Power Your Platform

Power Your Platform

By Kerry Ramsay, Story CoachBusinessMarketing
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Power Your Platform episodes

  • 69 - Level Up Your Story with Cheryl Himburg

    My guest on the podcast today is Cheryl Himburg, a former high-level Blackberry executive and the current CEO of Key Element Solutions. 

    I’m also proud to say that she’s is one of my amazing coaching clients. 

    Cheryl left the corporate world a few years ago to launch her own purpose-driven platform. And today, she spends her days helping women uplevel their lives and their businesses. 

    In today’ episode we talk about how to live a life you’re wildly in love with and how to overcome the obstacles that often stand in the way of us doing so. 

    There were so many takeaways inside this conversation today, I had a hard time trimming down the list! 

    But here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s interview: 

    1. Our inner dialogue largely shapes the way we view ourselves and the world around us. 

    2. Creating a next-level identity always begins with us breaking out of old, familiar patterns. Easier said than done, I know! 

    3. We need to recognize that glass ceilings are only social constructs that are meant to be shattered. 

    4. Representation matters. We need to show others that despite our own struggles, it is possible to level up and succeed. 

    5. Always be cultivating a powerfully positive mindset. Because when you do, the next level is so much more accessible. 

    6. Comparison is the thief of joy – stop comparing yourself to other people’s highlight reels. 

    7. Ground yourself in your purpose and let go of other people’s expectations and limitations for your life. 

    8. Our businesses achievements should not define our happiness, our identity or our sense of personal worthiness. 

    9. Right now, in this very moment, you are worthy of all you desire. 

    10. When we let go of the need to please others, we can also let go of the fear of failure. 

    Thanks so much for listening in to today’s episode. If you haven’t yet hit that subscribe button your favourite podcasting app, I hope you’ll do it today! Until next time, keep owning your story, following your purpose and raising your voice. Because the world is waiting to hear your story. 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    Key Element Solutions - https://www.keyelement.ca/

    43 min
  • 68 - Be a Part of the Story Wave!

    Have you ever been to a baseball game where somewhere in the stands, a group of fans starts doing the Wave? 

    As a mom of a baseball player, I’ve been a part of my fair share of waves! And the one thing I love about them in the momentum they represent. 

    The reason why it’s so important for us to own our story and feel comfortable sharing it, is because there are “waves” of important messages that are rippling throughout the world right now. And we need to do our part to make sure they reach the right people and have a positive impact. 

    Whatever the movement is, we always have two choices: we can stand up, raise our voice and be a part of the positive action or we can slow down the movement and force it to go around us until it finds someone else who’s willing to do the job. 

    The choice we make about whether or not to stand up and share our story has a profound impact on us either way. 

    On the one hand, we can say, “Hey, I’ve got a voice. I’ve got a story. So I’m going to get involved and I’m going to share my story. Because I know that somewhere, someone needs to hear it.” 

    The cool thing is that once we do share our story, we inspire OTHERS to share their own story. And the Wave goes on. The momentum continues. The energy spreads. And it is MAGIC! 

    On the other hand, when we sit it out, not only does it slow the momentum of the wave, but WE miss out on the opportunity to be a part of something that’s bigger than ourselves. 

    There’s an incredible feeling that happens when we plug into a cause that’s worth being a part of. And I’m not even suggesting it has to be a controversial cause. I’m talking about making change right where you live and causes that mean something to YOU. Causes that have some momentum flowing, but if you got involved and raised your hand and lent your voice to the cause, it would all just get done quicker and the needs would be met sooner. 

    The truth is, when we don’t stand up and raise our voice, we’re really the one who’s missing out. Because one way or another, the positive change that needs to happen in this world is still going to happen. But it will likely happen a lot more slowly. We also lose out on a golden opportunity to build our own sense of self-confidence, and expand our skillset and to be a part of something we can be proud of. And the wave has to start all over again because we kept our seat and broke the flow. 

    If this scenario sounds familiar, maybe you’re thinking, “Hey, she’s talking about me! I sit it out way too often! And I want to get involved and share my story! But how do I do it?” 


