

Podcast Answer Man
Cliff Ravenscraft
For the past twenty years, I have been immersed in the world of podcasting. I’ve produced more than fifty-five of my own shows and published over 4,800 episodes. As a podcast consultant, I’ve trained tens of thousands of people on how to successfully launch their show and build a profitable business around their expertise.
Podcast Answer Man is where you can bring every question you have about podcasting. Gear. Workflow. Strategy. Audience growth. Monetization. Industry shifts. The landscape is always changing. I may not have every answer on the spot. I do know how to find the right answer for you, and I’m eager to be of service.
If you want a clear, dependable guide in a noisy industry, this is the place. Each episode is focused on practical insight, proven experience, and the mindset required to create content that serves your audience and supports the business you want to build.
Ask your questions. I’ll help you find your path forward in podcasting.
Podcast Answer Man is where you can bring every question you have about podcasting. Gear. Workflow. Strategy. Audience growth. Monetization. Industry shifts. The landscape is always changing. I may not have every answer on the spot. I do know how to find the right answer for you, and I’m eager to be of service.
If you want a clear, dependable guide in a noisy industry, this is the place. Each episode is focused on practical insight, proven experience, and the mindset required to create content that serves your audience and supports the business you want to build.
Ask your questions. I’ll help you find your path forward in podcasting.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 10, 2021 • 1h 25min
459 - Most Exciting Podcasting News Since 2005! Kajabi Adds Podcasting Feature
In this episode, I share why Kajabi adding podcasting functionality to their offering is the most exciting podcasting news I’ve heard since 2005.
By the way, if you sign up for Kajabi using my affiliate link at MindsetAnswerMan.com/Kajabi before July 26th, you can get full access to all that Kajabi has to offer for three full months for only $99.
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Dec 14, 2020 • 1h 31min
458 - Stop Trying So Hard To Grow Your Audience / Do This Instead
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Mar 19, 2020 • 1h 3min
457 - Is It Wrong To Teach What You Have Learned From Others?
Some people fear putting out content that is inspired by what they have learned from someone else. In this week's episode of The Cliff Ravenscraft Show, I'm going to share my thoughts on this topic.
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Feb 20, 2020 • 1h 28min
456 - Chapters In Podcasts?
In this episode, I share a tech tip that would allow podcasters to add chapters, images and even links within audio podcasts.
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Dec 21, 2018 • 1h
455 - Creating Online Courses With Amy Porterfield
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Dec 13, 2018 • 1h 17min
454 - How To Attract 1,000 True Fans
In last week's episode, I talked about the fact that you don't need a large audience to make a great living doing the work that you love. The focus of that episode was from a 2008 article by Kevin Kelly that suggested that one only needs 1,000 true fans to make a great living.
In this week's episode, I answer the question… How do you attract 1,000 True Fans?
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Dec 7, 2018 • 51min
453 - You Do Not Need A Large Audience To Make A Great Living!
Have you ever heard of the article titled “1000 True Fans” by Kevin Kelly?
This article came out at a powerful moment in my life, back in 2008, just after I transitioned into full-time self employment.
I was looking to find a way to build a profitable business around the content, products and services that I created.
Sure, I was blessed to have already grown a relatively nice sized audience from my first two years of podcasting as a hobby.
However, I was not famous and I certainly didn't have millions of fans.
I'll admit that I had a bit of anxiety about whether or not I'd be able to build my audience to a level that would allow me to be successful with my new business venture.
However, when this article came it, it gave me a great sense of peace.
Kevin Kelly wrote…. “To be a successful creator you don’t need millions. You don’t need millions of dollars or millions of customers, or millions of fans. To make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor you need only thousands of true fans.”
You only need 1,000 true fans!
Kevin described a true fan as someone that will buy anything you produce.
He wrote… “These diehard fans will drive 200 miles to see you sing; they will buy the hardback and paperback and audible versions of your book; they will purchase your next figurine sight unseen; they will pay for the “best-of” DVD version of your free youtube channel; they will come to your chef’s table once a month.”
In today's language, a true fan is someone who…
will travel to your live event.
will buy your book.
will sign up for your course.
will subscribe and follow you on every social media channel.
and will share you work with everyone that they know!
Simply put…. A true fan is someone who dedicated to you and your message.
Can you really make a living with just 1,000 true fans?
