This podcast ended in April 2021. Follow my NEW PODCAST: the Courageous Content podcast on Apple podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/courageous-content-with-janet-murray/id1569783857
Or on your favourite podcast app here: https://courageous-content.captivate.fm/
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 16/09/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Have you ever launched a course or product that flopped - leaving you wondering where you went wrong?
If this sounds familiar you'll love this podcast episode with business coach Natalie Sisson.
Natalie explains how to bounce back from a failed launch and shares her experience of a launch that flopped (and the BIG lessons she learnt).
You'll learn why being true to yourself can have a huge impact on your launch and how to find the resilience to bounce back from failure.
This is the final episode of The Build Your Online Audience podcast.
Join the waiting list for my NEW podcast (launching in May 2021) here.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
About this final Build Your Online Audience podcast episode (00:30)
How Natalie inspired me at the start of my podcast journey (01:01)
Find out about my new Courageous Content podcast (01:58)
About Natalie and her mission to help women earn what they're worth (03:32)
What happened when Natalie's launch went wrong (06:40)
How your mindset can make a bad launch so much worse (09:20)
Why your launch will bomb if you don't stay true to your values (14:15)
Why solving problems is more important than perfection (15:53)
The key things you need to remember for a successful course launch (17:10)
Why the size of your audience should determine your launch strategy (19:10)
Why keeping your launch simple is key to success (23:02)
How to find out if people will buy your course before you launch (26:57)
About Natalie's new book 'Suck it up Princess' (33:45)
Why resilience is key when you're launching (36:20)
How to join the waitlist for my new Courageous Content podcast (37:29)
My Build Your Online Audience Podcast is ending at episode 450 and I'd love you to come along to my podcast wrap party on Friday 26 March 2021 at 4pm-6pm GMT.
I've invited all my podcast guests from the past five years and I'd love to have all my listeners there too.
Listen to this quick podcast to find out how to get the link to register to join us.
Plus if you've ever fancied starting your own podcast then make sure you come along because I'm going to be explaining how you can win an amazing podcast bundle.
There's everything you need to get your podcast up and running.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
When is my podcast wrap party (0:22)
Why you need to register for my podcast wrap party (0:34)
How you can win a podcast prize bundle to get your podcast live (0:58)
What's included in my podcast prize bundle (01:31)
How to register for my podcast wrap party (02:06)
When I'm launching my new Courageous Content podcast (02:31)
[449] How to create a crisis plan for your content
Episode 449
Friday, March 19, 2021 • Duration 56:40
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your content if you needed to take time out of your business?
Do you have content batched and scheduled ahead? Or would your content grind to a halt until you were able to get back to work?
If you're like many business owners I know, creating a contingency plan for your content is probably on your to-do list - but something you tell yourself you'll get to when you get a spare moment (which, when you run a business is often 'never'). But it is important.
In this episode, I talk to business strategist Diane Mayor about how to create a contingency plan for your content (and why you need to).
You'll learn why planning for the good times (a sudden spike in sales, for example) is just as important as planning for a crisis.
PLUS what to include in your contingency planning. And why this topic is important - even if you're a solopreneur.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
Why I'm ending the Build Your Online Audience Podcast (and what's coming next) (02:15)
How Diane Mayor helps business owners (03:32)
About this podcast episode and why contingency planning is important (04:50)
How Diane got started in contingency planning (05:40)
When I realised I needed a contingency plan (07:30)
Why your reaction to an event is what creates the good or bad results (10:03)
How to reduce panic in a crisis by making sure you've got a planned response (12:49)
How to work out the risks you can control in your business (and what you can't) (13:31)
Tips for contingency planning for a live event (18:48)
Where to start with your contingency planning (21:02)
How to create a crisis plan if you're a solopreneur (26:26)
How far ahead to batch content if you're contingency planning (32:41)
Why you should prioritise content creation for a podcast, blog or YouTube content over social media content (36:30)
[BONUS] Why I'm ending the Build Your Online Audience podcast (plus what's coming next)
Friday, March 12, 2021 • Duration 38:17
In this episode, I explain why I'm ending this podcast in two episodes time (episode 450).