    So here are 3 steps to becoming a part of a Wave and making the impact in the world that you were meant to have: 

    1. Own Your Story. 

    2. Follow Your Purpose 

    3. Raise Your Voice When you do, you’ll become a part of the momentum and no longer the one who’s too distracted to see her true potential and use it for good. Instead, you’ll be swept up in a positive Wave of change that’s designed to make a real impact in the world. 

    And I can’t think of anything better to cheer about – how about you? 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Storytelling Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/60d1f688deb9240017102716 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    18 min
  • 67 - Amplifying the Voices of Diverse Women with Anna Thukral

    Happy International Women’s Day! Today’s interview is such a fitting one to mark this important occasion. 

    Today, I’m speaking with Anahita (Anna) Thukral, a social entrepreneur and the founder of Hear Her Stories. 

    Having lived in four different countries, Anna has experienced first-hand the systemic and structural barriers faced by women of color. These experiences led Anna to create Hear Her Stories, a platform that amplifies women's voices and celebrates their achievements as a way to support and inspire the next generation of diverse women. 

    Through Hear Her Stories, Anna realized the significant barriers facing women around the world have widely led to underrepresentation and inequality. To help address these gaps, Anna recently launched DiWo (which stands for Diverse Women) with the goal of providing equal access and opportunities to all women in the workforce. 

    In my conversation with Anna today, we discuss the value of diverse stories, the impact of unconscious bias and how YOU can get involved today with the Hear Her Stories movement. 

    Here are my Top 10 Takeaways form my interview with Anna: 

    1. Every woman’s story is worth sharing, no matter where they may come from. 

    2. We need to take the time to look for hidden stories that might not be front and centre in our mainstream media. 

    3. Diversity, equality and inclusion are vital elements to include in the stories we’re telling and the stories we’re consuming. 

    4. Sharing stories of diverse women who have achieved amazing things allows girls and women everywhere to find inspiration and take the lead in their own lives. 

    5. We need to normalize celebrating everyday women with everyday stories, because when we take a closer look, we realize they’re really doing extraordinary things. 

    6. Our own struggle is often the motivating factor to step forward and make bold moves in the name of change. 

    7. When we intentionally share the stories of the struggles women face, we can help shape government policy, the economy and make a world-wide impact. 

    8. Seeing is believing. When we hear about the bold moves other women are making around the world, it inspires us to make bold moves ourselves. 

    9. The systems and structural barriers face by women on a global level have led to underrepresentation and inequality in the workplace. But it’s not too late to make a change. 

    10.  Acknowledging our own unconscious bias can help make us all a part of the fight against inequality and intolerance around the world. 


    EPISODE LINKS:

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    Hear Her Stories - https://hearherstories.com/ 

    DiWO - https://hearherstories.com/diwo/

    32 min
  • 66 - How an Ex-Con Founded a Dream Business with Emily O'Brien

    Today I’m excited to share with you the story of a woman whose path has led her from addiction and a prison sentence to becoming the founder and CEO of a noteworthy Canadian entrepreneurial venture. 

    Emily O’Brien is the brainchild behind Comeback Snacks—a specialty popcorn company that challenges the status quo. After being sentenced to a four-year jail term stemming from her battle with addiction, Emily set out on the mission to get clean, transform herself, and make her time in jail as meaningful as possible. 

    Having fostered an entrepreneurial career before her sentence, Emily birthed the idea for Comeback Snacks (formerly ‘Cons and Kernels’) which is a popcorn brand that uses high-quality, health-conscious ingredients to create unique flavours inspired by the ones Emily found and curated while in prison. 

    Through her trailblazing efforts, Emily is an example that positive change can happen within correctional institutions with passion, drive, and a positive mindset. 

    Aware of the hardships of being incarcerated, Emily is driven to help remove the stigma surrounding people with prior convictions, as well as giving them opportunities for reintegration through training, empowerment and education. 

    In today’s episode, Emily and I talk about second chances and the mindset it takes to come back from a devastating detour. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she created her business while still in prison, and offers some advice for women who may be too ashamed or too afraid to share their own story. 


    Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Emily: 

    1. Everyone deserves a second chance. 

    2. Always be on the lookout for new inspiration, because you can find it in the most unexpected places. 

    3. Make the most of the sources you have, rather than focusing on the ones you don’t have. 

    4. Find collaborators who can help move you and your business idea forward. 

    5. Having a mission can help fuel your business, even on the days when you feel like giving up. 

    6. Your personal struggle is the key to making an impact; never discount the power of your own story. 

    7. Coming back after a personal trauma or tragedy always begins with healing. 

    8. The more we take the time to listen to other people’s stories, the more rich our lives will be. 

    9. Sharing our own story can be scary, but it can also bring freedom. 

    10. If you don’t own your story, someone else will. 

    Thanks so much for listening in to today’s episode. I hope you’ll take a moment to share this podcast with others who may be interested – because when you do, we’ll be able to impact even more women and help encourage THEM to share their story. 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    Comeback Snacks Web site - https://www.comebacksnacks.com/ 

    31 min
  • 65 - Why Representation Matters in Storytelling with Michelle McDonald

    In today’s show, I’m pulling up a chair to chat with Michelle McDonald, a dedicated child protection worker who is also an enthusiastic YouTube content creator and a passionate lover of children’s literature. 

    Michelle is a busy mom of two young children who recognized a need in her own city. That need stemmed from her own experiences as a Black woman in a mostly white community. 

    What she discovered was that the books on her children’s bookshelves and in school and public libraries across her region lacked cultural representation. And so, she took it upon herself to step up and find a solution. 

    As a result, Michelle launched a YouTube channel in 2019 called Ruthy’s Reading Room. The children’s story channel features primarily Black authored books being read out loud by Michelle herself under the name of her YouTube alter ego, Ruthy. 

    Each episode of Ruthy’s Reading Room is designed to provide children everywhere with an accessible story time experience. In her experience as a child protection worker, Michelle knew there were many kids who didn’t have anyone to reach them a story at the end of the day. And so, Ruthy’s Reading Room helped address that need as well. 

    In this interview Michelle and I talk about how she built her YouTube channel from scratch and the challenges she’s had to overcome along the way. Michelle’s passion for what she does is so clear and I love that she’s building her message using YouTube as her purpose-driven platform of choice. 


    Here are my Top 10 takeaways from today’s conversation with Michelle. 

    1. Don’t wait for someone else to step up and solve the problems you see around you in the world – make a bold move and do it yourself! 

    2. Start messy. Don’t worry about getting it perfect. 

    3. Representation matters because it allows us to see ourselves in the world around us. 

    4. When you take on a new challenge, be sure to draw on the strength of your own network to help you get the job done. 

    5. Don’t worry about knowing how it’s all going to turn out; just make that first move. 

    6. Remember that everything is "figureoutable" to quote Marie Foreleo. There’s nothing we can’t learn on the Internet or ask someone in our network. 

    7. Choose the platform that’s right for you and then go all in. 

    8. Show up consistently and create quality content to ensure steady growth and customer loyalty. 

    9. There’s always a steep learning curve when we try something new. Do it anyway. 

    10. Infusing our lives with diverse voices will help us create a more inclusive and respectful worldview. 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    Ruthy's Reading Room - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgdZZmsPeo7bf1ct2h3SZtg  

    Michelle's Book Recommendation - Timeless Love - https://www.amazon.ca/Timeless-Love-Julie-Thompson/dp/0228810574  

    Ruthy's Reading Room Music by Edward Lewis Jr. - https://edwardlewisjr.bandcamp.com/ 

    31 min
  • 64 - Overcoming My Personal Battle with Perfectionism

    Today’s episode is going to get a lot more personal than my other shows, and that’s because I’m unpacking my own journey with perfectionism. 

    So I hope you’ll join me as I pinpoint some of the key indicators that confirm I was definitely a perfectionist while I was growing up. PLUS how perfectionism manifested itself later in my life. I’ll share also with you how I now manage this potential success blocker in my career, my business and my personal life. And keep in mind – I’m still not perfect at avoiding perfectionism – and that’s OK.

    In a nutshell, perfectionism is the refusal to accept anything short of perfection. And that goes not only for business, but personal appearance, marriage, parenting and so much more.

