December 24, 2024 • 39 mins
Ready to transform your podcasting strategy for 2025? This episode promises to equip you with the insights and tools needed to navigate the ever-evolving podcasting landscape. Discover how the rise of video podcasts and niche-specific communities like Podcasters Connect are reshaping how we engage with audiences. You'll learn how to harness these trends to boost connection and explore the potential of interactive podcasts and AI to elevate your content game.
Imagine the freedom of diversified income streams in podcasting. We share our journey from relying solely on courses to embracing services, affiliates, sponsorships, and partnerships. This episode highlights the importance of a robust, multifaceted content strategy to reach wider audiences across multiple platforms. With the increasing competition fueled by AI and technology, the secret to standing out is showcasing your authentic voice and genuine expertise.
Balancing your podcasting dreams with your personal life is crucial, and we open up about planning intentional breaks to spend quality time with family. Learn how strategic batching and effective planning can keep your content flowing seamlessly. We encourage you to reflect on your aspirations for the future and invite you to join our community through feedback and shared dreams. Get ready to embark on a journey toward success, both personally and professionally, in the podcasting world.
🎧 Free On-Demand Training:
Ready to grow your podcast, stay consistent, and finally start monetizing? Watch my brand-new training, The Podcast Growth & Monetization Blueprint: What’s Working Now, and get a sneak peek inside my private community, Podcasters Connect — plus exclusive access to our custom AI podcast assistant!
👉 Watch now: krystalproffitt.com/growth
Click the "Send Krystal a Text Message" link above to send us your questions, comments, and feedback on the show! (Pssst...we'll do giveaways in upcoming episodes so make sure you leave your name & podcast title.)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Something is about to happen with podcasting.
Are you ready?
Okay, so I know that was likekind of dramatic, like it's a
little bit more dramatic thanhow I typically start my content
, but I wanna give a shout outreal fast to Creator Hooks Pro.
They are not a sponsor, I'm noteven an affiliate for them, so
(00:22):
I'm just giving them an actualshout out, but they helped me
come up with the title fortoday's episode and I was like
ooh, I like how dramatic that is, and so what I did is I planned
all of the content for todayand then I was like I've got to
get a really great groundingtitle and so something is about
(00:44):
to happen with podcasting.
Are you ready?
Felt right, because when I'mrecording this, we're at the end
of the year for 2024.
And so many of you are lookingat 2025, like what do I want to
do?
What are some of my goals?
Many of you have said to melike I want to add video to my
podcast, or I want to show upmore on social, or I'm finally
(01:06):
going to build my email list,and I think all of these are
fantastic, but I want to reallydive into so this is one of the
things that, of course, I had myhandy dandy chat GPT help me
plan this episode, and one ofthe things that I really thought
about was what worked in 2024,what's going to continue to work
(01:27):
in 2025, but what are we kindof leaving in the past, right,
like what are we going to leavein 2024 that maybe isn't serving
you or isn't really going to bethe standard going forward with
podcasting, and I have somevery specific examples that
we're going to walk through.
But I just something ishappening Like we're going into
(01:50):
a new year and I mean, ifanything, I think about the last
few years and how much thelandscape has changed for tools
and processes and workflows, andwhat we do today is different
than what it was just a fewyears ago.
So we're going to dive into allof this in today's episode.
So let's get right to it.
(02:11):
Welcome to the Profit Podcast,where we teach you how to start,
launch and market your contentwith confidence.
I'm your host, crystal Profit,and I'm so excited that you're
here.
Thanks for hanging out with metoday, because if you've been
trying to figure out the worldof content creation, this is the
show that will help be yourtime-saving shortcut.
So let's get right to it.
(02:32):
Shall we Welcome back toanother episode of the Profit
Podcast?
I'm Crystal Profit, if we havenot met, and I am so excited
that you are here.
So, whether you are brand newto podcasting content creation
or you've been around here for awhile, you're like yeah,
grisdol, we know You're apodcast coach, content
(02:55):
strategist, you're our contenttherapist, helping us work on
our relationship with ourcontent.
These are all the things thatI'm excited to do and own these
titles and really share themwith you, because it's what I'm
most passionate about.
And if you've been around herea while, you know you're like
Crystal really gets excitedabout all things content, which
(03:17):
is why I hope you keep comingback.
But I kind of want to set thestage for what we're talking
about here today, because we'regoing to reflect on this past
year of podcasting for mycontent as well as your own.
So I have some kind of promptsand questions.
So if you're a journaler or youwant to open up a Google Doc
and take some notes, put somenotes in your phone on your app.
If you're out on a walk, likewhatever, like, I want you to
(03:39):
really use this episode as areflection of what's happened in
your content in the last yearto kind of catapult you into
2025 and beyond.
So when we're looking at this,I want to think about adapting
to what's changing in ourenvironment.
I'll go over a few key thingsthat I've noticed really
(04:01):
shifting in the last few monthsand then so we're gonna talk
about how podcasting is changing, what challenges I faced and
you have faced as well that wemaybe need to overcome or leave
some of that baggage in 2024,and then practical steps to stay
ahead of the curve of what Ibelieve is happening in our
industry.
So sound good.
(04:21):
Okay, so let's take a fewminutes and reflect on 2024,
right, this is segment onereflecting on 2024.
And, just without even lookingat my notes, like what has stood
out to me this year is being somuch more flexible, which I
feel like I'm pretty flexiblealready when it comes to
(04:42):
creating content, when I'mrecording what I'm doing.
If you've been around here,like, you know that I'll record
when I don't have the best setupor maybe it's not like the best
.
You know aesthetics or whatever, but you can bet your bottom
dollar.
We stay consistent around here.
Like that is one thing that Iam known for, I'm very proud of,
(05:03):
and so I'm just wanting tohighlight that it's like man.
I traveled to Boise this year.
I traveled to New York thisyear.
I had a few different tripswhere I was really out of pocket
, and when I say out of pocket,like it wouldn't have even been
able to or I wouldn't have beenable to really record on my
phone because it was chaos whenI was at a town.
(05:26):
So, either being flexible andrecording on the go which I did
a little bit of that in Boise orwhen I was in New York, I
batched my little buns offbefore I went and made sure that
we had content still delivered,and I'm so grateful that I did,
because if I would have had toworry about any of that when I
(05:46):
was chaperoning 140 kids yes,I've never really gone into too
much detail about why I went toNew York earlier this year, but
I was chaperoning.
I was chaperoning my son'sorchestra field trip and it was
pure chaos to have that manykids around.
I didn't get a lot of sleepwhile we were there because I
was chaperoning.
(06:06):
We're going to bed at like 1130and then getting up at 630.
And I'm like y'all, I need myeight hours of like really good
sleep and I usually don't sleepsuper well when I'm traveling
anyway.
So it was just like this whole.
I'm so grateful I did not haveto think about content once
while I was in like New York,and then traveling any other
time.
So that's like a big standingout to me.
(06:27):
But I encourage you to look back, like what were some of your
really big wins this year.
So what were some of your bigwins?
One of mine that I'll share Ifeel like we're like in a
sharing circle now.
Like so, let's, let's pretendlike we're all sitting like
crisscross applesauce and we'resitting in a little circle and
it's like okay, you know,crystal, it's your turn, then
we're going to go to Carrie,then we're going to go over to
(06:48):
Jay and then we're going to goover to Leslie.
Like we're all going to share,but I'm just sharing and I'm
hoping that you're going to goand jot these down in your
little notes.
But one of my biggest wins Ifeel like I did really well with
sponsorship revenue this year,like blown away by how many
opportunities came my way, howmany different partnerships I
(07:09):
was able to secure.
Some of them were one time likeit was a one-off, like hey, we
want you to do this for us andthen we'll see.
You know, and it didn't reallylead to anything but, man, I
learned so much, so so muchabout what I want to look for in
future partnerships, but alsowhat I really don't want, and
that was really helpful.
