Announcing the Resident Experience Podcast

Zego (Powered by PayLease) has just launched The Resident Experience Podcast published by Habanero Media. The podcast explores ways to create a standout multifamily residential experience. Guests reveal their resident engagement strategies. This begins with tried-and-true tactics to emerging ideas. We’ll shine the spotlight on the people and communities that create an exceptional living experience. Join the industry’s brightest minds as we talk about today’s  resident multifamily experience.

Resident Experience Host

The host is Nick Latz,  Zego’s Chief Revenue Officer. He’s a Midwesterner-turned-San Diego-transplant. Nick spends his free time soaking up the sun with his wife and two kids. From his years showing sheep, to being the focus of a celebrity’s Instagram post, Nick always has an entertaining story.

First Episode

Have you ever wondered about the financial impact that community friendships have on your property? Do you know that there is a direct correlation between this “friendship factor” and lease renewal? And do you know how to facilitate these friendships? Nick talks with Pete Kelly, CEO of Apartment Life, and digs into this and more.

Tune in for Nick’s and guests’ unique viewpoint of the multifamily property management professionals.

Give it a listen! You can find episodes on all the podcast listening apps!

How To Make a Podcast Solo Episode Sound Natural 

A great way to think of a solo episode is to frame it in the context of an interview. But in this case, the host is interviewing themselves! This makes for an engaging conversation.  

Each episode should clearly state the topic. 

The topic is often an issue or aspiration the listener commonly considers. The  topic should be explained in the context of a story e.g once upon a time the re was a problem or desire, due to various issues, the solution couldn’t be found, somebody (a client or maybe yourself) decided to try something, and this is what happened. Maybe everyone lived happily ever after, maybe not.

In any regards, stories are compelling and suck the listener in.  Conversational and personal are the keys to connecting intimately with the listener.   Here are some example questions. 

Example Questions for Solo Episodes

Rhetorical questions are a great way for a host to initiate a conversation in a story framework. Picture in your mind starting off the conversation asking …. 

• • “You’re probably wondering why ……..”
  • The other day I was asked……”
  • I was talking to someone last week and they asked why ……”
  • I was driving the other day and started wondering ….     “
  • Have you ever wondered ……   “
  • Let me tell you about something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately ……  “
  • I just read something the other day and it said …..  “

Brainstorm 5 open ended questions, specific to the topic. Review the guest interview questions and use them as a guide for your own solo episode. 

After asking and answering one question, move to the next question. Keep the momentum and keep moving.  For a 30 minute podcast, you can typically ask five deep questions. It doesn’t hurt to have extras in case you’re able to answer a question tightly and concisely. 

Summation 

When all the solo episode questions have been asked and answered, sum up the conversation into three actionable bullet points.  Count off the points to keep the listener on track of the issues. Repetition is good when it comes to audio. Assume the listener is NOT listening with a pen in hand (or keyboard). 

Have a call to action:

• • Subscribe to the podcast
  • Tell your friends to listen
  • Please mention us on social media
  • Go website
  • Download our free giveaway
  • Give us a call at xxxxx, we can answer any question you might have. 

Conclusion for Solo Episodes

Create a great headline optimized for search based on your brand and needs of the target client. A great way to think of a solo episode is to frame it in the context of an interview, but in this case, the host is interviewing themselves! This makes for an engaging conversation.  

Good luck.

Questions That Help Guests to Open Up

Interviewing is a crucial part of a great podcast. To be a good interviewer, you have to be prepared, ask the right questions, listen carefully, and create an environment that sets the guest at ease so they open up. Having the right intention is the key to a successful podcast interview.

As a listener of podcasts, you’ve probably heard a number of bad interviews with meandering tangents, clunky segues and boring questions. The most notorious is a host that won’t stop talking about themselves. Yikes. Don’t make that mistake! 

When done right, podcast interviews sound easy. Conversation flows effortlessly from one topic to the next and both the host and guest sound like they’re enjoying themselves. But that doesn’t happen by magic. 

Interviewing is a skill. And it takes practice.

The Mental Model of a Great Conversation

I like to have in mind the model of the coffee shop. 

You and the guest are having a first time meet to get to know one another. The conversation goes back and forth and you’re enjoying the chat.

Meanwhile there is a person sitting one table over. They’re eavesdropping! They never speak up instead being quiet as a mouse while hoping not to be noticed.  This is your audience, one person, leaning in on the topic.

