The Journey with Morgan DeBaun: Episode Summary
Episode Title: How to Build a Successful Podcast: Morgan DeBaun on Community, Networking & Monetization
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Host: Morgan DeBaun | YAP Media
Introduction
In this solo episode of The Journey Podcast, Morgan DeBaun delves deep into the intricacies of building a successful podcast. Drawing from her own experience of growing her podcast to nearly one million downloads, Morgan shares invaluable insights on community building, networking, monetization strategies, and her future plans for the show.
Setting Realistic Expectations and Measuring Success
Morgan begins by addressing a common concern among aspiring podcasters: download numbers. She emphasizes that success shouldn't solely be defined by reaching a million downloads but by the consistent engagement and value provided to the audience.
“Maybe getting a hundred or two hundred downloads per episode is actually not a bad thing. You don't have to be a podcast that gets a million downloads per episode.” (05:15)
Using her own podcast as an example, Morgan explains how her average downloads per episode—ranging from 10,000 to 30,000—are a testament to her podcast's impact and reach.
Community Building Through Authentic Conversations
One of the cornerstone elements Morgan highlights is the importance of authentic, long-form storytelling. Unlike the often fleeting nature of social media interactions, a podcast fosters a deeper, more meaningful relationship with listeners.
“For podcast, the real, real benefit of a podcast is that you all are coming back week over week because we're having a genuine conversation and because I'm actually able to have real value in your lives.” (12:30)
Morgan points out that this consistent engagement helps build a loyal community, making listeners feel like a part of her life, whether they're tuning in during a walk, a car ride, or while unwinding at home.
Personal Growth and Clarity Through Podcasting
Podcasting has served as a personal journal for Morgan, allowing her to articulate and refine her personal philosophy. This process not only benefits her but also provides listeners with relatable and insightful content.
“Having this kind of confessional podcasting space has been really nice for me and I think for anybody who lives a fast-paced life like I do, it can be nice to have something that you do really consistently and just kind of ground you.” (25:45)
She shares how regular episode creation has been therapeutic, offering her a structured outlet to express her thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Networking and Business Relationships
Morgan discusses how her podcast has been instrumental in expanding her professional network. By featuring various guests, she builds meaningful relationships that extend beyond corporate interactions, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
“With the podcast, I can connect with people and get to know them better and they get to know me better and then also able to provide them the value of having this platform as the platforms continue to grow.” (35:20)
She emphasizes that treating business relationships as personal connections leads to more genuine and fruitful collaborations.
Monetization Strategies and Challenges
Transitioning to monetization, Morgan shares her journey of partnering with the YAP Podcast Network and the challenges she faced. She highlights the misalignment between impression-based advertising and the value she offers to her specific audience.
“Podcast ad reads is a lot of time. And also, they want things in kind. They want added value, so they want things like being posted on my social media, posted on, you know, all these different things included in the newsletter.” (52:10)
Morgan explains her decision to shift towards sponsorships that offer deeper integration with brands, aligning better with her podcast’s mission and audience.
Financial Considerations in Podcasting
Morgan openly discusses the financial aspects of running a podcast, particularly a video podcast. She outlines the costs involved, including equipment, production teams, and software subscriptions, totaling approximately $4,500 per month.
“It is very expensive to do a video podcast, but I do think it's a requirement in today's world to get the true value out of your time.” (60:25)
She stresses the importance of viewing these expenses as investments that enhance content quality and expand reach across multiple platforms.
Future Plans and Growth Strategies
Looking ahead, Morgan shares her ambitious plans for The Journey Podcast. With the release of her book "Rewrite Your Rules: The Journey to Success in Less Time with More Freedom," she anticipates a significant expansion of her podcast’s scope and frequency.
“Next year is going to be awesome because I got the book finally coming out. We're releasing the book in a few weeks and just starting to plan out, like, the book tour and everything.” (75:40)
Morgan envisions increasing the podcast’s frequency to two episodes per week, introducing book-related specials, and exploring the possibility of live shows to further engage her audience.
Adapting Content Across Platforms
Morgan highlights the strategic distribution of podcast content across various platforms—YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn—to maximize reach and engagement. This multi-platform approach allows her to cater to diverse audience segments and create tailored content for each channel.
“The people who listen to my podcast are not the same people who follow me on Instagram and are not the same people who follow me on TikTok and are not the same people who follow me on LinkedIn.” (85:10)
She appreciates the distinct communities formed on each platform, enabling her to deliver more relevant and engaging content.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Morgan wraps up the episode by encouraging aspiring podcasters to invest in quality production and embrace the multi-faceted benefits of podcasting—from personal growth to business networking. She underscores the importance of consistency, authenticity, and strategic content distribution in building a successful podcast.
“Use really quick tools like Riverside Descript and continue to invest in a video podcast because it's gonna give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of being able to use content and redistribute it all over the Internet.” (100:15)
Expressing gratitude to her listeners, Morgan invites feedback and interaction, reinforcing the communal spirit that underpins The Journey Podcast.
Notable Quotes:
-
On Defining Success:
“Maybe getting a hundred or two hundred downloads per episode is actually not a bad thing. You don't have to be a podcast that gets a million downloads per episode.” (05:15)
-
On Authentic Conversations:
“For podcast, the real, real benefit of a podcast is that you all are coming back week over week because we're having a genuine conversation and because I'm actually able to have real value in your lives.” (12:30)
-
On Personal Growth:
“Having this kind of confessional podcasting space has been really nice for me and I think for anybody who lives a fast-paced life like I do, it can be nice to have something that you do really consistently and just kind of ground you.” (25:45)
-
On Networking:
“With the podcast, I can connect with people and get to know them better and they get to know me better and then also able to provide them the value of having this platform as the platforms continue to grow.” (35:20)
-
On Monetization Challenges:
“Podcast ad reads is a lot of time. And also, they want things in kind. They want added value, so they want things like being posted on my social media, posted on, you know, all these different things included in the newsletter.” (52:10)
-
On Financial Investments:
“It is very expensive to do a video podcast, but I do think it's a requirement in today's world to get the true value out of your time.” (60:25)
-
On Future Plans:
“Next year is going to be awesome because I got the book finally coming out. We're releasing the book in a few weeks and just starting to plan out, like, the book tour and everything.” (75:40)
-
On Multi-Platform Content:
“The people who listen to my podcast are not the same people who follow me on Instagram and are not the same people who follow me on TikTok and are not the same people who follow me on LinkedIn.” (85:10)
-
On Content Redistribution:
“Use really quick tools like Riverside Descript and continue to invest in a video podcast because it's gonna give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of being able to use content and redistribute it all over the Internet.” (100:15)
Final Thoughts
Morgan DeBaun’s episode serves as a comprehensive guide for current and aspiring podcasters, offering a blend of strategic advice, personal anecdotes, and practical tips. Her emphasis on authenticity, community engagement, and strategic monetization provides a roadmap for building a podcast that is not only successful in metrics but also meaningful in impact.
Listeners are encouraged to take inspiration from Morgan’s journey, apply her insights to their own endeavors, and continue striving towards creating valuable, engaging content that resonates with their unique audiences.