Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach

Latest Episodes:

164 Does Your Podcast Suck Because of the Same Old Boring Questions? Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

Sometimes I listen to a podcast and I can almost see the questions the podcast interviewer is asking. I picture them clutching to these questions like it's a floating door next to the almost sunk Titanic.

Somewhere, someone in the podcasting world told people to create 5-8 stock questions and ask every guest the same questions. I get it. It offers consistency. And, I will admit, it has worked for some. But, I'm sorry to report, it doesn't for most.

And, if I'm being totally honest (and kind of an asshole) which I always am… it's LAZY!

Okay, okay - there's a chance that you're not lazy. Maybe, at some point, you created these stock questions so that your show serves your listeners needs. But, are they still?

You may have been convinced that this was a way for your show to be consistent. And, it is. Consistently boring! Oh, all right. I'll stop being a hard ass.

Let me just say this. Stock questions - asking the same questions of your guest each episode - can provide a sense of familiarity for your listener. It may also keep your show consistent. However, there are some red flags to watch out for.

Should You Ask the Same Questions Each Podcast? Not if you start seeing these red flags:

Your guest is on to you and shows up with prepared answers. Now your podcast sounds like a 3rd grade speech contest with cue cards and all. Or, a production at a small town community theatre with amateur actors.
You stop caring about the answer and skip right to the next question.
Your guest becomes noticeably annoyed because you are not talking to them, you are talking at them.
You start to get comments from fans that they are tired of the questions
You start to see a dropoff in your downloads, engagements, leads, or conversions

All too often, these stock questions become a safety blanket and let me be the first to say that staying safe is boooooring for your listener.

Here at podcast performance coach, we subscribe to listener-first podcasting. So, ask yourself, are you asking the same questions each episode because that is going to give your listener the absolute best experience?

Chances are, the answer is no. In a perfect, well produced podcast world, you would research your guest and figure out what it is that they can actually deliver to your listener. Then, develop your questions around pulling out all of their best ideas, info, and stories.

Yes. This will take more time but it will also lead to a better podcast. But, since I know we don't live in a perfect, well produced podcast world, you may need to stick to a template or outline.

If you are going to use a set of stock questions or a templated outline, here are some tips for keeping it fresh and interesting for you audience:

#1 Follow the conversation. Don't pass up opportunities to take the discussion further even if it means throwing away all of your other questions. If your guest is laying a golden egg, don't pass it by - pick it up and run with it! The trick here is that you have to listen and stay present in the conversation (not be checking what the next question is).

#2 Don't telegraph your questions. I hear this all the time, 'my next question is…' or 'I/we always ask our guests…' This is not only a dead giveaway that you are phoning it in, but it pulls the listener out of the experience because now they are thinking about the production. Trust me, they prefer the wizard to stay behind the curtain - nobody needs to see the messy mechanics! And, we don't need to know that this is your next question… it's going to be pretty damn obvious that it's your next question when you ask it! A great interview is well planned but it FEELS spontaneous!

#3 Freshen up those stale questions. Even if you are going to ask the same set of questions to each of your guests, you can change the way you ask those questions. Use different words, change how you ask it, give a fresh example, anecdote or piece of research (on your guest) to set up the question and make it feel fresher.

#4 Find the flow. I can tell a rookie podcast interviewer by the awkward silence right before a seemingly unrelated question. Here's what I mean. Your guest has just given this great answer and you say something inane like, that's so interesting. Pause. Ask the next question on your list which is unrelated. Here's how a pro handles it… they segway. No, I don't mean the millennial 2-wheeled fad. I mean that they create a clear connection between the last answer and the next question. This is how conversations flow and it is a skill you may need to work on. Figure out what the answer has to do with the next question and connect the two. Sometimes (hold on, this might blow your mind) you can make a better connection to a question two or three questions down the list. Heck yeah, you can do that! See tip #1.

Now I have a question for you… do you think you're ready to stop letting stock questions take the thrill out of your podcast? That is a loaded question. I loaded it just for you.

And I hope that's just the question you need.

