
The Circle Sessions
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy™
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Top 10 The Circle Sessions Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Circle Sessions episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Circle Sessions for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Circle Sessions episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Creative Solutions for Taking Your Podcast to the Next Level
The Circle Sessions
04/12/23 • 18 min
Don The Idea Guy, from The Circle Of Experts, shares creative and low-cost strategies to help you promote your podcast on a budget.
From offering prizes and swag with the podcast logo to recording events and collectible content, Don dives into the world of podcasting with enthusiasm. Listen to hear specific strategies and ideas to help bring your podcast to the next level.
Don's expert advice is sure to help make promoting your podcast a lot easier.
Check out this episode as well for more ideas.
MEET DON THE IDEA GUY!Possessing creative powers beyond those of mere mortals, DON THE IDEA GUY rescues those in need of innovative ideas through his brainstorming sessions, articles, and websites.
DTIG (DEE-tigg) has been featured in Small Business News, interviewed by the New York Times, quoted in Fast Company magazine, and served as the first president of the International Idea Trade Association.
Don is a proud member of the BzzAgent community, and is featured in BzzAgent.com founder Dave Balter’s book “Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing.”
His Innovation Channel on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog has been recognized as a Forbes Favorite.
Don is the author of the book “100-WHATS of CREATIVITY“, one-hundred ‘what if?’ questions to spur your creativity, unmuck your mind, and break through your mental blocks and has written dozens of articles and hundreds of blog postings on the subject of increasing innovation and adding creativity to your personal and professional life.
You are invited to explore additional innovative possibilities by choosing one of your favorite ideas from this (or any) Five Buck Brainstorms and purchasing a more in-depth custom idea generation session from Don The Idea Guy on that (or any other) subject. Visit the Brainstorm page on the Don The Idea Guy website for more details.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/face-game
License code: IUDJXGXP8JAXJVJS
Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast GuyTM

Ideas For A Sponsorable Podcast Segment
The Circle Sessions
02/15/23 • 30 min
Don The Idea Guy joins me from The Circle of Experts.
We talk about...
1. Listen to traditional Radio stations (and take notes)
Radio is the original mass-reach programmatic audio platform (it’s also the original social media platform). Listen Study the way traditional broadcasters create mini content-within-content for which they get sponsor dollars. Traffic, Weather, Sports Reports, Song of the Week, This Day in History, Call-in Contests, Social Media posts, and on and on.
2. Watch and Listen to ESPN shows (and take notes)
You've got to appreciate the almost Barnum-type showmanship and sponsorships that ESPN has boldly (and profitably!) put into action.
3. Countdown Lists
You hear more about countdown lists at the start and end of the calendar year, but there are no rules against you from creating an ongoing countdown feature within your show. For instance, what if you did a different Top 3 feature in your show where you share #3 toward the beginning, #2 in the middle, and save #1 til the end of the show?
4. Fun Facts
People love random facts. They share them at work, with their friends, or with drinks, and there is a plethora of “I was today years old when I learned...” posts on social media.
5. Top Takeaways
You can earn revenue by directly pointing out what you feel is the most valuable piece of information in each show.
6. Winner, Winner, Podcast Listener
More successful podcasters feature a favorite five-star review in each of their episodes. Noah Kagan from OkDork.com and the Noah Kagan Presents podcast does it better than most.
You are invited to explore additional innovative possibilities by choosing one of your favorite ideas from this (or any) Five Buck Brainstorms and purchasing a more in-depth custom idea generation session from Don The Idea Guy on that (or any other) subject. Visit the Brainstorm page on the Don The Idea Guy website for more details.
MEET DON THE IDEA GUY!Possessing creative powers beyond those of mere mortals, DON THE IDEA GUY rescues those in need of innovative ideas through his brainstorming sessions, articles, and websites.
DTIG (DEE-tigg) has been featured in Small Business News, interviewed by the New York Times, quoted in Fast Company magazine, and served as the first president of the International Idea Trade Association.
Don is a proud member of the BzzAgent community, and is featured in BzzAgent.com founder Dave Balter’s book “Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing.”
His Innovation Channel on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog has been recognized as a Forbes Favorite.