I share the reasons why and what's coming up next (don't panic - I'm not giving up podcasting all together).
If you're a regular listener to the show, THANK YOU so much for your support.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
My big news about this podcast (0:38)
How my podcast audience has kept me motivated (01:48)
The three reasons why I'm ending this podcast (03:02)
Why I wanted to quit while I was ahead and at the top (05:50)
How my business has changed and why I want to align my podcast with that change (06:33)
The podcast interview that sparked a lightbulb moment (07:43)
Why my Facebook Ads made me realise what my ideal clients really needed (10:09)
How my Courageous Content challenge has helped business owners create better content (13:15)
How the new podcast will help me align my offerings with my content(15:40)
About my new podcast and the topics it will cover (19:18)
Why you need to create content you enjoy and fits your personality (23:50)
Why I want to help women find the courage to create content (26:21)
How the new podcast will focus more on the emotional side of content creation (28:13)
Why marketing 'gurus' aren't always the best source of content inspiration (29:57)
Why we could be talking about building a community rather than an audience (31:07)
The types of guests you'll hear from on my new podcast (32:41)
Why I want to help people find the joy in content creation (33:02)
Thanks to my fabulous team behind the podcast (33:46)
About the new podcast launch and where you can find more details (34:37)
Come along to my podcast party (35:20)
Resources
Be the first to hear when my new podcast goes live in May 2021. Sign up for the waitlist to hear about my new Courageous Content podcast
[448] How to generate semi-passive income by selling your own planner or journal
Episode 448
Friday, March 12, 2021 • Duration 29:14
I generated more than £185k in sales of my 2021 Social Media Diary and Planner and related products.
In this podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog), I share my tips on how to generate a semi-passive income from selling a planner or journal.
You'll find out:
How to choose a topic for your planner/journal
How a planner/journal can help you sell higher-tickets products/services
How to ensure your planner/journal is profitable
How to develop complementary products you can sell alongside your journal/planner
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}1. Make sure your planner solves a problem
There are so many types of planners available - the competition can be huge. Which is why your planner needs to solve a specific problem for a specific person.
For example, my Social Media Diary & Planner helps business owners who are struggling to come up with content ideas. It's packed full of key dates and awareness days, which helps them generate content ideas. And it includes templates and checklists to help them create annual, monthly, weekly and daily content plans - which helps them stay on track.
Another example might be a music practice planner. I'm an amateur pianist, and one of the problems I have is organising what I'm going to practise, when. The membership programme I belong to sells a piano practice planner. This is a great resource for keeping track of your practice. It also creates a record of what you've covered so you can look back at your progress.
A wedding planner/journal is another good example because it helps prospective brides stay organised and creates a keepsake of the event.
Don't be put off if there are already planners on sale in your industry/space.
[447] Women in podcasting: why we need more women's voices on podcasts
Episode 447
Friday, March 5, 2021 • Duration 39:59
Did you know that just one in three podcast hosts are women?
And just 21% of chart-topping podcast hosts are female?
Even though almost as many women listen to podcasts as men.
So what holds women back from launching a podcast? And why do so few women who DO start a podcast hit the top of the charts in their niche?
This special podcast episode - published to mark International Women's Day 2021 - aims to inspire more women to get their voices heard.
You'll hear from four podcasters (three female and one male) on how to get started with podcasting and overcome common fears - like getting to grips with the tech and getting used to the sound of your own voice. PLUS practical tips on launching your podcast.
Even if starting a podcast isn't on your radar, there is so much to inspire you in this episode to get your voice out there.
