When I started podcasting back in 2005, it was a brand new medium and few understood its promise. We knew we were on the right track when we won an award for business podcasting, but since then this communication medium has exploded.
By the mid-point of 2023, there were nearly 465 million podcast listeners consuming one or more of nearly 5 million shows produced annually.
The market for these shows is estimated to be worth $23.5 billion dollars. If you are looking to get a piece of that pie, this is not the post for you. But if you’re thinking about using this medium as a way to advance your status as a thought leader, we’re on the same page.
Today, you can find dozens of podcasts being produced in just about every industry and for every interest you can imagine. Podcast hosts are always looking for interesting guests.
Much of the work we do is helping thought leaders sound on paper as interesting as they are in person. You don’t have to worry about that as much for podcasting, not as long as you have your speaking points down and keep three things in mind:
Be authentic. Don’t sound like the narrator for our company brochure. Sound like a real person, which means…relax.
Know your stuff. Don’t get on shows outside of your area of expertise. That doesn’t help you or the show. Go where you know.
Make it clear you want to help members of the show’s audience. If you come across as helpful and willing to help, it’s a win.
If you’re ready to get out there on the podcast circuit and start making new fans, reach out to us. We’d love to help.
Over the years, I’ve visited with many business owners who seemed to think that their customers would just figure their brand out and learn what it means on their own. In truth, that’s exactly the way it happens, which is why our brands are not always what we think they are.
But we can do a lot as business owners to help our customers figure out what we’re all about. One of the most important tools is a well-thought-out brand promise.
A good formula for your brand promise is:
We serve [your target market] who want/need [spell out the problem your solution solves] by providing [your solution goes here] so they can [the benefit your customers get from working with you].
Is your brand promise written out? Are you clear about who you serve, what they need, and why your offering fits the bill? Finally, are you sure about what they are getting out of it? Don’t guess. Talk to your customers and find out.
A written brand promise gets your employees on the same page and moving in the same direction. It still doesn’t guarantee that what you’re doing will resonate with your market, but it will make it easier to tell when it doesn’t.
If you’ve been in the Leader’s Guides section of our website, you know we are big believers in regular press release distribution. We have good reason to believe that every small business should be sending out at least one and possibly two press releases every month.
But what about summertime? A lot of folks will be on vacation and many businesses slow down during the vacation months.
Excuses! Here are some ideas you can use to write good press releases during the summer months.
Summer Product Launches and Promotions
Highlight new products or services that are perfect for the summer season. Include any special promotions or discounts available during this period.
Summer Events and Sponsorships
You may not be very active in summer, but others are. Announce any events your company is hosting or sponsoring during the summer.
Travel and Vacation Tips
If your business is related to travel, tourism, or hospitality, offer expert tips for summer vacations. Even if it’s not, promote your local area.
Environmental Initiatives
Highlight any eco-friendly initiatives your company is undertaking this summer, such as beach cleanups, tree planting, or sustainability campaigns.
Summer Safety Tips
Provide safety tips relevant to summer activities. Offer a free fact sheet to your customers so they can have more fun safely.
Charity and Community Engagement
Announce any charitable activities or community engagement initiatives planned for the summer. This can be anything your people are involved in.
By crafting press releases around these ideas, you can engage your audience with timely and relevant content that resonates during the summer months. Need more ideas or help crafting your next press release, reach out to us.
We’re firm believers in taking your lessons where you can find them. We’re always looking for inspiration inside and outside of our core industries. Even so, this one caught us by surprise. Can small businesses really learn valuable lessons from Napoleon?
Napoleon’s grade card is a bit mixed. A brilliant leader and general, not everyone buys into everything he did.
If you’re looking for some help on No. 12, reach out to us. There is no better way to clarify your position on anything than by writing it down. We can help with that.
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