► Tell us about you and your podcast
Hi! My name is Seb Duke, and I'm an art marketing coach. Twice a week, I publish new episodes to help artists market their art better by giving them mindset and marketing advice. Why mindset? Because your mindset is the conversations you have with yourself. Why marketing? Because marketing is the conversations you have with the world. I aim to make sure both are aligned so that artists can have the best conversations with themselves, and then with the world!
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
As an artist myself, whenever I'm in my studio creating art, I'm always listening to podcasts in order to turn my creation time into learning time. And I thought "wouldn't it be great if I could share my knowledge, experience and expertise with other artists?"
That's how I started the podcast. As an artist with a solid marketing background, I've noticed a lot of artists are great at creating art, but not as much when it comes down to marketing their art. So I decided to start The Seb Duke Show in order to bridge that gap between art creation and content creation.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I release two episodes per week; one on Monday where I talk about mindset, so artists can start their week on the right foot, and one episode on Friday where I talk about art marketing, so artists can then go ahead and apply that advice over the weekend.
Each episode takes roughly 10 hours from ideation to dissemination, so all in all, I spend 20 hours a week on the podcast. Everything is self-funded, but well worth it!
► What do you gain from podcasting?
I actually don't have sponsors and don't want any sponsors; I'm not podcasting to get sponsors. I see that as a breach of trust between myself and my listeners.
My listeners give me their attention so they can get better at marketing their art; not to hear me talk about other brands' products or services.
I prefer to direct people to my website where they can purchase my books on art marketing; that's what will truly benefit them. If they enjoy the free content I'm putting out, then chances are they'll be interested in my paid content.
I believe in my content so much, I'm willing to go all in and only promote my own work. I don't want to be promoting other people's "things"; only my own, because I know it's high value and it would benefit any artist who is willing to hear me out!
► How does your podcasting process look like?
On Monday, I start the week by turning on my radar. I'll talk to my followers on Instagram and see what they've been struggling with; what their concerns are; what their recent challenges have been.
I'll then take what inspires me, and start writing my episodes. It's a solo show so I don't need to coordinate with other people - that makes things a bit easier.
On Tuesday, I'll write the plan for the episodes; then From Wednesday to Friday, I'll write the episodes based on the plan. Saturday morning, I record both episodes and then Sunday is the day where I'll edit the episodes.
► How do you market your show?
Instagram, my newsletter and word-of-mouth have been the most efficient vehicles for me so far; but I'm slowly getting into Twitter.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Make sure you treat your podcast as a two-way conversation. Draw upon the people who enjoy your show for inspiration and get to know what they want to hear more of.
Remember, it's a medium you grow one listener at a time, so it's a slow burn. But, it's also the most impactful and rewarding form of media because when people are listening to you, they're choosing to do that over anything else in the world they could be doing.
Don't bother too much about who's not listening to your podcast and cater to the ones who are listening to it; they're the good guys! So give them more of what they want; then they'll do the work for you and spread your gospel!
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
For my books on how to get art seen by more people, sebduke.com is the way to go; I use a very no-nonsense approach, no B-S. I hate wasting people's time; my time is really important and so is other people's time so I only provide high value advice that people can take home and start applying right away!
So many "marketing experts" give out generic advice like 'be authentic' or 'create value', and I hate that. It's extremely abstract. I prefer to show people HOW to do that instead of rehashing the same old generic advice everyone else keeps on regurgitating.
Otherwise, the best place to follow me is on Instagram at instagram.com/seb.duke - I try to post there daily and give out free advice to help artists get their art seen by as many people as possible.