Speakers: Charlotte Foster, Ant McGinley, Anna Parker Naples and Avni Gohill.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
Why I hosted a 'Women in Podcasting Session' at 2021Sorted (01:42)
Why you should listen to this podcast episode (even if you're not launching a podcast) (02:30)
Who you'll hear from in this episode (05:12)
How long should a podcast episode really be (6:56)
Why planning is key to making your podcast episode interesting (07:18)
How to get over the fear of hearing your voice on a podcast (07:52)
How to relax when you're recording your podcast (10:50)
Why you shouldn't script your podcast episode (11:20)
How to get your podcast started and why you don't need a big budget (13:21)
Why podcasting is powerful for raising your business visibility (19:50)
Why your podcast launch strategy is important for positioning in the future (21:10)
[446] How to pitch yourself as a podcast guest
Episode 446
Friday, February 26, 2021 • Duration 36:48
Being a guest on other peoples' podcasts is a great way to build your audience - and your authority.
But most podcast hosts get far more pitches than they can handle - which means they can afford to be choosy about who guests on their show. So what's the best way to pitch yourself as a podcast guest?
And how can you make sure your pitch stands out from the rest? In this podcast episode, you'll learn how to craft the perfect email pitch for a podcast and how to increase your chances of getting a 'yes' from the host.
You'll also find out what podcast hosts are looking for in a guest and the common mistakes to avoid in your pitch.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview.Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.} Why it's worth being a podcast guest
Why Being a podcast guest is a great way to get in front of your ideal customers/clients - and build your audience - fast.
It's much quicker than writing a guest blog post. Most podcast interviews last between 30-60 mins. This means you can potentially do several a week.
It's also a great way to build trust quickly.
There's something about being in someone's earbuds that's much more intimate than the written word. Which means that by the end of a 30 minute interview, people often feel they know, like and trust you enough to visit your website, download your free resources and/or even buy your products/services.
And the best thing is, every time you appear on someone else's podcast, you're getting in front of a brand new audience - an audience you haven't had to build yourself.
So if you set yourself a target to do three interviews a week, you could potentially build your audience by thousands - in a relatively short space of time.
But before you get too excited…let's back up a bit.
Podcast Shownotes
[445] How to self-publish your book in 2021 with Sacha Black
Episode 445
Friday, February 19, 2021 • Duration 39:46
Self-publishing your own book is a great way to build your online audience - and your authority.
But how do you get started? How much does it cost? And should you do it all yourself - or use a print-on-demand service like Amazon, IngramSpark or Bookbaby.
If you've been asking yourself these questions (and more) then you'll love this podcast episode with publishing expert and bestselling Indie author Sacha Black.
Sacha shares every single step you need to take on your self-publishing journey - from coming up with a killer idea for a non-fiction book - to publication to promotion.
You'll also learn how to promote your book (with or without an online audience) and some killer tips to avoid the stress of a one-star review.
PLUS the one thing you must avoid when you launch.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
About Sacha Black and how she helps people self-publish (02:19)
Create engaging content with my Courageous Content mini-course (03:05)
What you need to consider before you start writing a non-fiction book (06:06)
How to come up with a killer topic for your book (06:24)
The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing (09:42)
The pros and cons of being an Indie author (11:18)
How to structure your book and why the problem you solve is at the heart of it (12:50)
Why choosing the wrong style/genre could upset your audience (15:10)
The optimum word count for a non-fiction book (16:10)
What it means to publish 'wide' or 'exclusive' (and the pros and cons of both) (17:15)
Publishing costs of a digital book vs a printed book (20:25)
Reasons to outsource the formatting of your book (22:26)
Why you should invest in a professionally-designed book cover (23:01)
[444] How much personal information should you share in your content?
Episode 444
Friday, February 12, 2021 • Duration 40:23
If you're building a personal brand online, people have to get to know the person behind the business. Otherwise, they won't buy from you.
But how much personal information should you share on your social media and other content platforms?
What is 'ok' to share and what should be kept private?
And what is the difference between sharing and oversharing?
If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, you'll love this podcast episode on how much personal information you should share on social media (and other content platforms).
If you worry about sharing too much personal information, I explore why you might feel like that (and whether your concerns are justified).
I also share practical tips on how to decide what to share and what to keep private.
