The Secret to Podcasting Success w/Jerry Potter

In this episode,  I speak with Jerry Potter about strategies to start, grow, and monetize a podcast. Jerry alos introduces his unique "Modcast" system, designed to streamline podcast production and maximize listener engagement.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 - Podcasting Popularity: Over 200 million Americans listen to podcasts every week, showing the strong demand for audio content.

00:15 - Perfect Timing: There’s no better time to launch a podcast, whether you’re a nonprofit, solopreneur, or aspiring podcaster.

06:55 - Low Competition: Compared to YouTube, podcasting is significantly less competitive, providing a great opportunity for new podcasters.

05:05 - Multi-Purpose Tool: A single podcast can enhance your brand’s authority, generate leads, boost your social media presence, and more.

07:30 - Social Media Amplification: Short-form video clips from your podcast can reach new audiences on social platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

20:20 - Consistency Matters: To build a loyal listener base, stay consistent with your content schedule and messaging.

20:50 - Define Your Primary Goal: Decide on a single, clear objective for your podcast to keep your efforts focused and effective.

21:15 - Simplicity for Success: Keep your podcasting workflow simple and manageable to ensure long-term consistency.

10:10 - Structured Approach with Modcasting: The Modcasting method offers a structured, module-based format that keeps listeners engaged and drives action.

22:00 - Monetize Early: Don’t wait to monetize; there are ways to start earning from your podcast from the very first episode.

Bio: In 2022, Jerry Potter saw his income drop 70% in 4 months and knew he had to change how he marketed his business. He ended up taking his 20 years as a radio personality and programmer, and 10 years as a social media strategist and created a new approach to Podcasting, specifically for entrepreneurs. It's helped him grow to 150,000+ subscribers on YouTube, and helped his clients grow their audiences and raise their rates too.

Connect with Jerry:  YouTube | Linkedin

Need help with your podcasting goals? Book a free consultation with me here
For more tips and tools watch us on :YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@toolsofthepodcasttrade

Chapters

• 0:00 Podcasting Popularity:

Transcript

J. Rosemarie Francis (00:00):  200 million people listen to podcasts weekly in the United States. So if your goal is to start a podcast, what are you waiting for? If you're a nonprofit, an aspiring podcaster, or a solopreneur, now is the time to start. This episode with Jerry Potter has lots of tips on how to start and grow your podcast. Tools of the Podcast Trade has 80 episodes filled with tips, strategies, and ways to start a podcast, build a business, and really level up your game. So thank you for listening, and I appreciate your support. Subscribe and follow this podcast for more ways to demystify podcasting. Thank you. And if you're struggling with starting or getting ideas to keep producing episodes and leveling up your podcasting, reach out, book a call with me. I guarantee I can help you work through that one little problem you’re having. So don’t get stuck and don’t podfade—get the help you need today.

J. Rosemarie Francis (01:22):  My guest today is Jerry Potter. Jerry helps entrepreneurs and brands attract their perfect clients and customers and turn these strangers into buyers ASAP through their content. Welcome, Jerry.

Jerry Potter (01:32):  Thank you. Thank you so much for having me on the show, Jen.

J. Rosemarie Francis (01:35):  Yes, awesome. You’re welcome. So before we get into what you do, could you tell us who is Jerry Potter?

Jerry Potter (01:42):  Well, I always like to point out because it's obvious to most people, my name rhymes with the boy wizard, but I am an unlikely entrepreneur who sort of fell into this. I started a YouTube channel to help people be more efficient in their business and content marketing. It was just a hobby, and it took off. And now, several years later, I’m a full-time entrepreneur. It did take some scary moments in my business to get to where I am now. For example, one time, I watched my income drop by 70% in four months. And I think a lot of entrepreneurs can relate to this, right? Our income is up one month, down another, and you have to be ready for that. But this was a significant plummet. So now, I’m obsessed with helping people speed up their sales and nurture better, really reaching people in the right phase of their buyer journey so that all of us entrepreneurs can help others faster.

