Hit The Mic With The Stacey Harris

New listeners to your podcast usually get their first impression from the intro. Is yours as effective as it can be?This is the first part of actually getting into the foundational pieces of your podcast in this housekeeping series. If you happen to be a new listener of The More Profitable Podcast looking to launch your show, this is a good episode to start with. And if you’re an older listener with a podcast, it’s a good refresher to clean up or update things if you haven’t done so in a while.Today on the show, we’ll revisit the four checkpoints for how to craft the perfect podcast introduction. This is one aspect of podcasting where we tend to have a “set it and forget it” approach. But you’ll learn how to make sure it’s (still) doing the job you want it to for your show. 2:42 - How often should you update your podcast intro4:55 - The purpose of your podcast introduction7:18 - A little something special we do with The More Profitable Podcast intro8:16 - My strong opinions on how you should structure your po

If you’ve ever needed a break from your podcast but still wanted to release the content you’re listeners expect, it’s time to consider repurposed content. Today’s episode is answering the three most common questions we hear from podcasters ready to re-release past episodes. This also kicks off a series of me doing exactly what I’m telling you to do. This episode is a new addition to a series we’re re-releasing starting next week. The Podcast Housekeeping series and it’s our primary example as we move through this episode so that you can see inside what to consider when doing this in your own show.In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we look at the timing questions that come up for re-released content, if you need to let your listeners know, and how to know what kind of content to repurpose. When you’re creating strategic content assets from the start and not just checking production boxes week to week to get something (anything) out, this gets easy. Listen in and learn how.4:50 - How many episodes

This episode isn’t how I planned to end July, but it’s how I needed to end July. Earlier this month, we saw the most recent version of someone deciding that we’d worked hard enough for both of us and that it would be easier to lift something we created here at Uncommonly More instead of creating something on their own. And it’s not just us, several clients have shared stories this month about the same thing happening to them, or in some cases, a big uptick in the frequency at which they send out cease and desist letters. The possibility (or even inevitability) that someone will “borrow” something from your business seems to be higher than ever, so where does that leave us? Do we just hush our butts and hope our clients find us in the quiet corner of the internet? I think we both know that’s not going to be my take…In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, I’m sharing why we cannot let this fear shut us down and why in some ways, it’s proof that it’s imperative we get LOUDER. 4:30 - Your chance to ask qu

For service-based business owners using their podcasts to generate, educate, and convert right-fit clients, each podcast element needs to be built to do one of those jobs.To use your podcast to sell your services, you first need to sell your podcast, and that’s the real job of your episode title. Essentially, the title is built to GENERATE, not CONVERT. So, where does conversion start? That’s what we’re digging into today.In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, get clear on what each element of your podcast buys from the listener. We talk about how your podcast's different elements are built to generate, educate, and convert your listener. And how these jobs shift as you look at a private rather than a public podcast.1:15 - How my client conversations and sales calls inspire content for The More Profitable Podcast3:50 - The job of the episode title in your podcast 6:20 - Being intentional about who your show is built to nurture9:45 - Why it’s important to start with “generating” no matter how fam

This might ruffle some feathers; okay, someone is going to hate this, but there’s a fairly simple reason why you can’t batch record your podcast. It’s not that it’s just not how your creativity works or an energy issue. It’s a planning problem.Today’s episode is inspired by a message sent to me by a Podcast Strategy Intensive client after working together, and then listing to episode 600 of this show, they sent me the following…“I've been podcasting for 15 years. I have heard people talk about the benefits of batching and I have never felt like I could do this. And I realized, listening to episode 600, why that is. It's not that I didn't have the time or the energy or the focus to produce more than one episode at a time. It was because I was coming up with my content plan one episode at a time. Now that I have a 90-day plan, suddenly batching--and all the benefits that attach to it--seems not only possible but logical and inevitable.”The problem is simple, you’re ONLY thinking about batch recor

It is possible to enjoy your podcast, but you have to build a few systems into your process first. In fact, if more podcasters did this earlier in their show, there would be a lot fewer podcasts that seem just to fizzle out and disappear.   Yeah, I’m talking about all those podcasts currently collecting dust in the far corners of the internet because the host got burned out, overwhelmed, and decided podcasting was a waste of time. Maybe you’ve seen this happen to one of your favorites (I know I have).   Don’t be that dusty podcast (host). Let’s do it differently.   We’ve developed three systems that I believe DEEPLY every podcaster needs. A reliable process to move through that allows you to review every aspect of your podcast A repeatable asset that you can pull out when you need it. A supportive process for pSupport the show

If you love the idea but aren’t sure what to include in your private podcast, this is a conversation built just for you. Our episode today is inspired by a question from a listener submitted when I was asking for questions as a part of our 600th episode celebration. The question was, what should you include in a 10-episode private podcast you’re using as an opt-in? In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we’re talking about the nuances you need to keep in mind when building a private podcast as a part of your email opt-in. Setting aside the “meat and potatoes” of delivering on your opt-in promise, and focusing on some of the perspectives you will need to keep in mind, and wrapping up with the three pieces I suggest including. 1:10 - Setting the ground rules of our example as a ten-episode private podcast built to be an email opt-in 2:50 - An important distinction and perspective you need to make around your private podcast to keep listeners engaged 5:00 - Things to consider when you using a private po

