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Are you releasing episodes, just to say you have a podcast? That was me during my first podcast. I started strong, excited, and full of ideas, but without a strategy. And eventually, I had to stop and ask: what am I really doing with this content?
This episode – and now, this blog – is a behind-the-scenes look at why my first podcast didn’t serve me the way I thought it would and how podcast first marketing completely changed everything.
From Brainstorming to Burnout
When I launched my first podcast (Make Podcasting Simple), I did what so many of us do: I made a giant list of episode ideas, plugged them into a doc, and slotted them into a calendar based on what felt good that week. I was even teaching my clients to do this, ugh. No wonder so many burned out.
Was the content valuable? Sure. But was it connected? Strategic? Leading my audience somewhere intentional? Not at all. I was just trying to get something helpful out there, hoping someone would listen and connect.
Eventually, I stopped the show and not really because it was hard to keep up, but because I thought I needed to pivot. Life was heavy. My dad’s health declined, I was helping my parents, trying to run a business, and I thought, maybe podcasting isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing anymore.
So I canceled my hosting plan, essentially pulling the show down. That moment felt like the end of the podcast, but what I didn’t realize was that it was the beginning of something better.
What I Realized Looking Back
Seven months later, I can say this with full clarity: I didn’t need to stop podcasting. I just needed a new approach.
What my old podcast lacked was strategy. I was publishing good content, but I wasn’t leading my listener anywhere. I wasn’t connecting episodes to my offers. I was showing up consistently but not purposefully.
And that’s the biggest shift I’ve made since.
What Is Podcast First Marketing?
Podcast first marketing is exactly what it sounds like: using your podcast as the foundation of your entire marketing system. Every other piece of content flows from it – the emails, social media posts, even your blog (like this one).
Here’s what changed for me:
- I stopped publishing random episodes.
- I started planning each month as a mini funnel.
- I aligned every episode to a specific offer.
- I structured my show around a framework I now teach.
That framework? I call it the DRA method:
- Discover – Let people find and connect with your message.
- Relate – Help them realize you get what they’re going through.
- Act – Move them toward the next step, whether that’s a freebie, DM, or application.
Each four-episode series becomes a funnel…strategic, structured, and supportive. And it’s made content creation so much easier.
Rebuilding From Experience
When I look back at my old show, I don’t feel stressed anymore that I deleted it. I feel grateful. That podcast taught me what didn’t work the best, and it gave me the clarity to do it differently this time.
With this new podcast – and with every client I work with – I build a strategy from the start. We map the listener’s journey. We build offers into the episodes. We repurpose content across platforms.
So if you’re posting on Instagram or releasing podcast episodes without a plan, I get it. I’ve been there. And I want to help you out of that cycle.
The Power of Repurposing
A podcast-first approach saves time. When you build episodes as mini funnels and repurpose them into emails and social posts, everything else gets easier. You’re not constantly starting from scratch or scrambling to come up with ideas. Your podcast becomes the foundation of your marketing.
And you don’t have to be everywhere all the time. Just show up with purpose in one place and let that content expand into everything else.
Starting Fresh Isn’t a Failure
I used to think taking down my old podcast was a mistake. Now I see it as a fresh start. It gave me the opportunity to launch something better…something more aligned.
You don’t need to keep doing things the way you always have. You can change direction. You can do it better this time. And if that’s where you are, I’m here to support you.
Ready to Use Podcast First Marketing for Your Business?
If you’re ready to build a podcast that works like a funnel – leading listeners toward your offers and making content creation easier – you’ll want to start with my private audio training: “Are You Ready for a Podcast?”
It’s short, strategic, and it walks you through the exact process I use with clients in my VIP Launch Experience. In fact, if you complete the private podcast, you’ve already done half of your pre-work!
So go grab it. Let this be your fresh start too.
You don’t need to create content just to create content. You need a podcast with a plan. One that leads. One that works.
FREE PRIVATE PODCAST AUDIO TRAINING
PODCAST RESOURCES:
- Podcast Hosting: Captivate (7-day free trial with my affiliate link)
- Referral Link for Descript
- Website & Blog through Showit
- Email Marketing with Flodesk
*Some links shared may contain affiliate links in which I do receive a very small commission.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
CONNECT WITH ALLISON:
- Follow on Instagram – @allisonnitsch
- Website – allisonnitsch.com
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