The Circle Sessions Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™

Welcome to The Circle Sessions, the podcast where the Circle of Experts helps you elevate your podcast game. I'm Brett Johnson, your host and My Podcast Guy™ from Circle270Media™ Podcast Consultants.
Today, it's all about brushing up on those podcasting habits that can make or break your show. We're diving into the five most annoying podcaster habits that can turn off your listeners and how to avoid them to keep your audience hooked. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, we'll explore practical tips to create an irresistible podcast experience.
So get ready to discover how preparation, speech habits, balanced self-promotion, listener engagement, and consistency can be your secret weapons. Let’s get your podcast buzzing with loyal listeners!
Top Expert Takeaways
1. **Preparation and Organization**: Being well-prepared prevents chaos. Doing your homework shows listeners you value their time and keeps episodes engaging and on track.
2. **Role of a Show Runner**: A showrunner manages multiple aspects of podcast production, ensuring consistency and maintaining the quality of each episode.
3. **Minimizing Filler Words**: Awareness and practice can help reduce filler words and verbal ticks, improving the clarity and professionalism of your podcast.
4. **Balanced Self-Promotion**: Integrate self-promotion organically within your content to avoid turning off listeners. Focus on providing value first.
5. **Engaging with Listener Feedback**: Listener feedback is invaluable for improving your content and fostering a sense of community. Regularly seek, analyze, and act on feedback.
6. **Consistency in Release Schedule**: Stick to a regular release schedule to meet listener expectations and build trust. Consistency helps in growing your audience.
7. **Focused Episode Lengths**: Respect your listeners' time by keeping episodes concise and to the point. Preparation helps in avoiding unnecessarily long episodes.
8. **Creating Share-Worthy Content**: Deliver episodes that are entertaining, educational, or inspiring to encourage word-of-mouth promotion, the most effective way to grow your podcast.
9. **Professional Speech**: Improving speech habits, like reducing filler words, adds to the polish and professionalism of your podcast, making it more enjoyable for listeners.
10. **Listener-Centric Approach**: Prioritize your audience's experience by focusing on engaging, well-prepared content and interacting with their feedback to create a podcast that resonates.
Memorable Expert Moments
00:00 Prep for the show, value listeners' time. Prep is important for cohosts. Consider a showrunner role for podcasting.
06:04 Habit 3: Balance self-promotion with valuable content. Serve shareable episodes with subtle promotion.
07:56 Engage with listener feedback to build community and improve content. Neglecting feedback can hinder growth.
11:06 Consistent, focused, engaging podcast content leads to a loyal, growing listener base. Stick to schedule, and avoid off-putting habits for success.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at podcasts@circle270media.com.
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Don The Idea Guy
Brett Johnson, a...

This week we have a thought-provoking discussion lined up with Tonnisha English-Amamoo from TJE Communications.
In this episode titled we talk about the potential future scenario where TikTok might be banned in the U.S. and explore what this means for content creators and businesses alike.
Tonnisha shares invaluable insights on how to prepare for this possibility, including strategies for transitioning your audience to other platforms and maintaining engagement. Whether you're a seasoned TikTok user or just starting out, you won't want to miss Tonnisha's expert advice on navigating this uncertain digital landscape.
Top Takeaways
1. **Anticipate Platform Changes**:
- Always be prepared for sudden changes or closures of social media platforms and have a backup plan.
2. **Diversify Your Digital Presence**:
- Avoid putting all your marketing efforts into a single platform. Engage with your audience across multiple platforms.
3. **Continue Content Creation**:
- Maintain regular posting on current platforms while planning for potential changes.
4. **Audience Transition Strategies**:
- Develop strategies to transfer your audience from one platform to another smoothly.
5. **Learn from Predecessors**:
- Study how successful influencers and businesses transitioned from one platform to another, like those from Vine to Instagram.
6. **Analyze and Adapt Content**:
- Examine what content performs well on a platform and adapt it for other platforms if necessary.
