratulations! Producing a podcast and getting your first few episodes out there is no easy task. It is something you should feel good about.  But, producing and uploading to the web is really just the beginning.   You can’t stop there! To help you out, I am going to share my ‘3 Rules of Podcasting for Business.’

1. Create a podcast around a topic you are passionate about. You may have heard me discuss this before – so I am going to simplify this rule: Passion keeps you motivated and allows you to put your very best content out to the public. A podcast topic you are excited about and can’t wait to share with others – that’s what you want. Your enthusiasm will come through!

2. Make it easy for people to find your podcast! Have podcast, listeners will come. Right? Yeah, not so much. The main point of having a podcast, especially if you are incorporating podcasting into your marketing plan, is to gain exposure. Like everything else in business, having a podcast takes work. First step: Be sure your podcast gets the proper exposure by posting it: to various podcast directories (like iTunes, Stitcher, industry-related podcast directories, and now even Google Play!), on your website, on your social media accounts, on your business card and email signature. I’ll be sharing other ways to promote your podcast in a future post.

3. Be Yourself. I can’t say this enough. Your podcast is an extension of who you are and what you do. Always. People want to get to know, like and trust the people they do business with; your podcast is the perfect tool for this. Be yourself; those that want to do business with you, will. Those who don’t necessarily ‘get’ you…well, they probably aren’t your ideal client anyway.

There you have it. My “3 Rules of Podcasting for Business.”  Of course, there are more…there are always more, yes? But if you start out understanding these first 3, you are well on your way to understanding how to make a podcast work for you and your business!

Need help launching your podcast or submitting it to podcast directories, like iTunes and Google Play? I can help!

When a Podcast Is No Longer Right For You or Your Business

Producing a podcast takes work. Even if you have an assistant helping with production and editing; a podcast still requires a lot of your attention and input.     Some days, you may feel like a podcast isn't right for you or your business, anymore. It may be a passing thought or it may be one that comes up often, as time goes on. If you are no longer passionate about the podcast theme or topic, it might be a good indicator that a podcast is no longer right for you or your business.

The big picture is this – when you create a podcast, the overall topic needs to be one in which you are passionate. That passion will keep your momentum going and inspire you to create more podcasts. Without passion, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Without passion, you’ll be opening yourself up to an endless barrage of self excuses. A lack of passion for your podcast exposes some really ugly procrastination traits. Ack! You don’t want any part of that, really. Now do you?

So what happens if/when you do find yourself in a spot where you’ve lost that loving feeling for your podcast creation?

First and foremost - don't just throw in the towel! Not right away. Here are few things you can do:

1. Find your passion, again! It really is that simple. If the topic you’ve been discussing for months feels old and worn out, change it up! Be honest with your audience. They’ll respect you when you tell them you want to bring them fresh, new and inspiring content. Change is good, after all.

2. Take a break. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from your podcast. The most important thing is to have a plan - determine when you will take the break, alert your audience that it is coming and have a date for when you'll begin podcasting, again. I currently run my podcast on a 'season' type schedule. Meaning that after a certain number of episodes, I take a break. Most often I break over the holiday season and come back with brand new episodes at the start of the New Year. Sometimes we all need a break to focus on other things.

3. End your show. If you’ve done everything you can to find the passion for your podcasting topic and are coming up feeling even worse – then it’s time to stop. Or maybe you've shared all of the content you intended for this particular podcast series. Let me tell you – there is nothing wrong with taking this option. You are not a failure. In fact, if you’ve lost the drive and cannot get it back, ending a podcast on a high note is super important! Your listeners will respect you. Ending on a high note is far better than continuing to provide your audience with mediocre content. Quality over quantity rules here, at least in my opinion.

If you have questions or need help with your podcast, contact me at any time for help!

Online Video & Podcasts: Nobody else is doing it, why should I?

podcastvideo

I am an accountant (or hair dresser or fill in your service of choice here), how can I benefit from promoting my business using online video or podcasting? Nobody else in my industry is doing it. It just seems silly and pointless. Does that sound like you? There was one thing that speaks volumes to me in the paragraph above:

"Nobody else in my industry is doing it."

EXACTLY!  If few people in your industry are using online media for promotion, you have an opportunity to establish yourself as the go to person or expert in your niche. Online video and podcasting are both great ways to extend your marketing reach globally, without spending loads of money on newspaper, radio or other traditional advertising. That's not to say you shouldn't use traditional marketing methods, but my advice is that you don't ignore your online market or reach. If you pay attention to your online market, you could potentially catapult your business to the next level.

