Has your podcast become a chore for you lately? Do you feel demotivated by your downloads and conversions… and second-guess if your show is worth all the effort?

If you answered yes, then now is the perfect opportunity for you to ask this crucial question:  

Should I continue, pivot, or stop my podcast?  

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this dilemma, so we dedicated an entire episode to help you determine what’s right for your podcast. 

Today, we talk about the importance of regularly evaluating your podcast even when it’s doing well, and which metrics to keep track of. 

Plus, we guide you through the steps you need to take after making a decision based on your assessment. 

Is your podcast still worth the effort? Tune in to find out.

Episode Highlights:

1. Welcome to The Business of Podcasting! [00:00]
2. The question ALL podcasters need to regularly ask [01:58]
3. Why podcasters avoid asking whether they should stop, pivot, or continue [05:47]
4. Why Charley and Grant decided to stop their first podcasts [08:36]
5. Different ways to pivot a podcast [13:02]
6. When to attempt another pivot after doing one [18:06]
7. Should you delete your podcast after deciding to stop? [21:10]
8. Metrics to track to see if you should continue your podcast [25:08]
9. How to know what type of pivot fits your podcast [28:53]
10. How to know if you should stop your podcast [34:34]
11. Biggest takeaways from the episode [37:55]

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Free podcasting resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• Let’s audit your podcast! (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcast-audit/) 
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• SuperFastBusiness Coaching With James Schramko (https://www.superfastbusiness.com/list-all/)

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve heard so many podcasters say “I’m in this for the long game,” only for their show to fizzle out in about a year.

But in most cases, it isn’t their commitment that’s causing this problem.

The main reason this happens is that they never find the right balance between growth and conversions. 

Focus too much on views and downloads and you’ll end up pulling the plug for lack of ROI. But sell too hard to your audience and they’ll eventually stop consuming your content.

To make sure your podcast is built to last, we reveal the secrets for a perfect growth and conversion balance in this week’s episode!

We also impart the best ways you can implement strategies and tactics to improve your efforts on both camps. 

If you want a sustainable and profitable podcast, then make sure to tune in to the whole episode.

Episode Highlights:

1. Welcome to The Business of Podcasting! [00:00]
2. Differentiating podcast growth vs conversion [01:55]
3. Commons reasons for growth and conversion imbalance [06:16]
4. Why podcasters give up before seeing returns [10:09]
5. A podcast with the right balance between growth and conversion [13:16]
6. Why generating revenue from sponsorships is extremely difficult [16:26]
7. How to achieve the perfect balance between growth and conversion [18:57]
8. Making your offer less about you and more about your audience [23:53]
9. Are you pitching too hard in your podcast? [27:24]
10. The risks of growth and conversion imbalance [29:57]
11. Actionable steps for improving your growth and conversion balance [32:20]

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Free podcasting resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• Let’s audit your podcast! (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcast-audit/) 
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• SuperFastBusiness Coaching With James Schramko (https://www.superfastbusiness.com/list-all/)

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a hard, but necessary pill podcasters must swallow: 

Putting in maximum effort towards your podcast doesn’t automatically equate to reaping the desired results.

Especially if you’re executing tactics or activities against the wrong strategy.

Frankly, you can be rubbish at tactics but still have a successful podcast—if you’ve got your strategy down pat. 

But of course, you’ll get much better results if both are aligned. 

And that’s exactly what we’ll dive into in today’s episode. We teach you the difference between strategies and tactics, how to know if you’ve been executing the wrong strategy, and how to find the right strategy for your podcast.

Want to make sure all your hard work translates to results?

Press play now.

Episode Highlights:

1. Welcome to the Business of Podcasting! [00:00]
2. The difference between strategy and tactics [01:53]
3. Why so many podcasts are strategically misaligned [04:33]
4. Example of a strategically AND tactically great podcast [09:23]
5. Common strategic mistake #1: Focusing on vanity metrics [15:48]
6. Common strategic mistake #2: Not matching content with goals [19:36]
7. Tactical gaps most podcasters leave unfilled [23:39]
8. How to self-audit your podcast [28:15]
9. Essential advice for anyone starting a podcast [36:04] 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Free podcasting resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• Let’s audit your podcast! (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcast-audit/) 
• Coffee Is For Closers (https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-is-for-closers/playlists/podcast)

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most heated topics in the podcasting community is audio-only vs. video podcasts.

This 2022, this should no longer be up for debate! 

In the past year, we’ve seen people shift from listening to podcasts during their commute to watching videos at home. With this trend set to continue to accelerate, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make the jump to video.

Still not convinced?

Let us explain why video podcasting will surpass audio in 2022 and how you can use videos to leverage your podcast growth. We’ll also go over some tips on how to start or shift to video podcasting.

