In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss the theme of “disruption” activities and promotions and projects. In particular, we deliver a repurposed podcast episode from Tom Schwab of the program Interview Valet, where we look at the “disruption technology.”
Also, we owe some credit to Evo Terra (podcaster of today’s show called podcastpontifications.com) when he discussed with us what it is like to be a “podcaster disrupter.” And we plan to include that earlier repurposed interview in a later episode of this show. Evo felt that the “next big thing” in podcasting would come from a supportive “disruption” of the podosphere.
Now, as I mentioned before in this podcast series, I have known Evo when I met him in person in 2007, and also when I had strengthened my relationship with him, both in person and when I had interviewed him on my podcast shows since 2007.
In one interview episode, I had Evo tell us how and why he described himself as a disrupter. This was both for being an entrepreneur and a podcaster.
Then, later, I had interviewed Tom Schwab of the Interview Valet program, where he was also noted as a “disrupter” in podcasting, as he was one of the first to publicly announce that he was NOT going to do a podcast, but rather, he would pursue his success in being a podcast GUEST. He announced this at the second Podcast Movement conference in 2015 at Fort Worth, Texas. And he later provided others with a business model that would help podcasters gain success in their shows by being a guest on other podcasters’ podcast shows.
As a matter of fact, we have the original interview from 2015 where Tom describes his business and his “disruption” of the podcast interview processes:
As you can hear from this repurposed episode, Tom describes his “disruption” in business and podcasting from the entrepreneurial side in the following summarized manner:
“Disrupted technology” that supports the pursuit of being a podcast guest (e.g., being and interviewee) as opposed to being the interviewer to lead the conversation on a podcaster’s own show;
Repeating someone else’s success may not be the best model to follow for success — in other words, do NOT be a “me-too” product;
Being a disrupter incorporates new models of how to do business as an entrepreneur, as well as a podcaster — but not by total imitation of someone else’s successful results (in particular, to avoid naming your show with the “on fire” suffix);
How to go about getting YOU as one of your prospects from being listener to being visitor and have you be welcomed to a tailored, individual welcome site for just YOU;
His “disruption” includes renaming some of the terms used in sites (e.g., a “welcome” page instead of a “landing page” or “squeeze page”) to make it more personal.
His disruption will be in the form of creating VISITORS and not to provide them with podcast audio episodes — but rather have them listen to yourself as a guest and then get them interested in your programs;
He currently has moved to interactive webinars (mostly free) to promote his program and the successes of podcast-guesting.
So, as one of the very first programs to emphasize being a podcast guest instead of a podcast interviewer, Tom has been flexible to adapt new methods for his success and his business.
We hope that this model of disruption may be of benefit to you as you shape your podcasting model for your show, or adapting parts of this to make your business more profitable and more successful.
So, later, we will deliver the repurposed episode from Evo Terra where he speaks to us earlier about plotting his way and pivoting to become a “disrupter” in the podosphere.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and michaelandmike.com and Tom Schwab and Evo Terra. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we relate to you a set of podcast episodes, delivered during the week of September 20-24, 2021, that deal with the topic of improving your podcast show, as well as improving your “craft” of podcasting. These episodes were published in the podcast show by Evo Terra called Podcast Pontifications.
And what I would suggest is that this may be a good start for an actual project that you may want to plan and begin to better yourself as a podcaster, as well as learn some great techniques to improve the quality of your podcast shows.
Now, I have known Evo Terra since 2006, and I had met him in person when he attended one of my sessions which I delivered at the first Podcamp in Arizona in 2007 (when I spoke about podcast improvement for monetization and delivery). I had also interviewed Evo several times during the past 16 years on this show about his contribution as a “disrupter” of the status quo (for the beneficial reason of improvement of the craft and not just for the sake of doing away with the current workflows for podcasters). And Evo has a lot of suggestions that do provide value to both the new and aspiring podcasters, as well as to the professional podcasters.
So, in reviewing the suggestions and topics and products and other deliverables mentioned by Evo in his several episodes that centered around the theme of “improving your craft” to become a better professional podcaster (and not just a newbie), I also found myself noticing that much of the improvement can come from increasing your skills as a story-teller and a planner of content. However, this content goes beyond just podcasting show notes and blogs — it also dealt with how you can improve your craft by taking tips and suggestions from other types of media (including the press and books and narrations).
