The Circle Sessions

In this episode of The Circle Sessions, I sit down with Don The Idea Guy, a renowned expert in creative brainstorming, to explore how podcasters can thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

We kick things off by discussing Patreon and its resurgence as a key revenue source for podcasters. Don highlights the importance of having a well-thought-out strategy and producing quality content that listeners are willing to pay for. The necessity for a significant audience to attract advertising dollars becomes apparent, emphasizing the pros and cons of paywalls.

We touch on the increasing trend of video podcasts and their role in expanding audience engagement. While video adds value by enhancing focus, allowing viewers to see expressions, and supporting closed captioning, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. We ponder whether podcasts should mirror TV shows and note that successful podcasters often blend different elements to keep audiences hooked.

A significant portion of our discussion features the news about Dude Perfect’s ambitious $100 million production facility venture, equipped by Samsung. This facility is set to become a game-changer for content creators, offering state-of-the-art tools without the hefty investment. We also mention local examples, like a Columbus defense attorney renting out his marketing studio, illustrating that even smaller entrepreneurs can benefit from creating similar spaces.

Don sheds light on podcast acquisition trends, suggesting that businesses may find buying existing podcasts more effective than starting from scratch. We also discuss advertising shifts, predicting a move towards more store-related media investments.

Rounding out our conversation, we highlight the recent acquisition of the YouTube show "Hot Ones" for $82.5 million, demonstrating the potential profitability and popularity of unique content formats.

Top Takeaways

Monetizing Through Patreon: Patreon is a powerful platform for podcasters to monetize their content, now the second-largest category for payouts to creators. Succeeding on the platform requires strategic planning and quality content.

The Evolution of Podcasting: Podcasting is increasingly blending into a visual medium, with more US adults showing preference for video podcasts. Podcasters need to consider if and how video elements can enhance their content.

Content Creation Facilities: The rise of content creation facilities like the one being developed by Dude Perfect, supported by a $100 million investment, indicates a trend where dedicated spaces are provided to support and elevate content creators.

Accessible High-Quality Equipment: Partnerships with companies like Samsung to provide high-quality equipment in these facilities can significantly reduce barriers for small entrepreneurs and larger brands to create professional content.

Engagement Strategies: Innovative programming elements, like 'bottom of the ninth' teasers, can help maintain audience interest and retention. Engagement during and after the podcast is crucial, drawing inspiration from after-credit scenes in movies.

Podcast Acquisitions: There is an emerging trend of companies acquiring existing podcasts with established audiences rather than creating new content, exemplified by the sale of "Hot Ones" for $82.5 million.

Strategic Content Utilization: Strategic use of content, like making episodes freely accessible to attract a larger audience, can enhance advertising revenues, as opposed to exclusive deals that might reduce visibility.

Segmentation for Increased Interest: There is a prediction that podcast formats will shift to more segmented content, akin to how TV shows structure their programs, moving away from traditional long-form interviews.

Professional Networking: Building a professional network and collaborating with others can provide podcasters with growth opportunities. Both Brett and Don emphasize the importance of leveraging professional connections.

Unique Content Formats: Unique and engaging content formats, such as the "Hot Ones" show, demonstrate how creative approaches can capture large audiences and achieve significant profitability.

Key Moments

05:25 Entrepreneurs, licensed deals, creator brands, coworking evolution.

08:17 Patreon thrives as top platform for podcasters.

10:47 Most podcasters don't aim to monetize.

15:46 Paywall limits audience reach, reducing ad revenue.

19:04 Podcasts becoming popular video content on-demand.

22:31 Top business podcast adds "bottom of the ninth" segment.

23:18 Teaser segment encourages listening till end.

27:18 Podcasts acquired as brands shift advertising focus.

30:44 Hot Ones: Celebrity interviews with spicy wing challenges.

Possessing creative powers beyond those of mere mortals, DON THE IDEA GUY rescues those in need of innovative ideas through his brainstorming sessions, articles, and websites.

DTIG (DEE-tigg) has been featured in Small Business News, interviewed by the New York Times, quoted in Fast Company magazine, and served as the first president of the International Idea Trade Association.

Don is a proud member of the BzzAgent community, and is featured in BzzAgent.com founder Dave Balter’s book “Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing.”

His Innovation Channel on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog has been recognized as a Forbes Favorite.

Don is the author of the book “100-WHATS of CREATIVITY“, one-hundred ‘what if?’ questions to spur your creativity, unmuck your mind, and break through your mental blocks and has written dozens of articles and hundreds of blog postings on the subject of increasing innovation and adding creativity to your personal and professional life.

