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Have you ever thought about how many keynote speakers are actually introverts? Think about the distance on the stage from the audience - even when you have an engaging speaker who includes the audience. Then think about podcasting and the intimacy of podcasting. You are putting the show in your ears - you are listening to them in your car, your home, while walking the dog. You build a personal relationship with the host and their guest.   I’ve been a speaker at events. I see the pluses, but I’ve also seen how limited the opportunity for that 3-5 day effort returned. The biggest benefit is strengthening the relationship with the organization that invited me to speak to its members. Most of my speaking is to private professional organizations, so nothing is recorded and definitely not published. Adding these events to my portfolio of speaking can be problematic as I usually speak on proprietary topics specific to the audience.  I’ve also spoken on behalf of my non-profit to large ballrooms, and conferences. It made a memorable event, but rarely outside that event led to much more than a few compliments. Even when the carrot to speak at the event was access to the list, the attendees were rarely decision makers, so they would read the subject, and typically, that was that. Here is a recent post on this topic comparing the effectiveness of both options. https://funnelmediagroupllc.com/speaking-gigs-vs-podcasting/ 

Tenlo's Chief Technology Officer and podcast host, Tessa Burg joined Susan Finch to talk about the recent merger with Mod Op. Tessa talks about the expanded opportunities for their team, their clients, and the beauty of having an HR department. Sometimes trading the owner hat for a W2 is a very good thing. Tune in for this 15-minute visit, "From owner to employee - when mergers align with your vision." About Tenlo: Tenlo is a digital B2B marketing agency. They use data-driven marketing for lead generation and customer retention. Digital and sales tactics are aligned to drive more traffic to your website, trade show booth and sales team. Their passion for increasing a digital marketer's contribution to sales is pipeline marketing—a discipline focused on results. Learn more: https://tenlo.com . About Mod Op: At Mod Op, everything they do starts with understanding their clients’ marketing opportunities. Then, they identify the unique methods to help them achieve those goals. That may mean launching a complete, integrated advertising and PR campaign or tapping into some of their more specialized expertise for a given project.  Learn more: https://modop.com . They have experts in B2C and B2B communications with deep industry experience in consumer and lifestyle products, energy, media and entertainment, technology, and travel and hospitality. Currently, they have offices in New York City, Miami, Kansas City, Dallas, Portland, Los Angeles, and Panama City, Panama.

