Podcast Summary
Alternative way to connect with potential clients: Finding unique ways to present information and connect with people can lead to higher conversion rates and improved business outcomes.
Ryan Mickler, the founder of Order of Man and host of a successful podcast, started his podcast as an alternative way to connect with potential clients in the financial planning industry. He discovered that sending CDs with his introductory presentation led to higher conversion rates, as prospects could listen to the content at their own pace and decide if they wanted to meet with him. This innovative approach allowed him to save time and only meet with those who were genuinely interested. The key takeaway here is that finding unique ways to present information and connect with people can lead to significant improvements in business outcomes. Additionally, Ryan's success in creating and monetizing a podcast in a saturated market serves as an inspiration for entrepreneurs and content creators looking to make their mark.
Creating unique value and scaling through unconventional methods: Identifying a unique value proposition and scaling it through unconventional methods, like creating CD presentations or podcasting, can help you reach a larger audience and find success. Understand your audience's needs and provide value to build a loyal following.
Identifying a unique value proposition and scaling it through unconventional methods can lead to success. The speaker shares how he differentiated himself in the financial services industry by creating and distributing CD presentations, and later transitioned to podcasting when he realized he could educate the market without being physically present. This strategy, born out of necessity, allowed him to reach a larger audience and ultimately find success. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience's needs and providing value, as evidenced by a call from a pediatric physician who became a client after listening to his disability insurance podcast. Despite leaving a well-paying career in financial planning, the speaker's residual income provided a safety net, allowing him to take the risk and pursue his passion with the Order of Man podcast.
Investing in passion projects: Focus on building a community, even with modest revenue, to grow your passion project and increase confidence in your business.
It's essential to invest time in your passion projects, even if they're not generating significant revenue at first. The speaker shared his experience of selling his financial planning practice to focus on Order of Man, which initially brought in around $1500 a month. Despite the modest income, he saw potential for growth and used the revenue from his previous business to support him while he developed his passion project further. Entrepreneurs often feel pressured to complicate things, like creating elaborate sales funnels and marketing strategies. However, focusing on building a community of people who already know, like, and trust you can lead to successful product launches and increased confidence in your business.
Focusing on speed of implementation and being one chapter ahead in podcasting: Starting with guests for credibility or monologues to establish oneself, the key is to keep moving forward and be one step ahead in podcasting
When it comes to creating and growing a podcast, focusing on speed of implementation and being one chapter ahead can lead to significant outcomes and impact. This was exemplified by the speaker's experience, where he started with a simple approach, borrowing credibility from guests, but eventually positioned himself as an authority through monologues and selling himself. For those looking to launch a podcast, it's important to consider a strategic approach, whether that be starting with guests to build credibility or jumping into monologues to establish oneself as the celebrity and brand builder. The key is to keep moving forward and be one step ahead.
Understanding different tiers of podcast guests: B-tier guests, with a social media footprint and effective communication skills, are often more valuable as they're motivated to share episodes, while maintaining a 4:1 ratio of b-tier to a-tier guests and creating assets for easy promotion can maximize impact.
There are different tiers of podcast guests and understanding their value can help optimize your podcast strategy. A c-tier guest may not have a large following but can still provide valuable content. A b-tier guest, like yourself, has a social media footprint and the ability to articulate their message effectively. An a-tier guest is a household name and requires less promotion from the podcast host. However, b-tier guests are often more valuable as they are motivated to share the podcast episode to expand their reach. The ratio of b-tier to a-tier guests should be around 4:1, and releasing them strategically can maximize their impact. Additionally, creating assets and making it easy for guests to promote the episode can help expand your podcast's following. Cross-promoting on various platforms, including social media and other podcasts, is also an effective strategy for building a podcast's audience.
Engaging with a community and building a multi-faceted presence: Building a community early on and offering value to potential collaborators can amplify your message and increase reach and longevity in your personal brand or business.
Building a multi-faceted presence and engaging with a community are effective strategies for increasing longevity and reach in your personal brand or business. Cross-pollinating your offerings and putting yourself out there, even if it means approaching people outside of your usual sphere, can lead to new opportunities and a larger audience. Building a community early on can also amplify your message and make it more credible and impactful. However, it takes courage to put yourself out there and be strategic in how you approach potential collaborators or partners. Position yourself as a solution to their pain points and offer value to them, rather than just asking for favors. Remember, the focus should be on them and their needs, not just on you.
Provide value to potential connections: Focus on adding value to potential connections to build stronger relationships. Start monetizing a podcast by selling products or services, like apparel or short-term programs.