If your podcast is feeling extra stale (and it's not just the stock questions) you may be in need of a tune-up. Good news. I can help with that and the first step is to book a free 15-minute coaching call with me.

Related Episodes:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/031-give-guest-questions-advance/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/022-stop-answering-questions/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/014-mastering-open-ended-questions/

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/123-want-amazing-interview-skills-take-a-lesson-from-larry-king/

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

Tim Wohlberg

Podcast Coach

163 Do you Need to Rethink How you Handle Your Podcast Microphone? Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Get your grubby hands off me!

If your mic could talk, that's what it would be saying. There is one time and one time only that you should be touching your mic and that is when you are setting it up at exactly the right position.

Listen to https://podcastperformancecoach.com/001-podcast-mic-placement/

Watch this podcast mic placement video:

https://youtu.be/TuQxy7shV3Y

And this podcast mic placement video:

https://youtu.be/0W7B7kxQdmc

Once your mic is set, you need to leave it alone! I mean, you can tap it with a pen to make sure that it's actually on and recording you but after THAT… leave it alone!

Now this may seem like an obvious thing (I hope that it is) but I hear evidence of mic manhandling all the time!

The biggest culprits are the public speakers… I hear you holding that mic like you're pacing the stage like a mother effing boss! I get it. This is your comfort zone. No, scratch that, this is your power zone and you want to be in it. But here's what you need to know. Your stage mic and your podcast mic are not built the same.

It's literally like trying to ride a Vespa the way you'd ride a Harley. Sure, they are both two wheeled vehicles but they are not the same thing. They operate very differently and if you don't know the difference, you could end up body surfing some concrete.

Using your mic incorrectly is not nearly as dramatic as all that but it is an assault to your listeners ears when you're clutching that mic in your hands.

If you're using a condenser mic, it's built to pick up all of the sound around you. That includes any rubbing or finger tapping or chin brushing you might do. If you have a dynamic mic, you may not hear the hand noise quite as much but you will hear the change in your voice quality because it's a lot harder to maintain the perfect recording position while you're flipping that mic around.

Here's another reason to keep your hands off that mic - the mute button. If you're all over your mic, you might change the settings without realizing it. This is a very special note to anyone using the Shure MV7. That mute button is very, very easy to hit. It only takes a whisper of a touch. You will have no idea that you've muted yourself until you listen back and wonder where all of your audio went! Do it again, Handsy!

And the final reason not to handle you mic. You don't need to do it.

I know there are podcasters who don't love the hands-free lifestyle but they run the risk of decreasing the listening enjoyment of their listeners. Ain't nobody who wants an unexpected audio punch in their earholes! Boof. It's nasty.

Why would you do that? Remember, your podcast is not for you - it's for your listener so treat them right. Give them audio they can enjoy. If you do, they trust you to manage your mic. When you do, they'll be happy to put you in their ears every new release.

Mic technique comes with practice and the very first thing you should practice is keeping your hands to yourself.

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Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

162 Has Your Podcast Lost its Magic? This Might Be Why Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

There's this thing that happens to athletes when they over train. They over-analyze every stroke, swing, or step. They start to overthink what they are doing. Their motions and reactions become too premeditated, too stiff, too awkward. The pressure to perform mounts… and then, usually when it really matters, they choke.

I hear something similar with podcasters. They don't choke necessarily, they just stop sounding like themselves and their show starts to tank.

Now, don't get me wrong. It's important to try to improve your performance. You want your show to sound great and you want to make sure that your content is serving your listener - but not at the expense of your authenticity.

This is not a free pass to wing it. I repeat - I am not suggesting that you stop trying and start relying on whatever natural talent you have.

On the contrary - you do want to focus on constantly improving how you show up for your audience and how well you serve them.

BUT… if you find yourself manipulating your show or its content, following what some guru says will get you more downloads. Stop right there.

If you find yourself sounding formulaic and stiff because you are trying to do what the pros do - give your head a serious shake and [imagine Cher here] Shnap out of it!

