The Podcast on Podcasting - Adam Adams

In a world where small business owners often face the challenges of growing their audience, managing marketing, and finding new clients, Robin Waite’s story stands as a testament to the power of being intentional and forming valuable partnerships. In a recent podcast episode of the Podcast on Podcasting, Robin sat down with Adam Adams shared how a single podcast interview transformed his coaching business, leading to over $250,000 in new business. Here’s a breakdown of the key insights and strategies that entrepreneurs can use to grow their business—fearlessly and effectively.

Adam has built a dedicated audience in the podcasting world. After selling his first podcast, he went on to create Podcast on Podcasting, a top-ranked show for podcasters. Adam is also the founder of GrowYourShow.com, a platform designed to help podcasters share their messages with the world. Known as The Easy Button For Podcasters™, Grow Your Show enables clients to create top-rated shows without the heavy lifting. Thanks to their services, clients have been ranked in the top 1% on iTunes and other major platforms, giving them greater influence than 99% of others in the space.

What We Discussed on the Podcast on Podcasting with Adam Adams

1. Burnout to Intentional Marketing: Robin Waite transitioned from feeling burned out by ineffective marketing strategies to focusing on intentional, strategic efforts that brought greater success. This shift allowed him to spend more time doing what he loved—coaching.
2. Cutting Social Media to Refocus: By stepping back from the constant grind of social media, Robin focused on more meaningful marketing, building authentic connections rather than just chasing numbers.
3. The Power of Strategic Partnerships: Robin’s success was largely driven by cultivating partnerships with like-minded individuals who shared similar values and goals, leading to more effective collaborations and audience growth.
4. Building a List of Ideal Partners: Robin carefully selected potential partners who had large, engaged audiences and shared his values. This intentional partner selection helped him expand his reach and grow his business faster.
5. In-Person Networking and Real Connections: Attending events and forming personal relationships with potential partners gave Robin the opportunity to build lasting bonds that translated into new business opportunities.
6. Leveraging Podcasts for Exposure: Robin’s appearance on Ali Abdaal’s Deep Dive podcast was a pivotal moment in his business growth, demonstrating the power of podcasts as a marketing tool to reach new audiences and generate leads.
7. Embracing Fearless Action: Robin emphasised the importance of taking bold, fearless action in business, noting that the only real risks are losing a bit of money or face—both of which are recoverable.

From Burnout to Intentional Marketing

Robin’s journey to success started with a period of burnout in late 2022. As a passionate coach, he found himself spending too much time on marketing and client acquisition, and not enough time actually coaching. At the beginning of 2023, Robin decided to make a drastic change: he would become intentional about his marketing efforts and shift away from mindlessly feeding the social media machine.

The Decision to Cut Social Media

Rather than spending endless hours on social platforms, Robin decided to take a step back. He didn’t completely cut off his social media presence, but he stopped feeding the content creation machine and refocused on more meaningful marketing strategies.

He knew he still needed clients, but instead of chasing after the numbers, he chose to focus on building deeper, more intentional connections. This decision set the stage for a massive shift in how he marketed his coaching business.

The Power of Partnerships

One of the most transformative decisions Robin made was to build strategic partnerships. Instead of spending energy trying to grow his audience through traditional marketing methods, he chose to focus on collaborating with like-minded individuals who shared similar values, audiences, and goals.

Building a List of Potential Partners

Robin took the time to carefully select 10 people in his network who he thought would be ideal partners for collaborations. These weren’t just people who could help him grow his audience, but individuals with whom he could forge meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships. Here’s how Robin identified these potential partners:

• Shared Values and Identity: Robin looked for partners who shared similar values and worked with audiences that overlapped with his own.
• Large, Pre-Built Audiences: He focused on partners who already had significant followings, recognising that leveraging their established audience could help him reach new clients more efficiently.
• Fun, Engaging People: Robin emphasised the importance of working with people who were not just successful but enjoyable to be around. This approach allowed him to forge authentic, lasting connections.