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Reigniting Old Flames: The Power of Existing Audience: "It's easier to get them pulled back in and make them fall in love with your brand again than trying to get these new people."

In this episode of The Circle Sessions, Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, is joined by Izzy Dadosky and Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs to discuss creating marketing funnels that yield real results. T

he conversation starts by highlighting the importance of incremental changes in website design, stressing that tweaks should be measured for their impact on user engagement. They recommend tools like heat maps to understand visitor behavior before making alterations.

Yasmine shares valuable insights on email marketing, particularly for customer retention. She talks about segmenting email lists to re-engage inactive subscribers through personalized messages, discounts, and surveys. It's noted that retaining customers via email is often more cost-effective compared to acquiring new ones through paid ads or organic social media strategies.

Yasmine and Izzy emphasize the significance of simplifying the checkout process to reduce friction and increase sales conversions. They discuss how overly complex forms or purchase flows can lead to cart abandonment, even if the items are free.

The trio agrees on the importance of using retargeting ads to recover abandoned carts, suggesting the inclusion of unique reminders or incentives like coupon codes.

Yasmine and Izzy also stress the need for regular performance metric analysis, recommending a three-month interval for website and SEO effectiveness reviews, while social media metrics might be checked more frequently. They underscore the importance of understanding your target audience for optimizing lead magnets, which should be regularly updated and valuable to the user.

Yasmine provides practical advice on using landing pages to improve the user journey and highlights the role of automated email sequences in building brand trust. She explains structuring an effective welcome series, combining pre-recorded videos for a personal touch.

The episode concludes by covering effective strategies for directing traffic to landing pages using SEO and social media. Yasmine and Izzy agree that a mix of paid and organic methods ensures long-term market visibility.

Top Takeaways

Incremental Changes for Effective Analysis:

Make small, incremental changes to website elements rather than many changes at once. This allows for accurate determination of what impacts user engagement.

Analyzing User Behavior:

Utilize tools like heat maps to understand how users interact with your website before making any changes. This data-driven approach helps identify areas requiring improvement.

Segmentation and Personalization in Email Marketing:

Segment email lists to target specific groups, such as users who haven't engaged recently, and send personalized emails with incentives like discounts to re-engage them.

Re-engagement Over Acquisition:

Focus on re-engaging existing customers through email marketing, as it is more cost-effective than acquiring new customers via paid ads or organic social media.

Minimizing Checkout Friction:

Simplify the checkout process to prevent potential customers from abandoning their transactions, making sure it’s intuitive and easy to navigate.

Strategic Use of Upsells and Retargeting Ads:

Implement upsells during checkout that don’t disrupt the main purchase flow. Use retargeting ads with unique reminders or incentives to persuade customers to complete abandoned carts.

Regular Performance Analysis:

Regularly analyze website and SEO performance metrics, ideally every three months, and adjust social media metrics more frequently to ensure continuous improvement.

Effective Lead Magnet Utilization:

Use high-value lead magnets to attract potential clients. A dedicated landing page helps streamline the user experience, ensuring these magnets are aligned with current business goals and audiences.

Automated, Personalized Email Sequences:

Develop automated email sequences that confirm sign-ups, build brand tone, and include personalized content, such as videos, to enhance engagement and build trust.

Balanced Marketing Strategies:

Employ a balanced approach that incorporates both paid and organic marketing strategies for sustained long-term visibility. Ensure consistent brand messaging across all channels and judiciously manage your budget.

Key Moments

00:00 Free value offer to attract website leads.

05:08 Regularly review and possibly revise lead magnets.

06:52 Use dedicated landing pages for focused engagement.

10:58 Know your audience, tailor communication, test effectively.

16:10 Optimize SEO to increase targeted lead generation.

19:40 Balance paid ads with SEO and organic growth.

23:41 Simplify checkout process for faster, successful sales.

25:34 Target market influences information collection for resources.

29:00 Check SEO performance every 3 months.

33:30 Request feedback to identify customer issues.

35:13 Efficient podcast monetization through sales funnels.

Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.

Her website.

Her Instagram.

Click here for the checklist!

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

This episode welcomes Yasmine Robles of Robles Designs. Yasmine shares valuable insights on how small business owners, podcasters, and entrepreneurs can use downtime to their advantage, effectively preparing for busier periods.

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, and Yasmine begin by emphasizing the importance of viewing slow seasons as opportunities rather than obstacles. Yasmine shares several actionable tips for improving website performance, including testing site speed, verifying mobile responsiveness, and conducting thorough user experience audits. She also highlights the need for refreshing website visuals and ensuring that SEO practices are up-to-date.

