Podcast SoundAdvice with Phyllis and Kelvin Nichols

The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are known for their experiences of exceptional quality. These are not just words on a mission statement, it's part of what they do every day. Helping to create a transformation for your clients is similar. It's often on-going process and it requires intention. It also requires clarity and confidence. This episode will help you learn how you can create your own experiences of exceptional quality for your clients. Full Notes Here Want to find out how you can set up a lead generation system that works for your business? Grab the free resource to get you started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to embrace your expertise AND the fact that you are going to be talking about this over and over again. In late 2020 we started looking at podcasts that were performing well. That incudes those that were growing via conventional metrics like downloads AND podcasts that were helping our clients grow their reach and impact – that’s our main focus after all. What we found was simple. The podcasts that performed well were doing two things well. 1. Serving up content over and over again that their audience wanted 2. Creating connections beyond the podcast Embracing your expertise is what allows you to make a bigger impact, and serve the people who are looking for your help. This is true if you’re a small business or consultant – where YOU are the expert and for companies that bring an expert approach to help their clients create results. There are people/businesses looking for what you have to offer RIGHT THIS minute. I want them to be able to find you, connect with you, trust you, and hire you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the GAP? The GAP is the space between listening to your show and hiring you or buying from you or attending your event – whatever your key goal is for your show. Understanding the GAP and knowing how to bridge it is KEY to using your podcast to successfully bring in new clients and revenue. I know it will seem obvious but this is often NOT discussed in podcast courses and many podcast producers don’t really understand this either. This is something that sets us apart from others in the podcast space and we help our clients close the GAP. Seeing the success of our first podcast clients is how we realized that EVERYONE needs to understand this and it’s why we have added this to the launch support part of our podcast done-for-you services. Bridging the GAP; letting people know FROM the BEGINNING how they can take next steps is an important piece of your podcasting strategy and it's how you can bring in revenue with your podcast without being podfamous Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biggest Myths and the Secret About Podcasting That Everyone Gets Wrong Podcasting is one of the best ways to demonstrate your expertise, serve your audience and grow your reach. We’ve seen our podcasters create connections, grow their revenue and establish themselves as industry experts. Myth One There are already too many podcasts and/or there are other shows that cover my topic or area of expertise so there's no room for me. It's too late to begin podcasting. Myth Two You can't bring in revenue unless you have huge download numbers. Only people who have huge followings can use podcasting to generate revenue. The Secret Podcast content longevity and stickiness gives you significant ways to leverage your vest content over and over again. You also own and control your podcast platform so no gating content or dealing with the whims of social media alogrithms. The one BIG advantage is the energy and passion that listeners respond to when they hear your voice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bring more of YOU to your show. Let your audience connect with you, and grow a community of listeners. Today is the third part of the ROY formula for podcast growth. R – Relevance O – Opinion Y – YOU Being yourself, relatable, and personable on your business podcast can offer numerous benefits that contribute to the success and impact of your show. Here are some key advantages: 1. Authenticity: Audiences appreciate genuine personalities. When you're yourself on your podcast, you create an authentic connection with your listeners. This authenticity fosters trust and makes your content more relatable, leading to a loyal and engaged audience. 2. Builds Trust: People are more likely to trust individuals who are transparent and authentic. When you share your own experiences, challenges, and successes, you show that you're not just a faceless authority figure, but someone who understands and empathizes with their struggles. 3. Relatability: Sharing personal stories and experiences makes you relatable to your audience. Listeners can see themselves in your journey, which can motivate, inspire, and reassure them that they're not alone in their struggles or aspirations. 4. Emotional Connection: Personal stories and anecdotes can evoke emotions in your listeners. When people feel emotionally connected to your content, they're more likely to remember it and share it with others. 