5 Top Tips to Podcast Success

By Guest Writer Sonny Etchell

I have to say my Alcohol Free Life podcast from The Sober Club is my absolute passion, and I only wish I had started it sooner! Its brings so much engagement, (and has earning potential if I target the right brands) but above all it keeps me connected with followers who then join my community and buy courses / books et al. I am also fortunate to have some amazing guest interviewees!

I asked Sonny Etchell who offers podcast startup / production / editing services agency to offer us a few tips

Toying with the idea of starting a podcast? Or perhaps you already have a podcast but want to optimise it for greater success to promote your business and online presence. Podcasting is now incredibly popular and can be a great way to give people a more in-depth insight into you and the message you’re trying to get across through your business.

Here are 5 tips to achieve success with your podcast that you’ll be glad you knew before start:

1.Quality over length

Don’t fall for the trap of thinking that podcasts must be hours long. One of the best things about podcasts is the long form conversation which allows people to converse in an uninterrupted, unedited format. However, this should only apply if the topic warrants having a lengthy runtime. For the most part you want to be concise and keep your listeners attention. You’d rather have a listener make it to the end of your 15 minute podcast, than only get 15 minutes into your 90 minute podcast.

Once you have decided on an approximate length, make sure all your episodes are roughly your chosen length. You want to maintain people’s expectations so avoid having a 30 minute episode one week and an hour long episode the next. You also want to be consistent with the day and time your podcast is released so your listeners know when to expect your episodes.

The Joe Rogan’s of the world can afford to have 3 hour long podcasts as they’ve reached the level of notoriety at which their die-hard listeners sit through it but don’t think the same applies to you! Especially when starting out, keep it coincide and don’t make your episodes longer than they need be.

PRO TIP:

To avoid burnout, use seasons. By splitting your podcast into seasons, you can test the waters to make sure that it is something you can sustain. Many podcasters make the mistake of starting to release episodes without any indication of an endpoint. They put the expectation on themselves to release episodes indefinitely, without a break which you may find you will need!

2.Don’t lose sight of the what and why

What – what is your podcast about, what purpose does it serve?

Why – why are you doing it, Why should people care?

Like most forms of content creation, the key to a successful podcast is consistency and you won’t be consistent if you’re not talking about and researching something that excites you, something you could ramble on for hours about on a weekly basis.

Of course episodes should be well prepared, with notes or bullet points of your talking points and questions for interviewees (even writing a script can be a good idea). However, you should want to talk about your topic because you’re relentlessly passionate about it. This way you’ll never run out of things to say and your enthusiasm will keep your listeners engaged.

Remember to always keep your audience in mind. What are their needs? What problem am I trying to solve and why should they keep listening? Put yourself in their shoes to help make sure you’re always delivering useful information.

PRO TIP:

If you have an idea for a podcast in mind but are still not sure it is sustainable, try this. Write down 10 episode ideas. If you struggle to think of 10, you may want to reconsider the subject matter of your podcast.

3.Don’t neglect sound quality

A surefire way to ensure someone stops listening to your podcast is, simply, if it’s unpleasant to listen to. You don’t need to spend thousands to have a professional, high quality recording setup but it’s worth investing in good, minimal equipment that will provide you with clear and crisp audio without breaking the bank.

All you need is a basic setup consisting of your computer, a mic and some headphones. If you’re doing video podcasting, a decent external webcam works just fine.

When choosing a mic I would recommend a USB mic as they are super affordable and plug straight into your computer.

Here are 2 of the best affordable USB mics on the market:

4.Don’t do it for the money

The reality is that there is lots of competition now so think about anything you can do to make your podcast standout as much as possible. More importantly, take pride in the fact that you’d do this podcast whether it made money or not because you want to grow your business and get your message out there. Perhaps you want to drive more traffic to your website or grow your email list or maybe you just enjoy talking into a microphone with some friends!

See your podcast as an asset that, while may not be bringing in any significant income, is promoting yourself and growing your online presence.

Always be ambitious and if you do get to a point where you can have sponsorships then all power to you! Landing sponsors often comes down to how many downloads you regularly hit but it’s not the only way to monetize a podcast. Really knowing your niche could mean even with a relatively small number of listeners you could attract sponsorship revenue.