If your audio podcast is experiencing stagnant growth or you’re thinking of starting a podcast, then this episode is a must-watch for you. 

Episode Highlights:

1. What is video podcasting? [01:37] 
2. The drivers behind the video podcasting boom [04:09] 
3. Why are some podcasters resistant to video? [05:33] 
4. How podcast consumption has shifted [07:14] 
5. How video podcasting doubles results for only 20% more effort [11:08]
6. The power of short videos for growing your podcast [13:40] 
7. Why audio-only podcasts may soon become a thing of the past [18:36] 
8. Are there risks in switching to video podcasting? [20:02]
9. Using video to attract AND nurture leads [24:22]
10. How video decreases companies' costs on social media [26:11]
11. Is it even worth starting an audio-only podcast in 2022? [28:38] 
12. Tips for video podcast beginners [30:02] 
13. 7 biggest video podcasting mistakes to avoid [32:24] 
14. Top strategies for boosting video podcast growth [35:39] 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• Let’s audit your podcast! (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcast-audit/) 
• Mind Pump TV (https://www.youtube.com/c/MindPumpTV)
• Valuetainment (https://www.youtube.com/c/VALUETAINMENT)

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• Let’s audit your podcast! (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcast-audit/) 
• Learn how to write better titles from my episode with Adil Amarsi (https://www.valhermedia.com/the-business-of-podcasting-ep033-copywriting-pro-reveals-his-secret-to-high-converting-podcast-titles-with-adil-amarsi/) 
• Know where to fish where the ‘fish’ are (https://www.valhermedia.com/the-business-of-podcasting-ep043-its-not-luck-fish-where-the-fish-are/) 

 

There’s so much more to podcasting than sitting down and hitting ‘record’.

And no… just wanting to do a podcast and ‘having an idea’ aren’t enough either!

Regardless of how podcasting has grown in popularity and how saturated it looks, rookie or veteran, everyone has fallen prey to some of its common traps.

So what are these traps and how can we avoid them?

 

Today, I’ll be sharing with you my insights and observations on the common mistakes in podcasting (after auditing over 100 shows this year alone), and how you can stop making them!

If you’re interested in growing your podcast more effectively, then jump right in, and let’s dig into it!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. A lot of people take a long time to get to the point [02:05]
2. Episodes have poor quality title and descriptions [03:44]
3. Some rely on a “spray and pray” social media promotion method [05:33]
4. There’s no email list collection to support their podcast [07:36]
5. Most believe they are in the top 10% of their niche & have an exceptional show [10:10]
6. Hosts don’t ask the hard questions & don’t have the audience in mind [13:45]
7. The production team has no idea of what is and isn’t working [15:18]
8. Most simply measure their success based on download numbers [16:49]
9. Podcasts need to niche down one more level [18:30]

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

 

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• YesBoss VA (https://yesbossva.com) 
• YesBoss VA Training (https://yesbossva.com/podcastguest) 

 

Getting on podcasts that you want is easier said than done. 

It’s not just sending out an email or reaching out through social media…

You have to be intentional, personable, and be able to provide value to a show’s audience while also letting your expertise shine through... 

And being a great guest isn’t just about turning up and answering the host’s questions.

Today on the podcast, I am joined by Kristin Molenaar, CEO of YesBoss, a digital agency that helps service-based business owners book podcast features for leads.

We unpack ideas like how to pitch to become a guest, why it isn’t necessary to be on every social media platform to reach people, and why niching is especially important to gain a raving podcast audience.

There’s so much to learn from this episode so jump on in and I’ll see you in the show!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. What is YesBoss VA and what is it all about? [04:03]
2. What’s going on in the podcast and guesting world at the moment? [05:54]
3. How to start finding (and deciding on) shows to send your pitch to [07:58]
4. You don’t have to shoot for the biggest podcast shows to reach more people [13:14]
5. You don’t have to be on every platform to be successful [14:34]
6. Tips on how (and what) to pitch once you’ve found a show to guest on [16:03]
7. Actionable advice provides heaps of value to an audience [18:50]
8. Send personalised, personable emails when pitching [20:14]
9. Balancing your email between sounding self-serving and ‘others-focused’ [22:09]
10. How to go about aligning talking points that meet a show’s goals (and your own) [24:26]
11. Micro-fame: The more niche your show is, the more right-fitting fans stay [27:16]
12. How can you become a great podcast guest? [30:49]
13. Tracking the resulting business from your guestings [36:38]
14. Tips for staying in contact and building relationships with people whose podcast you’ve guested on [41:04]
15. How to know if a podcast episode provided value to your audience [44:11]

 

About our guest

Kristin Molenaar is an entrepreneur-enthusiast who lives by the mantra "work less + make more". She enjoys helping entrepreneurs ditch the vanity metrics for true connections. She's the CEO of YesBoss, a digital agency that helps service-based business owners book podcast features, so they can generate new leads in just one hour per week.

• Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinmolenaar/ 

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

 

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• "It’s Not Luck… Fish Where the Fish Are" Companion Guide (https://www.valhermedia.com/download/2580/)

 

If you think you can grow your podcast just by sheer luck, I’ve got some news for you…

You can’t. 

Sure, you can sit back and hope for the best, but truly getting your show noticed and heard by the people that matter requires effort, skill, and time.

Today’s episode tackles the first steps to making sure your show hits the runway prepped and ready for success... and why it’s very similar to how you think about fishing.

So if you have a podcast (or are just starting out), having answers to the why’s, how’s, where’s, and what’s is crucial to starting right.

Let’s get into it!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. The idea behind fishing where the fish are [03:30]
2. Know what ‘fish’ (audience) you’re trying to catch [06:35]
3. Defining your audience helps you figure out where to find them [07:35]
4. What equipment do you need to catch ‘fish’ with? [09:58]
5. Hook your audience with the right types of bait [12:03]
6. How do you reel them in skillfully? [13:50]
7. Looking after your audience once they’ve been reeled in [15:55]
8. Measuring and weighing your catch [18:02]
9. Keep a record of what works and what doesn’t [19:20]

 

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• How To Start a Podcast - The Podcast Host (https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/how-to-start-a-podcast/) 
• Get your website audited at SEO Leverage (https://seoleverage.com/)
• Grab a copy of The Erica Framework by Gert Mellak (https://seoleverage.com/books/erica/)

 

If you’ve already been in the podcasting game for quite some time, you’ve probably already asked yourself this: “What do I have to do to rank #1 on Google?”

Every podcaster’s dream is to be heard by the 7.5 billion people on the planet—and avoid pouring money down the drain.

But if we can’t even get to page one on the search results, how can we expect to get our hands on the traffic that’s just out there for the taking?

How do we know that our content is what the audience actually wants?

And how intentional should we be with content and SEO to play with the big leagues?

 

Those are just some of the questions we cover today with Gert Mellak from SEOLeverage. From figuring out if SEO can be the only podcast growth rider, to knowing what keywords you can and can’t compete for - we unpack so much in today’s episode.

While the saying is true that “content is king”, SEO is the not-so-secret weapon podcasters should be utilising from the start.

If you’re ready to rank, tune in and get an introductory lesson on SEO for podcasting!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. All about Gert and SEO Leverage [02:11]
2. Is it possible for SEO to be the only podcast growth driver? [04:56]
3. Does intent on content creation need to change to take advantage of SEO? [06:26]
4. Pick your battles - always know who you can compete with [08:30]
5. Keyword research and niche topics are key to ranking on Google [10:11]
6. How to find out what keywords you can and can’t compete for [13:45]
7. Podcasting for the long game vs buying a domain name with a high authority [16:34]
8. What can podcasters do to appear more on Google searches? [20:47]
9. Google wants to make users happy [23:06]
10. Factors involved in competing for better ranking and visibility [26:58]
11. Is SEO something podcasters can do themselves & what do they need to start? [33:10]
12. What are backlinks and how important are they? [37:16] 
13. The most popular way to get backlinks is through guest posting [40:33]  
14. What’s the next step for podcasters to help them get ranked? [45:29]
15. All podcasts can be suited for SEO... if every episode is done with intent [51:09]
16. Not all episodes have to be ranked by Google [55:05]
17. SEO is the key to driving traffic to your site [58:05] 

 

About our guest

With 20 years of experience in SEO, Gert Mellak is the go-to guy in optimising your website to rank better on Google. He is the Founder and CEO of SEOLeverage, specialising in SEO deep dive audits, and high-level SEO consulting. He also offers private coaching and training. He also authored The Erica Framework which offers an in-depth explanation on how you can top the Google search results and get better ROI.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

Connect with Valher Media:

• Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?
• Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• podCast411 Website (https://www.podcast411.com) 
• The Feed Podcast (https://thefeed.libsyn.com/) 
• Check out Libsyn (https://www.libsyn.com) 
• Today in iOS Podcast (https://tii.libsyn.com)  

 

Podcasting is growing in popularity, and more people have decided they too wanted to have their own show. 

Most of them start for the fun of it, while others plan on monetising them through ads & sponsorships… 

And they buy into the idea that ratings, reviews, and episode length factor into their rankings.

Well guess what - they don’t!

Today’s episode features Rob Walch, 2016 Podcasting Hall of Famer and the VP of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn. It is packed with priceless insights, tips, and strategies (that you’ll most likely not hear from anyone else).

