[BONUS] Why I’m ending the Build Your Online Audience podcast (plus what’s coming next)

Find out what to expect from Janet's new podcast in this super short trailer. Listen on Apple Podcasts Or your favourite podcast app. And don't forget to download, subscribe rate and review - those reviews are SO important! 

THIS IS THE LAST EPISODE OF THIS PODCAST. MY NEW PODCAST IS CALLED THE COURAGEOUS CONTENT PODCAST. FOLLOW & DOWNLOAD ON YOUR FAVOURITE PODCAST APP.   https://courageous-content.captivate.fm/ Have you ever launched a course or product that flopped - leaving you wondering where you went wrong?  If this sounds familiar you’ll love this podcast episode with business coach Natalie Sisson.  Natalie explains how to bounce back from a failed launch and shares her experience of a launch that flopped (and the BIG lessons she learnt). You’ll learn why being true to yourself can have a huge impact on your launch and how to find the resilience to bounce back from failure. This is the final episode of The Build Your Online Audience podcast. Join the waiting list for my NEW podcast (launching in May 2021) here.   {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes About this final Build Your Online Audience podcast episode (00:30) How Natalie inspired me at the start of my podcast journey (01:01) Find out about my new Courageous Content podcast (01:58) About Natalie and her mission to help women earn what they’re worth (03:32) What happened when Natalie’s launch went wrong (06:40) How your mindset can make a bad launch so much worse (09:20) Why your launch will bomb if you don’t stay true to your values (14:15) Why solving problems is more important than perfection (15:53) The key things you need to remember for a successful course launch (17:10) Why the size of your audience should determine your launch strategy (19:10) Why keeping your launch simple is key to success  (23:02) How to find out if people will buy your course before you launch (26:57) About Natalie's new book ’Suck it up Princess’ (33:45) Why resilience is key when you’re launching (36:20) How to join the waitlist for my new Courageous Content podcast (37:29) Resources Natalie's website and podcast Natalie’s InstagramNatalie’s book Suck It Up Princess Teachable  Be the first to hear when my new podcast goes live in May 2021.Sign up for the waitlist to hear about my new Courageous Content podcast Join my  Build Your Online Audience programme Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)[Bonus] Why I'm ending the Build Your Online Audience Podcast and what's happening next (podcast) [009] How to build a memorable brand with Natalie Sisson (podcast)[418] How long does it take to create an online course (podcast) [426]  The ultimate course launch checklist (podcast) [440] The secret to a successful online course or membership launch (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

My Build Your Online Audience Podcast is ending at episode 450 and I'd love you to come along to my podcast wrap party on Friday 26 March 2021 at 4pm-6pm GMT. I've invited all my podcast guests from the past five years and I'd love to have all my listeners there too.  Listen to this quick podcast to find out how to get the link to register to join us. Plus if you've ever fancied starting your own podcast then make sure you come along because I'm going to be explaining how you can win an amazing podcast bundle. There's everything you need to get your podcast up and running. See you there! Register for my podcast party here {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes   When is my podcast wrap party (0:22)  Why you need to register for my podcast wrap party (0:34) How you can win a podcast prize bundle to get your podcast live (0:58) What’s included in my podcast prize bundle (01:31) How to register for my podcast wrap party (02:06) When I’m launching my new Courageous Content podcast (02:31) Why I’d love you to join my podcast party (02:44) Resources Be the first to hear when my new podcast goes live in May 2021. Sign up for the waitlist to hear about my new Courageous Content podcast Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] Why I'm ending the Build Your Online Audience podcast and what's coming next (podcast) [376] Lessons learned from 1 millions downloads of my podcast (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your content if you needed to take time out of your business?  Do you have content batched and scheduled ahead? Or would your content grind to a halt until you were able to get back to work?  If you’re like many business owners I know, creating a contingency plan for your content is probably on your to-do list - but something you tell yourself you’ll get to when you get a spare moment (which, when you run a business is often ‘never’). But it is important.  In this episode, I talk to business strategist Diane Mayor about how to create a contingency plan for your content (and why you need to).  