So I would suggest that you consume the content for these 4 episodes that Evo has published and see if the resources mentioned and the tips that are given can add to your professionalism in building a better podcast — especially if you have a business podcast.
Some of these are the following (and this is a non-inclusive list):
Make your podcast education a continuing education program and be SERIOUS about it by planning and budgeting for both time and money to include the knowledge that will make you better in the area of CONTENT CREATION AND MEDIA;
Resources that deliver training and workshops that can help you to improve your game in podcasting (he cites 6);
Looking to the Podcast Academy for insight and knowledge from others in the podosphere for inspiration; and
5 resources to “help you think like a SERIOUS podcaster.”
Although some of these resources mentioned and the roads suggested may have some financial costs, it is up to you to investigate how they can help you — after all, they are suggested by someone who has been a center of podcasting for over 16 years in the podosphere and has written some of the first books on podcasting.
So, for this short episode, we hope that you can evaluate if these resources and suggestions will help you to “improve your craft” of podcasting (and not just the mechanical part or the recording or editing part) in ALL areas of content creation, publication and distribution. If so, then you can, indeed, better yourself as a professional podcaster and as Evo says, “MASTER YOUR CRAFT OF PODCASTING.” And this can help you lead your business and podcasts to success.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and michaelandmike.com and Evo Terra of podcastpontifications.com. All rights reserved.
In his recent episode where he discusses story telling, Evo tackles the self-imposed limitation that podcasters may have when they believe that their story-telling expertise is not good enough for podcasting — and the possibility of being “out-podcasted” by a good story teller. He states: “But not every podcaster is as confident in their storytelling abilities. Many struggle with storytelling on their shows, either because they have an actual deficiency when it comes to storytelling or because of that pesky imposter syndrome that won’t shut up as it tries to convince competent, capable podcasters that they’re worse at storytelling than they really are.”
Evo does have a few suggestions that have worked for him to master his craft of telling stories:
become an avid reader;
listen to podcasts that tell stories;
use the OUTLINE method to get a draft of the story you wish to tell, and then refine it with good story-telling materials and tools;
keep some stories “in your back pocket” just in case you need to bring one up and relate it when you are being interviewed or recorded in a podcast;
Practice the craft of telling stories constantly (and for many episodes) in your show: “As with any skill, you have to practice. Yes, even those who have mastered their craft—regardless of what that craft is—have to practice.”
Practice speaking your story out loud, as this is one way that it helped Evo to internalize story-telling;
Move your mindset to positive telling of stories to others.
For this podcaster, I have studied the art of story-telling, as my studies in my college undergraduate work was in writing for television and film — and story-telling was a key part of learning the craft. And always, the feedback is most important.
However, as a podcaster, mixing the story telling with the fact-based narration or deconstruction of events and situations is also something that is learned over time with much work and practice. And I would suggest that outlines and the writing of good show notes for your episodes would also be a major boost in perfecting your story-telling abilities — and your listeners will be able to comment on that more positively than other podcasters who become critical (and sometimes for the sake of just being critical of other podcasters).
Thus, I would suggest that you listen to the episode about story telling from the August, 2021, episode from Evo Terra in his podcastpontifications.com show and then review your own methods and workflow and processes and tactics that you may now use in story telling — and improve on them or incorporate new ones for your show.
I agree with what he says that your podcast show will “out-podcast” other shows when you tell good stories in your content and deliver that kind of value to your listeners.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Evo Terra of podcastpontifications.com and michaelandmike.com. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss the theme of “mastering your craft” of podcasting, as expressed by both podcast episodes and presentations at a podcast conference. Evo Terra of Podcast Pontifications gives us a whole week of episodes that explain his ideas and suggestions of mastering the craft of podcasting.
For this podcaster, I have known Evo Terra of Podcast Pontifications in the podosphere from 2005, and I had met him in person in 2007 at the third PodCamp in Arizona, when he attended the session that I was delivering on podcasting for success in monetization. And I do respect and many times follow the suggestions from Evo to help make podcasting better for podcasters.
Evo Terra had several episodes in his show that all centered around the theme of how podcasters can MASTER THEIR CRAFT OF PODCASTING.
