What in the World is Going on in Digital Media? 2019 Edition

Do you like numbers? My son likes numbers. In fact, he loves counting forward and backward from ten, often. Every game of hide-and-seek begins with counting. And the perfect number of strawberries to eat (as far as he is concerned) is five. Always, five.  

So, what’s all this talk about numbers? Welllll, just last week Edison Research and Triton Digital released Infinite Dial 2019, their annual statistical report on all things digital media (including social media, smartphones, music streaming, and yes, even podcasting). Why is this important? Well, if you are someone working in the online space or hoping to in the near future, the way people are interacting and using digital media matters and will help you with creating your own digital media strategies for the months to come. 

Here’s one quick example: if you are about to ramp up social media efforts but unsure whether to post on Facebook versus Instagram, Facebook usage is down while Instagram usage is on the rise. However, keep in mind that based on the number of users, Facebook still surpasses Instagram. If you are on the fence as to where to post, some of the social media trends could help you determine where to align your best efforts. The report offers food for thought, as well as, encouragement for audio media and consumption. 

Here are some other interesting takeaways:

• LinkedIn usage remained exactly the same for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Which, based on my interpretation, means it’s a fairly stable platform and worth using to connect and network with professionals in your industry. Hop on the LinkedIn gravy train; stable isn’t a bad thing.

• Smart speaker ownership and use is up to 65 million estimated users (with Amazon Alexa beating out all of the other competition, currently). Soooo, if you have a podcast, submit your show to TuneIn or consider creating an Alexa Skill so that users can find and listen to your podcast on their smart speaker. Not sure how to go about doing so? I can help walk you through the steps.

• Podcasting familiarity and listening is on the rise with the average monthly listening (age 25-54) up to 39%, compared to 2018 when it was at 32%. According to the report, “Along with the increases in podcast listening, audiobook consumption also surged, indicating a trend towards increased spoken word audio consumption."

If you have a podcast, this means, keep going! If you are thinking about starting a podcast, consider getting it started. Regardless of the Infinite Dial report, podcasting has been around for well over a decade and isn’t going anywhere. If you have a message and want to share it, what are you waiting for?

If you want to geek out on all things digital media trends, read the full Infinite Dial 2019 report here. 

What are Podcast Show Notes and Are They Necessary?

What are podcast show notes, and are they even necessary? First, think of podcast show notes like a synopsis to a book. Show notes are text (typically set up as a blog post) that describe any individual podcast episode.  They can include information about the episode, guest information (including guest photo and bio), links to any resources or information mentioned in the episode, and highlight topics (usually as bullet points). Show notes can be short and concise or long and descriptive.

So are show notes actually necessary? Well, I can count the times I’ve personally looked at show notes after listening to a podcast on one hand.  And I can bet the same holds true for many other podcast listeners. BUT, by posting show notes on your website or blog, you greatly increase the SEO (search engine optimization) for your website. Search engines love new content, so for SEO alone, I encourage you to create show notes for your podcast episodes. Further, someone may stumble upon your website or blog for the first time and know nothing about you or your podcast. By posting show notes (even concise ones) you provide them the opportunity to get to learn more about you and your work through the power of words.

Organize Your Content and Podcast Files, Like a Pro!

Whether you are creating a podcast, writing blog posts, or writing a weekly or monthly newsletter, organization will help keep you on track. Organizing helps you: create a plan, keep things concise, and keep your goals within sight. 

A great way to organize your thoughts for content creation is by having a content creation calendar. You can find templates for content calendars all over the web. Co-schedule put one out at the end of 2018, and you can find that here.  Or you can simply create one using Google Calendar.

Putting your ideas down for blog posts, along with the dates they will be published, will help you map out your content in an easy and visual way. If calendars aren’t your thing, you can also create a Google Document and map out a month’s worth of content in it.

