The Big Game and the Highlight Reel in our podcast community and industry!
Greetings PM Family,
Did you know the Big Game (American Football) is coming up this weekend? We realize that not everyone is interested in this championship matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots, however, some may plan to make a friendly wager, or prep for a watch party with food and friends. And even if you’re not interested in this year’s Halftime Show, you still might plan to enjoy some of the humorous commercials that are sure to please.
But the real question for us is this: What can podcasters learn from the Big Game this weekend?
Team PM huddled up, pulled out the playbook, and dialed up a few first down plays that will help your show get in the victory formation. The coin toss is complete. Let’s kick off with the Five “C”s.
The Five “C’s” of a Championship Caliber Podcast
Common Goal
Championship teams in American Football have a common focus. Their focus is the primary, specified, clear goal, and all other goals revolve around it. This goal is firmly embraced by all members of the team, coaching staff and support staff. Everyone understands that this is the direction and destination for the team. The players understand that their individual goals must fit within the framework of the team’s goal.
You may not have team members or staff (yet), but that doesn’t mean that you are stuck playing fantasy football (or podcasting rather). You need a primary target for your podcast and work toward that touchdown in the endzone every episode.
“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” –Tom Landry
Commitment
Commitment is probably the most critical factor that differentiates championship caliber podcasts from the mediocre. It’s easy to say that you want to have a great podcast, but it’s a whole other thing to put in the time, innovation, and focus that is necessary to be great.
“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi
Creativity
I remember when Serial first came out and became a massive hit. The True Crime podcast wave was just getting started. A lot of new podcasters decided that they were going to follow suit and become the next big True Crime hit podcast. They tried, but almost all of them failed because of lack of novelty.
John Lee Dumas created Entrepreneur on Fire in 2012 and found success as he continued to grow his podcast. We couldn’t count the number of shows that blatantly “borrowed” from JLD’s framework and show name. We saw what felt like hundreds of “________ on fire” podcasts pop up in our Podcast Apps. I don’t see very many of those shows anymore.
Originality is the ability to think independently and maintain your uniqueness. We mentioned in last week’s newsletter that it is okay to borrow ideas from larger shows that have found success, but the key is to take every aspect of your podcast and make it unique to you.
“Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.” —John Madden
Collaboration
Championship football teams know that they have to work together in order to win. Collaboration is essential to your podcast success. It makes sense to find other podcast hosts in similar categories as you and attempt to help each other. Pat Flynn mentions some ideas on how to do this in this episode of the Podcast Movement Sessions podcast. We share this link often, but only because the info is true and will help you!
“Championships are won by teams who love one another, who enjoy and respect one another and play for and support one another.” –Tom Coughlin
Consistency
We discussed the Tortoise and the Hare in a recent newsletter. The moral of that story is key to podcasting. You can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly. No, you don’t have to move at a snail’s pace, but you have to keep in mind that the success of your podcast is a marathon and not a sprint. The podcasters who usually understand this and implement accordingly eventually outlast the lucky and outwork the lazy.
“Stay focused. Your start does not determine how you’re going to finish.”— Herm Edwards
Something to Snack On (Updates and Shoutouts)
Intensity is not a perfume! This week we blitz you with some community and industry highlights!
- The Secret Sauce of Podcast Advertising – Article by Tom Webster (Edison Research)
“Your podcast is a recipe. Cook with the best ingredients. Make sure your audience likes those ingredients. And put your all into everything on the menu. We’re all counting on you.”
- The PM19 Speaker Submission process is past halftime. You are running out of time to score!
It is time to make a big play! If you want to throw a Hail Mary and share your podcast expertise on the stage at PM19, now is your time!
- PRX recently welcomed the International teams that are coming in for the Google Podcasts creator program training!
- Plains Natives Explore ‘World of the Weird’ on Popular Podcast
Brent Hand and John Goforth are champion podcasters! They started out with a show that some folks would have easily classified as a simple hobby, but possibly not that special. Brent and John didn’t listen to any of that. They followed the five C’s above and took Hysteria 51 (an odd-cast) from a passion side hustle to a full time production!
- Audioboom Reports Revenue Growth for 2018
Podcast Movement is proud to have Audioboom as our Platinum Sponsor again in 2019! We love seeing our partners grow! We are kind of like cheerleaders. Side note: Dan Franks can do an excellent herkie.
- Matthew Ablan wants to know how long you have been doing your podcast?
This post in the Podcast Movement Community (18,000 + members and growing) has tackled over 250 comments already! Feel free to pile on!
Call an Audible (We’re not referencing the Audiobook service)
Thank you for being a part of #TeamPodcastMovement. We are committed to creating the Big Game (or top conference and trade show) for podcasters, by podcasters to help your podcast win! Keep showing up and doing the work! It will pay off.
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!!
Team PM
”Be a pro. Act like a champion. Respond to adversity; don’t react. Be on time. Being late means either it’s not important to you or you can’t be relied upon. Execute. Do what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do it. Not almost. All the way. Not most of the time. All of the time. Take ownership. Whatever it takes. No excuses, no explanations.” – Tony Dungy
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at Podcast Movement 2019, the world’s largest gathering of podcasters? LET US KNOW!