Brett and Yasmine underscore the importance of keeping web content current, such as updating out-of-date job titles on blog posts or refreshing listicles with new information. They also discuss the value of maintaining an updated FAQ page and regularly refreshing case studies and testimonials.

When discussing social media strategies, Yasmine suggests analyzing past content performance to guide future posts. She advocates for planning and scheduling social media activities around holidays and significant business milestones to maintain consistent engagement.

Yasmine further explores email marketing tactics, recommending reconnection with subscribers through personalized and segmented emails. She provides valuable insight into the benefits of running A/B tests to refine email strategies and enhance viewer engagement.

The episode wraps up with Yasmine's thoughts on utilizing slow seasons for networking and professional development. She advises joining local events, collaborating with peers, and engaging in volunteer work to build valuable connections and stay active in the community.

Top Takeaways

Website Optimization During Slow Seasons:

Use slow periods to test and improve site speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall user experience.

Updating Website Content:

Refresh visuals like headshots and update outdated content or job titles to maintain relevancy.

SEO Optimization:

Check keywords, meta descriptions, and ensure tools like Google Analytics and Search Console are installed and actively monitored.

Social Media Strategy:

Evaluate past performance, schedule future posts, and use holidays or special events to maintain engagement.

Email Marketing:

Reconnect with your subscribers, personalize emails, and draft newsletters for upcoming holidays and promotions.

A/B Testing:

Experiment with different subject lines, content formats, and other elements to see what resonates most with your audience.

Segmenting Email Lists:

Use subscriber data to create segments and tailor content to specific interests or behaviors.

Networking and Community Engagement:

Use slow times to attend local events, collaborate with peers, and consider volunteering or joining a board for community involvement.

Content Repurposing:

Refresh and repurpose old blog posts, podcast episodes, or other content to keep your audience engaged with relevant material.

Surveys and Feedback:

Utilize short surveys or direct emails to gather feedback and ideas from your audience on what they want to see or hear in future content.

Key Moments

00:00 Optimize website speed during business slow seasons.

03:34 Avoid tech photos; prioritize SEO tracking tools.

09:52 Evaluate social media engagement, plan future posts.

14:03 Plan ahead for promotions during slow seasons.

15:33 Offer value, recycle content, engage VIP audience.

18:02 Try A/B testing during slow email seasons.

24:12 Network, collaborate, utilize benefits, develop skills, engage.

27:50 Brainstorming reenergizes with fun, engaging activities.

Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.

Her website.

Her Instagram.

Click here for the checklist!

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

This week, Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs joins host Brett Johnson to discuss how small business owners can effectively build and implement their marketing plans for the upcoming year.

Yasmine emphasizes the importance of analyzing previous year's data as the initial step in creating a robust marketing plan. She suggests that understanding past sales trends, evaluating the performance of marketing channels, and collecting customer feedback are critical to identifying what worked and what didn’t.

For those new to business or lacking data, Yasmine recommends researching competitors to gauge effective strategies.

Brett and Yasmine also cover how to set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to provide clear direction for your marketing efforts. They highlight the importance of refining your target market and adjusting your brand messaging to better align with the needs and language of your ideal customers.

Flexibility in your marketing plan is another vital topic. Yasmine shares tips on conducting quarterly reviews and maintaining a flexible budget to adapt to market changes or unexpected opportunities. She also stresses the importance of effective team communication to ensure everyone is aligned and able to pivot quickly when necessary.

The episode wraps up with practical advice on building customer relationships and exploring new marketing channels. Yasmine encourages small business owners to celebrate their successes, no matter how small, to keep motivation high and foster sustainable growth.

Top Takeaways

Continuous Review of Marketing Plans:

Regularly analyze and adjust your marketing plan, not just annually. Quarterly or even more frequent reviews depending on the intensity of your efforts can help keep you on track.

Leveraging Historical Data:

Use data from the previous year to inform your strategy. If you’re new or lack data, analyze your competitors to identify trends and best practices.

Customer/Listener Feedback:

Collect feedback through surveys, emails, or tools like VideoAsk to understand customer pain points and improve processes. This feedback can also serve as testimonials.

Setting SMART Goals:

Create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals to drive your marketing efforts. This helps in setting clear, realistic benchmarks to track progress.

Refining Target Audience:

Continually assess and refine your understanding of your target audience. Focus on demographics, behaviors, and preferences to tailor your messaging and approach more effectively.