So, for those of you exploringmonetization and sponsorships or
(07:33):
even any kind of partnershipthat you may have, I encourage
you to write down all of yourlessons learned, even if they're
not all great, like I think,some of us are hesitant to write
down.
You know, we had this terribleexperience and you're just like,
oh my gosh, I just want to moveon.
Write those things down, like,take note of what worked, what
didn't work, because then in thefuture, when you have those
(07:55):
spidey senses of something's notworking out again, you can know
immediately You're like, oh, Iremember from this last
partnership, like this is goingto go south really fast and you
can either get out of it or makeit really short, succinct, and
it's like, okay, let's do thisthing and then move on.
And so that was something thatwas a big win for me is having a
(08:16):
lot more sponsorship experiencethis year.
So it wasn't just about therevenue, of course, that was
fantastic, right, like makingmore money for creating content
for other people, like, yes,it's what I love to do, I love
creating content and I mademoney.
You know, win, win, win acrossthe board.
But I also learned so much,like now I'm much better at
(08:37):
negotiating, now I know propercontracts, now I know just how
to do this a lot easier, so nowI can teach it to you, now I can
tell other people about my ownexperience, and that just feels
really good to have thatexperience now in my back pocket
, whereas previously, the lastfew years, that was a huge
question mark for me.
So when people came to me andasked me about sponsorships, I
(08:58):
was kind of like oh, I don'tknow, I don't know, you're going
to have to go ask someone else.
So that feels really good.
What challenges did you face?
So, for me personally,challenges that I had were, I
would say, like trying to stayconsistent, which I think this
is everyone's problem, right,it's everyone's dilemma.
(09:20):
But I think that I was tryingto overcommit myself to
consistency in a way that itended up being too rigid and I
wasn't allowing myself to bemore flexible.
So let me give you a greatexample I would set aside like a
batching day.
Then I would get to thatbatching day where I'm like I
just don't really feel it, but Iwas like, no, you're going to
(09:43):
stick to this, because you setaside this calendar day to do
batching.
Then I would force it and I'dwatch that content back or
listen to it back.
I'm like, oh, I could tell.
Like she felt forced.
I'm talking about previousversion of myself.
I'm like that.
That version of Crystal feltvery forced and it didn't turn
out to be the best piece ofcontent, and so that was one of
(10:06):
the things that I realized islike, oh, I still need to give
myself grace and I need to givemyself permission one to not
have every piece of content likehold it in this, like high
regard of, like everything'sgoing to be, you know, a home
run.
Like I'm going to knock thisout of the park every single
time.
You're not, and that's okay.
Like that is okay.
You don't have to have everysingle piece of content you ever
(10:26):
create be this thing.
That is like oh, my gosh, likethat was a masterpiece.
I don't ever feel that wayabout my content, like I'm
always probably overly criticalor really judgmental about like,
oh, that could have been better.
I could have said this thing oroh man, I didn't include this
story.
I wanted to include this story.
This was the thing that wouldmake it so incredible.
(10:47):
But guess what?
We get to show up again nextweek and then the week after
that, and the week after that,then the month after that, then
the year after that.
So I have the long gamestrategy in mind and that's how
I look at it.
So, even though consistency ormaybe trying to set aside like a
rigid schedule and stick to it,it was a challenge, it was
(11:08):
probably not the right goal forme to set for myself anyway.
So kind of a double-edged swordon that one.
But another challenge I didface and I mentioned this
earlier is some of thesponsorship deals that I thought
were going to be superlucrative fell absolutely flat.
Like I got really excited aboutit.
Maybe you've had thisexperience too, where you're
like you're talking with themand you're like, oh my gosh,
(11:30):
this is the partnership I'vebeen waiting for, it's going to
be incredible.
And then crickets, it ended up.
Just for whatever reason, wehit a dead end and it was almost
like I had to grieve thatbecause I thought it was going
to be like this recurringrevenue, like this easy revenue,
that was going to be supersimple for me to create the
(11:52):
thing.
It was going to be beneficialfor them, beneficial for me,
give us both lots of exposure.
And then it didn't work and Ithink it's okay to sit here and
say like, oh, you have to grievethat sometimes, so you know,
just kind of sit in it for asecond and say, man, that really
sucks.
And then move on and, like Isaid earlier, learn from those
mistakes or learn from those,you know, the partnership gone
(12:15):
wrong or whatever, and just say,all right, instead of just
saying that was wasted time,money, energy and effort, I'm
going to say, oh, I'm takingthose lessons and moving them
into the next partnerships orthe next deals that we're going
to have in the future.
The other question is did youhit your goals or struggle with
consistency?
So we already kind of talkedabout consistency, but I like
(12:37):
the just kind of frankness thatI'm very, very clear and and
gonna be very transparent withyou about struggling with
consistency, because it is thething that I think everyone
struggles with you struggle withconsistency.
I'm not just talking aboutpodcasting either.
I'm talking about putting outyour newsletter.
I've had multiple friends cometo me like friends that I've
(13:00):
known for a long time andthey're just like y'all.
I can't get my act together.
I am trying to send my weeklynewsletter and I just cannot do
it.
I don't know what it is.
I haven't sent one in so long.
I feel like I've ghosted mypeople and now I can't go back
to them.
And for those of you that arefeeling this way right now, just
know, start today.
Right, like try again today.
(13:23):
You know, make it be somethingthat you're not holding this
like guilt and shame andresentment of all these things
that you didn't do in the past.
It's like, well, what are you,what can you do today?
What can you do today andreally show up for yourself,
show up for your audience in theway that's going to be more
productive, and maybe that meansnot showing up how you used to
show up.
Right, we talked about thisepisode's gonna be about, like,
(13:44):
what's happening with podcasting?
What's changing?
Like what?
If you just made it simpler onyourself, I know this is where
we're getting.
Like we're in a therapy sessionIf you didn't already know this
like we are in a full-blowntherapy session at this point
where I'm gonna just offer toyou like this, is your
permission slip Make it easier,make it easier, make it easier,
(14:11):
make your content shorter.
If you need to make it shorter,make it less frequent.
If you're doing two episodes aweek right now, what would it
look like to do one episode aweek?
What would it look like, right?
Or if you're doing every weekright now, what would it look
like to do two episodes a monthfor a short term?
I mean, I don't know.
I don't know.
I can't answer these questionsfor you, but I'm here to just
ask those questions, like ifyou're struggling with
consistency or meeting yourgoals, then what does it look
(14:32):
like to change them up just alittle bit?
And number one increasing invideo podcasting right, like we
knew this was going to happen.
One of my favorite podcasts thatwas just audio only for a long
(14:52):
time I listened to ArmchairExpert with Dax Shepard and
Monica Padman.
They were just audio.
They are video now and I amhere for it.
I love it so much.
I love that I have the optionto watch them on YouTube.
I love seeing them in theirspace and I really didn't think
that I would watch them as muchas I do, but I love it, I love
watching them.
(15:12):
So I just have to say, like I'mhere for all the video
podcasting and I hope that moreof you kind of jump on the
bandwagon, because it's a reallycool way to connect with your
audience and I think that it'sstill worth having that YouTube
integration, whether it's justyour podcast RSS feed, which we
have content on that.
Go watch that YouTube videothat we put up recently about it
(15:33):
.
But we've been putting out alot more content around video
podcasting because I think it'ssuper important.
But the other one is the nichespecific communities.
So we did this right.
We moved all our whole platformover to mighty networks because
it's focused on community.
We're actually havingconversations and this is what's
(15:54):
so incredible to me.
So we moved over and createdpodcasters connect, which you
can go to crystalprofitcomforward slash, join j-o-i-n to
learn more about PodcastersConnect.
But I created this space becauseI didn't want it to live on
social, right.
I wanted it to live off ofsocial, off of these other
platforms where there's a lot ofdistractions, where if you go
(16:15):
there, that's the only thingyou're going to see, right?
You're not going to see cutebaby pictures.
You're not going to see.
You know I mean, unlesssomeone's content is about
babies and their baby pictures.
