Latest / Top Ranked | Podcast Business & Marketing Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs / 56 // How to Stay Consistent With Your Podcast Over the Summer | Podcast Marketing Strategies

Transcript

56 // How to Stay Consistent With Your Podcast Over the Summer | Podcast Marketing Strategies · Top Ranked | Podcast Business & Marketing Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: If you've ever thought about disappearing from your podcast completely over the summer because you're burned out or overwhelmed by the idea of trying to keep up during the season, this episode is for you.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Jan Ditchfield, an award-winning marketing strategist who left the corporate world, picked up a$25 microphone on Amazon, and built a half million dollar business powered by my podcast.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Along the way, I learned that success online isn't about hustling 24-7.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's about building a business that works even when you're offline.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: I created Evergreen Marketing Simplified to give you simple, actionable, step-by-step strategies to help you build an Evergreen business through your offers, your content, and a podcast-driven system that sells for you.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a coach, consultant, or a course creator who wants to create consistent income without living online, so you can actually enjoy the life you're working so hard to build, you're in the right place.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get to work, my friend.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: So we are officially moving into summer.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I think this is one of the hardest seasons of the year for women who are trying to keep a podcast going while also running a business and living an actual life.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: And that's because suddenly the routines shift completely.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: And one of the things that has come up over and over again inside podcasts that convert with the women I was working with was the question of how do I stay consistent with my podcast over the summer without completely burning myself out.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that question is one that we really should talk about.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: So I wanted to sit down and talk about it today because I think this conversation matters a lot more than people realize.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: And you'll probably notice over the next couple of months that my podcast also is going to shift slightly for summer.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to be doing shorter episodes and more focused episodes and really more that micro learning style content that is designed to meet you exactly where you are right now.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm doing that because, quite honestly, summer is just a different season for podcasting.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Audience behavior changes dramatically this time of year.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: And then our downloads start to have that natural fluctuation because people are out of routine.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: They are driving more, they're traveling more, they're spending more time outside, spending more time with family because the kids are around, and generally consuming content differently than they do during those heavier work seasons.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just natural that things change.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: But I also think this is the time of year when a lot of podcasters quietly start feeling exhausted because we've been taught for so long that consistency means maintaining the exact same pace at all costs, no matter what season of life we're in.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's one of the most outdated pieces of advice in the podcasting industry.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: There's this weird panic that starts to happen the moment people start thinking about slowing down.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Like if I don't maintain maximum output all summer long, somehow my entire show is going to collapse overnight.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: And if you've ever felt that or had that worry, I tell you, it's pretty normal because I've had it too.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: But the thing I've come to learn is that sustainable podcasts are not built through panicking and then trying to keep up because we're worried about something going wrong or losing momentum.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: And they are definitely not built by forcing yourself to maintain some level of peak production during seasons when your life and your energy and even your audience behavior naturally changes.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: So today I want to talk to you about what I think consistency should look like during the summer months and how I'm personally approaching my own podcast strategy this season, so that it can feel lighter and sustainable and a little bit smarter.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: So I can also enjoy my summer while maintaining my show.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: That mistake that we all get into, and I have done it myself.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm I'm fully pointing double fingers back at myself for this, but the belief system that we have to maintain that consistency, like we need to produce the same way in the summer that we do in the fall.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I think that comes from Instagram culture.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: And when I was doing my research for this topic and really thinking about what I wanted to share, what kept coming up for me was the fact that most of us started creating content on social media long before we ever started a podcast.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: So naturally, we bring those content creation habits over here with us.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: And we've been trained to believe that if we're not consistently posting or constantly visible and, you know, constantly producing at full capacity, then somehow the algorithm is going to forget that we exist overnight.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: And then unfortunately, the podcasting industry has often reinforced that same message too about just keep publishing, never miss a week, maintain your schedule at all cost.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: But I honestly don't think sustainable podcasting is built through production exhaustion.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think sustainable podcasting is built through strategic consistency.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: And those are two very different things.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Because strategic consistency doesn't mean you disappear for three months and then just abandon your show completely.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: It just means that you approach your content differently during seasons where your life and your audience also are making some different changes in theirs.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think a lot of us who podcast quietly need permission to realize that changing the strategy for a season is not the same thing as failing at consistency.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: So instead of trying to create more and more content all summer long, I'm personally approaching summer as my summer of strategy.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: So I focus less on volume and more on discoverability.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: So one of the easiest things you can do this summer is to go back through your back catalog and identify some of your strongest episodes and then pull those out, record a fresh intro, update your titles, your metadata, and then re-release them strategically.