Vicki O’Neill: Host of Connect The Dots Podcast
By Cheval John
Podcasting is still an important medium to get your message out to the world.
According to these statistics compiled by Convince and Convert:
75% of Americans are Now Familiar with Podcasting. …
55% of Americans Have Listened to a Podcast. …
Podcast Listeners Have Grown 37.5% in 3 Years. …
37% of Americans Listen to Podcasts Monthly. …
Monthly Podcast Listeners Have Grown 54% in 3 Years. …
Half of Americans Ages 12-34 Listen to Podcasts Monthly.
Podcasting is still the lowest medium out there because they are about 500 million blogs in the world.
The blogosphere is over saturated.
If have a blog, it can be very difficult to find the right audience because it seems like everyone is talking about the same topic.
Combine it with a podcast and you have a much better chance to grow your business.
Vicki O’Neill took advantage and started her own podcast, Connect The Dots, which interviews business leaders on marketing strategies.
I had the opportunity to interview her on What’s The Word? to find out what led her to start her own podcast and how entrepreneurship helped her to be a better business professional.
Jessica Ann, Author and Founder of Jessica Ann Media
By Cheval John
February 14, 2018
Today’s episode of What’s The Word? features Jessica Ann, who is the founder of Jessica Ann Media.
She is the author of the book, “Humanizing Your Brand” which she self-published in 2016.
Jessica spent years working as a producer for national media outlets including Sirius XM in Washington, D.C. before striking out on her own with her company.
She is the host of the podcast, “The Art of Humanity,” where she interviews leaders about being your true authentic self in business.
Jessica has been featured in media outlets including The Huffington Post.
In this episode, you will hear:
-What Inspired Jessica To Become An Entrepreneur
-Why She Started Her Podcast
-Why Businesses Should Be On Social Media
-Should Businesses Be On Live Video
This episode was recorded on Facebook Live via Blue Jeans Network.
Snippet on Vallano Media TV
Full Episode on BlogTalkRadio
You can subscribe to the show either in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play Music.
Website: www.jessicaannmedia.com
Twitter: @itsjessicann
Quotes from Jessica Ann on:
STARTING A PODCAST
I always love podcasts.
I love the fact that I can just be who I am and I can show up on audio and talk to my guests.
I love video too, don’t get me wrong.
But sometimes, it can take away from the experience of the intimate setting of the podcast.
We’re finding growth like through the roof across the board in terms of podcasting.
I didn’t even know it would become such a trend that it is today.
When I first started, I just kind of got this calling and I wanted to talk with people around the globe about what they are working on in a way that would not only help me personally and professionally, but also help my listeners and my potential clients and anyone really who’s listening learn something from the interviews in my podcast.
LIVE VIDEO
You got to figure out what works for you.
In today’s day and age, you have to be on video.
You really need to be on any platform that conveys your message in the most human and real way.
Video gives you that option.
I’m going to be doing more video in the coming months.
I’m excited.
I am evolving.
We are all kind of going through this huge shift in communications and how we talk to each other today.
It’s exciting.
I just need to get out of my comfort zone and I’m sure other people out there might relate to that as well in terms of how we get out in the world.
There are so many different ways we can talk to people and we want to do what number one feels right and true to ourselves.
Also, the way that can make the most impact and video is definitely an expression to do that.
UPCOMING FACEBOOK ALGORITHM CHANGE
As a person in business, I really don’t want to get freaked out over any of these changes.
Algorithms changes all the time.
Business has changed all the time.
We just have to attribute it to an ongoing evolution of the web.
We’ll see what happens over time.
I’m personally not freaking out.
I know some of my dear colleagues and friends are not freaking out either.
I also see some people not happy with it.
Looking back at how google changed their algorithm like penguin and all those silly names a few years ago.
We figure it out as we go.
You can’t freak out.
You just have to grow with what’s happening in the technology world.
They are multiple ways outside of facebook to get in front of your customers today.
Facebook is not the be-all, end-all of marketing granted it is very huge platform.
They are many other options and you don’t necessarily have to be there if it’s not working for you.
I’m a big believer in business and making an impact.
I’m also a big believer in listening and exploring and figuring out what’s working and what’s not and then moving on from there.
WRITING THE BOOK “HUMANIZING YOUR BRAND”
What led me to create this book was people in the business world aren’t accessible.
They write dry jargon language that is incomprehensible and it’s so much more simple than that.
I got tired.
There was a book that was written in 1999 called “The Clue Train Manifesto”
It really just about the evolution of communications.
That was the first point in history where people started writing about this concept.
I quoted it in my book too.
That inspired me to realize we’re shifted so much since 1999 and we need to continue to communicate with our customers in an accessible human way.
So I needed to figure out how to convey this information to the world in a way that was accessible.
The book poured through me.
I had to write it and I had to self-publish it.
I always want to peel back the layers.
It’s like an onion.
How do we really get to the core of who we are.
Not just as a business, but as a human being.
So that’s what I hope to convey in my book.
THE DIGITAL MEDIA WORLD
We can all leave a digital crumb so easy today.
Before going into any type of media or message, ask yourself, “Is This Valuable?”
Can people really get value out of what I’m about to say or broadcast to the world.
We all do that in our own unique way.
That’s a thread I like to ask myself personally and I help my clients as well and all of their communication.
How do we make ourselves a value to the world.
Be out there as much as you possibly can.
