3 reasons why podcasters QUIT.

Hey Pod Pals!

This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 7:48am CST. 

I'm spending another Thursday morning at Starbucks while Henry is at football practice. I'm still a Starbucks newbie when it comes to the order verbiage.....LOL. 

When they called my name and gave me a GIANT vessel of cold brew coffee I had to remind myself....

Venti = the giant size.

Grande = the less giant size.

...and I'm still not sure what the size below that is....LOL.

So, with my elevated caffeine levels, I've got high hopes for this newsletter!

This week's newsletter is being sponsored by my upcoming FREE workshop! ⤵️  

FREE Workshop on Wednesday, July 30th @ 2pm EST

Learn how to avoid the TEN mistakes that will negatively impact your podcast download numbers.

Join me for this free 90 minute podcast GROWTH workshop!

 

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This week we are going to talk about a very important topic: Why so many podcasters QUIT!

Only 5% of all podcasters make it to episode 100 and I actually hit a cool podcasting benchmark this week:

I just had my THIRD podcast cross this milestone of 100 episodes!

I thought that this week would be a great time to discuss some of the things I've learned about podcasting longevity and why podcasters are quitting.

 

Here are the THREE big reasons why I think most podcasters are quitting:

📌 #1 Reason Why Podcasters Quit:  Podcasters aren't getting any engagement from their audience.

When we launch our show there is a certain expectation level that we will be in touch with at least a few (hopefully many) adoring fans.....and there is a serious letdown when this doesn't happen.

Here are some reasons why you aren't getting any engagement:

👉 You are less than a year into your podcasting journey.

Right now you just don't have that much content out yet and your audience isn't that big....it's OK...be patient

👉 Your podcast isn't leveraging SEO/Organic Discovery.

This means that your superfans that would LOVE to engage with you simply aren't able to FIND your podcast because you decided to use a catchy name like "The Mr. Cutie Pie Show".

Listen to episode 560 of my show.....that will get you fixed up!

👉 You have too many CTA's (calls to action) on your show.

I hear this all of the time: "Adam...I ask my audience to reach out to me with questions on every episode....and....CRICKETS!"

The issue is that this CTA is buried amongst 49 other CTA's on your show to do things like buy your offers, join your email list, and follow you on MySpace. 

If you want people to reach out and ask you questions make THAT your SINGLE call to action and then take it a couple of steps further.

-Ask them to reach out with a SPECIFIC type of question.

-Ask them to record an audio clip with the question (I use Speakpipe.com) so you can use it on the show and create an episode around it.

👉 You aren't initiating any engagement.

Pod Pals we cannot sit back on our butt and just wait for the engagement to come to us! We have to get out there and stir it up a bit!

Go to your favorite social media account and look up the last TEN people that followed your account.

Send them a VOICE DM and thank them for following you and ask them what their #1 pain point is right now.

Here's a template: "Hey XYZ...it's (Your name) from (Your podcast). I just wanted to send over a quick note to say hi and say THANKS for following me here on (social platform). When you get a second send me a note back to let me know (GOAL/Pain Point) and I will send over an episode of my show that might help you out! Have a great (day of the week)!"

 

📌 #2 Reason Why Podcasters Quit: Podcasters aren't seeing any download growth (soon enough)...to keep them motivated.

When we launch our show we want to see a return on our investment of our time....when the monthly downloads aren't going up (fast enough)....we lose motivation quickly.

Here are some reasons why your show isn't growing:

👉 Your show (once again) does not leverage Organic Discovery.

See my reference above to episode 560 to fix this! Organic Discovery/SEO is the magic stuff that allows your ideal podcast listeners to find you while you SLEEP....and it's 100% FREE!

👉 You aren't releasing weekly content.

I know that this irritates some of you when I bring this up..and I get it....you are all doing the best that you can when it comes to your content release schedule.

For a second just imagine that you have become very interested in learning about a topic like podcasting.

You have a choice of learning from someone like me that has put out a new episode every week since 2015....or a person that puts out a piece of content every 90 days or so kind of randomly.

I'm eventually going to WIN due to sheer volume and consistency of content!

👉 You aren't effectively promoting your episodes.