Before You Commit, Know the Answers to These Questions WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? Is it to launch an initiative? Build reputation? Boost egos of your executives or clients? Give value to your existing clients? Open the door for new clients/prospects? Have fun with your lighter side? WHO WILL HELP? Anyone involved needs to know and commit to the time and tasks for their portion of the podcast’s success. Then you have to decide: If you have the money but not the time, how much can you outsource?  WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE? Once you know this, you can determine where you can find them listening to podcasts, their habits, do they “listen” or read captions? At work or on the treadmill. What are you competing with when they hit play? Do they binge-listen? This is CRITICAL and where a lot of podcasts fail before the first episode. You MUST be realistic. IDEAL LENGTH? Once you know all the players, the tasks, the audience you can determine the length. I have some shows that are always 25 – 35 minutes – a good “lunch” episode. Others do quick micro episodes of 4-7 minutes. Many combine – do the full show and later extract a nugget and create a new “highlight” episode from that. This will help you plan the time needed to record and edit.  CAN YOU COMMIT? WHO IS THE TALENT? WHO IS THE TEAM? Potential hosts - this is where you may have to tell a hard truth or two. Just because they are good leaders, doesn’t mean they know how to lead an interesting interview. Some will be better than others. You may have to have a “casting call of unexpected hosts. What if you are getting help from an outside company? If companies simply send you links, videos and pdfs, you have to decide if that’s how you want to communicate with your producers. I know for Funnel Media Group, our hosts love the relationships we have with them and that we are very open helping them improve. Sometimes people have speech patterns or bad habits such as “EXspecially, rather than especially.  This may not matter to you. But, if you are sharing this with your networks, prospects, investors, clients, it may matter so that you are not distracting because of these patterns.  Can you hear the excitement in their voices.  Will they will be coming up with ideas on the spot as they get to know you and your goals. How do they share those ideas? If they have no new ideas regularly, they are not thinking about your account. What is included? Host coaching. Will they tell you the truth when you need to improve? Do they care? Someone has to have the experience to help you improve fast. Pre episode prep – testing with the guest? Creating a preview of the episode before publishing? Live option – If you want that. Vetting guests. Writing the post. Voiceover work? Template for each episode. Production – are they in the recording session? Voiceover work as the overall host – intro, commercial, outro?  Editing – what type of editing? How detailed? Can they correct bad audio when the guest chooses to show up from their car or in an airport? How do they recommend recording? Publishing – posting the episode to hit all podcast apps, creating guest packages – what’s included in the guest package? What about a type of “Boost” package for host and guest teams to share it out. Who orders the transcripts? Do they provide transcripts? What is the quality – AI or by hand? Who pays for hosting? Who owns all the hosting accounts, feeds, materials? Music license. Post – 2-3 months later – how are they going to help you use the content? Create a round-up post? What about milestones in your show – so many episodes, so many listeners, focus on topics – will they write those posts for you or will you? Ask to talk to some of their hosts. Are they pleased with the results? What would they wish they’d known before they started this? Check out their presence on ListenNotes, Podchaser – are they all around? Do they charge to update your commercials, intros/outros each time? What about if a host changes? What is the turnaround time? Is one person assigned to my account that we can talk with or is it all via email? Can we have recap meetings included? Learn more about my courses at https://dmanc.org  

We are regularly asked at Funnel Media Group how to jump-start a show's reach into new markets, and reach new audiences. This episode covers advertising, sponsors, and the change in best practices over the past two years. Consumer behaviors have changed - how they consume media. This is where our guest, Mary Ann Pruitt shines through her agency, Mosaic Media Agency. You will want to consider all of her insights and advice, as well as some great suggestions you can get started with today. Who are we targeting? How are we targeting? What about the third-party cookie thing? First-party data is available to you - you just don't realize it. It's time to invest in collecting your own first-party data. Listen to this episode: Programmatic media buying has changed everything. ----more----   About Mary Ann Pruitt Mary Ann Pruitt is the CEO and President of Mosaic Media, a collection of media buying experts and creative strategists who negotiate, purchase, and monitor advertising space and airtime. Mary Ann started her career in media by working as a senior sales executive for some of the nation’s largest media outlets. After discovering her talent and love for all things media strategy, she founded Mosaic as a way to provide niche expert experience to agencies and marketing departments across the country. Her hard work and savvy strategy skills have led Mosaic to year-over-year growth and has expanded her impact as an industry leader in all things traditional, digital, and everything in between. Reflecting this is a 2020 award from Cynopsis Media naming her as a Top Woman in Media. Mary Ann has helped develop effective marketing strategies for agencies of all sizes, small businesses, service businesses, private educational institutions, and legal and professional services businesses along with many others. She is passionate about passing on the experience that she has gained to eager professionals looking for actionable marketing tips.

  This episode was inspired by the great guests Interview Valet has been sending us for our hosts, and by a blog post, "Checklist Before You are a Guest on a Podcast". This episode covers expectations for guests hiring a podcast guest management firm, for those being contacted by them to have their clients on your shows, and what should be expected of all for a successful appearance on a show. You can read the post here. Listen to this conversation with my guest, Lasina Jensen, Client Success Team Manager at Interview Valet. Please listen to this episode and share it out to your circles that are podcasts guests and hosts. ----more---- About Interview Valet: Interview Valet is the concierge-level podcast guest marketing service providing the fastest way for authors, speakers, coaches, consultants, and brands to maximize the benefits of podcasting. Our premium white-glove solution takes care of everything but the speaking to reach your ideal audience with the least amount of snags or hassle. Interview Valet's all-inclusive system empowers clients with interview preparation, Certified Guest™ training, and personalized attention that ensures you, the podcast guest and host, the best experience in the podcast industry.