7. **Utilize Multiple Features of Platforms**:
- Take advantage of various features on platforms such as Instagram, including reels, stories, and live videos.
8. **Create Easy Transition Paths**:
- Make it easy for your followers to find you on new platforms, potentially using automation tools for seamless transitions.
9. **Exclusive Content as a Lure**:
- Use exclusive content to entice your audience to follow you on new platforms or sign up for newsletters.
10. **Build Direct Communication Channels**:
- Aim to convert social media followers to direct communication channels such as email lists or dedicated community platforms, ensuring you don’t lose touch regardless of platform changes.
Memorable Moments
00:00 Biden signs law potentially banning TikTok.
05:02 From comedian to multi-platinum singer, platform reinvention.
09:15 Plan for possible TikTok shutdown, engage youth.
11:33 Engage followers outside social media for reach.
14:21 Make actions easy to take for people.
17:32 Identify podcast's unique appeal to engage audience.
TJE Communication’s mission is to empower and educate small women-owned businesses and equip them with digital solutions to level the playing field.
IG - @tjecomm
TW - @tjecomm
LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonnishaenglish/
FB - https://www.facebook.com/tjecomm
Subscribe to Tonnisha's Tip of The Month
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at podcasts@circle270media.com.
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE...

Joining us is Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs, and we're diving into a topic that doesn't always get the limelight but is super important—budgeting for your website.
Our host, Brett Johnson, sits down with Yasmine to talk about why having a solid budget for your website is essential, especially if you're a podcaster. Your website is often the first point of contact for your listeners and potential customers, so getting it right matters. They break down everything from the initial costs of getting your website up and running to the ongoing expenses for maintenance and future upgrades.
You'll get some awesome tips on how to plan effectively, whether you're going the DIY route or hiring a pro. Plus, they'll chat about some common pitfalls and how to avoid overspending while still getting a site that supports your podcast and business goals.
So if you've ever felt overwhelmed about where to start or how much to spend on your website, this episode is for you.
Top Takeaways
1. **Website as a First Point of Contact**: For businesses, especially podcasters, a website serves as the primary point of contact with potential customers.
2. **Key Costs of Website Development**: Building a website involves various costs, such as design and development, domain registration, hosting, security measures, and maintenance.
3. **Budgeting for Website Development**: Effective budgeting is essential and involves breaking down costs, prioritizing them based on business goals, and considering future needs.
4. **Understanding MVP (Minimum Viable Product)**: When launching, focus on essential features to create a basic website, and plan for potential expansions in the future.
5. **Platform Choices Matter**: The choice of website platform (e.g., Squarespace, WordPress) can impact future scalability and costs.
6. **Regular Reassessment**: Regularly reviewing and reassessing the website budget and performance ensures alignment with business goals and helps optimize spending.
7. **Analytics and Performance Tracking**: Keeping track of website analytics can reveal unexpected insights and opportunities for growth, such as which pages are driving traffic.
8. **Collaboration with Professionals**: Working with web design professionals or agencies can offer strategic insights and build a scalable website suited for future needs.
9. **Transparent Communication with Agencies**: If partnering with an agency for website development or maintenance, ask for transparency and regular reports on what is being done and its effectiveness.
10. **Website as an Investment**: View the website as an investment rather than an expense; a well-designed and maintained website can significantly contribute to business growth.
Memorable Moments
00:00 Website costs vary from design to maintenance.
03:17 Budget website costs by prioritizing essential features.
07:31 Plan for future website needs to avoid problems.
12:38 Track marketing efforts and analyze for improvement.
13:46 Reassess website budget, ensure transparent agency reports.
19:14 "Domain crucial for podcast success. Budget wisely."
Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.
Her website.
Her Instagram.
Click here for the checklist!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice
span...

In this episode, we're getting into the nitty-gritty of podcast transcriptions and why they're an absolute must-have. We'll break down how transcripts can supercharge your SEO, make your show more accessible, and give you a ton of material to repurpose into social media posts, blogs, and more.