5. Differentiation: In a crowded podcast landscape, your unique personality and perspective can help your podcast stand out. It's a way to differentiate your content from others in your niche. 6. Engagement: Being personable encourages interaction. Listeners are more likely to reach out, comment, and engage with your content when they feel a personal connection to you. 7. Memorability: People remember stories and personal experiences better than dry facts or statistics. Sharing anecdotes can help your content stick in the minds of your audience. 8. Humanizes Your Brand: If you're using the podcast as a way to promote your business, being yourself and sharing personal stories can humanize your brand. It transforms your business into a relatable entity that people can connect with on a personal level. 9. Sense of Community: When you're relatable and personable, you create a sense of community around your podcast. Listeners who connect with your content are more likely to feel like part of a larger group with shared interests and experiences. 10. Flexibility: Being yourself gives you the flexibility to evolve and adapt your content as you grow. Your personality becomes a central pillar that can withstand changes in format, guests, or topics. 11. Longevity: Authenticity is timeless. Trends and topics may change, but being yourself and connecting with your audience on a personal level will always be relevant. 12. Feedback Loop: When listeners see your openness and vulnerability, they might reciprocate by sharing their own stories or providing feedback. This can enrich your podcast with diverse perspectives and content ideas. Incorporating your authentic self into your business podcast doesn't mean revealing every detail of your personal life. It means finding a balance between professionalism and relatability, while sharing stories and insights that contribute to your audience's understanding and connection with your content. Remember that being yourself can be a powerful tool to create a lasting impact on your listeners and help your podcast thrive. Grow Your Show Resource Connect on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world of scripted personas and carefully curated content, one podcaster discovered the untapped power of authenticity. It all began with a heartfelt email from a listener seeking advice, unraveling a journey of self-discovery and connection. ROY Formula for Podcast Growth R is for Relevant. We talked about that last time and you can get all that info here. O is for opinionated. Before recording, I was sharing this idea with a friend and she indicated that opinionated had a negative connotation for her. It doesn’t with me, but if it hits you the wrong way feel free to replace that world with “sharing what I believe” instead. In this episode, you will be able to: · Learn the art of giving your podcast a voice that stands apart. · Realize the significance of authenticity in fostering impactful relationships with your audience. · Decipher tactics to connect and build trust with like-minded listeners. · Figure out the key to differentiating your podcast, even when delving into familiar topics. · Acquire knowledge on amplifying your podcast's entertainment quotient and credibility. When people feel like they know you and engage with your personal opinions, they become passionate fans and brand ambassadors for your show. - Phyllis Nichols Get the free resource on the strategy for podcast growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mastering Growth Strategies: Unlocking Podcast Success Through Relevant Content Discover the surprising twist in the world of podcasting. Dive into a story that unravels the power of staying true to your core content, while also exploring the game -changing potential of timely topics. Aspiring podcasters, listen closely. This story holds the key to unlocking the growth and engagement you've been yearning for. In this episode, you will be able to: Learn how crafting relevant podcast content can revolutionize your listener retention rates. Decode the rules of engagement to keep your listeners coming back for more. Build a solid reputation and inspire trust among your listeners by showcasing your expertise. Master the art of niche targeting to bolster your listener community and amplify your reach. Discover how improving shareability can drive your podcast discoverability and ultimately your success rates. Like lots of things in the content world, what helps growth is a blend of doing a few things consistently and well. https://soundadvicestrategies.com/icecream to download a worksheet that will help you clarify your core content. Stay tuned for the next episode where we will discuss the importance of being opinionated in your podcast. Happy podcasting and see you soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m talking to a new SoundAdvice team member Delia Peterson. She helps us with written content to support the podcasts we edit and publish for clients. She also does this for the Impact Theory