You’ll learn why planning for the good times (a sudden spike in sales, for example)  is just as important as planning for a crisis. PLUS what to include in your contingency planning.  And why this topic is important - even if you’re a solopreneur.  {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes Why I’m ending the Build Your Online Audience Podcast (and what’s coming next) (02:15) How Diane Mayor helps business owners (03:32) About this podcast episode and why contingency planning is important (04:50) How Diane got started in contingency planning (05:40) When I realised I needed a contingency plan (07:30) Why your reaction to an event is what creates the good or bad results (10:03) How to reduce panic in a crisis by making sure you’ve got a planned response (12:49) How to work out the risks you can control in your business (and what you can’t) (13:31) Tips for contingency planning for a live event (18:48) Where to start with your contingency planning (21:02) How to create a crisis plan if you’re a solopreneur (26:26) How far ahead to batch content if you’re contingency planning (32:41) Why you should prioritise content creation for a podcast, blog or YouTube content over social media content (36:30) What you need to consider when you’re batching content (and how to make it work for you) (38:40) How to assess risk in your content planning (and why you can’t prepare for everything) (42:10) How to plan for a media crisis (if you don’t have a PR team) (47:22) Why you should keep your content organised (52:14) Resources Diane's website and podcast  Diane's Instagram Be the first to hear when my new podcast goes live in May 2021. Sign up for the waitlist to hear about my new Courageous Content podcast Join my  Build Your Online Audience programme Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] Why I'm ending the Build Your Online Audience Podcast and what's happening next (podcast) [374] How to create a year's worth of content in one morning (podcast) [439] How to create a content batching week with Jordan Gill (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

In this episode, I explain why I’m ending this podcast in two episodes time (episode 450). I share the reasons why and what’s coming up next (don’t panic - I’m not giving up podcasting all together). If you’re a regular listener to the show, THANK YOU so much for your support. {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes   My big news about this podcast (0:38) How my podcast audience has kept me motivated (01:48) The three reasons why I’m ending this podcast (03:02) Why I wanted to quit while I was ahead and at the top (05:50) How my business has changed and why I want to align my podcast with that change (06:33) The podcast interview that sparked a lightbulb moment (07:43) Why my Facebook Ads made me realise what my ideal clients really needed (10:09) How my Courageous Content challenge has helped business owners create better content (13:15) How the new podcast will help me align my offerings with my content(15:40) About my new podcast and the topics it will cover (19:18) Why you need to create content  you enjoy and fits your personality (23:50) Why I want to help women find the courage to create content (26:21) How the new podcast will focus more on the emotional side of content creation (28:13) Why marketing 'gurus' aren't always the best source of content inspiration (29:57) Why we could be talking about building a community rather than an audience  (31:07) The types of guests you'll hear from on my new podcast (32:41) Why I want to help people find the joy in content creation (33:02) Thanks to my fabulous team behind the podcast (33:46) About the new podcast launch and where you can find more details (34:37) Come along to my podcast party (35:20) Resources Be the first to hear when my new podcast goes live in May 2021. Sign up for the waitlist to hear about my new Courageous Content podcast Join my Courageous Content mini-courseJoin my Instagram Success Academy Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [315] How to create a brand statement and why you need to with Nicole J Smith (podcast) [376] Lessons learned from 1 millions downloads of my podcast (podcast) [400] How to build a large audience for your blog, vlog or podcast or (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