One of the things that you can always count on bringing to the table for your listeners is YOU. You are the one irreplaceable part of your podcast.

Love you or hate you, YOU are what is going to create your loyal audience.

When you start to take YOU out of the equation because you are trying to fix YOU (aka, your voice, how you talk, your presentation style, or your ideas) you will lose the magic.

In other words, you'll do the podcast equivalent of 6 putting away your 5 point lead on the 18th hole. Why are you looking at me? I didn't do that.

Here are a few tips for reconnecting with your authentic podcasting self

Stay present - listen to your guest and have a conversation. You can still keep things on the rails without following your question list like a teacher reading the student class list.
Tap back into your WHY - remember why you started podcasting. Recall what it was about this particular topic that made you think you wanted to talk about it non-stop. And, if you're podcasting for your business, remember your brand and what you represent.
Let go of the Shoulds. I know it's cliche but be yourself. If you've been doing some research and find yourself thinking, 'this guru says I should do this' or ' this podcaster had success doing this so I should try that too.' Stop.
Stop trying. If I could channel my inner millennial for a moment… you be you boo. Don't be the 'podcast host' version of yourself, just be yourself. You know, with your own voice and your own accent and your own words and your own style… Yes, you do naturally have all of these things and that's where the magic is.

Seriously, if you try too hard in your podcast, you risk losing the authenticity that likely brought your subscribers to you in the first place.

Keep your performance updates simple and subtle. Pivot, don't do a full 360 with your content. Improve a little bit every episode and don't expect to become Marc Maron overnight. Heck, even Marc Maron doesn't try to be as good as Marc Maron!

And, for the love of pizzapops, don't try to coach yourself! Get some professional help to guide you to the next level (not to the top… just to the next level!)

Oh, yeah… that's what I do. Feel free to book a free 15-minute coaching call. That should give us enough time to get you started without getting you overwhelmed! We can talk about the one issue you think you need the most help with.

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My Performance Episodes

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/podcasts/#performance

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

161 Case Study: How She Launched and got 30,000 Podcast Downloads Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Jayna Marie's Promotion Plan Generated Massive Downloads in the First 30 Days

It's the dream. Launch a podcast and instantly have 30,000 downloads. 'Huge downloads' is certainly the most common goal I hear in my free 15-minute coaching calls!

The problem is, it's not a reality for most new podcasters. (And it might not even be the best goal… more on that further down).

But, one of my clients, Jayna Marie, recently pulled it off. She had an amazing launch for her podcast Big Lash Energy. She got almost 30,000 downloads in the first 30 days of her podcast.

How did she do it? I thought you might want to know. That's why I took a bit more time than my usual 5 minute podcast and interviewed her in depth. You can watch this case study interview on my YouTube channel RIGHT HERE

In this episode of Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach, I break down the key things I learned in that podcast launch case study. Make sure you watch the full video to find out how advice she once got from Lady Gaga inspired this huge launch.

Here are the top three things that she did that resulted in huge downloads in the first month of her podcast.

1. Have and serve an existing fan base

I'll tell you the truth. Jayna Marie came in HOT! She had a really large following on social media. I'm talking nearly 25,000 followers on Instagram. And this was an engaged following. They're as active as she is. And they're dialed in. She knows exactly who she's talking to and what they want from her.

So, if you don't have a big audience to start, don't worry about it. But start building it now. Get that email list of yours growing. Get people following you and opting in.

You do that by consistently serving mad value to your audience and other people's audiences.

2. Do your research and create a plan.

Finding out how podcasting really works - talking to some coaches, Jayna Marie did just this. And she'll tell you this in the youtube interview. I've talked before about having a podcast launch party but what Jayna did in the way of planning, prep, and building the hype was absolutely over the top awesome! She put in the work. And she had all of this planned well before we even had her first episode edited.

3. Have a kick ass, quality sounding trailer.

Jayna understood that you only get one shot to make that first impression. So the pressure was on to create something that felt authentically her, that spoke directly to her audience and left them wanting more. It took some time, but we didn't stop working and tweaking it until we knew it was right. Do this and your listeners can't help but hit that follow or subscribe button.