podcasts, all 5 of them, among her other clients. A mutual friend and business peer Diane Luzny connected us and Delia being the go-getter she is, reached out and we hopped on a call and talked like we were old friends. She’s the founder of The Written Podcast Agency and is here to talk podcast notes and supporting content. Delia approaches her writing from a place of creativity. She’s a non-fiction creative writer which is perfect for podcasts. She started by interviewing others for her own podcast (that she didn’t want to admit was really a podcast) and fell in love with the research and writing. She realized she could take the wisdom and insights they shared and add context and resources to create something that was actionable. Since she’s all about action, she shared the key aspects she considers important for the notes she writes: The information has to be compelling to the reader. How can we highlight the guest in the best way? Understand the goal of the podcaster – who are they serving. Build a community to have and share value. She also shared her favorite trend. YouTube. (See our post about that here) She uses YouTube chapters so the audience can quickly find the part of the content that is most relevant to them. Delia also shared how to “listen differently” when you are creating your notes. It’s about the conversation to be sure but pay attention to the comments or the info that sparked an idea or an unexpected topic. Know your keywords. Here’s her tip to help you find ideas to tie back to your content. Google your keyword or phrase and see the titles that come up. Get ideas for framing your content in a way that would show up in that type of search. This is genius and something anyone can do. Delia’s #soundadvice: Be you. She explained that she used to try to minimize her high energy to help others feel comfortable or stay quiet when she wanted to speak up. No more! She is unapologetically being the real Delia and has never been happier. That’s a great bit of inspiration we can all appreciate. The Delia I’m getting to know is smart and fun and generous. Bonus: she let our listeners know to reach out and connect. She’s open to helping, answering questions, and meeting other smart, interesting people. No sales pitch or agenda just a great chance to create connection. I hope you take her up on it! Connect with Delia: Website Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have a podcast, it’s time to get it on YouTube. For some time now we’ve been advising our clients to put their podcast on YouTube. No video required. It’s now a part of our podcast start set up process. If you host with Libsyn (use code: soundadvice to get a month for free) you can link your YouTube channel and when you publish a new episode it will go to all the apps and to YouTube. How-to-info to link your show to YouTube on Libsyn. It shows up in about 4 hours or so after publishing. We also create an episode image and upload that when we schedule the podcast. That way, the image that shows up on YouTube is specific to that episode. If you don’t have artwork to upload, it will use your podcast cover image. Why YouTube and why now? In 2019 Edison research shared that 40% of podcasts had listens on YouTube. In 2020 YouTube was the number one place for podcast searches. That bested both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, the previous 1 and 2 search choices. YouTube is the content app of choice for some people, and they use it for all types of content, not just video. You might be surprised to learn that YouTube just launched their own podcast! It’s called The Upload: The Rise of the Creator Economy. Just 5 episodes in when I recorded our episode. Audio has become a bigger focus for the platform. They are looking to align with the rising social audio trends. Which brings me to ask, why aren’t you? In 2020 YouTube reported that music streaming was bigger than ever. Over 77 million people subscribe to the YouTube Music platform. It’s clear that audio-only content offerings are popular on the platform. YouTube is paying attention and jumping into the action. Audio content is here to stay. The key for creators is to make sure users can find them on their preferred platform. For many, that’s YouTube. Not on Libsyn? No problem, here’s a short video showing you how to convert your mp3 audio files to mp4 video files. There are a number of ways to do this without needing any expensive software. I suggest the Chrome plugin Convertio. It’s free and easy to use. If you’d like help with your podcast strategy, send an email to podcast@ soundadvicestrategies.com Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Episode Notes and Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Andrew Moses! He joins us on the podcast to talk about his podcast Everybody Pulls the Tarp, networking, starting a non-profit, sports and more. Andrew is focused on sharing stories of athletes, Olympians, CEO’s and other leaders. They all share one common thread; a willingness to do what it takes to be successful and to lead successful teams. Andrew shares his behind-the-scenes story