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Why I Said Goodbye to PIN TO TOP Podcast - For Now

Why I Said Goodbye to PIN TO TOP Podcast - For Now

You might be wondering: so what happened to the Pin To Top Podcast?

May 01, 2024

Hello. :) Welcome to the first Pin To Top Newsletter!

I thank Podwires Editor Miko for giving me a weekly space here on Podwires.

It took him eternity to make me say Yes to writing this column. (Nah, just a year, more or less.)

This Podwires newsletter will aim to provide insights on social media, marketing, and business.

It’s been two years since I turned off the mic for the podcast edition of Pin To Top. That’s why I asked Miko if he’s really sure about me joining the team.

You might be wondering: so what happened to the podcast?

I hope this inaugural piece will give you some pointers, whether you’re a podcaster, or a podcast manager serving podcasters.

As a kid, my brother and I were exposed to radio. It was our go-to during our early morning preparation before going to school or to work.

In college, I chose an AM radio station for my on-the-job training.

A dream turned into reality: A podcast with my name on it. Having a podcast – my own show – was a blessing.

Sadly, after a few years, I said goodbye to Pin To Top.

Well, for now. ;)

Just like any podcaster, I had high hopes for my show. Conversations to create, engagement from the audience, and I want to off-the-chart numbers (thousands of downloads and guesting left and right).

So why did I say goodbye to Pin To Top Podcast?

For podcasters, here are the reasons why this could happen to you, whether you are starting or managing a podcast. For podcast managers, consider these as you continue working with your podcaster clients.

Reason 1: Lack of Time

I made podcasts while working full-time as a Division Head at a managed outsourcing company in the United States. I saw myself not having the time to sit down and plan my next episodes, let alone record them.

Reason 2: Change of Interests

Why the change of interests?

One, as a Division Head managing writers, I concentrated on ensuring the writers’ work quality. Copywriting and content writing maybe in the same digital marketing web with Facebook marketing, but the latter is the focus on the podcast.

Second, I realized I did not like where Facebook (now Meta) is moving towards. A few years back, Meta was focusing on virtual reality. (They have already launched Meta AI as of this writing.) There are so many Meta concerns (both in content and advertising) that are neglected to give way to new things. Those didn’t sit well with me.

Reason 3: Low Listenership

It’s not that there’s a decline in listenership. In fact, during its run, the show was consistently in Chartable’s Global Reach. The show had a steady audience.

However, only a few provided feedback on the show. I felt like I was never in touch with my audience because I never get to hear their comments.

Reason 4: Unclear Business Goals

I was never clear about this in the first place. My intention was to generate client leads from my podcast, eventually turning them into clients.

However, my goals weren’t clear to me. I was never able to align the podcast to my intention.

As a one-man band, I lost my North Star.

Reason 5: Marketing - or Lack of It?

Pin To Top Podcast was one of my projects where I prioritized product over marketing. Let that sink in, podcasters!

I never had a clear goal, so I never had a good marketing strategy. I was never able to promote the show well. I did not create a launch, collect an email list, nor get feedback through available channels. I did everything myself – planned the podcast and shared the episodes on social media when I had time.

It was though.

Your podcast could be someone’s lifeline, just like how Pin To Top was for my audience.

Learn from my mistakes; don’t waste it.