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Woman of Influence
The Podcasting Playbook: How to Launch, Grow & Monetize with Stefanie Gass
00:50:30
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- [00:00]
Julie Solomon
I'll have clients come to me and they're just exhausted and burnout with trying to grow their podcast. But then, you know, I'll take five seconds to kind of check it out. And I'm like, you're not talking about what you offer. You're not talking about who you serve. You're not talking about what your zone of genius is. Welcome to the Influencer Podcast. I'm your host, Julie Solomon. If you found yourself here, it means you are ready to unleash the powerful visionary that lives inside you, turning you into an authentic leader who creates influence, impact, and change. Let's get started. Hello, friends. Welcome back to another episode of the Influencer Podcast. Now, I'm excited about today's episode because I have a guest on today. And as you all know, if you have been listening, if you're an OG listener, or even if you're a new listener, you have probably picked up on the fact that I don't have a lot of guests on this, this show. There is reason and intention from that. I. I've talked about it in previous episodes, but essentially I have just learned over the years that I want to be very discerning and intentional with guests when they come on because I want to make sure that it's going to be very potent and very beneficial to what you actually need. I do not want people coming on the show and essentially wasting your time, because that doesn't help anybody. And talking about topics and things that don't really resonate with you, your business, your life, what you are actually going through. And so with that, to say, this episode is not going to disappoint. Today on the podcast, we have the amazing Stephanie Gass here to talk all about podcasting. She is going to tell you exactly how to start and build your online business successfully in less than two hours a week just using podcasting and without social media. Her story is one that is relatable. It is really interesting how she went all in on podcasting and actually deleted her social media platforms. I've never heard anyone do that. She shares really easy examples on how to start a podcast, why you should name it, what you should name it for SEO purposes, how to make money on the podcast, a few examples of how you can grow your podcast, and then what you. You can learn about really infusing this into your business. So if you currently have a podcast or if you've been one of my incredible listeners who have been thinking about starting a podcast for a while, I know who you are. I know it's been on your heart and in your mind for the last couple of years. This episode is for you. So with that, my friends, let's get started. Hey, Stephanie, how are you?
- [02:49]
Stephanie Gass
Good. How's it going, Julie? So excited to be here. Good.
- [02:52]
Julie Solomon
I know. I'm so excited to have you. It was such an honor to meet you last year through our dear, dear friend Kathy Heller. We got to have some time together in Los Angeles and speak at her wonderful event. And that's what I love about Kathy, and really just the community of women that you and I are so just fortunate and blessed to be a part of and surround ourselves with is that it's really, really magical. Women that support each other, bright women, incredible women. And I never leave one of those places, not just feeling so empowered and inspired with all of the beautiful conversations and the people that I meet. And one of those incredible women were you. And you have such an incredible story and a gift and so much goodness to share. So I'm really excited about you being on our podcast today. And if you wouldn't mind, just obviously they. They've heard the intro, but if you'll just share from your own heart and voice, really where your gift of online business, of social media and all of that, how that. And podcasting, of course, how that kind of came to be and really what your zone of genius is when you go to share your gifts.
- [04:03]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah. Well, thanks for having me, Julie. And, you know, similarly, I can just attest to the power of having really amazing friends who so beautifully connect all of us. So, yes. So grateful to have met you. Well, I've been an entrepreneur for 15 years full time. I started out in network marketing, I think, probably like a lot of people did back then. And I rode that wave all the way to the top because everybody told me I couldn't do it. I did it. And it really was to the detriment of everything in my life that that became successful. You know, I think at that time, I was really sold out to the belief that if I just continue to work super hard, one day, all of this will be worth it. And to make that really long story shorter, I ended up walking the stage. I hit the top 1% and had that $60,000 bonus check. Walking the stage. This was in 2015, and I had made it, you know, and I walk off the stage, Julie, and I thought everything was going to make sense. Like the 5am calls, the working endlessly, like, putting my family second to having success and making money online and all of that. And I felt the Same. Like, I didn't feel different. I didn't feel better. And that moment, something shifted inside of me. But I'm stubborn, so I didn't listen. I kept pushing forward, and in the course of the next 12 months, my company completely fell apart. My. My personal business, and obviously I had been building someone else's business. I was basically a salesperson in that company. But I had been so sold out and believing that that was the way that I was going to have success, that it was my entire identity. And so I was super broken after that kind of fell apart. I had this day that I had to walk out to my husband in the living room and tell him that we couldn't pay the mortgage that month because the cash flow was gone. And we had been living this life of, oh, I'm super successful, and I have all of this and this big facade, you know, And I didn't want to come to terms with the fact that it had fallen apart and so borrow money from my son's savings account that day. And that was the day for me. My faith is a really big piece of my turnaround, my redemption story. And I came into a corner of my home, Julie, and I just started crying and crying out to God and saying, help me. I don't know who I am anymore because the business has fallen apart. And that's who I was. So I ended up writing on this sheet of paper all of these things. And it was like Holy Spirit was just working through the pen. It was like, you are a sober mom. You are a Kingdom business owner. You're a present wife, like, all of these things. You're healthy, all these things on this paper. And I was like, must be nice to be her, because I'm none of those things today. And that started this journey for me of really seeking out partnership with God in my work, not just in all the other areas of my business, and compartmentalizing him. And so I ended up going to a gym I couldn't afford at the time so that I had the daycare. And I started working on, you know, how the heck am I going to grow something that is going to be really fruitful? And I would spend the other hour, like, praying and trying to figure out how to read the Bible, because I was really coming to terms with that side of me.