Although podcasting takes a lot of preparation and hard work, it shouldn’t feel like work when you’re actually doing it. However if you’re starting a podcast because you’re seeing dollar signs in your eyes, it might be time to rethink.

PRO TIP:

Not sure what to name your podcast? Here are some pointers:

  • Keep it specific. You don’t want anything that is at all vague
  • Make sure the name is memorable and rolls off the tongue easily
  • Keep the name in line with/similar to your business name or brand
  • Make sure the name is available and hasn’t already been taken

5.Get an editor

In an ideal world, once you’ve finished recording your podcast, you’d hit a magic button, sending your podcast into the sky where it will land on peoples phones ready for them to start listening.

The reality is that recording the podcast can often be the easy part. It is what goes on ‘post production’ that can be the most boring, tedious and time consuming aspect to starting a podcast.

If you’re someone who is able to outsource editing I would recommend it because it takes that responsibility off your shoulders, freeing up more time for you to focus on making the content of your episodes as good as possible. Unless you’re someone who enjoys this part, slaving away editing your podcast might discourage you and make you question whether it’s all even worth the hassle!

There are also several other odd jobs involved in getting a podcast off the ground such as creating Podcast artwork, sourcing free to use music and setting up your hosting platform to distribute your podcast to places such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Of course this is a ‘shameless plug’ but I offer podcast editing services ranging from weekly editing of your episodes (should you already have a podcast) as well as a full ‘podcast startup package’ including podcast artwork creation, music sourcing and uploading to platforms for those brand new to the scene who need a helping hand getting your podcast off the ground!

See my work here

Thank you Sonny! Here is another article with tips from experts including moi (!) on starting a podcast

https://porch.com/advice/start-podcasting-tips-experts
https://porch.com/advice/start-podcasting-tips-experts

Brand exposure for your Alcohol Free Drinks brand or related biz?

Want some affordable ongoing support, brand exposure and press for your Alcohol Free Drinks brand or related biz?

Don’t miss this opportunity to be featured in the press! This is the busiest time of year for marketing what you have to offer, people are searching for low and no alcohol drinks and related health and wellbeing products and services ( supplement brands, Kombucha, Tea, Juice brands) and Janey has deadlines for articles for Christmas / New Year editions. PLUS there is an opportunity to be featured on the Alcohol Free Life podcast.

Email us to secure your spot, promotions begin as soon as you join us janey@imperfectlynatural.com

As you may already know, Janey is a former BBC Radio 2 presenter, author of several best-selling wellbeing books and founder of the popular holistic recommendations website imperfectlynatural.com. Janey gave a TEDx talk in 2019 Sobriety Rocks – Who Knew! which has over 130k views. Her latest book ‘Happy Healthy Sober – Ditch the Booze and Take Control of Your Life’ has a forward by Denise Welch. Janey features alcohol free drinks (and related brands ) on her podcast Alcohol Free Life which regularly charts in the top 20 podcasts on Apple Music in the wellbeing and mental health categories and now has over 1.6 million downloads. Janey is also founder of The Sober Club, a passionate, engaged community who regularly buy the products Janey recommends (https://www.thesoberclub.com).

Janey is known for her mantra

‘Keep the ritual, change the ingredients’

Get promoted on the Alcohol Free Life podcast:

We can offer either integrated presenter reads or an interview with someone from your brand. Both options will also include a competition, blog post and lots of social media coverage. We would promote this to our main ‘holistic living’ e-zine too (10k people) and on Janey’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

All of this promo would usually be priced at minimum £497 + VAT but for a limited time:

Special offer for Integrated Presenter Read, blog and competition £197 + VAT

Interview with your brand representative, blog and competition £297 + VAT

See usual price list here https://janeyleegrace.com/brand-showcase/

Get in touch if you would be interested in sponsoring the whole podcast (exclusive promo within the episode) or sponsoring a series of podcasts – janey@imperfectlynatural.com

There are very limited slots especially if you’d like to feature before Christmas or New year!

Get featured on the Alcohol Free Christmas Gift Guide

If you would like a low cost promo blast, consider being part of our Alcohol Free Christmas Gift Guide, we will be compiling a list of drinks, and associated products for the perfect Sober Christmas and New Year. Inclusion in the Gift Guide which will be published on imperfectlynatural.com, www.thesoberclub.com and across social media is just £47+ VAT

We would need a photo, approx 100 word description, price stockists and url.