This theme was also quoted by Evo from the keynote presentation at Podcast Movement 2021 about “mastering your craft.” Yes, the summary of this is contained in the PM newsletter that states the following:
Mastering your craft…
“What does it mean to “master your craft” in podcasting? Edison Research SVP Tom Webster recently offered this advice as a starting point: “Get a transcript of your recent episode. Read it and experience the horror.” Before sitting down to edit, consider these four steps from a sound designer at Pacific Content.”
After consuming all four of Evo’s episodes during the week in which they were published, I found myself contemplating how a podcaster like myself can be better at trying to master the craft of podcasting. As Evo summarizes in his podcast episodes, being a masterful podcaster of this craft entails more than just recording, editing, posting and publishing episodes in your podcast shows — of course, there may be some marketing, promotion and other tactics that engage with this.
Mastering the craft entails, for myself, becoming a better interviewer, a better deliverer of VALUE to the targeted audience. And the little helper hints that are given can all add up to a better experience for your targeted audience — and that will add up to VALUE for your listeners.
We wish that you can also contemplate how you can improve your podcast shows by “mastering the craft” of podcasting for your audience and listeners — and thus, your show can reach (and exceed) the success for which you may be striving in podcasting and your business, as well.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and michaelandmike.com and Evo Terra and Tom Webster. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss the possibility of podcaster burnout, as emphasized by Evo Terra in his podcast show of Podcast Pontifications. In an episode of July 29, 2021, he emphasizes the need for balance in your mental health to avoid mental and physical burnout when you have not been able to say “NO” to podcasting opportunities that present themselves to you in many fashions — from interviews, from starting many podcasts as a labor of love, from all the podcasting events and conferences, and from a myriad of other podcasting opportunities.
In this episode from Evo, the warning that is given is one to which podcasters should be aware: “Busy podcasters know that there’s always more that can be done. Fans of busy podcasters know that too, often trying to be helpful by highlighting new opportunities. Which, while nice, can lead to burnout.”
I found this out to be true in my first 5 years as a podcaster. I was attracted by all the podcamps and podcast conferences and podcast events, and I traveled to attend all of them — even though they were fun and I met a lot of great people, I did not have a good business ROI from them, mainly because I was to busy to follow up properly after each event.I also started and maintained up to 16 podcast shows at the same time — until I literally almost burned out in 2011 from too much “opportunity” and too much work and responsibility. I did not put in the necessary time for each show, and thus the process of podfading show by show began. The result — today, I only have 4 podcast shows (in which the last 3 had grown in the last several years after my wake-up calls and close bouts with death due to medical conditions resulting from the complications of Agent Orange exposure from my earlier days as a combat veteran in the Vietnam War.I then had to realize that my life required some sort of balance, and that I could not renew the fun and crazy world of being a podcaster that kept jumping on ‘OPPORTUNITIES’ the minute that they crept up or when someone suggested them to me. I mainly ignored a suggestion from a colleague of mine who worked with me during my day-job in corporate America, who said “There has to be a balance.”As Evo Terra states in his podcast episode titled “The Mental Healthy Way to Podcasting Opportunities”: “But you, working podcaster, may not be in a place of balance. Or your balance might be less steady than the one I’ve worked to achieve.”
So looking for that balance during the turmoil and the energetic whirlwind of possible podcasting opportunities may blind you going into that mountain cave’s lair and seeking to conquer the lion in that environment. From my own experience, I would say that it is more important to be in balance before you step into the abyss of opportunity and attempt to “reap the whirlwind.”
The best words that I reflect on are the words of wisdom that Evo Terra has delivered in his episode — after all, he has been a podcaster for over 16 years, and he has seen a lot of pain in growth and in the real world of hardships for podcasters:
“Alternately, you may find an opportunity has just dropped into your lap…Chances are, some of that filled you with anxiety, stress, and a general feeling of ‘… How am I going to get all of this done?’ But let me impart another nugget of wisdom: Opportunity will knock again. Occasionally, you may realize that passing up on an opportunity is as much of an opportunity as the opportunity itself. …Your mental health is just that: your health. Treat it as such.”
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Evo Terra and michaelandmike.com. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss the theme of being a disrupter or non-conformist or illogical crusader vs. the safe thing to do in podcasting.
The inspiration for this episode came from the podcast micro-episode from Todd Henry in The Daily Creative. The episode based its topic on the theme of: “When you always choose the safest route you take the greatest risk of all: never knowing what you might be truly capable of accomplishing.” (From July 7, 2021). Thus, we speak about the conflict of accepting some risk and taking some chances vs. minimizing risk in making business decisions.