Don is the author of the book “100-WHATS of CREATIVITY“, one-hundred ‘what if?’ questions to spur your creativity, unmuck your mind, and break through your mental blocks and has written dozens of articles and hundreds of blog postings on the subject of increasing innovation and adding creativity to your personal and professional life.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants
Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast GuyTM

Crafting a Digital Identity: The Art and Science of Branding in Web Design
The Circle Sessions
01/17/24 • 17 min
The Circle Sessions
49 Crafting a Digital Identity: The Art and Science of Branding in Web Design
In this episode of The Circle Sessions, host Brett Johnson and guest Yasmine Robles delve into the art and science of crafting a digital identity through branding and website design. Yasmine, a web designer and part of The Circle of Experts, emphasizes the importance of shaping a brand's perception online to leave a lasting impression. The episode covers the crucial role of aesthetics, emotion, strategy, and memorable branding in creating an effective digital presence, particularly for small businesses and podcasters.
The Importance of Crafting a Digital Identity
Yasmine highlights the significance of shaping how a brand is perceived online and the impact a website has as the first touchpoint for potential customers. Crafting a compelling digital identity becomes crucial in shaping the perception of the business and podcast, and ensuring that the digital brand reflects the best image.
Identifying Authenticity and Connection
The discussion turns to the emotional bridge created by aesthetics and its ability to evoke a connection with the audience. Yasmine underscores the need for small businesses to leverage aesthetics to build a deeper connection with the audience while aligning with their strategic brand goals. Authenticity and consistency play key roles in creating an emotional connection and ensuring that the brand's essence is reflected in all visual elements.
Strategic Branding and Unique Elements
The conversation shifts to the integration of aesthetics with brand strategies to align with the overall brand objectives. Yasmine emphasizes that before diving into design, it's crucial to define the brand's personality, target audience, and key messaging. Insights from a yoga studio and a gluten-free bakery rebranding project shed light on the need for unique elements and strategic clarity to reinforce brand identity and connect with the audience.
Standing Out and Leaving a Lasting Impact
Addressing the challenge of standing out in a digital landscape, practical tips are shared for small businesses, including podcasters, to ensure their branding is memorable and leaves a lasting impact. Yasmine emphasizes the need for businesses to embrace authenticity and weave their brand story into every design element, while consistently listening to their audience for feedback and potential shifts.
Practical Insights and Takeaways
The episode concludes with practical tips and takeaways for small business owners and podcasters to master the art and science of branding in web design. Yasmine highlights the importance of strategic clarity, authenticity, and the need to listen to the target audience. Recommendations for leveraging free tools like Hotjar and ways to maneuver business shifts to align with audience feedback wrap up the valuable insights shared in the episode.
10 Takeaways from the episode
1. Crafting a digital identity is about shaping how you want the brand to be perceived online, blending aesthetics and strategy to create a cohesive and memorable brand image.
2. The website is often the first touchpoint for potential customers, making a compelling digital identity crucial for leaving a lasting impression.
3. Aesthetics play a significant role in branding, serving as the emotional bridge that resonates with the audience and creates a deeper connection.
4. Small businesses should leverage the aesthetics of web design to evoke the right emotions and build connections with the audience immediately.
5. Strategic branding involves aligning aesthetics with brand objectives by defining the brand's personality, target audience, and key messaging to ensure a cohesive and purposeful design.
6. Memorable branding stems from authenticity, incorporating unique elements that are consistent throughout all touchpoints to reinforce brand identity.
7. Understanding the target market and the business's authentic self is crucial for crafting effective branding, design, and web presence that reflects the brand's essence.
8. Practical tips for mastering the art and science of branding in web design include strategic clarity, embracing authenticity, and listening to the audience to evolve with the business needs.
9. Small business owners can use tools like Hotjar to understand customer behavior on their websites and make informed decisions to improve their digital identity and the user experience.
10. For those looking to hone down on their brand identity and digital presence, reaching out to professionals at Robles Designs can help decipher the jargon and guide them through the process.
Keywords
podcast, branding, website design, digital identity, strategy, sma...

Setting and Achieving S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Your Podcast
The Circle Sessions
01/31/24 • 24 min
Setting and Achieving S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Your Podcast
2 51
In this episode of The Circle Sessions, host Brett Johnson is joined by Tonnisha English-Amamoo, a digital marketing expert and the founder of TJE Communications. Tonnisha is passionate about helping small businesses level the playing field through digital marketing strategies. The episode focuses on the concept of S.M.A.R.T. goals and how podcasters can apply this framework to set and achieve their podcasting goals effectively.