See usual price list here https://janeyleegrace.com/brand-showcase/

Email janey@imperfectlynatural.com now to be included.

Delighted to be a judge for the 2022-23 #BOOMAwards

I am delighted to be a judge for the 2022-23 #BOOMAwards, celebrating excellence in #organic.  

The #BOOMAwards are the UK’s only awards that recognise and celebrate the organic industry, celebrating excellence in #organic food & drink, farming, beauty & wellbeing and fashion & textiles, The BOOM’s honour those brands, businesses and people behind the UK’s organic industry, championing innovation and celebrating those who sell, serve and produce organic. 

Get your entries in and showcase your amazing #organic business – this year is the 5th event of thesse the bi-annual awards whose mission is to reflect the range of organic-certified businesses working to restore nature, drive positive change and ensure a safer climate.  

Entries are open for ONE MONTH ONLY, from 1st Nov – 1st Dec 2022.  

Entry is open to all certified organic businesses operating in the UK. All food & drink, cosmetics, health and textile products must be available for purchase by the general public in the UK for at least 3 months in order to be eligible for an award.  

Entering the BOOM Awards offers businesses an opportunity to win a seal of approval from the UK’s leading organic certification body, which allows you to:  

Build business confidence, increase sales & listings, attract media coverage, impress your customers, unlock promotional opportunities & assets and attract mission-driven talent  

Check out this video of 2021 BOOM Awards winners: BOOM Award winners 2021 

There are numerous different categories – find out more and enter HERE! 

On World Radio Day…The end of an era, reflections at the end of the Steve Wright show

On World Radio Day… a look back at my post from 2022

Wow, it really is the end of an era as the big show on BBC Radio 2 comes to an end, I remember the first time I met Steve, it was at a showbiz party at the Café De Paris. I think it was an album launch, can’t remember the band, but I had heard that Steve was starting a show on Radio 2, I bounced over and cheekily told him how much of a fan I was …and he should hire me as a co –presenter!  lo and behold he did, and its hard to realise how long it’s been, I only know because I only had one baby  when I started and 3 more were born over the 23 years!

We have had so much fun doing the show, its almost embarrassing, it really shouldn’t have been called work! I remember once having a chat about what we would do if we won the lottery, I said I’d stay doing exactly the same thing, and I really meant that.

Over the years, as we have had our chats on air, I have often talked about my passions about natural and organic living, therapies and wellbeing, and Steve has gently faded down the microphone to shut me up, but of course its all been in good humour and actually, the fact that Steve, Tim and I have such different personalities and interests has made it good value!  I feel especially blessed that during my chats about holistic living, a publisher heard me and convinced me to write a book.  Imperfectly Natural Woman came out in 2006 and was an Amazon number one best seller! (you see publishers listen to the radio!) and in fact the lovely Caroline Lenton’s publishing house Mcnidder & Grace has published my latest book Happy Healthy Sober

We have been lucky to have met the great and the good, all the stars, comedians, the authors, the politicians want to be on the big show and it was my good fortune to meet so many wonderful people, friends often ask me: Are celebs as nice as they seem? and the answer is mostly – yes!

I loved it when we did Children in Need studio stuff, we all sang with Rylan a few years back,  I got to duet ‘Don’t go breaking my heart’ with Nicole Scherzinger looking on!  The arrival of Elton John’s piano in the green room was something, and of course interviewing Elton was always fun!

Some of my fave guests include Russell Brand, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Goldie Hawn, we interviewed Agnetha from Abba, and the beautiful late Olivia Newton John, and of course Eddie Izzard (who everyone knows I LOVE!)

I also remember some great trips away from the studio, we had the most fantastic trip to New York, getting the inside track on wall street, visiting the actual iconic diner from When Harry met Sally, even interviewing the mayor at the time.  In more recent years we did a show live from the Eastenders set

Of course I must also mention our amazing production team, who made it flow effortlessly, Steve Wright and Tim Smith, and Bobbie, I will miss you all beyond measure.  Tim and I had a ball being on Ready Steady Cook in 1999 (he won!) and in 2018 we were on Celebrity Antiques Roadshow and had a blast, Steve made all sorts of jokes about our classic car driving and choice of antiques…(Tim won again!)

