Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach

Thinking about changing your podcast because the results aren't there, it's taking too much time, or you're just plain bored? Before you start messing with it, make sure you know what actually needs fixing.

In this episode, I'll walk you through four signs that it might be time to make a change to your podcast, including what to look at when:

• Your podcast isn't delivering the results you need

• The outcome no longer justifies the time and money you're putting in

• Your business has evolved, but your podcast hasn't

• You just don't enjoy making the show anymore

Because sometimes your podcast really does need a significant change. And sometimes you're about to mess with something that's a crucial part of your business' marketing ecosystem.

I'll help you figure out the difference before you rename the show, change the format, buy a video setup, fire your editor, or start interviewing three people a week because somebody on YouTube told you that's the secret to podcast growth.

Plus, I'll point you to a free diagnostic that can help you figure out whether your podcast is actually doing the job you need it to do.

Listen now before you start tinkering.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/podcast-tune-up/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/free-podcast-audit/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/210-3-ways-to-give-your-podcast-a-refresh-without-pivoting/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/201-5-ways-to-pivot-your-podcast-for-a-better-return-on-your-investment/

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Are you talking to your ideal podcast listener... or accidentally talking right over their head? You may be losing exactly the people you want to reach.

When you're an expert, it's easy to forget how much you know. The acronyms, industry jargon and background information that feel completely normal to you might leave your ideal listener wondering what the hell you're talking about.

Or you might have the opposite problem. You could be explaining things they already know while they're sitting there thinking, Yeah, yeah. When are we going to get to the good stuff?

Back in my talk-radio days, I used to practice "leave no listener behind." If a guest said something that might leave part of the audience scratching their heads, I gave them enough context to stay with us.

After more than a decade of coaching entrepreneurs on their podcasts, I've changed that rule a little. Now it's:

Leave no IDEAL listener behind.

In this episode, I'll show you how easy it is for someone to create a smart, professional podcast that still misses the mark because they're talking to their peers instead of the clients they actually want to attract. We'll also look at why making something understandable isn't the same as dumbing it down, and how to figure out the right level for your podcast.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why experts unintentionally talk over the heads of their ideal listeners

• How to avoid talking down to more experienced listeners

• Why you might be creating a podcast for your peers instead of your clients

• How to find the right level for your content

• My A-to-Z framework for understanding where your listener is in their journey

• Why your ideal listener should influence your topics, guests and questions, not just the words you use

• The power of having a 'Listener-Centric' podcast

Your podcast doesn't need to serve everybody. It needs to make the right people feel like they're in the right place.

If you're wondering whether your podcast is speaking to the right people at the right level, that's exactly the kind of thing we look at inside the Podcast Tune-Up.

For FULL shownotes and links visit: https://podcastperformancecoach.com/270-how-to-increase-podcast-engagement-using-your-ideal-listeners-language/

Do you ramble on your podcast? If your episodes keep wandering off topic, you're probably testing your listener's patience and making more work for yourself.

The good news is you don't need to script every word or magically become a more concise person. You need a better plan for what belongs in the episode and, just as importantly, what doesn't.

In this episode, we're talking about why podcasters ramble, how to give yourself enough structure to stay on track without sounding scripted, and what to do when you realize you've wandered off into the weeds halfway through a recording.

We'll cover:

• Why knowing a lot about your topic can actually make you more likely to ramble

• How to plan an episode around one clear promise

• Why every good idea doesn't belong in every episode

• How to follow interesting tangents during an interview without losing control of your show

• What to do when you catch yourself rambling while you're recording

• How editing can tighten a wandering episode

• Why constantly fixing rambling in the edit might actually be a preparation problem

Your listener doesn't need everything you know. They need you to deliver what you promised when they pressed play, without taking them on a scenic tour they didn't sign up for.

If your podcast could use a little tightening up, that's exactly the kind of work we do inside the Podcast Tune-Up. Head to PodcastTuneUp.com to learn more.

Referenced:

• 260 Scripted vs Unscripted Podcasts: Why Neither Works (And What to Do Instead)

Your podcast shouldn't be your marketing strategy. It should be part of your marketing strategy. So, how well is it working with everything else you're doing?

In the last episode, we took your podcast up to 10,000 feet to look at whether the show itself was aligned with your business. This time, we're going even higher.

