► Tell us about you and your podcast
My background is as a marketing professional who specialised in running loyalty programmes for clients.
This part of marketing is a tiny niche with plenty of detail and complexity, so the show is about the lessons we can learn from the biggest loyalty programs in the world.
We have interviewed brands like American Airlines, Ikea, 7-Eleven and others and our audience loves to hear what these experts say and do to ensure their loyalty programs are profitable and practical.
It's a show BY me as a loyalty marketing expert FOR loyalty marketing practitioners.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
I started my podcast in 2019 in response to my own frustration not having time to read or attendance conferences in my industry.
Yet, I wanted to stay up to date and learn so I went looking for a podcast for my industry but found none. I realised I could be the "global voice of loyalty" so I created "Let's Talk Loyalty".
My reasons were starting were commercial - firstly positioning myself as an expert in the industry, but also becoming a business in its own right.
It took me six months from idea to execution and releasing my first episode.
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
Since launch, I've released shows consistently every week - firstly one a week, then two - now three a week!
It took three years to make it profitable enough to go full-time and quit the consulting side.
Now I'm 100% working on "Let's Talk Loyalty" and making a living from it.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
My show is a six figure business (in USD) - enough to cover our costs and give me a good income.
I sell sponsorship to suppliers in the industry - usually technology companies who need the attention of my audience.
My audience performance is an average of 500 plays per show. While it's much lower than a show targeted at consumers, it's generally bigger than my sponsors can get in other marketing like conferences.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
I use a basic headset and no technical equipment. I record on Zoom or sometimes in person in a studio.
I don't like the technical complexity or editing part of podcasting, so I have a professional editor I've used since day one.
I have a background in sales so I reach out with my best email skills via LinkedIn to invite leading brands on the show.
I prepare by having a 30 minute introductory call with each guest to agree topics of mutual interest before recording day.
Then I follow them on social media to see what they are posting about so I'm up to date on the day of recording with their business.
► How do you market your show?
I have distribution agreements with some of the leading websites in the loyalty marketing industry - so wherever I know they are going to read articles, I try and have my podcast placed there permanently too. It's good for the media partners who get great content, and great visibility for me.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
I loved Seth Godin's training course for which I paid about $400. It's an expert training course with other beginners so a great place to learn the skills you need step-by-step!