goal for this podcast is to inspire massage
therapists to reach their full potential."
Winter offers a contact form on his
website (www.howsthepressure.com) that
lets his listeners email him. "I always write
them back," he says. "While this project is
personally fulfilling, I am ultimately doing
it for them. So, if they have something
to say—whether it is a suggestion for
an episode or a question about the
podcast—I feel it's important to take
them into account." Beginning in January
2019, Winter will be offering roundtable
discussions from a pool of previous guests,
making up an interdisciplinary team of
experts, to highlight specific conditions.
PRO TIPS FOR POTENTIAL
PODCASTERS
Should I Start My Own Podcast?
Haley Winter: I would always encourage a
person to do something that excites them,
including starting a podcast. Even if it
doesn't turn out the way you intend, you
will learn something valuable from the
experience. I think there are much easier
ways to increase your online presence
than podcasting. There are programs
and consultants that are designed to help
massage therapists with exactly that. That
being said, if you want to start a podcast,
know that it is really easy to get started,
but it is hard to pull off a clean and well-
produced product. I would only recommend
doing [a podcast] if you are super driven
to see it through—and have something
that you believe needs to be out there. If
the podcast is intended to support your
business, be clear about how it will support
that business and how it will engage the
people you want to draw to your business.
James Crook: My advice is that it is
easier to appear on an existing podcast
than to start your own—especially at the
start! If you are running a local business
(like massage or health), then appearing
on a local podcast that already has a strong
following is a great way to become better
known. You can also share the individual
episode through your own social media
so it boosts your authority with your
current followers. If you are going to be a
guest, have a clear message and know what
values you stand for, so you are memorable
and connect with your ideal audience.
It does take time and energy to run
a podcast yourself, and they work best
when consistent. So, only take it on
when you know you're at the right level.
If you've already climbed the first few
rungs in your business and you're ready
to take on a higher level of leadership
and influence in your community, that's
when your own podcast is powerful. It is
a more in-depth way of connecting with
your audience to share your core ideas
and personality. If you do interviews, it is
also a fantastic way to open doors because
you can invite prominent influencers on
as guests. There's a heap of training and
support available for how to start and
run a podcast, so connect with a group to
help and encourage you along the way.
Allissa Haines: I would encourage it. I
would suggest staying committed to a niche,
really diving deep into what the therapist's
ideal clients are interested in, and keep
it consistent. Weekly is ideal. Or twice
monthly at the least. We put out two of our
own podcast episodes on exactly this topic:
• Episode 146: "How to Start a Podcast for
Your Massage Business" (www.massage
businessblueprint.com/podcast/e146-start-
podcast-massage-business)
• Episode 162: "Niche + Podcast: A Massage
Therapist's Secret Weapon (3 Case
Studies)" (www.massagebusinessblueprint.
com/podcast/e162-niche-podcast-
massage-therapists-secret-weapon-3-case-
studies)
Lisa Bakewell is a full-time freelance writer/
editor in the Chicagoland area. Her areas of
writing expertise include health and fitness,
travel, parenting, company/personal profiles,
business, money-saving, and "how-to" articles.
She can be reached at lbakewell@att.net.
"If you are
running a local
business (like
massage or
health), then
appearing on a
local podcast
that already
has a strong
following is a
great way to
become better
known."
—James Crook,
Massage Champions
Yo u r M & B i s w o r t h 2 C E s ! G o t o w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e t o l e a r n m o r e . 87