According to statista.com, in 2013, the number of digital video viewers in the United States amounted to 195.6 million and, it was also found that 33% of US adults listened to audience as of 2015.  Chances are, that at least a percentage of those viewers or listeners make up are your ideal clients. Creating video or podcasts these days, is super simple. If you have a smartphone, a computer, a microphone and some editing software (or someone that you can partner with to make your final productions shine), you can promote your business online!

The next time your PR rep or marketing professional says to you, "Let's add a podcast to our marketing plan," don't immediately dismiss it. Remember, if you don't try, you'll never know. And, as a advocate for podcasting to help promote business, the most important thing to remember is that online media allows your market to get to know, like and trust you. When you are able to do that, your bottom line will greatly improve!

Need help with your online marketing support? I've got you covered! I'd love to speak with you to see how I can help.

Podcasting for a Cause

I talk a lot about podcasting for your business on my site and my blog. But, you can also create a podcast on a variety of other non-business topics.  The single most important thing to remember when it comes to creating your next podcast is this: create one that is on a topic that you are most passionate about. Given that point, podcasting about a cause you believe in or support is a fantastic way to jump into the world of podcasting! Let me put this into perspective. Imagine you are someone that supports a local animal rescue, going as far as volunteering in your spare time to help care for the animals and fund raise for the group. You love the animals, enjoy working with the other volunteers and have an overwhelming sense of happiness helping out. Now, let’s take this one step further; you want to do more. You want everyone to know about this wonderful group, the animals that need adopting and encourage others to adopt from a shelter or rescue.  Well, a podcast is a perfect outlet! With a podcast you can: share your knowledge about the rescue with a specific audience, list it in several podcast directories (including iTunes and Stitcher) , share on social media streams for even more exposure and reach people across the nation AND in your own backyard.

Right about now, you may be thinking, “Yeah, okay, Darlene … this all sounds great, but what on earth do I even talk about? Won’t animal rescue chat get old, fast?” First, if you are passionate about your chosen topic, talking about it will never get old. Second, there is something simple you can do now in order to fill your ‘idea bucket’ . It’s good old-fashioned brainstorming!  When it comes to podcasting, I like to break brainstorming up into two step process.

STEP 1:  Brainstorm and come up with the overall topic for your podcast.   Think of the overall topic for your podcast as the outside of your idea bucket. You should be able to tell someone you’ve never met, in one sentence, what your overall podcast is about.  Take for example my podcast, Inspired Entrepreneur’s Guide. I tell people it is the podcast that encourages new entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in a funk to stop dreaming and start doing. It gives them just enough to get an idea of what the show is about.  It also keeps me on track when creating future episodes.  The same will hold true for you. Remember, the overall topic is the outside of your bucket.

STEP 2: Once you’ve decided on an overall topic for your show, start brainstorming topic ideas for each individual episode. The episode ideas are what goes into your bucket. Fill that bucket up, okay?!  Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas: - Your first episode can be an introduction to your rescue group, yourself and what to expect in future episodes. -  Your second episode will be an interview with a volunteer. - And your third, well,  interview a pet owner that has adopted a rescue.

By the fourth you can start to branch out and interview other rescue groups. Then continue to extend these ideas further –training tips for a newly adopted rescue dog, rehabilitation, current issues with euthanasia laws for rescues, etc.

As you can see, a little brainstorming in the beginning can go a long way. Always keep the reason for your podcast in mind and your overall topic in check. They will be your guide!

If you have questions or need help, I am here. I love helping people get started with podcasting for their business or their cause. Contact me at any time for help!

Host Your Very First Podcast Interview Like a Pro

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a post called, “Preparing for your First Podcast Interview.” It provided tips to first-time podcast guests.  This week I’d like to offer some advice to new podcast hosts.

As a new host, you may be feeling a bit nervous and excited about hosting your first interview. That’s great! It is an exciting time. I firmly believe that preparation is the key to tackling any nerves you may be feeling.  Follow the tips below and you’ll be feeling less nervous and more confident going into your first interview.

• Familiarity goes a long way – if this is truly your first podcast interview, start out interviewing someone you like, know and trust. My very first podcast interview was with my mother (yes, my mom!), a client and a very sweet business associate of mine. You can listen to my very first podcast interview, here (recorded way back in 2008!). Go into your interview with the mindset of - this is just a conversation between friends. Interview people you know, at least for the first few episodes. Doing so will help you to solidify the “conversation with friends” concept firmly into your psyche. Then, once you realize the interview process is simply a conversation and not something intimidating, scary or complex – branch out to interviewing others.

