Shownotes
As a small business owner, you may have considered launching a podcast to reach your target audience and grow your brand. Podcast interviews are a popular format, but have you ever considered incorporating solo podcast episodes into your content strategy? Solo episodes can turn regular listeners into warm leads, provide educational content, and help you achieve your podcasting goals. In this episode, I’ll be sharing the true power of solo podcast episodes and how they can elevate your podcast’s content strategy.
The Importance of Solo Podcast Episodes
Solo podcast episodes are an important part of your content strategy, as they can provide a more intimate and focused conversation with your listeners. By creating educational content, deepening relationships in your industry, helping people understand if you’re the right professional to help them, crafting thought leadership content, and creating YouTube and organic search content, solo episodes can contribute to the growth and success of your podcast.
Creating Effective Solo Podcast Episodes
To create effective solo podcast episodes, focus on one topic per episode to make marketing easier and ensure your content is valuable to your listeners. The ideal length of solo episodes can vary, but it's important to keep your content concise and to the point. Avoid using music or sound effects in your solo episodes, as they can distract from the message you are trying to convey.
Transitioning to Solo Podcasting
If you're unsure how to start incorporating solo episodes into your podcast, begin by practicing your speaking skills through short videos or Instagram stories-that was exactly the strategy I used to ‘trick’ myself into doing it in a bite-size format back in 2020! This will help you become more comfortable speaking on camera and focusing on a single topic.
Additionally, consider repurposing existing content, such as blog posts or FAQs, into solo podcast episodes. This can help you create valuable content for your listeners while also saving time and effort in the content creation process.
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 - Intro: Overcoming the Fear of Solo Episodes
- 01:39 - Why Solos are a Game-Changer for Business Owners
- 02:54 - My Journey: How I Built Confidence for Solo Podcasting
- 05:26 - The 5 Goals My Podcast Achieves with Solo Episodes
- 08:51 - 6 Powerful Uses for Solo Episodes
- 16:16 - Final Tips: Imposter Syndrome, Episode Length, and More
- 22:43 - Outro & How to Connect
Takeaways from this episode:
- Solo podcast episodes can be a powerful addition to your content strategy, helping you connect with your audience and grow your small business.
- By focusing on one topic per episode and practicing your speaking skills, you can create valuable content that resonates with your listeners and helps you achieve your podcasting goals.
- Don't be afraid to embrace the opportunity to create imperfect content that moves your business forward, and discover the power of solo podcast episodes.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Full article: https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/20-solo-episodes
Episode 17: 5 Practical ways to increase listener trust, connection and emotional resonance
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Transcripts
Podcast interviews are great, but if you're not incorporating solo podcast episodes on your content strategy, your business is missing out on a huge opportunity.
Speaker A:You see, solo episodes can turn regular listeners into warm leads.
Speaker A:They can also activate your network into providing speaking opportunities for you, but also put your business on the map.
Speaker A:And so you may have considered solo episodes, but one of these three things may have happened.
Speaker A:And one is that you felt like an imposter.
Speaker A:You're like, anna, I have nothing to talk about, and it feels like just the spotlight is on me.
Speaker A:I hate attention, and I really can't think about anything that I would be able to talk about for maybe five minutes, let alone 10 or 15.
Speaker A:And another one, my favorite one is the opposite, is saying, well, I would end up rambling and it will be completely incoherent, and I cannot imagine myself being able to stick to one topic.
Speaker A:But this is totally normal, and I want to help you kind of like, hold your hand through this episode, and we're going to work together through solos and the importance of them for your business.
Speaker A:And I promise that at the end of the episode, I will change your mind about solo episodes.
Speaker A:So that's exactly what we're covering.
Speaker A:So stick until the end because I'm going to reveal so many goodies, they're going to just be like, replaying these episodes time and time again.
Speaker A:And I'm Anna.
Speaker A:I'm the host of the podcast space, but I'm also a content strategist that is here to help you get in stuck, but also to elevate your overall podcast strategy.
Speaker A:So let's go.
Speaker A:Are you still listening?
Speaker A:If you didn't skip away, I am so thrilled because I will honestly tell you that for most of my career, when I'm working with small business owners, the first thing, like, the minute I mention solo episodes, they kind of start getting the sweats.
Speaker A:They look away, they say, I don't know if that's for me, I don't know.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And I promise you that if you are a small business owner, a solo episode is going to really elevate how your brand shows up online, but also how you fast track turning regular listeners into warm leads.