You know, like I mean, unlesssomeone's content is about
babies and their baby pictures,you know, like that's a
different story.
But it's not all thesedistractions.
Like you go there withintention to this very specific
community to get that thing fromit.
(16:35):
I've seen health and wellnesscommunities pop up this way.
Maury Forleo, like she createda platform on Mighty Networks, I
think it's called the DreamClub, and this is a platform
where you go there and that'swhat you get.
Like you get business advice,helpful tips from her.
You get, I think she does likemeditations or some kind of
(16:56):
mindfulness around mental healthand what that looks like for
entrepreneurs.
So I'm just saying, like allthese really niche specific
communities are still boomingand I think they're going to
continue to rise in 2025.
But interactive podcast and AI Imean this is do I even need to
say that?
Because you know, you know, ifyou know AI is here and you know
(17:20):
that, oh my gosh, y'all I'madjusting my chair like real
time, real time, jay, leave thatin.
Sometimes he'll cut wheneverthere's things it's like oh
Crystal, do you really want toshow people that you're
struggling with your chair.
So I'm recording this beforeChristmas, so I'm adding that to
my Santa list.
Is mama's hoping she gets a newchair for Christmas because
(17:41):
this one is awful, awful, awful,awful?
But I want you to reflect onthis right For this like
reflecting on 2024, this is thequestion what was one strategy
you relied on in 2024 that mightneed updating or rethinking for
2025?
This one for me is I'm lookingat a different way to grow my
(18:04):
email list in 2025.
And there's a few differentways.
I think I'm like I'm a littlenervous to share it because I
haven't decided if I'm going todo it yet or not, but I'll go
ahead and share it because I dothink it's very lucrative and I
think that it is something I'mgoing to explore seriously.
But it is referral newsletters,so I'm a part of a few of these
(18:25):
where it's like there's aplatform built into ConvertKit.
Excuse me, I just saidConvertKit, it is Kit.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, thatwas my branding mistake, right,
kit.
It's built into Kit and it'scalled Sparkloop and what it is.
It's a way for you to at thevery bottom of the page and
(18:45):
we'll put some visuals up here,but at the bottom of the page,
someone will have the option toshare your newsletter with
someone else.
So if you are a podcaster andyou find my weekly newsletter,
content Therapy, helpful, thenyou could share it and then you
get rewards for sharing it andthen if people subscribe.
(19:06):
So it's a model that I've beentoying around with, like I've
been studying it, and I thinkthat it could work really well.
So TBD on that, but it'ssomething that I'm looking at.
You know what strategy yourelied on 2024 that might need
updating or rethinking.
Y'all know I'm always talkingabout my email list.
I can't shut up about emailmarketing, but I do want to
rethink how it is, because, forme personally, I don't think
(19:29):
that the lead magnet, like youknow, download this.
I have tons of lead magnets.
I have podcast bootcamps, Ihave PDFs, I have, you know,
free workshops.
I have all these things, and Ithink that having something that
is in it for the communitymembers and in it for people
that share could be really fun.
So something I'm rethinking.
(19:50):
So I'm sharing.
We're in the circle share right, the sharing is caring, and I
wanted to share that with you.
So I hope that you'rereflecting on your own version
of this, though, and you writesome of those notes down.
Okay, promise, deal, okay.
So the next segment is what'schanging in podcasting for 2025?
Trend number one more visualcontent.
(20:11):
We've already talked aboutvideo podcasting, but it's just
something that is going to stayright, like clips on YouTube,
clips on TikTok, clips onInstagram, like all of these
things are going to continue togrow and expand.
And then, having audio first,creators need to have some sort
of visual strategy.
So if you've only been creatingaudio only content, what is
(20:34):
your visual strategy?
It could still stay audio only,and then you share clips on
YouTube shorts, or you shareclips on Instagram, or whatever,
but I think that having avisual component is going to
continue to be something very,very important.
The second trend is monetizationis evolving, and man, I have
seen this myself.
(20:54):
Right, like talk about thegrowing importance of
memberships.
We are talking aboutcommunities, then exclusive
content and diversified incomestreams.
So when I think about this, afew years ago I would say my
(21:14):
business makes money throughcourses.
And then it was my businessmakes money through courses and
services, because then I offeredcoaching.
Now y'all I mean it's courses,it's services, it's affiliates,
it's sponsorships, it'spartnerships, collaborations.
I mean, it's like it's verylike, I think of like the wheel,
the spokes on a wheel.
It's just still expanding and Ithink it's something that, if
(21:37):
you only have one means ofmaking money with your content
today, explore.
What could that look like?
Ask ChatGPT, this is my market,these are my people, these are
the demographics, blah, blah,blah.
Just keep drilling down untilyou get some of those ideas on
what you could do to make moremoney.
But monetization is going tocontinue to evolve and I think
(21:59):
that you should absolutelydiversify what you're doing,
because relying on one source ofincome would have really
limited how much money I've beenable to make in my business.
So I'm very grateful that Ididn't do that.
And ad revenue is one of thosethings that I don't rely on it.
I don't rely on specificpodcast sponsorships where it's
(22:22):
just audio only and I am readinga host read ad and I'm putting
it out there.
I don't rely on that, for sure,for sure.
It's not something that hasever been like.
Oh, that's the main part of mything.
That is the main part of yourbusiness right now is you're
making, you have a very popularpodcast and you're getting tens
of thousands of downloads and ifyou have ad revenue coming.
(22:43):
Just know that's likely gonnacontinue to change in the future
and I would diversify the heckout of my portfolio if that's
the only thing that you havegoing for you right now.
So there's my little you know,sprinkling in little, little
pieces of advice and tough love,but I think that you, you
should absolutely consider thatand consider how you can add
(23:04):
another spoke to your you knowmonetization wheel for your
content.
Trend number three is contentstrategy will matter more than
ever.
And now when I think aboutcontent strategy, I zoom out and
I look at where am I creatingcontent like absolutely must
have, must create on thesespecific platforms?
(23:24):
And then how am I connectingthose platforms together?
So, for example, I told youearlier it's like oh, if you're
interested in Podcasters,connect, go to crystalprofitcom.
Forward, slash, join.
I didn't just tell you about mymembership, I also told you
about my website.
So I want and I want everybodyto go to my website at some
point in their journey head overto my website, because I want
(23:45):
you to get on my email list.
Now my email list is contenttherapy.
So you should check out contenttherapy because in content
therapy I give you helpful toolsand resources, whether it's
affiliate partnerships, it issponsorships, sometimes it's
podcasters connect spotlights,so we do member spotlights in
there.
I mean, I could keep going onand on and on about all these
(24:05):
benefits, but did you see how Ijust like quickly ran through,
like I'm fanning out themultiple opportunities for you
to connect with me, and it's notjust on this podcast, it's not
just on YouTube, it is multipledifferent places, because I know
not everyone learns the same.
We have blog posts, right.
(24:25):
We will link to the blog postthat we have for this video if
you're watching on YouTube, orthis podcast episode If you're
listening.
There's going to be a link outto the blog because I want to
have as much opportunity aspossible for you to be able to
consume this content in the waythat makes the most sense to you
.
And I think that you shouldhave that same strategy as well,
(24:46):
as you sit down and you thinklike where are my people going
to engage with me the most andhow can I make this as easy for
them to consume this content,but also for them to say yes and
right.
Have you heard this?
Right?
Like the improv, like okay, Ineed to do like a yes.
And so you say yes, and I wantto come join your membership yes
(25:10):
, and I want to get on youremail list yes, and I want to
follow you on Instagram yes, andI mean we could just keep going
on and on and on.
Yes, and I want to buy yourproduct yes, and I want to go
buy your book on Amazon.
Like I mean, we could just keepgoing.
But that content strategy wasset up very intentionally and I
think that if you haven't donethis before, you need to sit
(25:30):
down and reflect on all thedifferent pieces of where you
create content, how you show uponline and how you connect all
these pieces together.
Okay, so that was a long one,but it's a really important one.