- [07:21]
Julie Solomon
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- [08:47]
Stephanie Gass
And anyways, over the course of the next few years I sold out to social media and I said okay, I'm done with network marketing but now I'm going to grow a coaching business on social media. So committed to Instagram because that was a thing at the time and I was spending four to five hours a day there myself. It was me. I didn't really have a team at the time. I think I maybe had a VA giving me a couple of hours a week. So I'd post reels and stories and like constantly of me and my kids and I felt like this, I call them discernment alarms now. But it was like this constant like discomfort that I was spending so much time there. Like I was living my life through a lens. And I ended up growing to 40,000 followers painstakingly. But there was still no income, there were no sales coming from it. And even though I had, you know, 700 a thousand liked posts, it just wasn't converting. And that's when I just started praying really relentlessly like how am I supposed to grow? I know I'm supposed to be a business owner, I know I'm supposed to lead women, but I don't really know how to reach her and I don't really know what I'm supposed to do with her when I find her. And I just kept like full out surrender. Cause I'm like this, nothing's working in my Life right now. Anyways, I had a dream in 2018 and it was very prophetic and I knew that it was a word from. From the Lord. And I heard start a podcast very clearly. And that day everything shifted for me. I went plugged in. I had a staticky microphone. Plugged it in. Julie. I had no concept, except for I think I'm working in this mompreneur space at the time because I'd come out of network marketing, threw a title on that podcast, started speaking, and that day everything shifted. Within 12 months had become a six figure coaching business. And I at that point, got off of social media completely, completely for over two years to prove that podcasting would work, to grow my company by itself. And anyway, now it's been six years later, seven figure company from the podcast Sober Kingdom Wife, like, really present in my life. I'm literally everything I wrote on the paper back when everything was falling apart. And anyway, it's just the goodness of God and stepping out in a little bit of fear, but a lot of faith is where I'm at today.
- [11:00]
Julie Solomon
Oh, this is so good and juicy. I can't wait to dive in. Okay, so take us, take us back to that moment for those. Because there's. There's going to be so many women that are listening this, that can relate. It's like they just feel like, I don't know why it's not working. And especially a lot of women in my world who they've had success, it's worked in the past. They've made, you know, six figures, some even more than that. Like, they've had this season of so much flow and overflow and abundance, and then it's like somebody moved the cheese and now they're like, what I've known to do what has been working isn't working, and I don't know what to do. So you went to your faith, and I love that you talked about this. How long did it take you to consistently surrender to finally get that answer with the podcast? Do you remember?
- [11:46]
Stephanie Gass
Oh, years. Like, I started to feel this shifting and really it was inside of me. Julie and I think all of you that are running a business right now, how often do you really stop and discern through your actions? It's not just, oh, something's not working anymore, but. But it's also this deeper question of am I showing up in the ways that I'm truly positioned and called to do so, or am I just doing it because it's what I've always done? Is it because what I see everyone else doing. And so I started to ask those questions, but I didn't believe that I couldn't be there. Like, social media is the only way I've gotten my, you know, at the time, one, two clients a month. And so what I did is I took a tiptoe in and I started to delete the apps every weekend. And I did that, Julie, for three years before I felt that I could do a whole month. And then I did a one month, which turned into two years. And so I think if you're starting to feel like something's not working or it's not working for me in the capacity I want to be showing up. What's one baby step that you can take towards that thing? Because that's what's so terrifying. Like, oh, I'm gonna throw everything away that I've created. You don't have to do that. But maybe it's that first step or it's that first boundary, and when that works, it gives you a little bit more permission to kind of stack.