{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}Podcast shownotes
About my Courageous Content mini-course (02:02)
Why I recorded this podcast episode (03:42)
Why you should share personal experiences in your business content (05:12)
What type of personal experiences should you share (08:56)
Why sharing personal content will make you seem more approachable (10:01)
What I choose to share online and why some stuff stays private (11:45)
Why oversharing means different things to different people (12:45)
Why people have a problem with oversharing (14:35)
Why you need to reconsider your oversharing beliefs (17:09)
Why sharing your experiences and feelings is good for you (20:02)
Why oversharing is a force for good (21:12)
How to decide what personal content to share (23:13)
How I decide what personal topics to share in my content (27:07)
Where to draw boundaries on the content your share (27:31)
For example, there are hundreds of planners on dog training. Niching down to a particular breed of dog - or aspect of training e.g. potty training, behaviour - will not only help you stand out, it will also increase your sales.
For example, Bridezilla founder, Alicia McCormack created a wedding planner for people who hate bridal magazines and wedding fairs. There are also planners for vintage weddings, 1950s themed weddings and other specific niches.
There are lots of possibilities to niche down within your industry. Even if it seems like there are lots of planners already on the market.
You may feel that getting super specific will reduce your sales. Actually, you're far more likely to make sales because your product will be a better fit for your ideal customer.
3. Build an audience to sell your planner to
The average conversion rate for online sales is 1-2%. Which means for every hundred people in your audience (i.e. your email list) only a handful are likely to buy. So if you're hoping to sell hundreds/thousands of your planner - and you don't currently have a large audience to sell to - you may need to readjust your expectations.
If this is the case, you have a number of options:
Launch your planner anyway - but just do a small print run for your first launch. While the printing cost will be higher, this will give you a chance to test out your product.
Work on building your audience until it's big enough to achieve your target sales.
4. Build authority on your planner topic
There may be someone else out there who sells a similar planner/journal to the one you want to create. Someone who has an established audience e.g. a YouTube channel, book and/or large social media following.
So why would someone choose to buy from you?
I say this not to put you off launching your planner, but to remind you that you need to build authority in your industry/space. And also to manage your expectations. It may take you time to build the authority (and audience) you need to sell your planner (at least in the numbers you would like).
The best way to build authority is to publish content that answers your ideal customers' questions - ideally on your website.That way, when your ideal clients are searching online for answers to their questions, they'll end up on your website.
I publish regular blogs/podcasts on content planning/creation throughout the year. This helps me and my planner get 'found' more easily in Google.
If you approach your planner business with realistic expectations, you can only build from there. This is one of the things we cover in my How To Launch Your Own Planner masterclass.
We do some calculations to see what your audience size is and what you can expect to sell. Then you can decide if you want to launch now or do a small print run. It can cost more to do a small print run, but you can learn and build from there.
The great thing about creating a planner/journal is that you can create information products (e.g. online courses/digital downloads) to go alongside it.
You don't need to launch one now (in fact, it's best to keep things simple and start with your planner/journal). But if you can see the potential to create an information product to go alongside your diary, you'll be able to generate more revenue.
Since I launched my Social Media Diary & Planner five years ago, I've launched a content planning membership programme to support people with using the diary throughout the year. This is £149 (compared to £39 for the diary) and around 25% of diary owners now opt to buy the planning club as well as the diary.
Do also consider how your planner/journal might fit into the rest of your sales funnel. A planner/journal can often be an 'entry level' product which can lead to an upsell for a higher ticket offer.
Ready to launch your own planner or journal?
If you're serious about launching a planner or journal for your industry, join my How To Launch A Planner Masterclass. I go into greater depth about the steps you need to take to launch a successful planner or journal. And it includes all the checklists and templates you need.
Plus, what you need to do before you go to a printer.
Descript - transcribe and edit audio Audacity - for recording and editing Searchie - for transcripts Otter - for recording and transcripts Zoom for recording your podcast
Most podcast hosts - particularly on popular shows - get dozens of pitches each week. So competition for guest spots can be pretty tough.
So how do you write a pitch for a podcast host that really stands out? Read on and find out.
And why not check out my YouTube video about pitching yourself as a podcast guest as well:-
1. Focus on how you can help the podcast host (not yourself)
As a podcast host, this is what I'm looking for in a guest:
Someone who can provide great content for my audience. In my case, this is practical 'how to' advice on listeners can apply in their business on social media marketing, content marketing and email marketing. On another podcast, great content might simply be entertainment or providing information about a specific topic.