Budgeting for Flexibility and New Opportunities:

Allocate a portion of your budget for unexpected opportunities or challenges. This could include unplanned vendor events or unexpected marketing opportunities.

Adjusting Brand Messaging:

Use customer feedback to adjust your brand messaging. Ensure that your marketing materials speak directly to your target audience’s pain points and language.

Team Involvement and Skills Optimization:

Involve your team in setting and achieving marketing goals. Ensure your team members' skills are optimally used, and consider outsourcing tasks that do not fit their strengths.

Celebrating Successes:

Celebrate small achievements to maintain motivation. Recognizing progress, even if it’s not meeting the initial target, helps maintain morale and momentum.

Adaptability to Market Changes:

Be prepared to pivot quickly in response to market changes, new competitors, or emerging trends. Flexibility in your marketing plan is crucial to respond effectively to new challenges and opportunities.

Key Moments

00:00 Evaluate past performance to optimize future marketing.

04:29 Record Q&A for feedback, testimonials, and insights.

07:21 Optimize post-interview feedback for effective podcasting.

09:39 Define goals, analyze target audience, adjust messaging.

16:08 Assess goal progress, team sentiment, and budget flexibility.

17:36 Align team roles with their strongest skills.

20:43 Be flexible: market saturation or expansion decisions.

23:39 Try TikTok, network, measure, and celebrate successes.

Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.

Her website.

Her Instagram.

Click here for the checklist!

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

In this episode of The Circle Sessions, host Brett Johnson guides you through essential strategies for growing a podcast's audience in 2025.

He begins by emphasizing the importance of defining your ideal podcast listener, highlighting the need to target content effectively by understanding your specific audience's demographics, behaviors, and needs.

Brett shares his experience from the radio industry, noting how understanding the listener's profile can help tailor content. He provides practical steps to define your podcast's target audience, including competitive landscape evaluation, niche identification, and brainstorming podcast ideas.

He stresses the importance of setting clear goals, such as brand awareness, thought leadership, or educating an audience, and creating a detailed listener persona to develop relatable content.

The episode covers key growth strategies, including making your podcast discoverable on multiple platforms and the significance of utilizing YouTube. Brett discusses the importance of podcast SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and encourages the use of transcription services to enhance organic traffic and accessibility.

He highlights the value of having a mobile-friendly website with easy subscription options and offers insights on how to leverage social media effectively.

Engagement is another focal point, with Brett recommending tools like SpeakPipe for listener interaction and Facebook or LinkedIn groups for community building. He also touches on the cautious use of paid ad campaigns to promote standout episodes.

Brett dispels common podcasting myths, such as the over-reliance on downloads as a key metric and the misconception that social media followers equate to podcast listeners. He emphasizes the importance of understanding broader trends and utilizing various analytic tools for better insights.

For anyone serious about podcast growth, this episode offers comprehensive strategies, practical tips, and a fresh perspective on how to engage and expand your podcast audience in 2025.

Key Takeaways

1. Defining Your Ideal Listener: Creating a detailed listener persona, including demographic information and specific pain points, is crucial for targeting your content effectively.
2. Competitor Analysis: Evaluate the competitive landscape by researching other podcasts in your niche to understand how they're reaching their audience and to find ways to differentiate yourself.
3. Content Refinement: Continuously refine your podcast topics to focus on a specialized audience. Avoid being too general to stand out and engage listeners deeply.
4. Platform Utilization: Ensure your podcast is discoverable on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Don't limit your reach by only being available on a few platforms.
5. SEO and Transcripts: Optimize your show and episode descriptions with relevant keywords and convert episodes into SEO-friendly blog posts using transcription services to boost organic traffic.
6. Engaging and Shareable Content: Strive to create content that is engaging and shareable, aiming for moments in episodes that listeners feel compelled to share with others.
7. Social Media Strategy: Tailor your content for different social media platforms and use features like audiograms to capture attention. Understand that each platform has its own audience and content preferences.
8. Community Engagement: Set up communities on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Slack to engage with listeners, gather feedback, and gauge topics of interest for future content.
9. Metrics Beyond Downloads: Focus on metrics like completion rates and listener behavior rather than just download numbers to get a true sense of engagement and episode performance.
10. Consistent Effort and Adaptability: Growing your podcast requires consistent effort and the willingness to adapt. Collect feedback continuously and evolve your content to meet listener expectations and trends.

Key Moments

00:00 Define ideal podcast listener 2025.

04:09 Clarify podcast goals; understand your audience’s needs.

07:33 Respect podcast duration; tailor content for audience.