And then the fourth trend is AIand technology will transform
podcasting.
So there have been tools in thelast 12 months that have popped
up, that have editing right,podcast editing tools, podcast
(25:53):
scripting, which again I hadChad GBT help me with today's
episode, and it was like chef'skiss incredible.
And then promotion right, butit's also gonna make everything
more competitive because, at thesame time, like, I can do this,
you can do this and the 50other people in your niche can
do the same thing.
(26:14):
So how do we stand out?
How do we make it to where it'snot just all whitewashed across
all of you know content, whereit's like everyone sounds the
same, like it's just a blur ofwhite noise.
I don't even know who does thisor who does that.
Like, this person says they'rean expert, but what real you
(26:34):
know credit do they have?
Like, where are their receipts?
We need to see their receiptsfor what they have actually done
, and so I have been speakingabout this for a while, since
the conversation of AI has beenthere.
But storytelling is going to beyour friend giving real stories,
real examples, and having thesepieces of your content that no
(26:55):
one else can replicate.
Like, what is your story Ifthat's the only thing you get
from today?
If you're like I don't have astory, yes, you do, yes, you do.
You need to go and write downwhat your story is, that way you
can tell it over and over andover again so people actually
get it and they understand it.
So great example my story is Istarted my podcast in 2018.
(27:18):
I had been a stay-at-home momfor a long time.
We moved to Houston and I waslike you know what I want to do,
something that's just for me.
I'd been writing for severalyears I always say blogging
unsuccessfully and then Istarted my podcast.
The podcast was called theRookie Life and it was about
female entrepreneurs and allthese incredible women that were
in my life.
And then people started askingme about well, how are you
(27:41):
creating this podcast?
They didn't really care aboutthe content I was creating.
They were just like, oh my gosh, you started this podcast.
How does that work?
And I was like, well, I washaving more fun on the side
helping those people than I wasactually creating my content.
So that's when I made theswitch and I said, oh, let me
just start talking aboutcreating content and what that
(28:02):
can look like.
And it's like we rode off intothe sunset with that narrative.
So since 2019, this content hasbeen around podcasting start,
launch, market your podcast,creating with confidence.
And this is my story, right,this is my story and what I
bring to the table.
I've now created multiplepodcasts.
I think I've started at leastfive or six, and it's thousands
(28:27):
and thousands and thousands ofepisodes later.
We're here, right, we're here,and that's something that AI
can't touch.
It's my story.
It's where I came from.
So you go figure out what isyour story If you're not telling
it.
You need to start telling it.
You need to start telling it inyour content.
You need people to know online.
(28:48):
You need people to know on youremail list, in your content,
what your story is, becausethat's why they will follow you,
not because you gave them the10 best recommendations for this
and on that, like no, yourstory, they'll connect with you
and how you deliver content.
Okay, I'm gonna get off mysoapbox for a second.
Okay, here we go.
(29:08):
I'm off my soapbox.
Okay, step down, we're good togo.
So the key takeaway for all ofthis is change is inevitable,
but those who adapt will thrive.
You will thrive in 2025 if youcan adapt to what's happening.
And we're gonna talk about someof the other major changes, but
the creators who lean intothese shifts will set themselves
up.
Share your story.
(29:32):
You want to be set apart.
Share your story, share yourstory.
Share your story, share yourstory.
That should be the title oftoday's episode, because it is
the thing that I believe sopassionately about.
But let's prepare for thefuture.
So the third and final segmentright, preparing for the future
looks like step number one audityour podcast, audit your
content.
What does that look like?
(29:53):
Go listen to an episode.
When was the last time youlistened to an episode, not from
Buzzsprout or your podcast host?
Go to YouTube and watch a wholevideo of what you created, or
go to, you know, apple Podcasts.
Go to Spotify.
Go to somewhere where you don'ttypically hang out and consume
your own content like you wereyour audience, and you will find
things.
You will find things.
(30:14):
You will find that you said, oh, go check out this episode.
You know, link in the shownotes.
There's no link in the shownotes or it's a broken link,
like.
This happened to me earlierthis week.
I was like, oh, you know, gocheck out the notes or the link
in the show notes, and I wentand clicked in the link and I
was like, wait, that's, that's a404 page.
That's not the right link inthe show notes.
So other people haveexperienced this as well.
(30:36):
So go do a full audit of yourcontent.
The second one is settingintentional goals for 2025.
And I don't want your goals tobe about downloads.
Ooh, if you already set thisgoal, we might wanna scratch
through it, erase it.
I don't know, but don't let itjust be about downloads.
I'll say that, okay, because Iknow some of you have very
(30:58):
intentional goals.
You're like I want to get asponsor, I want to do this, I
got to get more downloads.
Okay, that's fine, but don'tlet your only goal around your
content be around watch timeviews, subscribers, people that
follow me on Instagram, like allof these vanity metrics that
may or may not contribute at allto the bottom line of your
(31:18):
business and your content.
I would rather you say you knowwhat?
I'm going to get 25testimonials in the first
quarter of the year.
That's an impressive goal.
That's a really impressive goal.
You're going to haveconversations with all these
people, you're going to documentit, you're going to record it
like whatever.
Like that is a very impressivegoal to me.
Or, the first half, the firstquarter, seems like 25.
(31:40):
I'm like that's a lot of people, but the first half of 2025,
that would be incredible.
25 and 25, like.
Make that your goal 25 reviewsof your content or testimonials
in 2025.
I think that that's a prettygood goal.
So if you don't have one, youcan still mine.
Just go forth with that one,but don't let it just be about
(32:01):
content downloads, contentmetrics.
Another one could besystemizing If you haven't done
that, or working on yourworkflows.
That could be really helpful tosomeone.
If you feel things are verychaotic right now, I would lean
into that as well.
And then investing in communityand resources.
Of course, I've already talkedabout Podcasters Connect, but
this is a plug for it and I'mgonna tell you, like y'all,
(32:24):
there's a free version of themembership.
Somebody wrote in the other dayand they're like oh, I didn't
realize that it's also there's afree version.
Yes, there's three differenttiers of joining Podcasters
Connect.
So we have a free version thatallows you a few features in the
community.
Then we have a monthlysubscription version where you
can pay every single month.
So if you just want to testdrive it and see what we're all
(32:46):
about, then come hang out withus.
And then we have an annualversion where you pay up front
for the full year.
Then you get the benefits ofgetting the discount on two
months.
Right, there's two months outof the year you don't have to
pay for.
Plus, you get other perks, likeyou get a sponsored newsletter,
and we have other promotionalfeatures that are just available
to our sponsored members, oursponsored members, our annual
(33:08):
members in the membership.
So crystalprofitcom forwardslash, join, check out
podcasters, connect and comejoin the free version, right?
If you're like I don't know ifI'm ready, come join the free
version, come test drive us seewhat you think about it.
But as a wrap up, the lastquestion is is what's one change
you're ready to make in yourpodcasting approach for the new
(33:29):
year?
What's that one change?
Is it video?
Is it recording shorterepisodes?
Is it planning ahead more?
Like what is the thing that youcan commit to as we're
approaching the new year?
Like what's something that youwant to take into 2025, that
you're like.
(33:50):
I really, I really want to makethis one change because I think
it'll make all the differenceFor me.
It's continuing to take monthsoff out of the year.
I want to say months, I didn'tsay days or weeks Months off in
the year where I'm not creatingat all and I'm spending
intentional time with my family.
I already do this a little bit,but I'm thinking I need to do
(34:11):
it even more.
Like January, february, thoseare okay.
I think I'm going to take thewhole month of March off.
I'm gonna take the whole monthof June off, not all of July,
but a little bit of July andthen, for sure, november and
December next year.
That's a lot like that's fivemonths out of next year where I
won't be creating any content.
So what does that mean?
(34:32):
That means I got to be batching.
It means I got to be batching.
It means I got to be planning,I got to be recording like I got
to be.
I got to have my ducks in a rowin order to make that happen.
So that's one change that I'mwilling to make.
