Rock The Podcast

Margy is saving kittens on the highway and Jess is back from a very zen vacay! This episode features an interview with our favorite promo products guy, Phil Brakefield! Jess has used a bunch of promo products companies, and they pretty much all sucked. Some were wicked expensive, others made horrible mistakes and other sites were just confusing to navigate. Phil is a super nice guy and you can just email and tell him what you want. He gets it for you at a reasonable price, and he also knows a lot about what kinds of products get more traction in different markets.   1. Do people ever get stemless wine glasses? Can I have four? ● People DO get wine glasses- there are over 1 million items available! ● You can’t get 4 because promo products are based on quantity, so just 4 would be very expensive ● Better off doing “print on demand” for something like that 2. What types of swag are the most popular? ● Standards in the industry that are always effective are: mugs, totes and pens ● Cell phone chargers and screen

Jess has found a passion for antigravity yoga, and Margy is obsessed with a new podcast! Then, listen to our interview with expert host AND guest, Ty Crandall, and a new segment called Would you Rather?! Podcast Edition!   Interview with Ty Crandall: What does Ty do for fun? -First of all, Ty finds work FUN! -Ty loves to go boating and he has his pilot’s license!   What does Ty watch on TV? -Ty spends most of his free time staying active with his kids -Ty and his wife do enjoy Big Brother and The Profit! -He likes to be always learning or doing something productive   How does Ty stay SO positive? -Every bad thing is an opportunity to help you level up and get out of your comfort zone -You have to experience pain to find what makes you happy, so all experiences are GOOD!   Did Ty start as a host or a guest? -Ty heard Jessica talking about podcasting -He then repurposed his webinars into podcast episodes, and months later had thousands of downloads! -Only at 6 months in did they start actually interviewing, up

Jess knows she’s fancy because she got turned away from a restaurant in Montreal, and Margy is clearing negative energy like a champ! Then an interview with Chris Dayley of Disruptive Advertising about the ROI of podcast interviews for his business. And stay tuned as Jess and Margy debut the Missed Connections segment!   Interview with Chris Dayley: -Why podcasts are so great for content creators who dislike writing -The reason for sticking with podcasting (even if results aren’t immediate) -Is preparing for interviews overrated? -Networking with hosts -What makes a good host?   Craigslist Missed Connections Segment: Margy and Jess read Craigslist missed connections and offer these lovesick locals their top tips on respecting boundaries at the supermarket and taking responsibility for fixing your electronics.   Resources Mentioned: Clearing Yourself of Other People’s Negative Energy Part I Clearing Yourself of Other People’s Negative Energy Part II Disruptive Advertising Craigslist

Jess is going to acupuncture, and Margy is painting cat portraits! Then, check out a great interview with Glenn the Geek founder of The Horse Radio Network.   Behind The Scenes at Horse Radio Network: -Having systems in place (like Google Sites) allows for the huge number of shows -How to audition potential co hosts and what’s most important in a co host -How live events can build trust with potential clients and show your staying power   In our new segment called “Winne or Losie,” we discuss podcasting trends like... -should you ask listeners to subscribe? -are ratings and reviews BS? -online groups and forums   Resources Mentions: Horse Radio Network Google Sites 5 Love Languages Horse Radio Network App

Jess is washing her walls with salt water to ward off negative energy, and Margy visits her first cat cafe in Brooklyn! They discuss the different styles of podcasts you can produce, and then do an interview with Jonathan Messinger, who produces the Adventures of Finn Caspian.   Different Kinds of Podcasts: The style that is right for you depends on your brand, style and interest! 1. Interview: Great for connecting with potential clients and bringing a variety of expertise to your audience. 2. Solo Show: You have to be really entertaining! Examples are Grammar Girl and School of Podcasting by Dave Jackson. Dave is an introvert, which may be part of why he is such an excellent solo podcaster! 3. Co-Hosted/Roundtable: We loved Guys We F%$#@, co-hosted by two comedians. Choose your co-host wisely. 4. Fiction: More like an audio book. Takes a lot of work to write the story! 5. Journalism: Examples are Serial and Casefile (Margy loves crime shows!) 6. News/Current Events: Not evergreen, but a great way to educate