In this 13 minute episode we cover our favorite podcast equipment and the reasons we prefer one over another. There are some additional items we suggest to give you a more professional look and sound. Podcast Microphones - Rode USB Condenser mic , Yeti RiversideFM has more ideas: If you’re on a tight budget or just want a mic that doesn’t have a huge learning curve, consider one of these plug-and-play USB microphones: Rode Procaster ($250) Rode NT-USB ($177)  Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB ($80)  Webcams - Logitech BRIO Pop Filters and Mic Muffs Sound Panels Backgrounds vs. greenscreens (no link tells you we are not fans of greenscreens) Lighting kits article Recording Zoom vs. Riverside.fm Mixing boards article Amazon, BHPHOTO Headsets for recording and editing Teleprompters RiversideFM has additional podcast equipment lists you may find helpful. Need help with your set up or editing, let us know. susan@funnelradio.com

This episode covers one of the questions from the recent one with EJ and Nina in Funnel Feud. These are the top 8 answers given by 100 podcast hosts, guests, and team members. Aside from swearing, revealing too much, and other simple editing issues, why would a podcast host ask the guest for a do-over? We'll give you tips on how to work around these 8 common issues in this 13-minute episode. Email me for the recap graphic. If you have additional reasons, please tell us. You can find me on LinkedIn here or email me susan@funnelradio.com.

You know the music, you know how it works. Play along with our version - Funnel Feud to hear the answers to these questions: 1. What is a reason you would want a do-over with a guest? 2. What is the reason your podcast failed? 3. What is your favorite podcast equipment? We asked 100 podcast hosts, producers and teams and the answers in this episode are what they said. You can get the full list from us - just email us. If you want to know our favorite equipment, we'll tell you that, too! It will be part of another upcoming episode on Behind The Mic - Funnel Media Group's favorite equipment and tools for producing podcasts.  

Podcasting editors' tips from EJ Albaugh. EJ reminds us that if we can do a bit of practice we can save time and money with our editing solutions. Don't be afraid of a retake, and beware of Zoom twang when there are bandwidth issues for your host or your guest, or your producer.  If you listen to this and would like the podcaster's checklist magnet from Funnel Media Group, email producer@funnelradio.com with your mailing address and we'll get one to you. While you're at it, send us your podcast URL so we can check it out!  

Taking advantage of search engine goodness, building communities of podcasters and their teams, as well as profiles for creators is what Podchaser's Dave Keine and Susan Finch talked about today on Behind the Mic. Do not miss the list of free tools, tips and ways to build your listenership and expand your audience demographics.

Tune in for this packed episode with free tools podcasters can use to expand their reach. There are two free tools we are going to cover in this episode: Using Playlists to increase your exposure in the podcast venues including Spotify, Apple Podcasts/playlists, Podchaser, and the rest that give you that option. ----more---- Using Podcast venue profiles to engage with a new audience, in particular Podchaser's creator and claim your podcast feature. There are so many ways just on Podchaser's site. By registering, you are able to make the news feed with your activity including Trending lists - How can you create a list that isn't just, "listen to me! Listen to me!"? If you need help cultivating these lists, at least to start, contact Susan Finch at Funnel Media Group.

Sometimes guests are hard to secure during the holidays. Sometimes you are pulled in many directions and don't have the same time for your show. That's OK. Make the use of this time to improve your podcast for next season. Listen to these 10 tips you can start right away.  ----more---- You can listen, or just jump to this list without the logic behind it: Review all posted episodes for typos, check links. Review your music, commercial, intro, outro. Is it time to freshen them up? Is host info still current? Verify your host and team have added to their LinkedIn profiles. Can you do a few recap episodes - highlight reels to save production time during the holidays and year-end? If these are in a drip campaign, test each drip, links, graphics to make sure they all work. How does your show look in all the podcast venues? Have you missed any or have new ones been added like Podchaser that you want to be listed in - it's free. What about a "tell us your favorite episode" contest on social. Have them tell you a quote and a timestamp from an episode. Give out show swag. T-shirts, caps, etc. Look at your stats and do a post on the top episodes for the year and top episodes for all time to link back to them - don't forget to mention those guests, their companies, and THANK THEM!