about the meaning of “everybody pulls the tarp” his podcast title. It’s a mantra and a mindset for Andrew. It’s an attitude that encompasses doing what needs to be done, no matter the job description or title. “Great teams and great organizations are powered by individuals who contribute in unexpected ways.” Andrew shares his “secret sauce” around finding great guests. His strategy is one that anyone can use (if you aren’t doing this you have to start!) and as a networker, he uses his personal and professional contacts to reach out to people who are “tarp pullers.” Andrew didn’t start with a big audience, and early on he realized that persistence was required to carry on. He was happily surprised at the power of the audio content. His show continues to grow garnering more downloads every week. Networking is key for Andrew. He learned how to build a network by being himself and bringing value to others. “Go into interactions thinking about what you can give instead of what you are going to get.” Hear how Andrew puts this into practice. It’s a cool ripple effect when you give first. He reminds us that focusing on things that you are passionate about means this doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun and gives him the chance to meet interesting people every week. Hear Andrew’s #soundadvice. Do it for the listeners! (We love that advice) Andrew shares his perspective and it’s exactly what you need to hear if podcasting is something you’re considering. Andrew’s recommended episodes: Manny Dosanjh: 8 Hour Drives Samantha Harris: The Cog in the Wheel Mindset Tessa Virtue: 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Connect with Andrew: Everybody Pulls the Tarp Website Instagram Newsletter LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelvin and I are sharing our recommendation for the recording software we consider one of the best. We’re using this platform and advising our clients to use it as well. This is one of the things that we are asked about the most. For good reason. Recording good quality audio shouldn’t be hard to do, or overly expensive. There are lots of options out there and we’ve tried many of them. Clients send us files recorded in a variety of ways. Deciding what to use depends on your podcast style and set up. Here are a few key factors to consider: Will you need to record multiple people (or more than 1) in multiple locations? Do you want an easy way to invite guests to the session? Is video a consideration for collaboration? Do you want to record the video? How often do you record and how long are your episodes? Cost for the platform Ease of use If you are using Zoom or Squadcast or are considering using Zoom or Squadcast to record your podcast episodes, please take a few minutes to consider if either of those will do everything you need. In addition to the research, he also talked to various platform representatives at a recent Podcast Movement Conference. That and the results from our early tests have made it easy to make our recommended platform Riverside.fm. Here are a few reasons why we want you to check out this platform: Quality Audio. Locally recorded uncompressed WAV audio for every guest. Video Capabilities. Local recording of up to 4K video resolution if needed. Up to 8 recorded participants. Schedule and invite up to 8 guests with one click. Guests and producers join with one click. Mediaboard. You can upload audio and video files by dragging them to your media library. You can play them during the call or recording. Separate Audio/Video Tracks. Each participant has a separate track for more control in post-production. Audience Link. Share the recording with anyone and they can watch or call while you are recording with your guest. There’s much more including producer mode and controls, streaming capabilities, and screen sharing. Price. While they don’t offer a free version, they do give you free time to check out the platform and their monthly options are much less than Squadcast, especially if you want to record video. That's a pretty good list of reasons to use Riverside.fm. There are two things Riverside,fm can’t fix First is a bad internet signal or internet drops when recording. If you are going to podcast, pay for the internet speed upgrade if you can and ask your guests to log in at a place where they have reliable service. Wi-Fi at Panera or other public places is just asking for trouble. Which brings me to the second issue. Control of the ambient sound in your space. Almost all of us are recording in a home office (or closet or some other living space) or at work. It may not be possible to control everything, but do your best to minimize paper shuffling, tapping on the table, typing, squeaky chairs (guilty) and of course take care of things like silencing your phone, watch etc. for best results. There you have it. Not only our recommendation, but we'll be moving to Riverside.fm for our podcast recordings. We’ve created a how-to video to help you get started. It’s easy and intuitive and we save you time so use this to make set up on the new platform simple. One last thing I