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
Third Lesson In Podcasting: Research, Research, Research
By Cheval John
So now you have landed your guest for your podcast and are counting down to the show.
One of the most important things you must do before the show is to do your research.
You might say, “That is so obvious.”
The sad reality is many people don’t do their research on their guest.
The host might think they can wing it with the guest on the show.
However, your audience can tell right away if you are on top of your game.
When you do your research on the guest, you will find out interesting things you never knew before.
From the research, you can create some talking points which will be a guide for you once the show begins.
And when you ask your guests specific quotes, they will feel very valued because of the research you did before the episode.
Once that happens, the guest will refer your show to their friends who are influential as well.
In addition, you will gain greater credibility with your listeners because they know that you are very disciplined in preparation and also your audience knows you value them.
The blog post is the third lesson (chapter) from the second book I am blogging here, “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.”
Video courtesy of Josh Sundquist
Second Lesson In Podcasting: Choose Your Niche
By Cheval John
This post is the second lesson (chapter) of my second book “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn” that I am blogging as part of Nina Amir’s “Write NonFiction In November Challenge, #NaNonFiWriMo.”
Though the challenge already began, it is not too late to join in on the fun of blogging a book in a month.
If you want to participate in #NaNonWriMo, visit the website at www.writenonfictionnow.com
Hope you enjoy this post below.
You might be wondering if you should aim for a general audience or go for a niche market.
You would think that it is easier to go after a general audience because you want to show that you are well rounded and also want to cater to everyone.
In a lot of ways, it might work if you want to display your experiences to a potential employer or in the case of a freelancer, a client.
However, that can cause you to lose your audience because you are trying to please everyone and are stretching yourself thin.
The best thing to do when you are starting a podcast is to go for a niche market.
Whether it is marketing, sports, self-help, etc., you are solving a specific need and in the process, creating a loyal following.
Dori DeCarlo, a seasoned entrepreneur, first got into podcasting after launching the show, “The Three Wise Girls” with co-hosts Debbie Barth and Linda Alexander.
During one of the shows, Dori did a two part segment on Mompreneurs, a woman who is a mom and is an entrepreneur.
In the process of that segment, Dori found her niche.
With the encouragement from her co-hosts, Dori launched her own show called “Word of Mom” which evolved into the network, “Word of Mom Radio.”
In the four years since launching, the network has received over 70,000 downloads in 2013 and is continuing to grow.
So if you want to grow your podcast, focus on a niche market because you will separate yourself from the crowd.
Video Courtesy of Tom Corson-Knowles
First Lesson In Podcasting: Start Locally
By Cheval John
This is the first “lesson” chapter of my second book “8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn.”
I am blogging this book as part of Nina Amir’s Write Nonfiction In November challenge.
The post “The Process of Writing A Book” explains why I decided to join in this challenge.
You can see the introduction of the book, “Introduction To Podcasting” right here.
If you have a desire to write a book and want to join me in this challenge, then head over to Mrs. Amir’s blog to find out more about blogging a book.
Without further ado, here is the first chapter.
When many people are first starting out, they are tempted to reach out to the most recognizable person out there.
The logic is that the recognizable guest will “drive” many listeners to the show.
It is very reasonable if you want to start your podcasting journey on the right foot.
However, this is the wrong approach.
Many of these big name people will not even give you a second thought because your are not big enough, especially if you are just starting your podcast.
They will feel nervous because they do not know what to expect.
That is why it is important to start locally because your potential guest already know you and trust you.
If you built that relationship with the people who are prominent in your area, then it will be easier to approach them to be one of the “firsts” guest on your new show.
And once your podcast gains traction, it will be easier to reach out to the “big name” people because they will see your track record and nine times out of ten, they will accept.
When I was in preparation to launch my show, “What’s The Word?,” I reached out to a “prominent” person and she accepted the invitation.
Three days before the show was set to launch, she sent me a message saying that she was not able to do the show because she had to focus on her new clients and wished me luck.
Though I was bummed, it was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to reach out to the people I already knew at my alma mater, Sam Houston State University.
The show launched a few weeks later and from that moment, I had many “well known” guests on the show.
So if you want to have a great start to your podcast career, it is really important to start locally.
What are your thoughts on podcasting? Leave your comment below.
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
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