10:04 Aim for creating shareable content; success varies.

14:14 Transcribe episodes for SEO-friendly blog posts.

17:46 Create, engage, address time: Facebook/LinkedIn groups, call-ins.

21:38 Use transcripts for SEO and engagement growth.

23:54 Understand audience through completion rates and engagement.

27:08 Groups foster support, insights, and content opportunities.

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs sheds light on the effective integration of storytelling in website design.

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, highlights the podcast's core focus areas—marketing, social media, monetization, and website design—and introduces Yasmine, who specializes in creating strategic, visually appealing, and user-friendly websites to help grow podcasts and businesses.

Yasmine brings her decade-long experience in design and marketing, emphasizing the power of storytelling to create a memorable brand experience online. She explains how to convey a compelling message through visuals and content, making the user journey seamless and engaging. Her insights include using clear messaging, knowing your audience, and visual storytelling techniques to make websites resonate with visitors.

The discussion features real-world examples such as The Carpenter's Son and Dreamlight Creative, demonstrating how storytelling can significantly impact website success. Yasmine shares how these businesses used narrative and visual elements—like family photos, timelines, and interactive features—to reflect their unique stories and captivate users.

Yasmine touches on modern web design techniques, including subtle animations and interactive elements, to add personality without overwhelming users. She also advises using tools like Hotjar for analyzing user behavior and VideoAsk for gathering customer feedback to refine website storytelling.

Emerging trends in storytelling and web design, such as AR, VR, and AI, are explored, highlighting their potential to enhance user experience. Yasmine provides actionable tips, urging listeners to think from the user's perspective and harmonize aesthetics with storytelling.

Top Takeaways

Storytelling in Web Design: Emphasizing the importance of storytelling as a powerful element in web design, not just in content creation like blogs and podcasts.

User Experience (UX): Explaining how storytelling can enhance the user experience by making websites more engaging and relatable.

Consistent Brand Narrative: Ensuring the story and tone of voice are consistent across all parts of the website, from the about page to product descriptions.

Visual Elements: Using visual design elements like images, videos, and graphics to support and enhance the storytelling aspect of the website.

User-Centric Design: Designing websites with the end user in mind, focusing on their experience, and making sure the navigation is intuitive and the content is accessible.

Case Studies: Illustrating the impact of storytelling on website success through real-world examples, like carpenters and creative studios.

Balance Between Aesthetics and Functionality: Highlighting the need to balance aesthetic design elements with practical user interfaces to ensure the website remains fast and functional.

Emerging Trends: Discussing future trends in web design, including the use of AR, VR, AI, interactive media, and custom illustrations to enhance storytelling.

Feedback Tools: Recommending tools like Hotjar and VideoAsk to gather user feedback and understand how visitors interact with the website to refine and improve the storytelling.

Collaborative Approach: Encouraging collaboration and ongoing communication with web designers to ensure that the website effectively tells a unique brand story and meets business goals.

Key Moments

00:00 Storytelling is the brand's heartbeat and connection.

03:13 Ensure clarity and engagement in website storytelling.

08:05 Enhancing brand identity through interactive, personalized content.

09:30 Examples show personality, story enhances business appeal.

13:27 Balancing aesthetics with website performance is crucial.

18:22 Use Hotjar and VideoAsk for website insights.

Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.

Her website.

Her Instagram.

Click here for the checklist!

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

We talk about an innovative digital marketing tool called Minichat and how it can be leveraged to enhance podcast engagement and boost conversions.

Tonnisha’s expertise and firsthand experiences with Minichat provide listeners with an in-depth understanding of its functionalities and applications, especially within the realm of social media.

What is Minichat?

Tonnisha explains how she stumbled upon Minichat while observing automated direct message interactions on Instagram. Minichat is described as a cloud-based chatbot platform that helps manage customer interactions across multiple channels, primarily within the metaverse—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

After noticing automated responses on large Instagram accounts, she investigated whether Sprout Social, with whom she is an agency partner, offered a similar solution. When they didn’t, her research led her to Minichat. Intrigued by its potential, she began experimenting with it to understand how it automates engagement and interactions on social media platforms.

Tonnisha provides a thorough explanation of how Minichat operates. The platform automates responses to comments, messages, and inquiries from Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. This is particularly useful for driving engagement and boosting conversions. She gives an example of how podcasters can use Minichat to automatically send a DM with a link to the latest episode when someone comments a specific keyword on their post.

