Podcast Rockstars

Ted and Arlene Taveras are the Co-Presidents of Insurance Licensing Services of America (ILSA),  an insurance licensing and compliance firm they established in 1997. Additionally, they are the co-hosts of the Spot On Insurance podcast. Through this platform, this fantastic husband-and-wife tag team offers help and support concerning the intricacies of insurance regulatory compliance.

Ted has over 20 years of experience with helping insurance professionals understand the complexities of insurance regulatory compliance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and is an active member of the Executive Board for Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas. Arleen holds an Associates degree in Risk Management from St. John’s University as well as a degree in Economics from New Jersey City University.

Ted and Arleen are what I would call LinkedIn Rockstars. They join me today to share the ways they use LinkedIn to promote their show. They dive into the ingenious strategies they use to grow their audience and expand their reach. Ted and Arleen also share some nuggets of wisdom that they learned and applied from John Lee Dumas and Kate Erickson, two podcasting pros who cater to an audience of a million listeners each month.

“If you want people to engage with you, you have got to go out there and engage with them." - Ted Taveras

• How Ted and Arleen started their podcast
• Why their podcast evolved from serving insurance agencies and companies to serving insurance professionals in general
• Why Ted felt the need to create a new podcast segment
• The hack they use to get more people to like their LinkedIn page and subscribe to the podcast
• How they connect with their network that guarantees engagement
• How they develop interesting long-form articles to promote their podcast guests on LinkedIn
• Which approach gets more engagement - a group page or individual messaging
• How to get others interested in looking at your profile and becoming a part of your community
• A time-saving app that helps them create quick and more-than-usual greetings
• What triggered them to relaunch their podcast
• A technique on how to get the company staff to subscribe to the podcast through LinkedIn
• A new LinkedIn tool that allows you to connect with people at conferences

• TextExpander
• Podcasters Paradise
• Spot on Insurance #74: Grow Your Agency with LinkedIn

• Spot on Insurance Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

What’s the best day to release your podcast episodes? How do you determine your release schedule? These are common questions among podcasters - especially new creators. While we all want our podcasts to be successful, determining the perfect day to release your episodes can be quite challenging.

Today, I share the strategy I used to choose which day of the week to release my podcast episodes and why I don’t believe there is a “perfect” release day - despite what statistics might show. I explain the difference between a “popular” release day versus the perfect release day and why popularity shouldn’t be a factor when considering which days to release your episodes. I also discuss the factors you should consider while deciding which day of the week to release your content.

“Podcasting is an evergreen content marketing strategy - so the day you release your episode doesn’t matter as much as the content you produce.”

• The popular release days in the podcasting industry
• The air-day pattern I found among our podcast clients
• Why the “best day” is not necessarily the best for your show
• How to determine which day would be perfect to release your episodes
• The potential impact of releasing your episode on a popular day of the week

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Naketa Thigpen, a licensed clinical social worker, is the president and CEO of Thigpro Balance and Relationship Management Institute and considered to be the number one Balance & Relationship Advisor across the globe. Aside from being an empowerment speaker, Naketa is also the host of the podcast for ambitious women and a few brave men called Balance Boldly. She is also the author of the upcoming book Selfish: Permission to Pause, Live, Love & Laugh Your Way to Joy. With the mission to help others enjoy life as they create balance and joy, Naketa will be reaching out to more audiences as she launches her new show Kitchen Conversations #Unfiltered in the Spring of 2019.

Naketa joins me today to share how she balances her time - both personally and professionally - boldly and unapologetically. She explains what a seasonal show is and the different strategies she uses to keep her audience engaged and interested between seasons. Naketa also shares why she’s not worried about the drop in live plays she experiences between seasons as well as how her podcast helps expand her personal and professional network while achieving various goals.