- [13:09]
Julie Solomon
And that's what I really think, that when, especially if something has worked in the past and is no longer working, instead of seeing that as this thing that, oh, now I've gotta go fix it or force it or push it through, it's like, maybe that is actually the sign that you are meant to be evolving and moving into another place. And so I love that you shared that.
- [13:33]
Stephanie Gass
For.
- [13:33]
Julie Solomon
For you, that place was podcasting and the fact that you were able to truly go and. And we talk about, you know, people talk about this a lot. You gotta go. You gotta go all in on, like, your one thing. That one thing, for a lot of people, typically, is social media, Instagram, they just go all in there. You went all in on podcasting. Let us know what year this was. What were the conversations that we're having? I know that you, you know, your audience at the time were kind of a lot of women in that mompreneurial space. So what were the conversations happening? And what were kind of some of those early indicators that really allowed your podcast to pop off like it did?
- [14:10]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah, Such good questions. So this was in October of 2018 that I officially clicked publish. And the conversations that were really happening at the time, from what I could tell was, which I think hasn't changed. I want to be able to work from home. I want to be able to grow a business, but I don't know what it is. I don't know what the steps are. I'm stuck. You know, I think that we just have arrived in this place where everybody realizes that there is a potential to craft the life of your dreams based on where you've been and that almost anybody can truly run and own a business. And so everybody kind of wants that in some capacity, whether it's this, like on the side or whether it's a full time thing. So that was the conversation happening. And at that time, I had been building, trying to grow on Instagram, like, which we had mentioned really wasn't working. But what was working was I had pulled the people that would find me on Instagram into a Facebook group and I had, you know, a baby on my hip. I was always a mess. Cause I was going to the gym all the time at, at that time. So I would like come in and I have my little headband from the gym and baby on my hip. And we talk about marketing and we talk about whatever. And that's when people started to say, do you coach? Well, the only problem for me was I wanted to create something though, where I didn't have to be on video, on call, in a group all the time. That's why I said, okay, we're going to now go to this podcast. And I think what allowed the podcast to pop off, so to speak, in that first 12 months was people finally could get off of staring at this dopamine, like addictive creating box of metal, which we love it and we hate it at the same time. We're all addicted to it because the best engineers in the world are paid to keep us addicted to it. But what happens on our phone is that as we swipe and click, we get a dopamine hit. Well, what happens is we just need the next dopamine hit quicker and quicker and quicker. So we can't actually focus on anything for typically longer than 60 seconds at a time. But people wanted to learn from me and they wanted to connect. So I said, let's just get off of here, come to the podcast. And what happened was, because it's an audible consumption platform, finally it was like peace dropped in, like, oh, I can sit here and listen to something. I can do laundry while I listen, I can go on a run. And it allowed these women to go deep with me really quickly. So what happened was that's why the revenue exploded, because the conversion became really fast. And then the other thing that I did, which was an experiment at the time, but now something I teach was I'm going to use the most strategic keywords I can in the titles of every episode based on what she's searching for based on the things she's typing into Apple or to Google or wherever. So I started putting stuff in, like work from home or start an online business or launch a podcast, all of those kind of terms. And it was bringing in people literally all over the world who were searching for those terms. So those two things partnered together is what really exploded, lastly, was that I was really controversial because I told everyone, I'm getting off social media. Like, I'm going to get off. I'm going to not post here again, and let's see what happens. And everyone was kind of along for the ride, like, is she really doing that? Is that really going to work for her? And it was an experiment. I told everybody it's just an experiment. This may fail miserably because at the time, I was getting great engagement, but I hated it.
- [17:31]
Julie Solomon
Right.
- [17:31]
Stephanie Gass
So those three things.
- [17:32]
Julie Solomon
Oh, that is so good. Okay, so I know the question that my. I know my audience so well. I know the question that they're going to be having right now, because I want to get into some. Some nuts and bolts with podcasting, because this is what you do. You're so great at it. Before we even get into how to actually start a podcast in 2025, I want you to go ahead and answer the question. Well, easy for Julie and Stephanie to have podcasts because they started in 2017 and 2018 when everyone and their dog didn't have a podcast. So if I'm Samantha in 2025 and I've been sitting on this podcast idea for two years, like, how do I actually make it worth my while, make it impactful, and make it profitable in 2025, before we even get into the nicks, the, you know, the nooks and crannies of how I actually started?