By connecting social media profiles (such as Instagram), users can take advantage of Minichat’s AI-assisted setup and pre-made workflows and automations. These features make the platform accessible even to those who aren’t highly tech-savvy. Workflows can be customized for different episodes or campaigns, making it a versatile tool for ongoing engagement.

Tonnisha compares the free and paid versions of Minichat, noting that while the free version is effective, the paid version offers more convenience, particularly in managing multiple workflows. The free version requires manual updates for every new post, while the paid version allows for a more seamless and automated experience.

Tonnisha suggests various ways podcasters can use Minichat to grow their audience and engagement. For instance, asking followers to comment specific keywords can drive subscribers to the podcast, add them to mailing lists, or increase YouTube views. Minichat enables the setup of different links and workflows, providing a robust tool for multifaceted engagement strategies.

Brett and Tonnisha discuss using the free version of Minichat as a tool to perform A/B testing of different keywords and engagement strategies. This includes experimenting with posting schedules and seeing how different days affect engagement. They emphasize the potential for gaining valuable insights into follower behavior without necessarily committing to the paid version initially.

While Minichat automates initial interactions, Brett and Tonnisha stress the importance of continuing human engagement. Tonnisha shares that she still manually likes comments to show a personal touch.

Tonnisha notes that Minichat can serve as a modern-day social media community manager, automating responses and interactions. However, users should remain vigilant to ensure the automation aligns with the content and context of follower comments.

Key Moments

00:00 Instagram DMs via bots, not manual effort.

06:52 Paid version enhances efficiency; costs around $15/month.

08:03 Free version requires manual workflow updates; paid doesn't.

11:29 Test posting days to optimize podcast engagement.

16:16 Curious about future of bots in social media.

17:19 Engage daily on social media, balancing AI.

21:38 Networking leads to future opportunities and connections.

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Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Circle Sessions: Be More Than A Podcaster - Episode Overview

In this enlightening episode of "The Circle Sessions," host Brett Johnson begins by revisiting an idea brought forth by Eric Nuzum during his podcasting masterclass at Radio Days Europe a few years ago. The episode grapples with the evolving identity of podcasters, urging content creators to think beyond their conventional roles.

Key Concepts: Beyond Being Just a Podcaster

Brett kicks off the episode highlighting two significant ideas from Nuzum’s masterclass:

Don’t Just Be a Podcaster

Nuzum proposes that creators should consider themselves as "audio makers," broadening their focus beyond simply podcasting platforms. This shift allows for greater adaptability to new trends and technologies.

Community Building

Emphasizing that podcasters are not in the audio business but the community building business, Nuzum underscores the importance of creating hubs for listeners who are passionate about specific topics.

Special Guest: Matty Staudt

Joining Brett for this segment is Matty Staudt, a seasoned podcaster with over 17 years of experience and the president and founder of Jam Street Media. Matty shares valuable insights from his journey in both radio and podcasting, emphasizing the transformational nature of podcasts in the business and community engagement landscapes.

Interview Highlights

Matty explores the trajectory from traditional radio to the expansive world of podcasting, noting how the term "podcasting" has evolved from a niche, almost frowned-upon label to a mainstream, billion-dollar industry. He recounts the early days at Stitcher, where they preferred the term "on-demand audio" to distance themselves from the then-negative connotations of podcasting.

1. The Transition from Radio to Podcasting: Matty shares his personal shift from radio to podcasting 15 years ago. He discusses how this move was initially met with skepticism but has ultimately proven to be a groundbreaking venture.
2. Beyond Content Creation: Emphasizing the importance of visibility, Matty asserts that even the best podcast is like an unseen masterpiece if not marketed properly. Highlighting his own educational pursuit, a master's in digital marketing, he advocates for an integrated approach to building and promoting podcasts.
3. Community as the Crux: For Matty, the essence of successful podcasting lies in fostering a loyal community. He explains how podcast listeners often become dedicated followers, a trait highly attractive to advertisers.

Challenges and Realizations

The conversation touches on the initial hurdles businesses might face when embracing podcasting. Matty observes that many brands he works with already possess a sophisticated understanding of their audience as a "tribe." This existing relationship only amplifies the podcast's potential to deepen community engagement.

Case Study: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Matty recounts an interesting case study involving one of his early clients, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, demonstrating how an institution's values can be communicated effectively through podcasting. By producing content like “Does College Matter?” and “Zip Code Economies,” the bank was able to reshape its public image and extend its influence beyond traditional banking narratives.

Technological Evolution and Future Prospects

Reflecting on the technological advancements in podcasting, from the pre-iPhone era to modern-day streaming, Matty illustrates how improved accessibility has broadened the audience base. He anticipates future technological innovations that could further expand the interactive capacities of podcasts, moving beyond the "silent film" stage to more dynamic content forms.

