Episode 30 - Pushing For Growth: How I Got Invited Onto the Goal Digger Podcast
Nov 10, 2021
That’s exactly what happened to me when I first started this podcast! It was only by being brave that I was able to seize the opportunity, share key strategies and stories with my audience, and build genuine relationships with other entrepreneurs and female business owners.
Imagine that, like me, you’re in the middle of this journey. Then out of the blue, you get invited to be a guest on your business hero’s podcast! That’s exactly what happened when I was featured on Jenna Kutcher’s show, the Goal Digger Podcast!
The episode went live on Monday 1st November and you can listen to it here. Literally doing the happy dance right this very instant!
I’ll let you take a peek behind the curtain as I share with you key points, takeaways, and SEVEN strategies that I’ve learned from her invaluable experience as a podcaster with a massive platform, successful entrepreneur, all while prepping for baby #2.
I picked her brain on how to monetize the podcast, use affiliates to grow my email list, and how to use my podcast stats to hone in on my listener base.
If you're an aspiring podcaster or have been looking for strategies to grow your podcast and bring it to the next level, this episode might help you get the dose of inspiration you need.
Eleshia’s Essentials:
- I like the idea of learning from somebody who's further along their journey than I am.
- Looking at my insights and seeing another country or city lights me up and gives me more energy to continue to do what I love doing.
- Remember to nurture your clients and your potential clients because it is a game-changer.
- Just coming from a place of service and enjoyment, and enjoying what you do does come across. So get into that place where you're inviting your audience to work with you.
Other resources mentioned:
About the show:
Need simple strategies to help you grow your business and achieve more without working harder? Struggling to balance work, life, and all your other commitments and don’t want to burn out? You’re in the right place.
The Eleshia Show is a holistic business and lifestyle strategy podcast to help you get clear on your business goals, stop procrastinating, boost your income, and do what lights you up.
Women are taking notice! We have listeners across 37 countries and over 327 cities! We’re teaching female business owners across the world how to achieve more with less while looking after themselves. And we can do the same for you!
We’re having intimate conversations — the kinds that most female business owners are having privately. You don’t want to miss these.
Tune in to the podcast every Wednesday to discover exactly what expert CEOs did to get their businesses off the ground and achieve success so you can do the same!
With your host, Eleshia Harris, business coach and growth strategist, you can redefine what success means, ditch the stress and confusion and learn how to run your business from a place of ease and excitement.
If you want to talk business, wellbeing, lifestyle, mindset, goals, and scaling organic growth, don’t miss it!
Connect with Eleshia and the community today:
Show Transcript:
Eleshia Harris: Hey, I'm Eleshia Harris, and I am the host of The Eleshia Show where each week, we'll be having conversations about how to enhance your wellbeing. We'll be sharing strategies and stories and insights to build your business while still navigating life because sometimes we try to separate the two. And let's face it. If you are not well, you have no business. I am a holistic business growth strategist and a wellness coach who spent over 15 years in corporate before deciding to choose me first to build my brand, Eleshia Lifestyle. I'm here to teach you how to redefine what success means to you, ditch the stress and confusion, and learn how to run your business from a place of ease and excitement. Let's get into this week's episode.
Hi, and welcome. I'm so excited that you are here and you want to know more about how I got onto the Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher, and what I've been doing since then to implement the strategies that she shared. So my name is Eleshia Harris, and I am a business growth strategist and a wellness coach. And I work with female business owners who want to get really clear on their business desires and goals and implement them fast. So I help them to do that. And I sent an email to Jenna's team, and I really didn't think it was going to go anywhere. I was just in that place of wanting to share some gratitude. I was not having a great day on the day that I sent the email. And I just wanted to lift my spirits and also let her know how grateful I was that I was able to do her course, and just to share how the podcast was going. So I had done the Podcast Lab course back in April, just before I launched. And I really did it because I was at that stage where the nerves were starting to set in again. I just needed a virtual hug and just to know that I was doing okay and I was doing all of the right things. So I guess I just wanted some confirmation, and I definitely found that in the course. So I had done a podcasting course prior to that, and it was amazing. However, as a mom and a carer and a wife, and all of those other things, I couldn't do the whole process on my own. So I needed to get some help. And so I hired a podcast editor. And just knowing that Jenna had the same, I just wanted to know that the steps that I was doing were correct. So that's one of the reasons why I loved the course.