Your goal is to make the conversation both compelling and captivating for the nosy listener. Keep this person in mind during the interview.  

As mentioned before, the goal of the podcast interview is to be fluid and easy. But that doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes your guest just doesn’t want to open up.  That’s not their fault, that’s the responsibility of the interviewer. 

It’s your job to make each episode worth listening.  You’re responsible to fully exert your energy and effort to provide value for the listener. Make this your sacred pledge.  It takes patience to let guests relax. It’s not until you build a relationship of trust will people open up. Trust takes time. Be kind and gracious to your guest and make it easy for them to shine. 

Pre-Interview Guest Preparation 

Before the interview spend some time reviewing the guests biography and understanding what makes them an interesting guest. Look at their website. Review their posts on social media and take a moment to get to know them. 

Send your guests a welcome email before the scheduled podcast interview. It should contain the following:

• • Thank them for the honor
  • Remind them that you will be asking about their role in their business and the professional journey that brought them to that role with industry insights
  • Confirmation of date and time scheduled
  • How you will do the interview (link for virtual recording)
  • Five questions they would like you to ask
  • Recommendation that they use a wired USB mic vs a bluetooth headset
  • Their phone number (in case there is some hiccup)
  • Their social media links
  • Headshot
  • Short biography
  • Any call to action they may wish to share e.g. download a free eBook or schedule a free 15 minute consulting session.

Send the email once the date is scheduled. Send them reminders of the interview a few days before the interview and again the day before. 

List of Podcast Interview Questions 

Great podcast hosts never wing the conversation nor come up with questions on the fly. Instead they are prepared professionals. Create a list of questions that are tailored for the guest. Have the questions related to their skills, knowledge, wisdom and professional journey.

Ask open ended questions that allow the answers to go in different directions. Listen to the answers intently and follow up with relevant questions that propel the dialogue. 

Don’t feel constrained that you need to ask every question you prepared. Remember this is a conversation in a coffee shop. Make it sound natural and authentic. There is no need to stick to the list rigidly. It’s important to retain a degree of flexibility and openness during the conversation.

Here are some example open ended questions: 

• • How did you enter your industry?
  • Did you always know you wanted to be in the industry? 
  • What is your business and what is your role at the business ? 
  • Was there a  moment when you realized this industry was your life’s work? Tell us that story.
  • Was there a time where something went so wrong you thought you would leave the industry forever? What happened? 
  • What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry since starting? 
  • Where do you see the future going? What do you see on the horizon in the next 5 years?
  • What advice do you have for others who wish to enter the industry?
  • How can people connect with you?

Most people love to be asked about their business, interests and professional journey. Open ended questions with authentic listening, matters.  Don’t shy away from asking questions about failure and loss. It is in failure we learn the most powerful lessons of life. 

Take notes during the interview and jot down questions as they come up in the conversation. To keep the dialogue in a flow, you may want to hold off on the question until later. Maybe it will get answered in another way. Maybe you’ll never get back to it.  In either case, it’s good to have it written down, otherwise you’ll forget to ask later on. Your notes are the foundation of good show notes. 

Conclusion

Podcast interviews allow you to get a full sense of what the guest is actually like. In face-to-face interviews (even if they are virtual), you can get a better impression of the guests personality, behavior, industry skills and wisdom. For you, this experience can be an opportunity for coaching or the start of a new business relationship. All things are possible when it comes to podcasting! 

Show Notes That People Want to Read

Each podcast episode has an associated blog post called the show notes. To various degrees, the show notes are  an in-depth written account of what happened during an episode plus additional resources that take the content one step further. Those resources include links to articles mentioned during the episode, guest bios and social channels, videos, and relevant calls-to-action.

Show Notes Provide Value 

Podcast show notes help reinforce an episode’s message by complementing the audio content with images and a post. These notes craft an in-depth look at a topic that can be consumed both audibly and visually. Commonly, the show notes contain an audio player, placed at the top of the notes, for listening. 

The show notes main benefits include:

• • Central location for listeners to access materials referenced during an episode
  • Persuade casual listeners to tune in to both  new and old episodes
  • Attract and educate new listeners about the podcast
  • Boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO) making the podcast easy to discover

Episode Summaries

An episode summary is a one paragraph description  that details a few high-level points regarding the episode. The summary is a gist, while show notes are more comprehensive deep dive. 