    The reason I want to talk about perfectionism today is because it can be a real success blocker for women who hold back from sharing their story or launching a new brand or product because they’re worried it’s not going to be… well, perfect.

    Here are some signs I was a perfectionist as a kid:

    - I was an only child which birth order studies tell you set me up right at the start for perfectionism. For this reason, before I was a people pleaser, I was a parent pleaser.

    - I compared myself to my friends, especially when it came to school grades.

    - I avoided playing on teams because it would frustrate me when others didn’t give the game 100%. Because I. Wanted. To. Win.

    - I suffered from insomnia often as a result of my perfectionism-fueled anxiety.

    - In university, I signed up for the classes I knew I could ace. In other words, I was avoiding failure at all costs.

    - My perfectionism also showed up in my marriage and my parenting and so many other places! Because there’s no place you can go to hide from perfectionism. Wherever you go, there you are.

    These days, I’m happy to report that the perfectionist tendencies have been replaced with more realistic expectations, ones that definitely allow some room for error.


    Here are some of the signs of perfectionism you might have picked up from my own story:

    1. Perfectionists tend to think in all or nothing terms.

    2. Perfectionists tend to be highly critical of themselves and others.

    3. Perfectionists often set unrealistic standards for themselves and those around them.

    4. Insomnia is another sign that perfectionism might be present.

    5. Another perfectionist tendency is feeling depressed when things don’t go as planned.


    Here are 4 solutions for moving past perfectionism:

    1. Be mindful when perfectionist tendencies crop up in your life, and avoid falling back into familiar patterns of behaviour.

    2. Look for the learning opportunities – and not just the wins – inside the challenging situations you face.

    3. Embrace failure as a natural part of success.

    4. Let love – and not fear – be your guide.


    Audio Book Recommendations on Perfectionism:

    “Good Enough” by Monica Ramirez Basco

    “The Perfection Detox” by Petra Kolbert

    “I Thought It Was Just Me” by Brene Brown

    “Better Than Perfect” by Elizabeth Lombardo


    EPISODE LINKS:

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    22 min
  • 63 - Building an Authentic Brand with Alyssa Zwonok

    In today's episode, I’m sitting down to chat with Alyssa Zwonok, the founder and CEO of Nomad Cre8tive. 

    With more than a decade of experience in the digital marketing space, Alyssa has worked with everyone from large, enterprise clients to bustling startups. Over time, she has helped them build their brands from the ground up and exceed industry standards through top level creative direction and strategy. 

    After traveling the globe for a full four years and living abroad for another, Alyssa wasn’t ready for her traveling journey to end – so she decided to create a life for herself where she would work on the road. She founded Nomad Cre8tive with the intention of empowering other creatives like herself to be able to travel the world, all while making a living, doing what they love most! 

    Today, Alyssa and I talk about how to build an authentic online presence, along with how to think about your social media content, build followers and establish a unique digital footprint. 

    Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Alyssa: 

    1. Create a life that works for you. If you can dream it, you can do it! 

    2. Surround yourself with people who support your dream and who can help you make it a reality. None of us can do it alone. 

    3. Visibility is essential in today’s digital marketplace. It will help you create a strong online presence and sharpen your competitive edge. 

    4. Don’t try to be like everyone else. Instead, value your own unique perspective on the world and share it with others. 

    5. Stop relying on selfies and instead invest in a professional photographer at least once a year to ensure you have quality images on-hand that can be used throughout your marketing materials. 

    6. Establish 3 to 5 pillars inside your business to help keep you focused and provide you with plenty of ideas for your social media content. 

    7. Avoid putting all your eggs into the social media basket. You need to diversify the way you’re connecting with your audience in order to ensure the growth of your business. 

    8. Before you can unlock the power of storytelling inside your business, you need to own your story and be confident enough to share it with the world. 

    9. Happiness and growth in all aspects of your life rely on having a positive mental attitude – so be sure not to neglect your mental health in the midst of all the hustle to grow a business. 

    10. Pay attention to what you need, because when you consistently feed your mind, body and spirit, you’ll emerge as an unstoppable force for good. 