Check out the FULL EPISODE SHOW NOTES (with links)

From 50,000 feet, you can see your entire marketing ecosystem: your website, email list, social media, search visibility, networking, guest appearances, speaking, offers, referrals, and, yes, your podcast.

The question is whether they're actually working together.

In this episode, we'll look at:

• How your podcast fits into your larger marketing strategy

• Why hitting publish should be the beginning, not the end, of an episode's marketing life

• How your podcast can support your email, social media, search visibility, sales conversations, and guest appearances

• Where your Podcast Path fits into the larger customer journey

• Why connected marketing touchpoints become trustpoints

• What to measure when podcast downloads aren't telling you the whole story

• How to spot opportunities to get more marketing value and ROI from the podcast you're already creating

Your podcast can be one of the hardest-working pieces of content you create, but not if it's sitting off on an island all by itself just collecting downloads.

If you're wondering how your podcast should fit into your overall marketing strategy, that's exactly the kind of thing we look at inside the Podcast Tune-Up. We don't just look at individual episodes. We look at the entire ecosystem around your podcast and identify opportunities to improve your podcast ROI.

Book your free private podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com, and let's figure out how to make your podcast work harder for your business.

Is your podcast building your business... or just producing episodes?

In this episode, I share a simple 10,000-foot exercise to help you evaluate your podcast strategy and make sure every episode is moving your business forward.

Most podcasters spend so much time creating the next episode that they rarely stop to look at their podcast as a whole. They're thinking about guests, titles, editing, promotion, and next week's recording. All of those things matter, but every once in a while, you need to zoom out.

That's what I call taking the 10,000-foot view.

From up there, you stop looking at individual episodes and start looking at your podcast strategically. Is it attracting the right audience? Is it reinforcing your expertise? Is it aligned with your business goals? Or has it slowly drifted off course?

In this episode, we'll cover:

• Why every podcaster should take a 10,000-foot view of their show

• How to evaluate your last ten episodes as a complete body of work

• The warning signs your podcast has drifted away from your goals

• The difference between working in your podcast and working on your podcast

• Why every episode should have a purpose within your overall podcast strategy

Sometimes the biggest breakthrough doesn't come from creating a better episode. It comes from stepping back and realizing you're creating the wrong episodes, speaking to the wrong audience, or solving the wrong problems.

If taking the 10,000-foot view leaves you wondering whether your podcast is as strategic as it could be, I'd love to help. Book your free private podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com, and together we'll make sure your podcast isn't just producing episodes, but producing real results for your business.

Being a guest on other people's podcasts is one of the most effective ways to build your authority, reach new audiences, and grow your business.

But there's one mistake I see people make all the time.

They're so focused on getting booked on more podcasts that they forget to ask whether they're pitching the right podcasts.

One interview on a show your ideal client actually listens to can create far more opportunities than twenty appearances on podcasts that never reach the people you want to serve.

In this episode, I share a simple framework for deciding which podcasts are worth pitching, how to research a show before reaching out, and why building a relationship with the host before you pitch can dramatically improve your chances of getting invited.

We'll cover:

• How to identify the best podcasts for your business

• The four questions to ask before pitching any show

• Why audience fit matters more than audience size

• How to write a guest pitch that podcast hosts actually want to read

• The biggest mistake people make when introducing themselves

• Why leading with value—not your credentials—gets better results

If podcast guesting is part of your marketing strategy, don't measure success by the number of interviews you book. Measure it by whether you're getting in front of the right audience...who then become your audience.

Here's how NOT to do it:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/125-how-to-avoid-sending-the-worst-podcast-pitch-ever/

Book your free private podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com, and let's build a podcast (and a promotion strategy) that grows your authority, generates leads, and delivers real ROI.

Everyone says you should tell more stories in your podcast. They're right. But I think we've skipped over an even more important question: Why are you telling that story in the first place?

If you're podcasting for your business, every story should be doing more than entertaining your audience. It should help your listener understand an idea, overcome a limiting belief, build trust, or take the next step.

In other words...

Every story needs a job.

In this episode, I explain why the best stories don't start with the story at all. They start with the lesson you want your listener to remember. Once you're clear on that, choosing the right story becomes much easier.

We'll cover:

• Why podcasters should tell stories with intention

• How to choose the most effective story for your message

• Why your listener should always be at the centre of the story

• The mistake many podcasters make after telling a great story

• A client example that shows how one well-told story led directly to a new client

Remember, the story might be about you... but it's really for your listener.