Speaker A:I'm going to be talking about my experience as well, because this podcast is about not just telling you how it is and how I've done, I don't know, working with over 50 podcasters, sure, some of them amateurs, some of them professional, but the truth is we all feel a little scared when we just think about, like, it's just us, but I Know that thinking about those interviews make you feel, like, all good and fuzzy because you're kind of like talking to someone else.
Speaker A:And, you know, it kind of feels like the pressure is off.
Speaker A:But there is so much value into having these conversations with kind of like the one on one conversation with the listener, like the one I'm having with you right now.
Speaker A:For that, I want to talk about my podcast experience.
Speaker A:I want to obviously use this podcast in many different ways, but one of them is actually to experiment.
Speaker A:Because I felt that as a podcast strategist and someone who mainly ran shows in the background, there was such a big part of me that I never really empathized with so much of the journey because I have a background in journalism and so, quote, unquote, I knew the right ways to do it.
Speaker A:And, you know, like, I never really truly went through the journey as I'm a small, small business owner and I know nothing about media.
Speaker A:I don't know how to convey my message in the best way.
Speaker A:So I felt that doing hosting the show myself would really provide me with, I'd say, probably an understanding of what it is like to step and into, like, every facet of podcasting and hosting these solo episodes.
Speaker A:I knew that it wasn't going to be as difficult as for most people because, and this is where you have to consider, how can I hack myself the way that I hacked myself?
Speaker A:Because I was like, I was running in the background or I did radio.
Speaker A:And so, like, facing a camera or, like, doing video long format was not something that, you know, I didn't really do much of.
Speaker A:And let me tell you also that podcasting is like a muscle.
Speaker A:If you stop practicing, you will get out of shape.
Speaker A:And that is exactly the thing that, like, kind of happened to me.
Speaker A:I got a little rusty on, like, the interview skills, but I knew that I was like, okay, I know that eventually I will launch my podcast.
Speaker A: y company in early January of: Speaker A:So I would go on Instagram and I was just, oh, my God, I was so uncomfortable.
Speaker A:But I practiced talking to the camera.
Speaker A:You know, 30 seconds.
Speaker A:If you built into a habit that is, like, manageable, that you can practice without feeling overwhelmed, solo episodes can be achieved.
Speaker A:And honestly, like, I've been practicing for three years almost now on really getting comfortable being on camera, and you don't have to do solo episodes on camera.
Speaker A:But I'm just saying, like, there's like an elevated, like, experience and more complex if you want to do it.
Speaker A:I am not the hardcore.
Speaker A:You know, let's start with like 40 minutes of, like, me talking, like, no.
Speaker A:So that's what I did.
Speaker A:And you can steal that technique if you want.
Speaker A:But let me tell you about my a little bit about my own podcast journey.
Speaker A:So when I set up the podcast, I set it up with five different goals in mind.
Speaker A:And all of these podcast goals have different timelines.
Speaker A:So some of them, the goals were meant to be achieved immediately, others medium term, others long term.
Speaker A:And so I wanted to kind of also, like, plan again, because I do this for people, plan the type of content that I wanted to be positioned in.
Speaker A:You know, some.
Speaker A:Some of these would be better sorted, like, talked by someone else.
Speaker A:Others, other topics.
Speaker A:I was like, okay, I know enough about this.
Speaker A:I can talk about it, or this aligns with one of my goals.
Speaker A:Therefore, I want to delve into this topic.
Speaker A:And so let's go into these five goals.
Speaker A:So number one was to create educational content to help you on your own podcast journey.
Speaker A:And I've been doing this through articles and insta stories and videos, but never truly, like, long format.
Speaker A:So for me, I knew that educational content would be so much of, you know, a highlight of what other people are doing, but also, like, how much I know.
Speaker A:And in terms of deepening relationships in the podcast industry, that was my second goal.
Speaker A:Of course, I cannot do that on a solo episode, obviously.
Speaker A:But then number three was to help you understand if I am the type of professional that is the right one to help you on your podcast journey.
Speaker A:So let's say you want to book a podcast power hour.
Speaker A:You understand what my values are.
Speaker A:You can already book a call feeling like you know me, you know that I specialize in content strategy.
Speaker A:I help you reduce overwhelm.
Speaker A:I'm sharing a lot of ways that can work with you.
Speaker A:As a small business owner, I'm not talking about small and big companies.
Speaker A:I'm focusing on only the small ones.
Speaker A:So, you know, that's what I'm here for.
Speaker A:So you understand my style of teaching, so it's likely to be the same.
Speaker A:And also, you already know the type of wins that I have been giving for my clients.
Speaker A:That's the kind of content that has to be done via a solo episode.
Speaker A:And then number four is craft thought leadership content where I can share my years of experience, but also market that content in long format so I can repurpose that onto my website because I do a ton of content repurposing.