And so I sent this email to the team, and I didn't think anything of it. I just let it go. And then, I was working. I was co-working with some of my mastermind buddies, and I was telling them that I was thinking about doing another course. Yes, I know, I know. But I like the idea of learning from somebody who's further along their journey than I am. So I was telling them that I was thinking about doing another course, so I could find out more about how to scale my business to where I wanted it to go. And they were saying to me, Eleshia, you know everything that you need to know. This is what you do. They were telling me that I needed to build a case. So whilst I was trying to plead my case as to why I needed another course, I just so happened to look down at my emails and I saw a message from Jenna's podcast editor. I literally just burst into happy tears because I just could not believe that one, I had even got a response.
I hadn't really even read the email properly. I was just like, I've got a response. Somebody saw my message. And then when I read the email and saw the invitation, then I was like, oh my goodness. Wow. So that's how it came about. It was really authentic. It was really organic. And yes, now I'm here to tell the tale of what I actually did to prep for the session with Jenna. And then I'm going to tell you some of the strategies that I've already implemented into my podcast. So like I said, I was so, so excited. I was given this opportunity to sit down with Jenna Kutcher, who shared so much well around business and marketing, and everything in between. So when I started to do my research and realized that she had 53 million downloads, and the tens of thousands of downloads that she was getting on each episode, I'm not going to lie, I started to get a little bit fearful. Then the fear started to set in and I started to ask myself questions and I was like, is this really real? Is this really happening? Is this really going to get aired? Am I going to mess up? Am I going to be able to answer the right questions? I just had all of these what-ifs, what-ifs, and am I? And then I had to really just stop and just believe in the process. And just recognize that I had been invited to do this. And that it was time to actually just enjoy the process, come up with the questions that are specific for you knowing well that there are other people out there that may be asking the same type of questions. And so when I did the research of the questions that I wanted to ask, that's the approach that I took. I was just thinking about what I needed to move my business and the growth of my podcast forward, but what else that others may need also.
So saying that my brain was in complete overload for two whole weeks before we actually sat down to have our conversation, and I was so excited to just know that I was going to get these questions answered. And I was just so excited to be able to ask these questions to somebody who's been able to build their brand and their business around their podcast. One of the things that really stuck out to me when I was speaking to Jenna was that she was saying that, although she had a platform, her platform wasn't as big as it is now. And the podcast really had helped her to expand her business. So I was really excited about that. But then I also found out that it was just going to be an audio recording, and I'm a really visual person. As you can see, I talk with my hands all the time. And so, I made sure that I still got ready for Jenna, although I couldn't see her. And I was visualizing her on a carpet. I'm like, she's said so many times in her closet, just as you know, talking to me. But yes, it was just such an amazing experience and I'm so, so glad that we got to do it.
So before I go through all of the strategies that I've already implemented, I'm going to insert some of the videos that I had taken previously, just so you could see how I was feeling up into the run-up of the recording with Jenna. So enjoy.
Good morning. So today is the day that I get to do my one-on-one coaching session with Jenna Kutcher for her podcast on the Goal Digger. And I'm excited beyond belief. I could feel a little bit of fear coming in, so I have been practicing some strategies just to keep my fear down. I'm going to work out now with my first-day crew. And I'm just excited. I'm excited to get some of my coaching questions answered, and just to be in the moment, to be present in the moment, and just to enjoy it. I'm really looking forward to just enjoying a nice, super chill conversation from a business owner who's steps ahead of me and who's going to be able to pass down her knowledge and her experience and some more strategies that I can implement to really gain some traction on my podcast. So I'm so excited. And yes, I just wanted to share that with you. Anyway, I'm going to go and work out now.
So I'm just taking a quick walk before my interview with Jenna, and I must admit, I'm really nervous. But I know it's going to be really good, and that she's going to answer all the questions that I submitted. I don't know, I don't have any words right now. I feel like the cat's got my tongue a little bit, so I'm trying just to preserve my energy and just really enjoy the opportunity to learn from somebody whose business is ahead of mine. Her podcast is amazing, and her reach and her downloads are phenomenal. And I'm just going to be myself and really enjoy. As you can see, I put purple on today. I'm just really excited, and feeling so blessed, so blessed to have this opportunity. So yes, I'm going to go back in now and just quietly still my mind and drink some more water. And then just see how will it go on. See you later.
When it came to prepping for the coaching, I made sure that I continued with my usual routine of exercise and hydration, and nutrition, and trying to get as much sleep as I could. I have a little one, so there were a couple of nights where I was a little bit unsettled. But I was just trying to make sure that the majority of my non-negotiables were completed throughout those last weeks. And that really helped with my nerves, but also just with my energy. And yes, I would recommend that if you've got any speaking engagements coming up or anything like that, that you are as hydrated and well-rested as you can be.
And when it came to the actual session, Jenna made me feel so comfortable. We jumped straight in, and we were talking just like old girlfriends. We started talking about our children who are literally days apart, and we talked about her pregnancy. And I just felt so at ease. Yes, I was still pushing down my nose, but it was just so lovely to feel like I was in a place that I was being welcomed into. There were no airs and graces. She answered all of my questions with grace and was really open. It just felt like I could ask her anything and she would answer to the best of her ability. And that was such a lovely, lovely feeling, and it really helped me ease my nerves.
So far, what have I implemented after our discussion? So I have started to really pay attention to my insights and my analytics. I was doing that previously but now, I make it part of my weekly process. And I'm really paying attention to the downloads and also the reach because that's one of the things that I mentioned in the episode. And I told Jenna, prior to us recording, that I had reached 36 countries and over 300 cities, and that had happened quite quickly. The podcast was only five months old when we sat down to have a conversation. So I have been reaching people all across the world, which really excites me. I love the fact that I am reaching people in countries that I've not even been to yet. And I am able to touch somebody in a different city that may have not heard me if I hadn't plugged the coverage up to do this. So I'm so, so happy that I did, and I'm so, so excited that I'm having a global reach.
So I've really started to look at my downloads. Now, I am making small tweaks at the backend and ensuring that I am shouting out all of the different countries that are listening. I don't know about you, but I used to love when I used to, this is taking me back to my Raven days. When I used to be in a rave and the DJ would shout out what city or what country you were from, you really felt heard and seen. And so the fact that I get to do this with my podcast, I am loving it. So that was one of the things that Jenna had said to implement, and I have definitely done that. And I'm really, really enjoying using this strategy.
I've also revised the show description. So I've added some more keywords, and so that when my audience is searching for podcasts like my own, then hopefully I will be found. And I am really paying attention to those small rises of downloads. I'm loving seeing the podcasts grow. I'm in it for a long time so I know that it is a marathon and I am celebrating all of these small milestones. I am loving it. I'm loving it. Every week when I go back in to look at the insights and they see another country or another city, or another 75 downloads, all of those things light me up. And it just gives me more and more energy to continue to do what I love doing, and that's sharing.
So we're commonly working through an ongoing project just to look at the existing episodes because we had 25 episodes prior to the conversation that I had with Jenna. So we are working through those and making sure that the titles and the show notes have the correct keywords in them. So again, they are searchable. And yes, I'm really excited that I'm getting to do this. Do I wish I'd done it at the beginning? To be honest with you, my main focus, when I decided to do this podcast, was just to get it out into the world. I think if I had been worrying about SEO and all of the other strategies and so forth, then it would have overwhelmed me and I wouldn't definitely have pushed the launch day out.
So for me, no, I am happy that I went forth and I got the podcast out there because it was a dream of mine for over two years. And now, I'm really excited that I can start to implement these small strategies and go back to the course as well and just double check to make sure that I've done everything in the course again, and then to start seeing more attraction. So, no, I'm really, really excited to see more growth.
So I also asked about how I could monetize the podcast in the future. And we talked about using affiliates and helping to grow my email list. I love when Jenna told me to see selling as an invitation instead of being sales. And I was just like, wow, that makes so much sense. People are loving what I'm doing. They love hearing from me. So now, the next step is to invite them to work with me, and why not? So I love, love, love, love that strategy. And I'm just taking my time with doing that and just finding my feet. So, yes, I'm really excited to be able to really start to use the podcast to showcase what I do also.
I've also recently tweaked and repurposed some of my opt-ins, freebies, and premiums, whatever you like to call them. And it just reminded me how important email is. I mean, had I not sent that email to Jenna's team, I would not be here talking to you now. So remember that in your business as well, email and just remembering to nurture your clients and your potential clients is a game-changer. So remember to do that, don't forget. So I was really excited about the thought of maybe adding an additional episode weekly just because I was like, oh yes, this would be a great way to help get more downloads, and so forth. And then when Jenna and I talked it through, I just thought, Eleshia, this is probably not a good idea at the moment. You do not have the capacity. And when she told me her stories as well, I was just like, no. So I am now just committing to once a week, or maybe some surprise episodes here and there throughout the year. I've really enjoyed batching my episodes as well because it gives me a little bit more time, especially around the family and clients and so forth. So it really helped me to just be able to then focus on marketing the episodes. Because another thing that Jenna and I talked about was just being in that process of churning out episodes and then not having the time to market them. So I have really enjoyed just being able to then batch some more episodes, so then I can have that time to focus on my marketing strategy. It's been so useful for me.
And I've recently set up an Instagram account called The Eleshia Show Podcast, just purely for the podcast because I was getting to a stage where I felt like I didn't want to just keep on posting about the podcast to my main page. And it's early days yet. I've literally just set that up, but I am really looking forward to checking out the insights and just being able to house all of my marketing in one place. That way, when people come onto that page, they know exactly what they're going to get.
I also wanted to share some of my key points and takeaways from the episode. One, people need to hear things multiple times to take action. So sometimes we get into the place where we feel like, oh, I've already mentioned this before. I don't want to bombard my audience or my subscribers with the same message. Well, it takes people up to nine times to hear something before they take action. So when Jenna said that to me, again, I was like, yes okay. It was another invitation to say things more than once. Also, don't be afraid to invite people to work with you and to be your own PR person. Again, that was really key for me to hear, and it really resonated with me. Just remember that 98% of people don't want to sell and don't want to be salesy. And there are ways of not being salesy. Just coming from a place of service and enjoyment, and enjoying what you do really does come across. So get into that place where you're inviting your audience to work with you. I definitely am going to do that more.
Because I get such great feedback about my coaching and my digital products, I'm feeling so much more confident to be able to do that more. So I'm definitely going to do that. I love when Jenna said that we all listen to podcasts differently and different shows, and she's so, so right. I love that she totally got it. As she said, it takes me at least three sittings sometimes to get through a podcast. So just having different duration episodes is really, really helpful for people who only have 15 minutes or only have half an hour, or they may have an hour to really sit down and enjoy listening to that hour session in one sitting. So that was really helpful, and I was already doing that. I was trying to make my solos shorter than my guest episodes. So I really loved that I was on the right page with doing that, and she confirmed that.
I'm also going to take Jenna's advice and start pitching myself to other people's podcasts, but actually going out and pitching for new guests on my podcast. I love that all of the guests that I've had already have been so intentional. And I'm so excited to see who else can come and be a guest on The Eleshia Show. I am so, so grateful that I got the opportunity to sit down and ask all of the questions that I had in my head on how to grow my podcast to the next level. So thank you so, so much, Jenna, for giving me the opportunity. And thank you so much, you guys, for hitting the play button and listening to my journey, and what I did, what strategies I implemented straight away because that's how my brain works.
I was like, okay, she's giving me all of this information now. Now, I need to go and implement it. So I've been working behind the scenes with my team to make sure that we have started to implement those strategies. And I cannot wait to see the insights. I can't wait to track the insights over the next three months or so, just to see how those little small tweaks that we made have really helped with the growth of the podcast. And yes, thank you for being here. And if you really enjoyed this episode, go back and listen to some of my previous episodes. We talk about everything from wellbeing, business, growth strategy, and everything in between. And I love, love, love doing this, so go back and listen. And I just wanted to leave you with this small video of my reaction after I had finished recording with Jenna. Thank you so much for listening. Take care. Bye.
I just did it. I just recorded my episode for the Goal Digger Show. I am so freaking excited. Jenna was so amazing. It was literally like talking to one of my girlfriends, well, she is now. I've told to her that we are friends for life now. She can't get rid of me. But yes, that was absolutely amazing. Everything that I was hoping it would be and absolutely more. I am so happy that I said yes. I was just not fearful, and I am just so excited for you guys to hear the episode. I cannot wait. Wow. Wow. Wow. I am on such a high, you guys. I'm just so, so excited.
I really hope you enjoyed this episode of The Eleshia Show. If you loved this episode as much as I did, head over and rate and subscribe so you'll never miss an episode. New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday. I can't wait to hang out with you again soon. And lastly, remember to invest in yourself first because you are important and amazing. Take care. Until next time. Bye-bye.