Understanding S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Tonnisha provides an in-depth understanding of S.M.A.R.T. goals, breaking down each component of the acronym:
1. Specific: Tonnisha emphasizes the importance of setting specific goals, highlighting how specificity aids in tracking progress and making necessary adjustments.
2. Measurable: She elucidates that measurable goals enable podcasters to quantify their progress over time and make informed decisions based on data and analytics.
3. Achievable (or Attainable): Tonnisha advises against setting unattainable goals, underscoring the need to strike a balance between challenge and achievability. She recommends breaking large goals into smaller, more manageable steps to maintain sustainability.
4. Relevant (or Realistic): With a focus on relevance to overall business objectives, Tonnisha stresses the importance of aligning podcasting goals with the larger context of the podcaster's brand and mission.
5. Timely: Lastly, Tonnisha discusses the significance of setting time frames for achieving goals, allowing for strategic planning and periodic check-ins to evaluate progress.
Applying S.M.A.R.T. Goals to Podcasting
Brett and Tonnisha explore the application of S.M.A.R.T. goals specifically within the realm of podcasting. They delve into the relevance of setting time frames for podcast seasons, allowing podcasters to take breaks, reevaluate, and plan new content. Moreover, they address the need for podcasters to consider the sustainability of high-demand content and the potential benefits of evergreen content strategies.
Top Takeaways
1. S.M.A.R.T. goals can be applied at any time of the year, not just at the beginning of the year.
2. When setting S.M.A.R.T. goals for a podcast, specificity is important to track progress and make adjustments.
3. Measurable goals help in monitoring and evaluating progress, such as tracking content posting frequency and follower growth.
4. Achievable/attainable goals should be challenging yet realistic for sustainable progress and growth in a podcast.
5. The relevance of goals to the overall business objectives is crucial to ensure the efforts align with the desired outcomes.
6. The timeliness of goals provides a clear timeframe for achieving them and organizing tasks effectively, which is important for mental well-being and preventing burnout.
7. Utilizing seasons for podcasts can provide a natural break for reflection, evaluation, and planning, allowing for quality over quantity.
8. Pivot is essential as unforeseen circumstances might require a change in plans, and that's okay.
"So when you're thinking about your goals, they should also meet ultimately be aligned with whatever your overall business goals are."Setting Realistic Business Goals on Social Media — Tonnisha English-Amamoo
"Best practices, you know, there is no wrong way or right way to do it. It just comes down to maybe doing it a little bit better."Podcasting Best Practices — Brett Johnson
Memorable Moments
00:00 Important to set specific, trackable goals.
03:41 Evaluate, align, and adjust social media strategy.
07:40 Set achievable, sustainable goals for personal growth.
12:27 Align personal goals with business strategy realistically.
14:32 Setting specific and timely goals is important.
18:17 Podcasts, true crime, pop culture, recording weekly.
20:19 Create evergreen content, set goals, and maintain a schedule.
Subscribe to Tonnisha's Tip of The Month
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing

From Pixels To Profits
The Circle Sessions
02/14/24 • 18 min
The Circle Sessions
53 From Pixels To Profits
In this episode of The Circle Sessions, Brett Johnson and web design expert Yasmine Robles from Robles Designs dive deep into the world of conversion-focused web design and how it can boost profitability for businesses and podcasts.
Yasmine knows her stuff when it comes to creating websites that are not just visually stunning, but also strategically designed to convert visitors into loyal customers. Their conversation is full of practical advice and real-life examples, making it a valuable listen for anyone looking to level up their online presence and monetization game.
They kick things off by discussing the importance of conversion-focused design and how it's all about making moolah from your website. Yasmine sheds light on the nitty-gritty of strategic planning, user experience optimization, and the art of driving desired actions – all with the ultimate goal of turning visitors into happy customers. It's not just about creating a pretty website; it's about crafting an online experience that seamlessly guides people towards making a purchase or taking the desired action.
They dig into the core principles of conversion-focused design, focusing on clarity, simplification, and relevance. They stress the need for a clear and user-friendly layout, especially optimized for mobile because, let's face it, we're all glued to our phones these days. Yasmine draws parallels between these design principles and podcast strategy, emphasizing the importance of keeping content clear, simple, and relevant – whether you're designing a website or planning your next killer podcast episode.
