On the latest episode of Should I Start a Podcast, we had the immense pleasure of talking to Allison Melody, host of The Food Heals Podcast. In just a few short years, Allison’s listenership has skyrocketed to 150,000 and her show has netted her speaking gigs, a book deal and a featured spot on entrepreneur.com.
Here’s a few of her top tips from the episode for how to turn podcasting from a hobby into a full-time, successful endeavour.
Offer Free Ads
When Allison started her show, she was asking potential sponsors to have a lot of trust in her. She didn’t have any listeners, but she knew she was serious about what she wanted to do: bring the truth of healthy eating and wellness to listeners around the world.
So, she offered 100% free ads to clients that fit in with her message. Obviously, plenty of people were happy to take her up on that offer. Once she had hit 100,000 listeners, she then told her clients that she would be monetising the ads. A majority of them said they would be happy to stay on as paying clients (70%), and voila, she had a profitable podcast.
Throw Parties
With The Food Heals Podcast, Allison has created what we like to call a product ecosystem. She has the podcast, books, affiliate products — and also some amazing parties.
For the podcast’s 100th episode, Allison threw a party in Los Angeles for all the people in her network and who had helped support the show. There were sponsors, speakers, gift bags and plenty of good food and drink.
But it doesn’t stop there. Allison recently went on a retreat with twelve listeners to Italy, where they sampled incredible vegan food and travelled together. Not a bad way to make a living, right?
Find High-end Affiliates
Allison does believe in sponsorships and affiliate marketing (selling products on your show and taking a cut of their sales). But she says that people often think too small.
The key is to find high-end products that pay out big money for commissions. Selling vitamins is all well and good, especially because Allison believes in all of the products she features on her show. Selling a high-end program however, can be much more profitable.
It obviously depends on what kind of show you’re hosting, but see if you can find some more expensive products and programs to tout on your podcast.
Eat Good Food!
This one isn’t so much about marketing, but it’s still important.
When Allison lost both of her parents at a young age to cancer, she radically redefined how she lived her life, changing her diet, spiritual outlook and personal attitude. The results were phenomenal: she found that she was in better shape, happier and much more enjoyable to be around.
If you’re a podcast host, or any kind of entrepreneur, chances are you push yourself. Maybe you take the 11pm McDonald’s meal because you’re too busy to cook something decent. My advice to you is to take a step back and realise what’s important in your life.
Because by neglecting our minds and bodies, our work performance inevitably suffers. Besides, what does success even matter if you’re sacrificing your health?
Listen to my entire conversation with Allison Melody here.
https://mustamplify.com/shouldistartapodcast115/
Author: Ronsley Vaz
Ronsley is the founder & chief day dreamer at AMPLIFY. He is an author, speaker & serial entrepreneur.
He has a Masters’ degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in Psychology and Leadership. He is known as the creator of We Are Podcast – the first Podcasting Conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and the host of The Bond Appetit Podcast and Should I Start a Podcast. He has an audience of over 3 million in 133 countries.