Fifth Lesson In Podcasting: Be Yourself
By Cheval John
This is the fifth lesson (chapter) on podcasting as part of a series of posts for my second book “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.”
I have taken part in Nina Amir‘s “National Nonfiction Writing Month” challenge.
To find out more about the challenge, visit the website at www.writenonfictionnow.com
Without further ado, here is the post below:
Even though it is very important to have talking points from your research, you should not stick to the script.
You should try and be as conversational as possible with your guest and show your personality because a audience loves a person who is very authentic and willing to be real.
That does not mean you should talk about yourself the majority of the time while you are doing the show because it will come across as self-promotion.
Your main job is to showcase the guest and lift them up to your audience, not in the way that you do not have some disagreements about a particular subject.
If your guest ask you about your work, then you can chat about yourself for a bit.
Always keep in mind the 80/20 rule.
80% of the show is focused on the guest while 20% is focused on you.
Video courtesy of CenturyBooks
Fourth Lesson In Podcasting: Send The Reminder A Day Before The Show
By Cheval John
The post is the fourth lesson (chapter) of my second book, “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.” as part of the National Nonfiction Writing Month challenge.
If you want to participate in this challenge, visit the website at www.writenonfictionnow.com/wnfin-2012/participate-wnfin/.
Here is the fourth lesson below.
I had booked a guest who was coming out with a new book.
Everything was scheduled and we were counting down to the day of the show.
Once the show began, the guest did not call in and I had to improvise while I was waiting for the person to dial the number for the show.
The guest sent me a message and said, “Her assistant did not sent her the number to call into the show.”
So I gave her the number and the show went on as usual.
I could have avoided the blunder if I had sent a reminder to the assistant the day before with the number to call.
You might think you do not need to send them or their representatives a reminder because they said they got it jot down in their calender.
However, it is always important to send a reminder because it can determine if you will have a great show, a mediocre show or no show at all.
As in my case, the show was near perfect after the blunder.
So how do you send a reminder the day before the show begins without feeling like you are being rude?
Below is an example of how to send the reminder notice for your guest:
“Jane Doe, I hope you are having a great week and I can not wait for the show tomorrow. Just in case, here is the number to call five minutes before the show begins at 3 p.m. eastern, 2 p.m. central, 1 p.m. mountain, noon pacific: 1-888-888-8888.
Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to make an appearance on the show.
Have a great day.”
Cheval John
Host, “Name of Podcast”
So to recap, if you want to make sure that you and your guest or the representative of the guest are on the same page, send a reminder the day before the show because you will avoid the awkward moment when you are by yourself doing the show without a guest.
Video courtesy of Nina Amir
Let Go Of The “Bad Apples”
By Cheval John
The Pittsburg Steelers demonstrated today why they are a first class organization.
The reason why they are a first class organization is because they released running back, LeGarrette Blount.
Blount left the field during the Steelers’ 27-24 victory against the Tennessee Titans before the game was over.
Blount’s reason for leaving the game before it was finished: “he did not get any carries.”
“We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in the statement to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette.
Blount rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers.
He signed with Pittsburg earlier this year after he spent three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 2013 season with the New England Patriots.
This was the right move for the Steelers because Blount showcased that he was not a team player.
If he had stayed with Pittsburg, he would have caused problems and probably would have divided the team.
The Steelers are currently 7-4 and are a game behind the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North Division.
I strongly believe that Pittsburg will now be able to overtake the Bengals in the next couple of weeks because they will be more united than ever.
If a person or a business wants to go to the next level, then they must cut their association with anyone who are bad apples.
Even if it hurts to cut the association with someone who is holding you back from success, it will be worth it in the end.
You will be much better for it like the Steelers are right now.
Just ask Steelers center and captain Maurkice Pouncey.
“We’re fine,” Pouncey said to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette. “We have our starting running back. It’s probably a good thing that it happened. At the end of the day, if it was a cancer, he ended up leaving on his own. That’s a blessing for us. At the end of the day, we’re good. We don’t need him.”
Do you believe that the Steelers did the right thing in releasing LeGarrette Blount? Leave your comments below.
Video courtesy of WatchMojo.com
It’s Social Media, Not Sales Media
By Cheval John
You receive an invitation from someone to be your friend on a social media platform (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,etc).
You accept the invitation and feel good about it.
Immediately, you receive a message talking about liking their Facebook page, visiting their website or buying their product.
All of a sudden, you feel like another number and realize the person does not care about you.
The problem is many businesses or salespersons are really quick to go for the closing sale.
Just because it worked pre-social media does not mean it will work now.
You must be very authentic and build relationships if you want to be successful in this day and age.
It is why most businesses are reluctant to embrace social media because they understand you must be vulnerable and also show they really care about the customers.
If you can show your customers that you care, you and your business will be way ahead of your competition.
On the other hand, if you are the person who are going for a quick sale after connecting with a person, your reputation will be ruined because people will be talking about you in a negative light.
Have you dealt with someone who tried to go for the sale on social media quickly?
You can share your comments below.
Video courtesy of Common Craft
Sixth Lesson In Podcasting: Be A Good Listener
By Cheval John
This post is the sixth lesson (chapter) on podcasting.
It is part of a series of posts for my second book “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.”
To read the back story on why I decided to blog the book, you can click here.
Here is the 6th lesson below, short and sweet.
One of the most important things a person can do during a podcast is listening carefully to what their guest are saying.
Most of the time, the interviewer will ask a question and then focus on what they are going to ask next.
When a person only focus on what they are going to ask instead of listening to their guest, they miss out on an answer so insightful that can benefit the listener.
If you don’t listen, the guest will believe that you do not care about what they have to share with you and your audience.
When that happens, your podcast might suffer and it will be hard to build it back up again.
So if you want to gain insightful information during your podcast that will benefit your audience, be a good listener.
Your guest will appreciate it so much that they will give you praise when they are showcasing their appearance on your podcast.
Video courtesy of Psyche Truth
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