How to Start a Podcast WIth No Money and No Audience

Starting a Podcast With No AudienceWhat I'm Building From Scratch

0:00Hey, my friend, welcome back to the simple and smart SEO show podcast. This is follow through Fridays.

0:06And like usual, it's a little past Friday.

0:09You get the idea. We're coming back to the episodes to actually get some stuff done.

0:14And I always say it, I love to volunteer as tribute.

0:17We have so many amazing guest experts that come on the simple and smart SEO show podcast.

0:21Sarah K heater was here from Podfox Media last Wednesday and her advice on podcasting really got my head spinning and off.

0:31The top of my head, I can tell you that there are several different podcasts that I would like to create. I'm going to brainstorm them here.

0:37So the first one is a senior night podcast, like a senior sports night podcast.

0:42Another idea I had was a private podcast.

0:45That walks customers through the process of ordering a senior night gift.

0:49And then number three is my friend and I had discussed co hosting a podcast where we share our conversations about life, faith and the phases of motherhood. My son's young, her kids are graduating from high school.

0:59There's lots of stuff that happens between those two ages and even before that and beyond that. We were, we just thought, maybe other people would like to be a part of those conversations as well. Yeah. Then number four is I have always wanted to have some sort of documentation of my family history.

1:17And I love hearing my family's stories from when they were kids.

1:21Some of the stories I've heard over and over, but they are just so funny. And so I want to interview all of them.

1:27And, get their memories of their childhood recorded. And I can't lie,

1:31There's a big piece of me that wants to be able to listen to my dad's stories, even when he's not here, just in case he doesn't live to be 200.

1:38And speaking of my dad, my fifth idea is for him to create a, how to start and run a lawn service business.

1:46Because he's been killing it for 40 years and he has so much to share.

1:49Okay. This is a shortish episode, I know I've got to pick one and I've already got a headstart on the one that I want to pick.

1:56And that is my sports senior night podcast.

1:59So a few years ago I had the idea to do this.

2:01And I. I actually recorded one podcast interview with a parent.

2:05And I also recorded a interview with a coach who helps athletes with their mental health.

2:11Super cool. Like that interview is so great and it's been sitting for far too long, gathering digital dust.

2:16But I want to go through. Each one of Sarah's. What is the purpose of the podcast questions to really think about the strategy for this particular podcast?

2:25So the first question is who is my target audience?

2:28My target audience are parents of high school or college, senior athletes who want a way to celebrate. And connect with their player.

2:38And the next question Sarah had was, what do they need to hear from me?

2:42I think they need to hear stories of other parents who have went through of a variety of senior nights.

2:47So ideally I'd have an interview for at least one senior night experience per sport.

2:52And I could see a variety of paths that they could go down with the podcast. They could listen by sports season.

2:57Whether it was like fall, winter, spring, they could listen by their planning needs.

3:02Or maybe they just need some inspirational episodes.

3:05And to know that other parents have walked this road successfully before them.

3:10So my overall promise to them as listeners would be that they would find a community to connect with as they walk through this season of life.

3:18And that is no pun intended.

3:20But a pun nevertheless.

3:21And what do I think these senior sports parents want to get out of it?

3:25I think they would enjoy hearing the experiences, whether good, bad, or ugly. Of other senior parents.

3:32I also think they'd enjoy hearing other parents sum up the experience.

3:36Because this is really like closing a chapter of a book.

3:41There's no more games. There's no more travel. There's no more practice to worry about.

3:46And the big question for them is what is life going to look like?

3:50And I know that this can be a tough transition for families who have given up weekends for years.

3:56To follow their children as they play sports or participate in whatever activity it is that they love.

4:01What am I hoping to accomplish in one year or in five years?

4:04I think that hearing my voice will help me build trust with them.

4:08And Eventually, I hope that it will Earn me an opportunity to provide senior night gifts for their athletes.

4:14My goal is that these parents won't go to Etsy when they are searching for ideas for sports senior nights.

4:22But instead they'll go directly to my website: collageandwood.com. Or maybe even search for me specifically, Crystal Waddell.

4:30I want them to also refer the podcast to other sports parents. That way it continually keeps my company front of mind for those sports senior night gifts.

4:40So there's lots of organizing to make this follow through Friday happen.

4:45I sent an email out to my current client list and I'm excited to share that I already have one parent who signed up. I am interviewing her on Saturday morning and then I have another parent who said, yes, I could be, I could help.

4:58I'm not really sure what you need, but I could be a part of that.

5:00So I'm really looking forward to that as well.

5:02Ideally I want to have five or six episodes.

5:04And then that way People have something to listen to.

5:07And then as I create more, like I said, I might create, playlists of Fall senior night stuff.

5:14Or maybe like a suggested playlist for each sport or something like that.

5:18But I just want to start simple and just have five or six episodes that really connect parents with the whole idea of senior night.

5:25And give them ideas and confidence and Encouragement.

5:28As they go through yet another challenging part of parenthood.

5:32So yeah.

5:33Those are my follow through Friday plans, but I want to know if this helps you think about a podcast opportunity that you might be able to implement in your business.

5:41Mainly because SEO is going to change.

5:44Probably dramatically and significantly over the next few years.

5:48It's just going to look different.

5:49But you can strengthen your presence in search.

5:53By providing extra value to your client so that they are searching for you.

5:58Versus you just coming up in search because they searched a particular keyword.

6:04So I think this is a great way to leverage that concept of being searched for.

6:08So let me know what you're following through on.

6:10And if not now, put it on your never ending to do list for when you have more space in your calendar.

6:15And don't forget, keep moving forward.