Go Big on Marketing

There are very few people on earth who will admit to enjoying self-promotion or that of their products. Yet, no matter how much we hate it, no one will deny that marketing is a key stepping stone to success. Take authors for example. From what little I know of them, they would much rather stay glued to a desk, string words together and maybe take an occasional jaunt to a literary fest. But ask them to craft a social media strategy i.e. post on Instagram or X at regular intervals and you’d not only hear them let out a moan of agony; what eventually emerges on social media is a cacophony of an incoherent stream of consciousness. Despite all of this, you will find every author worth their salt doing everything they can to market themselves. Why do I say this? Well, because August was launch month and technically I did launch a brand-new podcast and a new blog.

However, a launch is no good if only three people in the world are aware of its existence.

After acquiring the skill of being able to produce and mix podcast-worthy audio and get the podcast listed across most platforms (Apple continues to be a struggle), I can say that I have launched. Yet, in order to add ‘successfully’ as a prefix, I’d need to create a fair bit of noise around the launch; something that makes shivers run down my spine. If I had the budget or if enough of you were to buy us coffee, we may be able to afford a social media marketing intern. Until then, it’s up to us.

I have never been any good at marketing. I am one of the rare dinosaurs who does their best and hopes that magically the content will reach those in need. This strategy of zero to minimal marketing hasn’t worked for HR Bandit and neither for this blog. I sometimes wonder how successful I would have been had these two platforms been marketed the way Seth Godin markets himself. Maybe I’d have been able to retire and create content full-time.

However, it is time for things to turn on their head.

Having acquired one new skill last month, I am ready to acquire yet another. With the next wave of technological revolution on its way, arming yourselves with more skills can only be good for you. And did I mention how expensive it is to hire a social media marketing expert?

So, here’s my challenge for September – I am going to go big on marketing the brand-new podcast. I am starting with a few courses via Udemy and Hubspot. Maybe even a certification or two. However, all my attempts aren’t going to flow in sequentially and thus if you see sub-optimal posts or posting schedules, know that I am learning.

If by the end of the year, I can professionally edit audio tracks (almost there) and create an effective content strategy, I’d have picked up two new hot market skills and end the year on a high. I have the perfect practice platform and hey! Maybe I’d even launch a 4-week course on ‘how to release a podcast with less than 100 dollars/euros in your pocket’.

Per usual, my challenge to self, is my challenge to you. I challenge you to pick up one new skill this month. You don’t have to be an expert at it but start something that you will pursue till at least the end of the year. I know we’ve taken this challenge before. At the start of the year, I challenged myself to pick up one new skill. At first, I thought it would be knitting. But turns out, it will be something else altogether. And that’s ok! Pick up something. Anything. It doesn’t have to be monetizable. It doesn’t have to end up as a side hustle.

Do it to keep the childlike curiosity alive. Do it to keep the brain cells active. Do it to give me company as I venture into the world of Instagram promotion.

Until then, check out the new podcast, Prickly Peers and tell me what you think of it. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Follow, rate, share and forget to tell me which new skill you intend to start working on. Maybe we’d sign up as accountability buddies. Who knows.

Who knows.