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Podcasting is about more than just download numbers, which is what most people focus on. Podcasting can be a powerful tool to grow your business if you have the right strategies. That’s what I discuss in this episode with my guest, Steve Ramona.
Steve discovered his calling at a young age and is now on a mission to share his secret sauce for success. He thrives on forging meaningful connections, sharing referrals, and watching people flourish.
His contagious passion for the “Law of Increase” makes his podcast “Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart” so successful. This show is chock-full of inspiring stories about overcoming challenges and serving others.
A few years Steve got involved with a company named Pantheon in a podcasting capacity. Steve asked for advice about how to get started. The owner told Steve “Just start recording, I don’t care how you get started, what you look like or what happens on each episode. Just hit record and have fun with it.”
Steve found his first guests through his network. He went to his them and simply said, “I’m launching a podcast, who wants to be a guest?” Steve had 5-10 quick email responses from people, and he was off and running.
Steve believes you can use podcasting as a networking tool, even though a lot of people don’t look at it like that. They look at it as getting the guests, getting the downloads, plays, partial plays and other metrics. Networking is a much more powerful reason to have a podcast.
Podcasting as a Networking Tool
Regarding podcasting as a networking tool Steve pointed out a few things. When you’re on a podcast you laugh, joke, and get to know your guests. You’re also adding value to their lives because you’re promoting them. They’re excited when you get done recording. Then you both start promoting the episode to share both of your messages. It’s a win-win situation.
That’s where the “Law of Increase” comes into play. This happens because of the value you’re offering them from being a guest on your podcast. As a guest, you’ve got their attention. You’ve got them excited about the show that you’re going to be promoting so their energy level is up. Leverage that in a good way by giving them even more value by helping with their business endeavors and their energy goes up even more. That’s networking at its finest.
Steve says that giving them business referrals is the gold trophy, but it doesn’t have to be referrals. If they have a podcast, you can offer them resources, guests, or marketing ideas. Don’t immediately try to sell them something. Offer free resources, don’t say “Come to my coaching program, it’s only $199 a month.” People are going to want you, love you and need you down the road one way or the other when you provide value to them first.
What’s going to happen at the end of the recording and marketing? Most of the time they’re going to ask you “How can I help you?” They might be able to help you find more guests, support your events if you’re in the event space, support a professional community that you’re involved with or any myriad of other things. Let’s look at that in more detail.
Have an “Ask” Ready
Early on Steve realized that if he wanted to build his business through his podcast, he had to have an “ask” ready when he and his guests were having discussions about helping each other. In the early days of his podcasting career, he felt he was “selling” them if he brought anything up. He soon realized that you’re never selling if you bring value to the relationship. Bringing value is a natural human interaction in successful relationships. Sometimes that value will be your product or service if it can help them solve a problem or advance their business initiatives. It could be asking them with help growing a professional community that you’re involved with, and so on.
In another example, your ask could be for help with an event you’re having by asking them to invite their friends. Since you’re offering value first, often, they’re happy to do it. Steve used to be worried that he would be “pitching” them. Since then, he’s learned that’s not the case when you bring them value first. That’s why bringing value is so important. That opens those floodgates of referrals for a variety of opportunities. Some people might become your client, they might offer you resources that you need, regardless of the details it’s going to be a positive experience for both of you.
Answering the Question “Why Should I Be Podcasting?”
Steve says it’s simple: You want to grow your network. You want to meet high-level people. When you have a podcast, and you’re promoting your guests, they’re going to want to meet with you. Without a podcast those same people, especially higher-level people, probably wouldn’t meet with you if you cold called them or asked your friends to introduce you to them. Having that podcast becomes a powerful tool for opening doors. Your podcast will help you meet people you never would be able to meet otherwise.
The possibilities and opportunities are endless!
In this episode we also discuss:
- How to leverage podcasting to connect with your dream clients.
- What makes a great podcast and what the structure of a great podcast looks like.
- How to maintain consistency and quality as you grow your podcast.
- A deeper dive into the “Law of Increase”.
- …and other golden nuggets of advice!
You can get my book here: “Idea Climbing: How to Create a Support System for Your Next Big Idea”
About the Guest
Steve Ramona discovered his calling at a young age and is now on a mission to share his secret sauce for success. He thrives on forging meaningful connections, sharing referrals, and watching people flourish.
His contagious passion for the Law of Increase makes his podcast “Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart” so successful. This show is chock-full of inspiring stories about overcoming challenges and serving others.
Steve has a knack for spreading good vibes and elevating those around him. He learned from his dad that an entrepreneurial spirit is a great way to make money. He shares stories of how people serve, struggle, and win. He believes that we must overcome something, so why not learn to serve, and overcome it much faster?
Steve learned the importance of customer service early in life. He knew the more he served, the more it was a win-win for everyone. He enjoys working with people, referring people, and helping people grow. The Law of Increase is his mission when he networks around the world.
Steve loves to mentor businesspeople and offer all the resources he can to the people in his life. He says to win, you must grow yourself first; then, you can share this with others!
He is also an avid reader.
Learn more about and connect with Steve:
www.ServingInBusinessPodcast.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveramona/
Want to learn more about building your business with podcasting? Click here to check out this post: “How and Why Entrepreneurs Should Start Podcasting Sooner Than Later”