On today’s episode, Jess and Margy interview Canadian business executive turned podcaster, Chris Spurvey. Chris shares how he balances his personal brand with his executive role, his top sales mindset tips for entrepreneurs and how he stays so productive by working smart not hard. Also in this episode: Margy is getting outdoorsy with a handsome gentleman friend, and Jess has seen the light about Himalayan salt lamps (see what we did there?!)   How Chris balances in his role as VP of Business Development for KPMG with his work as a sales/personal brand consultant: -was lacking fulfillment in a large organization -decided to write a book, which started his personal brand -KPMG is very supportive of everything because his personal brand is helping word get out about the company -people already know like and trust him because they have read his articles and listened to his shows   Chris’s journey with podcasting: -Chris always had a dream of writing a book -He used to think sales was “pushing people” and objectio

This week’s episode is about repurposing your content and how Yann Ilunga vets guest experts for his 360 Entrepreneur Podcast. And later in the show, Jessica and Margy break down their experience of having an improv comedy workshop at the Interview Connections office.   Yann Ilunga Q & A Yann is a successful podcast host and blog writer from the future, depending on where you call home. From his studio in Finland, he answers Jess’s and Margy’s questions about how he repurposes his content and how he determines who will be a great guest expert for his show.   Q. What are some ways podcasters and guest experts can repurpose their content? A. Blogger, Vloggers and Podcasters often think about content at a surface level. Yann suggests approaching the topic from multiple angles. Q. Why should a podcaster have show notes? A. It’s a great opportunity to draw traffic to your website. B. A listener can find all the information they need in one place. C. Bulleted Timestamps could trigger someone’s interest. Q. Ho

This episode is all about understanding your podcast download stats. Jessica and Margy tell you how to analyze your stats, figure out what is normal and get more downloads.   Podcast Download Stats Many podcasters don’t know which stats are relevant. This breakdown will help you better understand the data.   How to Analyze Download Stats: 1. The number of downloads you have does not equal the number of listeners you have. 2. Your monthly download number doesn’t paint a good picture of how popular your most recent episodes are. a. The best way to analyze your stats to know how your podcast is doing right now is to look at how many downloads a single episode has after 30 days. So, What’s Normal? 1. Podcasters don’t share their downloads, therefore no baseline can be created. 2. Listen to the official Libsyn podcast, The Feed for median stats. 3. Listen to Episode 8 of this podcast for the percentage of your subscribers who are actually listening to your podcast. 4. Have realistic expectations about how many pe

This week, hosts Jessica and Margy welcome the amazing Ali Brown. Ali is the host of the popular professional women’s podcast Glambition Radio. She shares her strategies for weeding through pitches,  handpicking guests, and what keeps her show the leader in its category.  And in the new Basic Pitches for Basic B*tches segment,  you’ll find out what to do (and what not to do), when you get a really bad podcast pitch.   Ali Brown Ali Brown is the woman Business News Daily called “The Entrepreneurial Guru for Women.” She has been featured on ABC’s Secret Millionaire, and has been interviewed on many major media outlets.   What factors are in play when Ali screens possible podcast guests? ● They must be female leaders and change makers. ● They must have a decent following on social media. ● Their story has to fit her specific show. How does Ali evaluate the podcasts she guests on? ● The host must make 7 figures. ● Or, be on the verge of breaking 7 figures. ● Their audience must be her target audience. ● She must

Welcome to Rock the Podcast! Hosts Jessica and Margy welcome the author of the controversial book, Evolution 2.0, Perry Marshall. Perry tells us why he wrote the book, why podcasting is a great way to get exposure for your business, and the importance of adaptation.   Perry Marshall — Author You may know Perry from his best-selling marketing guides, Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords and 80/20 Sales and Marketing. Perry says his new book, Evolution 2.0, started as a side project, and isn’t rooted in religion or biology, like many assume. It’s written from a business and technology perspective. It twists away from the normal philosophical conversation about evolution.   To spread the word about his new book, Perry enlisted Interview Connections to find him podcast hosts who didn’t mind delving into the taboo. Jessica and Margy admit it was difficult, but they stuck with it, eventually finding a niche in health-related podcasts.   Perry Says Being a Guest on Podcasts: ● Sells his books. ● Makes the most of his

