161: How Daniel J. Lewis built authority from scratch, monetized his podcasting, and makes a life, not just a living

Remote recording for interviews and the like has always been a bit tricky and the platforms that provide recording of this type are always trying to improve.2022 brings us a lot of contenders for the title of "best remote recording platform."This episode is a handful of recordings of me and my right-hand audio-man, Aaron as we test out the top 11 platforms. You're going to hear about...BoomcasterCastCleanfeedClearcastIrisRemotelyRiversideSquadcastWelderZencastrZoomAnd we also tried Ringr, which has been around for some time but we got so frustrated trying to get it to work that we dropped the attempt. It could have been a bad day (for both of us?) but we made the call not to move forward with that portion of the recording and moved on.RESOURCES MENTIONEDBoomcaster - https://Boomcaster.com Cast - https://tryca.st Cleanfeed - https://Cleanfeed.net Clearcast - https://clearcast.io Iris - https://iris.fm Remotely - https://remotely.fm Riverside - https://riverside.fm (affliate link here)Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm (affiliate link here)Welder - https://GetWelder.com/remote-interview-recording Zencastr - https://zencastr.com Zoom - https://Zoom.us 

I have LONG wanted a Podcast Newsletter that provides content for me — an INDEPENDENT PODCASTER.I mean, it's OK to have industry news about who moved from what bigwig company to another biggerwig company in a higher profile industry-speak position... no problem there.But it's not relevant to me at all.So I've created an Indie Podcast Newsletter FOR Indie Podcasters, BY an Indie Podcaster. Abraham Lincoln would have said something like that if he were a podcaster.I'm calling it "Podawan" (hat tip to the Star Wars universe).I LOVE the idea of Podawan Learner... and since we are all bootstrapping, do it yourself kind of folks, we can be Podawans.Each episode or installment of the Podawan newsletter will include...An Education section that highlights stuff you need to learn or do betterA Success Stories section that tells of Indie podcasters who have actually done it.An Industry News section where I frame happenings in ways that matter to you.And an Editorial section... where I write an opinion piece based on issues within the podcast industry (and shock... it will be RELEVANT to Indie podcasters).Finally... I'll be taking LETTERS TO THE EDITOR... you can write your input about my opinions, industry stuff, something else. I don't care what it is. Send it to me.I hope you'll subscribe. It's going to be a fun and RELEVANT ride.Oh yeah... you can also find some fun, Podawan swag here.

Daniel J. Lewis has been building authority in the podcasting space since 2010.That’s when the very first episode of his show (a podcast about podcasting) “The Audacity to Podcast.” You can hear it here.Daniel has already been podcasting for about three years when I first came across his content and I can’t express the number of ways he’s helped me personally, both through his content and via personal email interactions we’ve had together.He’s a regular guy who is as genuine in real life as he seems on his show.THIS episode featuring Daniel J. Lewis features the story of how Daniel has used his podcast as a launching pad for SERVICES-based businesses - from website development to plugin development, to podcast consulting, Daniel has tried his hand at a wide variety of things — with varying levels of success. On this episode he shares...▷ His path into podcasting from a job he loved▷ How he built authority in a niche that was new to him▷ Choosing from the wide variety of income models▷ The power of perseverance in finding what fits youI hope you take the time to listen. Daniel doesn’t hold back and if you apply what he shares, you’ll move WAY forward in your attempts to monetize your show.

