by Kirby Hasseman
Podcasting has become an amazing and popular way to communicate your message and build your brand. It’s easy to get started. And, when done right, it is an extremely personal way to communicate to your audience. They really get to know you and your point of view. So how do you get started podcasting? Today we will cover some basics…and what has worked for me.
I started podcasting nearly 3 years ago. Though I have done podcasts on my own, I have found the most success with other people. I enjoy the interaction and it helps to keep me accountable to be consistent.
Promo UpFront Podcast
For years, I have recorded a podcast with my buddy Bill Petrie every week. First it was called unScripted and can be found here. For the last several months, we have shifted a bit. It’s called the Promo UpFront podcast. You can find that one here!
We talk about topics in the marketing and branding world and release the podcast every Friday. The unScripted podcast is designed to give our honest, unedited opinion on the topics that are relevant at the moment. What I love about this podcast is that it truly is off the cuff. I don’t know what Bill is going to bring up and he is in the dark about my topics. It’s fun. And the audience seems to respond to this authenticity as well. We have won a few awards for the podcast, and that is rewarding. But it’s a fun and fairly easy way to create conversation and to build our brand.
He Said She Said Podcast
More recently, my wife Amy and I have started a weekly podcast called He Said She Said. Because of our diverse interests, people are often curious about what we are doing. We thought this might be a way to give people a “behind the scenes” look. Amy and I talk about a “trending topic” each week and give people insight into what we are working on. We also try to provide a lesson of some kind and we give a weekly “shout out” to someone we are inspired by. It’s a fun new podcast and you can find it on our Soundcloud channel or just simply come to our blog each and every week.
Delivering Marketing Joy
Delivering Marketing Joy is the “OG” of content for me. Each week I interview a different leader in the business and marketing space. DMJ started as a web show, and it still is and can be found here on PromoCorner. But as it went on, people asked for me to provide them a podcast version of the show! I obliged and you can find that here on Soundcloud!
So those are our current podcasts…so how do you get started? Let’s dig into that.
Equipment
One thing that hangs people up on podcasting is the idea that you need a ton of equipment to get started. You don’t. Sure, the better the equipment, the better the sound. The better the sound, the better it is for your listener. That is true. But don’t let that stop you from just getting started. Your laptop has a microphone built in. That’s not the best, but it records! If you want a better microphone but do not want to break the bank, the one I recommend is the Blue Snowball USB microphone. It plugs right into your computer and gives really good sound. There are always ways to upgrade. Now that I have been at it a bit longer, I use this Yeti Blue Snowball and I love it. But to get you off the ground, this is a great start!
Recording Platform
While there are plenty of options when it comes to the platform you use to record your podcast, I use Zoom. It’s become ubiquitous, so nearly everyone you want to interview will know how to log in and use it. In addition, I find that the overall quality of video and audio is solid. You can even break the video and audio tracks apart if you want.
Editing Software
The other concern I hear from people who are interested in starting a podcast is, “will I need new software to get started?” The answer is “yes” and “no.” You will (most likely) need something to edit your audio file. But the level of editing will vary greatly depending on the kind of podcast. If you are doing something like our unScripted podcast, we pride ourselves on the fact that editing is minimal. If you do a quick google search you can find all kinds of audio editing software. But I like to keep it simple. We have Final Cut X, so that is what we use. I have talked to many people who can get started by using iMovie or Moviemaker to get their podcasts off the ground. Again…keep it simple. Get started and you will learn what works and where you need to upgrade.
Hosting
Once you have recorded your podcast, and then edited it into a finished product, you will need to host it somewhere. In other words, where will you upload it so someone can find it and listen. Again, there are lots of options. The one I use the most is Soundcloud. We upload most of our content there and then we have set up rss feeds to send the podcast to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and other places where most people listen. The other app that I kind of like is Anchor. What I like about that format is, they make it easy to record directly to your phone and upload directly from there. Although that won’t create podcasts that are nearly as produced, it does get rid of some of the production hurdles that stop so many people.