To sum up – be listener focused and serve your ideal customer, get strategic, and come out of the gate strong!

You may not apply these tips exactly the way Jayna did but this will serve you too.

And, to be perfectly honest, you may not get the same results as Jayna (her podcast is 200% higher than the average!) but you may not NEED to get these results.

Jayna's goal was to grow an audience completely unrelated to her existing business. She did not and does not intend for this podcast to be a marketing tool for her make-up artistry business.

Your goals might be different. If your podcast is all about building your authority as subject matter expert, growing brand awareness, or serving as a direct marketing tool for your business then you may not need 30,000 downloads in the first month. A tenth of that may be all you need to significantly increase your exposure!

The need for big downloads often comes from ego. There, I said it.

But you're an entrepreneur and your podcast should serve your business needs (not your ego's). So, make sure you are picking the right metric to measure before you start chasing the huge downloads.

I've helped many podcasters that don't get 30,000 downloads in a month, and they are just as thrilled as Jayna with the results.

Here's why. Their podcast still helps them grow their authority. It still serves their audience. And it serves their business by steadily growing over the years. Their show consistently delivers leads for their business because they are consistently delivering great content, serving their community, and helping their ideal customer.

Having said that, I hope these tips help you launch with more confidence. Make sure you check out the YouTube video - Jayna is awesome and you won't believe how BIG she went with her launch (all thanks to that advice she got from Gaga years ago!). By the way, the tips are still relevant even if you've already launched your podcast. Jayna is stellar at marketing herself like a star using social media and word of mouth.

Oh, and she has over 120 five star reviews in Canada… give her show a listen to find out why her fans love her show so much. Check out hellojayna.com where you can also subscribe to Big Lash Energy.

Want the kind of rockstar treatment Jayna got from her podcast coach? Book your free 15-minute coaching call with me.

My YOUTUBE Interview with Jayna Marie

https://youtu.be/4buUN_pWS-s

Big Lash Energy on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/big-lash-energy/id1624781349

Big Lash Energy on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/4ohuG8vedihPkZPwBmeb0Q

Jayna Marie's Website

https://www.hellojayna.com/

Jayna Marie's Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jaynamariemakeup/

https://www.instagram.com/biglashpodcast/

Libsyn Stats: (2020)

https://bit.ly/3yuVFv3

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Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

160 What's the Most Effective Time in a Podcast Episode to Do a Promo? Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

Where do you put your promo? Are you asking for something right out of the gate? Do you like to sneak it in the middle? Or are you closing with your CTA?

There are a lot of opinions about the best placement of your call to action and in this episode, I'm going to challenge you to shake things up a bit.

Now, I'm not a fan of hearing a call to action right off the top. I mean, come on man, I just got here and you're already asking me to do something? It especially burns my nuts if you're asking me to review or subscribe to your show in the first 30 seconds. I haven't had a chance to decide if I like a single thing you have to say yet. It's like taking me to meet your mom on the first date. Slow down. Let's see where this thing is going first.

Other than that, I get that the first few minutes of your show is valuable real estate. You have their attention but do you really want to annoy them with a promo before you even get going? I guess the good thing about CTAs at the beginning of the show is that I still have time to hit the skip button a few times. Haha! Foiled you! You can't make me listen to your stupid pitch for your boring newsletter!

A CTA in the middle can also be powerful because people are often already invested in listening. They're hands are in the dish soap, they're picking up dog poop, or they're settled in for the train ride and can't be bothered to dig into their pocket to hit the skip button.

And, it's much easier to slip it in. To work the CTA into the conversation which is ultimately going to make it more effective. A call to action with context is going to seem less like a promo and more like an obvious next step. I'll talk more about context in a minute but if you want to even more, check out episode 102 on how to help your listener take the next step.

So, we've covered the CTA at the beginning, slipping it into the middle and the last spot left is the last spot. You're winding down your podcast and this is when you go to the standard 'subscribe, share, sign up' call to action as you're walking out the door.