“They don't know if it's going to be week six or week eight, but my listeners trust that I'm going to show up. And they're coming and listening and learning and gathering which is all that I ever wanted.” - Naketa Thigpen

• The story of how her podcast came to be
• How she takes care of herself so she can be available to everyone else
• How she and her team produce seasonal shows and the average number of episodes she releases per season
• How her audience reacted when she didn’t give a ‘heads-up’ the first time she ended a season
• The various ways she saved money because of her show
• How she made the transition from Balance Beam to Balance Boldly
• The strategy she uses to avoid providing identical content to her email list and social media followers
• Why she doesn’t maintain a Facebook Group
• How her podcast has, directly and indirectly, impacted her business growth
• How her show allowed her to set healthy boundaries, personally and in her business

As much as we want to be consistent in releasing our podcast content, the reality is that there are times when our situation prevents us from doing so. It may be because of a health issue, a personal concern, or an unexpected transition in the business.

If you find yourself in this tight situation, you should consider releasing an encore episode.

Today, I share what encore episodes are and why podcasters utilize them. I discuss the factors you should consider when choosing encore episodes to re-release, such as the type of episode and the ‘age’ of your content. I also share how to use encore episodes as an effective content strategy that will affect the trajectory and success of your business, brand, and show.

“Releasing an encore episode is often better than skipping a week in your normal publishing schedule.”

• Why podcasters republish older episodes
• Why consistency is crucial for your show’s overall success
• What it means to have a ‘seasonal’ show
• What evergreen content is and why having this is crucial to your show
• How encore episodes affect downloads and listenership

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Amy Feierman is the co-host of The Amazon Files Podcast alongside her business partner Kristin Ostrander. Together, Amy and Kristin teach the Wholesale Bundle System where they equip Amazon sellers on how to find and create their custom wholesale bundle. Aside from being a podcaster, Amy is also an entrepreneur who has been selling online for a decade.

Amy joins me today to share how she and her business partner got more of their YouTube viewers to listen to their podcast. She discusses how they market from one platform to another as well as the importance of putting all their links - podcast and YouTube - on one page. She also shares how launching the podcast has impacted their business and why you shouldn’t start a podcast if your goal is to generate revenue.

“It’s really understanding what the audience wants to hear in a video versus what they want to hear on a podcast.” - Amy Feierman

• The turning point that led Amy to start a podcast
• The avenue that allows Amy and her co-host to interact with their audience
• The things they leave in the video but not in the audio
• The different expectations between doing something live versus pre-recorded audio
• The reason their podcast introduction is less than three minutes
• Why video content is more challenging than audio
• Tips on how to get comfortable in front of the mic or the camera
• How to overcome the hurdle of thinking you’re not good at something
• The type of visual content YouTube viewers prefer
• A tip to those who are putting podcasting off because they are afraid
• A message to those who are putting podcasting off because ‘they don't have time’

• Mommy Income Website
• The Amazon Files Podcast
• Amy Feierman on Facebook

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Xavi Umeh is the founder of Brandedpod, a marketing company that specializes in helping startups get new clients fast using their own podcast. His business is founded on his belief that podcasting is the sure-fire way of building and growing your brand online. Xavi also offers excellent value to his audience through the free content he creates about how to get clients through podcasting on his YouTube Channel.

Xavi joins me today to share his six-step process for turning podcast listeners into new clients. He discusses the necessary factors you need to identify as you plan your show as well as how to design your podcast to attract ideal buyers and potential business partners. He also shares how to assemble an audience for a show that has not yet launched and the steps to take to optimize and further monetize your show.

“Your podcast should be a resource for your target buyer.” - Xavi Umeh

• How Xavi got started as a podcast producer
• What his podcast Brandedpod is about
• How he came up with his six-step strategy for turning podcast listeners into new clients
• The most important part of the podcast
• The sole purpose of your podcast to your customers
• Two problems your target market has and the role you play in it
• The two stages of launching your show
• A marketing strategy he uses to determine potential clients
• Why indirect marketing is faster and easier
• A five-step approach to making your podcast guest a prospective referral partner
• Why one referral partner is worth a lot more than one customer
• What optimization is and the things you can optimize in your business

• Brandedpod Website
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Special Offer! Get help with planning your podcast - for free! Email: [email protected] and mention Podcast Rockstars to receive free advice on how you should plan your podcast to attract new clients.

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

LinkedIn is a popular social platform known to cater to entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals. For this reason, it would be a no-brainer to promote any business - or in this case, your business-related podcast - on the most extensive professional social platform.

