Nuggets from a recent interview

I was interviewed recently for the podcast, Brandwidth on Demand, a show that interviews radio pros about different aspects of the business. Here are the key takeaways: 

Advice for new shows: Don’t show up to the party with the lampshade on your head! Take your time by building a bridge with the audience by getting behind what they love and like. Over time they will get to know you through your perspective and opinions. 

On branding: Jeff Bezos said it well…”Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Ask your circle: How would you describe me? What are my strengths? Are the answers in line with how you want to be perceived? 

On building your brand: Know and understand what your values are. Force yourself to narrow down your list of values - and make sure your values show up on your show consistently, whatever they are  – e.g. family, humor, community, friendship, etc.

One mistake shows make: Some shows want to be different, just to be different. If you want to be different, be different in a refreshing way, that has the audience’s benefit in mind. 

Creating individual player brands on a team show: Each person on the show is a brand, within the show brand, within the station brand. What are your superpowers? How are they balanced within the show? Make sure you differentiate, but with core values in common. 

Handling feedback: Decide whether the person giving feedback has your best interest at heart vs. a troll having a bad day. Do they have skin in the game? If they do, listen and try to stay open to the feedback. Ignore those that don’t. 

One opportunity hiding in plain sight: Be vulnerable not for its own sake, but to make people feel less alone. Make them feel “me too!” and they’ll feel closer to you. People talk too much about themselves without connecting the dots on why it has an impact on the audience. 

If you want to hear the whole conversation, check out the interviewhere.

Keep showing up!

~ Angela