Grow Your Local Business Podcast – Episode 8: Content Lessons Learned from 100 Episodes
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Host: Leslie Presnall
Leslie Presnall, a seasoned local marketing expert and life coach, celebrates a significant milestone in Episode 8 of her podcast, “Grow Your Local Business.” Reflecting on 100 episodes since its inception in Fall 2022, Leslie distills eight pivotal content creation lessons tailored specifically for local business owners. These insights are designed to enhance your content strategy across various platforms, ensuring a steady stream of clients and sustained business growth.
1. Allocate Regular Brainstorming Time
Timestamp: [00:21] – [15:45]
Leslie emphasizes the importance of dedicating uninterrupted time for brainstorming content ideas. Contrary to initial expectations, even experienced content creators like herself faced challenges in consistently generating fresh podcast topics. She shares her struggle with procrastination and creative blocks, highlighting that such hurdles are normal.
“It is okay if coming up with ideas and if cranking out content feels hard, sometimes it's okay. If you have days where you don't know what to say, it's okay.”—Leslie Presnall [07:30]
By scheduling regular brainstorming sessions, business owners can reconnect with their ideal clients and cultivate a reservoir of ideas, even if they aren’t immediately ready to execute them. Leslie recounts developing the “location drama” episode, a concept that matured subconsciously over time, illustrating the power of giving ideas time to evolve.
2. Embrace Randomness in Content Topics
Timestamp: [15:46] – [25:10]
Leslie addresses the misconception that content must follow a strict, linear progression. She recounts her own experiences of covering diverse topics—from Instagram strategies to mindset shifts—without a predetermined order. This approach, she argues, showcases the multifaceted ways a business can aid its clients.
“As long as your content is about your topic or your niche or how you help your people, it isn't random.”—Leslie Presnall [19:20]
She advises that randomness only becomes problematic when topics stray beyond the business’s expertise. Instead, variety can demonstrate a business’s comprehensive understanding and versatility, enhancing its appeal to a broader audience.
3. Recognize That There’s Always Another Episode
Timestamp: [25:11] – [35:00]
Leslie dispels the pressure to deliver exceptionally packed episodes every week. She shares her initial tendency to overload episodes with information to prove her value, which led to unnecessary stress and perfectionism.
“There’s always going to be another episode next week. So it doesn't matter too if this is like the perfect episode or the fully value-packed episode.”—Leslie Presnall [28:45]
By viewing each piece of content—be it a podcast episode, social media post, or email—as a separate touchpoint, Leslie encourages business owners to adopt a long-term perspective. This mindset alleviates the fear of individual content pieces not performing perfectly, fostering consistency and sustainability in content creation.
4. Leverage Naturally Easy Content
Timestamp: [35:01] – [45:30]
Leslie highlights that content which flows naturally to the creator often resonates most with the audience. These “little tips and tricks” come effortlessly and tend to engage listeners more effectively.
“The gold is in the stuff that comes so easily to you.”—Leslie Presnall [37:50]
She observes that impromptu episodes, born out of immediate coaching sessions or real-life experiences, frequently garner higher engagement. These authentic moments not only simplify the content creation process but also enhance relatability and value for the audience.
5. Your Content is Always Working for You
Timestamp: [45:31] – [55:10]
Leslie reassures business owners that their content efforts are impactful, even if immediate engagement metrics don’t reflect it. She shares anecdotes of followers who consumed her content silently but later converted into paying clients without prior interaction.
“They are watching, they are listening, they are paying attention.”—Leslie Presnall [48:20]
This lesson underscores the importance of persistence and consistency in content marketing, emphasizing that silent consumers often represent latent opportunities for business growth.
6. Content Creation Becomes Faster and Easier Over Time
Timestamp: [55:11] – [1:05:00]
Reflecting on her journey, Leslie discusses how the content creation process, though initially time-consuming and fraught with anxiety, becomes more streamlined with practice. She initially spent entire days preparing and recording podcasts but gradually reduced this to more manageable time blocks.
“Trust the process. Give yourself more time in the beginning, knowing it will be shorter time in the future.”—Leslie Presnall [1:00:15]
For new content creators, she advises allowing ample time to adapt and improve, reassuring them that efficiency and confidence will naturally develop with continued effort and experience.
7. Acknowledge Your Inner Genius
Timestamp: [1:05:01] – [1:15:20]
Leslie addresses the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome, encouraging business owners to recognize and value their unique insights and experiences. She shares her personal struggles with self-doubt and the journey to embracing her expertise.
“I have my own experiences, my own knowledge, my own ways of teaching things, my own systems, my own strategies.”—Leslie Presnall [1:10:45]
By understanding that their perspectives and methodologies are inherently valuable, business owners can cultivate the confidence needed to produce authentic and impactful content.
8. Be Authentic and Let Your Personality Shine Through
Timestamp: [1:15:21] – [End]
In a particularly candid moment, Leslie confesses her initial reluctance to infuse personal stories into her content, fearing it would detract from the perceived professionalism of her business. However, she discovered that audiences crave authenticity and genuine connection.
“Your people want to know the real you. You're the face of your business.”—Leslie Presnall [1:20:30]
By gradually incorporating personal anecdotes and vulnerabilities, Leslie found that her audience felt more connected and engaged. She encourages business owners to share aspects of their personal lives in manageable increments, fostering deeper relationships with their audience without compromising their professional image.
Conclusion
In this milestone episode, Leslie Presnall offers invaluable content creation insights honed from two years and 100 podcast episodes. Her lessons emphasize the balance between strategic planning and authentic expression, encouraging local business owners to persist, adapt, and embrace their unique voices in their marketing efforts. By implementing these strategies, entrepreneurs can enhance their content effectiveness, build stronger connections with their audience, and ultimately drive business growth.
Notable Quotes:
- “It is okay if coming up with ideas and if cranking out content feels hard, sometimes it's okay.” — Leslie Presnall [07:30]
- “As long as your content is about your topic or your niche or how you help your people, it isn't random.” — Leslie Presnall [19:20]
- “There’s always going to be another episode next week. So it doesn't matter too if this is like the perfect episode or the fully value-packed episode.” — Leslie Presnall [28:45]
- “The gold is in the stuff that comes so easily to you.” — Leslie Presnall [37:50]
- “They are watching, they are listening, they are paying attention.” — Leslie Presnall [48:20]
- “Trust the process. Give yourself more time in the beginning, knowing it will be shorter time in the future.” — Leslie Presnall [1:00:15]
- “I have my own experiences, my own knowledge, my own ways of teaching things, my own systems, my own strategies.” — Leslie Presnall [1:10:45]
- “Your people want to know the real you. You're the face of your business.” — Leslie Presnall [1:20:30]
For more insights and resources, Leslie invites listeners to explore her LocalPreneur Academy, a program designed for small business owners aiming to become the local authority in their industry. Visit lesleypressnell.com for additional information and to join the community.