- [18:25]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah. So great news for Samantha is that even though everyone and their dog has a podcast, everyone and their dog doesn't stick with it because it is the most underwhelming platform you can choose to be a part of. There's no feel good. You don't go viral. You don't have engagement with people. You're showing up hopefully in your PJs and living your best life, recording an episode for your people and praying and letting go and releasing and hoping that it reaches the right people. And so what happens is I don't have the stats in front of me, but it was a massive number. I think it was less than 10% of podcasters ever make it past six months, so you can assume. Okay, I'm looking at this app and seeing hundreds of people in my niche, I'm like, oh no. You know, I'm just going to get lost in it. But what actually happens is Everybody quits. Literally 90% of people will quit. So all you have to do is ride it out longer than all the quitters because it's not a feel good place to be, but it is a make money place to be. So. And the second piece of that is like, pick your saturated. So you want to talk about saturated? Podcasting is probably your best bet because everyone thinks social media is the place to be. So you're showing up. I use this visual of like, you're stepping into this auditorium of, or this, this like concert venue of 20,000 people. And you walk in and you have your little sign and it says like, I sell skin care. Or like I do whatever I do. And you walk into the stadium and you're ready and everyone else is holding up a sign too, and everyone's screaming at the top of their lungs, I do this, I do this. No one's actually sitting down listening. Right. Versus you walk into a smaller stadium. Everyone is seated quietly and excited to learn because they literally bought the ticket to learn what skincare to use and you're the only person talking on the stage. That's the difference of like, well, yeah, one thing is saturated, but one thing has a targeted audience of people literally searching for what it is that you teach. So I say, jump in, it's super ready.
- [20:30]
Julie Solomon
Well, and it's, it's really, it's, it's empowered by the user, not the other way around because they're having to raise their hand and click that button to either listen to you or watch you.
- [20:40]
Stephanie Gass
Absolutely.
- [20:41]
Julie Solomon
We're going to get to the money part in a bit. I want to know, how would someone today start a podcast? Just let's, let's get as low hanging fruit, low barrier of entry as possible. And then I do have a caveat for you, Stephanie.
- [20:56]
Stephanie Gass
Okay.
- [20:56]
Julie Solomon
The video component. Because I know when we both started our podcast that was just not really a thing that was necessary or required in order to grow. Now you're seeing more and more podcasters, especially some of the veteran OG podcasters going to video. And so I would, I would love to know, what's your take on that as well? Can someone still thrive with just audio only podcasting? Yes or no? If they want to start an audio podcast, if they want to start an audio podcast with a video component, how are they actually going to do that in 2025?
- [21:26]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah. So good. So let's start with your first question, which was, how do you actually start a podcast? And you go all the way to the nuts and bolts of that. So the first thing you have to do is figure out what is your niche going to be or your direction? And this really begins with, where have you been? I. The biggest mistake that I see is people try to create a business around where they want to go. You probably see this all the time, Julie. They're like, I'm going to create a business, Steph, on how to make websites and make them make six figures. I'm like, great. Is that what you do today? No. I've never started a website ever myself. And I've never, you know, And I'm like, okay, okay, hold on. I know that's where we want to go. And it's not to say that you guys cannot ever have a business on where you want to go, but you got to look backwards and really audit an inventory. What are the hardest stinking things you've ever gone through in your life? Guaranteed that has something to do with the calling that you have today? And what are the biggest triumphs and what are your skills? What are the things you're good at? What are your spiritual giftings? Take all of that and look for a common denominator. Right? And so when you finally have that common denominator, that's your direction of what your business should be. So you've got to know, you can't just start a lifestyle podcast and it's not going to be successful for you.
- [22:40]
Julie Solomon
Right.
- [22:40]
Stephanie Gass
Not in 2025. Get smaller to grow bigger. Right. So once you have that direction, a few things you need to do. You got to pick a really clear podcast title. And I teach my students that you want to be as boring, blatant, and basic as you can because it's searchable. Right. If you have meal prep for newborn. For moms with newborns. Oh, my goodness. Like, your podcast is going to go way faster than somebody else who's like, make mommy feel great. It's not clear.
- [23:09]
Julie Solomon
Right. Or ethereal or, you know. Yes.
