The Company Show Megan Dougherty

There are those who love social media and there are those who hate it.

There are also those who, despite kind of hating social media, understand that people are using it and as a business they should have a professional and appealing presence on it—I'll let you guess which one I am.

Whether you're doing it yourself or managing a team who's doing it for you, the day-to-day and the constant grind of creating content can be just absolutely excruciating, not to mention expensive.

Happily, you don't actually have to use every platform every single day to have that professional and appealing presence.

Social media, especially Instagram for me, has been the nut I just can't crack. I understand that it's valuable. I understand that it's a great way to connect. I've just never been able to really use it effectively, and that's both personally and professionally. I don't use Instagram that much.

Happily, I've got a great team member who's able to create really awesome, engaging posts and share the things that we want to share, like the amazing guests that we have on this podcast. But it has not been a major focus of the work that we've done on social ever since we started One Stone Creative.

My guest today has the solution for this problem and has perhaps even cracked the nut of Instagram.

Ruthie Sterrett is a fractional CMO and founder of The Consistency Corner, a holistic marketing agency supporting service based businesses. Her whole business is about helping CEOs step away from social media, without sacrificing visibility, because most CEOs didn’t start a business to be a content creator.

And to that I say: YES PLEASE.

Ruthie and I talked about about what most businesses really need from the social media platforms they use, the key consideration most of us don’t really make when it comes to strategizing how to use them, and how to make your Instagram work for you even if you don’t want to use Instagram.

Listen to the episode below or read the blog post here:


Tune in to the full episode to learn:
Why social media is so hardStrategic social media useSocial media and funnelsWhy intentional social media mattersThe Instagram 9-Grid StrategyHow to use ManyChatWho shouldn’t use The 9-GridHow to repurpose Instagram for othe platforms

We’re looking for speakers for this year’s Podcasting for Business Conference! Click here to learn more.

Share Your Expertise at PFBCon 2024I want to remind you that applications for speakers at the Podcasting for Business Conference this year are open!

If you’ve got a skill, strategy or technique that can help business owners with their podcasts, I want to hear about it! Go here to get all the details. Applications will be open until July 29th.


Be A Guest on The Company ShowDo you have a podcast that's making a major difference in your business or know one that is? Fill out this contact form and let us know about it.

We'd love to have you here for an episode like this one!


Need A Podcast?As always, this is Megan Dougherty, and The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.

If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!


Key Quotes"Bad content, okay content is better than no content because the more you work through it, the better you're gonna get.” - Ruthie Sterrett


ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023
Ruthie Sterrett | Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
The Instagram 9-Grid StrategyThe Consistency Corner Podcast

Related:Mastering Facebook Ads for Podcast & Business Growth with Stacy ReedUsing LinkedIn to Supercharge your Relationship Building with Sophie Lechner

I often say that sponsors aren’t a great path for most company podcast—the ROI just isn’t there when other business goals are more immediate and more valuable than the income that can be generated by sponsors.

But most is not all, and if it’s a path you’ve deemed the right one for your show, I want you to have all of the information you need to create a great package.

So, sponsorships! I’ve never had them for this show, nor have I arranged them for the Podcasting for Business Conference so far—although that will be changing this year!

That means I don’t have the absolute latest, up-to-the-minute best practices on what makes a great sponsorship package, and how to communicate them. I’m lucky enough to know someone who does, however.

Alex Durant is the owner of **Durant Consulting Inc.**, where, essentially, she takes everything that can be a nightmare about coordinating large events with lots of sponsors and takes care of everything.

She works with companies to develop sponsorship packages and decks and coordinates to make sure everything is delivered as promised. For this reason, she is extremely sought after. I can tell you, if wrangling sponsors is anything like wrangling affiliates for big events; it’s a huge job with a lot of moving parts.

It was actually talking to Alex that convinced me to open up the Podcasting for Business Conference to sponsorship this year. I’m so excited to bring you our conversation, where Alex shares how to think about sponsorship as it relates to your podcast and environment.

