How to make a Podcast your Top of Funnel

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. 90% of podcasters give up podcasting in the first 20 episodes! So in this episode, Ash and Kane give tips to keep you motivated with your podcast including how to build a realistic approach and why outsourcing more time-consuming tasks can make a difference. KEY TAKEAWAYS People give up mainly because they have started podcasting for the wrong reasons. If you have passion and have educated yourself about monetisation you are already ahead of the game. Outsourcing the difficult tasks, the ones you find boring or the time-consuming aspects of podcasting that are low value can help you keep your podcast going. Have a realistic approach to podcasting before you start. Approach your podcast like a business. It’s easy to get complacent when podcasting, you need to keep up momentum and passion so you don’t stagnate. Burnout can happen, it’s better to start smaller and then stretch yourself if you then find you have more capability and time. BEST MOMENTS “It’s not easy, it can be a bit of a time-suck” “Outsource the difficult tasks” “You wouldn’t just give a business a go for a couple of months, people need to approach podcasting like a business” “If you’re expecting results instantly it might not happen” “It’s so much better to start with less than you think you’re capable of doing than it is to stretch yourself as you can build it up” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Join Ash and Kane as they break down how to create a podcast into your marketing and sales funnel. They talk about the different ways you can do this, what areas of content creation to focus on and also reveal time-saving hacks to help you make the most of your expertise and build your brand without draining your time. KEY TAKEAWAYS Your content has to be good quality, it is a reflection of everything else you do. Successful clips from your podcast, particularly if you have video can be utilised for ads easily and cheaply. Repurposing your podcast content is a great way to save yourself time. This is quality content you have already created that you can utilise across your social media platforms. Anyone listening to your podcast is doing so very intentionally, it’s very different to any other social media consumption. A call to action on your podcast needs to account for less than 10%. This will make it more impactful and not frustrate your listeners. A podcast allows you to expand your expertise and showcase it to your audience. This lends itself more to selling a higher ticket item.   BEST MOMENTS “You need good quality video, you need good quality audio” “Though they are not as high-value listeners they might go top of funnel, they might do the opt in, the webinar, the e-book, whatever it may be” “We get a lot of high ticket value through the podcast” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Inspired by the question “What was the last thing you changed your mind about?” Ash and Kane dive into the latest trends in podcasting and content creation, sharing valuable insights on what's working now. From the rise of casual podcast clips to focusing your energy on one social media platform, they offer practical advice for growing your brand. Join them as they discuss investing in studios, launching with fewer episodes, and the surprising truth about Spotify's dominance in the podcasting world. KEY TAKEAWAYS Podcast clips featuring casual conversations are outperforming highly produced, direct-to-camera content on social media Invest 70% of your energy into creating the best possible podcast, and focus the remaining 30% on building a strong presence on one social platform Renting a professional studio for in-person interviews can greatly enhance your podcast's quality and appeal to high-profile guests Launching with four episodes instead of six can still lead to a successful podcast while avoiding negative impacts on your YouTube channel Spotify has surpassed Apple in terms of individual podcast listeners, despite Apple's higher download numbers due to auto-downloads A microphone is the modern-day equivalent of a lab coat or clipboard, instantly lending credibility to the speaker Engaging with your audience through comments, DMs, and behind-the-scenes content is crucial for building relationships and growing your personal brand Investing in post-production and professional editing should be a top priority for podcasters before considering paid advertising or guest payments BEST MOMENTS "A microphone is the new lab coat. If someone's walking around with a clipboard or something, if they had a clipboard and a lab coat, then you can get in anywhere." "Instead of being okay on four platforms, I could be really good on one." "Guests are way more likely to say yes when you've got a nice fancy studio, even if you're not that well known." "We don't think it's necessary to do six [episodes at launch]. We do think four will suffice." "Spotify is doing well, I guess. We haven't changed our mind on Spotify being shit though." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash & Kane discuss different production options for podcasters, including AI, agencies, in-house teams, freelancers, and doing it yourself. They delve into the pros and cons of each option, emphasizing the importance of quality input in the production process. In the chat, they dive into why having team members dedicated solely to the podcast can be a game-changer, and talk about how agencies can offer valuable support. Plus, they share some tips on using AI tools to make episodes even better and discuss why it's so important to keep promoting and engaging with our audience to keep our podcast growing strong. KEY TAKEAWAYS Production Options: AI, agency, in-house team, freelancers, and do-it-yourself. Hiring Employees: Hiring employees is considered the best option due to their dedication, expertise, and focus on the podcast project. Agencies: Agencies are a good option for those who want a team of experts managing the production process, providing a single contact point for the client. AI Tools: While AI tools can be useful for certain tasks like mixing podcasts or creating captions, they are not recommended as standalone solutions for podcast production. BEST MOMENTS "Realistically, whether you've got an in-house editor, freelance, using AI, whatever it is, your input needs to be good." "You might have the best chef, [the podcaster]. You might have the best editor, right? But if your ingredients are out of date, your final result is going to be disgusting." "The best question you can ask a video editor in an interview is, what content do you consume?"   VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane tell you everything you need to know about starting a podcast in this episode. They share their experiences and provide practical tips on overcoming imposter syndrome, getting out of your own way, and taking action. Don’t miss out on this essential guide for aspiring podcasters and learn the first steps needed when starting a podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS Overcome imposter syndrome by interviewing experts and absorbing their knowledge, becoming an authority over time Set up your equipment and do test recordings to familiarise yourself with the process, even if you don't plan to launch yet Listen to podcasts in your niche to get a feel for what you like and don't like, but don't get stuck in the research phase! Book interviews or studio sessions to create accountability and commitment to your podcast Avoid scripting your episodes, as it can hinder your ability to be authentic and engage with your guests Embrace the fact that your first episodes might not be perfect, but the only way to improve is by doing Don't make excuses or lie to yourself about why you haven't started; be honest about your fears and take action Consistency is key! Keep recording, learning, and improving with each episode BEST MOMENTS "No show should be scripted unless it's fictional” "Own the fact that you're scared to get started or you've got impostor syndrome. You don't need to make up an excuse, especially when you're talking to one of us because we must get it so often." "If you are suffering with imposter syndrome, and you think, well, I've only been in that space a few years, I don't feel like I can be teaching, fine. But with podcasting, so many people do interviews. So you could know nothing about a subject." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane dive into how podcasters can expand their niche show without losing their core audience. They discuss the importance of starting niche, building a loyal following, and gradually broadening your content by interviewing guests slightly outside your niche. They also share their own experiences and offer valuable insights on how to make the transition successfully while maintaining your credibility and authority. KEY TAKEAWAYS Start with a niche podcast to build a loyal audience and establish your authority in the space Gradually expand your content by interviewing guests slightly outside your niche who can provide valuable insights related to your topic Leverage your niche audience to attract sponsors who are willing to pay more for targeted advertising When interviewing guests outside your niche, position yourself as the student and allow them to be the teacher Test different formats and guests to see what resonates with your audience before increasing the volume of broader content Choose to expand into areas where you have the most knowledge, connections, or potential for monetisation Ask your listeners for feedback on which direction they'd like to see your podcast expand As you broaden your content, ensure you can still connect the dots between the guest's expertise and your core audience's interests BEST MOMENTS "Build that relationship with your audience so that they will listen to whoever you talk to, like, Chris Williamson has probably got a massive audience of people that listen to all of his interviews, and instead of coming for the interview, they're coming for him." "You can talk to people outside of your niche once you've built that audience who are going to follow you wherever you go." "You can start to go into those spaces without positioning yourself as the expert and then being more of the inquisitor. So, we know a bit about that. We know a bit about all of these different areas, but we can then start to broaden out to content marketing and our listeners will know that if we're talking about podcasting, it's us providing all the value." "Just recapping that start niche build your loyal following by taking the following from somebody else So, if we're podcasting for podcasters, great, let's go to the podcast show, let's go to podcast support groups on Facebook, etc." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Join Ash and Kane as they address some of the bad podcasting advice that is frequently posted on Instagram. They explain why certain advice could be harmful to your podcast, as well as share the good advice that they have come across too! KEY TAKEAWAYS You don’t need a lot of equipment to get started but you do need some to get audio quality. Never record straight into your phone mic, it will sound awful and people won’t listen. There’s no need to edit out every ‘uhm’ and ‘ahh’, filler words are a natural part of conversation, you want your podcast to sound authentic and not over-processed. You can use existing content as a starting point but you don’t have to create blog content to use before starting a podcast! A monotone or ‘neutral’ voice will turn people off a podcast. Too much planning can be detrimental. It’s best to create the content first and then create the narrative. Think about your ideal listener and focus the content you create around them. Building an audience is the most important element of a podcast, you need to work on this first before anything else. Don’t do anything that takes away from your podcast content being the best it can be. If you take too much focus away from your core podcast content to do trends, it will be to the detriment of your podcast. If you are only doing something for monetary gain, your audience will see through it. If you need to instantly monetise from the beginning, then focus on sponsorship. Use giveaways to incentivise people to follow and review within a time window you want, to help you rank. BEST MOMENTS "You can get a podcast live within an hour but no one will listen to it” “Finding guests who have been on camera before helps” “Be fluid, dynamic, ups and downs with your tone” “Do the content, build the narrative after” “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a competitive market if you already have the audience” “If we just do the best podcast episode, the rest just figures itself out” “Give away something that is related to your business” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane talk all about podcast guests in this episode. They discuss how to not only find great guests but also tips on how to specifically find them for your niche and book guests who will provide value for your audience. KEY TAKEAWAYS Don’t take a guest’s likes, comments etc at face value. Do your research to ensure their audience engagement is real. Having someone with genuine engagement is more important than big numbers, people in a niche with a loyal following are perfect. Someone who is already a content creator almost always automatically makes a good podcast guest. Choose a guest who is active on social media and is willing to promote you. Knowledge and experience aren’t the only important factors in a guest, they need to be engaging for your audience too. As your podcast grows, you can become choosier with your guests, they need to start becoming more credible. Always ensure your guests are on brand and relevant to your show. BEST MOMENTS "Double check their engagement looks real” “You’re trying to get someone who people care about a lot and will listen to what they say” “When they deliver content they are more comfortable” “Are they a confident and competent person?” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane give their thoughts and opinions on the current state of podcasting. They discuss the increase in listenership, the best ways to ensure you rank highly as well as the opportunities available in the podcasting space right now. KEY TAKEAWAYS There are approximately 14k active podcasters right now, which is a comparatively low number to other forms of media. The combination of low competition and new tools that can be utilised makes now the perfect time to start a podcast. There hasn’t been an increase in active podcasting since 2020 but there are more listeners than ever. As well as SEO, total episodes and upload frequency help your show rank higher. Generally, business people tend to lean towards the Apple app for listening yet new listeners are often on Spotify. BEST MOMENTS "Podcasting, right now is probably the best time to get into it” “Now you don’t have to convince people what a podcast is” “Search is a big thing when it comes to ranking highly” “People genuinely don’t know Apple podcasts exist which is wild to me” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane debunk common myths and misconceptions about podcasting. They discuss the importance of niching down, the ease of creating podcast content compared to other platforms, and the benefits of podcasting despite its discoverability challenges. KEY TAKEAWAYS You don't need to be an authority to start a podcast; interviewing experts can provide valuable content for your audience. Podcasting for business is not oversaturated; niching down and providing quality content can help you stand out in your space. Investing in good equipment and editing is important, but you don't need fancy gear to get started. Having a niche or topic of focus is crucial for attracting and retaining listeners, unless you have a large existing audience or network. While high-quality content is essential, poor audio quality can deter listeners from engaging with your podcast. Podcasting is one of the easiest forms of content to create and repurpose across multiple platforms. Podcasts have a discoverability problem, but this can be overcome through good SEO and leveraging algorithms on other platforms. Editing your podcast is necessary to ensure a polished and professional final product. BEST MOMENTS "People don't know who you are and they don't care. They will come for the knowledge and they'll stay for your personality." "You can only turn long form into short form, you can't turn short form into long form." "Once you've got that person in your ecosystem, they keep coming back, which is great." "Your output needs to be very, very good. Good trailers, good intros, good outros, good promo clips, good clips for your guests to share." "Please edit your podcast. You don't need to go over the top and take out every um, uh, and et cetera, but you do need to make it listenable and you do need to make it sound nice." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Podcast Production - The Cost of the Wrong Choice How to Launch a Number 1 Podcast - Part 1 ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]