This past weekend was the 2nd Annual Podthon Conference. This fantastic conference is a podcast event created by podcasters for podcasters. Podthon is a two-day virtual event where podcasters learn podcasting tips from thought leaders in the podcasting community. There are several opportunities to connect with leaders and fellow podcasters too.
Danielle Desir, the Founder of Women of Color Podcasters, and Lee Uehara, the Founder of the Asian American Podcasters Association, noticed there were tons of podcasting conferences. Still, very few podcasters of color were getting the coveted speaking slots.
A little voice told Danielle and Lee, “If you build it, they will come.”
Therefore, they created Podthon to offer podcasters mentorship and a stage to share their knowledge and expertise.
This year’s event had over 30 speakers, including me! In this article, I share some of the best advice from fellow speakers.
Podcast Tips Every Podcaster Needs to Know
1. Podcasters Need to Be Purposeful About Boosting Diversity
“If you’re an event planner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your event is diverse.” Dave Lee, Creator of The International Podcast Day
Now more than ever, diversity is key to an event, group, or organization’s success. It’s essential for event creators to seek and select diverse speakers, topics, and reach out to broad audiences! When you prioritize diversity, you make the event better for everyone.
By creating a venue full of different perspectives, the environment is bound to spark several great ideas.
Dave should know. He created International Podcast Day, which brings together thousands of podcasters from all over the world for live coverage 24 hours straight. He and his team seek out podcasters from across the globe and through their networks to ensure adequate representation from diverse groups from different countries. Check out International Podcast Day’s intense schedule.
Follow International Podcast Day on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
2. Book Relatable Podcast Guests
“High profile guests aren’t always my best episodes. That’s why I have guests who are regular people my audience can relate to.”
Tiffany Grant of Money Talk With Tiff
I totally agree with Tiff’s podcast tip. In my experience, my high profile guests have not been my most listened to podcast episodes. For example, I had the honor of interviewing Venture Capitalist Arlan Hamilton right before she released her book, It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage.
Don’t get me wrong, her episode is highly favored. However, my most listened to podcast episode is a solo episode where I share how I saved $80,000 for retirement in one year. My second most popular podcast episode is about entrepreneur Mileyka Maxwell, the Creator of G.R.A.C.E., a fashionable nail polish line.
Mileyka followed her purpose and created more than just a color. She created a ministry for women to share their experiences, faith, and bond over their favorite nail colors. Mileyka supports her business and works 9 to 5. As she says in her interview, her job is her number one investor. Many of my listeners are just like her, and that’s why I think her story resonates with so many women.
Choose guests for your podcast that your listeners can relate to and love. Invite guests who will inspire your audience to take action and change their own lives. Then sprinkle some high profile guests on your show from time to time too.
Follow Money Talk with Tiff on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest
Listen to Money Talk with Tiff on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play
3. Don’t Just Host a Podcast, Be on Podcasts Too
Brée Nachelle, the Host of Fabulous F**kery, should be crowned the pitching queen. She gave the Podthon audience several tips on how to pitch themselves for top podcast shows. Brée also shared how to get high profile guests on your podcast. Her last words were to dream big and prepare yourself for when Oprah or Jordan Peele says yes to a podcast collab.
Her presentation, Book Your Podcast: Tips for Guest Appearances, thoroughly explained how to research shows you want to be on, what the most captivating pitches have in their emails and subject line, and why you should never call a show host. Just because someone’s Instagram has the call me button, doesn’t mean you should use it.
If you want someone to invite you to share your knowledge and expertise with their audience, do your research on the podcast. Start by listening to several (not just one) episodes of the podcast. Then contact the host with a personalized pitch.
Great hosts can spot BS from a mile away, so don’t write a fluff email that says you liked episode 11, but you can’t name one reason why you liked it. Secondly, write your pitches yourself. Some hosts want to hear from you directly, not your virtual assistant or your promotion team.
All of Brée’s tips, I can use right now to book my next gig as a guest on another podcast. Podcast tours are a great way to build your brand, increase listeners of your show, and shake the podcast jitters. After a few guest appearances, you’ll be a pro on the mic and known for your craft.
Follow Brée Nachelle and Fabulous F**kery on Instagram, Twitter
Listen to Fabulous F**kery on Apple Podcasts, Spotify
4. Crowdfund Your Podcast
Kriselle Gabriel, the Creator of Empowered in Color, hosted a dynamic presentation about how to raise money for your podcast through platforms like IFundWomen and Kickstarter. She explained the pros and cons of the platforms and how you can use them to engage your audience further and obtain their financial support for your show.