Evo Terra has been known as a “disrupter” in the area of creativity in podcasting and business. His show of Podcast Pontifications outlines this in the changes he makes to his show and the topics he delivers with new ideas and suggestions for podcasters to make the entire area of podcasting better for everyone.
Evo has always promoted pushing the limit in your expectations and your delivery of solutions, seeking for new areas to improve your business and your podcasting experiences — and thus, to make your podcast more successful. So Evo’s “disruption” promotes more on the risk-taking, but he also cautions to have a back-up plan and exit strategy, as well as not putting all your cash and all your eggs in one basket. And any good entrepreneur and podcaster should always have an exit strategy or several back-up strategies, especially in this day and age of unknown futures for the media and the business environment.
One example of being a non-conformist and a “gentle” type of disrupter is the new show called Grumpy Old Bears that launched in later 2021. This disruption from the safer method of the cookie-cutter approach to podcasting was initiated more for fun (with the emphasis on humor and a cynical approach to the topics — and thus, the grumpiness), but in response to the woke-based lame-stream media and the cancel culture for those who did not agree with the radical left in their idiotic ideas and ideology. In fact, this called for even creating an alter-ego voice for the main character, Mr. Bear, who will lead the way in impatient grumpiness to make way for segues and for topic discussion and introduction.
The Grumpy Old Bear in podcasting
Thus, we hope that you can choose to consume the episodes of The Daily Creative, as most of the topics can be related to success in small business, startups and entrepreneurs. Likewise, we also suggest that you review the podcast shows of Evo Terra and his Podcast Pontifications show — for you will find the challenges that Evo gives us in his life-long mission (which is “to make podcasting better for us.”)
If you do, we sincerely wish that you find VALUE in the daily delivery of these topics (now covered in over 5 books by Todd Henry, as well), so that your business and your podcasts will be successful in meeting — and surpassing — your objectives for success.
We also hope that if you review the Grumpy Old Bears podcast show, you can get some humor out of it — as well as some education and even controversy which can make you think a bit and consider the lighter side of today’s stressful environment.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and michaelandmike.com and Todd Henry and Evo Terra and GrumpyOldBears.com. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we examine some details in which a long-term podcaster and author of podcast books named Evo Terra delivers in his recent podcast episode of Podcast Pontifications.
In this episode from Evo Terra, we see that he defines a REAL PROFESSIONAL in terms of education, training, experience, diplomacy, communication, liaison skills, business skills and acumen, as well as organizational and leadership skills — and NOT just the ability to create a podcast show and publish some episodes that may be low quality or not.
As Evo states: “None of those examples will come as a surprise to you. We know that true professionals—doctors, musicians, writers, and yes, podcasters—all invest a significant amount of time and effort in the study of their craft. Because with very few exceptions, professionalism isn’t achieved by the piecemeal accumulation of surface-level tactics, tricks, and hacks.” (And I understood the “hacks” to be the ability to follow a script or tutorial to learn how to podcast in a very short time, without regard to the back-end and business-end of being a real professionally skilled and experienced podcaster)
In Evo’s audio episode, he mentions in the title of one section that you, as a podcaster, must go “Beyond Podcasting 101.” From his point of view, it is important not just to know the how of your trade, but the WHY, and especially the overall history, audience, business and environment in the podosphere. As he mentions, “Hacks and borrowed skills will only get you so far.”
So you may call yourself a podcast consultant — even a professional — but without the experience, education, training and other skills learned about the TRADE of podcasting, you are still considered by Evo to be just a 90-minute wonder who learned how to create a podcast show and publish one episode from a tutorial (what can be construed to be a “hack.”)
The details the skills are noted in the part of Evo’s episode when he describes how you may know that you are truly a professional podcaster:
In podcasting, copywriting skills are a necessity. Episodes notes need to be written, as does the article that accompanies the episode on a website. Don’t forget the variations on social copy!