Listen to the episode below or read the blog post here: podcastingforbusiness.com/85


Tune in to the full episode to learn about:
How to incorporate sponsors into different podcast formatsThe sponsorship real estateSponsors: When to look, how to choose, how to approachLeveraging industry connections for visibilityHow to build your sponsorship deckEnsuring clarity in sponsorship contractsThe recap deckHow to deal with a disappointed sponsorTechnical issues with podcast ads
Share Your Expertise at PFBCon 2024As a final note today, please remember that speaker applications for this year's Podcasting for Business Conference are open now!
If you have a skill, strategy, insight, or methodology that you think a business owner who podcasts needs to know, then I want to hear about it.

Head over **here** and fill in the form that you find there to tell me and my team what you want to share with the community at the Podcasting for Business Conference.


Be A Guest on The Company ShowDo you have a podcast that's making a major difference in your business or know one that is? Fill out this contact form and let us know about it.

We'd love to have you here for an episode like this one!


Need A Podcast?As always, this is Megan Dougherty, and The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.

If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!


Key Quotes“Just because someone might be willing to give you some dollars, is it worth the reputation of having them as a sponsor? For your reputation, does it make sense at all?” - Alex Durant

"The real winning blueprint for sponsorships is audience engagement.” - Megan Dougherty


ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023
Alex Durant Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook


Related:Should You Get a Sponsor for Your Company Podcast?

It is that time of year again, friends! We’re opening up submissions for speakers for this year’s Podcasting for Business Conference.

The first PFBCon was in 2022, and came about while I, Tom Fox and some other friends were at the always fun and valuable Podfest and realized that as awesome as in-person podcasting events are, they aren’t always a possibility for business owners who podcast as only one of many, many things they have to do every week.

So the Podcasting for Business Conference was born—something all virtual and all recorded to fit in around the work of running businesses that so many people need to do.

And it’s time to start planning for this fall’s edition.

This year’s event is going to be taking place November 14th and 15th with a few special events earlier in that week. I’m looking for 10 speakers who can give specific tools and strategies to help people podcast more effectively, profitably and pleasantly podcast.

If you’ve got just such a strategy to share, you can to here and share it!

To inspire your thinking, I’m sharing several (although my no means all!) of my favorite clips from last years expert lineup. Listen to the episode or read the blog post here: https://podcastingforbusiness.com/84

Tune in to the full episode and get tips and strategies for…
podcast visibility and growthpitching to guest on other showsrelationship building for salessearch engine optimizationEmail marketing and collaborationsPodcast re-recording and editingPLUS an exciting announcement and a special offer at the end!

Don’t forget to join us for our free monthly strategy calls on the third Thursday of every month!

Get Involved!I hope this has all got your creative juices flowing—and if you have some important learning for a community of business owners, experts, service providers and marketing managers and directors, I want to hear your ideas!

You’ll find all the details and how to apply here. Applications will be open until July 31st. Please, tell your friends!

The BookWhile I’m asking for favors, you may know already that I’ve written a book called, shockingly, Podcasting for Business. It’s going to be releasing in early September this year.

This is a project that has been years in the making—we’ve completely codified the Business Podcast Blueprints and created a handbook you can use to design or refine, and optimize a podcast to bring real, bottom line value to your business.

Special Offer!What you don’t know yet, is that I am going to give an absolutely free PFBCon ticket to every single person who pre-orders it.

If this is something you and your community might be able to take advantage of, send me a note here or find me on LinkedIn—let’s talk.


Need A Podcast?The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.

If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!


Key Quotes"The whole pitch is really not about you as the person, it's about what you can bring to that show.” - Angie Trueblood

“In podcasting, the only thing that you are limited by is your imagination.” - Tom Fox


ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023
Become a speaker at PFBCon 2024 - Apply Here


Related:Podcasting for Business RefresherThe Value of Podcasting for Business with Tom Fox

PFBCon 2023 RecordingsWhether you're a solopreneur, manager of a department, principal at a firm, or a non-fiction author ready to expand into audio, the Podcasting for Business Conference will help you leverage a podcast to meet your business objectives.