I generated more than £185k in sales of my 2021 Social Media Diary and Planner and related products. In this podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog), I share my tips on how to generate a semi-passive income from selling a planner or journal. You’ll find out: How to choose a topic for your planner/journal How a planner/journal can help you sell higher-tickets products/services How to ensure your planner/journal is profitable How to develop complementary products you can sell alongside your journal/planner {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   1. Make sure your planner solves a problem  There are so many types of planners available - the competition can be huge. Which is why your planner needs to solve a specific problem for a specific person. For example, my Social Media Diary & Planner helps business owners who are struggling to come up with content ideas. It’s packed full of key dates and awareness days, which helps them generate content ideas. And it includes templates and checklists to help them create annual, monthly, weekly and daily content plans - which helps them stay on track. Another example might be a music practice planner. I’m an amateur pianist, and one of the problems I have is organising what I’m going to practise, when. The membership programme I belong to sells a piano practice planner. This is a great resource for keeping track of your practice. It also creates a record of what you’ve covered so you can look back at your progress. A wedding planner/journal is another good example because it helps prospective brides stay organised and creates a keepsake of the event. 2. Pick a niche for your plannerDon’t be put off if there are already planners on sale in your industry/space. It is possible to niche down within your industry For example, there are hundreds of planners on dog training. Niching down to a particular breed of dog - or aspect of training e.g. potty training, behaviour -  will not only help you stand out, it will also increase your sales. For example, Bridezilla founder, Alicia McCormack created a wedding planner for people who hate bridal magazines and wedding fairs. There are also planners for vintage weddings, 1950s themed weddings and other specific niches. There are lots of possibilities to niche down within your industry. Even if it seems like there are lots of planners already on the market. You may feel that getting super specific will reduce your sales. Actually, you’re far more likely to make sales because your product will be a better fit for your ideal customer. 3. Build an audience to sell your planner to The average conversion rate for online sales is 1-2%. Which means for every hundred people in your audience (i.e. your email list) only a handful are likely to buy. So if you’re hoping to sell hundreds/thousands of your planner - and you don’t currently have a large audience to sell to - you may need to readjust your expectations. If this is the case, you have a number of options: Launch your planner anyway - but just do a small print run for your first launch. While the printing cost will be higher, this will give you a chance to test out your product. Work on building your audience until it’s big enough to achieve your target sales. 4. Build authority on your planner topic There may be someone else out there who sells a similar planner/journal to the one you want to create.  Someone who has an established audience e.g. a YouTube channel, book and/or large social media following. So why would someone choose to buy from you? I say this not to put you off launching your planner, but to remind you that you need to build authority in your industry/space. And also to manage your expectations. It may take you time to build the authority (and audience) you need to sell your planner (at least in the numbers you would like). The best way to build authority is to publish content that answers your ideal customers’ questions  - ideally on your website.That way, when your ideal clients are searching online for answers to their questions, they’ll end up on your website. I publish regular blogs/podcasts on content planning/creation throughout the year. This helps me and my planner get ‘found’ more easily in Google. If you approach your planner business with realistic expectations, you can only build from there. This is one of the things we cover in my How To Launch Your Own Planner masterclass. We do some calculations to see what your audience size is and what you can expect to sell. Then you can decide if you want to launch now or do a small print run. It can cost more to do a small print run, but you can learn and build from there. I’ve got a podcast episode all about how much it costs to launch a planner that will help you understand how many you’ll need to sell. 5. Make your planner part of your sale funnel The great thing about creating a planner/journal is that you can create information products (e.g. online courses/digital downloads) to go alongside it. You don’t need to launch one now (in fact, it’s best to keep things simple and start with your planner/journal). But if you can see the potential to create an information product to go alongside your diary, you’ll be able to generate more revenue. Since I launched my Social Media Diary & Planner five years ago, I’ve launched a content planning membership programme to support people with using the diary throughout the year. This is £149 (compared to £39 for the diary) and around 25% of diary owners now opt to buy the planning club as well as the diary. Do also consider how your planner/journal might fit into the rest of your sales funnel. A planner/journal can often be an ‘entry level’ product which can lead to an upsell for a higher ticket offer. Ready to launch your own planner or journal? If you’re serious about launching a planner or journal for your industry, join my How To Launch A Planner Masterclass. I go into greater depth about the steps you need to take to launch a successful planner or journal. And it includes all the checklists and templates you need. Plus, what you need to do before you go to a printer. You can join the masterclass here.  