It's a sacrifice I'm willing tomake to have more intentional
time with my family.
But anyway, that's for you.
I want you to go reflect, Iwant you to think about all of
(34:52):
these things and, if you feel somoved to, I would love to hear
some of your goals, some of yourdreams, some of your wishes
about 2025 and what you're doingwith your content.
So leave us a comment.
If you're watching on YouTube,if you're listening on the audio
only version, like, scroll allthe way up to the top where it
says send Crystal a text messageand tell me send us a fan mail,
(35:13):
we'll give you a fan mail.
Shout out, make sure youinclude the name of your podcast
or the name of your content aswell as your name, because I
love reading those and they'reso special.
But that's all I have for youtoday.
So make sure you are followingor subscribe wherever you're
listening and watching today and, as always, remember, keep it
up.
We all have to start somewhere.
Something is about to happen with podcasting.
Are you ready?
Okay, so I know that was likekind of dramatic, like it's a
little bit more dramatic thanhow I typically start my content
, but I wanna give a shout outreal fast to Creator Hooks Pro.
They are not a sponsor, I'm noteven an affiliate for them, so
(00:22):
I'm just giving them an actualshout out, but they helped me
come up with the title fortoday's episode and I was like
ooh, I like how dramatic that is, and so what I did is I planned
all of the content for todayand then I was like I've got to
get a really great groundingtitle and so something is about
(00:44):
to happen with podcasting.
Are you ready?
Felt right, because when I'mrecording this, we're at the end
of the year for 2024.
And so many of you are lookingat 2025, like what do I want to
do?
What are some of my goals?
Many of you have said to melike I want to add video to my
podcast, or I want to show upmore on social, or I'm finally
(01:06):
going to build my email list,and I think all of these are
fantastic, but I want to reallydive into so this is one of the
things that, of course, I had myhandy dandy chat GPT help me
plan this episode, and one ofthe things that I really thought
about was what worked in 2024,what's going to continue to work
(01:27):
in 2025, but what are we kindof leaving in the past, right,
like what are we going to leavein 2024 that maybe isn't serving
you or isn't really going to bethe standard going forward with
podcasting, and I have somevery specific examples that
we're going to walk through.
But I just something ishappening Like we're going into
(01:50):
a new year and I mean, ifanything, I think about the last
few years and how much thelandscape has changed for tools
and processes and workflows, andwhat we do today is different
than what it was just a fewyears ago.
So we're going to dive into allof this in today's episode.
So let's get right to it.
(02:11):
Welcome to the Profit Podcast,where we teach you how to start,
launch and market your contentwith confidence.
I'm your host, crystal Profit,and I'm so excited that you're
here.
Thanks for hanging out with metoday, because if you've been
trying to figure out the worldof content creation, this is the
show that will help be yourtime-saving shortcut.
So let's get right to it.
(02:32):
Shall we Welcome back toanother episode of the Profit
Podcast?
I'm Crystal Profit, if we havenot met, and I am so excited
that you are here.
So, whether you are brand newto podcasting content creation
or you've been around here for awhile, you're like yeah,
grisdol, we know You're apodcast coach, content
(02:55):
strategist, you're our contenttherapist, helping us work on
our relationship with ourcontent.
These are all the things thatI'm excited to do and own these
titles and really share themwith you, because it's what I'm
most passionate about.
And if you've been around herea while, you know you're like
Crystal really gets excitedabout all things content, which
(03:17):
is why I hope you keep comingback.
But I kind of want to set thestage for what we're talking
about here today, because we'regoing to reflect on this past
year of podcasting for mycontent as well as your own.
So I have some kind of promptsand questions.
So if you're a journaler or youwant to open up a Google Doc
and take some notes, put somenotes in your phone on your app.
If you're out on a walk, likewhatever, like, I want you to
(03:39):
really use this episode as areflection of what's happened in
your content in the last yearto kind of catapult you into
2025 and beyond.
So when we're looking at this,I want to think about adapting
to what's changing in ourenvironment.
I'll go over a few key thingsthat I've noticed really
(04:01):
shifting in the last few monthsand then so we're gonna talk
about how podcasting is changing, what challenges I faced and
you have faced as well that wemaybe need to overcome or leave
some of that baggage in 2024,and then practical steps to stay
ahead of the curve of what Ibelieve is happening in our
industry.
So sound good.
(04:21):
Okay, so let's take a fewminutes and reflect on 2024,
right, this is segment onereflecting on 2024.
And, just without even lookingat my notes, like what has stood
out to me this year is being somuch more flexible, which I
feel like I'm pretty flexiblealready when it comes to
(04:42):
creating content, when I'mrecording what I'm doing.
If you've been around here,like, you know that I'll record
when I don't have the best setupor maybe it's not like the best
.
You know aesthetics or whatever, but you can bet your bottom
dollar.
We stay consistent around here.
Like that is one thing that Iam known for, I'm very proud of,
(05:03):
and so I'm just wanting tohighlight that it's like man.
I traveled to Boise this year.
I traveled to New York thisyear.
I had a few different tripswhere I was really out of pocket
, and when I say out of pocket,like it wouldn't have even been
able to or I wouldn't have beenable to really record on my
phone because it was chaos whenI was at a town.
(05:26):
So, either being flexible andrecording on the go which I did
a little bit of that in Boise orwhen I was in New York, I
batched my little buns offbefore I went and made sure that
we had content still delivered,and I'm so grateful that I did,
because if I would have had toworry about any of that when I
(05:46):
was chaperoning 140 kids yes,I've never really gone into too
much detail about why I went toNew York earlier this year, but
I was chaperoning.
I was chaperoning my son'sorchestra field trip and it was
pure chaos to have that manykids around.
I didn't get a lot of sleepwhile we were there because I
was chaperoning.
(06:06):
We're going to bed at like 1130and then getting up at 630.
And I'm like y'all, I need myeight hours of like really good
sleep and I usually don't sleepsuper well when I'm traveling
anyway.
So it was just like this whole.
I'm so grateful I did not haveto think about content once
while I was in like New York,and then traveling any other
time.
So that's like a big standingout to me.
(06:27):
But I encourage you to look back, like what were some of your
really big wins this year.
So what were some of your bigwins?
One of mine that I'll share Ifeel like we're like in a
sharing circle now.
Like so, let's, let's pretendlike we're all sitting like
crisscross applesauce and we'resitting in a little circle and
it's like okay, you know,crystal, it's your turn, then
we're going to go to Carrie,then we're going to go over to
(06:48):
Jay and then we're going to goover to Leslie.
Like we're all going to share,but I'm just sharing and I'm
hoping that you're going to goand jot these down in your
little notes.
But one of my biggest wins Ifeel like I did really well with
sponsorship revenue this year,like blown away by how many
opportunities came my way, howmany different partnerships I
(07:09):
was able to secure.
Some of them were one time likeit was a one-off, like hey, we
want you to do this for us andthen we'll see.
You know, and it didn't reallylead to anything but, man, I
learned so much, so so muchabout what I want to look for in
future partnerships, but alsowhat I really don't want, and
that was really helpful.
So, for those of you exploringmonetization and sponsorships or
(07:33):
even any kind of partnershipthat you may have, I encourage
you to write down all of yourlessons learned, even if they're
not all great, like I think,some of us are hesitant to write
down.
You know, we had this terribleexperience and you're just like,
oh my gosh, I just want to moveon.
Write those things down, like,take note of what worked, what
didn't work, because then in thefuture, when you have those
(07:55):
spidey senses of something's notworking out again, you can know
immediately You're like, oh, Iremember from this last
partnership, like this is goingto go south really fast and you
can either get out of it or makeit really short, succinct, and
it's like, okay, let's do thisthing and then move on.
And so that was something thatwas a big win for me is having a
(08:16):
lot more sponsorship experiencethis year.
So it wasn't just about therevenue, of course, that was
fantastic, right, like makingmore money for creating content
for other people, like, yes,it's what I love to do, I love
creating content and I mademoney.