Things get practical when they walk through a scenario of a podcaster wanting to sell merch like coffee mugs. Yasmine's advice is spot on – align your podcast content with your website, and leverage show notes and transcripts to promote your merch seamlessly. Add some upsell opportunities and user-generated content, and boom, you've got a holistic approach to boosting those merchandise sales.
Smartphone vs. desktop user behavior takes center stage, and Yasmine stresses the need for simplicity and ease of navigation, especially on mobile. No one likes a complicated purchasing process, right? So, keeping it a smooth 1-2-3 step journey is key to driving those sales.
The episode wraps up with a reminder about the power of post-purchase engagement and leveraging user-generated content for some good old social proof. Yasmine's insights on nurturing customer relationships post-purchase and building a community-driven approach are pure gold. Because let's be real – creating a hyper-engaged community around your brand or podcast is like hitting the jackpot for sustained profitability and growth.
Top 10 Takeaways
1. Conversion-focused web design is essential to maximize profits from a website, and this approach involves creating a clear path for users, simplifying navigation, and presenting relevant content to drive desired actions.
2. Strategic website layouts guide users through a seamless journey, focusing their attention on key elements that drive conversions, such as call-to-action buttons and strategically placed information.
3. To sell merchandise on a website, such as coffee mugs with a podcast logo, a strategic approach involves incorporating links in show notes or blog posts, providing a clear path to purchase, and potentially upselling related products.
4. Mobile optimization is crucial for e-commerce websites, and while the user journey should be similar for desktop and mobile, the content presentation should be simplified and tailored to the user's viewing experience on different devices.
5. The post-purchase journey should include a thank-you page and transactional and marketing emails to engage customers further and encourage repeat purchases or additional actions.
6. User-generated content, such as images of customers using purchased products, can be utilized on websites to build a sense of community and increase customer engagement.
7. Podcasters can monetize their offerings through various strategies, including selling merchandise, creating a paid community, utilizing "buy me a coffee" options, and leveraging user-generated content for promotion.
8. Websites can feature a "meet our community" section or showcase user-generated content from social media to foster community engagement and increase the cool factor associated with the brand.
9. Engaging with customers post-sale and maintaining a sense of community can contribute to repeat purchases and continued support of the brand, beyond the initial transaction.
10. Podcasters and businesses can seek professional support for website audits, SEO optimization, and content creation to ensure their online presence is ef...

What Is A Podcast Consultant?
The Circle Sessions
05/08/24 • 11 min
The Benefits of Hiring a Podcast Consultant for Your Business
Brett Johnson, My Podcast GuyTM takes an in-depth look into the essential role of a podcast consultant, focusing on how they can amplify your podcast's impact as part of your broader marketing strategy. Brett, a seasoned podcast consultant from Circle270MediaTM Podcast Consultants, explains the multifaceted approach his team uses to elevate a podcast's presence and effectiveness.
The episode begins with Brett introducing the concept of a podcast consultant, detailing the key services such as strategy development, content creation, and marketing assistance they provide to help podcasts reach their full potential. He emphasizes three main benefits of hiring a podcast consultant: access to industry expertise, a tailored strategic approach aligned with specific business goals, and increased time and cost efficiency due to expert guidance.
Further, Brett discusses how a podcast consultant can enhance a business's content marketing strategies, thereby boosting brand awareness, driving audience engagement, and opening up new revenue opportunities through diverse monetization strategies.
He also covers practical elements of working with a consultant—from identifying clear podcasting goals and developing engaging content to implementing effective promotional tactics and optimizing the podcast for search engines to improve discoverability and audience reach.
Metrics and analytics are highlighted as crucial tools a consultant uses to track performance and refine strategies, ensuring the podcast not only reaches but resonates with its intended audience, thereby fostering a loyal listener base.
We know you will find this episode invaluable when you are ready to elevate your podcast's impact and integrate it effectively into your marketing strategy.
Top Takeaways
Role of a Podcast Consultant - A podcast consultant, like Circle270MediaTM, acts as a strategic partner aiding in podcast creation, production, and marketing to maximize the podcast’s potential.
Industry Expertise and Insights - Consultants possess extensive knowledge about the evolving landscape of podcasting, providing valuable advice for navigating challenges and leveraging opportunities in the industry.
Tailored Strategy Development - Consultants work closely with clients to develop strategies that align with specific business goals, ensuring the content resonates with the intended audience and fits the overarching business objectives.