My final thought on organization relates to podcasting, specifically. Whenever I begin working with a new podcasting client, I create an episode tracking spreadsheet for them. The spreadsheet includes columns such as:

• Episode number

• Release date

• Episode title

• Guest name

• Guest email

• And, even the show notes url

The spreadsheet also includes columns for checking off items as they are done, for example: is the audio back from the editor, is the episode uploaded to Libsyn, or is the social media content scheduled?   The spreadsheet is our way of making sure we are hitting all aspects of production for their podcast. Additionally, the spreadsheet serves as a resource to look back upon for topic ideas, referencing links for sharing past episodes, and guest contact information.

There are other spreadsheets I create for clients to help keep things organized as it relates to their podcast too. This includes spreadsheets to track guest research, coordination and vetting, plus guest pitching.

I’ve created a template of the various spreadsheets you can use to organize your podcast episodes, guest coordination, guest research, vetting, and even podcast pitching.

👉 You can download it here

Remember, it’s not necessarily what you use to organize your podcast and content creation, but that you actually DO use the tools that work best for you. When you become organized, the work doesn’t seem so tedious or hard. In fact, it can become fun and light, because the focus of where you want to go is crystal clear and fully formed. Happy organizing!

Is there any reason why you shouldn't host a podcast?

Up this month, I answer the question: “Is there any reason a person shouldn’t host their own podcast?” Find out the answer, as you listen to an excerpt of my interview with Terry Green of BizEase Support Solutions, which includes three things you should consider before starting a podcast.

Click here for the answer
(Length: 2 mins. 37 seconds)

The Value and Benefit of Starting a Podcast

What is the value and benefit of starting a podcast, with the business owner, speaker or coach in mind? Find out the answer, as you listen to an excerpt of my interview with Terry Green of BizEase Support Solutions.  PLUS, find out where you should be posting your podcast for the best exposure, search engine optimization and more! Click the audio player to listen:

Click here for the answer

In short: If you have a passion for a topic and a willingness to share your expertise, podcasting can be of value to you and your audience. Speakers and coaches, typically, have a message to share. Therefore, podcasting is a great platform for them to share said message in a fun and unique way. Podcasting is a great way to express oneself, be authentic and connect with your intended audience.

iTunes is just a small piece to your podcast launch

Launching and promoting your podcast does not end and start with iTunes. In fact, submitting your podcast to iTunes should be a very small part of your podcast launch. When launching your podcast and thinking about promotion, you should be focusing on: your current followers, their engagement and how you can increase their awareness of your newly launched podcast.

Here are some ways in which you can connect with your engaged followers and tell them about your podcast and later, about subsequent episodes:

1. Email them: if you have been building your email list, your subscribers want to hear from you. Let them know of your podcast launch. Then, when you release a new episode, send them a quick email reminding them of your podcast, share your show notes and a link back to your website where they can find the complete episode.

2. Social media: Share newly release episode announcements on your social networks. Your updates should include something about your podcast, like title, episode number and link. You can get creative with your updates, to entice users to click on your link and listen. If you are not great at copywriting, you can work with a copywriter to help craft social posts for your podcast.

3. Your website: Post your podcast on your website. Always, always, always do this! Include a link titled, “Podcast” in your website navigation. When a user clicks on the link, they can access and view all of your released podcast episodes.

Submitting your podcast to iTunes is not the end all and be all of your entire podcast launch. Podcast directories should be thought of as a supplement to promoting your podcast. You do want to have your podcast listed in directories, as it gives  your current users a numerous way to subscribe to your podcast. Further, it allows for new users to find, explore and experience your podcast. Allowing these new users the opportunity to like your podcast, love your podcast and become an engaged user.

Podcasting, is it for you?

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Everyone seems to have a podcast these days. Right?  So the question I ask of you, is having a podcast right for you?Let's discuss, shall we?

First, podcasting has been around for over a decade. It's not new and will be around for many years to come.  Second, while it seems everyone has a podcast; it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone should be podcasting.

Anyone that wants to start a podcast, should at least give it a try.  However, if you want to start a podcast for business, consider these three questions below before starting:

1. Do you have a topic that you are passionate about and can talk about endlessly, without tiring?

2. Are you are creating a podcast, “just because you feel like you are going to ‘miss the boat’ on this whole podcasting craze”?

3. Do you have at least 2-3 hours a month to devote to your podcast?

If you’ve answered NO to questions #1 and #3, and YES to question #2, you may not be ready to start a podcast. Yet.