You created this great podcast, or so you thought, and you liked how it was set up, but not really. And you have new team members and they say, "I hate that software, I hate that platform, let's do something better." Or maybe even that platform went away or stopped being as effective, whatever the reason there's a need for a move. But there are some different types of moves. This episode is going to cover what you need to be aware of, how you can prep, and how you can avoid getting missed listeners and losing all your subscribers. If you do need to move your show and this list is too daunting, reach out to Susan@funnelradio.com - The team at Funnel Media Group can help you with this transition so nothing is missed. 

Let's talk about television families. The good: The Brady, the Flintstone, Huxtable, Barone, Evans, Drummond & Jackson, Addams, Munster, Cleaver, Duke, Clampett, Arnolds, Jetsons, Partidge, Carwright, Bradford, Cunningham, Ingals, and Kyle Families Then the not so good but lovable Bluth, Simpson, Griffin, Bunker, Bundy, Belcher And the bad. Soprano, Ewing, Roy, Dutton, Carrington, House of Lannister, and Fisher Families When we talk about the Lone Ranger, yes, he had one support team member, surly as he could be from time to time. I'm sure he also shook his head at the guy he worked with at how ridiculous and helpless he could be. ----more---- Now suppose instead, there was a group of equally intelligent, enthusiastic, genuine, articulate people that wanted you to succeed and that you wanted to succeed.  If there was a plan in place for all to support and succeed with minimal effort, wouldn't that be appealing? What if there was a small group comprised of fans of all of you, and with skills - big skills - to share your podcast content with new audiences? Now you are no longer a Lone Ranger with a surly assistant, you are part of  supportive podcast family cheering you on and talking about you everywhere - to NEW people. Cool, huh? I've run across pod squads, LinkedIn link pods and more. They are heavily vetted, and require that the members each promote each others' posts EACH day. that's a lot, especially if you are in more than one because you want the shares to be thoughtful. Think of Funnel Media Group as your hand-selected Link Pod. Setting up some of the rhythmic routines of sharing frees you up as the outstanding host to personally connect with commenters, listeners, fans, guests, prospects. Our job is to keep the audience growing through the good social media ju-jus with honest, organic posts.  Get more ideas in this episode and listen to our initiative to wind up the year with a heart - Pause for a Cause.

  It's as much about the content as it is your voice. Many times I hear hosts that think they can just randomly start talking. Sometimes it's difficult to follow as they dart around taking tangents without ever completing a point or thought. They may have a fabulous voice, but what am I gaining by listening? I almost need a whiteboard to draw pictures and take notes to track them. Other hosts don't even realize how organized their thoughts are and naturally speak in a logical order providing a ton of helpful information, but their speech patterns, ambient noises, poor equipment make it difficult to hear their wisdom and insights. Both of these issues can be hedged off with a few simple tips.     Funnel Radio Channel is hosted by Susan Finch which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.    

There are over 1,000,000 podcasts, the vast majority, however, fail to get beyond the 8th podcast.  Veteran radio and podcast producer Paul Roberts discuss with Jim Obermayer how to avoid being in the graveyard of podcasters. ----more---- This week’s Behind the Mike with Jim and Paul Paul Roberts is the founder and station manager of OC Talk Radio, the powerhouse internet radio and podcasting channel for Southern California with over one million listeners a year.  Jim Obermayer is the founder of the Funnel Media Group which produces internet radio and podcasting programs for thirteen companies.  FMG has reached half a million listeners since its inception.  Funnel Radio Channel's Behind the Mic is hosted by James Obermayer, which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.    