Welcome to Rock the Podcast! Hosts Jessica and Margy welcome one of the founding fathers of podcasting, Rob Greenlee of Spreaker. Rob shares his masterful knowledge of: ● The value of attending live podcast events. ● Why engagement is more valuable than the size of your audience. ● Podcasting 101: The technical steps to starting a podcast.   Rob Greenlee of Spreaker Rob says early podcasters were winging it. There were no best practices, standards or methods back in 2004. It was common place for hosts to experiment with different formats, genres and content.   Why are live events good for podcasters: ● They create a personal relationship between the listener and the host. ● They are a great place to share your podcast. (Podcasting is still a word of mouth medium.) ● Face-to-face time with your listeners can give a host insight on what content listeners want to hear. ● They bring the virtual podcast world into the real world   Podcast Statistics For whatever reason, podcast stats continue to be a closely held

Welcome to Rock the Podcast! Hosts Jessica and Margy welcome long time podcaster, Pat Hiban to the show. Pat is approaching the 500 mark on his Real Estate Rock Stars Radio Show. Yea, Pat! He shares the best practices he has learned from guests and his own experiences.   Guest Podcaster Pat Hiban Pat Hiban started out as a ‘has mic, will travel,’ type of podcaster. His show has morphed from asking each guest the same questions into a deep dive of each guest’s unique abilities. He has also said goodbye to advertising. He finds focusing his podcast towards his own core business a more lucrative endeavor. Pat understands it is not about downloads — it is about the bottom line.   Sock Opera A fireman will put out your fire, not ignite your passion.   Resources Mentioned: Interview Connections Interview Connections TV @InterviewConnections on Instagram Real Estate Rock Stars Radio Super Agents Live

Welcome to Rock the Podcast! Hosts Jessica and Margy welcome local Rhode Island business owner David Englund to the show to discuss geolocal podcasts and how a podcast can build a loyal client base for your business. And then they steal Jason Hartman away from his busy schedule to play, Swanky or Stupid.   David England on GeoLocal Podcasting David started his business as a designer and a marketer. He moved into web design after clients requested it. He now loves working on websites, because they are a living platform. The work is never done, and if it’s done right, it is constantly moving and adapting. David’s opinion is local business owners can benefit greatly from having a podcast. But, many shy away from it because they are unfamiliar with the media. David is familiar with the media but still hasn’t taken the leap into podcasting. Jessica helps him out with the details. During an Interview Connections focus group, David provided feedback as a consumer of several different podcasts. He says consistency is

Welcome to Rock the Podcast! Hosts Jessica and Margy welcome Corey Coates, Chief Expectations Manager at Podfly Productions, to discuss these 3 questions… ● What’s the difference between a rebrand and a tune-up? ● What does it mean to rebrand? ● How do I rebrand my podcast?   Missed Connections This week’s missed connection is a ‘big whup’ from Corey who had never seen the moon before. Welcome to the Northeast, you wide-eyed Canadian.   What is Rebranding? Rebranding is a complete overhaul of your podcast. The only thing you keep in place is the underlying architecture, i.e., the RSS feed, iTunes account, and your fans. ● Survey your audience and ask them what they like about your existing show. ● Consult with a professional. ● Cut out the crap. ● Do a sunset episode. ● Produce a few demo episodes before launching your new show.   What is a Tune-Up? A tune-up generally happens at about six months in, or whenever your gut tells you your podcast is getting stale. It’s a review to figure out where some adjustmen

In today’s episode, Margy and Jessica answer common questions to dispel myths about podcast numbers, and how the team at Interview Connections chooses which podcasts they pitch their clients to. The Interview Connections team schedules 400+ interviews a month, so they are the experts!   Missed Connections This week’s missed connection is from Margy whose ability to follow up is noteworthy.   Podcast Guest Booking FAQ’s Jessica and Margy delve into the facts and figures behind the top questions asked by Interview Connection clients.   ●What is the audience size of the show you are pitching me on? ○ It’s not about the audience size it’s about your target market. ○ Why total downloads may not be a good measuring stick. ○ How to severely limit your opportunities. ● How does the Interview Connections team choose the podcasts they pitch clients to? ○ What is the guest’s goal as it relates to their business? ○ Does the podcast have relevant content? ○ What is the production quality of the podcast? ○ How established