Now I'm really irritating some of you....I just convinced you to bump up your episode release schedule to WEEKLY...and now I'm going to tell you to promote these episode too!!!!

YEP!

Use my 72 hour rule: Create FIVE unique promo assets for each episode and release them within 72 hours of the episode going live. 

It's ok to start with less than five promo assets and build up...but we do need to promote our episodes!

👉 You are not willing to invest money in growth.

When I talk about paid growth platforms like Overcast FM I hear a lot of podcasters say: "I'm not making any money yet so I can't do paid ads."

My argument is this: The main thing that is holding most podcasters back from making money is that their audience just isn't large enough yet.

So....I would like to encourage a slight mindset shift to:

Invest in growth > Get more ideal fit listeners > Convert a % into paying clients.

 

📌 #3 Reason Why Podcasters Quit: Podcasters aren't making ANY money.

I recently saw a stat that stated that only 20% of all podcasters earn over $0.00. This is CRAZY!

You are an ideal fit audience member for me if you are a service provider that wants to leverage your show to get more clients.

Here are some reasons why this isn't happening for you right now:

👉 You aren't establishing expert positioning on your own show.

In my opinion, you need to follow my 2/3 Content Rule For Expert Positioning. This states that 2/3 of your episodes should be solo or coaching episodes.

If you only do interviews....your audience will view you as the person that interviews experts....not THE expert.

👉 You have too many CTA's on your show.

Instead of telling your audience 49 different things to do just focus on ONE per episode.

If you listen to my show regularly you will hear me either talk about my Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call or this Newsletter as my single CTA.

Take note....I'm not selling things via my podcast CTA very often, if ever.

👉 You aren't building your email list.

Podcasters will spend HOURS on social media assets like IG Reels that 14 people will see...and these same people will totally neglect building their email list!

Allow me to let you in on TWO secrets of my brand:

-More people read this newsletter each week than listen to my weekly podcast.

-More people BUY things (or schedule discovery calls and then buy things) from my newsletter than my audio podcast.

Building your email list should be a top priority if you are serious about converting your podcast listeners into paying clients.

👉 You are not known as a pain point problem solver.

It's time to take an honest look at your content through your audience's eyes.

Are you someone that is solving problems....or are you just creating content?

Here's how I show off how I solve pain points:

-This weekly newsletter.

-Daily long form SuperThreads posts on Threads.

-Coaching episodes on my podcast.

-Testimonials every week on my podcast and all over my social media and website.

-Solo episodes on my podcast every other week. 

 

Now I know that some of you are saying "DAMN....I'm struggling with all THREE of these reasons why most podcasters quit....where do I start?!!!"

I think the last point I made above is a great place to start.

Create content that shows off what problems you solve for your ideal fit listeners....and then build from there!

 

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🤩 Client Testimonial of the week: My client Krissy Bold has a show called Mom's Guide To Finding Herself.

Check out what she has to say about working with me inside of my Online Business Academy for Podcasters: 

"I joined the Academy because I needed help putting together a business that would be manageable for me to run while juggling my life as a stay at home mom to two toddlers. My favorite part of being in the Academy is how Adam helps me with all of my big ideas to bring them into bite-sized chunks that will help me grow a business that I can keep up with while avoiding burnout."

➡️ Ready to get some help with learning how to leverage your podcast to build your online business?

Hop on my Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call Calendar.

 

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New Content & Resources for this week:

🎙️ Podcasting Business School EP 578: My Podcast > Newsletter > Social Media Content Flywheel.

 

🚀 Podcast Launch Tips EP 100: Leveraging the three buckets of podcast growth.

 

💰 Podcast Monetization Tips EP 009: Six podcast monetization methods that work.

 

✍🏻 SuperThread Of The Week: I'm in my 7th year as a full time podcaster. Here are 8 content entrepreneurship lessons I wish I knew 7 years ago.

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I hope that you are enjoying this weekly newsletter! 

Amazingly...I'm only 1/2 way through the El Gigante size cold brew coffee I ordered 45 minutes ago....LOL.

Time to down it and go pick up Henry from football practice!

Talk to you next week!

Your Pod Pal,

Adam

 

⭐️ P.S. Ready for some help with your podcast launch, growth, or with getting more clients from your podcast?⭐️ 

Sign up for a FREE Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call.