Lessons from My Second Speaking Engagement with Cathy Heller

Hey Friend!

As you grow your online business, podcast, and coaching, you may be asked to share at a speaking engagement, mastermind, retreat, or conference. Speaking engagements allow you to reach audiences you haven’t touched yet, and they build your credibility and help new people know, like, and trust you.

Here’s a recap of my time at Cathy Heller’s Her Turn to Podcast Summit, speaking to 250-300 podcasters during my second speaking engagement. You’ll hear how to overcome fear, step into something uncomfortable and big, and watch it turn out amazing!

Facing Fears Around A Speaking Engagement

Are you afraid of public speaking? Are you fearful of what the audience may think of what you have to share or what you believe?

If you are a believer in Christ, you are appointed and anointed. It is your job to be the hands and feet of Jesus and share His truth with as many places and people as possible. Show people what a life with Him looks like. Glorify God in the areas and with the people He calls you. 

God wants to use you in mighty ways in people’s lives. If He opens the door for you to speak and love people by showing them what it means to be a non-judgmental Christian, that is what you should do. 

Take every opportunity to love everyone you meet sincerely. Smile, hug them, and learn from everyone. You won’t learn from others if you have walls up and judge. 

Are you allowing your fear of others or the fear of a negative review to be greater than your fear of God?

Rename fear as “Excited Anticipation.” Choose to say, “Oh! Something I have never done before! Let’s go!  I’m pushing in. I’m excited and anticipate what God has for me on the other side of this new thing.” 

Friend, God has something great for you as you obey Him. So, step forward and do the thing that scares you the most. Watch what God does for you!

First Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Your Podcast is Your Networking Tool

Your podcast is a networking tool. You can use your podcast to bless other people and speak life, and you can also use it to meet people and make new friendships.

Who are the people you want to meet and learn from? Invite them to your show. You may not get to meet them otherwise, but you can initiate a friendship by inviting them to speak on your podcast. 

Having them as a guest on your podcast allows you to learn from them and perhaps work together. You never know what God will do as you network with your podcast. 

Second Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Strengthen Your Mindset to Grow Your Business

There are many things to focus on while growing your online business, such as coaching, podcasting, and presenting at speaking engagements. However, building a strong mindset is even more important than the everyday tasks inside your business.

The inner work of your mindset and emotions is as important as your business’s tactical, take-action side. God gave you emotions and feelings. As a Christian, use God’s Word as your lens. Align your mindset, thoughts, and words with Scripture and cover it in prayer.

Then, you will have a solid, unshakable mindset as you complete the daily operational tasks inside your business.

Third Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Monetize Your Podcast

Monetizing your podcast means a company buys space on your podcast to share its product. It doesn’t make sense to put ad space in your podcast unless you have a particular person’s offer or product that you constantly obsess over, and you don’t teach it or make it. 

For example, I share about Polly Payne’s planners here and Chelsi Jo’s Systemize your Home and Biz here because I don’t do what they do. I use their things, and I think you should, too. It is best to share your offers on your podcast.

Fourth Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Podcasting Is Here to Stay

Don’t succumb to pod fade – giving up within the first twelve months of starting a podcast – because podcasts aren’t going anywhere. They are the best platform for conversions and sales. Paid subscription growth is a huge driver of that.

With a paid subscription, customers are willing to pay for a regular recurring service or source of information you offer. Even if you don’t offer paid subscriptions, send your listeners directly to where you want them to go.

Drive your listeners to the final destination, like the Apple Podcast link. The fewer steps they have to take, the more action they will take.

Fifth Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: If You Think Your Work is Controversial, Go Further

Maybe you ask, “Was that too much? Will my audience dislike this?” That’s your sign to go further. You know you are being authentic. What is inside your brand and your message? Do you know the truth and what needs to be said? Then say it.

Your brand and message will grow as you make an impact, speak the truth, and show up authentically. And with anything, if you want to grow and get better at something, you have to do more of it. 

To improve at coaching, you must talk to people, ask questions, take notes, and genuinely care. To increase your income, you need to stay consistent, grow an email list, and share about your service or product. The more you do something, you’ll get better at it. And have fun doing it.

Sixth Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Consider Other Metrics Besides Downloads

Podcast downloads aren’t the only trusted metrics for podcasting. Scout Sobel from Okay Sister encourages podcasters to consider other metrics besides podcast downloads. 

Ask yourself, “What kind of guests am I getting? Are these guests better than the guests I had on the show two years ago? Are my reviews growing? Is my email list growing?” 

These metrics, not only podcast downloads, tell if you are improving at podcasting. Your goal is to improve with each episode you publish, so consider these other metrics besides podcast downloads.

Seventh Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: The Four Core Sources of Marketing

Veronica Romney, from The Rainmaker Podcast, shared four core marketing sources. 

• Search Marketing
• Relationship Marketing
• Paid Marketing
• Social Media

I believe paid marketing shouldn’t be a focus until you’ve reached $10K in monthly revenue.

Marketing always refers to listening and repeating what your customer thinks and says. That’s why market research is so important. 

What is your person saying? How are they saying it? 

Your customer is your copywriter. Repeat your customer’s words in your episode content, emails, and social posts.

Eighth Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Remember Buyer Habits While Marketing

With marketing, remember that people buy based on the benefits they will receive. They are informed about the features your offer provides.

For example, people buy my course, Podcast Pro University, because it teaches them how to get leads from behind a microphone in less than 2 hours a week. They get support, accountability, live Q&A once a month, and training on recording and editing their episodes.

How can you describe your offer based on the benefits your client will receive while keeping them informed about the features you provide?

Ninth Lesson From My Speaking Engagement: Interviewing Guests on Your Podcast

When you interview guests, send an email when finished with your conversation and ask, “Do you have one person you would love to connect me with?” Also, ask, “How else may I support you right now?”

Add to your interview intake the following questions:

• What are your favorite things to do with your family or in your free time? 
• What is your address for a small thank you? This gives you the information you need to buy your guest a gift. 

Adding these personal touches and going the extra mile makes your podcast a networking tool.

I pray this blesses you!

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