The problem with this move is that everyone sees it coming. And, they're already on to the next podcast on their list.

Hey Coach Tim. It sounds like you're saying beginning, middle, and end are all bad spots for the call to action. What gives? Are you saying NO call to action?

Hell no! You have to have a call to action. This is the best way to help someone take the next step in their customer journey with you. It's critical and… helpful. Again - check out episode 102 when I share more about this.

Here's what I'm saying - stop being so damn predictable. Mix it up a little. Try one episode with your CTA off the top, then in the next episode, try out the back end CTA. If you really want to punch your podcast-nerd ticket, test each one! That might look like having a CTA with a specific URL or promo code for when it's at the end, and a different URL or promo code for when it's mid-show. Find out what is the most effective.

And, if you really want to gain some traction with your CTA add a bit of context. You might be able to do that off the top as you introduce the topic, in the middle as a 'oh and by the way' CTA, or at the end as you sum things up. When your CTA relates directly to your show topic, you are way more likely to get action - no matter where you place it.

You may have noticed that I twice invited you to check out a back episode. Both times, my suggestion to listen to episode 102 was in context to what I was talking about. I can guarantee if I had just said, go back and listen to my library of shows you'd have been less inclined.

So, add in context to your CTA and get curious about where your CTAs perform best by mixing it up and testing it out.

This will make your promos feel a lot more palatable and a lot less pushy.

Now, if none of your calls to action are getting action, it may be that your show and business are not in alignment. I can help straighten things out in my free 15-minute coaching call. Go ahead and get on my calendar right away because the only thing more annoying than a poorly placed promo is a poorly placed crappy promo being pitched at the wrong people!

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

159 Are You Throwing Away the Most Important Part of Your Podcast? Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

Just because you've said it 100 times doesn't mean someone has heard it 100 times. And it certainly doesn't mean you can toss it away like a 2 month-old iPhone. (Apple slam!)

I hear this all the time. It happens in podcasts and in YouTube videos and, full disclosure, I recently got called out on it too!

Throwing away the most critical lines. You know, the ones that you say every episode? Calls to action like "subscribe", and "download" and "visit my website". Or, it might be your show promise, your show name, your tagline, your offer, services, or even your own name!

You've probably said them at least once in almost every episode and because of that, you're throwing these lines away like they're not important.

You're tired of saying them and now you're practically yada, yada, yada-ing them. There's no magic. No excitement. No energy.

And, no reason for me to pay any attention let alone do what you're asking me to do.

In other words, you're taking all of the juice out of your most important pieces of information AND your calls to action.

Booooo! Just because you're on episode 220 doesn't mean your listener has listened to 220 episodes. In fact, this may be their very first listen. And here you are fobbing off your most important information.

Don't expect that everyone listening has heard it before. Give it as much energy as you did in episode 1! Keep the energy up on your calls to action and your most important (most repeated) info. Don't phone it in.

And don't go changing up the way you say things just because you're bored with it. Think about the listener's experience and relationship with you.

This is what I got called out on recently.

If you've heard my show before then you know I end with "And I hope THAT'S just the tip you need" every show. It's kind of my catch phrase or sign off. I say it with the same cadence and put the emphasis on 'that's' every time.

Until recently.

Repetition and Consistency are Essential and Powerful

A few shows ago I changed the emphasis. I didn't change the script, just the emphasis. I hit HOPE instead of 'that's'. No big deal, right?

Well, a fan reached out and said how disappointed she was. It had really thrown her off. It's one of the things she loves about my show. She waits to hear it. Even says it in her head along with me. Kind of like singing along to one of your favorite songs or jingles.

My wife noted a similar experience with a podcast she loves called 99% Invisible. Roman Mars, the show host, always signed off with the studios' location as 'beautiful downtown Oakland, California'. He delivers it with this specific rhythm that makes it almost a brand earcon. Well, when the show moved its studios to uptown, he and his producers knew that they had to keep the sing-song delivery the same. And so he did.

He knew that people would wait for this sign off. That the consistency of how he says it is part of its charm.