- [23:13]
Stephanie Gass
Emotional. Yeah. So get that. The second thing you need is podcast art. That is show stopping. So if you're going to invest money, let it be in the art. Get some professional photos. Really? Seriously, do not make it yourself. I know. I did it myself. Please do not be me. Get professional art done. And then the very last thing you need to do is just set everything up, and it's really not hard. The software we use still today, the One that I. It's free. I had a hundred dollar mic for four years. Keep it simple. That's how you literally start your podcast. Now, of course there's lots of strategy and extra things you can do. I have a podcasting course. There's lots of stuff online to help you. Right. But that's how you start like in 2025. That's all you have to do. And I even teach my students. Julie, you don't have to have the website done. You don't need to have fancy email marketing messaging. Like you can literally go from. I know what I'm going to do as far as like the direction. I know my who and I'm going to just start the podcast, drive traffic to your email to book calls with you for a while. Like let the podcast start working for you because it is evergreen. It's never going to expire. My top downloaded episodes are from forever ago. They're still working today. So get that going sooner than later. And then all these other components can come after the fact. So that's how you start any follow up on that or I'll get to video podcasting.
- [24:32]
Julie Solomon
No, yeah, no, that's perfect. I would love to dive into the video aspect.
- [24:35]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah. So video podcasting. Here's what I still believe to be true. I really, with all of my heart and soul believe that you have got to focus on creating one fire first. And then you want to get it to spark, get it to kindle the fire, pour into it, get the right firewood for it. And then all of a sudden you have this beautiful bonfire and it is growing and it is amazing. And with or without you, the fire will stay lit. Now you can look away from the fire and start to work on fire number two. And so the thing you have to choose is your long form. Pick one. There's only three. You can video and YouTube. You can blog, which that's hard nowadays with AI, right? Or you can audio podcast. And I think that audio podcasting is the best. Here's why. Because I think it's the least saturated. And the statistics do also confirm my belief to be true. Because people quit and leave fast. The second thing is it's so inexpensive, Truly. I have just now, it was after we passed seven figures annual revenue that I finally was like, okay, I'll go to YouTube as a podcaster, but it's only because my podcast is growing without me. We repurpose onto a blog and the last one left was YouTube. I saved it for last because it is truly the hardest. It's extremely expensive. It's extremely time consuming. It is so stinking hard. And I'm good at online business and I am struggling. It is hard. And so why would you go. I'm in a podcast. Podcast and do video at the same time. And suck at both. Like, choose your thing.
- [26:18]
Julie Solomon
Yeah.
- [26:19]
Stephanie Gass
And really let that be your thing. And do. I still believe you can be successful with just audio 110%. And the reason is, is because YouTube is no different. It is different, but it's the same brain chemicals that social media is. So people are not. We're there to get something fast. Solve my problem now. That's what YouTube is. That's why people go there. It's a solve my problem now platform. And when somebody is on there, they're just going to forward you to get the answer and leave. Not to say you shouldn't be there eventually, but like, I'm there right now. But it's because it's what we had left to go conquer. But the podcast is. I'm here to learn. I'm here to listen. The demographic of people who choose to listen audibly to podcasts, they are professional people who have ex money to spend. They have higher discretionary income. They're people who take care of themselves. They're usually in a gym, they're working out, they're in a posture of bettering themselves when they're listening to you. And that has not changed for 2025. If anything, I believe that the pendulum is swinging back to audio even more than it ever has been. Because we are so tired of staring at our phones. I think more than ever our hearts are yearning for like a break and peace. I know for me it is. And I've been like, I just want to listen. Like, I can't take it anymore. I can't look at one more thing right now. I think it's only going to get better.
- [27:43]
Julie Solomon
Yeah. And I would agree too, especially with just the evolution of, you know, reels and, you know, TikTok. As of now, we don't really know what's going to happen over there. But it's like people are so used to short form content, long form content, all the forms of content. And it's, it's. We just need a break. And the other thing too, I don't know if you've noticed this, Stephanie, but it's like I know some podcasters that on their audio side, you know, they're one of the top podcasters in their genre. You go over to watch a video of the same podcast episode on YouTube and they're getting like 200 views.
- [28:19]
Stephanie Gass
That's me right now. 85 views for me right now. And so.