Summaries are attached to each episode and appear within most podcast listening apps including Apple, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, etc.

Show Note Template 

Show notes follow all of the rules of a good blog post and content marketing. When written well, readers may be directed to the notes when searching. Assume they have never visited the website. Have a targeted set of SEO keywords in mind.

• • Episode Title: make it SEO friendly e.g “How to … ” “5 Ways…. “ “The one thing…”
  • Episode Summary: One paragraph of the highlights
  • Topics Discussed: Use bullet points to list the main episode takeaways. Label the section with an H2 header using the targeted SEO keywords
  • Resources Mentioned: Use bullet points to links to external resources 
  • Call To Action: Place all the calls to action together
    • Subscribe to a newsletter
    • Go to a link to get a free download
    • Click on a button to schedule an appointment
    • Reserve a spot for an upcoming event
    • Subscribe to the podcast 
    • Join a group on social media. 
  • Transcript of the Interview 

In Summation 

Podcast show notes don’t have to be hard. The outline you use during recording could form the basis of your notes. Collect all the information ahead and get a start prior to the interview. The benefits of a summation is  unquestionable.  Good luck! 

How To Become a  Podcast Guest

One of the best ways to promote yourself and your business  is to be a podcast guest. Being a podcast guest is a great way of showcasing your brand, authority, and influence, ALL in your own voice. Most podcasts grow by word of mouth. When a listener hears your interview you’re speaking directly to the audience.

If the audience likes what they hear, you can make that audience, your audience.

Many podcast hosts are excited to have new guests. Podcast hosts are especially excited to have guests reach out  saving them work searching for new guests.  If you can add value to their audience, you have a good opportunity to be a guest

Step By Step Instructions to Become a Podcast Guest

Do you know how to ask someone to meet for coffee?  That is the trick for success.  Do the following, step by step.

Understanding Your Host Agenda for Podcast Guests

Listen to a few of the episodes and understand the host’s agenda. You will use this research to improve your chances. Find the following:

• • What is the primary mission of the podcast?
  • Who are the perfect guests  for the podcast?
  • What novel thing can you share that differentiates you from other guests?
  • How do they like to interact with the guests?
  • What is their style and do you fit in?

From this research create a compelling pitch to visit the podcast. Specifically list the value the listeners will experience. Make it clear in your pitch, that you understand the listener. Make it clear that you understand the mission of the host.

Submit Podcast Guest Questions

Next, provide an easy way for the host to pick you. Give the host five questions they can ask. Pick questions that will make for an interesting conversation. Be the guest the audience will remember for years. Consider the following questions crafted personally by you for your host:

• • How did you become an expert on this topic?
  • What’s your story entering this area of interest?
  • When you started your journey, what was that like?
  • Where are you at now, regarding your journey?
  • Where do you see things going in the future?

In the interview, casually mention your podcast while answering the questions. Mention how these topics are covered there too. Create curiosity for the listeners to learn more about your podcast. Again, don’t be heavy handed and overly promote your podcast. This requires a deft touch.

Podcast Guest Call to Action

At the end of the interview, your host will ask you to share contact information. Have a call to action.

Give something away of value: a physical book, an eBook, a checklist, an experience. This is called a lead magnet. It will attract qualified leads.

Create a landing page on your website that provides visitors a way to sign up for the lead magnet. Once you have their email make it easy for them to subscribe to your B2B podcast.

Keep Expectations in Check

Expect the host to interrupt  guest and over-talk you. Expect the host to show off, dominate and play the expert. Read their personality and give them what they want.

Within their constraints, do your best to engage the audience and attract attention. Thank your host for having you as a guest.

Lower your expectations they will let you talk.  If they do it will be a pleasant surprise.

Thanking Your Host

The best way to thank a host is to actively promote your guest episode. Share it with all your friends. Reach out to each of them  and ask  to listen. Create promotional posts on social media and tag the host. Thank the host publicly and share how much you appreciated the opportunity.

Podcasts are evergreen content. Listeners have access years into the future. As time goes on, promote the podcast episode again. This let’s the host remember and appreciate a great guest. This can create networking opportunities and good will.

Take Action Now

For more advice read here on how to be a great podcast guest. Take action and reach out to influencers in your industry. Dollars to donuts they would appreciate you reaching out to be a guest.

