From A Top 1% Podcaster

Danny Miranda is within the prime 1% of podcasters, and has interviewed a number of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time, like Gary Vaynerchuck, Alex Hormozi, Leila Hormozi, Anthony Pompliano, Colin and Samir, and lots of others.

But three years in the past, Danny didn’t have an enormous following. You simply must get started and preserve at it.

On this publish, you’ll find out how Danny will get wonderful friends, prepares for and conducts interviews, and his distinctive strategy to rising the podcast.

Who Ought to Begin A Podcast?

It’s essential to choose a content material medium you get pleasure from as a result of consistency is crucial to succeeding as a content material creator.

So Danny recommends podcasting for anybody who already enjoys telephone conversations.

His podcast really began as a result of he posted a Tweet inviting his followers to do one-on-one telephone calls with him. He loved these conversations, so it made sense to simply file them and switch the content material right into a podcast.

Should you’re unsure if podcasting is best for you, file just a few episodes and ask your self if you happen to might do it for the following decade. Should you don’t suppose you’ll wish to proceed creating podcast content material for an additional ten years, take into account a special medium you’d get pleasure from extra.

How To Create A Profitable Podcast

First, simply get began. Here’s how:

The preliminary podcast friends could be your folks, and also you don’t want any fancy recording software program to your first episodes. Danny recommends you employ this Audio Technica mic to get began.

You possibly can spend money on higher audio high quality and podcast recording gear after you’ve put in some reps and determined that podcasting is a content material medium you get pleasure from. 

Nonetheless, Danny’s success isn’t due to his podcasting gear and even his workflow course of. Beneath, we’ll focus on the 80/20 you’ll want to get proper to create a profitable podcast, which is:

1. Touchdown nice friends.
2. Researching and getting ready for the interview.
3. Conducting the interview.
4. Growing a real relationship with the host after the interview.
5. Rising the podcast and bettering your dialog abilities. 

Step 1: Reaching Out To Podcast Visitors

Step one is deciding who you wish to interview.

Many newbie podcasters purpose to land friends with giant followings, however Danny focuses totally on individuals who encourage him. By solely speaking to folks he feels impressed by, you may really feel the pure chemistry in his interviews, and that chemistry considerably elevates the standard of his podcast episodes. 

It’s additionally simpler to land friends if you happen to solely attain out to individuals who really encourage you, as you gained’t have to make use of completely optimized outreach templates.

Actually, Danny doesn’t use any outreach templates. He doesn’t actually have a particular outreach technique.

As a substitute, he messages folks he feels impressed by and authentically tells them how their content material resonates with him. 

That real message stands out from the remainder of the pitches these creators obtain, which can enhance your acceptance fee and assist you scale back the time you spend doing outreach.  

Danny additionally prioritizes doing random acts of kindness, which often pays dividends. 

For instance, he seen somebody who follows him Tweeted that they’re beginning a podcast. So he reached out and provided to assist if that individual wanted something. This led to a forty five minute telephone dialog the place Danny offered some preliminary steering.

A day later, that individual requested if Danny would really like Andy Frisella on his podcast. For reference, Andy Frisella at the moment has the highest podcast in Entrepreneurship and considerably impacted Danny’s private life. 

There was no technique for touchdown the interview with Andy Frisella different than simply serving to folks out.  

So take into consideration how a lot time you dedicate to serving to folks out.

There’s additionally the ROI on luck. Basically, if you happen to play the sport lengthy sufficient, some issues will work out. For instance, he received Gary Vaynerchuck on as a result of he wrote a weblog publish about him in 2009 after which Tweeted about it once more in 2020:

A number of folks within the feedback inspired Gary to return on Danny’s podcast, and it labored. Two weeks later, they recorded the episode:

Danny additionally talked about that even at the start of the podcast, he nonetheless invited folks he felt is perhaps out of attain. Even when they mentioned no, that simply means no proper now. 