• Do your research – Researching your guest well before you even invite them to be on your show, is important! Don’t skip this step. You want to have a good idea for a show topic first, once you have that, research various people that you think might fit into that topic well. Then go one step further to see if they are someone you may be able to connect with during a conversation. View their social media profiles. Do you get a sense that they are a person you might like to hang out with and do they offer resourceful information to their followers? If the answer is yes to both of these questions – add them to the list of people you would like to interview. Always have a short list of people to invite, by the way. It will come into play when you start inviting guests. See the next point for further clarification.

• Start inviting guests, don't doubt yourself – A lot of times, new podcast hosts question whether or not they should invite a particular person onto their show. Doubt creeps in, well before you even send an email invitation! It's not uncommon to think things like, “Oh they may be too busy,” “They’re too high profile and would never want to chat with me,”or “I bet they’ll say no, why bother?” Stop that! Don’t overwhelm yourself with doubt! Guess what? The worst thing that can happen is that they say, "No." No big deal. Simply move on to the next person on your list. Chances are though, they will say yes. People love to talk about their business and more importantly, they love to talk about a topic they are passionate about.

• Your interview is scheduled; research some more – Your interview is scheduled. Awesome! Prior to your call, it’s super important to have an idea of what you will talk about with your guest. One thing you should always do is create a list of questions you would like to ask. This is where additional research will come in. Look at their website and social media profiles again – this time formulate questions that highlight their expertise and passion. Generic questions are okay – but the real magic happens when you can show your guest that you’ve done your homework and have taken an interest (a true interest) in them and what they do.

• Finally, be 100% involved in the interview and ask follow-up questions – Being 100% involved in the conversation, when it comes to the actual interview, is the single most important thing you can do. Turn off any distractions – cell phones, music, etc. If you are able to turn off your computer, do it. If not, be sure all email, social media and other notifications are turned off. Listen to your guest, ask follow-up questions about something they've just said and truly give your time to them. They’ll notice and end up becoming more relaxed, thus making your interview that much more enjoyable, fun and easy to do. So much so, you'll be hyped to do another one again, soon!

Good luck. I know you will do great! Questions or comments about this post? Leave them below.

Check out my newest podcast, The Inspired Entrepreneur’s Guide for guest interviews and more.

Need help with producing your podcast? Learn how I can help or let’s chat!

Next time, I'll write about what to do if you run into technical difficulties during an interview or how to handle a major goof-up. Hint: you can recover, I'll tell you how.

Building Business Relationships in an Online World

Building and fostering relationships with clients and prospective clients is extremely important. When you take the time to build your business relationships, you’ll eventually become a trustworthy expert that people come to know, like and trust. When someone knows you, likes you and trusts you – they are more likely to do business with you. Better yet, they may also begin to provide referrals. It’s a win-win for everyone, yes! We live in a fast moving world. People are always on the go. In fact, many people now work from home or travel while working. How can you get face time with your audience if you aren’t able to sit and meet with them in person? Well, just like the world is moving fast these days, so is technology! There are quite a few ways to connect with your audience, online. Here are just a few ideas:

• Monthly E-Newsletters – Monthly newsletters sent by email are a great way to connect with your audience. Think you don’t have much to offer in a monthly newsletter? Think again! Share news, an interesting tip or video. If you are a B2B company, then your audience will definitely see your email come across their inbox! I mean come on, how often do you check your email? :) You’ve heard the old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind,” right? Newsletters are a great way to get your name and brand in front of your people! You may hear internet marketers talk about the importance of building your email list. People opting into your list want to hear from you. Send them a monthly e-newsletter to keep in touch and to keep them engaged.

• Podcasts – Of course podcasts make my list! I am a true believer that podcasting for business is a great way to market to your target audience. A podcast is very simply, an online radio or video show. As a podcast host, you have the opportunity to share your expertise and a little bit of yourself, with your audience. After listening or watching a few episodes, they’ll be able to determine, “Do I like this person?” If the answer is yes, they’ll stick around and become a fan. Guess what? You now have your ideal client’s attention. That’s an amazing feat. Don’t spoil this opportunity. Continue to build that relationship, invite fan feedback, questions and engage in conversations with them. Trust me, it works!

