Grow The Show Podcast Episode Summary
Title: Grow The Show
Host: Kevin Chemidlin
Episode: 219 | The 7 Deadly Sins of Podcasting
Release Date: May 13, 2025
In Episode 219 of Grow The Show, host Kevin Chemidlin delves into the critical pitfalls that hinder podcast growth and profitability. Titled "The 7 Deadly Sins of Podcasting," Kevin identifies seven common yet often overlooked mistakes that podcasters make, which silently sabotage their efforts. Drawing from his extensive experience coaching over 400 podcasters and building his own successful podcast empire, Kevin provides actionable insights to help listeners transform their podcasts into thriving business assets.
Introduction: The Silent Sabotage
Kevin opens the episode by addressing the frustration many podcasters face despite their consistent efforts. He frames these challenges as the "seven deadly sins of podcasting," emphasizing that these issues are insidious yet detrimental to a podcast's success.
“If your podcast is not growing like you want it to, and if it's not bringing you as much business as you want it to, you probably have one of seven hidden podcast growth problems.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [00:00]
Sin #1: Clarity Problem
Definition: A lack of clear branding and premise, making it difficult for new listeners to understand what the podcast offers.
Key Insights:
- Naming your podcast after yourself or an unclear concept can impede growth.
- A clear, descriptive name helps potential listeners immediately grasp the podcast's value.
Example: Kevin shares stories of two prominent individuals with established audiences who struggled to grow their podcasts until they renamed their shows to reflect their best-selling books or clear topics.
“Name your podcast like you would name a book.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [08:45]
Sin #2: Straight Line Problem
Definition: A disconnect between the podcast's content and the host's products or services, making it hard to convert listeners into customers.
Key Insights:
- The podcast's theme should align closely with the business offerings.
- Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory serves as a prime example where his personal development focus didn't translate to sales for his unrelated products.
“If you can't draw a straight line between what your podcast talks about and what your product or service delivers... listeners are not going to buy your product or service.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [16:30]
Sin #3: Retention Problem
Definition: Initial listener interest declines quickly, leading to low episode completion rates and stagnant download numbers.
Key Insights:
- High retention rates are crucial for growth; aim for at least 65% completion per episode.
- Improving episode intros and maintaining topic consistency can significantly enhance listener retention.
Case Study: Nate Palmer saw his downloads triple from 12,000 to 36,000 per month by refining his episode introductions to better hook listeners.
“Once he stopped committing it, bam. His show exploded.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [20:10]
Sin #4: Integration Problem
Definition: The podcast operates in isolation without being integrated into the broader business strategy, failing to generate leads or sales.
Key Insights:
- Ensure that the podcast is part of a cohesive content marketing strategy.
- Utilize the podcast to drive email opt-ins, social media growth, and sales funnels.
Example: A client struggled because her podcast efforts were siloed from her social media and advertising teams. Integrating these elements led to a synergistic growth effect.
“If you are not doing something like that where your products and services are integrated with your content, then your content is just gonna wither and die on the vine.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [23:50]
Sin #5: Authority Problem
Definition: Over-reliance on guest interviews without establishing the host as an authority, leading listeners to trust guests more than the host.
Key Insights:
- Balance guest interviews with solo episodes or co-host segments to showcase your expertise.
- Building authority is essential for converting listeners into customers.
Example: An entrepreneur with a marketing agency struggled to gain sales because his podcast listeners viewed his guests as the primary authorities, not him.
“If your show is there to drive business to your business, you must at least 50% of the time... be publishing solo monologue episodes.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [24:45]
Sin #6: Repurposing Problem
Definition: Ineffective use of podcast content on social media by merely posting AI-generated clips without proper context or engagement.
Key Insights:
- Instead of just sharing clips, repurpose the underlying ideas and create native social media content tailored to each platform.
- Provide context to engage new audiences effectively.
Strategy: Extract atomic ideas from episodes and craft dedicated posts for platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok, ensuring each piece resonates with the specific audience.
“Repurposing clips isn't working because you're just dropping somebody in the middle of a random conversation.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [22:15]
Sin #7: Discovery Problem
Definition: Relying solely on podcast platforms without actively marketing the podcast, leading to poor discoverability.
Key Insights:
- Unlike social media platforms with robust algorithms, podcasts require proactive marketing efforts.
- Utilize outbound, algorithmic, and collaborative strategies to enhance visibility.
Strategies:
- Outbound: Direct outreach through emails, DMs, and other personal contact methods.
- Algorithmic: Focus on mastering one social media platform to drive growth.
- Collaborative: Engage in collaborations and guest appearances on established podcasts to tap into existing audiences.
“Podcasting has a discovery problem... all of the ways to grow your podcast audience boil down to three high level strategies.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [24:15]
Conclusion: Auditing and Action Steps
Kevin encourages listeners to audit their podcasts against the seven deadly sins to identify and address any underlying issues. He emphasizes that understanding and rectifying these problems can lead to significant audience and revenue growth.
“Look at all seven sins and ask yourself, are you committing any of these seven deadly sins?”
— Kevin Chemidlin [25:00]
Notable Quotes
- Clarity Problem: “Name your podcast like you would name a book.” [08:45]
- Straigh Line Problem: “If you can't draw a straight line between what your podcast talks about and what your product or service delivers...” [16:30]
- Retention Problem: “Once he stopped committing it, bam. His show exploded.” [20:10]
- Integration Problem: “If you are not doing something like that where your products and services are integrated with your content...” [23:50]
- Repurposing Problem: “Repurposing clips isn't working because you're just dropping somebody in the middle of a random conversation.” [22:15]
- Discovery Problem: “Podcasting has a discovery problem...” [24:15]
Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Kevin wraps up the episode by offering his expertise to help podcasters diagnose and overcome these seven deadly sins. He invites business owners generating over $20k a month to reach out for personalized coaching to refine their podcast strategies and integrate them effectively into their business models.
Additionally, Kevin promotes Podcast Boutique, a trusted production agency offering services like content editing, title creation, show notes, and more, to streamline the podcasting process for busy entrepreneurs.
“If you want my help diagnosing which of the seven sins you are committing, you can click on the link in the description and we can book a call.”
— Kevin Chemidlin [25:00]
By meticulously identifying and addressing these seven deadly sins, Kevin Chemidlin equips podcasters with the knowledge and tools necessary to elevate their shows from mere content to powerful engines of business growth and revenue generation.