Whether you’re looking to make your content easier to find, more inclusive, or just squeeze more value out of each episode, transcriptions are your new best friend. Plus, we'll touch on how they can keep you on the right side of legal requirements in certain industries.
Top Takeaways
1. **SEO and Discoverability**:
- Transcripts enhance SEO, making your podcast more visible on search engines like Google, YouTube, and Spotify, increasing the chances of gaining new listeners.
2. **Podcast Assets**:
- Transcripts can be used to create advanced show notes, including pull quotes, social media posts, timestamps, blogs, and keywords related to the podcast.
3. **Accessibility**:
- Offering transcripts ensures your podcast is accessible to people with hearing issues and accommodates different listening preferences, showing inclusivity and care for all audience members.
4. **Audience Engagement**:
- Making transcripts available demonstrates attention to detail and helps foster a stronger connection with your audience.
5. **Content Repurposing**:
- Transcripts can be repurposed into various content pieces like social media posts, email snippets, newsletters, and blog posts, providing a versatile tool for content creation.
6. **Productivity and Efficiency**:
- Transcripts allow quick reference to key points, quotes, or stats from episodes, eliminating the need for time-consuming audio scrubbing and aiding in productivity.
7. **Shareable Assets**:
- Transcripts provide shareable content assets for guests and can be useful for future projects by preserving key moments from older episodes.
8. **Legal Compliance**:
- In some industries, transcripts are necessary for legal and accessibility reasons, ensuring that your podcast follows inclusivity laws and standards.
9. **Long-Term Benefits**:
- Transcribing your podcast is an investment in long-term audience engagement, content versatility, and brand accessibility, making it a valuable practice for sustained growth.
10. **Commitment to Quality**:
- Including transcripts signifies a commitment to offering a multi-sensory experience that caters to varied audience needs, ultimately leading to a more loyal listener base.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at podcasts@circle270media.com.
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Don The Idea Guy
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, from Circle270Media Podcast Consultants
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice
License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
Copyright

Hey Circle Sessions listeners! Get ready for an episode packed with insights and creative ideas—perfect for anyone looking to up their podcasting game. This time around, our host Brett Johnson chats with the always-inventive Don The Idea Guy about some of the hottest topics in marketing and podcasting.
First up, Brett and Don crack open the tricky topic of measuring ROI in traditional marketing. Spoiler alert: It’s all about really getting to know your audience. They also dive into the power of collaboration between brands and podcasts, coming up with unique ad experiences that aren’t your run-of-the-mill sponsorships.
Ever thought the show notes or your podcast’s newsletter could be prime real estate for sponsorships? These guys have, and they’ve got some super-smart ways to make it happen. They share a few successful examples of sponsor integrations that might just inspire you to try it out yourself.
They also discuss a recent drop in new podcast launches this past May—good news, because less competition means more room for serious podcasters to shine! Don and Brett touch on some interesting research from Signal Hill Insights, revealing that podcast consumption numbers might be undercounted due to co-listening, especially with podcasts for kids and families.
Are you a multi-tasking entrepreneur with a side hustle? Turns out, you're not alone; half of heavy podcast consumers are in the same boat, making this a golden opportunity for targeted advertising.
Towards the end, Don and Brett brainstorm some inventive sponsorship ideas, ensuring the ads blend seamlessly into the content without annoying your listeners. They highlight the perks of host-read endorsements and custom content, underlining the need for various ad formats and solid metrics to measure success.
And don’t forget to connect with them for more tips and tricks!
Top Takeaways
1. *The importance of understanding customer needs to create effective marketing strategies that provide a high return on investment (ROI).
2. *The power of collaboration between brands and podcasts to craft unique and more engaging ad experiences.
3. *Common missed opportunities in podcast sponsorships, advocating for integrating sponsors into interactive segments like newsletters and show notes.