Oh, and those social shares will need some customized graphics. And the show itself needs compelling artwork to make it attractive to new listeners. Wait! The webpage for the episode will need graphics as well. Website? Oh, right! That website needs to be built out and maintained. And the show needs to be marketed so it grows. Don’t forget liaising with other podcasters. And someone needs to figure out the business plan so the show succeeds and your idea of being a professional podcaster actually becomes a going concern and how you put food on the table. That’s a sampling of what it takes to really be a professional podcaster. A few are able to master all of it on their own. More realize their own limitations and enlist the services of others. But even then, the podcaster has an understanding of all the pieces and can step in when necessary. Because it all has to be done.“
And finally, Evo states that learning from a mentor, a role-model or thought-leader (call him what you will), you can gain the wisdom that will in time give you the edge to call yourself a podcaster. And he does this by citing the old saying:
“If I see further than others, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
What I see for a professional podcaster is one who aspires to become one of the GIANTS, upon whose shoulders I could stand, and from whose experience and charisma and knowledge I can soak up (like a sponge) and then deliver to others, as they will also stand upon my shoulders.
So, we hope that you can aspire to become a GIANT in the world of professional podcasters.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and michaelandmike.com and Evo Terra of Podcastpontifications.com. All rights reserved.
This is a repurposed episode of The Podcast Reporter, where the original podcast episode was published on 4May2020. The reason we submit this for repurposing is that the subject is very heated now in conversation and action in the podosphere, with the Chinese virus-crisis now simmering down in the US — and with people now interested in both podcast networks and membership sites.
If your passion for podcasting has grown such that you want to join or even create your own podcast network, perhaps you should listen to the questions asked by Evo Terra, as well as listen to the experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) from Daniel J Lewis (who did shut down his own podcast network that he started years ago).
My own experiences with podcast networks
Now, I have had experiences with the thought of joining a podcast network. In 2006 and 2007, I dipped my toes into the waters of joining what looked like a growing podcast network at Podango (this was the podcast company that had acquired Gigavox, the firm that created the Levelator in 2006). I wanted to be a part of what was called a “podcast station” (which was the category or genres of podcasts) called the Business Station. I wanted to include my flagship podcast at the time, Struggling Entrepreneur. And the sharing, the community and the financial benefits all seemed like a great beginning. However, I did have second thoughts about letting someone else run my show and own my RSS feed and content. So I decided NOT to join and just kept being on my own. And, by the way, I do not regret that decision, as Podango later went out of business in another year or two.
Then, in 2007, the podcast network bug bit me again. This time, I wanted to start a podcast network which I had temporarily called the “Content Creator and podcaster network.” This was going to be basically a membership site with 4 founders — one for the technical side of podcasting; another for the financial side of startups and podcasting; another for the marketing side of podcasting and its promotion; and my contribution, the personal productivity side of creating content and podcasts.
For this membership site, we even had a meeting which I had called. And I used the prior method of getting buy-in and commitment and dialog used by Tim Bourquin when he had founded the Podcast and Portable Media Expoin 2005. That is, I invited everyone to join me personally (at my expense for travel, lodging and meals) for a couple of days in Austin, Texas, so that we could discuss all day the creation of this membership site which would then create the network shortly after launch. In fact, we even had an attorney, who was himself a podcaster, join us via Skype to get the details of the contract which he would create for all of us to agree and sign as a commitment. Well, that meeting gave me an indication of how much CONTROL and OWNERSHIP and FINANCIAL EXPECTATION that podcasters desired. As a result, I saw that this arrangement would not suit all the parties involved — what seemed like an exciting discussion and proposal went down in flames when “the devil is in the details.” So we never gave the green light to create the contract (with legal fees of $1300 in those days), and we disbanded the idea. And the survivors were only two of us who started another podcast based on Finance for Startups (which has since podfaded).
What was obvious to me at that time, after some pre-investment expenses and time, was that podcasters were too much desirous of control and ownership of the direction. And this is only natural, since podcasting at that time was individually run, owned and managed by the solo podcaster. And these people were not used to SHARING any intellectual property or revenue with others, especially under contract.
So the notion of a podcast network or membership site was erased from my mind as a creator — and maybe one day I might join one already in session.
In this audio episode, Evo asks the most important questions: (1) What is it that you want to get out of the network?; and (2) what is it that you will be willing to sacrifice to belong in it?
He not only goes over what his own backstory was in creating his own network back “in the day” of 2004 and following, but also how a loose confederation of podcasters can be just a social club rather than a really serious podcast network (and he describes what should be in a podcast network from his point of view).