Point of View
Beyond the equipment, I think it’s even more important to establish what you are going to talk about. Do you have a topic where you are a true expert? Are you in an industry where you can help people? Do you want to highlight your community? Whatever your topic is going to be, I think it’s important to have a clear direction. No one wants to listen to someone drone on with no coherent thought. Think out what you want to cover. In addition, have an opinion. You don’t need to be a “shock jock.” But so many people are afraid to say anything that might be perceived as controversial. So…they say nothing at all.
Length
There is no set answer to how long a podcast should be. That’s the beauty of podcasting. People listen to it as they have time. Think about how you listen to them. You might be in the office, or in the car, or you might be working out. I generally am a fan of brevity…especially when starting out. You don’t want to make something longer just for the sake of it. Say what you need to say…then stop talking.
Getting Started
The biggest lesson I would like to share with you is, you need to get started. So many of us wait until the mythical time when everything is perfect. We don’t want to start until we have everything figured out. That time will never come. In addition, the way you “figure it out” is by starting. You create a podcast. You listen (and you might even cringe a bit). Then you adjust and get better. Rinse and repeat.
If I can help you or answer any questions on how to get started, please email me here. I am happy to help. I can’t wait to hear about your podcast…and your journey along the way.
P.S. As a cool side note, I was invited to be a part of the 100th Episode of the Your Living Brand podcast. You can listen to that here.
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by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the 8th episode of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at being married and being entrepreneurs and the projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! We talk about business, family, community and more. So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
This week Kirby and Amy talk about the fact that it’s Election Day. No, it’s not one of the big November election…but a local election and what that means to them. In addition, they give an update on their oldest daughter, Skylar, leaving home to pursue her career in dance. Learn all about that here.
Weekly Whirlwind
This time Kirby talks about all of things swirling around at HMC and trying to get himself out of the way. He doesn’t want to the bottle neck that keeps things from rolling. Amy gives a quick update on what is happening on the building project and how she is filling the time.
Lesson In Life
The goal of the lesson in life is just to provide a bit more value on the podcast. This time Kirby and Amy talk about where they find motivation and inspiration. We all have times where we need a boost. Find out what they lean on here. Oh, and here is a link to a blog Kirby wrote on the subject as well.
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This time Amy circles back to those that are willing to throw their hat in the ring and serve government at a local level. Kirby talks about the City of Coshocton and West Lafayette and a ground breaking project that they are working on together!
So that’s a wrap! We will be back…and we will continue to improve. Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
by Kirby Hasseman
A Good Sales Meeting Can Be A Great Investment. This past week, several members of the Hasseman Marketing sales team (and me) attended an intense, multi-day sales event at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. It was a “speed dating” style event where we got the chance to meet with a different supplier every 18 minutes. It was fast. It was productive. And…it was exhausting! We left with lots of ideas for our clients and ourselves.
I love to attend sales meetings and events like this because, though they do require time out of the office, they can really recharge your passion. You certainly get new ideas. But sometimes the most powerful takeaway can be an old idea that you have not implemented! Either way, I view these events as opportunities to invest in myself and my business.
But what do you do after the meeting?
One of the challenges I find with events like this is what comes next. We have all been there. After being out of the office for several days, we find that the world did not stop in our absence. As a matter of fact, I sometimes think things get more busy when I am gone! You get back to the office and face a pile of priorities, a mountain of emails and several emergencies. Despite the best of intentions, and tons of good ideas, you get back into the day to day and don’t follow up.
It’s called the Whirlwind…and it’s easy to get lost in it.
That’s why it’s so important what you do after the meeting or event. Remember, the event is an investment. It’s not just about pumping you up (though that’s great). The idea is to create a new and better business that is ready to grow. So here are a few things I try and do to make sure the ideas don’t get blown away in the whirlwind.
Schedule Time for A Debrief
After the meeting, before all of the ideas get lost (or the notes get thrown away) set some time to go over what you learned. By yourself or with the team, look again at some of the ideas that had you excited.