- [28:23]
Julie Solomon
And the reason why I want to share this with. With those of you that have not had a successful podcast since 2018, like Stephanie has. It's like what Stephanie just said is that she's laid the groundwork, so now she's got the. The bandwidth, the team, the infrastructure, the systems, and the. The financial investment that's needed in place to actually go and now build YouTube from the ground up. I could not imagine trying to, quote, unquote, successfully do both of those things at the same time. And so my hope for those listening is that Stephanie has now given you this permission to just breathe a little bit. And it's like what you described, Stephanie, is the exact same reason why I started a podcast, because it was literally the lowest barrier of entry. I was like, what is going to be the easiest thing for me to do? Because I'm not tech savvy, I am not a designer. You don't want me filming anything if you want it to look good. So, like, what is that? And I think that for so many of us who may be similar in that there's been such a learning curve that we've already had to do with social media and just getting used to recording reels and editing them and doing all of that, that now it's just. It's. It's a lot. And so I think that that is such a great recommendation. I love that you just laid it out clear for us. And so now I want to talk about. We talked about how to start a podcast. We've talked about audio or video. I want to really talk about how a business owner can use their podcast to grow, because this is another thing that I see a lot of times with my client Stephanie, and. And you probably do, you know, too, this is what people come to you for. But I'll have clients that start podcasts, but then, like, they're not talking about their offers on the podcast, or, like, all they do is have guests on that talk about their stuff, which is great. Guests are great. But if you are an. If you have a product or service that you are trying to sell, you probably want to do some solo episodes to talk about that, to really make sure that people are. Are understanding your genius and the transformation that you provide. So I'll have clients come to me, and they're just exhausted and burnout with trying to grow their podcast. But then, you know, I'll take five seconds to kind of check it out. And I'm like, you're not talking about what you offer, you're not talking about who you serve, you're not talking about what your zone of genius is. So how do we make sure from the gate that we are aligning the structure and the themes of our podcast to actually being a through line to grow our own business and grow our products and services?
- [31:00]
Stephanie Gass
That's such a fantastic question. So not so we are, you know, seven figure plus annual revenue company. 90% of my revenue comes directly from my podcast. I did not run an ad till we were over 500k. I did not repurpose everywhere until I had a full out team. And why I'm sharing that with you guys is because I'm not a huge podcast by any means. Like, we have millions of downloads, but I'm not like in the, you know, I'm not anybody. Super duper fancy where you're like, oh, I know of that podcast. And it's crazy because you don't have to have these crazy large numbers on your podcast to start creating conversion literally from day one. But you do have to be strategic, like Julie is alluding to here. So the very first thing from the gate that you look at is the front end of your podcast. So you need to audit. Is the title of my show boring and Clear. And I know that this just really makes people, they're like, oh, but it's so my title's so fun. I'm like, I do not. Are we here to make money or are we not? Like you need to, you know, rebrand sometimes your podcast title, because that's the number one searchable thing. So how can it be super, super clear? The second thing is, does it look really professional? And then the third thing is if I land here and I don't know you whatsoever and I land on this podcast and I actually click it because your title's clear and your art is great. Do I now know what it's about? So this is where you want to think about those very front end things. Like what do you put in the top? Do you have any keywords up there that explains. Explain the main pain points of your person? Do you have a description that is punchy and clear and pointed to. To what problems you actually solve? And then the biggest thing are your episodes, what your person wants to see right now in their life.
- [32:47]
Julie Solomon
So share more about that.
- [32:49]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah. So if we had the example I said earlier, like, let's say we have the meal Prep for Working Moms podcast very Clear. Let's say she has an amazing graphic of her, you know, meal prepping. She's got her laptop out or something like that. So, okay, I really see what this is about. I land on the page and I see all these episodes like how to meal prep in 15 minutes or less on a Sunday night. The first three things you should be shopping for when going out to meal prep. Let's see my two favorite breakfast meal prep, meals made easy meal prep one on one on a budget. How I spent less than $100 meal prepping this week. Here's the big takeaway for you. How do you in essence speak to their biggest pain points and their biggest desires over and over and over again packaged differently. That's the secret sauce, right? Because your podcast, I want you to think of it as front to funnel. If people type in meal prep for work or meal prep for moms or meal prep made easy and my show comes up, that person is going to come to my podcast and see, ooh, these 10 episodes. So relevant. Let me click listen and then all of a sudden there'll be an offer in there which we'll talk about in a second that will help me make money versus two months from now. Amy comes, types in shopping for a meal prep or meal prep list, finds this podcast. These 10 episodes are still relevant. So what happens is as podcasters, we think I'm on this six year journey and I'll just talk about this in the front, but then I'll go and talk about whatever else. No, no, no. Like you're talking about the same, same thing till you're blue in the stinking face because it's what you do. So, so niched in. So that's how you guys fix that and what I'm talking about. And so now let's get into the episode itself. How do you sell how you actually make money? I believe that you should have your own offer. If you are focused on just getting sponsors of your podcast, you're going to make pennies on the download until you're a very large show. So I actually do not recommend that. I recommend start with coaching. It's the easiest thing if you have a very small audience. Just help people. Hey, I coach on meal prep. Let's do a virtual call. Or I coach on relationship conversations, whatever it is. And truly you