Speaker A:So each episode goes one on a newsletter, each episode goes not only on a regular newsletter, but LinkedIn newsletter, social media posts, temporary social media posts.
Speaker A:So a lot.
Speaker A:And so creating that one piece gives me a ton of resources to share every week.
Speaker A:And now we're moving into the last goal for me, that was to really work on the long game, and that is to create YouTube content and create organic search content so people would be searching for, for instance, what are the best ways to do solo episodes?
Speaker A:Or should I do a solo episode as a small business owner?
Speaker A:Or benefits of solo episodes for small business owners.
Speaker A:So I want them to find my content and be like, I didn't know about Anna, but now I know and I get to know a bit better about her brand through that, that solo episode.
Speaker A:So you see how some of these work as solos.
Speaker A:Like, you can't do this if you're doing podcast interviews, am I right?
Speaker A:You can't.
Speaker A:So let me give you a few more uses for the solo episodes.
Speaker A:If you're still not convinced and you're still listening, it's like, okay, Anna, go ahead, convince me.
Speaker A:I'm gonna tell you that solo episodes, as I mentioned, have the highest conversion to warm up leads to buy from you, but also to create content that is educational, that is kind of like highly intimate, right?
Speaker A:So I'm talking to you through these episode and you feel like it's just you and I, if you're driving, if you are having me in your AirPods, right?
Speaker A:Like, it's such an intimate experience.
Speaker A:I'm not talking to anyone else.
Speaker A:And so I am crafting this content specifically for you, right?
Speaker A:I know your pains, I know your struggles.
Speaker A:I know the things that you're going to tell me, like, no, it's all for me, right?
Speaker A:So I am not engaging with someone else.
Speaker A:I am creating content that is perfect for you to get you unstuck.
Speaker A:And then with that, just a little caveat, because I'm not saying that you can't warm up leads on interviews.
Speaker A:There's so many examples online of people who have been able.
Speaker A:Like, for instance, Jay Clouse.
Speaker A:He has a ton of memberships and he does a podcast that is mainly based on interviews, and he has memberships and he has been able to sell his memberships through his content online.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But he's also created a wealth of content before articles, testing things.
Speaker A:He's done so much before these episodes.
Speaker A:So if you don't like writing, that's another one.
Speaker A:If you don't like writing, you can talk about it.
Speaker A:And if you're just thinking, and I can't imagine that I can talk about something for so long.
Speaker A:Well, if I was just about to ask you something about your industry, like an faq, you'd be able to tell me something.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And I have worked with clients to create episodes that were eight minutes long and that had a conversion rate super high because people were listening to them time and time again.
Speaker A:Because that episode was just so concise but so good that people are like, oh, hang on, let me listen to it again.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So another one, like, another use is that if you have a ton of FAQs, like, people keep asking you the same thing time and time again, create a podcast episode on that.
Speaker A:And yes, it can be literally like our podcast episodes, all the same length.
Speaker A:Like, you literally can talk about something for five minutes, and that be the most valuable five minutes.
Speaker A:Because sometimes reading an article takes you, you know, five to 10 minutes.
Speaker A:So that's what it is, right?
Speaker A:Like, it's just taking that content and put it on a format that people can listen to while they're driving.
Speaker A:They can't read while they're taking care of laundry.
Speaker A:They can read.
Speaker A:So it's being there.
Speaker A:And another point is that you can't really answer FAQs effectively on a podcast interview.
Speaker A:Like, you just can't, because you're not focused on the listener.
Speaker A:You're thinking, okay, like, my guest is here next to me.
Speaker A:I have to be able to kind of like, show them some grace.
Speaker A:I can't just go and talk about something for, like, four minutes because they're the guest.
Speaker A:Right, Right.
Speaker A:And then small business owners are busy people.
Speaker A:And so many of you told me that, for instance, the replay episodes were so good because you were overwhelmed and you were burned out.
Speaker A:If you are burned out, why would you insist on creating, you know, interviews that include going back and forth with a guest and having to create additional stuff that some guests require approval on.
Speaker A:By the way, I don't recommend that you get their approval.
Speaker A:Sometimes it's nice to send it to them just to say, hey, do you like it?
Speaker A:Something like that.
Speaker A:But, like, don't get for their approval.
Speaker A:But if you're doing solo episodes, one, you record them faster, you edit them faster, you write show notes for them faster.
Speaker A:And, you know, just in general, you know what you're talking about.
Speaker A:So there's never a doubt about a topic that maybe you misspoke, maybe you did something.