Get Specific Ideas on Paper
This seems obvious, but I often miss this step. I like to get the ideas I want to execute all in one place. Otherwise I spend a lot of time thinking “where did I write that down?”
Schedule Time to Implement
Now that you have gone over the meeting and created a list of “things to do,” put some time on the calendar to actually do them! My role is, if it is not on my calendar, it doesn’t exist. So create the time to make the plans come to life!
I always struggle to get events on my calendar. They cost you time and they cost you money. But every time I take the time to invest in myself and my business this way, I am glad that I did. It’s just important to make sure you take the time to make it worth it!
P.S. Congrats to the OPPA Promotional Group for putting on such a great event! If you want to learn more about us at Hasseman Marketing, check out our About us page.
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by Kirby Hasseman
I am working on a project right now that scares me.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad project. On the contrary, it’s (potentially) big and exciting. It has generous upside. But it has downside too. In addition, it has lots of moving parts. It is going to make me do things that are new to me. It’s going to stretch the team…and me. It scares me because it’s (just a bit) outside of the norm for us.
But here’s the thing…outside of the norm is where growth comes from.
If you want to grow yourself, your sales or your business, this is the dilemma. You can’t grow (much) by doing the same things you have done in the past. Oh, sure, you can get just a little bit better at the things you already do. But you will never take the big leap that you want to by doing running the same plays from the same playbook. At some point, you need to try something new. You have to try something bigger.
And that’s when the voice kicks in.
The voice kicks in because you are uncomfortable and a little scared. The voice starts telling you all of the things that could go wrong. It fills your brain with worst case scenarios of doom. That voice is fear masquerading as your friend, pretending to keep you safe.
When we hear that voice, we are often convinced to stay where we are.
Here is what I am learning about “the voice.”
The voice shows up precisely when you are doing something cool and new and different. We most often see the voice or the struggle as a sign we are on the wrong path. We have it backwards. The voice shows up when you are onto something! It’s a sign you should keep going…not stop. The thing that has been stopping us is often actually a hint that we are on the right track.
It’s just how we interpret the signals.
As I write this, I am up early on a project that scares me…and I am excited about it.
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by Kirby Hasseman
It’s time for the 7th episode of the He Said/She Said Podcast with Hasseman Marketing! This podcast is designed to give an inside look at projects we are working on and the challenges we are facing! So listen in and let us know what you think!
On this episode we talk about…
Trending Topic
Last week we talked about unplugging from technology. This week we check back to see how that is going. In addition, we talk about the need for taking time of meditation and prayer. Kirby and Amy each talk about their rituals and their struggles with that.
Weekly Whirlwind
This week, Kirby talks about the excitement and challenge of bringing on a new employee. This week, Justin Mullens started with us. You can read about that here. Kirby talks about wanting to do a great job on-boarding new employees…but never being sure if he is getting it right!
Lesson In Life
We started this new session last week with the idea that we are trying to bring value. This time we chat about the notion that “once you find something you love, you will never work another day in your life.” It’s just not true…and it’s dangerous to say it. When you are trying to do something cool, or new there are going to be challenges and tough times. That’s not only ok…it’s a good thing. Listen in to here more on this one.
Shout Outs
Each week we want to give a shout out to an organization or an individual doing good work. This time on the podcast, Amy calls out Libbie and Em in the Hasseman Marketing office. You can find a bit more about them here. They do a great job of keeping the trains running on time at the HMC office! Kirby gives a shout out to his daughter Skylar. Not only is she chasing her dream…but she has done a great job here too!
So that’s a wrap! We will be back…and we will continue to improve. Any feedback will be welcome as we try to provide you value! If you want to subscribe you can do that where you normally get podcasts…or you can head here to follow on Soundcloud.
Thanks so much for listening! If you have any topics you want Kirby and Amy to cover, please comment and let us know! Oh…and if you like this content, check out this page where you can find all of the content we create!
