What I learned in my first year of podcasting

2020 - what a ride! It has certainly been unlike any other year that I have experienced. Some good, some not so good and as we come to the end of the year, I wanted to quickly reflect on my first year in the podcasting.

Way back in March 2020, I was asked to appear on a QA webinar as a guest speaker by the wonderful Neal Topf. This was the first time I had been asked to take part in anything of this sort and, thanks to Neal's coaching and encouragement, it went well.

The following day, just as Manila was going in lockdown, I "foolishly" suggested to Neal that we should start a podcast focused on customer experience and the BPO world. I, really, didn't think anything of it...Within an hour Neal replied, "Yes mate!! Let's do it". I can honestly say that was the real turning point for me. If Neal had not said anything or had said "Let's wait a week", I would not be sharing my story with you now. Within 24 hours of the messages, Neal and I, rather gingerly, were recording our first ever podcast. Safe to say that I was buzzing!!

Within a week, we had podcast artwork, intros/outros, a dedicated Twitter and LinkedIn page and, safe to say, we had the bug. Since launch, we have honoured to have to amazing guests join us, we have hosted LinkedIn live sessions to support CX week and a real-life demonstration of what to do when things go wrong regarding CX performance, and, not to mention, over 30 episodes with nearly 3k (yes, 3k) downloads...I pinch myself on a daily basis as a result of these numbers.

Since March, I have been so lucky to be involved in Firesides Chat Without The fires with Neal, Oliver Lewis and I started a podcast focusing on the benefits of living and working in The Philippines and start a new venture called The Podcast Coach, which is designed specifically to work with companies who see the benefit of adding podcasting to their social selling. Usually, the work that we do together results in new paying customers and a positive impact on customer retention.

As I said, 2020.....what a ride!!

Time to cut to the chase now, as I don't want to bore anyone for much longer. What did I learn in my first year of podcasting...

• It's fun!! I can honestly say that podcasting is one of the best and fun activities I do. Whether that's designing the artwork, creating the intros and outros, having amazing guests on it's all fun. Yes, it's hard work and, far more importantly, it's fun and the rewards are amazing
• The people that you meet along the way. If someone had said to me at the start of March that by the end of the year I would have met and be able to reach out to some of my CX heroes for advice, have two podcasts with close to 10k downloads between them and starting a company to help people get into podcasting, I would have laughed in their faces. Amazing what can be done in 12 months.
• You can build up amazing relationships with your target/niche audience. Regardless of what it is that you do, or what you are passionate about, you can work/engage and get feedback directly from your market. Imagine that! You have a new product/service that you want to scream and shout about, now you can, directly to your market
• That talk that you did when everything worked, everything gelled and you had the audience clinging to your every word...That can now be a podcast, direct to your niche market enabling you
• You can include live-streaming across LinkedIn Live, there are other social media platforms available, that allows you to interact directly with your audience, then and there, and can then be turned into a podcast later, along with updates via Linkedin on what was learned during the discussion

I do not want to sound too "Hollywood" here, (cue the voiceover), anything really is possible and the paths that open up to you and your business when you start podcasting are, and will continue to be, out of this world!

I did want to thank everyone who has been part of my 2020 podcasting experience. May you all have a simply amazing holiday season and a podcasting-focused 2021!! Thank you all. Have a great one.