Missed PFBCon 2023? Check out the recordings!

You should start a podcast!

These words have planted a lot of ideas in the heads of a lot of business owners—and your reaction to hearing that can tell you a lot.

You might hear it and think: A podcast? Me? Not a chance. Or maybe: You know what, you’re right, I should have a podcast!

Most of us fall somewhere in between the two, and think something like: You might be right… but what a lot of work, would it even be worth it?

When you’re unsure and you take the plunge into podcast, it’s often a little deflating because getting started is a lot of effort and a lot of work work and often a lot of money but the rewards, though they can be considerable, usually come much later on in the process.

My guest this week, Heather Gray, is formerly known as The Lyme Boss and has now rebranded to Renegade Health Boss. She started podcasting after getting just that kind of prompt from her community and fans, and ended up podcasting for a while before her show started to gain traction.

Heather is a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist and Bioenergetic Practitioner specializing in supporting clients with chronic and complex illnesses such as Lyme disease, Mold Toxicity and Autoimmune diseases.

And her podcast is a powerful force in her business.

In this case study episode, we’re talking about how Heather has leveraged her podcast for affiliate sales, sponsors, case studies and new clients—she has done such an impressive job optimizing the show to serve her business, and there is so much to learn from her.

Listen to the episode read the blog post here: https://podcastingforbusiness.com/83


Tune in to the full episode to learn about:
The Story of The Lyme BossPodcast Sponsorships and StrategiesAuthenticity in Product EndorsementsStarting with Podcast AnalyticsThe Importance of Solo EpisodesHeather Gray’s Podcasting WorkflowThe Advantages of Embedded AdsLow-Tech Setup for High-Quality PodcastingThe Power of Task Delegation

Don’t forget to join us for our free monthly strategy calls on the third Thursday of every month!


We’re gearing up for PFBCon 2024Next week is an exciting week, because we’re opening up applications for speakers at this year’s Podcasting for Business Conference!
Make sure you’re subscribed on your favorite channel to catch all the details.


Be A Guest on The Company ShowDo you have a podcast that's making a major difference in your business or know one that is? Fill this contact form and let us know about it.
We'd love to have you here for a case study episode like this one!


Need A Podcast?As always, this is Megan Dougherty, and The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.
If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!


Key Quotes“There is no quick rise with podcasting. You just got to put in your time.” - Heather Gray

"I sometimes think the only thing more satisfying than getting a great opportunity is being in the position where you turn it down.” - Megan Dougherty


ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023
Heather Gray | Website | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube


Related:Case Study: Podcasting as a Long-Term Marketing Strategy with Susan FriedmannPodcast Case Study: Grow a Media Business Through Podcasting

Have you ever thought about the health of your voice?

The two concepts don’t go together intuitively to me, which is interesting when you think about it because the voice is something created with the body.

We’ve all had times when we lost our voice, or noticed it behaving differently based on our environment, situation or other kinds of health. But your voice is something that has it’s own health needs and as a podcaster, you should be aware of them.

When you start podcasting as a marketing channel for your business, you're often not coming from a background where your voice is seen as a tool that needs to be cared for, but it is, and you should make it a priority.

It's not just about how you sound in your recordings, it's about preventing vocal strain, improving the longevity of your voice, and having more control over how you sound.

That is what I learned in my first conversation with today’s guest, who joined us for a Strategy and Networking Call in the Spring and totally changed how I think about my most important tool as a podcaster.

Today I’m sharing the training that Brienne Hennessy, a licensed speech-voice pathologist and the founder of Your Vocal Vitality, gave us in our strategy and networking call back in the spring.