How successful can a niche podcast be?The answer likely depends on the niche. For example, back on episode 154 of this podcast Glenn Hebert, the personality and power behind The Horse Radio Network said this about his niche:”(Annually) We are well into five figures, and you know, in our niche, we’ll probably never get to six figures. I don’t see us ever doing that.”But his comments are about an expensive and specific niche, horses. What about if the niche in question is broader but very popular?Like Bourbon?While he was still in college, Kenny Coleman became a fan of bourbon (makes sense) and got into the “Bourbon Culture” from there. His interest became a passion and his passion has turned into a multi-six-figure business, all built on the back of a podcast that happened to become very, very popular.My theory? Kenny pursued something he loved that many others were growing to love at the same time, and he saw an opportunity to serve people like himself.Kenny and Ryan started their podcast from scratch, just like the rest of usGo back and listen to episode 1 of The Bourbon Pursuit podcast (you can find it here). There was nothing super special about it. Just two guys with a mic (maybe two) who were talking about something they enjoyed — bourbon. They set the stage, gave listeners an idea what to expect, and asked for feedback. I love what they said at the end of that episode...“If we suck, let us know, if it’s good, let us know. If you think something else would be cool, let us know. We just want to learn and grow as we go.”That is KEY: Ask for feedbackNo matter what your niche is, you won’t be able to serve your audience well until you know what they want. So figure out ways to ask them...What do they want to learn?Who do they want to hear from in the niche?What kind of skills do they need?What are the pains they feel related to the niche?These days Kenny and Ryan do that through a community that is managed, run, and kept alive by members of their Patreon supporters. But back at the beginning, they had to figure out ways to do it. Annual surveys were a tool they used. Soliciting listener feedback episode to episode helped. And little by little, they were able to dial-in their demographic and know how to serve their audience better.Quality matters, both technically and in skill levelKenny and Ryan started their podcast about bourbon back in 2015. Bourbon back then was NOT the thing it is today. Today it’s cool, hip, trendy, etc. , but back then, it was just a hobby for enthusiasts. But that began to change. More bourbon-related podcasts started showing up and Kenny (the Executive Producer of the show) realized he’d have to figure out ways to make their show better than all the rest.So he up-leveled the equipment they used. He improved their interviewing skills. He shot for higher-level guests and topics listeners said they wanted to hear.And the podcast continued to grow.Burnout happens to all podcasters at some pointThere was a turning point when Kenny felt he was going to have to give up the podcast. He was working a full-time job, was married, and had a child, and he felt that he was being pulled in too many directions. Between his job and the podcast he was working 80 hours a week and knew that without any payoff coming from his efforts, it didn’t make sense to keep making the kind of sacrifices he was making.He was open about the situation on social media and a fan reached out and suggested they start a Patreon. Kenny didn’t even know what it was. If you dont, here’s the nutshell: Patreon allows fans to support you on a donation level. You can set it up in a way they donate monthly, or per-episode you...

Do you EVER have issues coming up with new topics to cover on your podcast?If not, it’s only a matter of time. Every podcaster runs into the issue eventually - asking the question, “What ELSE am I going to talk about on my podcast?”It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’ve been podcasting for a long time. It WILL happen to you.What then?How are you going to move forward and continue to serve your audience?I’ve got a content development exercise you’re going to LOVE!On this episode, I want to teach you a process I’ve implemented time and time again that enables anyone to have 10 to 15 interesting, helpful, immediately usable topics that can be recorded for individual podcast episodes, in JUST 30 MINUTES.If it sounds too good to be true, just listen. You’ll see the magic (but it’s NOT magic, just common sense) of taking this approach.It’s tapping into the knowledge you already have inside that noggin of yours and putting it to work for the sake of your audience.Ready? Hit the play button!If you’d like to take the DEEP DIVE into this approach, you can find it outlined in detail on this blog post: https://podcastfasttrack.com/podcast-workflow-step-2-generate-topics-bulk-record/

Every podcaster is looking for ways to grow her audience. Why? Hopefully, it's for reasons bigger than our own ego (if it's not, please — STOP podcasting right now).The best reason to work toward podcast audience growth is to better serve those who find our show interesting and or helpful. I know you agree with me, right?Scott Johnson is a guy who does that through a couple of podcasts, but the one we focus on in this conversation is what he calls his "passion project" — "What was that like?" It's an intriguing show that interviews real people about the bizarre and sometimes painful experiences they've had in life. (Check out this episode, "Robert was in a gunfight with pirates" to get a taste for yourself).Scott and I discuss the MAIN thing he's done to keep his audience growth heading upward — and it comes in THREE forms. He breaks it down on this episode.You'll enjoy this episode if you're interested in...the best ways to discover what kind of people listen to your podcasthow to find other podcasts that have a similar audience (listen to understand why this is important)making connections with the podcasters who host those showspartnering with other podcasters to grow your respective showsreal-life results that come from this strategypodcast mastermind groups: their benefits might surprise youMentioned on this episode"What was that like?" - Scott's podcast discussed on this episode: https://whatwasthatlike.com/Scott's The Computer Tutor podcast: https://computertutorflorida.com/MIDROLL: Podcast MastermindIf you're interested in growing your podcast by joining forces with other podcasters who are on their way to success (just like you), consider applying for the next Podcast Fast Track Podcast Mastermind. It's one of the best investments you can make in your podcast, hands-down. Not to mention the great ongoing cooperative relationships you'll make with other podcasters like yourself. APPLY FOR THE NEXT GROUP HERE.Other podcasters who share your audience are NOT your competitionOne of the things I've loved about podcasting ever since I started is the reality that it's a very cooperative space. Unlike other industries, podcasters seem more than generous to help others who are trying to grow a show just like they are. This conversation with Scott is an example (he's a very generous guy).Scott banks on that fact as part of his podcast audience growth strategy. It's an easy assumption to make because you know that other podcasters who your audience finds intriguing or interesting are attempting to grow their listenership just like you. Reaching out to them to investigate cooperative partnerships makes perfect sense.But it's not easy to do with all the SPAM hitting our inboxes these days. For that reason, I was super interested in finding out how Scott makes the most of his opportunities to partner with other podcasters. As I suspected, he doesn't use a copy-and-paste email template that can be modified for pseudo-personal outreach. He does the hard work required to ensure he's coming across genuinely and that his communication is cutting through the noise. Listen to find out the details because I ask him all the questions.What elements contribute to your audience growth outreach pitch being noticed?As I mentioned above, SPAM...

