Delivering Marketing Joy is an award-winning interview show that helps marketers level up. Each week, Kirby Hasseman interviews the best and brightest minds in marketing to help you level up.
In this episode, we are joined by Shawn Anthony, the founder of Pod Pro Max and the host of the “School’s Out, Now What?” podcast. Shawn discovered the world of podcasting during a drive and was instantly captivated. He felt he had a unique voice and perspective that he could share with the world, and thus, his journey into podcasting began. This article will delve into Shawn’s story, the power of podcasting for brand growth, advice for starting a podcast, and common mistakes in podcasting and how to fix them.
Shawn’s story is one of success, guilt, and a desire to connect with others. He found success in his corporate career but felt disconnected from his friends who were still figuring out their paths. This guilt, coupled with his realization that he could use his voice to share his background and experiences, led to the birth of the “School’s Out, Now What?” podcast. The podcast resonates with many as it explores the journey after formal education ends, a topic that many can relate to.
The Story Behind “School’s Out, Now What?”
Shawn Anthony’s journey into podcasting began with a sense of guilt. Despite his success in the corporate world, he felt disconnected from his friends who were still trying to figure out their careers. He felt the need to share his experiences and background, and thus, the “School’s Out, Now What?” podcast was born. The podcast resonated with many people, as it tackled the often daunting question of what to do after school ends.
Shawn’s story is a testament to the power of using one’s voice to connect with others. His podcast is not just about his personal journey, but also about the shared experiences of many who are trying to navigate their careers. The success of “School’s Out, Now What?” is a testament to the power of relatable content and the importance of using one’s unique voice and perspective.
The Power of Podcasting for Brand Growth
Podcasting offers a unique platform for individuals to create their own narrative and be the storyteller. This is a powerful way to grow a brand, as it allows the individual to be in charge of their own life and talk about various topics that resonate with them. Podcasting can be used to share courses, hobbies, world events, and more, making it a versatile platform for brand growth.
Shawn encourages everyone, regardless of their category or industry, to start a podcast or be on one. The power of podcasting lies in its ability to reach a wide audience and create a personal connection with listeners. It’s a platform where you can share your story, your insights, and your passions, and in doing so, grow your brand.
Advice for Starting a Podcast
For those considering starting a podcast, Shawn offers some practical advice. He recommends launching with at least three episodes to create a binge-listening experience for listeners. The first episode should introduce the host and share their journey to podcasting. The second episode should explain the structure and format of the show, and the third episode should deliver on the promises made in the second episode.
Consistency is key in podcasting. Shawn recommends releasing episodes once a week to keep listeners engaged and coming back for more. It’s important to deliver on the promises made in the episodes and to maintain a consistent release schedule to build trust and loyalty with the audience.
Mistakes in Podcasting and How to Fix Them
Despite the many benefits of podcasting, there are common mistakes that organizations and individuals make. One such mistake is forgetting their own character and personality. Podcasts should embrace the unique personalities of their hosts, as this is what makes them relatable and engaging to listeners. Another common mistake is focusing too much on teaching rather than having a general conversation. Podcasts should prioritize conversation over a handbook approach to keep listeners engaged.
Legal concerns can also hinder authenticity and personality in podcasts. It’s important to be aware of legal considerations, but they should not overshadow the authenticity and personality of the podcast. By embracing their unique personalities, prioritizing conversation, and not letting legal concerns hinder authenticity, organizations, and individuals can create engaging and successful podcasts.
Conclusion
Shawn Anthony’s journey into podcasting is a testament to the power of using one’s voice to connect with others and grow a brand. His advice on starting a podcast and avoiding common mistakes offers valuable insights for anyone considering entering the world of podcasting. For more information about Shawn and his company, visit schoolsovernow.com and pprommax.com.
Delivering Marketing Joy is an award-winning interview show that helps marketers level up. Each week, Kirby Hasseman interviews the best and brightest minds in marketing to help you level up.