Podcast shownotes About my how to launch your own planner masterclass (03:06) Why you should listen to this podcast episode (03:44) How much revenue my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner has generated (05:32) The size of audience you need to sell a planner/journal (06:34) Making sure your planner solves a specific problem (08:50) Examples of problems a planner can solve (09:52) Choosing a niche for your planner/journal (and how to research it) (12:27) Why you shouldn’t be scared of creating a planner for a niche audience (13:54) Why you must build an online audience to sell your planner to (15:04) Building authority and why it’s vital for your planner launch (16:45) Setting realistic expectations for the launch of your planner (17:34) How to sell your planner if you have a small audience (18:01) How to generate additional revenue from your planner from online courses/digital downloads(21:05) Why your planner should be part of your overall sales funnel (23:40) Why you should join my how to launch a planner masterclass (27:17) Resources Join my How to launch your own planner masterclassJoin my Instagram Success Academy Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray's Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] How to get the most out of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (podcast)[220] How to create a planner or journal for your industry (podcast) [355] How to create and launch your own planner (podcast) [414] How much does it cost to launch your own planner (podcast) [422] Behind the scenes of my launch how I sold £10K of planners in 24 hours (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Did you know that just one in three podcast hosts are women? And just 21% of chart-topping podcast hosts are female? Even though almost as many women listen to podcasts as men.  So what holds women back from launching a podcast? And why do so few women who DO start a podcast hit the top of the charts in their niche? This special podcast episode - published to mark International Women’s Day 2021 - aims to inspire more women to get their voices heard. You’ll hear from four podcasters (three female and one male) on how to get started with podcasting and overcome common fears - like getting to grips with the tech and getting used to the sound of your own voice. PLUS practical tips on launching your podcast. Even if starting a podcast isn’t on your radar, there is so much to inspire you in this episode to get your voice out there. Speakers: Charlotte Foster, Ant McGinley, Anna Parker Naples and Avni Gohill. {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes Why I hosted a ‘Women in Podcasting Session’ at 2021Sorted (01:42) Why you should listen to this podcast episode (even if you're not launching a podcast) (02:30) Who you’ll hear from in this episode (05:12) How long should a podcast episode really be (6:56) Why planning is key to making your podcast episode  interesting (07:18) How to get over the fear of hearing your voice on a podcast (07:52) How to relax when you’re recording your podcast (10:50) Why you shouldn’t script your podcast episode  (11:20) How to get your podcast started and why you don’t need a big budget (13:21) Why podcasting is powerful for raising your business visibility (19:50) Why your podcast launch strategy is important for positioning in the future (21:10) How to be strategic when choosing your podcast guests (22:16) Why your podcast is a great source of content (23:13) Why your podcast is great for your SEO on Google (24:05) Why you don’t need loads of fancy equipment to record a podcast (28:08) How to use Zoom to record your podcast episodes (29:07) Why a podcast is a long term investment (33:02) Why you have to promote your podcast and keep telling people about it (35:18) How to keep your podcast editing simple (35:29) Tools you can use for editing your podcast audio (37:10) Resources   Podcast speakers Charlotte Foster Turn up the volume on your voice Anna Parker Naples Podcast with impactAnt McGinley Pods up North Avni Gohil Virtuelicious     Tools Descript -  transcribe and edit audioAudacity - for recording and editingSearchie - for transcriptsOtter - for recording and transcriptsZoom for recording your podcast  Join my Courageous Content mini-courseJoin my Instagram Success Academy Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [446] How to pitch yourself as a podcast guest (podcast) [400] How to build a large audience for your blog, vlog or podcast (podcast) [383] How to get your podcast live in 60 days (podcast) [376] Lessons learned from 1 millions downloads of my podcast (podcast) [253] How to land a guest appearance on podcasts with Nicole Holland (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Being a guest on other peoples’ podcasts is a great way to build your audience - and your authority. But most podcast hosts get far more pitches than they can handle - which means they can afford to be choosy about who guests on their show. So what’s the best way to pitch yourself as a podcast guest? And how can you make sure your pitch stands out from the rest? In this podcast episode, you’ll learn how to craft the perfect email pitch for a podcast and how to increase your chances of getting a ‘yes’ from the host. You’ll also find out what podcast hosts are looking for in a guest and the common mistakes to avoid in your pitch.  {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.} Why it's worth being a podcast guest Why Being a podcast guest is a great way to get in front of your ideal customers/clients - and build your audience - fast.  It’s much quicker than writing a guest blog post. Most podcast interviews last between 30-60 mins. This means you can potentially do several a week.  It’s also a great way to build trust quickly.  There’s something about being in someone’s earbuds that’s much more intimate than the written word. Which means that by the end of a 30 minute interview, people often feel they know, like and trust you enough to visit your website, download your free resources and/or even buy your products/services.  And the best thing is, every time you appear on someone else’s podcast, you’re getting in front of a brand new audience - an audience you haven’t had to build yourself. So if you set yourself a target to do three interviews a week, you could potentially build your audience by thousands - in a relatively short space of time. But before you get too excited…let’s back up a bit.  Most podcast hosts - particularly on popular shows - get dozens of pitches each week. So competition for guest spots can be pretty tough.  So how do you write a pitch for a podcast host that really stands out? Read on and find out. And why not check out my YouTube video about pitching yourself as a podcast guest as well:- 1. Focus on how you can help the podcast host (not yourself) As a podcast host, this is what I’m looking for in a guest: Someone who can provide great content for my audience. In my case, this is practical ‘how to’ advice on listeners can apply in their business on social media marketing, content marketing and email marketing. On another podcast, great content might simply be entertainment or providing information about a specific topic.  Someone who has an established online presence in the form of a blog, vlog, podcast and/or has written a book. Not only does this mean they have an audience they can share our podcast interview with, but it also means I can serve my listeners by directing them towards more useful content.  Sadly, most of the pitches I get are focused on what the person doing the pitching hopes to get out of the interview rather than how they can help my audience.  In many cases, it’s clear they haven’t even listened to the show (or even scrolled through previous episode titles) to get a feel for the kind of content I offer. I think my experience is pretty typical - which is why I say 'no' to most pitches I receive. If you can focus on how you can help the podcast host - rather than yourself - you'll have a much better chance of getting a 'yes'. 2. Label the subject header of your email Most podcast hosts are actively looking for great content, so label the subject line of your email and they’re far more likely to pay attention. 3.Use the subject header to summarise your idea  A concise subject header that summarises your story (ideally in ten words or less) is far more likely to get a podcast host’s attention. Resist the temptation to use puns or clever wordplay though; an obscure headline that doesn’t mean anything may get ignored.If you’re pitching an interview about how to get more conversions from a Facebook Ad, how to recover from postnatal depression or how to wear beige in winter...that’s exactly what you should say. 4. Keep your introduction brief If you’re pitching cold, it’s a good idea to 'introduce' yourself (a slightly different approach to pitching to journalists). But do keep it brief - or you could lose the podcast host’s attention before you’ve even got started. 5. Show you've actually listened to the podcast  Most of the pitches I get are from people who either haven’t listened to my podcast and/or haven’t given any thought to the kind of content I generally run. Say something that shows you’ve taken the time and trouble to actually listen to the podcast, and you’ll stand out a mile. 6. Show you can add value for their audience  Many of the pitches I receive offer a series of vague topics the interviewee might cover. When what I’m really looking for is a killer episode idea. And I’m literally looking for a title that will fit right in with previous titles on my podcast app. 7. Show the podcast host how you can help them grow their audience If you want to increase your chances of getting a ‘yes’, you need to show how you can help them grow their audience - by promoting the podcast interview to yours.  