can keep it simple. Send them to a calendar link, they book and pay you right there, you're done. Like we over complicate so much that ends up hurting us in the sales process. If you can't have a pretty sales page. Don't have one. Send them straight to the link. Right. So inside so you have something that's yours. Coaching is my favorite for people who are new or you're not making any profit yet. Once you've validated what it is you do, you can then make that into an online course or a group coaching program. So I started with one on one coaching. I grew that really successful. Then I phased out of that and replaced it with a course and then started a group coaching program. So now I have the course and the program and that's what people can purchase from me. Every single podcast episode. I market my group coaching program every single one. I've never had a mean review, please don't go, leave me one. I've never had anybody get mad at me like because it's organic, it's very conversational and natural. So think of when you're thinking of selling on your podcast. Remember that these people are already captivated by you. They like no one trust you or they wouldn't be listening. So it's your job, it's your responsibility to say friend. Are you still struggling with meal prep? After listening to all of my podcasts, I have a course called the Meal Prep Method and it's going to take you through how to make this really super simple. And I'm excited for you to come and check that out. Link to check it out. It's like very organic and natural how we sell throughout every episode. And I know you guys have heard Julie do that here on her show as well. You sell on your podcast and the coolest thing about that is you don't need 13 funnels, you just need. I can go straight from podcast to offer and people will purchase. That's often what they say. I just listened to the podcast and came and purchased. So that's how we sell, that's how we niche in. That's how you target it. And I think if I was to guess any of you that aren't making sales but your podcasts are going pretty well, you're talking about too many things. They need to bring it back really to that power of one. What is the one problem you really want to solve and package it up as many ways as you can.
- [37:08]
Julie Solomon
Yep, a million percent. And Stephanie, do you run any ads on your podcast?
- [37:13]
Stephanie Gass
I don't run ads on my podcast but I do run like social like Facebook and Instagram ads will run those to offers like especially during live launches and things. But no, the podcast has been 100%.
- [37:25]
Julie Solomon
Organic and see, and that's what I want to, to really, for those that are listening because I know so many of you that listen to this are, you know, also clients of mine. You, you've been inside these coaching containers when we talk about this. And, and I'm appreciate that you're saying this, Stephanie, because when people come to me for message refinement so they can grow and scale their business, sometimes the podcast conversation will come up because that is one channel that they're using. But they'll say, you know, Julie, I'm thinking about, you know, I want to get some brand partnerships or I'm thinking about running ads or I'm thinking about doing this. And I always have to remind them and redirect them that it's like you are not even maxed out in your coaching business yet. You don't even have every single person that needs your course has not bought your course yet. So why are you trying to saturate and go and get some 500 brand deal and start talking about some lifestyle ad on your podcast? That makes no sense. And you could be using that precious time in your podcast to actually be serving and supporting and sharing the products and services that you have. So it's not to poo poo on ads. I run ads. I run ads that make sense for my business and my ideal client. But at the same time, I didn't start out running ads. I didn't run ads until three or four years into my podcast after my podcast had been solidified and had been such a strong nurture channel for my own products and services. So that's just another great thing to remember. And I love that you touched on that, Stephanie, is just to really get honest with yourself on am I doing everything that I humanly possibly can when it comes to my podcast to really make sure that it is such an easy through line for my ideal client to go from awareness to making that buying decision with me. So with that to say, I would love for you to share a little bit about how this audience here can learn more about how to start a podcast. I know that you mentioned you have the profitable podcast bootcamp, but share with us a little bit because I'm going to be put putting that link in the show notes here for anybody that wants to check it out. Share a little bit about how they can learn more about the process there and, and what happens there that's different than maybe what you share for free on your podcast.
- [39:39]
Stephanie Gass
Sure. Yeah. And we actually set up a code for you guys. So fun. So you can come in for free to my boot camp by using the code Julie. And we'll have the link for you. It's juliesolomon.net profitable-podcast. There it is. And you guys can come in for free, so be sure you do grab that. What that is is the five day experience where you, you get trained for 45 minutes to an hour a day. Because there's a lot here. Like, Julie and I have touched on so many things, but you're probably thinking like when she said, you know, using keywords on the pod, what does she mean? Or like, oh, I'm still stuck on how to make it the this like link all the way from awareness to purchase. That's what this bootcamp will do. We take you through optimizing your podcast. Day one. The second day, we talk about how to create a profitable offer. Whether it's going to be a coaching offer or a course offer, a group coaching. On day three, I teach how to make authentic sales through your podcast. I actually give you guys my simple sales method with scripts and everything to help you feel authentic in your messaging. And then on, in the last bit of the, of the bootcamp, we go through scaling. So then once I have this podcast working now, what, what do I focus on? What do I. And I think the biggest blessing of the whole bootcamp is that you're gonna find you're doing way too much in way too many places, and that's actually why you're not successful. And it's the biggest permission slip in the world to be like, oh my gosh, I can go from 25 hours a week on social media to two hours podcasting, and this can actually exponentially grow my revenue and give me my time space and, you know, mental capacity back to do these other things I'm called to do in my life. So that's the blessing. The blessing I hope that it is for you to come through the boot camp and like I said, use the code Julie to get in for free.