In this insightful interview, Robert Brandl, the founder and CEO of Tool Tester, shares his expertise on branding, SEO, and email marketing. As a renowned figure in the digital marketing landscape, Brandl’s insights are invaluable for businesses looking to strengthen their online presence and engage their audience effectively. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, from the importance of branding for SEO to the common mistakes in email marketing and how to avoid them.
Branding, as Brandl explains, is a combination of design, personality, and positioning. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in creating a strong brand that resonates with the target audience and stands out in the competitive digital landscape. Furthermore, Brandl discusses how businesses can enhance their email marketing efforts by offering value to their audience and using quizzes to grow their email lists. He also sheds light on the mystery of email deliverability, providing practical tips on how to ensure that emails reach the main inbox.
The Importance of Branding for SEO
Branding is becoming increasingly important for SEO, and it’s not just about having a catchy logo or a memorable tagline. It’s about creating a holistic brand experience that combines design, personality, and positioning. Design is a critical aspect of branding. It’s about creating a user-friendly website that makes visitors feel at home. It’s about choosing the right color palette, typography, and layout that reflect the brand’s identity and values.
Personality is another key component of branding. It’s about the tone of voice used in the content, the use of real people and office photos, and the overall vibe that the brand exudes. A brand with a distinct personality can establish a strong connection with its audience, making it more memorable and relatable. Positioning, on the other hand, is about being laser-focused on a specific topic or niche. It’s about differentiating the brand from its competitors and attracting the right audience by offering unique value.
Enhancing Email Marketing with Value Offerings
Email marketing is a powerful tool for businesses, but it’s not just about sending promotional emails and newsletters. It’s about offering something of value to the audience to encourage them to sign up for the email list. This could be a lead magnet, such as an ebook, checklist, or cheat sheet, that provides valuable information or solves a specific problem for the audience.
Another effective strategy is to create smaller, more easily consumable resources, such as infographics, short videos, or blog posts. These resources can increase engagement and completion rates, as they are easier to digest and share. They also provide an opportunity for businesses to showcase their expertise and provide value to their audience, thereby building trust and loyalty.
Using Quizzes to Grow Email Marketing Lists
Quizzes can be a fun and engaging way to grow email marketing lists. Whether it’s a personality quiz or a quiz related to a specific topic, quizzes can attract website visitors and encourage them to interact with the brand. But quizzes are not just about entertainment. They can also provide personalized recommendations based on the quiz results, adding value to the user experience.
For example, a skincare brand could create a skin type quiz and provide personalized product recommendations based on the results. To collect email addresses, businesses can offer incentives, such as discounts or exclusive content, to users who opt to receive their quiz results via email. This strategy not only helps grow the email list but also provides an opportunity to segment the audience based on their quiz results and send targeted email campaigns.
Common Mistakes in Email Marketing
One of the common mistakes in email marketing is sending too many emails to everyone on the list, regardless of their interests and behaviors. This can lead to lower engagement rates and potential deliverability issues, as recipients may mark the emails as spam or unsubscribe from the list. Instead, businesses should focus on segmentation and targeting, sending relevant and personalized emails to different segments of their audience based on their interests, behaviors, and preferences.
Another common mistake is neglecting the importance of email deliverability. Many businesses focus on creating engaging content and attractive designs for their emails, but they overlook the technical aspects that can affect whether their emails reach the main inbox or end up in the spam folder. This is where reputable newsletter software and deliverability monitoring tools come into play.
Ensuring Email Deliverability
Email deliverability can be a complex issue, but there are ways to improve it. One of the key factors is the choice of newsletter software. Reliable platforms like MailerLite or ActiveCampaign have built-in features and tools to optimize deliverability, such as authentication protocols, spam checkers, and bounce management.
Monitoring deliverability is also crucial. Tools like Glock apps or Mail dt can provide insights into email placement and potential issues, such as high bounce rates or spam complaints. They can also help businesses test their deliverability by sending test emails to different email providers and checking if they land in the main inbox. By regularly monitoring and testing deliverability, businesses can identify and address issues promptly, ensuring that their emails reach their intended recipients.