Yes!
Note: We are talking about “making a living” not “making a fortune.”
The following is the math that Kevin Kelly shared to explain what he meant…
“Here’s how the math works. You need to meet two criteria. First, you have to create enough each year that you can earn, on average, $100 profit from each true fan. That is easier to do in some arts and businesses than others, but it is a good creative challenge in every area because it is always easier and better to give your existing customers more, than it is to find new fans.
Second, you must have a direct relationship with your fans. That is, they must pay you directly. You get to keep all of their support, unlike the small percent of their fees you might get from a music label, publisher, studio, retailer, or other intermediate. If you keep the full $100 of profit from each true fan, then you need only 1,000 of them to earn $100,000 per year. That’s a living for most folks.”
Heres' the thing….
You could have 500 true fans and create products and services that allowed you to earn merely $200 in profit, per year, from each true fan and you'd still earn $100,000 per year.
The whole point is not that you need exactly 1,000 true fans. It's not even about the exact amount of $100,000 per year.
The point is that YOU CAN MAKING A LIVING DOING WHAT YOU LOVE and you don't have to be famous to do so!
Just imagine all the people who are working a day job, doing work that they hate, just to earn $30,000 per year.
Any one of these individuals could start some sort of “side job” where they simply grow a community of only 300 true fans who will buy products that will net them $100 per year, in profit, from each true fan to replace that soul sucking day job.
If you haven't done so, I encourage you to read the whole article by Kevin Kelly.
After doing so, you'll understand why I always tell people to…
STOP FOCUSING on THE NUMBERS and GROWING YOUR AUDIENCE and STAY FOCUSED on BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS with those who are already in your audience.
Here's the truth though…
Kevin said it like this…
“The truth is that cultivating a thousand true fans is time consuming, sometimes nerve racking, and not for everyone. Done well (and why not do it well?) it can become another full-time job. At best it will be a consuming and challenging part-time task that requires ongoing skills. There are many creators who don’t want to deal with fans, and honestly should not.”
While this approach is not for everyone. I have found that those who are willing to go this rout are able to find success in serving a specialized niche audience that can't be served by companies that are ill equipped to serve the focused interests of such small number of people.
There is so much opportunity out there for you if you are willing to invest in relationships with people who connect with you and your message.
I hope that you will find some encouragement and inspiration from this message.
Sincerely,
Cliff
Ps. Are you one of my true fans? If so, I'd love to learn how I may serve you better. Please click here to answer a few questions in my True Fan Survey.
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Jun 1, 2018 • 1h 29min
452 - Will Choosing A Narrow Target Audience Limit Who You Reach?
Recently, my friend, Kris Pavone, joined the Next Level Mastermind and introduced himself to the group in our discussion forum. In the introduction, he wrote that… “I am a podcaster and success coach. I help men between the ages of 30-50 who feel frustrated, stuck, and are ready to change, gain clarity and take action so they can live the life of their dreams!”
One of the ladies in our group responded by saying… “I've been listening to your podcast and even though I don't fit your demographic, I always enjoy them!”
Shortly after that post, another one of the ladies in the group wrote… ” I agree with Tammy. I jumped on and listened to your podcast and felt right at home. I have to admit that I'm still struggling a bit with the idea of narrowing my target audience. I trust those who tell me I should but it seems so…limiting. Yet, listening to your podcast I didn't have that experience. (I'm obviously still pondering… Thanks for the great example!”
I felt compelled to add my thoughts on narrowing your target audience and I related it to a story of when I was being taught archery at a summer camp that I attended as a child.
This was the first time I'd ever thought to use archery as and example for teaching about the value of having a narrow target (focus) for your audience and how this does not “LIMIT” you from reaching others who do not fit that exact description. I decided that it would be a perfect topic for a podcast episode and that is how this week's episode came to be.
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Jul 21, 2017 • 60min
451 - Batch Processing - Audio Vs Video - And So Much More
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.
Jul 6, 2017 • 41min
450 - The Awesome Benefits of Having An Audio Podcast
I have other podcasts that might be of interest to you. See my list of shows at http://CliffRavenscraft.com/podcast
Let's Work Together!
Would you like to connect with me through one-on-one coaching or through one of my paid mastermind groups? If so, visit my WORK WITH ME PAGE and submit an application today.