Elena Rahrig: Author of Eleven Books and Entrepreneur
By Cheval John
Elena Rahrig stopped by What’s The Word? to share about how she became an author of eleven books.
She is an international speaker and also founded Otto Publishing New York, a company which publishes books and work books nationwide.
In this episode, you will hear:
What led her to write eleven books
Why potential authors should aim to write a full length book
How social media helped her to be very successful in her business
The importance of live streaming
This episode was recorded on Facebook Live via Blue Jeans Network
Snippet on Vallano Media TV
Full episode on BlogTalkRadio
Website: http://www.elenaspeaks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ERTransform/
Upcoming Podcast Recording on Facebook Live:
Julia McCoy, Founder of Express Writers– October 3rd at 3 p.m. eastern, 2 p.m. central
Madalyn Sklar: Online Community Builder and Social Media Influencer
By Cheval John
Starting today, I will be posting about each of the podcast episodes from What’s The Word? here on the blog.
You will be seeing snippets of videos from the Vallano Media TV’s YouTube channel in addition to the full episode which airs on BlogTalkRadio.
The videos are edited from Blue Jeans Network, which I use to record the majority of the podcast on Facebook Live.
The original blog posts will continue as always.
Today’s podcast episode features Madalyn Sklar, host of the #TwitterSmarter podcast and Twitter Chat.
Madalyn is a social media influencer who has built online communities in the age of the internet and now social media.
She started #TwitterSmarter podcast in early 2015 as a way to find out from experts their number one twitter tips people can use to grow their audience.
The podcast became so popular she decided to create a Twitter chat with the same name and it grew even more popular.
Madalyn was also among the first people in Houston to use Twitter in 2007.
In this episode, you will hear:
The history lesson of the formation of social media
What led her to start Go Girls Music Online Community
How she was among the first to live tweet an event at South By Southwest in 2008
How running Go Girls Music Twitter Chat prepared Madalyn to have “immediate” succuss with the current #twittersmarter twitter chat.
Video Snippet from Vallano Media TV
Full Podcast Episode on BlogTalkRadio
Here is the upcoming recording on Facebook Live on the business page:
Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communication- 4 p.m. eastern, 3 p.m. central
If you have a guest you want featured on the show, please leave a comment below.
Niche Media or Mass Media
By Cheval John
A person has just started a new business and they are looking to attract new customers.
They understand they do not have the funding to place an ad in newpapers or buy a spot on the billboards.
They figured out one of the ways to market their business is by being featured in the media.
The first thing they might do is hire a public relations firm to pitch their business to shows on major media outlets.
It might seem like a good idea because major media outlets like CBS, ABC and NBC has a nationwide reach.
The first problem: it cost an average $10,000 to hire a great public relations firm to pitch your story to major media.
The second problem: the shows from major media will not be interested in you because you are just starting out and you are not big enough for them.
The better solution would be to focus on getting your story featured in niche media.
The reasons are:
1. THEY HAVE A TARGETED AUDIENCE.
When your story gets featured on a new media outlets like blogs or podcasts, you have a much better chance at accomplishing your goals.
Their audience are very interested in what you have to say.
If they are interested, there is a good chance you can win over some customers.
Dr. Ai Addyson-Zhang‘s live streaming show, Classroom Without Walls, has an average audience of 100 views from around the world.
That might look to you like peanuts.
However, every times a guest appears on her show,they ended up gaining new clients.
2. THERE ARE TASTE TESTERS
The people who run blogs,podcasts or live stream shows are taste testers because they are the ones who are ahead of the curve.
They are willing to see what your business is and are willing to put themselves on the line for you.
3. THEY ARE MORE TRUSTED
Their audience trust them because they have built a solid reputation over the years.
When they recommend something that is valuable to them, they is a great chance their audience will respond.
4. THEIR CONTENT CAN BE RE-PURPOSED ON MAJOR MEDIA
Morning television shows on major media are searching for content everyday because they have to fill their time slot.
If your story gets discovered on a blog by a major media, they will feature it as one of their segments on their shows.
Abbie Unger runs a facebook group teaching people how to land work as a flight attendant.
Her story was featured on podcasts before being picked up by the Huffington Post.
A couple of months later, a major television show featured her story in their segment.
Now that you have seen the reasons for choosing niche media, the question is how to reach out to them.
Here are some suggestions to this question
1. BE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Interact with your audience on a daily basis because they will appreciate you more.
This might even catch the eye of reporters because they are now on social media because they know that breaking news can happen there
2. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
If you know what your target audience is about, it can give you an idea of how to sell your story to a journalist.
You can’t just send a blanket press release to every journalist out there hoping for one to bite.
That will make you look bad in the long run.
3. SHARE THE REPORTER’S CONTENT
If an article by a reporter resonates, you can share it on your social media accounts.
If you do this consistently, they will take notice and there is a good chance they will respond to your pitch.
Also, interact with them on social media.
There is a good chance you all might have a lot in common.
4. MAKE YOUR WEBSITE A CONTENT HUB
Thanks to technology, journalists are short handed.
They to do everything from writing their story to editing their package before deadline to air on the news.
If your pitch does not get their attention, they will simply delete it and move on.
One of the best things you can do is create the story yourself.
You can put blog posts on your website with some clips from your event.
If you done the first three steps above, you can then send your pitch with the blog post attached to it.
There is a great chance the journalist will select it because they saw you took the time to put the story together yourself.
What are your thoughts on this?
Please leave your comment below.
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