When reaching out to potential connections, focus on adding value to them instead of just promoting yourself. This not only makes it easier for them to say yes but also builds a stronger relationship. Another effective strategy is to get an introduction from a mutual acquaintance, which can help bypass gatekeepers and simplify the process. When it comes to monetizing a podcast, selling a product or service is a simple and effective way to start. Begin with apparel like hats and shirts, and for service-based businesses, consider offering a 4-6 week program instead of a longer commitment to maximize opportunities and flexibility.
Shorter program durations lead to higher engagement and conversions: Providing a service for a shorter duration, around 4 to 6 weeks, can increase completion rates and excitement among participants. For new entrepreneurs, offering a one-time purchase course can help establish credibility before transitioning to a membership model.
Providing a service or offering for a shorter duration, around 4 to 6 weeks, can lead to higher conversion rates and better engagement due to the heightened excitement and enthusiasm of the participants. This was observed in the case of Fit Body Boot Camp's New Year, New You Challenge, where they saw a significant increase in completion rates when they shortened the program duration. Additionally, having a continually open membership site may not be effective for new entrepreneurs without a substantial following or industry presence, as people may not see them as experts or authorities. Instead, offering a one-time purchase course can help establish credibility before transitioning to a membership model.
Building a Strong Membership Community: Engage with members through open-ended questions, group discussions, and weekly calls to create a strong community that empowers members to learn and grow.
Running a membership site involves more than just sitting around on social media. It requires hard work, engagement, and addressing members' concerns, even during challenging times like COVID-19. Creating a sense of community and fostering interaction among members is crucial. Instead of providing content, ask open-ended questions to encourage self-reflection and problem-solving. Use a platform like Facebook or Zoom for group discussions and make yourself available for weekly calls to answer questions and facilitate dialogue. By doing so, you'll build a strong community and help members overcome their unique challenges. In essence, your role is to create an environment that empowers members to learn and grow, rather than trying to solve all their problems yourself.
Leveraging podcasts for business and authentic communication: Starting a podcast can be a powerful tool for business, but maintaining authenticity and aligning with values is crucial for success and fulfillment. Building a large audience for monetization through advertising takes time and effort.
Starting a podcast for business can be a valuable tool, but it's important to maintain authenticity and not sell out. Credible and effective communication is key when bringing on guests. Monetizing a podcast through advertising requires a large audience, and promoting products or services that don't align with your values can be unprofitable and unfulfilling. Order of Man, founded by Ryan Mickler, originated from his personal experiences as a new husband and father, learning the importance of accepting responsibility in relationships. The mission of Order of Man is to facilitate conversations among men about their roles and responsibilities in their personal and professional lives. By sharing stories and experiences, men can learn and grow together, fostering a community of accountability and support.
Consistency and dedication lead to success in creating a new platform: Stay committed to a project, even when it's tough, for long-term success. Consistency in producing content and refusing to quit challenges can lead to a large following and significant growth.
Consistency and dedication are key to success in creating and maintaining a new platform, such as a podcast. When the speaker first started his podcast in 2015, he knew he needed to give it time to grow and find its audience in a saturated market. He committed to producing episodes consistently for two years without looking at the results to determine if he should continue or not. This dedication paid off, as the podcast now has close to 700 episodes and a large following. Similarly, the speaker once took on a challenge to drink a different type of beer every day for 100 days, and despite finding it difficult, he refused to quit because of his commitment to the challenge. These experiences demonstrate the importance of staying consistent and dedicated to a project, even when faced with challenges or setbacks.
Understanding Masculinity and Manliness: Men must distinguish between masculinity and manliness, harnessing the former for productive outcomes and embracing the latter through personal accountability, protection, provision, and presiding.
Becoming a man involves personal accountability, protection, providing, and presiding for oneself and those under one's care. Men have grown up in an environment that may have fostered confusion about masculinity, but it's important to distinguish between masculinity (the result of testosterone) and manliness (the ability to harness masculinity for productive outcomes). Men also have a responsibility to help those not directly under their protection. In terms of building a successful podcast, creating a solid foundation is key, and exploring various income streams beyond the traditional methods can be beneficial. The Order of Man podcast and the Iron Council offer resources and mentorship for men looking to learn more. You can find The Order of Man on various social media platforms, and their free program is specifically designed for men but open to all.
Join Order of Man's 'Battle Ready' Email Course and the Iron Council: Order of Man offers a free email course and an opportunity to join the Iron Council through their website, focusing on personal growth and business collaboration.
Order of Man provides a free email course called "Battle Ready" through their website, orderofman.com/battleready. This course aims to guide individuals in their personal lives and offers the opportunity to join the Iron Council from a business perspective. The podcast discussed in this episode is part of this larger initiative. To learn more and get started, visit the website and follow Ryan Mickler on Instagram. Don't forget to subscribe to the Order of Man podcast, take a screenshot, and share it on your stories while tagging Ryan and the hosts.