So the benefits vs. the contributions is a matrix that you should put together to evaluate an existing podcast network that you may feel compelled to join. Also, if you wish to start one, you should examine deep in yourself what you really want to get out of managing this type of organization and see if you have the talent and skills to do so effectively, without having the passion of podcasting be lost due to frustrations because of your potential lack of skills.
And Evo relates what, in his opinion, is really needed for a good podcast network today.
Now, the other example with some lessons learned comes from Daniel J Lewis of The Audacity to Podcast show. He describes how he put together his network shortly after he joined podcasting in full force — and also the end of his network, along with the reasons why he ended it.
In his recent episode called “Why we retired our podcast network,” Daniel mentions that he had clear-cut goals when he created his podcast network: “My goal was to bring together like-minded podcasters with high-quality shows to grow together through synergy, community, support, cross-promotion, and sponsorship.”
However, what seemed to me to be more or less a society of like-minded individuals with different podcast shows from different genres and possibly some unrelated themes soon grew into a long list of participating shows in the network, like the following:
The Ramen Noodle
Are You Just Watching
The Audacity to Podcast
Beyond the To-Do List
The Productive Woman
Christian Meets World
The Sci-Phi Show
ONCE
Welcome to Level Seven
WONDERLAND
Under the Dome Radio
Resurrection Revealed
Podcasting Videos by The Audacity to Podcast
Inside the Podcasting Business
As you can see, this could appear to be a community of disjointed themes and topics, with possibly the intent to generate sponsorship, financial rewards from downloads and advertising, as well as cross-promotion. And Daniel then explains what things he did well in the network and what things that were done poorly:
Audience-relevant common theme
Cross-promotion
Cross-integration
Full and consistent community
and you can listen to his audio podcast episode to get the details. Then he states why he retired the network, including the ability for him to focus on fewer things, as well as giving each podcaster more room to expand.
So Daniel’s experiences deliver some lessons learned about starting a podcast network, and I would suggest that you take these into account if you get the passion to go beyond your own podcast shows and want to start your own network.
Considerations for the podcaster about Podcast Network
As a podcaster, what passion can be driving you toward wanting to start a great podcast network? Will you have the time? Will the additional workload and timetables and schedules and management of the network be something you will embrace, as well as have time for? Will you have the necessary skills to manage your network? Will you have the right temperment for being in the network? And will the podcasts in the network be the right ones, or will they be a hodge-podge collection of your favorite podcasters and additional genres and other topics that might not relate well to some audiences? Will the network be governed by contract or by word-of-mouth agreements?
So, whatever your decision may be concerning podcast networks may be (i.e., either joining one or starting one of your own), we hope that these two audio episodes can give you enough food for thought to know what to expect both from the contribution side and the giving side to the network.
So we hope that your podcast show will be successful, whether it be a part of a podcast network or not.
Thank you for your attention
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Daniel J Lewis of Theaudacitytopodcast.com and Evo Terra of Podcastpontifications.com and michaelandmike.com. All rights reserved.
In that episode from Evo, the question pondered was: how is a podcaster supposed to embrace and live by consistency, since everything in the podosphere is changing so rapidly?
So, with this in mind, he explained how he went through a review of his own podcast show and wondered how he could improve and change it for the better, as a good experience for the listener and audience. And Evo listed nine things that he did with his show to improve it, as the theme of the episode was “The Process of Changing your Podcast.”
Thus, I let the study take place over some time. So I looked at most of these nine things which related to me and my shows, and I added a couple more (see, below, for my comments of my own review, as well) for me to examine in my review — although I did not wish to change anything just for the sake of changing. Evo Terra and I are different in that aspect, for he gets the urge to change often.
And the nine things that Evo examined do follow my 2 additional items. They are:
Repurposing older episodes from all my podcast shows and re-relate them to the current environment — this is one of the extra items that I added, for I did comment about this earlier in this podcast show. And this has worked extremely well for me, for content can be fresh and new (even though the theme is from before), but with a different spin that relates to the current time;
contemplating whether to add a co-host or to add additional current interviews with key people who can add to the value of the show for the listener — this is the other extra item that I added. And this means that you should always be asking how to improve the show from the audience’s perspective. For example, do they want to hear another voice or another viewpoint or even some rants or banter or polite arguments or discussion?