forgot to mention... Riverside.fm gives you 1 free hour of recording time when you initially sign up, no credit card is required. You can use our affiliate link: bit.ly/riversidefm We’re going to interview one of the owners of Riverside soon – they just launched 2.0 and there are some cool new features coming. You can count on us to keep you up to date. If you try out Riverside.fm reach out and let us know what you think. You can email us at podcast@soundadvicestrategies.com or DM us on IG at soundadvicefm We’d love to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please tell me it’s time to travel to some exotic beach destination. After listening to this episode, you’re going to want to plan your next vacation! Jamie Weitl, the founder of Pineapple Escapes and the Travel Tidbits podcast joined us to talk about travel (of course) and podcasting. She’s always coming back from some place fabulous or she’s packing to go. Sometimes both! This summer she’s already been to Disneyland, Cancun, Mexico (another location), and on a Disney cruise. Traveling with COVID? It’s possible to travel safely. Jamie and her team keep up with the many requirements and protocols that are changing, sometimes daily. She encourages people to travel and be prepared to be flexible. Know what to expect before you go and set expectations if traveling with children. Mindset is important. Having fun is possible even when taking a few extra measures to ensure you and your family stay safe. Jamie is a go-to expert. Let her plan your next trip and she will get all the details, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. In Jamie’s words, “a mask isn’t going to ruin my trip” and COVID doesn’t have to ruin yours either. Putting the Travel Tidbits podcast together is a team effort. Jamie includes all her agents (20!) so arranging who is going to record and what topic is up next is something they manage as a group. She’s a planner and works on content months in advance. She also has flexibility so if something timely comes up, that can be added to the schedule. Jamie’s advice is to make the jump into podcasting. If you have something you want to share, get started and be ready to take some time to invest and embrace the learning curve. She waited for over a year and realized that hitting record is the only way that happens. (We totally agree!) Here are a few episodes you can check out to get familiar with the Travel Tidbits podcast and Jamie’s team. Why to Use a Travel Agent Universal for Potter Nerds Part One Universal for Potter Nerds Part Two Pineapple Escapes Website jamieweitl@pineappleescapes.com Pineapple Escapes Instagram Jamie Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandra Scaiano joins us on the podcast to talk digital marketing, online memberships, big picture work, and of course, podcasting. Sandra has the unique (and covetable) ability to help her clients imagine the big picture, the vision for their business. She also has the tech skills to help those big ideas come to life. People who work with her, get results. It’s no wonder that’s she’s always busy and creating a course so even more people can get access to her genius. Why the Long Game? Podcasting is an outlet for Sandra to share her stories, her knowledge, and her creativity. She embodies the “long game” philosophy. She’s all about building the foundation of your business. When you do that well, then growth and scaling can happen. “It’s that consistency piece.” Sandra figured out how to add podcasting to her business in a way that works for her. She’s the content expert and has a VA to help her with her workflow. She does solo episodes and mixes in interviews as well. She shares why having a viewpoint (and sharing the perspective of others) is important to her. She’s also intentional about sharing what is truly important to her. Find out how she decided to highlight content around the Black Lives Matter movement. It was unique to her and it resonated with her audience. “You have to have a vision for what you want to say.” Hear Sandra’s take on Clubhouse. She dived in to get her own opinion about the platform and shared some of her early learnings about how it can work. She outlines a strategy that big brands are using that you could translate to your business. Connect with Sandra: The Long Game Podcast Sandra on Instagram Sandra on Pinterest Resources: Headliner The Long Game is . . . Happiness The Trifecta, Onboarding, Automations, and Segmenting Love Your Voice with Kelly Burge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your editor wants your podcast to sound AMAZING. Recording doesn’t have to be challenging. We want to make it easy for you. We’ve talked about your recording setup, what software to use, and reviewed microphone options. Here are a few tips that will help your editor. In the words of Jerry McGuire, help me help you. (I just realized how old this reference is, so linking to the movie in case you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about.) Things you can do to make you an editor favorite: · Test. Test again. Test a little more. Get your settings