How To Choose A Podcast Microphone

Setting up a recording studio may sound daunting. But it’s actually pretty easy compared to recording content. It’s a bigger challenge crafting a podcast that is engaging and loved. But we have to start somewhere when it comes to assembling a podcast kit. The most iconic technology is the microphone.  Let’s start here and discuss how to choose a podcast microphone.

First the good news.

Recording speech is far easier than music. Advances in technology have made it easy for inexpensive equipment to sound great. Unfortunately there are a plethora of microphones available on the internet. It’s a paradox of choice.  Too many options and too little knowledge to discern pros and cons. By homing in on key concepts we can filter out great choices.

Five Options for Podcast Microphone Technology

Here are five things to consider when you choose a podcast microphone:

1. There are two types of mics, dynamic and condenser. Choose a dynamic podcast microphone. Dynamic microphones are rugged, economical and don’t require power from a mixer. If you’re not recording music in a studio, stick with a dynamic microphone.
2. Every microphone has a different polar pattern (direction of sound it picks up). Choose a microphone with a cardioid pattern. Cardioid means one directional.. It’s designed to pick up sound in front of the microphone. Sound to the sides are not heard. Cardioid microphones excel in a noisy room. I’ve recorded in a coffee shop, a boisterous environment! They also attenuate the chit chat coming from other tables and the espresso machines.
3. Choose a podcast microphone with USB connectors. This will allow you to plug it into a digital recording device and record sound directly. XLR is used by to transfer the signal too a mixer board. This is the connector to three pins, commonly used or music recording. If someday you think you might be recording multiple guests at once, you’ll need a mixer board
4. The popping sound that some people make when speaking “P” words is called a plosive. Plosives fatigue the listener over time. Luckily they can be removed with a pop filter, a large circled mesh place between your mouth and the microphone. The pop filter slows the burst of air caused by P words. Pop filters have a bracket that connects to the microphone.
5. A boom stand with scissor arms. Booms make it easy to position the microphone directly in front of your mouth. When you choose a podcast microphone, find a stand that fits it’s dimensions. When you kick the tabletop the arm will dampen the sound, much appreciated when you’re in the middle of a recording.

Podcast Microphone Shopping List

Here are links to equipment that I use in the Sales Babble studio and Fox.Build media lab.

ATR2100 USB/XLR – This is a dynamic microphone with both a USB and XLR inputs. It also contains a tripod stand.

Pop Filter – This filter works best in a stationary studio

Pop Filter for Remote Recording – Use this couce for mobile recording, it’s a foam ball.

Boom Stand and Scissor Arm – hold microphones and dampens shocks

Now Choose

Picking a microphone is just the first step to launch a podcast. But if you consider the five factors for choosing a mic you have all you need to take action. Don’t dawdle! This is not an expensive purchase. Do your research, go shopping. And then unbox your new microphone. Soon you’ll be thanking yourself.

How To Promote Your B2B Podcast

Once you’ve taken the big step to launch a podcast the time has come to share it with the world. Let’s take some steps to promote your B2B podcast. In this article I’ll share two ways Habanero Media has found to successfully promote your B2B podcast with detailed step-by-step actions.

Growing a podcast is not a quick task. It takes patience, tenacity and optimistic enthusiasm. With time and persistent work, you too can attract a loyal following of listeners.

There are a number of steps to promote a podcast. Yet it all boils down to two pathways:

1. 1. Somebody tells you to listen to a podcast
   2. Your podcast gets mentioned on someone else’s podcast

Consider the podcasts that you listen to now.

How did you hear about them? Most likely you listen to a podcast because someone recommended it to you. Right?

Advertising, bus benches, sky writing and door hangers are not relevant in this situation. Nor Google adwords, Facebook and LinkedIn ads. Word of mouth is how podcasts spread. It takes a viral process to grow a podcast. It’s best to have a strategy in place BEFORE you start a podcast.

Ask Your Network For Help To Promote Your B2B Podcast

Let’s start with the first promotional path, getting others to share your podcast. Consider your existing networks: social media, email lists, friends and family.

Reach out to everyone in your network and personally ask them to share your podcast with their friends. We’re not talking about publishing a post that announces a podcast. I mean reaching out, one by one, with a personal phone call, email, or a personal direct message from the social media app. You are going to ask for help.