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: This is such an easy way to maintain your consistency over the summer because most of your audience has not listened to every single episode you've created.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: And what might feel old to you is often brand new to someone discovering your show for the first time.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, this is one of the smartest ways to stay active in the ecosystem without constantly forcing yourself to create something brand new every single week over the summer.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: And then if you do have extra time in the summer, something else you can do that would really get the algorithm working in your favor is just going back through again your back catalog and improving things, like update titles, tighten up keywords, improve your SEO strategy around the content that already exists.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: Some simple tweaks will get the algorithm working for you all summer long and allow it to do the heavy lifting while you get to sit in the backyard enjoying a drink in the sunshine.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: The second thing I'm focusing on this summer is exactly what I'm doing right now with this episode.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: And it could be a very good strategy for you to think about too.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: I'm leaning into shorter, more searchable, micro learning style episodes.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: And these ones are designed specifically around discoverability and binge listening.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think summer is actually a really good time to focus on growing your visibility.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: And that's because there's often less competition during the summer.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_00: And so there's less heavy content production happening as well.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: So shorter episodes mean you can still keep up, but you can get your show to grow without having to create those heavy, heavy episodes all the time.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: And we can get rid of that pressure that we have to think that we need to be creating 45 minutes or 60 minute episodes in order for content to feel valuable.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm gonna tell you really honestly, if you can teach something clearly in 10 minutes, then teach it in 10 minutes.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: There's nothing wrong with shorter episodes.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: It's actually the opposite.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: Shorter episodes are usually what creates binge listening behavior because they're easier for people to consume quickly and then they continue moving through your catalog.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: So if you think about creating episodes that are tight and hooky and really focused on what people are searching for in your specific niche on the apps, and then package that up in an eight to 10 minute episode, you're gonna grow your listenership without having to do more.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: And for me, the summer strategy really is about doing less, but doing it better.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Think about less pressure, less production exhaustion, and a lot more intentionality about what you're creating and why.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: Because running a podcast is supposed to support your life and your business.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm gonna tell you, your show should not become the thing that consumes both of them.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I think those of us who last the longest, we're not necessarily the ones who are pushing hard all the time.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: We're the ones who learn how to work with seasons instead of constantly fighting against them.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're looking for something productive to focus on this summer that doesn't require you to sit behind a microphone for hours every week, this is also the perfect time to test keyword ideas and refine your SEO strategy.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: Revisit that older content, like I talked about.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Experiment with discoverability and really start paying attention to how the ecosystem works around your podcast so you can get it working in your favor.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Because when listener behavior starts to pick back up again in the fall, and it always does, you're not going to be starting from zero.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: You'll be stepping into a stronger ecosystem that you spent the summer building strategically behind the scenes.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I don't know, but like to me, that feels a whole lot better than hitting September, completely burned out and resenting your show.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: So that's the approach I'm taking this summer.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the approach that I would invite you to do as well.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: Take some time for you.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: Make content that you enjoy, but don't lose your whole summer to at the same time.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Because there are ways to maintain a show, grow your listenership, and increase your visibility without having to be at maximum output the entire season.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: And if you want to learn more about how you can really truly turn your show into a true business asset, one that drives your authority and your visibility and gets discovered by the right people and brings revenue into your business, you can come and join me for the summer too inside a podcast that convert.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm working with women throughout the summer.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: And if you think this might be the right time for you, because you have a little bit of space to focus on doing something that's about growing your show in a very strategic way, why don't you go check it out at janditsherw.co forward slash join.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: And I'd love to be able to spend an hour a week with you over the summer getting your show set up and ready for the fall.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: So you can make the most when all of your listeners come back online and you are ahead of the game.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: All right, my friend, that's it for this one.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me for this conversation.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: And until next time, remember, let's keep it simple and let's keep it profitable.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'll talk to you in the next episode.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for spending time with me today.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: If you know someone who's trying to grow their business in a way that actually feels sustainable, would you share this episode with them?
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: It really does help more people find the show, and I'd be so grateful.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're loving what you're hearing, make sure you're following along on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: I read every single one, and it helps me create more of what you actually want and need.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: All right, my friend, I'll see you in the next episode.