How do you make the "ask"? Maybe it's simpler than it seems. On this episode of the Grounded Content podcast I talk to my friend Matt B. Davis.  He's not an expert in marketing, or personal branding, or networking. He's the podcast host who created Obstacle Racing Media, a podcast & media business that has grown from a hobby to a full time job.  One that supports his family. He and I talk about this stuff a lot - about what we do to be successful in the independent media world, to market our shows (and for me my client's shows,) to market ourselves, and our products. What works, what's sketchy? What's the latest BS being peddled out there?

The reason I really invited him on is because he calls me out on my BS. This episode is really a "spirited" conversation between friends. It may be more conversational than some of the others, but there are some solid tactics and take aways in there too.

Matt's empire ​Obstacleracingmedia.com
​Editor Kris Zarnoch

Do you have a podcast? Could it do more for you?

So many people and businesses start a podcast and then stall, in fact of the 2 million podcasts out there today only about 750,000 have published an episode in the last 90 days. Sometimes you just need a fresh look at things. 

You can use this tool over and over again to define, refine and achieve your podcasting goals. 

5 steps to asses, strategize, and elevate.

1. PURPOSE: What do you want your podcast to do for you? Attract sponsors, express your message, serve your community, build authority, have deep discussions, research your market, practice public speaking? Know that and you can start to do the equation and decide how to invest in success.

2. POINT OF VIEW: What makes you stand out? What makes you you? There may be 10, 20 or 100 podcasts on your subject, but none will be like yours.  Don't copy everyone else, I can help you understand your unique point of view.

3. PROCESS: Now that you know 1 & 2 we can develop your processes - do you edit or hire an editor, how do you structure your show, how do you design your publications schedule, who are your guests (if you have guests), how do they get booked, who writes copy and creates artwork, how do you design the best titles, how do you understand your podcast data and much more.  There are hundreds of tools and tactics for podcasters, but you need to use the right ones in the right ways.

4. PRACTICE: Like everything in life it's a cycle of continuous improvement. Get better, then get even better, that's how you become great. 

5. PROMOTE: You may have the most incredible podcast, but If you don't promote it how will anyone know.  There are things that really do work - paid and organic strategies - to make sure you reach the right people.  Once you have the first 4 steps in place, we can build a strategic promotion plan.

I  help podcasters like you.  You're putting in the work, but are you getting the results you want from your show? You have the potential, that's why you started. What if you didn't have to learn it all the hard way?  

Steve D. Sims is my guest on theGrounded Content podcast. He's called "Real life Wizard of Oz," that's because he gets things done. I recommend his book "Bluefishing" if you haven't read it. But like most successful and interesting people, he's checked the box withBluefishing, and he's moved on to new things.

Steve was known as the guy that could get anything done creating incredible experiences for people. But as you know, to get anything good done, you need other people, and you need to convince them to do those things. That's what Steve talks about. Essentially, it's branding, it's marketing, and its relationships.

We cover a lot of things in this conversation including the true importance (from a practical and a moral standpoint) of just being yourself, some great networking tips, and some practical personal branding and sales tactics. Steve says, "anyone that did anything fantastical, didn't do it by copying everyone else."

More Grounded Content episodes and a place for your feedback.

Rich Cardona shares tons of useful insights on his show Leadership Locker. It was a pleasure to be on his show and to share fun stories and talk about what makes great content. I'm looking forward to sharing some of his wisdom soon on the Grounded Content podcast .

Michael Roderick joined me on the Groundeded Content podcast this week. How do you create content that others will share?  What if they would share the content without even being asked?  Michael Roderick has discovered a framework that you can use - whether you want to be talked about (in a good way) when you leave the room, get people to share your podcast, or need to accelerate the spread of your message.  Of course, as always, it's within the context of grounded, genuine conversations and we touch on the big picture philosophy and ethics behind the tactics.

Listen to the full epiosde

Rich Cardona, host of the "Leadership Locker" podcast and a media and personal branding expert, spoke at the Fitness & Self-Improvement Podcasters micorcon at this years Guinness World Record breaking Podfest Global Summit. I asked him to talk about how podcasters can use other social media channels to grow their audience.