Conclusion
Branding, SEO, and email marketing are interconnected aspects of digital marketing. A strong brand can improve SEO performance, attract and retain customers, and enhance email marketing efforts. By understanding the importance of design, personality, and positioning in branding, offering value in email marketing, and ensuring email deliverability, businesses can create a powerful online presence and engage their audience effectively.
To learn more about Robert Brandl and his insights on digital marketing, visit the Tool Tester website or connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter. His expertise and practical tips can provide valuable guidance for businesses looking to strengthen their branding, SEO, and email marketing strategies.
As always, we want to provide you with value. So if you want to create marketing campaigns (and appreciation gifts) that hit the TARGET, check out our TARGET marketing playbook here.
It’s time for ThirstyThursday! Thirsty Thursday is the award-winning piece of content from Hasseman Marketing where we take a mystery drink out of a piece of branded drinkware! It’s funny. It’s irreverent. And we will show you some really cool merch as well! This week we feature the Klean Kanteen Eco Rise 14oz Mug. And in case that did not bring you enough intrigue, we have guest taster Skylar Hasseman back today AND we are at Raven’s Glenn Winery. Watch the latest episode below!
Why Should you consider the Klean Kanteen?
Beautiful, functional, and built to last, the Klean Kanteen Eco Rise 14oz Mug is made with certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel. Wrap your hands around the ergonomic contours and revel in Rise’s flowing lines and tonal colors. This mug’s gorgeous exterior is matched by its award-winning Climate Lock™ vacuum insulation and double-wall construction which keep contents piping hot for hours. Whether you’re cozying up on the couch, hitting your local coffee shop, or waking up around a morning campfire, the Rise Mug will keep your favorite drink at the perfect temp.
Each Thirsty Thursday, we feature a cool piece of branded drinkware. To learn more… head to our shop here.
Hasseman Marketing is your one-stop marketing shop. We work hard to “Deliver #MarketingJoy to you. If you want to make sure you never miss an update, now is a great time to become a VIP. Sign up to be “on the list” here.
It’s time for Thirsty Thursday! Thirsty Thursday is the award-winning piece of content from Hasseman Marketing where we take a mystery drink out of a piece of branded drinkware! It’s funny. It’s irreverent. And we will show you some really cool merch as well! This week we feature the Silipint. And in case that did not bring you enough intrigue, we have guest taster Brent Mason joining the show from Howard Hanna. Watch the latest episode below!
Why Silipint?
Silipint® drinkware is made with patented, BPA-free, 100% safe food grade-tested silicone. Derived from sand, silicone manufacturing preserves less abundant natural resources. It’s also incredibly durable! Unbreakable Silipint® drinkware is made to last. The platinum-cured silicone won’t crack, chip, dent, fade, or scratch.
Each Thirsty Thursday, we feature a cool piece of branded drinkware. To learn more about the Silipint… head to our shop here.
Hasseman Marketing is your one-stop marketing shop. We work hard to “Deliver #MarketingJoy to you. If you want to make sure you never miss an update, now is a great time to become a VIP. Sign up to be “on the list” here.
Welcome to the Hasseman Marketing featured Product of the Week! Our goal each week is to show you a piece of branded merch that we love…and give you 3 reasons to love it too! This week we feature a branded drinkware item that has high quality and a high perceived value.
Let’s talk about the Highland! Watch this short video below!
Here are the 3 reasons we love the Highland
Packaging: When you have a product with great packaging it makes it feel like it’s worth even more. It’s more of a gift!
Quality: This is a really nice drinkware piece (we have even featured it on Thirsty Thursday). It will keep beverages cold for days and hot for hours!
3 Lids: This might seem strange, but it allows you (and your customers) to use the product the way they like. I usually don’t like larger bottles, but I use this all of the time…and I think it’s because I can choose which lid works for me.
Hasseman Marketing is your one-stop marketing shop. We work hard to “Deliver #MarketingJoy to you. If you want to make sure you never miss an update, now is a great time to become a VIP. Sign up to be “on the list” here.