What do podcast hosts think of your pitch to be a guest on their show? In today’s episode, Margy and Jessica are joined by Interview Connection’s client Damion Lupo. Damion shares his essential feedback about how podcast hosts perceive the unique introduction he receives from Interview Connections bookers. And later, Adam Hommey of the Business Creators’ Radio Show gives his tips for exploiting the brilliance and passion of guests on his podcast.   Missed Connections This week’s missed connection is more of a missed synapse! Jessica and Aaron Walker were outside just before speaking on John Lee Dumas’ panel, at this year’s Social Media Marketing World and Aaron asked Jessica “How is Interview Valet going?”   Damion Lupo Client Feedback Damion says many hosts are impressed on how they were contacted by the Interview Connection’s team. They are engaging with the podcast hosts, and it shows they are paying attention. It’s unique, and it completely changes the dynamic. It also adds third-party validation. There i

Jessica and Margy kick off the first official episode of the Interview Connections podcast, with a new segment aptly named Missed Connections, and a recording of the live session of Jessica’s panel from the Podfest Multimedia Expo.   Missed Connections Jessica has been pitching podcasts for over 4 years. Her company, Interview Connections, books over 400 interviews a month. She fondly remembers her favorite missed connection when a podcast host simply replied “Unsubscribe.”   Interview Connection’s Panel at Podfest 2017 — Getting Booked as a Podcast Guest Guest experts, Marty McDonald, Dave Sanderson, and Rene Brent join Jessica on stage, to discuss the importance of a pre-call, how to get paid speaking gigs by being a podcast guest (ROI), and how they promote the show after it’s live.   The Panel Marty McDonald — Co-Founder of Bad Rhino Inc. He shares a podcast success story in which his company gained $47K in new revenue after one podcast connection. Rene Brent — A certified hypnotherapist in Orlando. Rene

Jessica takes her own advice, and closes the door on what was the Rhodes to Success Podcast. Now, if you feel like you just lost a best friend, don’t get out your black suit yet. In this case, parting is such sweet sorrow, because Jessica and team will be back next week as…. The Interview Connections: How to Rock the Podcast from Both Sides of the Mic podcast!     The rebranded podcast will include: ● Amazing co-hosts! ○ Margy Feldhuhn: The Chief Connections Officer for Interview Connections who oversees client operations. ○ Amanda Doughty: A top booker at Interview Connections who has her own podcast, Great Beer Adventures. ● A new logo! ● Even more relevant content! ● The spotlight of Interview Connections clients! Lesson of the Show: Don’t rebrand and relaunch too often. If you know someone who wants to be interviewed on podcasts or host a podcast, share the new and improved Interview Connections podcast with them. If you enjoy this show please share it with someone who needs this content. Click the share

Successful real estate notable, Mark Walker, joins Jessica to explain his marketing strategy and describe how he turns podcast interviews into leads, and ultimately new business.  Amanda Dowdy, a guest booker for Interview Connections, kicks things off by offering a free copy of Jessica’s new book, Interview Connections: How to Rock the Podcast from Both Sides of the Mic. This book is a must-have for podcast hosts and guests who want to monetize their ventures.   Mark Walker Case Study After Mark’s first podcast guest appearance, he noticed an increase in traffic to his website. This encouraged him to continue doing podcast interviews. Mark recalls how his worst interview became one of his top lead producers. The podcast didn’t have the biggest listener base but the subject matter was a perfect match for him to reach his target audience.   3 Steps to a Successful Podcast Marketing Strategy: 1. Have a free offer for the listeners. 2. Send listeners to a landing page. 3. Set up an autoresponder email sequence t

Podcasting and blogging are great ways to get extended exposure in your target market. And while guest blogging and being a guest expert on podcasts have similarities, there are some distinct differences. Maggie Patterson joins Jessica today to discuss those differences, and shares how to make the most out of both platforms to increase your brand and business exposure. Maggie Patterson is CMO of Scoop Industries. She is a Communications Strategist with 15+ years of experience, and co-host of the Inside Scoop podcast. She has been published in Fast Company, Virgin, and other major publications, and earned Master-Level Content Marketer status.   Guest Blogging: Maggie says a blog has a crucial place in most businesses. There is a lot of competition within the blogging community, which makes a good guest blogging gig hard to get. To ensure your content is accepted on an established blog, it is best to plan ahead.   Guest Blogging Rules: ● Do your homework. ● Start small to build your body of work. ● Build a rela