Time and Cost Efficiency - By utilizing a consultant’s expertise, clients can avoid common pitfalls, streamline production processes, and optimize resources, which saves time and reduces costs.
Brand Positioning and Awareness - Consultants help position brands as authority figures in their respective fields through compelling podcast content, thus elevating brand visibility and awareness.
Audience Engagement and Community Building - Strategic planning by consultants aids in increasing listener engagement and fostering a loyal community around the brand, enhancing the overall podcast experience for audiences.
Monetization Strategies - Consultants guide clients in exploring various revenue streams such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and listener donations to effectively monetize the podcast without compromising content quality or audience engagement.
SEO and Discoverability Optimization - Consultants assist in employing SEO strategies for optimizing podcast titles, descriptions, and metadata to boost discoverability and attract more organic traffic.
Performance Metrics and Improvement - Consultants use analytics tools to track listener behavior and engagement, offering insights that can refine content strategy and enhance podcast performance overall.
Professionalized Approach Versus DIY - While DIY podcasting resources are available, consultants provide a more professionalized, personalized approach with continuous support, which can be particularly beneficial in a competitive market.
Memorable Moments
00:00 Tailored strategies to boost listener engagement and revenue.
03:35 Podcast consultant can elevate your podcast visibility.
07:42 Podcast consultant helps grow brand and income.
10:49 Start by visiting mypodcastguy.com to book.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best...

Email Marketing Tips for 2024: The Do's and The Don'ts
The Circle Sessions
05/15/24 • 21 min
In this episode of The Circle Sessions, Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications joins host Brett Johnson to share valuable insights on email marketing for 2024.
Tonnisha provides do's and don'ts for effectively reaching and engaging your audience through email. From providing incentives for subscriptions and utilizing targeted advertising to creating and managing email newsletters, she offers practical tips for successful email marketing.
Top Takeaways
1. Email marketing remains a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with your audience, regardless of the type of business, whether it's a podcast, videocast, or other endeavors.
2. Incentives play a crucial role in encouraging people to subscribe to your email list, and they don't necessarily have to be discounted; offering freebies, bonus episodes, or exclusive content can also be effective.
3. Avoid buying email lists, as it can lead to negative consequences, such as being marked as spam, potentially damaging your sender's reputation, and impacting your ability to use email marketing platforms.
4. Utilize email marketing advertising to reach new audiences, working with companies that can help target specific demographics, industries, or locations to ensure your email campaigns reach interested and relevant recipients.
5. Tailor your email marketing to specific audience segments rather than sending generic messages to a broad audience. Understanding your target listener or subscriber's preferences and creating customer profiles is crucial for effective email marketing.
6. Implementing an email newsletter, whether on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis, provides an opportunity to stay connected with your audience, share helpful content, promote events, and maintain brand awareness.
7. Be mindful of not overwhelming subscribers by flooding their inboxes with excessive emails. Use analytics to understand your audience's preferences regarding email frequency, and provide options for subscribers to choose their preferred frequency.
8. Email marketing offers direct contact with your audience and provides valuable analytics to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. Use this data to make informed decisions and continually refine and improve your email marketing strategy.
9. Politeness and respect are essential in email marketing. Treat your subscribers' email addresses with the same level of respect as you would treat their phone numbers, and seek their permission and preferences regarding email frequency and content.
10. Make use of available resources and expertise in email marketing to optimize your strategy, whether through consulting with experts, leveraging social media, or seeking assistance with analytics and audience segmentation.
Memorable Moments
00:00 Offer incentives for email marketing subscriptions, despite saturation.
05:53 Being marked as spam has consequences.
08:18 Company helps reach local lawyers with emails.
12:28 Analyze podcast analytics to target the audience.
14:18 Newsletter setup, content, engagement, and freebies overview.
18:22 Be polite in email communication, considerate.
Subscribe to Tonnisha's Tip of The Month
TJE Communication’s mission is to empower and educate small women-owned businesses and equip them with digital solutions to level the playing field.
IG - @tjecomm
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Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice
License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7...

Essential Marketing and Website Improvements for Slow Seasons
The Circle Sessions
12/18/24 • 28 min
This episode welcomes Yasmine Robles of Robles Designs. Yasmine shares valuable insights on how small business owners, podcasters, and entrepreneurs can use downtime to their advantage, effectively preparing for busier periods.