It does not mean you won’t ever be ready. It may take some strategy sessions to help you establish a plan. And, that’s okay. Take the time you need to determine the following:

• Why you want to create a podcast. Determine your why.

• Brainstorm topics you are passionate about. Figure out your what.

• Devise a plan to help with time management. Create a plan to implement the production of your podcast. The plan can include outsourcing some podcast production tasks.

Once you’ve worked out the three parts above, you should be ready to move on and get started with your new podcast!

The main point of this post is to make it clear that podcasting is absolutely an awesome way to market and establish yourself as an expert in your niche. But, it's not the only arsenal in your toolbox. If it's not for you, that's okay! Don't force it. There are ways in which you can still share your knowledge and market your business in the digital world. Like: be a guest speaker on other podcasts, host or speak at online events, create videos or turn to blogging.

Want to find out what is involved in starting your own podcast? I offer podcast strategy sessions. Contact me today, to get started!

3 Things Your Podcast May Be Missing

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Are you practicing the three “S’s” when it comes to your podcast's promotion? Below are three things that you should be doing in order to to help promote and grow your podcast audience:

Darlene's Three S's to Podcast Promotion:

Send an email to your subscribers when a new podcast episode launches. Let your "peeps" know about your latest and greatest episode. They want to hear from you, otherwise, they would not have subscribed to your list. 

Show notes! Show notes is a blog post that includes a description of your podcast episode, a brief overview of main topics discussed, can include time stamps for pertinent information and includes links to anything you mentioned in the podcast. You should be creating show notes for each episode and posting them on your website. Make them keyword rich too. Whenever you promote or share your podcast, direct people to that specific episode's show notes. 

Social Media, you betcha'.  Spread the word about your latest episode on social media. Don’t just tweet or post about it once, and be done. Add promotion of your podcast into your daily/weekly social media schedule to capture interest and engage followers.

Bonus: create Click to Tweets and include them in your episode’s show notes, making it even easier (and fun) for your audience to share your content.Need help implementing these three ‘S’s? Let's chat! Contact me today for a strategy session. We can devise a plan and promote your podcast, together!

Increase Your Online Exposure, Be a Podcast Guest

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For decades publicists have been booking clients on television and radio shows. Actors, humanitarians and people like you and me have been highlighted in articles both on and offline. Having your business featured in your local newspaper will help bring in new prospects, sharing your expertise on the radio where you mention your website address will likely bring new traffic to your site and talking about your expertise on a television show will most certainly help you gain some great exposure for your business. Traditional media coverage is great, but there is another media coverage market that you can tap into and gain even more exposure for your business. I am talking about Digital Media. Some examples of Digital Media include Blogs, Podcasts and online video (like those you see on sites like YouTube).

A podcast is much like a radio show, the only real difference is that is it available for listening at any time and can be produced by an independent production company or podcast producer. The idea is the same, in that you have the opportunity to talk with the show’s host about your business, product or service all the while sharing some great information and resources about your area of expertise.

Here are some tips that will help you book your first podcast guest spot:

• Research your options. Podcasts usually have a very targeted audience. Do your research and find shows that you think have an audience in which your topic will appeal. Some podcasts have a media kit available that defines their audience demographic, this will aid you in your research. If you can’t tell who the audience is for a particular podcast by viewing their website, simply listen to a few podcast episodes (in fact, do this anyway!) after listening to two or three of them, you will be able to see if the show is the right fit for you and your topic.

• Contact the show. Send an email to a podcast producer telling them about your interest in being on their show. Provide some information about the topic you are interested in talking about. But please, do not send a pitch form letter! Form letters are just so, impersonal. You want to eventually have a fun and open conversation with the host, yes? So, make an authentic connection, make it personable and clearly define how/why you would be a good fit for their show. The worst thing that can happen is that they decline your request.

• Prepare for your moment. Once you have been booked to be a podcast guest, it is time to prepare. While being a guest on a podcast is your time to shine, remember that you are still a guest on someone else’s podcast. If you plan on talking a little bit about a new product or service, it is always a good idea to mention this to the podcast producer before the interview. You may also want to ask the host if they would be willing to share with you a list of topics or questions they plan to discuss during your interview, so that you can be well-prepared.