You know, win, win, win acrossthe board.
But I also learned so much,like now I'm much better at
(08:37):
negotiating, now I know propercontracts, now I know just how
to do this a lot easier, so nowI can teach it to you, now I can
tell other people about my ownexperience, and that just feels
really good to have thatexperience now in my back pocket
, whereas previously, the lastfew years, that was a huge
question mark for me.
So when people came to me andasked me about sponsorships, I
(08:58):
was kind of like oh, I don'tknow, I don't know, you're going
to have to go ask someone else.
So that feels really good.
What challenges did you face?
So, for me personally,challenges that I had were, I
would say, like trying to stayconsistent, which I think this
is everyone's problem, right,it's everyone's dilemma.
(09:20):
But I think that I was tryingto overcommit myself to
consistency in a way that itended up being too rigid and I
wasn't allowing myself to bemore flexible.
So let me give you a greatexample I would set aside like a
batching day.
Then I would get to thatbatching day where I'm like I
just don't really feel it, but Iwas like, no, you're going to
(09:43):
stick to this, because you setaside this calendar day to do
batching.
Then I would force it and I'dwatch that content back or
listen to it back.
I'm like, oh, I could tell.
Like she felt forced.
I'm talking about previousversion of myself.
I'm like that.
That version of Crystal feltvery forced and it didn't turn
out to be the best piece ofcontent, and so that was one of
(10:06):
the things that I realized islike, oh, I still need to give
myself grace and I need to givemyself permission one to not
have every piece of content likehold it in this, like high
regard of, like everything'sgoing to be, you know, a home
run.
Like I'm going to knock thisout of the park every single
time.
You're not, and that's okay.
Like that is okay.
You don't have to have everysingle piece of content you ever
(10:26):
create be this thing.
That is like oh, my gosh, likethat was a masterpiece.
I don't ever feel that wayabout my content, like I'm
always probably overly criticalor really judgmental about like,
oh, that could have been better.
I could have said this thing oroh man, I didn't include this
story.
I wanted to include this story.
This was the thing that wouldmake it so incredible.
(10:47):
But guess what?
We get to show up again nextweek and then the week after
that, and the week after that,then the month after that, then
the year after that.
So I have the long gamestrategy in mind and that's how
I look at it.
So, even though consistency ormaybe trying to set aside like a
rigid schedule and stick to it,it was a challenge, it was
(11:08):
probably not the right goal forme to set for myself anyway.
So kind of a double-edged swordon that one.
But another challenge I didface and I mentioned this
earlier is some of thesponsorship deals that I thought
were going to be superlucrative fell absolutely flat.
Like I got really excited aboutit.
Maybe you've had thisexperience too, where you're
like you're talking with themand you're like, oh my gosh,
(11:30):
this is the partnership I'vebeen waiting for, it's going to
be incredible.
And then crickets, it ended up.
Just for whatever reason, wehit a dead end and it was almost
like I had to grieve thatbecause I thought it was going
to be like this recurringrevenue, like this easy revenue,
that was going to be supersimple for me to create the
(11:52):
thing.
It was going to be beneficialfor them, beneficial for me,
give us both lots of exposure.
And then it didn't work and Ithink it's okay to sit here and
say like, oh, you have to grievethat sometimes, so you know,
just kind of sit in it for asecond and say, man, that really
sucks.
And then move on and, like Isaid earlier, learn from those
mistakes or learn from those,you know, the partnership gone
(12:15):
wrong or whatever, and just say,all right, instead of just
saying that was wasted time,money, energy and effort, I'm
going to say, oh, I'm takingthose lessons and moving them
into the next partnerships orthe next deals that we're going
to have in the future.
The other question is did youhit your goals or struggle with
consistency?
So we already kind of talkedabout consistency, but I like
(12:37):
the just kind of frankness thatI'm very, very clear and and
gonna be very transparent withyou about struggling with
consistency, because it is thething that I think everyone
struggles with you struggle withconsistency.
I'm not just talking aboutpodcasting either.
I'm talking about putting outyour newsletter.
I've had multiple friends cometo me like friends that I've
(13:00):
known for a long time andthey're just like y'all.
I can't get my act together.
I am trying to send my weeklynewsletter and I just cannot do
it.
I don't know what it is.
I haven't sent one in so long.
I feel like I've ghosted mypeople and now I can't go back
to them.
And for those of you that arefeeling this way right now, just
know, start today.
Right, like try again today.
(13:23):
You know, make it be somethingthat you're not holding this
like guilt and shame andresentment of all these things
that you didn't do in the past.
It's like, well, what are you,what can you do today?
What can you do today andreally show up for yourself,
show up for your audience in theway that's going to be more
productive, and maybe that meansnot showing up how you used to
show up.
Right, we talked about thisepisode's gonna be about, like,
(13:44):
what's happening with podcasting?
What's changing?
Like what?
If you just made it simpler onyourself, I know this is where
we're getting.
Like we're in a therapy sessionIf you didn't already know this
like we are in a full-blowntherapy session at this point
where I'm gonna just offer toyou like this, is your
permission slip Make it easier,make it easier, make it easier,
(14:11):
make your content shorter.
If you need to make it shorter,make it less frequent.
If you're doing two episodes aweek right now, what would it
look like to do one episode aweek?
What would it look like, right?
Or if you're doing every weekright now, what would it look
like to do two episodes a monthfor a short term?
I mean, I don't know.
I don't know.
I can't answer these questionsfor you, but I'm here to just
ask those questions, like ifyou're struggling with
consistency or meeting yourgoals, then what does it look
(14:32):
like to change them up just alittle bit?
And number one increasing invideo podcasting right, like we
knew this was going to happen.
One of my favorite podcasts thatwas just audio only for a long
(14:52):
time I listened to ArmchairExpert with Dax Shepard and
Monica Padman.
They were just audio.
They are video now and I amhere for it.
I love it so much.
I love that I have the optionto watch them on YouTube.
I love seeing them in theirspace and I really didn't think
that I would watch them as muchas I do, but I love it, I love
watching them.
(15:12):
So I just have to say, like I'mhere for all the video
podcasting and I hope that moreof you kind of jump on the
bandwagon, because it's a reallycool way to connect with your
audience and I think that it'sstill worth having that YouTube
integration, whether it's justyour podcast RSS feed, which we
have content on that.
Go watch that YouTube videothat we put up recently about it
(15:33):
.
But we've been putting out alot more content around video
podcasting because I think it'ssuper important.
But the other one is the nichespecific communities.
So we did this right.
We moved all our whole platformover to mighty networks because
it's focused on community.
We're actually havingconversations and this is what's
(15:54):
so incredible to me.
So we moved over and createdpodcasters connect, which you
can go to crystalprofitcomforward slash, join j-o-i-n to
learn more about PodcastersConnect.
But I created this space becauseI didn't want it to live on
social, right.
I wanted it to live off ofsocial, off of these other
platforms where there's a lot ofdistractions, where if you go
(16:15):
there, that's the only thingyou're going to see, right?
You're not going to see cutebaby pictures.
You're not going to see.
You know I mean, unlesssomeone's content is about
babies and their baby pictures.
You know, like I mean, unlesssomeone's content is about
babies and their baby pictures,you know, like that's a
different story.
But it's not all thesedistractions.
Like you go there withintention to this very specific
community to get that thing fromit.
(16:35):
I've seen health and wellnesscommunities pop up this way.
Maury Forleo, like she createda platform on Mighty Networks, I
think it's called the DreamClub, and this is a platform
where you go there and that'swhat you get.
Like you get business advice,helpful tips from her.
You get, I think she does likemeditations or some kind of
(16:56):
mindfulness around mental healthand what that looks like for
entrepreneurs.
So I'm just saying, like allthese really niche specific
communities are still boomingand I think they're going to
continue to rise in 2025.
But interactive podcast and AI Imean this is do I even need to
say that?
Because you know, you know, ifyou know AI is here and you know
(17:20):
that, oh my gosh, y'all I'madjusting my chair like real
time, real time, jay, leave thatin.