    Until next time, keep owning your story, following your purpose and raising your voice – because the world is waiting to hear your story! 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    Nomad Cre8tive - https://www.nomadcre8tive.com/ 

    35 min
  • 62 - Pick Your Platform Series: Part 3 - Starting a YouTube Channel

    Welcome to the third and final part of our Pick Your Platform Series. 

    So far, we’ve taken a look at podcasts and blogs as platform options and today we’re diving into YouTube and learning what makes it such a powerful place to build your brand or business.  

    So what’s so great about YouTube? Well, first of all, like the other two platforms we’ve discussed so far, YouTube is free, it’s public, it supports long-form content, has a long shelf life AND it’s shareable. So those are 5 great reasons to consider YouTube. I also love the freedom that YouTube gives us to upload videos of any length and style. 

    Now, keep in mind that the optimum length of a YouTube video is actually about 10 minutes – but even if that sounds short, remember there can be quite a bit of work involved if you’re doing a lot of video editing. But really, that part’s totally up to you. 

    Of course, the big advantage of YouTube is that you’re able to include video storytelling as a part of your platform. And depending on your audience, video can be a very powerful way to communicate your key message and establish a strong rapport with your viewers. Remember, as we build our brand, it’s really important for our audience to get to know us, like us and trust us. 

    And that can be done in a number of ways, but probably the BEST way is to show up consistently and offer quality content that adds value to the lives of your audience. 

    Now keep in mind that when you broadcast to YouTube, there are a few distinct advantages that video has over audio or the written word: 

    1. Video storytelling creates memorable messages. When we SEE a message as well as HEARING it, we tend to retain the message longer. Fact: with text and audio, your audience will remember only 10% of what you said 72 hours later. And that applies to this podcast as well. On the other hand, with video – which stimulates both our auditory and visual senses, an audience will retain up to 68% of the information you share. 

    2. Video storytelling is that it can help make complex subjects easier to understand. So if you’re explaining something that requires diagrams or images or a demonstration of some kind, then a YouTube channel might be a good fit for you. 

    3. Video storytelling can capture and hold your audience’s attention often a lot more easily than a blog or a podcast. Because let’s face it: there is a LOT competing for our attention these days. And when you take into account that video storytelling allows you to incorporate music and sound effects, graphics, setting and even wardrobe and props – well, it’s a pretty compelling argument that YouTube is a compelling platform that grabs audience attention. 

    There are some downsides of YouTube, of course. First, you have to be comfortable with being on camera. You also have to learn some video editing skills and be able to cut through the clutter since there are a LOT of YouTubers out there. But remember, you don’t need a million followers to have a viable business! Stick to it and show up consistently with quality content that helps solve your audience’s key pain points, and eventually you’ll grow to a point where you are thriving in the online space and creating a business with impact. 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    24 min
  • 61 - Pick Your Platform Series: Part 2 - Starting a Blog

    Welcome back to Part 2 of the Pick Your Platform Series! Today we’re talking about the second platform option which is blogs. 

    So what makes blogs such a great platform to reach your ideal customer? 

    First, blogs are a powerful platform because they can help establish you as an authority in your niche. Now, notice I did say niche. Because if you’re going to have blog, you really do need to niche down and know what specifically you’re blogging about. And once you DO niche down, then you’ll want to show up consistently on your blog to provide value, whether that’s in the form of tips and tools or guest interviews or links to other useful resources within the same niche. 

    The second reason blogs are a powerful platform is because they help generate important SEO which drives traffic to your web site. SEO stands for search engine optimization and it’s a key component of getting web site traffic. In a nutshell, when people search for a topic on Google, there are a LOT of web sites competing for the same reader’s attention. When you have a blog that’s attached to your web site, the fact that you’re publishing regular content and seeing frequent visits to your blog articles, helps your web site rise in the Google rankings. 

    The third reason blogs are effective is that they are extremely versatile. I love this about blogs. It used to be that blogs were all about text and articles. But these days, you can add audio and video, as well as links, gifs, memes and photos along with other attention-grabbing content. So while blogs are ideally suited for writers, I’ve also seen photographers and videographers and graphic artists take advantage of blogging platforms and use them to solve their audience’s unique challenges. 