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, and Yasmine begin by emphasizing the importance of viewing slow seasons as opportunities rather than obstacles. Yasmine shares several actionable tips for improving website performance, including testing site speed, verifying mobile responsiveness, and conducting thorough user experience audits. She also highlights the need for refreshing website visuals and ensuring that SEO practices are up-to-date.
Brett and Yasmine underscore the importance of keeping web content current, such as updating out-of-date job titles on blog posts or refreshing listicles with new information. They also discuss the value of maintaining an updated FAQ page and regularly refreshing case studies and testimonials.
When discussing social media strategies, Yasmine suggests analyzing past content performance to guide future posts. She advocates for planning and scheduling social media activities around holidays and significant business milestones to maintain consistent engagement.
Yasmine further explores email marketing tactics, recommending reconnection with subscribers through personalized and segmented emails. She provides valuable insight into the benefits of running A/B tests to refine email strategies and enhance viewer engagement.
The episode wraps up with Yasmine's thoughts on utilizing slow seasons for networking and professional development. She advises joining local events, collaborating with peers, and engaging in volunteer work to build valuable connections and stay active in the community.
Top Takeaways
Website Optimization During Slow Seasons:
Use slow periods to test and improve site speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall user experience.
Updating Website Content:
Refresh visuals like headshots and update outdated content or job titles to maintain relevancy.
SEO Optimization:
Check keywords, meta descriptions, and ensure tools like Google Analytics and Search Console are installed and actively monitored.
Social Media Strategy:
Evaluate past performance, schedule future posts, and use holidays or special events to maintain engagement.
Email Marketing:
Reconnect with your subscribers, personalize emails, and draft newsletters for upcoming holidays and promotions.
A/B Testing:
Experiment with different subject lines, content formats, and other elements to see what resonates most with your audience.
Segmenting Email Lists:
Use subscriber data to create segments and tailor content to specific interests or behaviors.
Networking and Community Engagement:
Use slow times to attend local events, collaborate with peers, and consider volunteering or joining a board for community involvement.
Content Repurposing:
Refresh and repurpose old blog posts, podcast episodes, or other content to keep your audience engaged with relevant material.
Surveys and Feedback:
Utilize short surveys or direct emails to gather feedback and ideas from your audience on what they want to see or hear in future content.
Key Moments
00:00 Optimize website speed during business slow seasons.
03:34 Avoid tech photos; prioritize SEO tracking tools.
09:52 Evaluate social media engagement, plan future posts.
14:03 Plan ahead for promotions during slow seasons.
15:33 Offer value, recycle content, engage VIP audience.
18:02 Try A/B testing during slow email seasons.
24:12 Network, collaborate, utilize benefits, develop skills, engage.
27:50 Brainstorming reenergizes with fun, engaging activities.
Yasmine works alongside clients to design a website that's driven by strategy, looks amazing, and that you can actually use to grow your podcast, and your business.
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmi...

Collaborative Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Podcast Audience
The Circle Sessions
08/21/24 • 10 min
What are the benefits of partnering with podcasts?
We're thrilled to unveil our latest episode of *The Circle Sessions*! This week, our host Brett Johnson flies solo as he dives into leveraging collaborative marketing to skyrocket your podcast's reach and boost your income.
**📚 In This Episode, You'll Learn:**
1. **Finding the Perfect Podcast Partners**: Discover how to identify complementary podcasts and create a list of potential partners that can help amplify your audience.
2. **Creating Joint Offers and Bundles**: Learn the art of combining forces to design irresistible package deals that your listeners can't say no to.
3. **Hosting Joint Webinars and Workshops**: Get the lowdown on planning engaging events that double your reach and provide immense value to your audience.
4. **Cross-Promoting Content**: Master the strategies behind guest blogging, social media collaborations, and referral programs to increase your brand visibility.
5. **Setting Up Referral Programs**: Find out how to incentivize and reward your listeners and partners to create a content creation dream team.
**🌟 Fun Fact from the Episode:**
Did you know that sharing the workload with your collaboration partner not only makes projects more manageable but also allows you to leverage each other's strengths? It's like a podcast crossover episode but with even more potential!
Each week, one of The Circle of Experts talks about critical aspects of growing your podcast. We focus on marketing, social media, monetization, website design, and implementation of all of these to help you make the best podcast possible.
Have a question or an idea for one of our episodes? Send us an email at [email protected].
The Circle of Experts are:
Yasmine Robles from Rebel Marketing
Tonnisha English-Amamoo of TJE Communications
Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, from Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/vince-mcgill/lemon-slice
License code: 2NRNUIV5VG7FU3K5
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
Copyright 2025 Brett Johnson, My Podcast GuyTM

Be MORE Than A Podcaster
The Circle Sessions
11/13/24 • 17 min
Circle Sessions: Be More Than A Podcaster - Episode Overview
In this enlightening episode of "The Circle Sessions," host Brett Johnson begins by revisiting an idea brought forth by Eric Nuzum during his podcasting masterclass at Radio Days Europe a few years ago. The episode grapples with the evolving identity of podcasters, urging content creators to think beyond their conventional roles.
Key Concepts: Beyond Being Just a Podcaster
Brett kicks off the episode highlighting two significant ideas from Nuzum’s masterclass:
Don’t Just Be a Podcaster
Nuzum proposes that creators should consider themselves as "audio makers," broadening their focus beyond simply podcasting platforms. This shift allows for greater adaptability to new trends and technologies.
Community Building
Emphasizing that podcasters are not in the audio business but the community building business, Nuzum underscores the importance of creating hubs for listeners who are passionate about specific topics.
Special Guest: Matty Staudt
Joining Brett for this segment is Matty Staudt, a seasoned podcaster with over 17 years of experience and the president and founder of Jam Street Media. Matty shares valuable insights from his journey in both radio and podcasting, emphasizing the transformational nature of podcasts in the business and community engagement landscapes.
Interview Highlights
Matty explores the trajectory from traditional radio to the expansive world of podcasting, noting how the term "podcasting" has evolved from a niche, almost frowned-upon label to a mainstream, billion-dollar industry. He recounts the early days at Stitcher, where they preferred the term "on-demand audio" to distance themselves from the then-negative connotations of podcasting.
- The Transition from Radio to Podcasting: Matty shares his personal shift from radio to podcasting 15 years ago. He discusses how this move was initially met with skepticism but has ultimately proven to be a groundbreaking venture.
- Beyond Content Creation: Emphasizing the importance of visibility, Matty asserts that even the best podcast is like an unseen masterpiece if not marketed properly. Highlighting his own educational pursuit, a master's in digital marketing, he advocates for an integrated approach to building and promoting podcasts.
- Community as the Crux: For Matty, the essence of successful podcasting lies in fostering a loyal community. He explains how podcast listeners often become dedicated followers, a trait highly attractive to advertisers.
Challenges and Realizations
The conversation touches on the initial hurdles businesses might face when embracing podcasting. Matty observes that many brands he works with already possess a sophisticated understanding of their audience as a "tribe." This existing relationship only amplifies the podcast's potential to deepen community engagement.
Case Study: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Matty recounts an interesting case study involving one of his early clients, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, demonstrating how an institution's values can be communicated effectively through podcasting. By producing content like “Does College Matter?” and “Zip Code Economies,” the bank was able to reshape its public image and extend its influence beyond traditional banking narratives.
Technological Evolution and Future Prospects
Reflecting on the technological advancements in podcasting, from the pre-iPhone era to modern-day streaming, Matty illustrates how improved accessibility has broadened the audience base. He anticipates future technological innovations that could further expand the interactive capacities of podcasts, moving beyond the "silent film" stage to more dynamic content forms.
Guidance for Aspiring Podcasters and Brands
A significant portion of the discussion addresses prospective podcasters and businesses contemplating this medium. Matty offers balanced advice, stressing that while podcasting has immense potential for community building and brand extension, it requires commitment. He cautions against entering the podcasting world with short-term goals or unrealistic expectations about immediate sales impact.
Breaking Conventional Rules
Brett and Matty explore the creative potential in podcasting, encouraging new entrants to experiment and push boundaries. While traditional formats have their place, the most memorable podcasts often break the mold, integrating narrative, interview, and other innovative elements.
Final Thoughts<...
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Circle Sessions have?
The Circle Sessions currently has 94 episodes available.
What topics does The Circle Sessions cover?
The podcast is about Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts and Business.
What is the most popular episode on The Circle Sessions?
The episode title 'The Psychology of Color in Web Design' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Circle Sessions?
The average episode length on The Circle Sessions is 21 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Circle Sessions released?
Episodes of The Circle Sessions are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Circle Sessions?
The first episode of The Circle Sessions was released on Jan 4, 2023.
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