For example you might say:

“Hi, I just published a new podcast episode. This is the link. Today I’m trying to grow the podcast and share it to the world. I’m wondering if you could help. Would you please share this episode with people you know? They might find this topic interesting and it will help my podcast. I would truly appreciate your help”

You will get one of three responses:

1. 1. Yes — Thank them and ask why they shared your request or enjoyed your podcast. Always ask for advice on how you can do better
   2. No — Respect their wishes. They may actually ask to unsubscribe
   3. None — Resend out the request in another way “ I didn’t hear from you and thought I would try again …. “

Be persistent, yet pleasant. People are very busy so it’s your responsibility to be patient. It never hurts to ask. In fact, people appreciate attentive service. If on the off chance they respond negatively, respect their wishes. They don’t want to listen And that’s OK.

Join Forums Your B2B Podcast Audience Hangout 

Consider your ideal listener and look for places they hangout. Start with social media. Look for conversations where you can help and join the conversation. Provide interesting ideas, thoughts, helpful facts, encouragement, advice and an empathetic ear. It might be a specific industry or set of businesses. This is especially true if you host a B2B podcast.

Once you build a relationship with the group, start sharing links to your episodes. Only do this in comments and never in a post. The goal is to not look overly promotional. Instead be helpful. It’s a slow process to grow a podcast so be patient.

Here’s an example comment:

“This is a good question and I see the issue this way ……. By the way, I did an episode on this topic on my podcast, you might find it helpful ADD LINK HERE”

On each of the following forums, step into the conversation and add value.

• • Join a Facebook forum and comment on posts. Many of these are private. Read the rules and never ever violate their trust. Add advice, encouragement and slyly mention an episode that is relevant to the conversation.
  • Join a LinkedIn forum — not as engaging as in Facebook (sadly LinkedIn has failed to invest in it’s forums) , contribute advice, fun facts, ways to save time, better understand, and encouragement. Slyly mention an episode that is relevant to the conversation.
  • Use hashtags to look for posts on relevant topics in LinkedIn. Comment on the topic, add value and befriend the author of the post. Look for #hashtags for relevant topics.
  • Search for #hashtags in Instagram and build trust with posts and shares
  • Find  #hashtags on Twitter, again build trust and credibility.
  • Reddit has forums and are often closely moderated. Don’t break the rules. Follow the sames rules being helpful and providing interesting information.
  • Tik Tok is a new social media forum. Use #hashtags to look for your audience.

Complete Your Profile and Mention Your B2B Podcast

When creating your profile, make sure it has links to your podcast and website. When people see your posts, they will get curious. Curious people will snoop on you and review your profile.

Completely fill out all the information with your audience in mind. If possible, include links. Make it easy for people to find your podcast. One by one you will grow your podcast. In time your listeners will share with others and it will start to grow on it’s own

Website Must Teach How To Subscribe to Podcast

When driving people from your profile to your website, make it easy for visitors to find your podcast and subscribe. Clear and concise directions go a long way towards growing a podcast.

Have links that explain how to listen on:

• • Apple
  • Stitcher
  • Google Play
  • Spotify
  • iHeartRadio
  • Radio.com
  • Deezer
  • PlayerFM
  • Overcast

Make it easy for people to acknowledge your podcast on social media e.g. click here to tweet how you love this podcast ….

Become a Guest on a Podcast

One of the best ways to promote your podcast is to become a guest on someone else’s podcast. Search for interview based podcasts who have a similar target audience.

Listen to a few of the episodes and understand the host’s agenda. Find the following:

• • What is the primary mission of the podcast?
  • Who are the perfect guests  for the podcast?
  • What novel thing can you share that differentiates you from other guests?
  • How do they like to interact with the guests?
  • What is their style and do you fit in?

From this research create a compelling pitch to visit the podcast. Specifically list the value the listeners will experience. Make it clear in your pitch, that you understand the listener. Make it clear that you understand the mission of the host.

Next, provide an easy way for the host to pick you. Give the host five questions they can ask. Pick questions that will make for an interesting conversation. Be the guest the audience will remember for years.

Consider the following questions crafted personally for you:

• • How did you become an expert on this topic?
  • What’s your story entering this area of interest?
  • When you started your journey, what was that like?
  • Where are you at now, regarding your journey?
  • Where do you see things going in the future?

In the interview, casually mention your podcast while answering the questions. Mention how these topics are covered there too. Create curiosity for the listeners to learn more about your podcast. Again, don’t be heavy handed and overly promote your podcast. This requires a deft touch.

