Blogging vs Podcasting: Building Your Media Empire
In today's connected world, one in which we can read, watch, listen and even broadcast from the phones in our pockets, it's more important than ever to think about all forms of media as a way to communicate and connect with your audience.
Podcast Movement isn't a conference about podcasting. It's an event about sharing stories and connecting with one another in a whole new way.
Podcasting isn't about Libsyn or Sound Cloud, iTunes or Stitcher. It's about sharing a story with the people who need to hear it and making the lives of our listeners, readers, and viewers better while creating a community.
I had two goals for my talk:
- Entertain the audience by telling a story
- Show people the possibilities when we think outside the box
I was given ten minutes to connect with these current and future podcasters. I wanted to show them podcasting was just one way to communicate with an audience, and if we're not able to adapt, we'll fail. The video of my talk is above, but you can read it below as well. They're not 100% the same because I was nervous and missed some stuff, but the message was well received.
Blogging vs Podcasting: Building Your Media Empire
Your audience needs to hear your message, but they might not be able to hear.
I'm Ellory Wells and 3 years ago I became a blogger, 2 years ago I became a podcaster, and 1 year ago I became a full-time coach and a published author.
How Marvel Almost Didn't Survive
If you look at some of the biggest blockbuster movies over the past 10 years, you'll see Marvel right up there with some of the biggest studios and names in Hollywood.
But did you know that in 1996 Marvel Comics declared bankruptcy?
The way Marvel had been connecting with its audience for the past 50 years was no longer working and they realized they needed to not only change WHAT they were doing, but HOW they were doing it, if they were going to not only recover, but grow and thrive.
Marvel realized they had to meet their audience where they were and tell their fantastic superhero stories in a way they'd never been told before.
Marvel learned that they didn't have to dilute their message to reach more people. In fact, embracing their heritage and digging in helped them grow. They started doing what each of us need to do in our businesses if we want to be successful.
They started sharing their old stories in a whole new way.
When I started thinking about blogging, I didn't realize I was thinking about blogging. I thought blogs were for 16-year-old girls to talk about boys and breakups. I never realized that blogging had been around since the invention of the printing press. Blogs were just called newspapers back then or pamphlets like the one Thomas Paine wrote.
Blogs have been reaching millions of people around the world for thousands of years. They've been sharing ideas, telling stories, and teaching lessons since their authors could put ink to paper.
Totally Derailed
In 2009, I was living a wonderful life. I'd paid off most of my debts, I was working at a job I loved, and I was making more money than I'd ever made before. It was time to get… engaged!
On a Friday afternoon, not too far from where we are now, I got in my car and drove to the nearest engagement ring store. I walked around for what seemed like hours, looking at sparkling diamonds and shiny, beautiful bands. After what was most likely only about 20 minutes, I found the perfect ring. It was a princess cut solitaire with a white-gold band. It was classy and elegant, just like Ashley.
I didn't have enough cash to pay the whole amount so I paid what I could and put the ring on layaway. I went back to work that Friday about as happy as I could be.
On Monday morning, rumors started to circulate that layoffs were happening. Since I was new to the company I thought, “surely they won't let someone so new get laid off!”
On Wednesday afternoon, the HR manager called me into a small conference room said,
Ellory, unfortunately, you've been affected by the resource action.
My plans to get married were put on hold.
I got to share that story with the readers of my blog last year and there were so many people who said they could relate to my story and who thanked me for sharing it.
Possibilities
In 2014, I had the chance to go to my very first New Media Expo. My wife and I had never been to Las Vegas before and had never really been to a conference together before.
We spent an exhilarating and awesome weekend learning from and meeting some incredible people. NMX was the first time I realized that starting an online business was possible. It was also the first time I met a reader in person and the first time I was recognized in public. It was pretty awesome.
The week after we got back home I started noticing things weren't quite right at work. And, just two short weeks after one of the best weekends of my life, I was fired. I wasn't ready, but I was thrown into sink or swim entrepreneurship and my world changed forever.
After that happened I hid my story. I felt embarrassed and angry. I didn't want people to know that I hadn't made this triumphant exit from Corporate America, but that I was unwillingly forced out.
Don't hide your story! Why not start blogging in ? Check out my free 30 Day Blog Transformation email course!
It wasn't until I talked with Mark Mason at Podcast Movement last year that I realized I was hiding. When I shared my story with him, he helped me realize the power of my journey and reminded me that every story I tell helps me connect with someone.
In episode 49 of my podcast, I got to share my getting fired story. Ashley, my wife, interviewed me and we shared an emotional 90 minutes with the audience.
We shared struggles and challenges. We talked about what it was like going through such a complicated time in our marriage. We shared our fears, our hesitations, and all of the irrational things that were going through our heads.
After talking with Mark, I knew sharing that part of my journey was something I needed to do. But, I was absolutely terrified to do it. Up until that point, I'd never been so scared or vulnerable behind the microphone.
What I didn't expect was the impact my story had on the people who listen to my show. I've never gotten so much support and positive feed as when I opened up and became vulnerable with my podcast audience.
How It Turned Into a Business
As I mentioned before, I'm a coach. I help individuals fix things in their life that need fixing and help them move forward with something they're excited about. Usually, that revolves around starting or growing a business.
One question I'm often asked is
How did you get your first client?
And, the answer is what I want you to take away from this message. I got my first client because of my blog.
Through blogging, we're able to share our journeys. We're able to share who we are and what we believe in. My first client was a long-time reader who connected with my message and who wanted more of my time and was willing to pay me for it.
Another part of my business is hosting private group masterminds. I work with small groups of aspiring entrepreneurs who need help figuring out what they want to do and focusing their energy in the right direction.
When I started my first mastermind, I had commitments from almost everyone I approached. They said, “I'm in” before they knew the cost, the technology behind it, or even who they'd be in a group with. When I asked them why they didn't hesitate, the majority of that first group said they already knew me and the value I'd bring to the table. These mastermind members were readers of my blog and listeners to my podcast.
If you're only sharing your stories, lessons learned, and challenges you're facing with your podcast audience, you're potentially missing out on connecting with a significant part of your audience. As you start your podcasts or grow the ones you already have, remember the people who can't or won't listen to them. Think about the power of the written word and connect with your audience where they are.
Just as Marvel had to transition the telling of its stories of the Avengers, Ironman and Thor from comics to the big screen, we too must adapt and share our stories in new ways.
The good thing is, we don't have to declare bankruptcy to decide to share our message in entirely new, or age-old, ways.
What Podcast Movement is Really About
In today's connected world, one in which we can read, watch, listen and even broadcast from the phones in our pockets, it's more important than ever to think about all forms of media as a way to communicate and connect with your audience.
Podcast Movement isn't a conference about podcasting. It's an event about sharing stories and connecting with one another in a whole new way.
Podcasting isn't about Libsyn or Sound Cloud, iTunes or Stitcher. It's about sharing a story with the people who need to hear it and making the lives of our listeners, readers and viewers better while creating a community.
Over to You: How are you building your brand? Are you a blogger, podcaster, or both?
