RANT and RAVE: I'm the Lowest Rated Podcaster

When I found out my Digital Marketer podcast was the lowest rated podcast on the QDT network, I was heartbroken. Now I'm inspired.

Nothing like failure to kick you in the ass and get you motivated to do more. Sure, some people might accept defeat and cower away into a dark corner with their tails between their legs. Not me. I look at this as a challenge.

So here is what I've been doing given the news that I'm a loser:

1. Assessed the situation

First thing I did was to get the numbers. I'm not great with numbers, however, and unless I could get additional input about where my numbers stand against other QDT podcasters, I looked at my numbers and thought "Gee, that's cool!" No, it wasn't cool. Knowing that my high point on the downloads scale was still low, I at least had a starting point for growth - a benchmark.

2. Went to the winner.

The next thing I did was go to one of the most popular podcaster on the QDT network, Stever Robbins, the Get-It-Done Guy. I asked him what I could do to improve my podcast. Instead of giving me specific advice, he told the story of his podcast. And from his story I gleaned some important information that opened my eyes to why I was flailing.

3. Identified my steps to success.

Here is what I gathered from my talk with Stever. a) I wasn't being myself and letting my personality shine through. b) I wasn't putting my own identity out there and leveraging my personal following. c) I wasn't telling stories which is crazy because audio is such a great story-telling medium. Was it really that simple?

4. Analyzed the issues.

Before I embarked on a revamp of The Digital Marketer podcast, I had to think about why I wasn't being myself and why I shied away from calling attention to myself too much in my podcast. I realized that a) I wanted to be palatable and worried that my own personality might be too off-the-wall. b) I was afraid that if I were to ever leave - or be asked to leave - the podcast that I'd lose everything I had built up and someone else would be able to slide right in to the brand I helped to build. c) I was holding back on the stories afraid it might be off-putting.

5. Made strategic decisions.

I decided that if I want to be successful with this podcast, I had to throw everything I've got into it and not hold back. I don't accept failure, and I bust my butt to get things done and done well. Fear of losing something simply because I don't "own the brand" doesn't mean it can't be a valuable lesson and important asset to build regardless of if I remain with the brand or not.

Overall, I realized that I need to be doing my best work always, even if someone else owns the asset. I do this for my clients without thinking twice about it. So I should be doing that here, too. Because failure is not an option. ;)

The resulting revamped podcast started last week with What Are Location-Based Social Networks? Would love your feedback!

What have you done in the face of failure?

Comments

[Kay]

Still thinking about what you found out--but one thing--look at All Our Experts and see your avatar is the most timid and closed looking--is she really pigeon-toed? Did you choose her? If so, maybe change her to something more dynamic like you IRL!

[Kay]

I found the QDT listener survey and answered it. Are the ratings possibly determined by the response of listeners via this survey? Or how?

[Stever Robbins]

I can't wait to hear your revamped show! My fingers are crossed; with luck, I've created a monster!

[aliza sherman]

Kay - very interesting about the avatar. I didn't pick it - it was designed for each podcaster and is not meant to represent the person hosting the show.

[renaissance costume]

Yes.. Thats the spirit.. Use that a motivation that you have to strive hard everyday in order to attain what you want.. I wish you all the best. Good Luck!

[Kay]

I think you stick to facts and I like it--hope you don't fall in the "look-at-me" hole Michiko Kakutani describes ("the emphasis that blogging and partisan political Web sites place on subjectivity)" in her fantastic New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/books/21mash.html

[PeterLiu47]

For what it's worth, I've followed The Digital Marketer since the beginning and I love it. Your subject matter is great and your treatment is innovative. I learn to teach from people like you. Keep the faith.

[Eve]

I look forward to hearing the new version too (I listen to lots of episodes at once in chunks), but I really liked the old version too and thought it was spot on and informative. I also recommended it to my friends. I also listen to Stever. Yeah, he is a bit weirder than you, but I like him anyway. ;) Good luck!

[Eve]

Had another thought - it may not be YOU, but the name of the show that attracts less viewers in passing? It may not be clear to the "masses" what "Digital Marketing" means, at least it is less universal than "grammar girl" or "Get it Done Guy". Yes, I think it might just be that the subject matter is less "universal" rather than something wrong with your show. Best, Eve

[Robert]

Hmm . . . what I find interesting is that today, I subscribe to 4 QDT podcasts. Of note, I unsubscribed to "Get It Done Guy" because, even though he occassionally had ideas I liked, I found his voice and style so annoying, it was not worth it. Your's was by far my favorite. I always looked forward to picking up something interesting and useful, as opposed to feeling I needed to listen to a podcast to stay ahead of the curve on an issue. Oh well, pleased you have the zenofdigital up. In dealing with failure, I usually really try to focus on understanding what are my core values and how I deviated from them. Most recently, I focused on lines of poetry and things that remain in my head from high school 40 years ago. From that I learned my core values were process and not goal oriented, abstract and not material. I am trying to live into that.

[Yoana]

I love your podcast! I think it's one of the most relevant podcasts out there today, as it covers everything I'm always wondering about when marketing online, well, almost everything!

Anyways, I'll take the survey as well and see if it helps!

You rock Eliza!