Sometimes he'll cut wheneverthere's things it's like oh
Crystal, do you really want toshow people that you're
struggling with your chair.
So I'm recording this beforeChristmas, so I'm adding that to
my Santa list.
Is mama's hoping she gets a newchair for Christmas because
(17:41):
this one is awful, awful, awful,awful?
But I want you to reflect onthis right For this like
reflecting on 2024, this is thequestion what was one strategy
you relied on in 2024 that mightneed updating or rethinking for
2025?
This one for me is I'm lookingat a different way to grow my
(18:04):
email list in 2025.
And there's a few differentways.
I think I'm like I'm a littlenervous to share it because I
haven't decided if I'm going todo it yet or not, but I'll go
ahead and share it because I dothink it's very lucrative and I
think that it is something I'mgoing to explore seriously.
But it is referral newsletters,so I'm a part of a few of these
(18:25):
where it's like there's aplatform built into ConvertKit.
Excuse me, I just saidConvertKit, it is Kit.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, thatwas my branding mistake, right,
kit.
It's built into Kit and it'scalled Sparkloop and what it is.
It's a way for you to at thevery bottom of the page and
(18:45):
we'll put some visuals up here,but at the bottom of the page,
someone will have the option toshare your newsletter with
someone else.
So if you are a podcaster andyou find my weekly newsletter,
content Therapy, helpful, thenyou could share it and then you
get rewards for sharing it andthen if people subscribe.
(19:06):
So it's a model that I've beentoying around with, like I've
been studying it, and I thinkthat it could work really well.
So TBD on that, but it'ssomething that I'm looking at.
You know what strategy yourelied on 2024 that might need
updating or rethinking.
Y'all know I'm always talkingabout my email list.
I can't shut up about emailmarketing, but I do want to
rethink how it is, because, forme personally, I don't think
(19:29):
that the lead magnet, like youknow, download this.
I have tons of lead magnets.
I have podcast bootcamps, Ihave PDFs, I have, you know,
free workshops.
I have all these things, and Ithink that having something that
is in it for the communitymembers and in it for people
that share could be really fun.
So something I'm rethinking.
(19:50):
So I'm sharing.
We're in the circle share right, the sharing is caring, and I
wanted to share that with you.
So I hope that you'rereflecting on your own version
of this, though, and you writesome of those notes down.
Okay, promise, deal, okay.
So the next segment is what'schanging in podcasting for 2025?
Trend number one more visualcontent.
(20:11):
We've already talked aboutvideo podcasting, but it's just
something that is going to stayright, like clips on YouTube,
clips on TikTok, clips onInstagram, like all of these
things are going to continue togrow and expand.
And then, having audio first,creators need to have some sort
of visual strategy.
So if you've only been creatingaudio only content, what is
(20:34):
your visual strategy?
It could still stay audio only,and then you share clips on
YouTube shorts, or you shareclips on Instagram, or whatever,
but I think that having avisual component is going to
continue to be something very,very important.
The second trend is monetizationis evolving, and man, I have
seen this myself.
(20:54):
Right, like talk about thegrowing importance of
memberships.
We are talking aboutcommunities, then exclusive
content and diversified incomestreams.
So when I think about this, afew years ago I would say my
(21:14):
business makes money throughcourses.
And then it was my businessmakes money through courses and
services, because then I offeredcoaching.
Now y'all I mean it's courses,it's services, it's affiliates,
it's sponsorships, it'spartnerships, collaborations.
I mean, it's like it's verylike, I think of like the wheel,
the spokes on a wheel.
It's just still expanding and Ithink it's something that, if
(21:37):
you only have one means ofmaking money with your content
today, explore.
What could that look like?
Ask ChatGPT, this is my market,these are my people, these are
the demographics, blah, blah,blah.
Just keep drilling down untilyou get some of those ideas on
what you could do to make moremoney.
But monetization is going tocontinue to evolve and I think
(21:59):
that you should absolutelydiversify what you're doing,
because relying on one source ofincome would have really
limited how much money I've beenable to make in my business.
So I'm very grateful that Ididn't do that.
And ad revenue is one of thosethings that I don't rely on it.
I don't rely on specificpodcast sponsorships where it's
(22:22):
just audio only and I am readinga host read ad and I'm putting
it out there.
I don't rely on that, for sure,for sure.
It's not something that hasever been like.
Oh, that's the main part of mything.
That is the main part of yourbusiness right now is you're
making, you have a very popularpodcast and you're getting tens
of thousands of downloads and ifyou have ad revenue coming.
(22:43):
Just know that's likely gonnacontinue to change in the future
and I would diversify the heckout of my portfolio if that's
the only thing that you havegoing for you right now.
So there's my little you know,sprinkling in little, little
pieces of advice and tough love,but I think that you, you
should absolutely consider thatand consider how you can add
(23:04):
another spoke to your you knowmonetization wheel for your
content.
Trend number three is contentstrategy will matter more than
ever.
And now when I think aboutcontent strategy, I zoom out and
I look at where am I creatingcontent like absolutely must
have, must create on thesespecific platforms?
(23:24):
And then how am I connectingthose platforms together?
So, for example, I told youearlier it's like oh, if you're
interested in Podcasters,connect, go to crystalprofitcom.
Forward, slash, join.
I didn't just tell you about mymembership, I also told you
about my website.
So I want and I want everybodyto go to my website at some
point in their journey head overto my website, because I want
(23:45):
you to get on my email list.
Now my email list is contenttherapy.
So you should check out contenttherapy because in content
therapy I give you helpful toolsand resources, whether it's
affiliate partnerships, it issponsorships, sometimes it's
podcasters connect spotlights,so we do member spotlights in
there.
I mean, I could keep going onand on and on about all these
(24:05):
benefits, but did you see how Ijust like quickly ran through,
like I'm fanning out themultiple opportunities for you
to connect with me, and it's notjust on this podcast, it's not
just on YouTube, it is multipledifferent places, because I know
not everyone learns the same.
We have blog posts, right.
(24:25):
We will link to the blog postthat we have for this video if
you're watching on YouTube, orthis podcast episode If you're
listening.
There's going to be a link outto the blog because I want to
have as much opportunity aspossible for you to be able to
consume this content in the waythat makes the most sense to you
.
And I think that you shouldhave that same strategy as well,
(24:46):
as you sit down and you thinklike where are my people going
to engage with me the most andhow can I make this as easy for
them to consume this content,but also for them to say yes and
right.
Have you heard this?
Right?
Like the improv, like okay, Ineed to do like a yes.
And so you say yes, and I wantto come join your membership yes
(25:10):
, and I want to get on youremail list yes, and I want to
follow you on Instagram yes, andI mean we could just keep going
on and on and on.
Yes, and I want to buy yourproduct yes, and I want to go
buy your book on Amazon.
Like I mean, we could just keepgoing.
But that content strategy wasset up very intentionally and I
think that if you haven't donethis before, you need to sit
(25:30):
down and reflect on all thedifferent pieces of where you
create content, how you show uponline and how you connect all
these pieces together.
Okay, so that was a long one,but it's a really important one.
And then the fourth trend is AIand technology will transform
podcasting.
So there have been tools in thelast 12 months that have popped
up, that have editing right,podcast editing tools, podcast
(25:53):
scripting, which again I hadChad GBT help me with today's
episode, and it was like chef'skiss incredible.
And then promotion right, butit's also gonna make everything
more competitive because, at thesame time, like, I can do this,
you can do this and the 50other people in your niche can
do the same thing.
(26:14):
So how do we stand out?
How do we make it to where it'snot just all whitewashed across
all of you know content, whereit's like everyone sounds the
same, like it's just a blur ofwhite noise.
I don't even know who does thisor who does that.
Like, this person says they'rean expert, but what real you
(26:34):
know credit do they have?
Like, where are their receipts?
We need to see their receiptsfor what they have actually done
, and so I have been speakingabout this for a while, since
the conversation of AI has beenthere.