If he started throwing it away because he's said it thousands of times, or changed it just because one word was different, it would lose that charm.

Here's what I really want you to take away from this episode. You are throwing away more than the power of your words when you throw away your lines.

Repetition and consistency breed familiarity. That familiarity is the foundation for a relationship you are building with your audience. This is what helps them feel like they know you. And, that makes them comfortable with you, which leads to them trusting you.

This is the holy grail of podcasting - or any form of content marketing: Know - Like - Trust.

Not only that, but your audience's recall will be significantly higher. And, isn't that what you want as a podcaster looking to grow your authority? Oh, you betcha.

So, the next time you think about throwing away the important information (or changing up that thing you say every episode) consider what it might be doing to your listener. Don't yada, yada yada. Don't rush. Don't take your listener for granted. Give them your best read, every time.

And, I hope THAT's just the tip you need. (bomp bom-bom bomp).

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Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

158 Why Having Your Podcast Guest's Name in the Episode Title is a Mistake May 31, 2022

Show notes

Make a sticky note and put this up in your podcast studio: The Weight is in the 'Why', Not the 'Who'.

Let me help you decipher this one. The weight or the value of each episode comes from why someone would listen NOT who you have on your show.

Let that sink in. Why, Not Who.

The reason I wanted to share this with you today is because I see this mistake all the time.

I see titles that are just the guest's name.

I hear people start an episode with something like 'My guest today is…*reads bio*.

You know you've heard this. Maybe you've done it. That ends today, my friend!

Here's why.

Unless your guest is a household name or some kind of titan in your industry... nobody is tuning in to hear them…besides their mother (and she probably isn't your target audience).

This comes up a lot with my clients. They ask about including their guest's names in their podcast episode titles. Don't bother. Don't waste that valuable and limited episode title real estate on a name nobody has ever heard of.

I remind them of the golden rule of podcasting: focus on your listener. Be listener-centric. Your podcast is not about you and it definitely isn't about your guest. It's about and for your listener.

If you want them to press play on an episode, you need to acknowledge this fact. You need to tell them why they should press play.

Put this on a sticky note too: WIIFT

What's In It For Them.

What's in your episode that's going to make it worth their time and attention?

This is the WHY of your episode.

Put yourself in your listener's shoes.

It's podcast time! Yay! They're looking at fresh episodes…

What's going to motivate them to press play? Is it some random name they've never heard of or a very clear benefit to them?

A conversation with Sue Trinham or The #1 Way to Make Money Growing Bonsai?

Seems pretty obvious when you look at it that way, doesn't it. I get that you see other people listing their guest's name in the title and starting the episode with a full bio like this is the most important part of the show. Now you have the opportunity to be a better podcaster than them by focusing on WIIFT instead of your guest.

I just had this discussion with a client and he pushed back. He felt that the interview was the point of the podcast. But here's what he's missing: the interview is just the how. It's how the information is shared… but it's NOT why someone would listen.

Yes, your guest qualifications are important but I expect that as a podcaster you're vetting your guests and only bringing on the best people. I expect that they will be impressive.

Let me be clear, I'm not saying you won't eventually tell me about who is on the show and share a bit about why they are qualified to offer information on a topic... I'm saying that is not the POINT of the episode. It's not the focus. It's not the reason I'm going to tune in.

My client still pushed back. He thought it was misleading if he didn't mention the guest in the title. Or even in the first minutes or 2 of the episode.

It's not misleading at all, it's leading with the gold.

The point of the episode comes down to what someone will get out of listening and why they should care. I'm going to assume that your guest is qualified and that you're going to deliver a great conversation every time. It's a given.

So, stop treating your guest's name like it's some kind of super magnet and keep it out of your title. Here's how you can effectively incorporate their name:

Put your guest's name in the author field of your episode details. You can do this by entering your name as you normally would followed by "with guest Sue Trinham".

That way, if anyone searches Apple Podcasts or Spotify for their specific name, your episode featuring them will show up.