Speaker A:They're like, I didn't really dive too much into this topic, so you can go and add it on to the show notes.
Speaker A:If your guest is saying something like that you may not be an expert on the topic.
Speaker A:So consider that element.
Speaker A:And of course, solo episodes tend to be like that time on, like one on one with the listener.
Speaker A:And the way that our brain works is that if we like something, we'll probably play it a lot more.
Speaker A:And so if you just build that confidence to create solo episodes, your listeners will be tending.
Speaker A:Unless you have like, really high caliber guests.
Speaker A:But let me guess, for most people, the type of guests that are invited, they're not always kind of like big shots or known in just any industry.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So basically, most people want to go with what's comfortable, and solo episodes will be that comfort level.
Speaker A:So they will tend to play more solo episodes.
Speaker A:And for you, it just means that there'll be more intimate time with your listener while you're sleeping, while you're, you know, like on calls with other people.
Speaker A:So basically is a way to warm up those leads while you're doing other stuff, but also not overcomplicating things.
Speaker A:And so in terms of consumption rates, short podcast episodes that are the solos, normally they tend to have higher consumption rates, which means listeners listen to it multiple times, or they just listen to an episode in a way that they are really taking notes so they are absorbing more of the content.
Speaker A:If you want to be more effective about, you know, providing a ton of educational content, that's the type of content that will get them more hooked.
Speaker A:But also, I want you to check out episode 17, where you'll learn how to master five practical ways to increase listeners trust, connection, and emotional resonance.
Speaker A:On that episode, I received a few messages from listeners who were like, Anna, I listened to that episode.
Speaker A:I was driving in my car and I really felt like it was just you and I.
Speaker A:So, yes, this episode worked.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:So how do you achieve deeper connection with your listeners?
Speaker A:I cover everything on that episode, so make sure you check it out.
Speaker A:Another really good use for solo episodes, if you are wanting to be a speaker and you want to practice your confidence or you're doing webinars and you want to just practice going through the topic a few times.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:I've worked with a few clients figuring out, like, exactly what their pivot was in terms of content for the online space, because they were able to create a ton of content in one sitting and understanding, okay, like, what are the things that really get excited about?
Speaker A:What are the things that get the most feedback that we can really hone in for the upcoming year?
Speaker A:So it's a great way to test for your content overall.
Speaker A:And then in terms of consistency.
Speaker A:I mean, I've just been able to release almost, I would say it's been nine episodes, non stop, about two months of solo episodes.
Speaker A:That's how long it has taken me to receive more engagement online.
Speaker A:It may be different in your situation.
Speaker A:I'm very authentic and, but also very transparent about the content that I'm putting out.
Speaker A:I'm talking about the bad and the good.
Speaker A:And so that kind of ends up being something that people connect and resonate with.
Speaker A:It may be different in your case if you're still struggling to become your most authentic self in front of the mic and in front of the camera.
Speaker A:And I also want you to consider something.
Speaker A:If you're someone who struggles with imposter syndrome, I want you to know that about 70% of most professionals suffer from imposter syndrome.
Speaker A:I suffer from massive imposter syndrome.
Speaker A:Massive.
Speaker A:When I say that, like, I've been creating content for so long.
Speaker A:I've been, you know, like, crafting all types of content, Social media, posts, lives, podcast episodes, articles, newsletters.
Speaker A:And I still feel like I don't know enough or I feel like sometimes people like, don't want to hear me talk on something.
Speaker A:And then I kind of like have to like, you know, metaphorically, like, slap myself in the face and be like, okay, don't be ridiculous.
Speaker A:You know for a fact that people have time and time again ask you this question or that you have a unique take on this.
Speaker A:So let's go.
Speaker A:It's an action that we do get imposter syndrome away because as we are creating content, we're not in stillness and that's when we are not doing stuff that our brain starts kicking in and be like, you don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker A:Or so and so said, it's so much better.
Speaker A:By creating content, you are telling your brain actively, I know what I'm doing because I am doing it.
Speaker A:So if anything, that's.
Speaker A:I hope that that's the takeaway from this episode because just in itself, such a huge deal for people who are struggling all the time and really owning their expertise.
Speaker A:And if you're wanting to be a speaker, I mean, that's the thing that you need to do.
Speaker A:And then one of the questions that I get is, how do I make sure that I don't sound like a jerk?
Speaker A:Because, you know, I know so much and the listener doesn't know.
Speaker A:And I'm like, well, it's just a shift in paradigm, right?
Speaker A:Like, it's not about you, it's about helping the Listener.
Speaker A:So whenever I'm creating podcast content, anything I create, I think, how can I help you overcome this one issue?