Someone who has an established online presence in the form of a blog, vlog, podcast and/or has written a book. Not only does this mean they have an audience they can share our podcast interview with, but it also means I can serve my listeners by directing them towards more useful content.
Sadly, most of the pitches I get are focused on what the person doing the pitching hopes to get out of the interview rather than how they can help my audience.
In many cases, it's clear they haven't even listened to the show (or even scrolled through previous episode titles) to get a feel for the kind of content I offer.
I think my experience is pretty typical - which is why I say 'no' to most pitches I receive. If you can focus on how you can help the podcast host - rather than yourself - you'll have a much better chance of getting a 'yes'.
2. Label the subject header of your email
Most podcast hosts are actively looking for great content, so label the subject line of your email and they're far more likely to pay attention.
3.Use the subject header to summarise your idea
A concise subject header that summarises your story (ideally in ten words or less) is far more likely to get a podcast host's attention. Resist the temptation to use puns or clever wordplay though; an obscure headline that doesn't mean anything may get ignored.
If you're pitching an interview about how to get more conversions from a Facebook Ad, how to recover from postnatal depression or how to wear beige in winter...that's exactly what you should say.
4. Keep your introduction brief
If you're pitching cold, it's a good idea to 'introduce' yourself (a slightly different approach to pitching to journalists). But do keep it brief - or you could lose the podcast host's attention before you've even got started.
5. Show you've actually listened to the podcast
Most of the pitches I get are from people who either haven't listened to my podcast and/or haven't given any thought to the kind of content I generally run. Say something that shows you've taken the time and trouble to actually listen to the podcast, and you'll stand out a mile.
6. Show you can add value for their audience
Many of the pitches I receive offer a series of vague topics the interviewee might cover. When what I'm really looking for is a killer episode idea. And I'm literally looking for a title that will fit right in with previous titles on my podcast app.
7. Show the podcast host how you can help them grow their audience
If you want to increase your chances of getting a 'yes', you need to show how you can help them grow their audience - by promoting the podcast interview to yours. So do include any relevant stats, like the size of your email list and numbers of social media followers.
But don't let not having a big email list or social media following put you off; personally, I'd rather get in front of 500 people who are exactly the kind of people I love to work than 50,000 people who 'sort of' fit. So if you target the right kind of content at the right kind of people, you can usually make a strong case – as long as you're focused on how you can help the podcast host rather than yourself.
Although I have a decent-sized email list (around 15k at the time of writing) it's tiny compared to some of the big podcast hosts I've pitched to. But that's still a significant number of people - and I have specialist knowledge and experience - which makes me a valuable podcast guest. 'Selling' this in my pitches has helped me get on some pretty Big Deal podcasts.
If you're just starting out and your email list is small (or non-existent), focus on the value of the content you can offer.
8. Show that other people value your content
If you've contributed guest content elsewhere, do mention it in your pitch. Seeing that others value your content - particularly well-established podcasters - should provide reassurance that you know what you're talking about.
9. Make it as easy as possible for the podcast host to say 'yes'
For most podcast hosts, the interview is the enjoyable bit. Chasing people up for photos, biogs and social media handles can be a pain. So make it as easy for them as possible by providing all of that info in your pitch.
10. Don't forget to follow up
Getting half an hour or longer on a call with someone you admire - or would love to work with in the future - is a great opportunity to start building a business relationship. I've kept in contact with many of the people I've interviewed for my podcast - and many who've interviewed me for theirs, including Chris Ducker, Natalie Sisson and Amanda Cook.
So when your interview goes live, don't forget to email the host to thank them for the interview...and get out there and promote it. Email your list, share it on all your social media networks and keep on doing it (I'm still sharing podcast interviews I did years ago on social media now).
Remember you haven't just given a podcast interview - you've co-created a piece of evergreen content - which is hugely valuable.
Discover shows related to Build Your Online Audience, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
