There’s really no reason to do any work that we’re not proud of.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that we simply don’t need to do the work.
The accepted challenge is to find an element of the work that makes us feel fulfilled.
I used to do data entry for a grant program and the task wasn’t pride-filling. However, hearing from families that got the grant money sure was.
Here’s the thing: pride can be found in any work, but it requires you to look for it. It might even require you to ask to be involved in another element of your work. It might even require you to be more curious and empathetic. All great actions.
There are two strategies to partake in to rightfully market your podcast and increase your listenership.
The first is to ensure that your other owned touchpoints make the podcast easily accessible for those already enrolled in your story or brand.
Link to your podcast on your website. Include it on your newsletters or reference it frequently on your blog. Post about it on social. Include a reference to it at the end of a media interview. Hit all the existing touch points.
The key here is to ensure those who have already raised their hand and said “I care about you” know that they have another way to connect with you.
The second strategy is to put the dollars you’d put behind advertising your podcast to making a better one.
Not that advertising doesn’t work, but 1. you’ll get more people to listen by creating a podcast that others tell their friends to listen to than you will telling people to listen to it and 2. those who are referred to a podcast listen to more episodes (longevity) than those who you captured with an ad.
Given the first strategy is obvious and easy, here are a few ways to make a better podcast beyond the have a good logo, include nice intro music, etc.,:
Provide a stock email for whoever is on your podcast (as well as anyone listening to it) to share with others, recommending the episode
Provide a Q&A portion that any listener can contribute to at any time and that you’ll answer on the next podcast (Example)
Provide ads (yes, they enforce credibility), but the ad has to offer something generous to your listeners
Provide additional exclusive content around each episode on your podcasts landing page
Provide payment to those who contribute to your podcast and provide free swag/resources to existing listeners
Two simple strategies, but the point is the same: give those enrolled in your brand something worth talking about.
The lot might not be good enough for you and your tribe.
There’s not a strong enough checks and balances system in place.
The turnout might be worse this time.
You’re sure there’s a rotten bunch in the mix.
Of course, we’re not talking about potatoes or oranges, here, but the takeaway for our projects is the same: you can spend your time concerned with the harvest or you can devote that time to planing more seeds.
Whether it’s with a veteran or a newbie, leaders often take the easy path and start assigning work out.
When – what makes the work much more impactful downstream – they ought to be getting their team up to speed on the why of what they’re doing (or reminded of it).
No matter how driven someone is to check an item off their to-do list or appease their boss with a job quickly completed; the drive and passion isn’t nearly as strong as someone who understands the why behind the work they’re doing.
Magic is made when people realize the work they are doing is making an impact larger than themselves.
That’s on the leader to show it, prove it, and remind them of it often.
It’s a bummer of a day that goes by without learning something.
Not because the chances are ripe that you’ll get on Jeopardy, but because the chances are ripe that you’ll be in conversation with someone and an opportunity to share the new knowledge will come up.
And, what you’ll find is that the sharing of the knowledge (and the energy/passion/excitement behind it) is more important to strengthening a relationship than the specific information shared.
It’s hard to convince others to be fascinated in something if you aren’t. In fact, it’s easy for people to recognize if you are fascinated or not.
Second, being fascinated with everything all at once is a sensory overload for those you’re trying to convince to try something or to market to or to sell to.
That’s not to say don’t be fascinated or express it, but one at a time will do a better job than all at once.
But it will work if you think through it well enough.
And then, once it works, you can pivot to launching something else.
Over time, you’ll continue to ship new projects, host new events, try new things.
And people will think you are a smashingly remarkable brand.
Not because the one thing you did was insanely successful, but because they saw you show up again and again, living out your brand mission in new ways.
