Are you looking for fun 🤩 and professional SEO advice for navigating a work-life balance? We Don't PLAY is the show for you!

"What I have learned very fast in this long journey is to be patient and enjoy podcasting without thinking about the money first."

More details on Listen Notes.

Today Favour Obasi-ike, the creator of We Don't PLAY! The SEO Marketing Podcast Show 🚀 shares his story of marketing podcast.

► Tell us about you and your podcast

Thank you for this opportunity to share my success story with the Listen Notes family!

Hello! I'm Favour Obasi-ike, the host of the "We Don't PLAY" podcast and business founder at "Work & PLAY Entertainment". As a business owner, musical artist, and self-taught drummer, I've always been passionate about digital marketing, SEO, entrepreneurship, personal development, music, and branding. This podcast is a reflection of those interests, aiming to provide valuable insights and discussions on these topics.

"We Don't PLAY" is ranked among the top 3% of podcasts globally on ListenNotes.com, which speaks to the quality and impact we're thriving and achieving. We cover a wide range of topics including digital marketing strategies, SEO tips, entrepreneurial journeys, personal growth, and branding techniques. Our goal is to educate and inspire listeners by sharing stories and experiences from both myself and our esteemed guests from over 113 countries.

Our audience primarily consists of God-driven, faith-based entrepreneurs, business professionals, and individuals interested in digital marketing and personal development for a better work-life balance. They are people who are eager to learn, grow, and apply new strategies to enhance their businesses and personal lives. We also attract those who appreciate insightful questions and positive energy, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all our guests and listeners.

► Why & how did you start this podcast? 

I've always been fascinated by the power of storytelling and sharing knowledge. Podcasts (iPod + broadcast - coined by Steve Jobs) offer a unique platform to reach a diverse audience, allowing for in-depth conversations and the sharing of valuable insights through meaningful topics that spark interest and innovation. I do listen to a lot of podcasts myself, which inspired me to create a space where I could contribute to the community with my own experiences and expertise.

The primary goal to start a podcast, for me, was to create a platform that not only educates but also inspires entrepreneurs and business professionals like me. I quickly knew that using podcasts as a medium of communication creates an avenue for intellectual property asset building opportunities which could open up my business to the world through sharing my experiences episode by episode, now crossing 400 episodes in 5 years.

I wanted to provide actionable advice and real-world stories that listeners could relate to. My motivation was driven by a desire to help others realize their visions and improve their communities through effective marketing and personal development strategies.

I launched the "We Don't PLAY" podcast as a mantra for my "Work & PLAY Entertainment" company and started the movement as an athleisure wear line with the intention of making a meaningful impact in the digital marketing and entrepreneurial space visually. It took a whole year of processing, planning and preparation mentally to release the very first episode, August 12, 2019. Because I have a musical background with my artist name "Flaev Beatz", I created musical jingles for my show and incorporated sound FX to add color to the show. So when I was ready to start podcasting, I stopped releasing new music consistently and focused my energy on podcasting. Next year (2025) will be 20 years making music so it will be a great time to celebrate both ventures.

► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?

I aim to release episodes consistently to keep our audience engaged and informed. Typically, I release episodes on a weekly basis, at least twice a week. Producing an episode involves several stages, including planning, recording, editing, and marketing, which can take anywhere from a few days to a week depending on the complexity and guest availability. I started doing this by myself until 2022 when I decided to hire a team for my business and we have now grown to a team of 21 with a podcast pro-production arm.

Managing a podcast while running a business can be challenging, but it's all about prioritization and efficient time management. I dedicate specific time slots on my calendar for recording or podcast-related tasks and ensure that I have a structured schedule weekly to balance my business and podcasting duties effectively, including delegating.

Podcasting does come with its expenses, including hosting, editing, and marketing. I fund the podcast myself (now running under business), considering it an investment in my brand and community. The costs vary, but I make sure to budget for quality production and effective promotion to reach our audience. The support from listeners and any sponsorships we receive also help offset some of these costs.