But storytelling is going to beyour friend giving real stories,
real examples, and having thesepieces of your content that no
(26:55):
one else can replicate.
Like, what is your story Ifthat's the only thing you get
from today?
If you're like I don't have astory, yes, you do, yes, you do.
You need to go and write downwhat your story is, that way you
can tell it over and over andover again so people actually
get it and they understand it.
So great example my story is Istarted my podcast in 2018.
(27:18):
I had been a stay-at-home momfor a long time.
We moved to Houston and I waslike you know what I want to do,
something that's just for me.
I'd been writing for severalyears I always say blogging
unsuccessfully and then Istarted my podcast.
The podcast was called theRookie Life and it was about
female entrepreneurs and allthese incredible women that were
in my life.
And then people started askingme about well, how are you
(27:41):
creating this podcast?
They didn't really care aboutthe content I was creating.
They were just like, oh my gosh, you started this podcast.
How does that work?
And I was like, well, I washaving more fun on the side
helping those people than I wasactually creating my content.
So that's when I made theswitch and I said, oh, let me
just start talking aboutcreating content and what that
(28:02):
can look like.
And it's like we rode off intothe sunset with that narrative.
So since 2019, this content hasbeen around podcasting start,
launch, market your podcast,creating with confidence.
And this is my story, right,this is my story and what I
bring to the table.
I've now created multiplepodcasts.
I think I've started at leastfive or six, and it's thousands
(28:27):
and thousands and thousands ofepisodes later.
We're here, right, we're here,and that's something that AI
can't touch.
It's my story.
It's where I came from.
So you go figure out what isyour story If you're not telling
it.
You need to start telling it.
You need to start telling it inyour content.
You need people to know online.
(28:48):
You need people to know on youremail list, in your content,
what your story is, becausethat's why they will follow you,
not because you gave them the10 best recommendations for this
and on that, like no, yourstory, they'll connect with you
and how you deliver content.
Okay, I'm gonna get off mysoapbox for a second.
Okay, here we go.
(29:08):
I'm off my soapbox.
Okay, step down, we're good togo.
So the key takeaway for all ofthis is change is inevitable,
but those who adapt will thrive.
You will thrive in 2025 if youcan adapt to what's happening.
And we're gonna talk about someof the other major changes, but
the creators who lean intothese shifts will set themselves
up.
Share your story.
(29:32):
You want to be set apart.
Share your story, share yourstory.
Share your story, share yourstory.
That should be the title oftoday's episode, because it is
the thing that I believe sopassionately about.
But let's prepare for thefuture.
So the third and final segmentright, preparing for the future
looks like step number one audityour podcast, audit your
content.
What does that look like?
(29:53):
Go listen to an episode.
When was the last time youlistened to an episode, not from
Buzzsprout or your podcast host?
Go to YouTube and watch a wholevideo of what you created, or
go to, you know, apple Podcasts.
Go to Spotify.
Go to somewhere where you don'ttypically hang out and consume
your own content like you wereyour audience, and you will find
things.
You will find things.
(30:14):
You will find that you said, oh, go check out this episode.
You know, link in the shownotes.
There's no link in the shownotes or it's a broken link,
like.
This happened to me earlierthis week.
I was like, oh, you know, gocheck out the notes or the link
in the show notes, and I wentand clicked in the link and I
was like, wait, that's, that's a404 page.
That's not the right link inthe show notes.
So other people haveexperienced this as well.
(30:36):
So go do a full audit of yourcontent.
The second one is settingintentional goals for 2025.
And I don't want your goals tobe about downloads.
Ooh, if you already set thisgoal, we might wanna scratch
through it, erase it.
I don't know, but don't let itjust be about downloads.
I'll say that, okay, because Iknow some of you have very
(30:58):
intentional goals.
You're like I want to get asponsor, I want to do this, I
got to get more downloads.
Okay, that's fine, but don'tlet your only goal around your
content be around watch timeviews, subscribers, people that
follow me on Instagram, like allof these vanity metrics that
may or may not contribute at allto the bottom line of your
(31:18):
business and your content.
I would rather you say you knowwhat?
I'm going to get 25testimonials in the first
quarter of the year.
That's an impressive goal.
That's a really impressive goal.
You're going to haveconversations with all these
people, you're going to documentit, you're going to record it
like whatever.
Like that is a very impressivegoal to me.
Or, the first half, the firstquarter, seems like 25.
(31:40):
I'm like that's a lot of people, but the first half of 2025,
that would be incredible.
25 and 25, like.
Make that your goal 25 reviewsof your content or testimonials
in 2025.
I think that that's a prettygood goal.
So if you don't have one, youcan still mine.
Just go forth with that one,but don't let it just be about
(32:01):
content downloads, contentmetrics.
Another one could besystemizing If you haven't done
that, or working on yourworkflows.
That could be really helpful tosomeone.
If you feel things are verychaotic right now, I would lean
into that as well.
And then investing in communityand resources.
Of course, I've already talkedabout Podcasters Connect, but
this is a plug for it and I'mgonna tell you, like y'all,
(32:24):
there's a free version of themembership.
Somebody wrote in the other dayand they're like oh, I didn't
realize that it's also there's afree version.
Yes, there's three differenttiers of joining Podcasters
Connect.
So we have a free version thatallows you a few features in the
community.
Then we have a monthlysubscription version where you
can pay every single month.
So if you just want to testdrive it and see what we're all
(32:46):
about, then come hang out withus.
And then we have an annualversion where you pay up front
for the full year.
Then you get the benefits ofgetting the discount on two
months.
Right, there's two months outof the year you don't have to
pay for.
Plus, you get other perks, likeyou get a sponsored newsletter,
and we have other promotionalfeatures that are just available
to our sponsored members, oursponsored members, our annual
(33:08):
members in the membership.
So crystalprofitcom forwardslash, join, check out
podcasters, connect and comejoin the free version, right?
If you're like I don't know ifI'm ready, come join the free
version, come test drive us seewhat you think about it.
But as a wrap up, the lastquestion is is what's one change
you're ready to make in yourpodcasting approach for the new
(33:29):
year?
What's that one change?
Is it video?
Is it recording shorterepisodes?
Is it planning ahead more?
Like what is the thing that youcan commit to as we're
approaching the new year?
Like what's something that youwant to take into 2025, that
you're like.
(33:50):
I really, I really want to makethis one change because I think
it'll make all the differenceFor me.
It's continuing to take monthsoff out of the year.
I want to say months, I didn'tsay days or weeks Months off in
the year where I'm not creatingat all and I'm spending
intentional time with my family.
I already do this a little bit,but I'm thinking I need to do
(34:11):
it even more.
Like January, february, thoseare okay.
I think I'm going to take thewhole month of March off.
I'm gonna take the whole monthof June off, not all of July,
but a little bit of July andthen, for sure, november and
December next year.
That's a lot like that's fivemonths out of next year where I
won't be creating any content.
So what does that mean?
(34:32):
That means I got to be batching.
It means I got to be batching.
It means I got to be planning,I got to be recording like I got
to be.
I got to have my ducks in a rowin order to make that happen.
So that's one change that I'mwilling to make.
It's a sacrifice I'm willing tomake to have more intentional
time with my family.
But anyway, that's for you.
I want you to go reflect, Iwant you to think about all of
(34:52):
these things and, if you feel somoved to, I would love to hear
some of your goals, some of yourdreams, some of your wishes
about 2025 and what you're doingwith your content.
So leave us a comment.
If you're watching on YouTube,if you're listening on the audio
only version, like, scroll allthe way up to the top where it
says send Crystal a text messageand tell me send us a fan mail,
(35:13):
we'll give you a fan mail.
Shout out, make sure youinclude the name of your podcast
or the name of your content aswell as your name, because I
love reading those and they'reso special.
But that's all I have for youtoday.
So make sure you are followingor subscribe wherever you're
listening and watching today and, as always, remember, keep it
up.
We all have to start somewhere.
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