Sadly, many podcasters fail to notice the value of promoting their shows on this relevant social platform.

Today, I share five easy ways to promote your podcast on LinkedIn without sounding aggressive. I explain the first step to building awareness for your show on LinkedIn as well as the different LinkedIn pages you can utilize to further your marketing efforts. I also share the different apps you can use that can help you save time and effort when posting on LinkedIn as well as how to take your efforts to the next level.

“LinkedIn is a little-used promotion gem that can be a goldmine for new listeners, new guests, and even new potential clients.”

• Why you should promote your podcast on LinkedIn
• How often you should update your LinkedIn status
• How to use LinkedIn Publisher to promote your podcast episodes
• How to embed your podcast player on LinkedIn
• The difference between a LinkedIn Company Page and Showcase Page
• How to hyperfocus your marketing efforts on LinkedIn

• My LinkedIn Profile
• Hootsuite
• Co-Schedule
• Buffer

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Just like carpenters who need different tools for different purposes, podcasters also need various tools in their toolbox to promote their episodes. Some are fans of image quotes, while others like creating YouTube videos. One of the popular tools podcasters use today is an audiogram.

Today, I share three powerful tools you can use to repurpose your podcast episodes by creating fantastic audiograms for your social media. I compare these programs and discuss what makes each tool unique and worthy of adding to your podcast arsenal. I also share the features included in each of the tool’s free packages as well as the added features for the paid plans.

“There are many moving parts when it comes to launching and producing a podcast.”

• Two different programs I tried to create audiograms
• How Headliner allows you to add animations and captions to your podcast audiograms
• Using Wavve to create verticle audiograms for Instagram Stories
• The difference between the free Wavve plan and the paid plan
• The difference between Audiogram and Wavve

• Headliner
• Wavve
• Audiogram

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Here’s a million-dollar question asked by podcasters: “Why can’t I just write the whole podcast episode as a long blog post?”

Writing the whole episode of your podcast can be detrimental to your show. But don’t worry because there are other ways you can use and repurpose the content of your podcast.

Today, I share how you can be creative in repurposing your podcast episodes into long-form blog post articles. I explain the difference between a blog and a podcast show note. I also emphasize why the short and skim-able show notes work better for your audience over the time-consuming long-form blog posts.

“Podcasters need to keep in mind the type of audience they are trying to target.”

• Our initial experiment with repurposing podcast episodes into long-form blog posts
• Why podcasters need to keep in mind the type of audience they are trying to target
• How many Americans today own a smartphone and smart speaker, according to a recent study by Edison Research
• Why you should refrain from turning your podcast into a long-form blog post
• How to be creative when repurposing content

• Infinite Dial 2019 (PDF) - Edison Research Study
• Music Oomph Infographic - Podcast Statistics (2019)
• Lidwell Writing Services Blog

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!

Budget planning is a crucial part of any business regardless of the industry. While each aspect in your business is vital for it to thrive, marketing your brand and offerings plays a critical role in acquiring clients and referrals. Having a podcast in your marketing toolbox is undoubtedly an advantage over your competitors.

Today, I share the things you should consider when budgeting your finances and allotting a budget for your podcast. I identify the tools and equipment you need to start a podcast. I also share how you can create great shows and continue to be in your zone of genius despite the nitty-gritty process of producing quality episodes.

“To have high-quality shows, you need to invest more than in the equipment.”

• Why you need a well-thought-out plan on how much you’re willing to spend on your podcast
• Other investments you should consider to produce a high-quality show
• How to choose the right and best-priced tools and outsourced services for your podcast
• The number of people you need to create a good podcast

Thanks for tuning into Podcast Rockstars - the show that helps business leaders become podcast legends. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and share your favorite episodes!

Join our exclusive Podcast Rockstars Facebook group to connect with other podcast legends and legends-in-the-making to ask your most pressing questions and tell us what guests you’d love to hear on the show!

And don’t forget to join our mailing list to learn what it takes to create great show notes for your podcast as well as receive updates on our latest episodes, blog posts, and other rockin’ content!