For the first time ever, podcast show notes display almost the SAME in all podcasting apps (thanks Apple).That brings up the question... what ARE show notes anyway? And how can I best use them?On this episode of Podcastification, I'm going to explain what show notes are, what they should contain, and how to create and use them in the MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS.Keep reading.What ARE show notes?There are differing opinions or definitions out there for the term "show notes." Some people feel like it's a blog post length summary of a podcast episode, or maybe even a transcript of the audio.Others feel the term should refer mainly to the brief description of an episode you might find in a podcast app.Which is it?From my perspective as the Founder of a company that creates show notes for podcasting clients, it's both.Let me explain...Kill two birds with one stoneTo make the most of every episode of your podcast, you really NEED BOTH the longer blog post content that goes on your website, AND the shorter, abbreviated content that pulls into the podcast apps from your media host.Instead of creating a separate document or post for those two things, I suggest you create one MASTER post that you can use in a variety of ways to fulfill both needs... and social media elements while you're at it.But before we get to that, there's one last thing I want to say...Your listeners won't know what you've created for them if you don't guide them to itYou may follow the steps I'm about to give you and create the best show notes on the planet or within your industry or niche.But if your audience doesn't know they are available, they won't use them.It's YOUR job to ensure they know about the resources you create.I suggest you figure out a way to remind yourself to TELL your audience about your show notes EVERY TIME you record a new episode.Develop a bullet-point list you use when you record that reminds you of all the important stuff you need to sayAdd references to your show notes to that listWHERE DO YOU INCLUDE IT?Make the mention of your show notes a standard part of your call to action at the end of each episode.When guests share a resource, comment that you'll include it in the show notes or description.Your listeners will become aware of your show notes and become accustomed to looking at them when they need a resource... in time. Just be consistent.MAKE FINDING THE NOTES EASY FOR YOUR LISTENERSThe last stats I saw (early 2021) said that 85% of podcast listeners are listening on a mobile device. So think about that from a show notes perspective...If you're saying, "Check out the website for the show notes to this episode," you're making it HARD for your listeners to find them.Even if you refer to a specific short-link, you're still forcing them to open a web browser and find the show notes.HERE'S A BETTER IDEA...Since you know that the majority of your listeners are listening to your show on a mobile device, then point them to the description on their mobile device. I often say something like this..."That resource can be found in the description for this episode, and you can find that in the listening app you're using to listen right now. Swipe right, left, up, down... something and the description section will be there."Your show notes master documentFirst off, create a Google Doc that you can use as a template for your show notes. That way you don't have to recreate the structure every time you produce a new episode.You'll simply copy the template document, rename it, and away you go.What should your...