► What do you gain from podcasting?        

Yes, we enabled sponsorships last year, which helped support the production and growth of the podcast show. We advertise our RSS feed to popular and hyperactive online news articles with similar interests for discovery and unique experiences.

My first sponsorship came as a result of building a strong listener base (email marketing) and showcasing the show's potential to reach targeted audiences (digital billboards, Pinterest Business & SEO best practices). By last year, we were at the top 10% global ranking which boosted our downloads per week, and this gave us the opportunity to advertise brands through our digital marketing packages, featuring them on the show as a guest, and securing backlink opportunities for their websites.

Nowadays, we have created standard and accelerated podcast advertising packages that will help your business grow beyond the sponsorship deal because we place your business on the local listings and search engines for niche-market discovery and brand engagement.

Podcasting has been incredibly rewarding in various aspects. Professionally, it has expanded my network and opened up opportunities for collaboration. This opened up a huge opportunity for me to join Clubhouse & Chatter which are social audio platforms for LIVE! experiences. Personally, it's been a fantastic learning journey, allowing me to engage with experts and thought leaders from diverse fields. The friendships and connections made through podcasting are invaluable, and the continuous learning keeps me motivated and inspired. Now I have international friends I'm so grateful for.

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► How does your podcasting process look like? 

I use a range of tools and services to ensure high-quality podcast production. For recording, I have been using the same microphone I bought in Dubai back in 2014 and it has never failed; I use a Sontronics STC-3X. I use Adobe Audition for audio recording and editing to produce clear and professional-sounding episodes. For hosting, I use Spotify for Podcasters, also known as Anchor FM. I also use Castmagic.io for show notes and so much more!

Each episode involves thorough preparation, including researching the guest's background and expertise by outlining the episode's main topics. How I do this is by giving the guest a Calendly link with pre-qualifying questions which we will use to have our free-flow conversation on the show.

I interview my guests on Zoom mostly, and record the episodes on Adobe Audition. This flexibility allows us to connect with guests from all over the world, making it easier to schedule and record episodes regardless of location.

► How do you market your show?

Listeners find the "We Don't PLAY" podcast through various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other podcast directories like Listen Notes and Podchaser. We have submitted our show to over 25 podcast directories for maximum reach. Our top most listened to city/state is San Jose, California and 58% of the world listens to us in the United States while the rest spreads across 112 countries.

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting the podcast. We distribute our episodes across Reddit, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, Clubhouse, Chatter, and more to share our episode highlights, and connect with potential listeners. Email marketing is also effective for us, because we reach out directly to subscribers with updates and exclusive content.

► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?

I started podcasting as a joke, to be very honest, and I didn't know what I was getting myself into (as I'm writing this). If you look at my first episodes, I was trying out a lot of styles, including co-hosting (which didn't work out well) and decided to go solo and create a hybrid with interviews. This started to work out well and I got to see myself reaching out to anyone online who needed a platform to speak, going back to my original vision, and people started saying yes to the offer.

What I have learned very fast in this long journey is to be patient and enjoy podcasting without thinking about the money first. Reading books like Sell Like Crazy by Sabri Suby and Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill have helped me reshape my thoughts and working habits to work smart for bigger impact instead of instant gratifications.

► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?

Thank you so much for having me here! I hope I sparked light into the next podcast hosts and guests coming.

To listen to the "We Don't PLAY" podcast, you can visit our official website at wedontplaypodcast.com. The website includes detailed information about the podcast, access to episodes, and links to subscribe on various platforms. Feel free to join our community when you subscribe to our website.

For additional resources, digital courses, and marketing insights, you can check out playinc.online. Our website offers a range of SEO services and educational content designed to help entrepreneurs and business professionals succeed.

You can also connect with me on social media for updates and engaging discussions. Feel free to reach out via email at info@playinc.online or schedule a private call through my booking link at calendly.com/flaevbeatz.

Thanks again and God bless Listen Notes!

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