Inviting them on the podcast at the least opens the dialog, and if you happen to plan to proceed podcasting for the following decade, you’ll have extra alternatives sooner or later. 

Actually, Danny reached out to Andy Firsella ten occasions earlier than he lastly received the intro that finally helped him get on the podcast. So don’t fear about rejection.

One remaining tip to construct actual relationships is to message creators while you get pleasure from a bit of content material they printed. Regardless of receiving many messages per day, Danny nonetheless enjoys receiving these messages because it’s optimistic suggestions that his effort is impactful. 

Takeaways

1. Solely interview folks you genuinely really feel impressed by at this second in your life (that might change as you develop).
2. Don’t use outreach templates – simply inform folks why you’re feeling impressed by them.
3. Do random acts of kindness. Ultimately, it would come again to you.
4. Don’t fear about rejection. Even when somebody says no, that simply means no for now. Should you’re constructing a podcast that can exist for a decade, there can be loads of different alternatives to interview that individual, and your preliminary message opens the dialog.

Motion Gadgets

1. Make an inventory of the individuals who encourage you. 
2. Make an inventory of your current accomplishments and whose content material has helped you obtain these accomplishments.
3. Invite folks from each of these lists in your podcast with an outreach message explaining why they encourage you and what they’ve helped you obtain. 
4. Everytime you get pleasure from a bit of content material, ship that individual a message or remark that you simply favored it.

Step 2: Analysis And Interview Preparation

Danny’s aim in the course of the analysis course of is to establish who somebody is reasonably than simply what they do.

While you purpose to be taught who somebody is, they really feel heard and appreciated. This helps:

• Enhance the chemistry of the dialog. 
• Uncover new insights about that individual.
• Construct a real relationship with that individual, which might pay dividends down the highway.

For instance, when he interviewed Steph Smith, he discovered a quote the place she mentioned she felt her sister was smarter than her, which drove her to be extra aggressive. So he requested her about that within the interview.

Should you’re nonetheless feeling caught and don’t know particularly what data to search for, he recommends utilizing Google to search out:

• The place that individual grew up
• The place that individual went to high school

You possibly can even search for outdated articles written about that individual from publications of their hometown, which can doubtless carry up some attention-grabbing insights that current publications haven’t talked about.

One other technique is to go to that individual’s YouTube channel to kind by “oldest” and watch the primary few movies they posted earlier than they made it. 

This will provide you with an excellent understanding of who they had been and the way they’ve developed, which might encourage higher questions. You can too do that with social media, you’ll simply must scroll much more.

Lastly, use Twitter’s superior search to see that individual’s hottest posts. 

You are able to do this by typing within the individual’s deal with:

Then, you may set a selected variety of replies or likes:

For instance, here’s one in all Danny’s hottest Tweets:

It will present you what their target market resonates with and what’s most impactful to them.

Danny additionally repeatedly mentions the significance of studying an individual’s vitality. So, as a substitute of simply in search of particular issues they’ve mentioned or accomplished, use analysis as a chance to get to know that individual on a deeper stage, and that can encourage extra nice questions.

To make your analysis actionable for the interview, Danny creates a doc that consists of three elements: 

1. Matters from analysis that had been insightful or he was all in favour of.
2. Particular questions that arose when he was doing analysis.
3. Tweets he discovered notably attention-grabbing.

Actually, right here’s the precise doc that he used when getting ready for his interview with Alex Hormozi:

One essential word is that he likes to maintain all the pieces on one web page in order that in the course of the interview, he isn’t scrolling by means of a protracted doc and might simply be current with the visitor. 

Takeaways

• Concentrate on studying about who the individual is reasonably than simply what they do in order that they really feel seen while you discuss to them.
• Compile your analysis right into a single web page so to be absolutely current with the individual in the course of the interview. 

Motion Gadgets

• Use Google and LinkedIn to search out the place that individual grew up and the college they went to. Attempt to discover articles from hometown publications about that individual earlier of their profession. 
• Use YouTube to view the oldest movies that individual uploaded to grasp how they’ve developed. You can too take a look at their oldest social media posts.
• Have a look at their hottest social media posts to see what their viewers resonates with and what that individual is understood for.

Step 3: Conducting The Interview

The interview begins earlier than you even hit file. One factor that has considerably improved Danny’s interviews is asking the individual, “What would make this one of the best interview you’ve ever accomplished?”

Their response to this query can information the interview and make sure the individual will get to say what they really feel is most essential. 

One other essential factor to do throughout the first couple of minutes of assembly the individual is to make them really feel comfy and set up an actual connection.

It will assist construct chemistry, which can come throughout to your listeners.

Throughout dwell interviews, Danny offers the individual a hug when he first meets them. Should you’re recording remotely, take into consideration how one can give that individual a hug just about. 

For instance, it is perhaps asking a few second from their childhood or an impactful expertise.

In his interview with Alex Hormozi, the primary query Danny requested was a few psychology task Alex had at 19, the place he was supposed to choose somebody with a psychological dysfunction and break down a state of affairs from their perspective. On this case, Alex picked his mom, who has suffered from melancholy and ADD.

This query confirmed that Danny genuinely cares about Alex as an individual which helps construct that relationship and chemistry.

Subsequent, be really current with the individual you’re interviewing. For instance, place your doc of questions on one facet of the display and have the digital camera with the individual’s face on the opposite facet so that you simply aren’t flipping backwards and forwards between the 2.

If he’s doing a dwell interview, you may look at your telephone or have a notepad if you would like, however as you develop into extra comfy, you’ll most likely have a greater connection holding a free flowing dialog.

The standard of the questions you ask additionally considerably impacts the interview high quality. A nasty query is one thing that the individual has already been requested one million occasions earlier than. 

A great query makes the individual understand one thing they by no means knew about themselves.

This not solely helps you get higher insights out of that individual, but it surely additionally helps the individual you’re interviewing obtain extra worth from the interview, which is helpful to constructing an actual relationship with that individual.  

Danny additionally retains a doc of questions he’s been requested that he finds attention-grabbing or that made him see himself otherwise:

Lastly, being susceptible makes the opposite individual really feel extra comfy and may help them open up, as folks are inclined to match vulnerability.

For instance, you would point out a time you had been bullied, a darkish time in your profession, or perhaps a private battle with a pal. 

FAQ: Ought to You Report Remotely Or In Particular person?

Danny now information about 50 to 60% of his podcast episodes in individual. Recording dwell tends to create higher chemistry and you’ve got an opportunity to construct a deeper reference to that individual. 

But it’s additionally way more troublesome to ebook friends for dwell podcasts. 

Danny recommends that you simply file dwell if doable, however don’t let that maintain you again from getting began.

Key Takeaways

• Perceive what the opposite individual desires to speak within the interview.
• Set up belief both with a hug or a digital hug (a politely private query) to indicate that you simply care about that individual.
• Ask questions that assist the individual see themself differently or be taught one thing about themselves.
• Be really current with that individual.

Motion Gadgets

• Ask the individual earlier than you hit file, “What would make this one of the best interview you’ve ever accomplished?”
• Put together your first query or motion (hug) to construct a real reference to that individual.
• Have your questions on one sheet on the facet of the display so to be current and aren’t scrolling in the course of the interview.
• Begin a financial institution of wonderful questions which have made you see your self otherwise.

Step 4: Submit Manufacturing And Visitor Comply with Up

After Danny information a brand new episode, he often publishes it to YouTube and all the conventional podcasting directories, like Spotify and Apple podcasts.

Riverside and Podbean are nice podcast internet hosting platforms, and if you would like a tactical step-by-step overview to get your new podcast on Spotify, Apple, and Google podcasts, right here’s a tutorial on publishing your podcast. 

You can too use Fiverr to have somebody create your cowl artwork and even your intro and outro. Upwork is one other nice useful resource that you should utilize to search out podcast editors.

Garageband continues to be the modifying software program he makes use of, however you would additionally use Audacity. You will get a full overview of Danny’s present podcast workflow in his Substack. 

The principle takeaway is that he actually prioritizes creating high-quality content material over advertising and optimization. Should you get the content material high quality proper, the remainder falls into place.

After recording a podcast, construct a real relationship together with your friends.

One easy means to do that is to ship a present or perhaps a handwritten word to that visitor following the podcast. You possibly can point out one thing you notably loved discussing or an motion merchandise you realized from them that you simply executed. You may additionally ship that individual a ebook they may like based mostly on the dialog.

Danny additionally doesn’t have time to fulfill with every individual individually, so he hosts occasions. For instance, he lately began a males’s operating membership the place he lives in Austin, Texas.

Occasions are much more worthwhile to his friends as they’ll meet new folks and kind connections. This additionally makes Danny extra memorable as a result of they’ll do not forget that he’s the one who facilitated these connections.

Key Takeaways

• Should you can carry folks collectively, you may preserve relationships with about 20 folks in an hour as a substitute of 1. These 20 folks may also get extra worth as a result of they’ll meet new folks.
• Occasions the place you carry folks collectively and facilitate new connections is among the highest types of worth you may ship.

Motion Gadgets

• While you come throughout a bit of content material, inform that individual you loved it.
• Ship that individual one thing after the interview, like a handwritten word or a ebook.
• Host occasions that carry folks collectively.

Step 5: Progress Methods

Danny has generated over one million downloads, and he does just a few issues to assist the channel develop. The podcast episodes are printed to YouTube along with the standard podcast streaming platforms, and he additionally repurposes some segments from the podcasts into particular person clips.

His friends even have giant followings, which has doubtless aided to his audiences’ development. 

Nonetheless, his development technique isn’t that subtle. For the primary a number of years, he didn’t even publish on YouTube. 

As a substitute, he focuses solely on creating higher content material.

“I’m not optimizing for extra folks to see it. I’m optimizing for me to benefit from the dialog and to be taught and develop… and if meaning not getting one million views per video, I’m content material with that. I wish to proceed getting higher.”

Danny’s most important technique to develop into a greater host and ask higher questions is to have higher conversations with himself and use his pals for suggestions.

For instance, a pal would possibly say, “Effectively, you mentioned X the opposite day. What did you imply by that?”

This makes Danny suppose extra about why he says what he says and be taught extra about himself. 

One other a part of changing into a greater conversationalist is solely practising. He publishes about three new episodes per week, so merely recording extra episodes has made him a greater conversationalist. 

Key Takeaways

• Concentrate on bettering your talent as a number (asking higher questions and bettering dialog depth) reasonably than vainness metrics.
• Use your pal group as a mirror to develop into a greater conversationalist. 
• Create a constant publishing schedule and publish extra continuously as you begin bettering your dialog abilities.

Motion Gadgets

• Use a content material distribution technique and repurpose your content material to YouTube and in shorter clips.
• Encourage your folks to provide you suggestions on conversations.
• Publish thrice per week your first 12 months of podcasting.

Take The Subsequent Step To Develop into a High 1% Podcaster

You don’t must be nice to begin a podcast, however you do must begin to create a fantastic podcast.

So, don’t fear about shopping for fancy podcasting gear to your first few episodes. Put in these first few reps and improve your sound high quality and development technique later.

If you wish to be taught extra from Danny, follow him on social media and take a look at The Art of Interviewing.

If you wish to join with different creators, head to the Copyblogger Academy. Inside, we usually offer you actionable content material like this from a number of the greatest creators on the earth, and you may ask our staff for one-on-one suggestions.

You’ll even have entry to varied programs starting from private branding to content material advertising so that you’ve got the instruments you’ll want to develop into a profitable creator.