At the end of the interview your host will ask you to share contact information. Have a call to action. Give something away of value: a physical book, an eBook, a checklist, an experience. This is called a lead magnet. It will attract qualified leads.

Create a landing page on your website that provides visitors a way to sign up for the lead magnet. Once you have their email make it easy for them to subscribe to your B2B podcast.

Expect the host to interrupt and over-talk you. Expect the host to show off, dominate and play the expert. Read their personality and give them what you want. Within their constraints, do your best to engage the audience and attract their attention. Thank your host for having you as a guest. Lower your expectations they will let you talk.  If they do it will be a pleasant surprise.

Conclusions On How to Promote a B2B Podcast

The average podcast publishes 10 episodes before podfading. Those that remain have on average 140 downloads per episode. Does that sound like a lot?

Picture a room filled with 140 people. Now consider yourself the guest speaker in that room. Each time you speak, most of those people will return. Think of the influence you have on this group. Envision what you can do to guide their thinking and add value to their lives.

This is the power of podcasting. This is how our Habanero Media podcast agency sees the world. Each episode is a unique opportunity to make a difference, the very definition of brand.

Now aspire to grow a podcast, your influence, your authority, their trust and your brand. Good luck.

Webinar B2B Podcast Master Class

On May 13th, 2020 we hosted a B2B podcast master class to discuss the process of launching a podcast. We had a great turnout! The webinar shared ways organizations and executives grow authority, influence, and trust. We discussed how podcasting  becomes the foundation of content marketing.

As Seth Godin says, “Podcasting is the new blogging”. Here is the zoom webinar,  now posted for the B2B podcast replay.

Podcasting is  on-demand radio curated for listener interest.  Podcasts provide laser-focused communication. Listeners consume the the content end-to end. There is no distraction compared to YouTube and other social media..  Listeners can multi-task AND pay attention to the message in a podcast.

Here is the replay.

How To Launch a B2B Podcast

Ever think about starting a B2B podcast? Today is your lucky day. We’re hosting a presentation on how to launch a B2B podcast. We share way organizations and executives grow authority, influence, and trust that attracts new business through the magic of podcasting. Podcasting is the new blogging.

Register Here – Wednesday May 13, 2020 2PM EST, 1 PM CST and 11AM PST

Why You Need a B2B Podcast Topics

In this presentation you will learn how B2B organizations and executives grow authority, influence, and trust that attracts new business through podcast content marketing. 

Podcasting is  on-demand radio curated for listener interest.  Unlike YouTube and  social media, podcasts provide laser-focused communication.  Listeners can multi-task AND pay attention to the message in a podcast. According to Edison Research, 70 million people listen to podcasts monthly.

In this talk, Pat Helmers shares strategies and tactics for promoting a podcast. Next he shares ways podcasting  generates revenue, improves client retention, upselling, creates testimonials, referrals and references. 

Podcasting gives you a reason to meet thought leaders and grow your own authority. When focused on a specific industry, podcasting turns CEO’s and executives into influencers.   Influencers differentiate a company from the competition.

Learn how to launch a business podcast:

• • The various types of podcasts
  • Why podcasting is relevant for marketing a business
  • The basic technology behind a podcast
    • including equipment
    • hardware 
    • audio recording software

Register Here – Wednesday May 13, 2020 2PM EST, 1 PM CST and 11AM PST

Why You Need a B2B Business Podcast 

If you’re a B2B business or organization with aspirations of growth, you already know how difficult it is to stand out in the noise of social media,  spam, SEO and robocalls.  Consider a B2B business podcast

Today, buyers are  pulled in a million different directions. As marketers, we’re valiantly battling for their attention. But given the overwhelming information available to the world, it’s practically impossible for anyone to focus 100% on one topic. 

How can this be overcome? What can a business do to get their value heard? 

The New Content Marketing 

According to marketing guru Seth Godin, “Podcasting is the new Blogging”. It’s a way to personally share your business, ideas and earn trust in a competitive market. The popularity of podcasts is on the rise and continues to grow as time goes on. Furthermore, author and influencer Gary Vaynerchuk says, “Every business needs a podcast”. It’s an extremely economical way to differentiate and create authority for your brand.

Edison Research has found that 70 million people listen to podcasts monthly, and it’s growing!  Podcasting is the premier method to speak directly to audiences about different niches and industry topics.

What’s unique about podcasts is the content is audio and can be consumed while the listener is doing something else. When people listen to podcasts, they can multitask. This creates an amazing opportunity.  Someone can listen and learn about you while driving their car, working out, going for a walk, or doing the laundry. 