4. Effective sponsor integrations, showcasing how newsletters and show notes can be leveraged for better engagement with sponsors.
5. The decline of new podcast launches, suggesting it's beneficial as it indicates less competition and more potential for dedicated podcasters.
6. Underreporting of co-listening in podcast consumption statistics, pointing out how this often leads to inaccuracies in understanding audience sizes, particularly in family-oriented genres.
Memorable Moments
06:20 Radio ratings underreport due to co-listening.
16:32 Podcasts are new way to connect.
20:07 Comedians can tour, podcast, and engage fans.
21:27 New generation of podcasters challenging commercialization.
30:21 Podcasters should focus on smart sponsorships.
31:14 Morning Brew newsletter has sponsored segments and successful podcast.
34:34 Encourage creative thinking to engage listeners and sponsors.
MEET DON THE IDEA GUY!Possessing creative powers beyond those of mere mortals, DON THE IDEA GUY rescues those in need of innovative ideas through his brainstorming sessions, articles, and websites.
DTIG (DEE-tigg) has been featured in Small Business News, interviewed by the New York Times, quoted in Fast Company magazine, and served as the first president of the International Idea Trade Association.
Don is a proud member of the BzzAgent community, and is featured in BzzAgent.com founder Dave Balter’s book “a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OCXFW4/ref=nosim/dontheideaguy" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode of The Circle Sessions, host Brett Johnson sits down with Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications to talk more about how to elevate your brand with content photo shoots.
Tonnisha shares valuable insights into how she strategically plans and executes her content shoots, providing listeners with practical tips on finding the right photographer, creating a vision for the shoot, and maximizing the content generated from these sessions.
From the importance of wardrobe planning to the ways in which the content can be leveraged across various platforms, Tonnisha offers a comprehensive guide for small business owners and content creators looking to enhance their brand imagery.
Top Takeaways
1. Content photo shoots are a valuable tool for capturing high-quality images and videos for branding, social media, website design, and marketing materials, offering a great way to keep content fresh and engaging.
2. Collaborating with a photographer who understands your vision and can contribute ideas for locations, themes, and creative concepts can greatly enhance the success of a content photo shoot.
3. Pre-planning for a photo or video shoot is crucial, including selecting outfits in advance, creating a content plan, and having clear objectives for the type of content that needs to be captured.
4. Having a strategic planning meeting with the photographer prior to the shoot can help in outlining specific goals for the content, ensuring a focused and productive session.
5. Video content production may require additional planning, especially for scripted or narrative pieces, and capturing general calls to action in video form can be beneficial for marketing purposes.
6. Utilizing behind-the-scenes content creation during the photo shoot can serve as engaging material for social media, giving a glimpse into the creative process and adding depth to the brand narrative.
7. Scheduling photo shoots quarterly, rather than monthly, can alleviate burnout and provide more flexibility in capturing diverse content that reflects different aspects of the brand or business.
8. Researching and selecting the right photographer who aligns with your energy, vision, and budget is crucial for the success of the content photo shoot.
9. Evaluation of photographers should include considering their organizational skills, flexibility, and ability to provide direction during the shoot to ensure a smooth and productive experience.
10. DIY options for content creation, such as using personal cameras and leveraging technology, can provide practical and cost-effective solutions for capturing professional-quality images and videos.
Memorable Moments
00:00 Photographers now focus on content for business.
03:25 Erin Burke helps plan and suggest locations.
08:19 Selecting photos for later use with Sessions.
12:37 Flexible 3-4 hour photo shoot with incentives.
15:57 Plan content capture with the photographer for marketing.
19:01 Strategic planning meetings for quarterly package worked.
Subscribe to Tonnisha's Tip of The Month
TJE Communication’s mission is to empower and educate small women-owned businesses and equip them with digital solutions to level the playing field.
IG - @tjecomm
TW - @tjecomm
LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonnishaenglish/
FB - https://www.facebook.com/tjecomm
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an...