J. Rosemarie Francis (02:58):  Okay, so you're an entrepreneur, and you’ve experienced the ups and downs of business. What inspired you? What evoked that need in you to help others?

Jerry Potter (03:08):  One of the big things for me was that I didn’t plan on being an entrepreneur. It was kind of a side thing, and I started this YouTube channel, and it started taking off. A total stranger from Florida messaged me on LinkedIn saying, “Love your channel. You must be making so much money. How are you monetizing?” At that time, I was an employee at an agency, and I didn’t know how to monetize. He said, “Let’s get on a call,” and told me about all these ways to run a business. When I signed up for my agency job, they had me sign a non-compete for a year. I joked, “I’ll sign one for ten years; I don’t ever want to be an entrepreneur.” Now, I’ve gotten to the point where I have more time freedom and location freedom. I have two young boys I call my two tiny superheroes, and we get to travel and show them the world. I want that for other people too, to be that stranger who helped me years ago. The pandemic sped up the idea of online business, but the tools we have now for recording, editing, and communicating are so much better and keep improving as AI evolves.

J. Rosemarie Francis (04:55):  Yeah, that’s true. I noticed your focus is on podcasting. Why is that? And what is the benefit of having a podcast?

Jerry Potter (05:05):  Right now, there’s a quote from Victor Hugo—"there’s nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come." Even though podcasting has been around for 20 years, I started my first podcast in 2005 when nobody knew what it was. Right now, we’re at a beautiful trifecta of three things happening. One, the tech has made it easier for people to create podcasts. Two, consumer consumption of podcasts is growing. And three, Spotify and YouTube are looking for more podcast content, showing it to people who don’t know us. Previously, podcasting relied on getting discovered by search or a podcast chart feature, but now platforms like YouTube and Spotify allow for a self-growing show.

J. Rosemarie Francis (06:42):  Yes, that’s pretty awesome. There was a lot of buzz around podcasting a few years ago. Now, the majority of podcasters don’t make it. What would you tell an aspiring podcaster about why this is the most exciting time for podcasting?

Jerry Potter (06:55):  A lot of people say it’s too late for podcasting or it’s too crowded, but podcasting is 99.996% less competitive than YouTube. Many platforms are seeking short-form video content, so we can take podcast clips and put them on social media, like Instagram Reels. A short clip can reach people who don’t know who you are. For example, one of my clips reached 30,000 people even though I only have 4,000 followers on Instagram. Some people even sign up for programs without ever listening to the full episode.

J. Rosemarie Francis (09:30):  You really are in control when it comes to podcasting, aren’t you?

Jerry Potter (09:34):   Yes, a lot more than in other things. Social media relies on algorithms, but with podcasting, once someone subscribes to your show, podcast apps will continue to download episodes and even send notifications.

J. Rosemarie Francis (10:03):   So tell us exactly what you do for your clients and how we can get in touch with you.

Jerry Potter (10:10):   Our approach to podcasting is a bit different. My wife and I worked in radio, where we’d build shows in segments or “modules.” Now we apply that to podcasting, calling it “Modcast.” It’s a module-based podcast, and we’ve seen people listen longer and sign up for more things. If you want to learn more, you can visit our website modcastmarketing.com.

J. Rosemarie Francis (11:40):   Awesome, that’s pretty cool. You mentioned something earlier about a method or process for podcasting, do you remember what it was?

Jerry Potter (11:46):   Yes, it was the Modcast method about building a self-growing podcast. We have a TSL (Time Spent Listening) module, which is a piece of content that goes at the end of your podcast to encourage listeners to stay until the end. It also works as a standalone clip for social media, allowing you to reach new audiences.

J. Rosemarie Francis (14:02):   It takes podcasting beyond the basics of starting, promoting, and monetizing. Thank you so much, Jerry, for joining us. Any parting shots?

Jerry Potter (14:15):   Podcasting is an incredible opportunity. Just start and do it. And if you want to learn about our module-based approach, we offer a free class at modcastmarketing.com/learn.

J. Rosemarie Francis (14:25):   Awesome, I appreciate you. Thank you.