I can start- just had a few cups of coffee........ :)
1) When I started my first podcast, The Meetings Podcast. My goal was to network with others in the meetings and events industry. I started by asking two of my industry friends if they wanted to talk about meetings on a podcast with me.
My goal was to have the listeners be a fly on the wall, as podcasting was new then. I asked my friend, who worked for a third-party event planning company, and then another friend who was a meetings and events audio-visual expert. I was the production guy as, at that time, I owned a meetings & media production company. In this way, we could cover most facets of the meetings and events industry on our episodes.
The podcast evolved to producing interviews and live shows at industry events. It was quite successful in the ten years I produced it.
Our audience was the meetings and events industry, but that would be too broad at this time. In my opinion, associations have a leg up as they have a more defined niche in their membership. (plus an audience built-in) For podcasting, the riches are really in the niches.
2) One of my clients started a podcast several years ago, AAPD Little Teeth Big Smiles. It is successful for pediatric dentists, but they thought they could also branch out and start another podcast for one specific segment of their membership-new pediatric dentists. The podcast is called Newly Erupted. I feel this was a great idea that other associations can learn from as it potentially brings in new members who are starting their pediatric dental careers. Another way of doing this might be just tag or title your episodes for different segments of your audience.
One of the best ingredients for a successful podcast is understanding your membership inside and out like AAPD does. This is where I like giving a face or life to your membership segments through member avatars.
This adds a personal touch and helps craft content that speaks to member needs.
You should get to a place where each time you gear up to produce an episode, you have one of these avatars in mind. Ask yourself, "Would this content resonate with them to the point where they'd eagerly sit in their driveway, unable to leave their car until the episode ends?" This is called building "driveway moments"
This simple test can be a game-changer for your podcast. Honestly, you won't be able to do this every time, but it is great exercise. I think you should even go as far as to pick a physical picture of the fictitious member avatar and hang it on the wall!
Trying to create a podcast that connects is all about understanding your audience on a personal level. When your audience feels that you're addressing their specific interests and needs, they're more likely to become avid member listeners. Plus it is super fun when you see it starting to resonate!
I need more coffee!
mike
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Michael McAllen
Podcasting4Associations
Oakland CA
mike@podcasting4associations.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: Oct 20, 2023 10:32 AM
From: Michael McAllen
Subject: Share Your Insights: Defining Your Podcast's Purpose and Audience - How Did You Do It?
Hey there, podcast enthusiasts!
We all know that crafting a podcast that resonates with your audience is quite a big task, especially when your audience consists of diverse members at various career stages and your industry is constantly evolving.
So, let's dive into it together - how did you go about defining the purpose and audience for your podcast? Here are a few conversation starters:
Did you aim to educate, inform, entertain, or inspire your members and industry, or perhaps a combination of these? Share your insights on what you chose to do or what you might be planning.
Recognizing that your audience includes members with different stages in their career backgrounds and the ever-changing industry landscape, how did you identify the target audience within your membership and the broader industry?
Your experiences can be a valuable resource for others looking to embark on their podcasting journey. Feel free to share your thoughts, challenges, and successes. Let's learn from each other and enhance the podcasting landscape for associations and industries alike! π‘ποΈ
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Michael McAllen
Podcasting4Associations
Oakland CA
mike@podcasting4associations.com
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