• Social Media - Of course, connecting and chatting with your audience on social media is a given, in this day and age. BUT, some businesses think because their brand isn’t an online brand, social media is not needed. THINK AGAIN! Think about where your audience likes to hang out…if a good portion of their time is spent on Facebook or Twitter (or some other social network), you need to be there too! Engage in conversations, take an interest and invest in them. When you do this, you are investing in your business too!

Interested in implementing any of the items above? I can help you! As a digital media manager, I help clients with e-newsletter and podcast productions, as well as, social media management. Let’s chat and see if we can work together to help build and foster your business relationships, together.

Inspired Entrepreneur's Guide Podcast- June Roundup

My newest podcast, Inspired Entrepreneur’s Guide launched last month. Following the same format as past projects (like A Virtual Perception); it is a weekly podcast that sets out to inspire new business owners or those wanting to start a business to take action. Stop dreaming and start doing is the entire premise of the show.  My guests share their own inspiring entrepreneurial journey, as well as, expert advice that aims to help listeners with some facet of their business (ie:  marketing, online store setup, social media, etc). I also share my own experiences with listeners and answer common startup questions. New episodes air every Friday. Here is what you missed in the month of June:Episode 1: New BeginningsEpisode 2: Interview with Kyle HuntEpisode 3: Self ConfidenceEpisode 4: Interview with Patty Kabick

The podcast is available to via iTunes, Stitcher or Feedburner. Subscribe and never miss a single episode!

Preparing for Your First Podcast Interview

You might find yourself being asked to be a guest on a podcast in the near future. This should be a fun experience and not one you stress out over!  If you’ve never been interviewed before, much less for something like a podcast, your first instinct might be to say no to the guest invitation. It's human nature to react in such a way  - the fear of the unknown. In this case, don’t let fear stop you! Most podcasters, especially those of whom are veterans in the industry, will go to great lengths to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during the interview. Of course,  you may feel more prepared and self-secure during your first podcast interview, by following these guidelines:

• Request from your you host an outline or a list of questions that will be asked during the interview. Then, take some time prior to the recording to prepare. Don’t over-rehearse answers, however. Use the outline and questions they provide to help guide you - be sure to have it nearby during the call to help remind you of some key points you wanted to share.

• When setting up an interview with a guest, I typically refer to it as a chat or conversation. This is exactly what it should be - a conversation between two (or more) people. No matter what your host refers to it as (an interview, a call or a recording) always remind yourself the podcast is simply a chat between friends. While you may not know the host personally, if you go into the call as if you were talking to a long lost friend, you’ll feel much more comfortable!

• One final tip – don’t be afraid to tell your host you’re nervous about the recording or that this is your first podcast interview. More often than not, when they realize this, they’ll understand your nerves and do what they can to put your mind at ease. Also, as long as the podcast is not live - the host can edit out any brain freezes you might experience during the chat. Believe me, it happens (even to hosts) and is easily fixed in the post-production editing process. It is amazing how relaxed my guests become when I tell them how magical editing can truly be. If you are unsure of how edits are handled, ask your host. They'll be able to tell you. Overall - if you communicate to your host your questions or concerns, they'll answer them and make you feel good about the process.

In a future post, I’ll dive into some tips and advice for being a gracious host to your podcast guests.

Good luck. I know you will do great! Questions or comments about this post? Leave them in the comments below

Check out my newest podcast, The Inspired Entrepreneur's Guide to for guest interviews and more.

Need help with producing your podcast? Learn how I can help or let's chat!

News: Podcast listing in iTunes

"iTunes Store Podcast Approved Notification" is one of my most favorite email subject lines. It means to me, that a podcast I submitted for myself or that of a client, has been accepted. It's fantastic news and should be celebrated!  Not necessarily with a party, but it is newsworthy, for certain. Why? Because as a podcaster, it's your responsibility to make available your podcast and it's feed to your potential subscribers. There are several directories and places to post your podcast, iTunes is one great 'must-post' place. Their directory gives your potential listeners an easy avenue to subscribe to your show.

I recently launched a new podcast called, The Inspired Entrepreneur's Guide. The iTunes store notification graced my email inbox this morning. My podcast is now listed in the iTunes directory! You can subscribe via iTunes right here (or search for Inspired Entrepreneur's Guide in your  iPhone's Podcasts app).  If you listen in, please be sure to provide a review - which is super easy to do right from your iTunes account.

Tonight I am going to celebrate this awesome news with a very special ice cream sundae.  Happy listening!

Not sure how to get your podcast listed in iTunes? I can help. Let's chat!

itunes1