Guidance for Aspiring Podcasters and Brands

A significant portion of the discussion addresses prospective podcasters and businesses contemplating this medium. Matty offers balanced advice, stressing that while podcasting has immense potential for community building and brand extension, it requires commitment. He cautions against entering the podcasting world with short-term goals or unrealistic expectations about immediate sales impact.

Breaking Conventional Rules

Brett and Matty explore the creative potential in podcasting, encouraging new entrants to experiment and push boundaries. While traditional formats have their place, the most memorable podcasts often break the mold, integrating narrative, interview, and other innovative elements.

Final Thoughts

Brett wraps up the episode by reiterating the central theme: success in podcasting hinges on community engagement. The episode serves as both a practical guide and a source of inspiration for anyone looking to elevate their podcasting journey, reminding listeners that being an "audio maker" is about more than just producing content—it's about creating and nurturing a vibrant, interactive community.

Key Moments

05:53 Realization occurs: podcasting evolves into community building.

09:07 Federal Reserve Bank's unexpected podcast initiatives.

11:16 Podcasts still evolving; technology enabling advancements.

14:55 Podcasts require commitment; not ideal for sales.

16:17 Podcasters support each other, offering help freely.

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Why do you think 66% of social media users find edutainment to be the most engaging type of brand content? How can this statistic influence a content creator’s strategy?

The episode kicks off with Brett and Tonnisha dissecting the term "edutainment." Although they are unsure of who originally coined the term, they agree that it's a blend of education and entertainment—an approach that has been around longer than most people realize. Think about learning the ABCs through a catchy song; that's edutainment in its simplest form. Tonnisha explains that edutainment has become a popular strategy in social media marketing and content creation, with a focus on engaging audiences by making educational content entertaining.

Sprout Social's Report on Edutainment

Tonnisha refers to a Sprout Social report highlighting that 66% of social media users find edutainment to be the most engaging type of brand content. This statistic underscores the effectiveness of this approach in capturing and maintaining the audience’s attention. Brands that incorporate fun elements into their educational content can simplify complex topics, making them more accessible and enjoyable.

Local Examples of Edutainment

To illustrate the concept, Tonnisha points to the Columbus Library, which has effectively used edutainment to change public perception. Rather than focusing solely on books, the library’s social media content showcases various services it offers, such as a business center for small business owners.

True Crime Podcasts as Edutainment

Tonnisha’s love for true crime podcasts provides another insightful example. She explains that true crime podcasts strike a balance between education and entertainment. Audiences learn about real stories and investigative techniques, while the narrative style keeps them hooked. She cites Payne Lindsay’s "Up and Vanished" and the famous podcast "Serial" as prime examples. These podcasts not only entertain but have also led to real-world impacts, such as the overturning of Adnan Syed’s sentencing, showcasing the power of edutainment.

Three Steps to Creating Quality Edutainment Content

Tonnisha shares three essential steps for creating engaging edutainment content:

1. Speak Confidently About What You Know: Focus on topics within your area of expertise. This allows you to create authentic and informative content easily. For example, Tonnisha feels confident discussing social media and email marketing but would steer clear of SEO, an area outside her primary expertise.
2. Be Authentic: Authenticity is crucial in today’s saturated social media environment. Being true to yourself will resonate more with your audience. If you’re not a natural jokester, don’t force it. Authenticity builds trust, and as Tonnisha illustrates with the example of The Daily podcast’s host Michael Barboa, consistency in style and tone can create a loyal following.
3. Don't Overthink It: Keep the content creation process simple. You don’t need elaborate setups or expensive props. Often, raw and unpolished content can be more relatable and engaging. Brett and Tonnisha emphasize that pushing boundaries can be beneficial but should be done within the scope of your brand's identity and values.

Expanding Your Content Creation Horizons

The discussion touches on the importance of experimenting with different forms of content. Brett, for instance, talks about his venture into video content this year, despite it being outside his comfort zone. They both agree that trying new formats—whether it’s video, behind-the-scenes looks, or different styles of podcasts—can invigorate your content strategy.

Audience and Branding Considerations

Tonnisha advises considering your audience’s preferences when planning content. Not everyone may be on board with current trends like TikTok dances, and that’s okay. Your content should align with what your audience finds entertaining and educational. Brett adds that staying true to your brand is crucial. If a certain style or type of content doesn’t fit your brand, it’s perfectly acceptable to say no.