Oh and our listeners are the best too. I stood in for Steve on Love Songs several times and connected with listeners, You’re lovely! Thank you for the memories!

Who knows what magic lies for the future, I have a LOT going on, as coach and founder of The Sober Club, hosting retreats and workshops, I now train sober / selfcare coaches, and of course am still passionate about holistic living and run The Platinum Awards every year.  Def not hanging up the presenting hat either…watch this space!

It’s YOUR Time!

It’s YOUR Time! – Ditch Your Bucket List and Go For It NOW!

I’m so excited to tell you that I’m speaking at The Midlife Makeover Festival along with 20+ experts who are sharing  strategies, tips and advice to help you get past feeling stuck so you can step into your next chapter with purpose, passion and excitement. 

We’re on a mission to bring together all the knowledge and guidance you need to live life to the full through your 40s, 50s and beyond.

When you register, you’ll also get access to over $15,000 in gifts from our amazing speakers.

This event is for you if you want to…

Create a Powerful Vision For Your Future

Find an amazing community of Women on a Mission

Let go of Feeling ‘Too Old’

Hear from Women Who Have Created a Powerful 2nd Chapter in Their Lives

Stop ‘Acting your Age’!

Stop Playinig It Safe and Find The Courage To Start New Things

Discover What’s Possible For You At Your Age

Maybe You Want To…

Start or Grow a Business

Launch a New Career

Lead a Movement

Share Your Wisdom

Or Just,

Have More Fun!

So if you’re ready to dust off your dreams and create a future that fills you with excitement, rather than dread, join us for The Midlife Makeover Festival 8th -14th August.

Claim your FREE ticket HERE:  

#midlifemakeover 

#midlife #midlifewomen #midlifecrisis #midlifestyle #womenover50 

Family Constellations Transformed My Life – Join Me July 17th

Sunday 17th JULY Kings Langley Hertfordshire – 25 mins by train from London Euston, Close to Junction 7 M1 or Junc 20 M25

Some of you know that I believe Family Constellations transformed my life, I am forever grateful to Julie Toms who facilitated a constellation for me that changed everything – in 30 minutes! I’d had an extremely difficult relationship with my mother and was extremely anxious and insecure. Of course once I slotted the missing piece into the holistic jigsaw (ditched the booze) I could see that there was more work to be done.

I’ve become even more fascinated learning about ‘inherited family trauma’ (Check out the excellent book It didn’t start with you by Mark Wolynn a podcast guest) and the impact of adverse childhood experiences. I love the work of Gabor Mate, and Vincent Felitti (The ACE study) and I find it very powerful to realise that even a fairly low score on the ‘adverse child experiences’ questionnaire has negative impact on health and wellbeing in adulthood. In the original ACE study, those who scored 4 or more were 7 times more likely to be an alcoholic, 10 times more likely to have injected drugs, and more likely to experience depression and relationship breakups. You can take the ACE questionnaire here.

I offer 1-1 coaching which is always about SO much more than not drinking! I trained as a Family Constellations practitioner to add to my ‘toolbox’ of EFT, NLP and Matrix Re-imprinting and I am fascinated by the connection of where trauma meets addiction, but we will address any topics that come up on the day. We may end up looking at someone’s relationship with a sibling, a parent, or even looking at whether they should change career!

Book your place here

Family constellations is extremely difficult to explain, it was devised by German Psychotherapist Bert Hellinger who realised that events that are traumatic such as abuse, abortion, early/violent death, and miscarriage, can ripple down through generations and manifest in a range of psychological and physical illness. We now know much more about this of course with the phenomenon of Epigenetics.

Rather than attempt to fully understand it, its probably better just to come with an open mind, absolutely no experience is necessary and it’s not ‘acting’ or psychodrama, but it can be profound. It’s been described as ‘Homeopathy for the soul’. You can read about my experience in an article written for Spirit and Destiny magazine and published on the website of the wonderful practitioner I worked with.

We will start the day with an interview with Rafe Nauen, a leading expert in adverse childhood experiences, trauma work and family constellations. There will be time for Q and A, and then we will do some constellations. As this is a one price event we won’t be pre-booking the ‘issues’ so everyone will be invited to be a participant, a ‘representative’, and some will experience their own ‘constellation’. Many people find it benefits them hugely just to witness constellations, they can be very powerful.

Rafe says:

‘Working with ‘ancestral healing enables us to notice what’s going in the people’s systems – their family, their environment, their history.  We inherit things from our past and we pick up things along the journey of life, and some of it is not helpful. Family secrets, early deaths, traumas experienced, all contribute to our current state. Adverse Childhood Experience adds to the catalogue of “stuff” we carry with us. If we don’t manage to deal with it, it contributes to ill health mentally, physically and emotionally as we get older.

At a constellation workshop we safely explore these aspects using representatives chosen from the attendees. The issue holder (and the others present) get to see where the “stuff” belongs. And knowing that enables a final leaving it where it belongs. The plan for the day is to do quite a few  short pieces of work, and some longer ones. Almost everyone who has ever been to one of my workshops has gone away enriched and empowered.’


Book your place HERE

You will receive venue info once you book, Kings Langley is 25 mins by train from London Euston or close to M25 Junction 20 and M1 Junction 7, there is parking close by. We will provide teas, coffees, snacks and ‘light bites’. You are welcome to bring your own lunch or go to one of the coffee shops/deli in the village.

If you have questions please email janey@janeyleegrace.com

See my article ‘Keeping it in the Family’ in this months Health Triangle Magazine Issue 96

‘News’

It’s a busy time with some great opportunities to showcase and champion natural and organic brands geared to health, body and mind. 

I am thrilled to be one of the judges for the Natural Beauty Awards at the NOPE show (Trade show) at Excel on 3-4th April 2022. I will also be around on Monday 4th launching the new skincare from Tiana and I look forward to meeting some of you there. 

I’ve been completing UK Health radio shows, Check out my UK Health Radio interview here with Mike Booth the founder & innovator of AEOS Skincare and visionary behind Aura-Soma Colour Care system. 
 

I’ve been working with some exciting and innovative alcohol-free drink’s brands for the Alcohol Free Life podcast (Almost a million downloads) and offering sessions in my community on holistic living, where we cover skincare, good nutrition, fitness, wellbeing supplements et al. My membership is The Sober Club but it’s really about optimum health and wellbeing, and the community is growing year on year, they are a totally engaged audience who are super hungry for ‘upscaling’ their health and wellbeing and are keen to hear my recommendations. 
 

On that note, if you have ever thought of creating a course or running a community / membership, then watch this space as I am going to be sharing news of Stu McLaren’s free online workshops and webinars and offering a whole host of complimentary 1-1 coaching and publicity. 
 

I’ve also recently written a couple of articles for health mags including a piece for True Health Magazine, promoting Handmade Naturals and Bowen Supplies by Helen. I also ran a great piece in Embody magazine which goes out to therapists and I’m writing a shopping column for WDDTY (What Doctors Don’t Tell You) a hugely successful magazine created by Lynne McTaggart and Bryan Hubbard.  

Our 2022 Platinum Awards have kicked off and NOW is the time to enter! You can benefit from 6 months of exposure, and we would like to offer you an exclusive 10% off until 10th April 2022. Please get in touch if you wish to discuss a bespoke collaboration. 

Our Platinum Awards are not just ‘enter and wait,’ our intention is to promote products and services across the months so it’s incredible value and gains great awareness across many different areas of media. 
 
 
GO HERE TO ENTER 
 
Use the code awa22 at checkout! 

Time for Change?

Time for change? Family constellations is certainly not conventional but it is powerful and I believe it transformed my life, so much so that I trained as a Family Constellations practitioner and I’m hosting my next event on Sunday 23rd January and I would love you to join me.

If your past is affecting your present, Family Constellations could be the answer to discovering why you feel stuck in an area of your life.

It was devised by German Psychotherapist Bert Hellinger who realised that events that are traumatic such as abuse, abortion, early/violent death, and miscarriage, can ripple down through generations and manifest in a range of psychological and physical illness that can have a far reaching impact on your daily life and choices.

Even mild ‘adverse child experiences’ have a negative impact on health and wellbeing in adulthood. In the original ACE study, those who scored 4 or more were 7 times more likely to be an alcoholic, 10 times more likely to have injected drugs, and more likely to experience depression and relationship breakups. 

If you are ready to make positive changes, absolutely no experience is necessary to join, but rather an open mind and a willingness to participate, and it’s not ‘acting’ or psychodrama, but it can be profound.

We will start the day with an interview with Rafe Nauen, a leading expert in adverse childhood experiences, trauma work and family constellations. There will be time for Q and A, and then we will do some constellations. As this is a one price event we won’t be pre-booking the ‘issues’ so everyone will be invited to be a participant, a ‘representative’, and some will experience their own ‘constellation’. Many people find it benefits them hugely just to witness constellations, they can be very powerful. It has been described as ‘Homeopathy for the soul’.

BOOK HERE

Kings Langley Hertfordshire – 25 mins by train from London Euston, Close to Junction 7 M1 or Junc 20 M25

This weeks Alcohol Free Life podcast features an interview with Rafe Nauen Trauma and family constellations expert, who I am co-hosting this event with. Listen to the interview here.

Have you heard? I’M A GLOBAL SPEAKER at the Women’s Business Virtual Conference.

I’m so excited to be speaking at the two day, global event on Wednesday 15th December at 3pm I’ll be speaking about Stepping into the SPOTLIGHT becoming your own best PR and I can’t wait to share how you can get clarity on the ‘Authentic you’, find your USP and your ‘YOU-nique brilliance’ and focus on what you really want. I will encourage you to become your own best PR as you step into the spotlight.

I would love to invite you to come hear my talk, along with many other top quality speakers on a variety of relevant topics. I know there will be plenty for you to sink your teeth in!

If you can’t make the above date and time, that’s not a problem at all as the talk will be recorded and available to stream until the end of the month. 

So what are you waiting for? Book your ticket today!

About the Women’s Business Virtual Conference

The Women’s Business Virtual Conference is a two day GLOBAL event for female leaders and entrepreneurs. Make connections, be refreshed and be inspired with 48 hours of continuous streaming across all time zones from the 14 – 15 December 2021

Learn from industry leaders in our vast selection of education sets on both days whilst you connect and build relationships with other SME founders, business leaders & corporate executives through our immersive virtual platform.

Scale your business and advance in your career by taking advantage of who will be in the room!
Find out more at https://virtual.womensbusiness.club

Women’s Business Awards – Get Involved!

I am excited to announce that I will compère at this year’s Women’s Business Awards for the Women’s Business Club. I will be presenting alongside one of the UK’s most well-regarded businesswomen, Angela De Souza. 

Angela De Souza is CEO and founder of Women’s Business Club, and the Women’s Business Awards launched in 2013 to celebrate the success of businesswomen across the globe, it’s quickly becoming a recognised as a brand in business excellence and the awards are open for anyone to nominate throughout the year until the end of October at which point the voting opens.  

The Women’s Business Awards are a celebration of incredible women from around the world, who have stood out above the rest, featuring over 20 categories including Businesswoman of the Year, Employer of the Year, and the Diversity & Inclusion Award. All women entrepreneurs, executives, and the companies they run are eligible to enter. 

The awards are held online – meaning that no matter where you are in the world, you can still tune in.  

The awards event will take place during the first week of December with USA kicking things off on 1st December followed by UK on 2nd December, Australia on 3rd December, Canada on 4th December and finally ending off with South African on 6th December. All of these festivities will lead into the global Women’s Business Conference happening for 48 solid hours between 14th and 15th December. 

Angela will kick off each event with one of her inspiring business talks drawing on her years of experience in supporting women in their business or career, offering inspiring stories along with practical and honest business advice.  

I will draw on my experience as a Radio 2 presenter and Number One amazon best-selling author and working in the media for twenty-five years and running my own successful business and talk about getting clarity on the ‘Authentic you’, finding your USP and ‘YOU-nique brilliance’ and how to focus on what you really want. I want to encourage businesswoman to become their own best PR and step into the spotlight. 

There is nothing more boosting to confidence than an award nomination!  

This year’s awards are proudly sponsored by the popular online accounting software XERO and are judged by distinguished business leaders from across the country. 

Get involved for the opportunity to secure an elevated status in the business community, PR exposure and validation of a job well done! Become an award-winning businesswoman! Or if you know a hard-working woman in business that deserves some recognition, nominate her for an award today! 

 
For more information about Women’s Business Awards, visit awards.womensbusiness.club 

@wombizclub Sponsored by @Xero #WBAWARDS2021