When people listen to  your podcasts  they are literally injected between their ears. You have the opportunity to build a relationship founded on a trust that grows with each podcast episode. You are sharing your authentic voice. 

From that trust your b2B business podcast will provide five  benefits:

Retain Clients

Each episode is an opportunity for you to automate client upkeep. This keeps you top of mind. You can share emerging trends and further solidify your client/vendor relationship. Loyal clients are attracted to vendors who are in constant dialogue. Podcasting is another tool you have  to lower client attrition. 

Create References

Prospects LOVE references. Very few organizations are quick to be the first guinea pig. Once a prospect hears that others are happy with your service, your value rises. You can interview your existing clients on the podcast. They will be happy to agree and see it as an honor! You will ask them about their buying journey and why they remain loyal today.

Generate Referrals

Podcasts episodes make it easy for your clients to share content with their friends. The best sales prospects are those who have been referred by existing clients. When their friends listen to the podcast, they will get a strong sense of the value your business brings to the market. Next they will slowly grow trust that you provide an honest quality service. 

Create Opportunities to Upsell

At the end of every podcast episode you will have the opportunity to request something from the listener. This is known as the call to action.  Consider informing your clients about some new service or product that may bring value to their business. After the explanation, you will  urge the listener to reach out and request further information on the offer. Automate follow up and the upsell with a podcast.

Attract New Clients

Each B2B business podcast episode has a website blog post. This post can be used for social media posts over and over again. Secondly each post can be optimized for search. Google loves great content. When combined with social media a buzz can be created to generate business awareness. It’s tough to be seen organically on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But when it comes to podcasting, it’s a green field for your industry. 

Take note, this won’t last! Now is the time to stake your territory!

Interview Prospects

Since podcasting is so new, people are honored to appear on a podcast. Businesses can use this phenomena to invite prospective clients on their podcast. Once the interview is completed, the meeting can be seamlessly flow into a discovery sales call. During that conversation you will have the opportunity to convert the guest into a qualified prospect. 

Conclusions and Takeaways

Podcasting can position you as an authority in an industry. You are immediately considered  a valued expert When strangers learn about your podcast. When you grow your reputation, it creates speaking opportunities in front of large forums. Strangers will actively reach out to you for advice and consulting. All of this leads to increased revenue. 

Podcasting doesn’t have to take up a large portion of your time. With the right staff, all you need to do is to show up in front of the microphone. If the podcast is designed around common questions you are asked about your business, with little preparation, seasoned professionals can talk at length about any topic.  There is no need to prepare. Consider podcasting as a way to clone yourself and bump up the productivity of your sales team. 

It’s important to note that hosting a podcast is fun! It will be the one thing in your day you will look forward to do. You get to say and speak about your favorite topic. You will get to share the tremendous value to bring to the world and what’s not to like about that? 

Great podcasts are “infotainment”.  They both inform and entertain the listener. When you can do that entertain AND inform, relationships are solidified, trust grows, and with it your revenues. 

Call To Action

The habanero pepper is a variety of hot chilli pepper rated 100,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale. The habanero’s heat, flavor and floral aroma make it a popular ingredient in hot sauces and other spicy foods. 

Like the peppers, podcasts are now the hot ingredient of a modern marketing campaign. They stand out and awaken the senses of the consumers. A dish may have many ingredients, but the habaneros stand out. In a world of social media noise, this is also true of podcasts. They stand out, they get your attention and they share a message that excels all other media outlets. 

Send an email to sales@habaneromedia.net and schedule a free recording of an episode and see how easy the process can be.

Habanero Media Podcasting Agency 

Announcing the Pursuit of Business Podcast

Sam Szobody, entrepreneur, small business systems  consultant, real estate and architecture professional delves into his pursuit of business. For starters this podcast focuses on the industry of short term rentals. Short-term-rentals are furnished self-contained apartments and homes. These dwellings are commonly  rented for short periods of time. Usually the rentals are by the day or week as opposed to annual rentals in the unfurnished apartments. This is only one facet of the Pursuit of Business podcast.

Each episode will delve into the various ways businesses are structured on  the hospitality side of short term rentals. Next Sam will discuss a series of models and his personal experiences as well as pluses and minuses discussed at length.

Give it a listen! You can find it on the podcast listening apps!