It’s definitely time to debunk some of those podcasting myths, learn how to choose your host site better, accurately interpret your data, and figure out what metrics ACTUALLY affect your podcast ranking! 

There’s so much gold in this episode so tune in and take notes!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. Podcast statistics, Libsyn, and the Spotify vs Apple podcast ‘war’ [02:41]
2. People overplay how big Spotify is (compared to Apple Podcasts) [04:02]
3. The plight of podcasts in the Youtube space [06:20]
4. Optimising your show to have bigger reach on Apple Podcasts [08:13]
5. Ratings and reviews have no bearing on the charts [09:18]
6. Choosing where to host your podcast is CRUCIAL (for very important reasons) [11:53]
7. Privacy concerns with podcast hosting sites sharing your information [17:33]
8. Do the hosting companies know about the audience tracking concern? [20:18]
9. Good and bad applications of tracking audience data (in relation to ads) [22:07]
10. Check your hosting’s policy on data and data sharing [25:56]
11. How is Overcast bringing light to a host’s privacy policies & tracking? [27:49]
12. Most brand sponsors pull back from partnerships due to privacy concerns [29:26]
13. Can having numerous devices contribute to downloads & plays statistics on a single show or episode? [31:20]
14. What qualifies as a new ‘play’ session and is it added to the statistics? [34:08]
15. Defining “downloads” and comparing data with the number of unique IPs [35:37]
16. The ‘preload’ feature inflates podcast download numbers [38:16]
17. Paying ‘click farms’ can get you kicked out of Apple Podcasts [41:28]
18. Debunking some wives’ tales about podcast statistics [42:48]
19. Episode length does nothing to boost your show’s popularity [47:28]
20. How can you measure a show’s success? [49:15]
21. Adapt a hybrid model to monetise your show (if you have a sizeable audience) [53:49]
22. The future of podcasting is mobile... and Google Podcasts’ native app on Android phones [54:32]

 

About our guest

Rob Walch was inducted into the Podcasting Hall of Fame in 2016 and is the VP of Podcaster Relations for Libsyn. He is Co-Author of “Tricks of the Podcasting Masters”Que 2006, an editor’s pick as a Top10 Reference book for 2006 by Amazon. Rob started podcasting in 2004 as host of the award winning podCast411 podcast, where he interviewed guests such as Quincy Jones, Walt Mossberg & Larry Kudlow. He has consulted on podcasting for Jack Welch, Tim Ferriss, and eBay to name just a few.

• Follow Rob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/podcast411
• Send him an email at: [email protected] 

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

 

Connect with Valher Media:

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?

Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links:

• Valher Media Website (https://www.valhermedia.com/)
• Valher Media Resources (https://www.valhermedia.com/resources)
• A helpful guide to growing & monetising your podcast (https://www.valhermedia.com/podcasters-edge/)
• School of Podcasting (http://www.schoolofpodcasting.com)
• Power of Podcasting Network (www.powerofpodcasting.com)
• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks (https://amzn.to/3itigPr)
• Beyond Bourbon Street by Mark Bologna (http://beyondbourbonst.com/category/podcasts/)
• Bigger Pocket Podcast (https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcast)
• Grab a copy of Profit from Your Podcast (http://www.profitfromyourpodcast.com)

 

So your podcast is in great shape, and you’re now ready to monetise your passion. Question is, where do you even start, and how do you know you’re doing it right (and not wasting time and money)?

Most podcasters stumble around, wondering why their numbers are not growing or why it’s not turning much of a profit. Well, there’s a lot more to monetisation than just “getting ads and sponsors” to invest in your show.

This episode is the second of a two-part series with the amazing Podcasting Hall of Famer, Dave Jackson. We’ll be talking about why he chose to focus on podcast monetisation, mistakes podcasters make when promoting sponsors, and more.

Tune in to this episode now!

 

Episode Highlights:

1. Why Dave focused on podcast monetisation [02:45]
2. The key factor in getting sponsors is showing that you can provide them value [07:42]
3. Strategies that should’ve worked for monetising the book (but didn’t) [12:24]
4. Where do most podcasters go wrong in terms of monetisation? [17:07]
5. Making sure everyone’s podcasts win [21:43]

 

About our guest

Dave Jackson began podcasting in 2005 and one of his shows (launched the same year) named School of Podcasting, has over 2.5 million downloads. Dave has helped hundreds of people plan, launch and grow their podcast, has authored the book, Profit From Your Podcast (coming out September 2020), and is a featured speaker at events. In 2016 Dave joined Libsyn (the largest podcast hosting company) as part of their tech support team and in 2018, he was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. 

• Find all of his shows at the School of Podcasting Website: https://schoolofpodcasting.com

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast!

 

Connect with Valher Media:

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZd7saQ4UFkeP5boN25Kiig?

Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valhermedia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.