Generally speaking, a podcast is a medium that provides information and resources to listeners… if you are out to simply sell a product or service and have no interest in talking about anything else, then a podcast may not be the right avenue for you to gain exposure for your business or area of expertise. And that’s okay, there are many other digital media avenues you can take to help gain exposure for your business.

If you have some great information to offer, as well as, increase awareness in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, then search out a podcast and be a guest!

If you would like to be considered as a guest on my podcasts, I'd love to hear from you. Visit DVpodcasts.com to learn more about my shows and then use the contact page to connect.

Happy Podcasting!

Marketing Ideas for Your Podcast

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Marketing your business takes work. Creating a website and/or hanging out a “We Are Open” sign isn’t going to bring you clients. It’s a start, you’re open. Awesome! You need exposure and must get the word out that you are open for business. Have a marketing plan, be persistent with it and re-evaluate what is and is not working. Don’t be afraid to make a change, if something within your plan is not working. Now, let’s say you’ve gotten your marketing plan and processes down for your business. Sweet! Taking that further, maybe one of the strategies is to create a podcast as a way to connect and engage with current and potential clients. Here’s the rub, sometimes businesses create a podcast for the purpose of marketing and then decide, after some time, the podcast angle is not working. After diving deeper, it seems they suffer the same mind-set as a new business owner. They create a podcast, assuming people will find it, without doing any marketing for the podcast. Adding your podcast to iTunes isn’t necessarily enough.

You should market your podcast a lot like you market your business. The same methods and strategies may be used. Sure, it may seem like a Catch-22 or redundant, especially if the reason for your podcast is to market your business. Sounds like a lot work, huh? It can be, but what’s the point of having a podcast if nobody knows about it? If you are unsure of how to market your podcast, here are some ideas:

• Include a link to your podcast in your email signature

• Use social media to share podcast episodes, create images with quotes to share.

• Include your podcast url on your business card

• List your podcast in various podcast directories, especially those in your specific niche(if they exist).

• Join groups on social networks where your audience hangs out, connect with them and when appropriate share your podcast (always check groups’ rules first, before promoting your podcast!)

• Post your podcast along with show notes on your website, as a blog post. Search engines love new content. If you are podcasting consistently and posting show notes, it gives Google a reason to keep coming back to your site to crawl. This means eventual higher search rankings. Score!

• Talk about your podcast, especially at networking events. If you connect with someone and they want to learn more about you… tell them your website and mention you have an online radio show. Don’t be shy! This is also why it’s essential to include your podcast url on business cards.

That’s just scratching the surface. You can also be guest on other podcasts, cross-promote, be a guest blogger, place ads in industry magazines or newsletters (or be featured), or choose to be a sponsor for a specific event.

Eventually, all of your hard work WILL pay off. Choose the options that work best for you. You don't have to do everything on the list above. Get the word out that you have a podcast and remember ALWAYS include a call-to-action in your podcast episodes. A call to action should direct listeners to your website, inviting them to opt into an email list or perform some other measurable action.

If marketing for your podcast sounds like a lot of work and you think you need help implementing some of these ideas… contact me for help. My podcast management services can be of service to you. I am only an email away.

Happy Podcasting!

What EVERY Podcast Should Have: An RSS Feed

Your RSS feed is the lifeblood of your podcast. No, seriously. It is what you submit to any podcast directory (including iTunes and Stitcher Radio) for people to subscribe and thus download your content.  Your podcast website should also include a link to your RSS Feed. You want subscribers. Much like making it super easy for people to contact you by having a contact page on your website, make it even easier for them to consume your content. RSS feeds are the key! When I created my very first podcast, I knew nothing about RSS feed creation. I quickly learned that an RSS file is simply a file created using XML (Extensible Markup Language).  I ended up teaching myself how to code an XML file. Then, for the first year of my podcast, I would update my RSS feed by hand. It was a cumbersome process.