    Pro Tip: Too many widgets and multimedia features can slow the download of your blog on someone else’s device (especially rural users). So my advice is to use visual elements, but keep it simple. Another thing to remember is that blog readers tend to be a part of an older demographic, most notably aged over the age of 30. In fact most are between the ages of 40 and 60. So if you’re trying to reach a younger demographic, then I’d opt for a different platform like YouTube or even podcasts. 

    But for those who do visit blogs, they tend to visit them often, and many of them become loyal fans for the blogs that speak directly to their unique interests or challenge. 

    The main advantage of a written document like a blog is that the audience member can read it over and over again until they understand the entire message. You can also include direct links so that enhances your ability to get paid by affiliates or you can lead readers to other resources or paid products you might offer. In turn, readers can share your blog link with others, which helps expand your reach and influence. 

    The downside of written storytelling platforms like blogs is that the audience has to have the time to focus and read the long-form content. And we all know that time is at a premium for most people these days. They also need to be able to find you, so that’s where the visibility tools come in.  

    BONUS TIP: Pair your blog strategy with a Pinterest strategy to get the best results! 

    Looking for support in launching YOUR blog? Click on the web site link below and let’s get you started! 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    26 min
  • 60 - Pick Your Platform Series: Part I - Starting a Podcast

    Which platform are YOU currently using to get your message out to the world? If you’re not sure yet, then I’m excited to be launching a 3-part series today called Pick Your Platform! 

    In this podcast series, I’ll be talking about the pros and the cons of podcasts, blogs and YouTube channels. And by the end of this series, I hope you’ll have a clearer idea about which platform is the right fit for you. 

    In Part I of the Pick Your platform Podcast Series today, I’m going to be focusing on podcasts. 

    So here are the 5 main reasons why I think podcasting is a great way to build and maintain connections with my audience: 

    Podcasts are affordable to launch. I launched my own podcast for less than $150 which included a Yeti Nano microphone that my kids gave to me for Mother’s Day. But you could actually just use the free mic in your own phone if you wanted to. I also use Anchor to host my podcast which is free and I record all of my podcasts using Audacity which is also free. Finally, I use no paid ads and I hire an audio editor from time to time to help me fix tech glitches on my podcast as needed. But if you want to, you can edit your episodes for free by doing it yourself. 

    Podcasts are convenient and easy to consume for my listeners. This is one of the advantages I see between podcasts and the two other platforms I’ll be discussing in this series which are blogs and YouTube channels. My audience is nearly always on the move and they like to listen to my podcast as they go about their day. Podcasting reports actually tell us that more than 65% of people listen to podcasts while they’re on the move. Since they don’t need to watch or read my podcast, my audience members can even be driving in their car when they’re consuming my content. This is really convenient and since podcasts are also portable, they can go with my audience in whichever direction they’re heading next. 

    Podcasts allow you to go deep on a topic. People are more likely to listen longer to a podcast episode and as a result, you’re able to establish a fairly strong bond with that individual over time. So that’s the third reason I like podcasting and that’s because it allows me to dive deeper into the topics I’m discussing. 

    Podcasts provide a unique voice connection with your audience. Your voice creates a powerful connection between you and your audience. Did you know your voice identifies you as uniquely as your fingerprints do? It’s true! Even though two people might sound similar to each other, no two voices are exactly alike. So there’s a power that comes with establishing a bond with your audience that’s based on your own voice style. 

    And finally, there are fewer podcasts than blogs or YouTube channels to compete with. There are about 500,000 active podcasts in the world, but compared to the world’s 570 million blogs or 37 million YouTube channels, you have a lot better chance of cutting through the clutter with a podcast. So what are the downsides of podcasts? First, your audience needs to be comfortable with consuming content in an audio format. And second, you have to work hard to find a podcasting niche that fits your audience well, and then you need to build that audience one listener at a time. So be patient! 

    So how do you know if podcasting is for you? Revisit Episode 11 and Episode 12, as I get into this in more detail! 


    EPISODE LINKS: 

    Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

    PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

    Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

    21 min

About Power Your Platform

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Power Your Platform, the podcast for women who are building bold story brands! Each week, we’ll explore big ideas about story building and shine a spotlight on courageous women just like YOU who are owning their story, following their purpose and changing the world.