On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview Yann Illunga, who is a podcaster and podcast strategist who helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and creatives leverage the power of podcasting to build authority, network with influencers, generate more leads, and acquire new customers. Yann is the host of the 360 Entrepreneur podcast and the Podcast Success Summit, and is the founder of the Podcast Success Academy. During the show, we discuss podcasting as an art form, making yourself accessible as a host, auditing your website, getting listeners to engage with you, Facebook groups, managing communities, and bringing listeners onto the show.

Main Questions Asked:

• What are your thoughts on looking at podcasting as an art form, as well as something that generates leads?
• Talk about the power of having a Facebook group for your podcast.
• What do you think about bringing listeners onto the show?

Key Lessons Learned:

Podcasting as an Art Form

• Even if you host an interview-based podcast, you as the host are the common denominator.
• People show up to connect with you as the host as the starting point, so it’s important to add your personality.
• It’s more difficult to build a human connection through text, whereas audio is the basis of storytelling.

Make Yourself Accessible

• This could be as simple as sharing your email address during the podcast or managing a Facebook group.
• Let people know you are there to serve them and that they shouldn’t be afraid to contact you as the host.
• Starting out as a small podcast means you are able to interact with your audience one-on-one more than someone with a larger audience.
• Rather than chasing new fans, focus on the ones you already have.

Audit Your Website

• How easy is it to find and contact the host?
• How easy is it for listeners to engage with you?
• Check your site as a ‘secret shopper’ or get a friend to assess.

Facebook Groups for your Podcast

• The barrier of entry for starting a Facebook group is low.
• People come for the content but stay for the community.
• There will be people who are ‘lurkers’ and will get value out of it, but won’t be active.
• Come up with a weekly structure so it doesn’t become the ‘wild wild west’ and people-spam without adding value.
• Structure also manages expectations of how the group works.
• Think about organizing the group in terms of how you can get user-generated content and become ‘core creators,’ and push the group toward the best possible functioning.

Developing Communities

• Remember that it is risky to develop on someone else’s platform, as the rules may change with regards to engagement and payment.
• Slack is an alternative to help start a community for your podcast.
• Come up with ways for people to sign up for your newsletter as a way to get members from the Facebook platform to your own list.
• Empower the community by giving them a platform to be recognized as a super fan.

Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic

Links to Resources Mentioned

Yann Illunga

Giveaway

360 Entrepreneur podcast

Podcast Success Summit