dialed in so when you hit record for real you know it’s going to sound great. · Set up in the same location every time if you can. It makes it easier for you AND it gives you a consistent sound quality. · Record 5 to 10 seconds of dead air (silence) so the editor can listen for fan noise, hums from your microphone, etc. to isolate and remove them. · Stay the same distance from your microphone. When you move closer or farther away, or if you turn your head it’s going to change how you sound. · Prepare. You don’t have to be scripted, but when you have notes or at least a few bullet points it will help you stay on track. · When you make a mistake – it’s okay. Take a pause, gather your thoughts, and start over. Our editing team will fix the error and make sure it’s edited properly. · Use a pop filter. It will eliminate heavy rushes of air or breathing sounds. · Turn off other devices. Laptops, tablets, phones, watches, fans, etc. There’s nothing more frustrating than a great track interrupted by a phone alert. Things to avoid doing so editing continues to adore you: · Avoid touching the microphone. If you are using earbuds, make sure the microphone part isn’t rubbing your clothes or hair. · Don’t touch the desk or microphone stand. · Don’t type or tap the table or clap for emphasis unless you want that to be in your podcast. · Don’t stop the recording. One take! If you mess up, pause, start again. A single track (even with lots of errors) is easier to edit and will sound better for your listener. · If you are not speaking, don’t assume you can’t be heard. Chair squeaks, typing, shuffling papers; all sorts of fidgeting will be picked up. Editing wants your show to sound amazing. When you find a setup that works for you, stick with it. You can be confident that your show will sound consistently good without a big hassle each time you record. Have a question you’d like Kelvin to cover? Email: podcast@soundadvicestrategies.com and he’ll get you an answer. Happy Podcasting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Owens, one half of the genius behind the Breadwinners podcast was our guest on this episode. Jennifer is an editor and content strategist, advisor and advocate, board member and speaker. While Jennifer can find stories anywhere, her passion lies in women’s issues, workplace and parenting trends. She is a quotable public speaker and is featured regularly in major media worldwide. Her co-host Rachael Ellison is an organizational development consultant and certified executive coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest Kate Hanley podcaster, author, New York Times bestselling ghostwriter and personal development coach. Her books include Stress Less, A Year of Daily Calm, The Anywhere Anytime Chill Guide, and How to Be a Better Person, 400+ Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Yourself--And the World. Her podcast, How to Be a Better Person with Kate Hanley publishes every weekday. She’s published over 460 episodes and has seen her audience continue to grow each month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Valliere and Melissa Chatigny, the creators and co-hosts of Sugar for Your Lemonade joined us to talk about podcasting, subconscious imprinting, Olympic weightlifting (OMG) and more. Hear how they decided to join forces to create their podcast. They have such great energy and it’s clear they know each other well. They also share how the name “Sugar for your Lemonade” came to be. It’s perfect for the kind of content they share on their podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doctor, mom, blogger, and podcaster Sarah Hart-Unger joins us on the podcast. She’s been blogging since 2004 and podcasting since 2016! She shares how creating content has helped her though different phases in life, and why she started podcast number two in 2020. Find out: • How Best of Both Worlds (with Laura Vanderkam) came to life. Great insight here about being open to possibilities from unexpected people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jen Lehner joined Kelvin and I on the podcast and talked about her journey starting her podcast. You’re going to love hearing how she got Gary Vaynerchuk to record the intro to her podcast. It’s such a good story and a great reminder that little bit of persistence and the willingness to ask is everything! She also breaks down how she got Seth Godin on her podcast. Not only that, he also wrote a blog post about her scuffle with Entrepreneur Magazine. Crazy and true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patty is heading to her 3-year podcast anniversary later this summer! She and I had a great conversation about her podcast and of course she drops some #soundadvice too! Find out why Patty started her podcast and why she felt motivated to interview and highlight the amazing people that have helped her. She also explains why podcasting feels so "right now" for her and for her audience. (This is a great insight) Find out how the power of having a podcast content library has had an impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices