How I Built a 7-Figure Business While Staying True to Myself

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Generally individuals begin podcasts out of curiosity, the necessity to flex a inventive muscle, or the drive to inform their story. However what occurs after that preliminary experiment could be highly effective: podcasting can create transformative enterprise development and constant revenue.

When individuals confer with podcasts as a ‘passion’, they’re lacking a lot about what they will do for the entrepreneur, inventive, side-hustler, storyteller, and ideator. In actual fact, podcasts generated over $2 billion in ad revenue in 2023 alone.

The facility of podcasting is actually not misplaced on me. What began with a nudge and a microphone from my older brother grew to become an outlet for me throughout a really lonely season of entrepreneurship. It has additionally become the #1 factor I’m identified for, The Goal Digger Podcast.

I pressed that ‘file’ button from the entrance seat of my automobile in my storage (so nobody may hear the canine barking in the home) and revealed my first few episodes. I felt like I used to be throwing a foolish thought into the ether and hoping at the very least one individual would take heed to it. I didn’t even take into account the methods it will assist develop and assist my enterprise.

110+ million downloads over 800+ episodes later, I’ve witnessed simply what constant podcasting can actually do.

Let’s dive into the journey of what it seems prefer to go from that preliminary spark of curiosity and the publishing of your first few episodes to constructing a 7-figure enterprise with podcasting.

A fast spoiler right here: This gained’t require burnout. It additionally doesn’t imply you’ll need to shift who you might be, what you do, or turn into a completely totally different human to see success.

Podcasting for Enterprise Development: How I Constructed a 7-Determine Enterprise Whereas Staying True to Myself

The Starting of the Podcast Journey

Regardless that I used to be within the thick of operating my pictures enterprise whereas getting my digital advertising and marketing enterprise off the bottom, I used to be apprehensive about beginning a podcast. I joked about how nobody needed to listen to my voice or be taught from me!

However I couldn’t shake my curiosity. Then my brother gave me his previous microphone and I felt like all my excuses had lastly run out. What did I’ve to lose? So, I began scared.

I wouldn’t take into account myself tech-savvy, so in these first few episodes, I ditched the professional microphone and used my iPhone headphones and my dependable Midwest cellphone voice, following a light-weight define I’d jotted down for myself with about six totally different rewrites. I used to be apprehensive I’d run out of issues to say.

Even after I completed recording, I couldn’t carry myself to take heed to it. I promised myself I’d strive. I didn’t need myself to get in the way in which of that.

From there, I began recording in my coat closet (a pleasant step up from the automobile), studying my very own stream and luxury behind the microphone. I challenged myself to begin asking for viewers questions on my Instagram and alluring them to return subscribe to the present with rising confidence.

I sought out podcast company and stayed according to my posting schedule. Finally, I discovered a rhythm, constructing my present into what Objective Digger is as we speak.

It may be laborious to know the place you begin with your personal podcast. I felt just a little misplaced in all the main points once I first began too. I harassed about nailing the best intro and sign-off for longer than I’d prefer to admit.

As a substitute of copying anybody else’s precise strategy, what is going to assist your podcast be one thing you want doing for 100 or 1000 episodes is to ensure it aligns with you. And keep in mind, you possibly can change every little thing as you be taught and develop. You’ll evolve (I certain did), so don’t strain your self to get it proper on episode one.

Staying Genuine in a Sea of Noise

One factor that has stayed pretty unchanged from the start for me was who I needed to be as a podcaster. I used to be decided to be me. I didn’t need fluff or a present that felt like a time-waster. And I needed my listeners to all the time know they had been getting a real reflection of my persona and values. I’ve by no means shied away from the actual discuss.

I’ve cherished on-line studying for a very long time, so I envisioned each episode of my podcast as a chance for my listeners to be taught. Charting out my episode outlines was so much like planning a free masterclass each week. I needed the specialists on my present to shine and be seen for who they are surely, too.

Finally, I noticed I needed to share my very own ideas and insights, so I launched solo reveals. I’ve expanded from sharing primarily about digital advertising and marketing and enterprise to opening up about different facets of my life, like seasons of navigating burnout, pivoting the enterprise, motherhood, and loss.

I needed to have a greater reference to my listeners (since a podcast can really feel one-sided virtually all the time.) So, I launched a Fb group for my podcast listeners known as Goal Digger Insiders. That group is sort of 65,000 listeners robust.

My neighborhood comes collectively to not solely discuss what they’re studying by the podcast, however they’re additionally an enormous useful resource for one another. By years of suggestions and the same old web playground of buddies and critics, I discovered how you can discover a stability between listening to what my viewers needed extra of and staying true to my voice and imaginative and prescient.

Constructing a Podcasting Movement for Sustainable Enterprise Success

As a busy entrepreneur, I knew I didn’t need podcasting to turn into a tangled, logistical mess. I craved a inventive outlet, not a dreaded dedication each week.

Making a course of that match into the stream of my week and labored properly with my vitality and schedule grew to become a fast precedence. I knew that juggling recording, scheduling company, publishing episodes, social posting, and every little thing else may rapidly burn me out.

Whereas my podcast began with simply me, I ultimately added one staff member. This helped me maintain the system I constructed operating, evolving, and feeling like a enjoyable problem for us by the seasons.

It’s solely ever been simply two individuals operating it: me and my podcast producer who’s actually managing the whole present. It’s by no means been an enormous crew or an advanced manufacturing. I get to point out up, discuss right into a mic, meet superb individuals, and we get to share these episodes with the world. That was and nonetheless is the purpose and that’s why I created a easy system for us to observe.

Podcasting for Enterprise Development and Evolution

Whereas my core imaginative and prescient for Objective Digger hasn’t modified over time, virtually every little thing else has. From our posting frequency to the form of individuals I hunt down as present company to our branding, intro and outro, and the subjects we cowl!

Quite than huge, sweeping adjustments, we adapt in small methods as we go. I don’t wish to get caught in a rut for therefore lengthy that we concern change, so as a substitute, we make it a behavior to test in and make fixed little tweaks to maintain ourselves agile. On prime of that, the small adjustments maintain the work we’re doing feeling contemporary and thrilling!

Keep open to suggestions, whether or not that’s internally along with your staff, out of your listenership, and even your intestine telling you one thing isn’t fairly proper. The way in which your present must evolve won’t all the time be apparent or come from the newest podcasting stats. Your present would possibly want to alter in methods which might be wholly distinctive to you. Possibly you’ll be the primary individual ever to do what you do in your podcast!

That’s thrilling, however you gained’t be taught what that’s if you happen to don’t hear.

And in that course of, don’t be afraid to strive that new factor. Podcasting is and can all the time be primarily experimental. Making an attempt new issues is central to the form of artwork type that podcasting is. If that new factor would not work, I’d nonetheless rely that as a hit for attempting, studying, and pivoting.

Avoiding Burnout and Sustaining Stability

Many of the 800+ episodes of Objective Digger had been recorded in my messy closet. I didn’t hit episode 100 and spend money on a studio or strain myself to alter simply because ‘that’s what success seems like.’ I felt the success of my podcast by the information and affect on my listeners.

I didn’t wish to waste vitality attempting to make my present look profitable once I’d quite funnel it into the episodes and conversations themselves. My vitality is a priceless useful resource and I wish to spend it the place it actually counts.

Whereas I like my podcast, it’s nonetheless only one aspect of my enterprise as an entire, so it really can not take up all of my time. That’s why making a system is so necessary.

I set boundaries round how and once I would file my present. I prioritized relaxation whereas carving out targeted time to batch-record our episodes. I have a look at one month at a time and lean into what feels thrilling for me in that month in order that our content material feels contemporary, alive, and related to the time the episodes are being aired.

Defending my vitality means I get to sit down down and be in the best headspace each single time I hit the ‘file’ button. I really feel current for my present company and our conversations get to be real quite than rushed or jumbled. I’m able to be mentally on monitor for my solo reveals, which retains me engaged. The extra engaged I could be, the extra assured I really feel about each episode that goes reside.

My ardour for podcasting could be protected and fostered by good boundaries round my time and vitality. I get to point out up, pour out, and stroll away realizing we’re creating one thing we’re pleased with each time.

We’re not burdened or pressured by attempting to do all of the issues, which is definitely what has allowed me to show my podcasting thought into a significant, profit-driving department of my enterprise. Boundaries are what make room for achievement.

Monetizing Your Podcast: Pondering Past Sponsorships

It’s simple to imagine that sponsorships are the primary method podcasts can revenue, particularly since as listeners, we’re used to listening to a barrage of adverts (relying on the podcast.)

Sponsors are necessary and efficient however don’t need to be the solely method a podcast can monetize. I’ve examined and tried a number of dozen methods of bringing in earnings by the podcast, and a handful have risen to the highest as my trusted monetization methods.

You may leverage your podcast into a large number of profit-generating channels.

Discuss your personal business offers (paid or free) to show your listeners into patrons, or at the very least email subscribers you possibly can promote to later.

You should use affiliate links and codes to generate earnings by speaking about services you’ve examined and love.

You may launch a membership or Patreon neighborhood the place you share distinctive content material that your listeners and followers can’t get wherever else.

In the case of monetizing, I like to recommend weaving two or extra of those strategies collectively in order that the hassle that goes into each episode has a multi-level payoff for you in the long term.

As you construct long-term consistency along with your present, you’re not simply protecting your listeners comfortable, however you’re establishing credibility, too. When different alternatives come knocking, you’ll have your podcast to assist present what you’re actually about.

Your experience can actually communicate for itself once you’ve been leveraging it for a whole lot of episodes over a number of years.

Podcast Success Occurs One Episode at a Time

Each time I sit down at my desk on a podcast recording day, I smile fascinated with how I virtually didn’t begin this present. I chuckle as a result of I can’t consider I get to do this as a job. I’m relieved that this not solely turned out to be a inventive outlet for therefore a few years however that it additionally grew to become a chart-topping present.

It wouldn’t have occurred if I didn’t publish episode 1. After which 2. After which 3. And it will’ve fizzled out lengthy earlier than I noticed success if I hadn’t chosen to remain true to myself and my imaginative and prescient the entire method by!

Whereas the street could look lengthy, I can say that every one these years of podcasting felt far too fast. I usually really feel like I blink and we’re one other 100 episodes alongside, celebrating yet one more milestone.

In the event you’re on the beginning line (or merely within the curious part) of your personal podcast, keep in mind to maintain celebrating your personal milestones. That may imply shopping for your first microphone, ending your first episode, getting your first assessment, or having your first podcast visitor.

Constructing your present to a 7-figure success or no matter ‘success’ authentically seems like for you takes time. It takes doing it scared typically. It takes dedication to the consistency. It takes defending your boundaries, time, and vitality in an effort to maintain shifting ahead.

It means being intentional with who you’re employed with, how you intend your ‘system’ for podcasting, and the way you evolve. And it takes getting good with the way you layer your monetization in order that your podcast can gas your enterprise … or turn into your enterprise.

Can I allow you to flip your podcasting curiosity or present present into podcast success (with your personal definition of success main the way in which?)

Take a look at my free podcasting masterclass, Podcasting 101: How to Start, Record, and Profit from Your Show. On this free masterclass, I will present you how you can begin, develop, and monetize your present — no fancy tech or huge viewers wanted — so you possibly can flip your ardour into a robust platform!