- [41:27]
Julie Solomon
Yes. And I mean, definitely. Take Stephanie up on this. This is her zone of genius. This is what she does. This bootcamp, as she mentioned, it's normally 1500 dollars and we're getting it for free. So you're going to see that link in the show notes. Stephanie, before we wrap today up, I want to ask you about where you see the landscape of podcasting going 20, 25 and beyond. Like, I know that you had mentioned earlier, you know, you see kind of audio coming back through, but when it comes, and I want to specifically talk about through the lens of online coaches, because that's a lot of the people that listen to my podcast. Online entrepreneurs, online service providers, content creators, you know, where is this landscape going so that they can make sure that they're not just hopping on some flashy trends with things, but that they're really going to be continuing to be aware and be on the tip of the arrow to really make sure that their podcast is not something that they quit in three months, but it's actually something that creates sustainability for the nurture and the marketing and the impact of their business.
- [42:37]
Stephanie Gass
Yeah, I think podcasting isn't going anywhere. And if you are in a place where you've been searching for a method that is simple and sustainable, two of my favorite S's, and that's what podcasting is, then that would be something you want to keyword, commit to. And so don't start if you are the person that loves, which that's fine. I love chasing the new trend. You know, I'm going to get on the latest TikTok thing and I feel great to go viral and that's literally my bread and butter. And I love it. Fabulous. You know, you stay in that lane, but this is really for the people who want their time back. You want your time back and you want conversion faster in a more authentic, meaningful way that you can depend on. You can depend on your podcast. Then that would be the method for you. And I. I won't sugarcoat it. It's not going to feel great, your first couple of months. Honestly, it's probably going to take you 12 months to truly solidify your position in whatever, your podcasting space. Why? Because the other 90% of people around you will have quit. So that's why I believe it's not for the faint of heart, but it's for those of you who are really ready to make that sustainable, lasting change in your business. You're all in on the thing that you're called to create and you just need a better method of getting it into the world and you're ready to let go of maybe what everyone else is doing and saying and trust that this method can and will work for you if you just are consistent and you see it through.
- [44:04]
Julie Solomon
Beautiful. Ah, Stephanie, thank you so much for coming. I think that we just got to nail so much down in a nice little bit of time. For those that are listening, as always, if anything resonated with you today, I want you to screenshot this episode. Share it with me. Share it with Stephanie. She'll share her socials in just a minute. But let us know specifically what resonated with you. If there was a moment of clarity, an aha moment, a moment of permission that you gave yourself, whatever that is for you, we want to know what that is. As you all know, I am very intentional and discerning with the guests that I have on because I want it to be really, really beneficial and supportive for you. And I knew that Stephanie would be just that. I knew this would be a topic that you guys would really, really value and appreciate. So we want to hear your feedback. So if you wouldn't mind doing that for us, we would so appreciate it. And with that, Stephanie, will you let us know where we can find you on your podcast and online?
- [44:57]
Stephanie Gass
Absolutely. So podcast is online business for Christian women. Anyone is welcome, of course. And my website is Stephanie Gas. It's S T E F A n I e G-A-S-S.com and all the links and socials and places that I am are on my website.
- [45:12]
Julie Solomon
Beautiful. Thank you. Stephanie, thank you for coming.
- [45:15]
Stephanie Gass
Julie, thanks so much.
- [45:18]
Julie Solomon
As always. Thank you so much for joining me today and every week here on the Influencer Podcast. If you're wanting to dive deeper into the topics and discussions that we have here, I would encourage you to head over to juliesolomon.net and sign up for my weekly newsletter. It is in our amazing newsletter community that we are able to really support you on a much larger scale. And I love to do a ton of amazing things that I send inside your inbox every single week. So just head over to juliesolomon.net you'll see a little spot there that you can add your information in and you will get on the list and start receiving all of that good stuff.