As she explained, there is tremendous value in having an organized launch to announce your crowdfunding efforts and how setting lower goals can help you be successful and get more people to contribute. Folks who try to raise $100 and reach their goal in hours are more likely to get more support faster. People like to support successful ventures.
However, if your goal is too high, contributors might hesitate to give if they don’t think other people are supportive of your podcast.
Use videos to share more about yourself, your podcast, and why you are raising money. People will get to know you and get behind your cause. Lastly, your gifts to contributors don’t always have to be a t-shirt or cost you money. Sometimes connecting with you one-on-one or a shot out on your podcast is enough, and these actions don’t’ cost you a thing.
Crazy, I know, but it’s all about setting realistic money goals and doing Jedi mind tricks and strategic online marketing. I was inspired to launch a campaign for season two of The Purpose of Money Podcast after seeing The Racist Sandwich Podcast raised over $12,000 for their show about food, race, class, and gender.
Follow Empowered In Color on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Listen to Empowered In Color Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play
5. If You Can Podcast, You Can Coach
Dielle Charon created the School of Ambition Podcast. She is a coach that helps other coaches find consistent clients for their coaching business. Dielle works a 9 to 5 job and runs a six-figure coaching business.
During her presentation, Dielle said, “Podcasts are great relationship builders,” and I agree with her 100 percent. As someone who has gotten clients to turn into customers after listening to my podcast, I can tell you a podcast helps build trust with your audience. After they get to know you, they’ll contact you to build a deeper relationship or to do business together. That’s what I call a win.
According to Dielle, if you are podcasting, you can probably coach too. As an expert in your topic, you are already educating others through your podcast. You can level up that experience and launch a membership site, coaching, or create courses. For new coaches, maybe you could start your pricing at $100 a session and increase your rates as your experience grows.
Follow Dielle Charon on Instagram
Listen to the School of Ambition Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
6. Pitch Your Expertise, Not Your Service, Book, or Product
Christina Nicholson is the creator of Media Maven, a company that helps individuals increase their exposure by landing media appearances and opportunities without paying a cent. At Podthon, Christina clearly explained how to pitch yourself for media outlets in her podcast tips.
Even if you have a book, service, or product, don’t lead with that news. Instead, speak about your expertise and how you would add value to the media outlet’s audience. Prove you are an expert, and then pitch your product–preferably later into the discussion. Give listeners a chance to trust you, and then they’ll want to support your business by buying our course, book, service, whatever.
So crazy how sometimes people forget to be human, kind and add value before going into the “Always Be Closing” mode. This was a refreshing reminder. Christina also mentioned the importance of sharing your media opportunities if you want them to turn into more PR moments.
Followers just don’t find you by accident. You have to promote yourself and your public appearances on your own platforms.
Follow Christina Nicholson on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
Listen to Become a Media Maven on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify
7. Repurpose Your Podcast Content and Stay Relevant
Whitney Barkley of Pink Lemonade Podcast, hit the nail on the coffin when she shared podcast tips about repurposing your podcast content. I felt like she was personally speaking to me during this session.
As a podcaster, you need to work smarter, not harder. Most of us are podcasters in addition to working 9 to 5 jobs and living our lives. We are all striving to grow our reach and listeners so that one day we can all get a $100 million contract on Spotify.
But until then, we need to strategically reuse the content we make and put it in more places where it will get noticed, loved, and attract more of our target audience.
For example, Whitney suggested that you transcribe podcasts and turn them into blog posts. Or you could turn audio into audiograms and videos into YouTube content.
Personally, I love this podcast tip. So much that I am starting to turn my recorded podcast episodes into YouTube videos since I recorded both audio and video through Zoom. I like being able to see my guests and I want to connect with listeners that prefer to watch us speaking. Plus, with the right amount of YouTube subscribers and ads, you can turn your videos into a second stream of income.
Follow Whitney Barkley on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Listen to Pink Lemonade on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Sound Cloud
Are You Pumped to Attend Podthon in 2021?
After this experience, Podthon is a conference on my “must attend” list. I already bought my ticket for next year.
What are some of your podcasting tips? Please share what has helped you in the comments below.