Key Moments

00:00 Columbus library excels with fun educational content.

04:33 True crime podcasts educate, entertain, and inform.

07:30 Focus on content topics within your expertise.

12:40 Include video in podcast sessions for authenticity.

14:23 Push boundaries with creative, educational content creation.

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Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

Captivate’s new Spark AI podcast assistant

It does the stuff you’d expect with creating show titles and transcripts, but more impressively it tracks your episode stats in order to suggest future show topics, advertising insertion points, and more. CaptivateFM does it again!

Google’s Audio Overview Can Create Podcasts. We Put It To The Test 

Google’s AI note-taking product, NotebookLM, has launched a new feature that allows users to turn their documents into audio discussions between two AI “hosts”.

Audio Overview generates a “deep dive” discussion based on the sources in your notebook, including uploaded files, text or links to websites.

The AI hosts summarize the materials and are capable of making connections between topics. They also banter back and forth in realistic ways.

Meet Dispatch digital producer, podcast engineer Patrick Flaherty - The Columbus Dispatch

Hilarious comments made by The Dispatch’s podcast dude.

What is the biggest challenge I face

One of the biggest challenges that I face is getting readers to understand the importance and value that digital audio and podcasting hold. Being able to grow a podcast and gain a loyal listenership can be a tough thing to do in a saturated market.

Simply making folks aware that news can be consumed through audio at the Dispatch and not just by reading online or in the newspaper is an ongoing daily challenge.

Waaaaiiit! Whaaaat? You are creating news content that SHOULD resonate with your NEWS READERS. And growth is hard? And you can’t convert you ONLINE readers to podcasts?

Weird AI tools no one asked for…

1) Descript has an AI eye contact filter that rotates your eyes in their sockets so it always looks like you’re staring at the camera.

One of the podcasts I follow has started doing video and they’re experimenting with this tool. I think it looks “just off enough” so that something appears strange.

But again… it’s a podcaster who is using it to record video… so we’ll never see it because we don’t watch podcasts!!

2 ) Don found a podcast called “The Hawaiiahshirt.net - Authentic Hawaiian Aloha Shirts”on Audible while searching for non-fiction audio books about Hawaii.

Apparently you can submit just about any podcast feed to Audible and it will be accepted for distribution on their audiobook platform because this “podcast” solely consists of one minute podcasts read by a really bad AI voice pimping each of the Hawaiian shirt designs in their catalog.

Don wasn’t surprised to find it on podcast-specific platforms like Spotify:

BUT Don was expecting a little more gatekeeping and curation on the Audible platform.

Circle Session Moments

00:00 AI-enhanced podcast tool for insightful analytics.

03:33 Captivate FM tool enhances ad integration intelligently.

07:11 Podcasts feature chapters for ads and moments.

11:32 AI replacing hosts in radio and podcasts.

14:00 Great summary, entertaining but lacking interactivity.

17:50 Columbus Dispatch features digital producer Patrick Flaherty.

21:10 The Daily: successful podcast, others not so much.

23:46 Columbus podcast struggles for more listeners.

28:27 AI tool paints fake eyeballs; looks unnatural.

30:51 AI's uncanny valley: artificial yet slightly off.

33:46 Podcast purely promotes Aloha shirts via episodes.

36:07 Amazon hosts many low-value, spammy ebooks.

41:01 Episode ideas profitable; contact for more insights.

Possessing creative powers beyond those of mere mortals, DON THE IDEA GUY rescues those in need of innovative ideas through his brainstorming sessions, articles, and websites.

DTIG (DEE-tigg) has been featured in Small Business News, interviewed by the New York Times, quoted in Fast Company magazine, and served as the first president of the International Idea Trade Association.

Don is a proud member of the BzzAgent community, and is featured in BzzAgent.com founder Dave Balter’s book “Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing.”

His Innovation Channel on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog has been recognized as a Forbes Favorite.

Don is the author of the book “100-WHATS of CREATIVITY“, one-hundred ‘what if?’ questions to spur your creativity, unmuck your mind, and break through your mental blocks and has written dozens of articles and hundreds of blog postings on the subject of increasing innovation and adding creativity to your personal and professional life.

You are invited to explore additional innovative possibilities by choosing one of your favorite ideas from this (or any) Five Buck Brainstorms and purchasing a more in-depth custom idea generation session from Don The Idea Guy on that (or any other) subject. Visit the Brainstorm page on the Don The Idea Guy website for more details.

Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.

Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].

The Circle of Experts are:

Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications

Don The Idea Guy

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice

License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5

Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™