So do include any relevant stats, like the size of your email list and numbers of social media followers. But don’t let not having a big email list or social media following put you off;  personally, I’d rather get in front of 500 people who are exactly the kind of people I love to work than 50,000 people who ‘sort of’ fit. So if you target the right kind of content at the right kind of people, you can usually make a strong case – as long as you’re focused on how you can help the podcast host rather than yourself. Although I have a decent-sized email list (around 15k at the time of writing) it's tiny compared to some of the big podcast hosts I've pitched to. But that's still a significant number of people - and I have specialist knowledge and experience - which makes me a valuable podcast guest. 'Selling' this in my pitches has helped me get on some pretty Big Deal podcasts. If you’re just starting out and your email list is small (or non-existent), focus on the value of the content you can offer.     8. Show that other people value your content  If you’ve contributed guest content elsewhere, do mention it in your pitch. Seeing that others value your content - particularly well-established podcasters - should provide reassurance that you know what you’re talking about.   9. Make it as easy as possible for the podcast host to say 'yes'  For most podcast hosts, the interview is the enjoyable bit. Chasing people up for photos, biogs and social media handles can be a pain. So make it as easy for them as possible by providing all of that info in your pitch.   10. Don't forget to follow up  Getting half an hour or longer on a call with someone you admire - or would love to work with in the future - is a great opportunity to start building a business relationship.  I’ve kept in contact with many of the people I’ve interviewed for my podcast - and many who’ve interviewed me for theirs, including Chris Ducker, Natalie Sisson and Amanda Cook. So when your interview goes live, don’t forget to email the host to thank them for the interview...and get out there and promote it. Email your list, share it on all your social media networks and keep on doing it (I’m still sharing podcast interviews I did years ago on social media now). Remember you haven’t just given a podcast interview - you’ve co-created a piece of evergreen content - which is hugely valuable. You might also enjoy: how to use guest content to grow your audience.  Find this post useful? Download my FREE podcast pitch template here.    Podcast Shownotes Why understanding the audience is key to pitching for a podcast (03:30) Where you might be going wrong with your podcast guest pitch (06:39) How much it costs to make a podcast and why it matters (07:10) What you need to remember when you pitch to a podcast host (07:50) A common mistake people make when pitching to guest on a podcast (10:02) My top tip for pitching yourself as a podcast guest (12:05) Why authority is just as important as expertise  (13:50) How to approach your pitch if you haven’t got a huge online audience (17:43) Why you must do your research before you pitch to be a guest on a podcast (19:41) What to write in your email pitch and how to stand out (20:21) Why you shouldn’t pretend you’ve listened to a podcast when you pitch (22:09) How to demonstrate the value that you can add as a podcast guest (and what you need to avoid) (23:15) Why podcasts hosts aren’t always looking for Big Name Guests (26:40) What podcasts guests are looking for in a podcast guest (27:25) How to make it easy for a podcast host to say ‘yes’ to you (30:21) Why creating a one-sheet that includes photos and bio and social media handles can make it easier to get booked as a podcast guest (31:30) Why it’s worth keeping in touch with podcast hosts after the interview (32:13) Other resources Join my Courageous Content mini-courseJoin my Instagram Success Academy Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray’s Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [424] How to build an audience on YouTube with Justin Brown (podcast)[400] How to build a large audience for your blog, vlog or podcast (podcast)[383] How to get your podcast live in 60 days (podcast)[376] Lessons learned from 1 millions downloads of my podcast (podcast)[253] How to land a guest appearance on podcasts with Nicole Holland (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Self-publishing your own book is a great way to build your online audience - and your authority.  But how do you get started? How much does it cost? And should you do it all yourself - or use a print-on-demand service like Amazon, IngramSpark or Bookbaby.  