This was an unexpected question that came up after we launched The Podcast Newsroom in 2021: Could your private podcast replace your public podcast? While public podcasts are great for getting discovered, private podcasts offer a more targeted audience and deeper connection with your listeners. On the other hand, private podcasts allow you to see exactly what your listeners are listening to and make it easier to convert them. Public podcasts, on the other hand, offer discoverability and make it easier for listeners to share. So, which is it? Private podcast or public podcast? In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we'll talk about the pros and cons of private and public podcasts and answer the question: Is a private podcast a replacement for a public podcast? 2:35 - A special announcement on something we're doing in Q3 (consider this your invite) 6:06 - The relationship differences between hosts and listeners when it comes to private and public podcasts 8:29 - The differences between public

We are kicking off a new series this month around private podcasting. We launched our own private podcast in August of 2021, The Podcast Newsroom, and since then, we've had A LOT of questions about private podcasting.  By the way, take this episode a step further RIGHT NOW by signing up for The Podcast Newsroom and checking out even more episodes about starting your own private podcast ahead of the rest of the series here on The More Profitable Podcast this month.  In this episode, let's break down three ways you can be using private podcasts internally, as a lead generation tool, and even inside client delivery. We've helped business owners create podcasts in all of these areas, and I encourage you to jot down any ideas that come up for your own business as you listen in. Learn more about The Podcast Newsroom - https://thepodcastnewsroom.com Reserve Your Seat for Podcasting for Profitability Roundtable on June 14, - https://uncommonlymore.com/roundtableSupport the show

Tough love time, the thing standing between you and the growth you want to see with your podcast might be YOU. We talked a couple of weeks ago about some of the mistakes business owners make when using their podcasts to generate leads. Today is the next step in that conversation.  The two pieces we’re going to look at today are not only bad for conversion but are bad for your podcast growth. If you’re a podcast host unhappy with your download numbers, then one (or both) of these might be playing a part.  The biggest thing I want you to hear about these mistakes is that they might be the cause behind some of your podcast process frustrations. They might be the thing that’s causing your podcast to feel like A LOT of work.  Fixing these doesn’t mean hitting the easy button and never getting frustrated when recording day rolls around, but it does mean being able to manage that frustration and move through it more effectively and efficiently.  And honestly, you’ll run into that frustrating feeling A LOT less. In

If you’ve been podcasting for more than just a couple of episodes, I can guarantee you’ve felt the frustration of keeping up. The weight of showing up week after week is hard. Then you introduce one of those unexpected changes or a shift in your business, and it’s easy for that frustration and that weight to lead to total paralyzation. You’re absolutely stuck on how you move forward.  That’s where Monica Reinagel was when she realized it was time for us to sit down for a Podcast Strategy Intensive. After finding out her partner and co-host would be stepping back from the mic, Monica needed to navigate a big change in the podcast. She also wasn’t sure how she could use her current podcast to support her existing audience and an expanded audience as she explored expanding her services. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, Monica Reinagel joins me to share how her Podcast Strategy Intensive helped her shift from dread and uncertainty to feeling excited about stepping into the next chapter of her podca

There are three mistakes our team sees over and over again when business owners are looking to generate right-fit clients from their podcasts. These come up again and again, and they’re fixable. So let’s fix them!  In the last few weeks, I’ve been in the car a lot. I live in Orange County, California but often head up to LA for events or to meet up with friends, and for some reason, it’s been happening a lot these last few weeks. That means a lot of time in the car which obviously means a lot of podcast time. Instead of staying with my comfort shows and my old business favorites, I went to search and just organically started looking for shows that would probably be a fit to work with us. I wanted to see what was happening in the market. What are these hosts doing right now that works, and what are they doing that likely isn’t working? This episode is a look at what I discovered. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we’ll talk about the three mistakes we see service-based businesses make time and ag

The best thing you can do to start growing our podcast… make sure your current listeners are actually listening. Too often, I’m having conversations with service-based business owners who are focused ONLY on growing their listenership.  They want more downloads and more subscribers. But they’re not thinking about how they are serving their current listenership.  This can impact your show negatively from a technical standpoint. With completion rates potentially being a piece of the SEO algorithm inside of your favorite podcast players.  The real issue here is the second piece, though, because it impacts your ability to use your show as intended. If you focus only on more downloads and listeners, you may be missing the most important piece… conversion. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we talk about the two ways your current listenership impacts the growth of your podcast. The first is from a technical point of view and then from a larger strategic perspective. 4:25 - The technical piece and how y

You’re likely familiar with the sales pitch for service based business owners about podcasting. That’s not what we’re covering here. Instead, I want to focus on three things no one is telling you, and because of that, we see podcasters just like you burning out early and often.  Yes, podcasting is powerful for a business and for a service provider, and it’s super valuable as a cornerstone of your content. Still, there are also some hard truths that need to be acknowledged if you’re going to survive. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we’ll talk about three truths you need to know: a universal truth, an honest take on launching, and, most importantly, why you cannot value someone into a sale. 4:35 - The one universal truth of podcasting you need to know 6:30 - The tools that help you prepare for when you struggle with your podcast 9:30 - The critical tool we require for our podcast production clients to manage podcast burnout 11:30 - The secret you need to know about the first 20 episodes of your

If you've ever felt like something had to change with your podcast, but you just really weren't sure what it was, this is the conversation for you.  As I planned for episode 600 of this podcast, I reached out to clients, colleagues, and friends to find out what they would want to hear from me as we reach this landmark. The most common response was some version of, “WOW! How have you lasted so long?” or “How are you not bored?” I get it. Ten years, 600 episodes, it’s a lot of podcasting. It’s a lot of anything, but the answer to every version of this question was the same. I’ve allowed myself to make changes. That’s what we’re going to talk about today. In fact, I’m sharing examples of some of the changes we made.  In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we’ll talk about signs it’s time to make a change, how to make those changes, and when (or if) you should be announcing them. 3:00 - Announcing a new way for you to come together with other business owners who are using a podcast to market th

What’s the right way to create podcast show notes when you’re a service based business owner using your show to generate, educate, and convert right-fit clients? Is there a right way or a wrong way?  We know that podcast show notes can help our listeners see what’s happening in an episode, and in this episode, we’re taking it a step further in talking about how show notes can help new listeners discover our podcast.  Getting clear on the job of your podcast show notes, and even the job of the podcast show notes being on your website vs. just in a podcast player, is how we start to shift from this being just another to-do to being a part of the overall value of the sales assets you’re creating. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, we’ll talk about how your podcast show notes work as a discovery tool for your podcast, the difference between the show notes on your website vs. the podcast players, and tips for formatting your show notes. 3:35 - Where your show notes are showing up and their purpose ins

Think you’re done making mistakes as a veteran podcaster? Think again. Once you get past a certain point with your podcast, you might feel like you have it made. Whether it takes 100 episodes or 1000, you reach the point where you think you might be done with the mistakes. But even as a veteran podcaster, you can still neglect some things that affect the success and growth of your show. As a long-time podcaster (like 600 episodes and ten years), I still make a mistake or two, and I’ve seen other veterans do the same. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, you’ll learn five common mistakes even veteran podcasters make and how to get past them (or avoid them if you haven’t made them yet). 3:28 - Veteran podcaster mistake #1 and why it isn’t the same as frequency 7:54 - Mistake #2 and why it comes with an asterisk 16:11 - The veteran podcaster mistake that comes after recording (I’m guilty of it too) 19:25 - One thing even veterans mistakenly neglect 21:20 - The fifth mistake that puts too much focus on

You’ve probably seen and heard about it everywhere. There’s been a lot of chit chat about ChatGPT over the past few months. And it probably sounds like a dream, right? You pop in prompts, and it pops out answers, conversations, explanations, etc. as if they were written by a human being. You might think, “If it’s that good, then I can save so much time on podcast production!” But while ChatGPT is a cool tool, we’re not at the point where AI like it can actually replace real, human conversation and interaction in a natural way. And some of the recommendations I’ve seen out there for using it are icky, to say the least. So in this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, you’ll learn how podcasters can use ChatGPT and how they shouldn’t use it. I’ll also give you examples of ways I use the AI tool for this show. 4:59 - How you shouldn’t be using ChatGPT as a podcaster 7:53 - How ChatGPT can support your podcast production process 9:49 - How I use ChatGPT as a brainstorming and research tool 13:05 - One effect Ch

Are you keeping up with the times in your approach to guest podcast content creation? Very few podcast shows existed a decade ago, but things move with lightning speed online. And while podcasts have exponentially exploded in the last 10 or so years, some of the expert information about having podcast guests on your show from way back when still gets peddled around. For instance, you might think that having guests is like having the Flash Pass at Six Flags--a shortcut solution that lets you skip the line and go straight to the thrill of audience growth for your podcast. But the reality is they might actually serve as a distraction for listeners. So should you not bother having guests on at all? Podcast guests can be really impactful for shows. But a lot of the nuance in this conversation has been missing and keeps causing the parties involved to miss out on maximizing the potential of guest appearances. In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, you’ll discover how to feature guests on your show differen

Are you about to bail on your podcast before you even start it or really get it off the ground? Oftentimes, podcasters make mistakes that are absolutely detrimental to their show. These mistakes can cause you to bail before you even begin to see desired results. While mistakes can happen at any stage of your podcast journey, your show is at its most delicate stage during the first 50 episodes. By making five specific mistakes I’ve seen too many hosts make at this early point, you can accidentally kill your show! So what are these hazards you should avoid as a new podcast show host? In this episode of The More Profitable Podcast, you’ll learn about the five mistakes you can make in the first 50 episodes so you can avoid the fate of your podcast becoming one of the many shows that fade away. 3:07 - The #1 mistake I see new podcasters make all the time 7:42 - The plan that too many podcasters forget to make 12:34 - The most natural mistake you can make in your first 50 episodes 19:31 - Mistake #4 and why it seem