When they recognize themselves in your story, they connect with your message. And when you clearly explain why that story matters, your ideas become more memorable and far more likely to inspire action.

If your podcast episodes feel a little flat, it may not be because you need better stories. It may be because your stories need a clearer purpose.

Book your free private podcast coaching call at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com (click the big, orange button to access my calendar) and let's make sure every part of your podcast is working to build authority, generate leads, and grow your business.

234 How Tiny Stories Build Big Trust with Podcast Listeners

107 Why You Need More Stories in Your Podcast

Most podcasters spend far too much time searching for the perfect microphone and not nearly enough time recording.

As a podcast coach, one of the questions I get asked most often is, "What microphone should I buy?" So every year, I revisit my recommendations, check the latest reviews, and see if there's a new microphone that's changed everything.

Spoiler alert: not much has changed.

In this episode, I break down the microphones I recommend most often, explain why dynamic microphones outperform condenser microphones for most podcasters, and help you decide whether USB or XLR is the right fit for your setup.

You'll learn:

• Why I recommend dynamic microphones for 99% of podcasters

• Why the Blue Yeti is not my microphone of choice

• The pros and cons of USB vs XLR microphones

• My top microphone recommendations for beginners, intermediate podcasters, and advanced setups

• Why microphone technique matters more than microphone price

• The simple advice that could save you months of microphone research

Featured Microphones:

• Samson Q2U

• Audio-Technica ATR2100x

• Shure MV7+

• Electro-Voice RE320 (Pat McAfee mic)

• Shure SM7B (Joe Rogan mic)

If you've been stuck comparing microphones instead of starting your podcast, this episode is for you.

Listen now and escape the research rabbit hole because your listener doesn't care what microphone you use. They care whether you show up, whether you serve them, and whether what you have to say makes a difference in their lives.

Resources: My Top Podcast Equipment Gear List:

PodcastPerformanceCoach.com/resources

Book your free private podcast coaching call:

PodcastPerformanceCoach.com

Most business podcasters dream about reaching thousands... maybe even millions... of listeners.

That approach is completely wrong for a large sector of the business world. In this episode, we're talking about the overlooked power of local podcasting and why, for many service-based businesses, becoming known in your own community can be far more valuable than chasing download numbers from around the world.

We'll explore:

• Why vanity metrics can distract you from what really matters

• How local podcasting builds trust faster

• The surprising "local celebrity" effect that podcasting can create

• Why podcasting works so well alongside networking and referrals

• How local SEO can amplify your authority in your own backyard

• Why attracting ten ideal clients may be far more valuable than attracting ten thousand random listeners

Podcast success isn't always about reaching more people. Sometimes it's about reaching the right people.

If you're considering starting a podcast and want to explore what role it could realistically play in growing your business locally or beyond, book a free private podcast coaching call. We'll talk through your goals, your audience, and whether podcasting makes strategic sense for the business you actually have.

Visit PodcastPerformanceCoach.com to get on my calendar.

Ever finish recording a podcast interview and immediately think: "Yikes. That was lame."

Bad podcast interviews happen for a lot of reasons. Maybe the guest rambled. Maybe the chemistry was off. Maybe the conversation felt awkward, unfocused, or completely disconnected from your audience.

So now what?

Do you publish it anyway because you already recorded it? Or do you scrap the episode entirely?

In this episode, I break down what makes a podcast interview truly "bad," how to avoid lame duck interviews before they happen, and what you can do to salvage the useful parts of a conversation that fell flat.

We'll talk about:

• How to tell if a guest interview actually serves your listener

• Why podcasters publish weak interviews even when they know they shouldn't

• The simple prep step that prevents most bad interviews

• Why pre-interviews can save you major headaches

• What to do if the interview completely flops

• How to rescue strong insights from a weak conversation

• Why protecting your audience matters more than protecting a guest's feelings

I also share why one bad interview can damage listener trust faster than most podcasters realize…

If your podcast feels inconsistent, awkward, or disconnected from the authority and ROI you want, grab my FREE Podcast Audit and video training at PodcastPerformanceCoach.com/free-podcast-audit to diagnose the problem and find out how to fix it.

For more tips on how to best prepare your guest to show up and give an interview your audience will rave about, check out episode 178 - How to Prepare Your Podcast Guest to get the Best Possible Interview