If you’ve been asking yourself these questions (and more) then you’ll love this podcast episode with publishing expert and bestselling Indie author Sacha Black. Sacha shares every single step you need to take on your self-publishing journey - from coming up with a killer idea for a non-fiction book - to publication to promotion. You’ll also learn how to promote your book (with or without an online audience) and some killer tips to avoid the stress of a one-star review. PLUS the one thing you must avoid when you launch. {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes   About Sacha Black and how she helps people self-publish (02:19) Create engaging content with my Courageous Content mini-course (03:05) What you need to consider before you start writing a non-fiction book  (06:06) How to come up with a killer topic for your book (06:24) The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing (09:42) The pros and cons of being an Indie author (11:18) How to structure your book and why the problem you solve is at the heart of it (12:50) Why choosing the wrong style/genre could upset your audience (15:10) The optimum word count for a non-fiction book (16:10) What it means to publish ‘wide’ or ‘exclusive’ (and the pros and cons of both) (17:15) Publishing costs of a digital book vs a printed book (20:25) Reasons to outsource the formatting of your book (22:26) Why you should invest in a professionally-designed book cover (23:01) What sort of budget do you need for marketing a book (24:04) How to publish your formatted digital book online (24:34) What not to include in a book description (and why controversial is good) (28:34) Tips to avoid one-star reviews on Amazon (and what you must avoid when you launch) (30:38) How to promote your book if you haven’t got an online audience (32:36) Why content marketing is great for selling a book (33:48) Tips to get people on your email list (37:11) Resources   Vellum for formatting on MacBookBaby for publishingKobo for publishingBarnes and Noble for publishingOverdrive for publishingReedsy for editingDraft2Digital online publishingIngram Spark print on demandBookbub for distribution Mastering Amazon Descriptions by Brian Meeks How to write a sizzling synopsis by Bryan Cohen The Rebel Author Podcast Sacha Black Sacha's published books Sacha Black Instagram Sacha Black website Join my Courageous Content mini-courseJoin my Instagram Success Academy Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray's Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [408] 11 Instagram Story ideas to help you make more sales (podcast) [411] How to become the go-to person in your industry with Jen Hall (podcast) [414] How much does it cost to launch your own planner? (podcast) Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

If you’re building a personal brand online, people have to get to know the person behind the business. Otherwise, they won’t buy from you. But how much personal information should you share on your social media and other content platforms?  What is ‘ok’ to share and what should be kept private? And what is the difference between sharing and oversharing? If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions, you’ll love this podcast episode on how much personal information you should share on social media (and other content platforms). If you worry about sharing too much personal information, I explore why you might feel like that (and whether your concerns are justified).  I also share practical tips on how to decide what to share and what to keep private.  {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   Podcast shownotes About my Courageous Content mini-course (02:02) Why I recorded this podcast episode (03:42) Why you should share personal experiences in your business content (05:12) What type of personal experiences should you share (08:56) Why sharing personal content will make you seem more approachable (10:01) What I choose to share online and why some stuff stays private (11:45) Why oversharing means different things to different people (12:45) Why people have a problem with oversharing (14:35) Why you need to reconsider your oversharing beliefs (17:09) Why sharing your experiences and feelings is good for you (20:02) Why oversharing is a force for good (21:12) How to decide what personal content to share (23:13) How I decide what personal topics to share in my content (27:07) Where to draw boundaries on the content your share (27:31) Why you must be able to stand by what you say 100% (34:50) Why you have to stop worrying about people not liking you (38:40) Resources Join my Courageous Content mini-course Join my Instagram Success Academy Other useful podcasts [Bonus] Should you join Janet Murray's Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] How I discovered my ADHD Superpower (podcast)   [379] How to grow your Instagram posts by 1K in 30 days (podcast) [385] How to sell on Instagram Stories (without feeling sleazy) (podcast) [392] How to get more engagement on Instagram (podcast) [408] 11 Instagram Story ideas to help you make more sales (podcast)   Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn