Hi Reader!

I'm highly suspicious of the 70-80 degree highs we've been having lately 😅
It is entirely too early to be this warm in Texas, and yet… here we are.

So, I’m starting seedlings because it's the Feb-March planting season anyway.

Spinach, squash, several greens are already in trays. I’m experimenting with vertically growing strawberries in gutters mounted to our fence this year (we’ll see how that goes), and I’m attempting grapes for the first time. If you garden in the South, you know this is both optimism and risk management rolled into one.

And in even more exciting news, my daughter and her friend entered the 5th grade science fair completely on their own this year. They designed the project, built the board, and tested whether humans can distinguish between AI-generated images and real photographs.

They won 1st place for their grade. 🥇

The conclusion?
Most people failed the quiz. Humans generally cannot tell the difference.

Between the seedlings and the science fair, I’ve been thinking a lot about experimentation. You try things. You test. You measure. You refine.

Which brings me to podcasting...

Q&A March 11th @ 11am CST

If you want to pressure-test your strategy in real time, join me LIVE next week!

​Make Your Show Work For You 👈 register here
📅 March 11
🕚 11am CST
📍 Live on YouTube & LinkedIn

You can submit questions ahead of time (just hit reply), DM me on social, or show up live and ask in the chat (you won't be on camera, 😉 don't worry).

If you’ve been wondering:

• Why growth feels slow
• Whether your production spend makes sense
• How to refine your CTAs
• Whether video is worth it

It's time to quit spiraling and/or shoving it to the back burner. If you've been wondering... others have too! Time to get your questions answered, clear the air, and get moving forward. I can't freaking wait to hear what's been on your mind!

🎙 How to Find Shows to Guest On (Strategically, Not Randomly)

If guesting is part of your growth plan this year, it cannot be vague. “Get on more podcasts” is not a strategy. Here’s how to approach getting yourself booked as a guest on other peoples' shows strategically:

1️⃣ Identify Your Keyword Territory

Start by clarifying the language your ideal client already uses.

• What problems are they actively searching?
• What phrases describe your niche?
• What outcomes do they want?

For example, instead of “financial planning,” you might narrow to:

• retirement passive income strategy
• student loan optimization
• exit planning for business owners
• cash flow for high-income professionals

Your keywords must reflect how your audience thinks, not how you describe your business.

2️⃣ Search Where Podcasts Actually Live

Once you have 5–10 strong keywords:

• Search Apple Podcasts
• Search ListenNotes.com
• Search Rephonic
• Search PodMatch (if you’re on it)
• Even search Google: “Podcast about + keyword”

Look for:

• Shows with consistent, recent publishing (this indicates they're still alive 🌷)
• Hosts who interview guests (if it's all solos, they don't want to share the spotlight)
• Audiences that overlap with yours

Do not pitch shows simply because they’re large. Pitch shows where your expertise fills a meaningful gap.

3️⃣ Reach Out the Smart Way

Emailing the host’s public email should be your last resort.

Hosts are inundated. Most inbox pitches are ignored (*trust me - I share from experience)

Instead:

• DM them on LinkedIn or Instagram
• Message through PodMatch or similar "containers"
• Use the contact form on their website
• Engage with their content first (comment, share, participate, write a review for their pod)

Your outreach should reference a specific episode or insight so it is clear you have actually listened.

4️⃣ Commit to a 90-Day Guesting Sprint

This is where most professionals fall short.

They pitch sporadically. They try one or two shows. Then they stop.

Instead:

• Allocate a modest budget for tools (PodMatch, scheduling software, etc.)
• Block time weekly for pitching
• Track outreach and responses (schedule follow up emails if you think you'll forget!)
• Lean in hard for one quarter

Then evaluate after that quarter of FULL effort. Remember, you might not see ROI right away - podcasting is a long game. Guesting works when it’s treated like a campaign, not a whim.

**********

✨ If you've had great success finding guest spots for yourself, chime in here. (hit reply) What worked best for you? What was the key to finding the perfect placements? What platforms or method did you use?

How much $$ should you invest in your podcast?

Spending vs ROI is a big, blurry equation for most business owners as they approach any marketing endeavor. So, how much is appropriate? How much is too much?

As with all loaded questions, it depends. 🥴 But this week's episode will help you out.

Data point: Podcasters who spend +100$ per month are less likely to stay stuck below 50 downloads.

Ahem... translation...

Spending $100 or more on your show equals growth. Whether you choose to spend on editing, graphics, a writer, a manager, or advertising, that spend correlates with a more upward growth curve than shows who spend $0-100 per month (which I assume is just hosting and recording software 🤷‍♀️)

The SBA recommends small businesses spend 7-10% of revenue on marketing So, how much of your entire marketing budget is your podcast? Where can you test spend vs ROI when it comes to your podcast? 🎧 Listen to the episode

In this episode, I walk you through how to think about your podcast like a true business asset, not just something fun, AKA a hobby. I provide specific podcast production costs and what those clients are buying in exchange for that $$ amount.

And yes, podcast spend SHOULD look different depending on what stage of business you're in and how much overall revenue you're bringing in. Your effort (be it energy, money, or time) needs to align with your goals... so does it?

Watch the full episode on YouTube@PodcastingForFinancialPros & share with a colleague 🙏

As I watched my daughter explain her science fair results, I was struck by something (beyond the immense pride I felt, of course).

They didn’t know if they would win. They didn’t know if their hypothesis would hold. They ran the experiment anyway.

The same is true in business. You cannot optimize what you refuse to experiment with.

Plant the seeds. Send the pitches. Run the ads.
Measure what grows.
Adjust accordingly.

🤔 What are you testing this month?

Cheers 🥂

P.S. If you want strategic clarity before you invest another dollar or pitch another show, the Podcast Conversion Lab™ is open. We refine your offers, messaging, and CTAs — and then implement them so your podcast actually works for your business. Reply “Lab” and I’ll send you the details.