If you are thinking, "Oh crud, do I need to learn how to code XML now?" You are in luck, you don't! There are many platforms available now that will allow you to create an RSS feed easily and without too much technical know-how. This means there is no excuse to skip having an RSS feed for your show. In fact, some would argue that you don't truly have a podcast unless you have an RSS feed.

Nowadays, there are several ways to go about creating an RSS feed. Here are two:

1 - Wordpress - Wordpress is a blog based platform. By utilizing blog categories, you can create an RSS feed for your podcast.  Check out this video to see my Podcast RSS feed creation tutorial using Wordpress.

2 - Libsyn - Don't have Wordpress? No problem! Libsyn is a podcast hosting provider.  You can utilize their RSS Feed and publishing tools to construct and manage your podcast RSS feed within your Libsyn hosting account.

The two examples above are just a couple of ways to create an RSS feed for your show. The determining factor of how you create your RSS feed will be where and how you host your podcast content. Once you have created your feed, test it before sharing it online and posting to online directories.  If you need help with RSS feed creation or podcast management, contact me!

Next time on the blog, podcast directories and other places to submit your RSS feed for increased visibility.

Turning Podcast Fans into Email Subscribers

Podcasting is a great way to establish yourself as the go-to person in your chosen niche. More than that, it can be used as a marketing tool to help connect you with your prospective clients. Creating and growing your email subscriber list usually falls within the top 3 marketing to-do's when working with marketing consultants and professionals. But, oftentimes creating an email opt-in is forgotten when it comes to podcasting.  Think about it though, when someone opts into your email list, it means they want to hear from you. In that respect, it's very much like when someone subscribes to your podcast. The difference: you don't typically have a face/name/or contact for your podcast subscribers. An email list opt-in for your podcast helps bridge that gap.

If you are a business owner producing a podcast to establish your brand, you should be leveraging your podcast for marketing purposes. How so, you ask? One way is to create a valuable proposition that your listeners cannot refuse in the form of an email opt-in.

Here are some ideas for valuable content you can offer:

• A monthly e-newsletter jam-packed with useful tools and content.

• An awesome giveaway or prize drawing.

• Podcast news clips: updates about future shows and guests' background, bios, etc.

• A free guide with tips, tricks and tools that your audience finds relative.

As long as the content you provide is one of quality and your listeners want to consume, create an email list and start promoting it! Place the opt-in on your podcast website, Facebook page and mention it during podcast episodes.

Once your email list starts to grow, don't let it sit there! Engage your subscribers - send them monthly podcast highlights, special audio files just for subscribers and other newsworthy items. Ask them for feedback and show that you care about them.

Your email list and your podcast is a marketing tool you can use to help cultivate and grow your connections. Get started now!

Podcasting and Your Brand

A brand may refer to your business or a product. More often, when it comes to podcasting, you are the brand.

Creating a podcast for your business or for self-branding is a great way to market your services, products or a topic that is super important to you. More importantly it establishes you as the go-to person for your chosen topic– much like article writing and blogging. With the growth in sales of smartphones, media technology and other mobile devices, creating a podcast for your business is a great marketing tool, now more than ever.

Here are three reasons why creating a podcast is good for your brand:

Reason 1: It’s an opportunity to talk to your “peeps”. Podcasting is a perfect way to get in front of a specific audience (your target market) and talk about a specific topic you are passionate about.

Reason 2: Podcasting is the gift that keeps on giving. Really it is. Once you produce a podcast and place it on the World Wide Web for others to hear, it is there forever (or at least until you decide to take it offline). A podcast episode you aired in 2013, although old news to you, at some point, will be new to someone else.

Reason 3: It makes marketing fun!  Some folks look at marketing as a long drawn out task they have to do in order to market their business, product or passion. If you like to talk, share your expertise and experiences — then podcasting is a fun marketing tool to use. When it is fun, it doesn’t feel like work… now does it?

Bottom Line: Podcasting is a way for you to provide quality content to your target market. It should be content they value, which will ultimately lead to them liking, knowing and trusting you. It helps build your brand, it helps your target audience to connect with YOU.

Turning subscribers into fans and filling your marketing funnel - next week on the DV Blog!