It’s the one year anniversary of Ultimate Podcast Marketing! WOOHOO! 52 episodes of content about podcasting for podcasters, I actually stuck it out for an entire year!
This Time Last Year
A year ago, I ended a business and started a new one, which is The Ultimate Creative that you see now, where we are producing podcasts, teaching people, how to podcast and creating content for podcasters to help you launch and grow your amazing podcasts.
Before that I was a web developer/designer/graphic designer/copywriter/, I don't know, admin assistant. I was doing 8,000 different things. And podcasting wasn't the top priority.
I tried to get a business podcast off the ground with my previous business partner, but it wasn't quite working. And the business was very different too. I think we had maybe two podcast clients at the start of 2020.
So I wasn't really playing in an area that was true to me, I guess, or in my zone of genius. As the, #guru #entrepreneurs say, although I do totally buy into that stuff now. A year of editing podcasts for entrepreneurs that are primarily focused on mindset, will definitely do that to you. I am full on in the woo realm of like, all of the symbols and all the attraction things. The attraction things? The law of attraction things. I'm into it, man. I'm into it because like it does work. It has worked for me for a full year now and it's super, super cool.
Everything felt very uncertain at the time, but there was a feeling in my gut that I should keep going on this route with podcasting. And I was really looking forward to the opportunity to create something that I felt super passionate about.
Taking Action
I feel like I had said many times before, but never actually acted on creating it. And if you've ever been in that situation where you're like, I haven't actually done the thing that I keep telling people I want to do, you know, it's not really a great feeling.
By the time you get ready to sit down and hit record, and you're like, "I've got my episode outlines done and they're ready, and I know what I'm going to talk about. And it's all going to be great." by the time you’re ready to actually do it, and in my case, stare down the lens of a camera because you're doing video at the same time, it's like, what the hell am I doing? How did I get here?
Everything in my body was saying, no, do not pass, go do not move forward. Stay where you are, stay in your lane girl. You don't need to do anything more than what you're doing. What you've got is fine. And yeah, you might be in tons of debt and yeah, you might not be very happy with what you're doing, but like, why would you try something new?
Despite all these thoughts going through my head, I'm so glad that I carved out a full eight hour day to sit there and record four episodes, which are very shaky at best.
Even though I didn’t really know what the hell I was building a year ago, I did know that I was ready to finally step into the spotlight and be the face of my business, instead of a freelancer behind the scenes, building other people’s dreams.
Growing My Expertise
The other cool thing is that I’ve had to push myself outside of my comfort zone of knowledge. I know that I know a lot about podcasting but I also know that I don’t know everything there is to know. And I can be stubborn about that sometimes.
Given the fact that so much has changed with podcasting in the last year, I’m really glad I started my podcast when I did because I was able to keep up with all of the rapid changes in platforms and tech. Heck, even Zoom is attempting to be better at recording things now! Although I still don’t recommend Zoom. That’s just on principle now. Heheheh.
I’m not afraid to speak up and answer questions in Facebook groups now, whereas before I definitely would have questioned my own expertise. Now, because I’m practicing podcasting on the daily (granted, way more than other podcasters because of my business) I just feel way more solid in my knowledge. And I know that comes across in my show as well.
Moving Through The Ups and Downs
I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs with my podcast too. Some months I have tons of downloads, other months it’s just crickets. Like 7 downloads to an episode. And it sucks because when you put so much work into something, you can’t help but feel like a failure sometimes when it doesn’t work.
But here’s the secret – every time I get to a point where I feel like that, I look at the content and try to figure out why it didn’t hit the mark. Every episode like that is just an opportunity to figure out what you’re truly hoping to hear.
Through all of your questions I’ve also been able to push myself as an expert, to find more answers that can give you super impactful results with your podcasts.
One Year = Major Results!
Honestly though I think I’m most proud of the fact that I’m 52 episodes in. That’s one year of believing in myself, that I could actually do this – and stay consistent with it, and the results are so incredible.
My email list grows organically because of the content in my podcast that people find, which leads them to sign up for a freebie. Then, I land super amazing clients who are just as excited to work with me as I am excited to work with them!
All the things I’ve learned and all the things you hear about online marketing are true – the more consistent you are and the higher the value you provide to your audience, the more likely they are to want to hire you or give you money. And this last year is 100% proof of that. Podcasting ticks both of those boxes.
What’s Coming Next
In the next year I’m looking forward to welcoming a new cohort of Podcast Rocketeers in April, I do hope you join me for that if you haven’t started your podcast yet – and growing The Ultimate Creative’s podcast production capacity. I’ve got a great new editor on my team, Gabe Rudyk, and my Copy Chief Valeska Griffiths is heading up our show notes department to increase our ability to deliver on high quality assets for our clients, with the same level of high-touch service we’ve always provided.
Thank YOU.
Finally, I just want to say thank you to those who have been listening over the last year, following along, sharing your feedback and reviews on Apple Podcasts, sending me DMs asking questions, participating, I love it!
You really have made me feel like the work I put into Ultimate Podcast Marketing is worth every second, and I’m so humbled that I’ve been able to help so many podcasters in the last year, and have such an incredible impact!
So thank you again, and I hope you’ll stick with me and my amazing team for the next year!
Links:
- Podcast Rocket: http://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket
- Podcast Production: http://theultimatecreative.com/podcasting
- Episode 1: http://theultimatecreative.com/how-to-start-something-new/
Join the Podcast Rocket waitlist!
http://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-rocket
Get my mini course – How To Start A Podcast:
http://theultimatecreative.com/startapodcast
Work with me!
- Podcast Production: http://theultimatecreative.com/podcasting
- Podcast Strategy: http://theultimatecreative.com/podcast-coaching
Follow me on Instagram at @the_ultimatecreative and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Ultimate Podcast Marketing wherever you get your podcasts! https://ratethispodcast.com/ultimate