You can have your cake and eat it too. Have a compelling title filled with WIIFT AND make it easy for anyone to find your episode when they're searching for podcasts featuring your guest.

Just never forget that the weight is in the WHY, not the WHO.

By the way, shifting to the listener-centric approach can be a challenge for many podcasters. It's not just one thing (like your title), it's the entire structure, content, marketing, and feel of the show.

If you'd like some help coming over to the right side of podcasting (aka listener-centric podcasting), start by booking a Free 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

157 Want a Better Sounding Podcast? Do This With Your Mic May 17, 2022

Show notes

So, you got the most expensive mic and you thought that would make you sound great. I have bad news for you. The best mic can still sound like crap if you're using it wrong.

If you want to sound great, you need to have good mic technique. I explain all about proper mic placement in my very first episode. And, I warn you about the biggest mistakes people make with their mics in episode 134 as well as getting the most out of your inexpensive mic in episode 42.

Yep, working your mic is kind of a big deal if you want to sound like a pro!

In this episode, I shed light on an often ignored fact: Different mics required different placement and techniques. (Click on this video and I'll show you exactly what I mean).

https://youtu.be/0W7B7kxQdmc

That's right. Your new expensive mic may need to be handled and spoken into differently than your last mic.

I can't tell you how often I meet a podcaster (usually because they have taken me up on my free 15 minute coaching call offer) and their show sounds like crap. They protest that they've got a great mic but within 30 seconds, I can instantly see what they're doing wrong.

They're talking into their mic all wrong. I especially see this with the Yeti!

And, they're doing that because they watch some video about how to use a mic but it was a different kind of mic! Yes, there are different styles of mic and you have to use them differently. If you don't, you're going to sound bad.

I can't be more brutally honest than that. You will sound terrible.

And this is a real problem if you're trying to build your authority as an expert. Poor mic placement and mic technique will make you sound like a total amateur.

If you created your podcast so that you can draw positive attention to your business or you want to build up your profile as an expert, having crap sound is not going to help you do that.

Once you make sure you're talking into your microphone the right way, you also have to consider your room environment and how you handle your mic throughout the recording process.

Learn how to use YOUR mic the right way and you'll be sounding sweet and building your authority with ease.

Want to make sure you're getting it right? Book a free 15-minute coaching call with me and I'll set you straight.

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me: https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

156 The 5 Mistakes I See Podcasters Make the Most May 03, 2022

Show notes

One of the best parts of what I do is getting to meet so many podcasters. I love it when they bring their problem podcast or podcast dreams to me.

And, with hundreds of coaching meetings under my belt, I can see the patterns. Every podcaster or would-be podcaster is different, but their problems often boil down to similar mistakes.

In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 most common mistakes I hear podcasters making (listen to the whole episode to hear what you can do to avoid making the same mistakes or running into the same problems with your podcast).

I should mention that most of the podcasters I work with are using their podcast as a marketing tool. The point of the podcast is to help them build authority. Or is it?… that's a little tease for you regarding the #1 mistake. Let's start our countdown with #5.

Here are the top 5 mistakes I hear podcasters making:

Poor Audio Quality

I've done so many episodes about this but I still get my earballs assaulted when I sneak a listen to the podcasts of people who book in for a free coaching call with me. Know this, if your podcast sounds crappy, it reflects badly on your brand. Nobody wants to hear that. Also, you will hear it from me when we jump on that free coaching call. What? Did you expect me to pull punches?

Self-Centred

If you haven't heard me harp on about how your show should be listener-centric, then stop reading and go back and listen to a few more shows. But, here's the crazy thing. I've met podcasters who think their podcast is listener-centric when it's fully self-serving. If you're interviewing guests, talking about a topic, going off topic, or sharing information that serves you more than the listener, then you may need to check your intentions.

Obsessing Over the Number of Downloads

It's nice to have a lot of listeners but if you are podcasting for your business or brand, then the number of downloads you have may be the wrong metric to be measuring. I hear this all the time. Someone gets on a call with me. I ask them why they booked the call. They say they want more downloads. I ask why and they are stumped. There's a lot to unpack at this point but let me say this - you do not need a tonne of downloads for your podcast to be successful. It all depends on what you DO with the downloads you get.