Everyone wants more listeners, but realistically, you want more of the RIGHT listeners - those that will be affected by what you say, those that will share your show, and possibly consider your company and products to solve their problems. But before we get to the list, let's go through a short checklist of what you should be doing to increase your reach in search, and increase your fans. ----more---- 1. Do you have catchy titles that give a clue what it is about? 2. Do you have a catchy 150 character description that tells what they will hear, the problem it will solve, and who the guest is? 3. Are you editing so everyone sounds good and you don't irritate listeners? 4. Are your topics and guests compelling to your target audience?   Here are the tips: Create a way for listeners to sign up and receive updates via email when you post a new episode? RSS to email using GetResponse or similar. Automatically post to your social accounts when you publish a new episode. IFTTT.com Have a way to schedule promotions of past episodes. Agorapulse.com Ask people to subscribe in EVERY episode at the end - your call to action CTA. Send the guest a package and ask them to post it to their connections, followers, etc. all social accounts - you make it EASY for them. Ask the guest 3 months later where they posted it on their site so you can promote it. Ask your internal fans to share out episodes each time you publish. Mention super fans in episodes, @mention them in social posts about it, thank them for being fans. Include links to subscribe to your shows on a landing page on your main site with a player to binge listen to past episodes. Include a link to your show in your signature, thank you pages after sign up, registration, newsletter subscriptions. Include small call-out at the bottom of all newsletters that are emailed.  Add as a part-time position in your LinkedIn profile to trigger alert to ALL connections. In that position, add the ways they can listen to your show with a link to each venue, if possible. Or take them to the landing page on your MAIN site with all of those app venue links.  

This is one of the reasons podcasts fail - the host is selfish, lazy, inconsiderate. Listen in to learn how to avoid those pitfalls. Fair warning, you'll have some work to do including creating follow up schedules, promotions, writing a thank you note, spending money on editing and transcripts, and more. Join Susan Finch and Paul Roberts for this episode.  

Many people want to do a podcast, but most don't know how to start. Funnel Media Group's VP of Operations, Susan Finch teaches regular courses through the DMANC - Direct Marketing Association's Northern California Chapter. Her most popular courses are on podcasting fundamentals and advanced troubleshooting for podcasts. This week she'll give us her 10 basic steps to launching a podcast in two weeks. It's not your typical list. This episode is for anyone tasked with revving up a podcast for their company, resurrecting a failed on, or exploring podcasting as a service to offer their clients. Funnel Radio Channel is hosted byJames Obermayer, which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.    

  Some say getting a guest for your podcast is easy, some say not so easy.  To understand how to get guests and manage expectations for both guest and host we talked with Sheena McKinney, executive assistant, and producer for Matt Heinz’s popular podcast Sales Pipeline Radio.  McKinney gives us a look behind the mic with guidelines and tips for guest acquisition for podcast producers. ----more---- About Sheena McKinney Sheena McKinney is the Executive Assistant to B2B Influencer (and busy) Matt Heinz, President of Heinz Marketing and host of Sales Pipeline Radio.  She thrives on utilizing both natural and honed people plus, project management skills. For the Heinz Marketing headquarters, Sheena is the glue that holds everything together and one who makes things happen.    With over 30 years of executive admin experience from a variety of sectors, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help keep everything running smoothly and does it with a smile.  One of her creative outlets (and superpowers) is making events and celebrations special, personal, and memorable.  She is detail-oriented but also creative.  She serves as the Finance, HR, IT, and Facilities Liaison and is the go-to for anything and everything office management and operations related for Heinz Marketing.   Sales Pipeline Radio/Podcast Sales Pipeline Radio, each week features the brightest minds in B2B sales and marketing, sharing secrets to driving greater volume, velocity, and conversion of sales pipelines in any industry. SPR covers the entire pipeline– demand generation, lead management, sales effectiveness, technology, and more– all focused on helping you find, manage, and win more business.  Sales Pipeline Radio is live on internet radio at 10:30 am PT time each Thursday (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada).  The host is Matt Heinz, founder of Heinz Marketing.   Funnel Radio Channel is hosted by James Obermayer, which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.