And here are the nine changes that were experienced by Evo in his podcast show this year:
How to do your podcast prep — mainly the OUTLINE and the steps, the process, the resources and the habits; [for me, I have tightened my podcast prep for all my 3 shows]
Change your sites and phone resources for all new branding; [for me, this was not a key issue and needed no update]
Update and re-implement a brand new web site; [for me, this was not applicable]
Incorporate CORRECTED transcripts with different collaboration and processes for speedy transcripts; [I do use show notes as a means of transcripts for my audience]
Any change to your electronic in-box deliveries of your newsletters and email correspondence to your mailing list with the third party vendor or company you may choose (remember that Adam Curry had a problem with Mail Chimp recently); [This was not applicable for me]
Evo switched to an herbal tea from coffee, due to vocal coach suggestions; [I drink both tea and coffee quite sparingly]
Evo has been seeing a vocal coach, so that he can take care of his resource (his voice) for the future as a podcaster; [I have not employed a vocal coach]
Evo has engaged a sound engineer to improve the sound of his episodes and great quality with a brand new way to do post-production; [I have improved my own post-production processes, tools and quality]
Evo has changed his processes for creating in-app episode details, thanks to Apple; [this, for me, did not apply]
If you are on a show that has a seasonal publishing schedule, then you may want to do your improvements from this list (or also from those of your own lists) for your next season — that is, after you leave a hint to your audience about changes at the end of your current season.
As Evo said: “Changing is never finished.”
And so we may see Evo changing and improving on a faster track than you may be on, it is still a good idea to review some of the ideas of change that Evo has done after a good study, and then see if your podcast may be able to benefit from one or more of these to improve your show. If you do, we hope that the results will be increasing your audience, getting your listeners to agree that you did provide value to them and having better success in all ways for your show.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Evo Terra of podcastpontifications.com and michaelandmike.com. All rights reserved.
In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss a relatively different strategy for monetization via a membership, with additional feedback and additional content where the chief objective seems to be more than just money or financial success.
How is this slightly different to the usual donation by other podcasters requesting money from buymeacoffee.com?
In this case, Evo will still continue to deliver FREE content on his main show of PodcastPontifications.com. However, instead of donating a one-time delivery of $5 for a cup of coffee, he is now welcoming his listeners to become a MEMBER of his coffee-club. In this way, he has set aside a premium podcast aspect of his show for those who will purchase a yearly donation to his membership system. And then, he will offer additional content to those who sign up for this membership.
Well, for this podcaster, since I have always followed Evo (even though I may not agree with him on various topics he brings up — but I still respect his right to pontificate his thoughts on his show, and I listen to him with an open mind on all things — even though I understand his point of view but reserve my right to disagree due to my own critical thinking). Thus, I signed up for this membership and waited to see what type of additional content and additional deliverables would be coming to the “members.”
The answer started to come in almost immediately. I received an email from Evo not only with his gratitude for signing up, but also with his brainstorming ideas as what type of content would be great for the membership, based on their feedback. So I looked at what he had conceived and I quickly sent an email reply back with MY OWN VALUE-BASED ideas of additional content or follow-up actions for members that Evo could deliver.
The reply from Evo was almost immediate. And I saw that he was offering different ideas, based on feedback from myself and others who joined the membership. And I responded with an email that thanked him for his planning, and I said that his ideas seemed good enough for me. And to this day, I am waiting to see what the results will be, for I know that Evo does deliver to his audience — especially when he is able to monetize the podcast and its infrastructure for his audience to provide more VALUE.
Now, will this be a trend for other podcasters to do so?
The answer is that time will tell to see which strategy will be adopted by other podcasters (or perhaps there will be NEWER strategies that will be implemented — and how successful they will be). I will be anticipating for that. And I also plan to report on the strategy from Evo and my opinion of the deliverables that will be sent to myself and others in this new “coffee-premium” audience.
So, if you wish to join a “coffee-premium” program, then you may want to listen to the podcast show PodcastPontifications.com with Evo Terra and decide if you want to join. Or you may listen to other shows on the noagendastream that are implementing a “value-for-value” strategy to see if you may want to go that route — or you may want to plan out, contemplate about, and START YOUR OWN VALUE-BASED premium program.
We hope that you will become successful in whichever way you decide to monetize your show and deliver even more VALUE to your audience for your own show’s success.
Thank you for your attention.
Copyright (c) 2021, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Evo Terra and michaelandmike.com. All rights reserved.