Not Promoting Your Podcast

Podcasting is not the Field of Dreams, folks. Just because you built it does not mean they will come. There are a lot of podcasts out there and if you want yours to be found and listened to, you need to do SOMETHING for it to stand out. I'm talking about promoting your content. You can do this by appearing on other people's podcasts, using social media, optimizing your email list, networking, heck - start by adding subscribe/follow buttons to your podcast website so people can take action. Do something! Anything! Get the word out or your podcast will be lost, floating around in the podiverse.

Not Knowing WHY

No joke. I probably ask WHY more than the parent of a 6 year-old kid on a field trip. I constantly push those who sign up for my free coaching call to identify the end result they are striving for with their podcast. To what end? What are your goals? What are you trying to achieve? What is the intention of your show? What is your 'WHY'? This is the #1 podcaster mistake because avoiding this mistake will actually help you avoid mistakes 2-5. Yep, this is the grand-daddy of mistakes. When you know your why; the intention of your podcast, you will be motivated to have it sound great, to focus on serving the listener (instead of yourself), to know what KPIs really matter to your success, and you'll promote the crap out of it so you can hit those goals. Boom! The WHY wins.

I'm not sharing these mistakes to make you feel bad (especially if you recognize these mistakes as your own). I'm sharing them so you can see that others make them too (they are the most common, der) AND because they are all fixable. You don't need to keep making these mistakes.

If you want some help sidestepping these potholes (or maybe seeing the potholes in the first place), book a free 15-minute coaching call right now. On these calls, I don't just point out the mistakes, I show you exactly how to correct them so you can create or correct a podcast that will help your ideal listener see you as a thought leader and authority in your niche.

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Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/

155 The Simple Paradigm Shift that Could Save Your Podcast Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

The Podcast Lesson I Learned from a Burly, Tattooed Biker

You're out there minding your own business when suddenly you come face to face with rather large, tatted up biker who forces you to see things a different way.

This literally happened to me in my twenties on a long stretch of mountain highway. It's an incident that has stayed with me for many decades because it taught me a huge lesson. In fact, it was that paradigm shift that I share with you in this episode.

Click play to hear the whole story but let me cut to the key point.

Too often as entrepreneurs we think about what we do. And we talk about what we do with our potential clients as if that is what they want to hear.

Basically, we are minding our own business.

What we should be doing is minding their business. We should be thinking about things from their perspective.

If you want your podcast to be successful, this is the simple paradigm shift you need to make. You have to ask yourself how if feels for your listener.

And, I don't mean how great it feels to have your sweet voice in their earholes.

I mean, how each and every topic you share feels for them as it relates to their life, their problems, their experience.

If you have guests, it's your job to step into your listener's shoes and ask the questions from their perspective. Feel what they feel and ask the question they would have.

I talk a lot about listener-centric podcasting. This is the crux of listener-centric podcasting. Think and feel from their perspective.

Making this paradigm shift could be the thing that saves your podcast and turns your podcast into an authority-buidling, revenue-boosting machine.

When you put you're listener-centric (and putting yourself in their shoes), you serve them better. When you serve them better, they will subscribe and click play on each episode. Every episode they listen to, they are getting to know you better. The better they know you, the more they trust you as an authority. The bigger of an authority you are to them, the more likely they are to hire you.

And that whole chain reaction starts with a paradigm shift. Don't share what you know. Share how what you know, feels and affects your ideal listener.

You feel me?

If you're not sure how to do that, I get it. Many of my clients struggle at first to make this paradigm shift. But, working with me gets them where they need to be. If you want some help making the shift and turning your podcast into an authority-buidling, revenue-boosting machine, let's talk.

Book your FREE 15-Minute Podcast Coaching Call

https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

Listen to more 5-minute episodes, explore my resources and check out my coaching packages at https://podcastperformancecoach.com/

Got a Question? Contact me:

https://podcastperformancecoach.com/contact/