She is teaching us how voice care is self-care and the mindset shift you need to make about it, what voice triage is, and how to actually improve recovery when we do have vocal difficulties, and some practical tips for preparing your voice before an interview. (Including a vocal exercise I experimented with live on the call!)

This training did have a video component, so if you’d like to watch, you’ll find the video below!

Listen to the episode, watch the video, or read the blog post here: https://podcastingforbusiness.com/82

Tune in to the full episode to learn about:
Vocal health issues and challengesUnderstanding the voice box: larynxAddressing vocal problems and daily strategiesThe power of warming upMisconceptions and clarifications on vocal healthHow to take care of your voice in a sustainable way
Don’t forget to join us for our free monthly strategy calls on the third Thursday of every month!

Here’s the recording of the Strategy and Networking CallThis includes all the exercises and other fun bits that might have been cut out from the podcast version!
https://vimeo.com/960104765
Need A Podcast?As always, this is Megan Dougherty, and The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.
If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!
Key Quotes“I've had too many people tell me they actually use the word hate with the sound of their voice and they hate the way it sounds and my question to you is, how can you hate the very thing that you're using to communicate your message with the world?” - Brienne Hennessy
ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023Brienne Hennessy Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Top 10 Vocal Care TipsDiscovery Call with Brienne Hennessy

I often say that there are two types of people in the world—those who have done frontline customer service, and those that haven’t.

If you want to see the difference between the two, go out for brunch on Mother’s day. It will quickly become obvious to you which of your fellow diners have done their time in the customer service trenches.

Aside from understanding in the very marrow of your bones how much harder service workers actually work than your average CEO (I’ve been both, it’s 100% true and I’ll die on that hill)—there is something you learn as a frontline worker, something that can make a huge difference to you as a business owner.

It’s the actual, functional delivery of the company’s brand.

Servers, to use the example I am most familiar with, tend to have a better understanding of how a brand is perceived by the actual buying public than anyone in the C suite.

This, of course, can be for good or ill depending on how well customer service is managed, and how integrated their feedback is in the managerial and marketing processes of the business.

That integration is all about taking the intangible—feelings, impressions, offhand comments, and codifying it into a real part of the brand that can be used in all outward facing communications, on your website, in your emails, and on your podcast.

Today, I’m speaking with Brigitte Bojkowszky, the creator of Bridget Brands, who is a company and personal brand identity strategist with over 23 years of experience in teaching global marketing management and branding at universities worldwide.

Brigitte and I are talking about what differentiates a company brand from a personal one, when you should use each, and how they relate to each other, and the importance of storytelling in all of your branding activities—including your podcast.

Listen to the episode read the blog post here.

Tune in to the full episode to learn about:
The story of Bridget BrandsThe intersection of personal and company brandingStorytelling and brand ConnectionEfficiency and authenticity in AI usageBranding in company onboarding and operationsMetrics and indicators of effective brandingBrigitte’s podcast picks for mastering brand authenticity
Don’t forget to join us for our free monthly strategy calls on the third Thursday of every month!
Be A Guest on The Company ShowDo you have a podcast that's making a major difference in your business or know one that is? Fill this contact form and let us know about it.
We'd love to have you here for a case study episode like this one!
Need A Podcast?As always, this is Megan Dougherty, and The Company Show was made possible by the team at One Stone Creative.
If you know a business owner that you think should have a podcast, do us a favor and send them to podcastingforbusiness.com!
Key Quotes“You need to align your podcast closely to your company or corporate brand so it becomes one channel element or vehicle to communicate your ideas.” - Brigitte Bojkowszky
EMBED
ResourcesOne Stone Creative | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Make sure to check out our free Monthly Strategy Calls!
Podcasting for Business Conference 2023 Recordings
Learn about what other business podcasters are doing:
State of Business Podcasting Report 2023Brigitte Bojkowszky Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
BrandsTalk podcastRelated:What Makes an Audio Brand? with Jodi KrangleBranding that Feels Great with Sabrina ChevannesHow to Measure the Impact of Your Podcast with Megan Dougherty