Attending Events and Building Real Relationships

Robin didn’t stop at just identifying potential partners—he actively sought out opportunities to connect with them in person. By attending live events, sitting in the front row, and volunteering at these events, Robin made sure to put himself in the right spaces to meet the right people.

His approach was simple: make a lasting impression and be helpful. He went as far as offering free coaching to team members of potential partners, helping them without expecting anything in return.

Getting On the Right Podcast at the Right Time

One of the most pivotal moments in Robin’s journey came when he appeared on Ali Abdaal’s Deep Dive podcast. Ali, a YouTuber with millions of subscribers, had built a massive following centred around productivity and business advice. Robin knew that getting on Ali’s podcast could be a game-changer, but he didn’t just wait for an invitation.

The Strategy Behind the Ask

Through his growing relationship with Ali’s team, Robin coached one of Ali’s team members for free. When the opportunity came to ask for something in return, Robin was clear but humble. He didn’t ask directly for a spot on the podcast, but rather suggested that if anyone couldn’t make it for an interview, he’d be happy to step in.

This approach was simple but effective: Robin positioned himself as someone who could be helpful without being pushy or presumptive.

The Result: A Game-Changing Podcast Appearance

Two days after making his offer, Robin got the call—he was invited to step in for an absent guest on the Deep Dive podcast. The result was a two-and-a-half-hour interview that not only brought Robin’s expertise to a wider audience but also directly contributed to his business growth.

Within 90 days of the episode airing, Robin had shipped 700 signed copies of his book and generated over 3,000 new leads for his coaching practice. The episode alone brought in an estimated $250,000 in new business.

Three Key Marketing Tactics That Made the Difference

Robin’s success didn’t just stem from the one podcast appearance; it was the combination of intentional marketing tactics that brought his business to the next level. These are the three major changes that quadrupled his listener base and transformed his practice:

1. Fewer Guests, More Solo Episodes

Instead of focusing primarily on guest interviews, Robin shifted his podcast format to feature more solo episodes. He discovered that his listeners wanted to hear more from him directly, sharing his expertise and insights. By doing this, Robin built a more engaged and loyal audience, leading to higher conversion rates and business growth.

2. SEO and Platform Optimisation

Robin also took steps to improve his podcast’s visibility by working on SEO. This included renaming and reordering his older episodes for better searchability. He also moved away from the free podcast hosting platform, Anchor (now Spotify), to a paid platform, recognising that you get what you pay for when it comes to hosting, promotion, and analytics.

3. Podcast Interviews as a Marketing Tool

Finally, Robin embraced the power of podcast interviews. By being a guest on other people’s shows, especially those with large audiences, Robin was able to expose his coaching practice to thousands of potential clients. This strategy paid off big when he appeared on Ali Abdaal’s podcast, as it led to thousands of new leads and a significant revenue boost.

Fearless Business: The Power of Action

Throughout the episode, Robin emphasised that “fearless” doesn’t mean reckless—it means overcoming the fears and obstacles that hold us back from reaching our goals. For Robin, this meant taking action despite the uncertainty and embracing the opportunities that came his way.

As he puts it: "There’s only two things that ever go wrong in business—losing a bit of money or losing face. Neither of those is really that bad, so take the leap."

This message is powerful for anyone thinking about starting a business or growing their existing one. The key is to act—whether that’s reaching out for partnerships, launching a podcast, or making a bold marketing move.

Final Thoughts: The Power of Intentional Marketing

Robin’s journey is a great example of how intentional marketing, strategic partnerships, and taking advantage of podcasting can lead to incredible business growth. The key takeaway is clear: be intentional, focus on building valuable connections, and take bold action to put yourself and your business in front of the right people.

If you’re looking to grow your business, think about how you can incorporate these strategies into your own marketing plan. Whether it’s focusing on fewer guest appearances on your podcast, attending events to build relationships, or making the right ask at the right time, these approaches can make a significant impact on your growth.

Take Robin’s advice: stop worrying about the outcome and take action. Fearless action can be the catalyst for your next big breakthrough.