If you feel you don't know enough about the topics you want to podcast about, you are in good companyMaria Failla began her podcast, Bloom & Grow Radio because she DIDN'T know enough about how to care for her plants and saw it as a great opportunity to talk to experts who did. And by the way, isn't that a GREAT name for a podcast? It comes from a line in Maria's favorite song from the musical, "The Sound of Music" - Edelweiss.I was eager to talk with Maria about her journey because as a client, I've seen her go from almost no audience to an amazing following and enthusiastic membership community that's quite astounding. The lessons she's learned are ones any podcaster can benefit from, especially if you're looking to serve your audience in bigger ways, build relationships with sponsors that benefit them long-term, and therefore, fuel your podcast, AND make your podcast a full-time living kind of thing eventually.All of that is true of Maria and it just might be possible for you too. Give her a chance to convince you of what's possible!What you'll learn from Maria's story[2:32] Maria's monetization story: Where she's at now[4:32] Niche podcast ad sales | speaking opportunities | membership community[7:18] The wandering path: Why Maria thought 10 episodes would be it for her show[11:10] The first steps of monetization Maria started taking[14:35] How to leverage the power of the fact that you are your target listener[19:36] How to move affiliate relationships to sponsor partnerships🚨 Set up a MEMBERSHIP for your podcastIn this episode, I mentioned that I have a very successful membership once your podcast is rolling. You'll hear Maria speak about how she's doing that if you listen (you ARE going to listen, right?).I use a platform called Supercast, which I describe at the midpoint of this conversation. HERE IS MY AFFILIATE LINK to Supercast... and remember, if you use my link to sign up for Supercast, I'll send you my "Supercast Walkthrough" video to help you get it set up and get started.And to see how Supercast works, here is the link I share with my podcast listers that provides more information about my podcast partnership (what I call it instead of a "membership"): https://CareyGreen.com/partners[27:17] The membership Maria has created sounds amazing... she shares how you can build one too![33:06] Premium tiers are coming to Maria's membership... here's how she's setting it up[36:01] How Maria's self-doubt and ignorance led her to a vulnerable approach to her topics (that has been SUPER successful)[38:10] Getting past the fear of asking people for money to support what you're doing[42:01] Being friends with your sponsors removes the tension from the financial relationship and makes things more fun[44:51] Why "Bespoke" podcast ads are THE WAY TO GO with your sponsor relationships (it's a game-changer for you and your sponsor)If you're not an expert in your niche, that may be an IDEAL reason to start a podcastMaria says that she never expected her podcast to get past 10 episodes. There were a handful of reasons for that but the main one was that she thought she would probably run out of questions and guests by then. But as she got into things, it became clear to her that not only did she have more and more questions as she went along, but the audience was benefitting greatly from the content she was producing.That led her to one of the key insights that have...

Subscribe Is Gone (on Apple only, so far)Podcast tech is changing all the time, so we shouldn't be surprised when Apple makes a change (unannounced, as is often the case).What's the latest change?Apple's newest version of the iOS app (14.5 update) is now MISSING the "Subscribe" button. It also has no "Follow" button (which we've previously thought was coming).What users will see now when they click into a podcast they are considering is a button that says "Latest Episode."When they click that button......what happens? It plays the LAST 60 SECONDS of your most recent episode.Did you get that?Your MOST RECENT episode is going to be the Costco Sample for potential listeners. That's a big deal.It's easier for listeners to check out your show than ever before... but Apple is DICTATING how they do that... through the most recent episode.So you should consider if what you're doing during that first 60 seconds is...compellingintriguingentertaininginterestingprovocativealluringhelpfulIf it's not, this is a good time to make a change.What kind of change might you make?START WITH A TEASERMy episode this time started with what I'd call a "teaser." It's a creative way of introducing the topic.You can do this like I did, with unique or interesting music underneath.You could add a quote or clip from your guest that highlights the most interesting or compelling aspects of what they had to share.You could tell a story from your experience that illustrates the topic of your episode in an engaging way.There are so many ways to do it.What should NOT be in the first 60 seconds?ADS GO SOMEPLACE ELSEAdvertisements or sponsor spots should NOT be in the first 60 seconds of your episodes from now on.Think about it...If YOU were a new-podcast-searcher and found a show you thought might be interesting... and you clicked that "Latest Podcast" button... and you hear an...ADVERTISEMENT for the first 60 seconds...what would YOU think?What would you do?What would you wonder about that podcast and its creator?Long, boring, canned intros should be movedYou may feel you still need the canned intro you've been using. You know, the radio-announcer-gal who says the same blah-blah-blah at the beginning of every one of your episodes.That's OK... but don't put it within that first 60 seconds.You want to use that 60 seconds of audio real estate to its fullest potential.Give value.Hook your listeners.Build interest.Promise something.Make them WANT to keep listening.I don't think I've ever heard a canned intro that has made me WANT to keep listening.Have you?Stay tuned... this is likely not over!Apple is well-known for making unannounced changes like this, and then tweaking the change for weeks, months, sometimes years.So keep your eyes open. This feature is likely not going to stay exactly like it is.I'll do my best to keep you informed.

Glenn Hebert... is one of those guys who saw the value and power of podcasting early on. His "Horse Radio Network" has been in the podcasting game for a long, long time as a result.I wanted to chat with Glenn about monetization because he's done it well — he and his wife both work full-time for their little media company and have recurring sponsorships for their shows that are long-standing.How does that kind of thing happen? That's what I wanted to know.Glenn is quick to point out that his audience (horse owners) are an obsessive bunch (his words). They are eager and willing to spend lots of money on their horse hobby, so he's got a bit of a built-in "buyer's market" in his niche.But the principles he shares are applicable just the same.Listen to this episode to hear the story of how the HRN came about, how Glenn started monetizing, what the income is like now, and how he recommends you go about doing the same thing in your niche.