Speaker A:And for you it will be, in the case of this episode, is how can I convince you that solo episodes are the best way to really fast track your podcast success?
Speaker A:If you want intimacy with your listeners, but also if you're wanting to really own your expertise, this is the best way.
Speaker A:If you want your peers to see you as a thought leader, solo episodes are the way.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:And if you may say, and I've been writing so for so long, well, great.
Speaker A:Turn those articles into solo episodes.
Speaker A:That's easy.
Speaker A:And so how short should be these solo episodes?
Speaker A:It can be anything from three minutes to 17 minutes.
Speaker A:My average is around 23 minutes.
Speaker A:They're kind of long.
Speaker A:Unfortunately.
Speaker A:I tried to.
Speaker A:I cut so much of what I talk, but honestly, I have done podcasts under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:But if you want to create really fantastic solo episodes without feeling overwhelmed, without feeling like you're talking about everything, or without feeling that you may run out of things to say, do one topic per solo episode.
Speaker A:Notice that I didn't do the, you know, like the solos plus interviews.
Speaker A:That's another topic, right?
Speaker A:Like, I feel like I want to talk to you exclusively about solo episodes.
Speaker A:Because when you focus on one topic only, that really makes it super simple to market the podcast.
Speaker A:When you're sometimes interviewing someone because you talk about so many things, you don't even know what the takeaway is or how.
Speaker A:How to pick the best title in a way that represents the conversation when you're being super strategic about the one topic they are talking about.
Speaker A:Everything else moving forward just makes it just is just so much easier to achieve.
Speaker A:So think about that.
Speaker A:If you're overwhelmed, that's a great strategy to just one topic, one episode, and you know exactly how you're going through your list.
Speaker A:But also you have a lot more things to talk about.
Speaker A:And creating shorter solo episodes also enables you to go way faster.
Speaker A:If you're trying to increase your online and offline catalog of content that you have in terms of, you know, like planners or just even just as a resource for your listeners or for your business yourself.
Speaker A:If you are trying to create, you know, FAQs for your current clients, it's such a massive way to get ahead just going for that, like, quantity.
Speaker A:Hey, listen to this.
Speaker A:Super effective.
Speaker A:Go on to the next one.
Speaker A:What it will also do is increase your downloads.
Speaker A:The shorter the solo episodes, the more episodes your listeners can go through.
Speaker A:So it's a phenomenal opportunity for that.
Speaker A:And I want to close on this last question that I get all the time.
Speaker A:And that is.
Speaker A:And I really want to use music for solo episodes.
Speaker A:No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker A:Please don't.
Speaker A:And here's why.
Speaker A:Think about.
Speaker A:When you're listening to music, you're kind of not focusing on the lyrics of the song, right?
Speaker A:For most people, they focus on the music.
Speaker A:And using a track under your voice, one takes away from the focus that you want the listener to have.
Speaker A:And number two, it just isn't as powerful because especially if you're trying to make dramatic pauses and you don't have to be, like, scripted, right?
Speaker A:But, like, if you're trying to be intentional about the way you're talking to your listener, just having music won't be as powerful as if just pure silence.
Speaker A:So believe that you don't need a distraction in order to be able to connect with your listener and still provide content that is valuable.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I promise that it will probably feel super awkward in the beginning or like, if you're trying to use, like, a ton of sound effects to create, like, segments and stuff like that.
Speaker A:And I wanted to ask you, does it add anything to the actual show, or are you just adding stuff because you're like, oh, I need to add on to, like, layer on things.
Speaker A:The content is the reason why people come back to you, right?
Speaker A:Whether you're entertaining, whether you're educating or inspiring someone.
Speaker A:Unless your show is like, ASMR or it's like, you know about music, you don't need anything else.
Speaker A:Believe that what you say is enough.
Speaker A:So I hope that at the end of this episode, you're like, can't go fast enough.
Speaker A:Can't get home fast enough to tell me that you are now starting to do solo episodes.
Speaker A:That will make me so happy.
Speaker A:But also, at the same time, know that not all business owners are primed for just starting solo episodes.
Speaker A:And how do you ease into it?
Speaker A:So that's why I'm here.
Speaker A:If you want additional help with your podcast, you can always talk to me on Instagram, but also through the website.
Speaker A:I'm at the podcast space.com and on Instagram, the podcast space.
Speaker A:So all the resources mentioned in this episode and links to book time with me and help me help you grow your podcast and just get you the impact that you want.
Speaker A:All of it will be there.
Speaker A:So I can't wait to get your aha's and continue creating imperfect content that moves you forward.
Speaker A:I'll see you next time.
