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Episode 20

The Teaching Show

January 22, 2016 ·

Ep20: The Teaching Show What are the benefits of teaching and where can you teach online? Episode Summary: 5 benefits of teaching online and 5 ways to teach online.

Episode Summary: Why anyone would listen to yet another podcast on a crowded topic — it comes down to perspective — plus 5 real benefits of teaching and 5 concrete ways to start teaching online.

What You’ll Learn

  • 5 real benefits of teaching: authority, skill-building, service, marketing, and revenue
  • 5 ways to teach online: blog, YouTube, courses, social media, or a podcast
  • Why perspective — not the topic itself — is what makes a podcast unique
  • Why niching down is hard for a jack-of-all-trades, and why teaching helps anyway

Ask Mike Anything: Why Would Anyone Listen to Me?

Question (from the Blab chatroom): I want to start a tech podcast, but there are already so many. Why would anyone listen to me?

Answer: Perspective — credit to teacher and podcaster Chris Nesi for the framing. This show is unique because of the perspective brought to every topic, not the topic itself. Watch the evening news on any given night — the same story sounds completely different depending on the station or reporter covering it. The reason someone listens, even to a familiar topic, comes down to the relationship and connection built with the audience. That perspective will resonate with some listeners and not others, and developing a real voice and style takes time, practice, and experience. But genuine passion and knowledge, without worrying about the competition, is what actually gets people listening.

5 Benefits of Teaching

  1. Authority. The more a topic gets taught, the more people associate the teacher with it as an expert. Authority in any industry opens doors and builds confidence. Niching down is genuinely hard for a jack-of-all-trades — this has been an ongoing struggle with too many interests to easily pick just one — but teaching consistently is still the answer.
  2. Learning & improving skills. Teaching is the best way to learn and master a skill. Writing podcast scripts and explaining topics to others has taught more than almost anything else — every lesson forces the questions: what’s the purpose here, what steps are required, what should people take away? Deconstructing a process to explain it simply is a skill in itself.
  3. Helping others. Genuinely rewarding — watching someone go from frustrated or overwhelmed to unstuck is deeply satisfying. Helping others, through social media “serving hours” or otherwise, sharpens skills while building real relationships and a strong network. Word of mouth follows naturally.
  4. Marketing & promotion. Teaching is the ultimate online marketing tool — sharing knowledge gets a brand in front of people in a positive light. Sharing a great article instead of a breakfast photo, or guest-writing for someone respected, provides real value and reaches new audiences. The more people associate a brand with genuine, useful content, the more that brand grows.
  5. Financial. Teaching can genuinely generate serious income — through consulting, coaching, or training courses.

5 Ways to Teach Online

  1. Start a website & blog. Still one of the easiest ways to start teaching and sharing knowledge — infographics, “Top 10” list posts, embedded video with bullet-point breakdowns, all work. A blog is also where an email list grows, so the more genuinely useful material published, the more people sign up to stay informed.
  2. Start a YouTube channel.
  3. Create online courses. Resources mentioned: Udemy, Skillshare, Teachery, Thinkific.
  4. Social media. Build relationships and share knowledge directly. Resources mentioned: Blab, Periscope.
  5. Launch a podcast. One of the most effective teaching platforms online, and a great way to establish authority and mastery of a topic. Omar Zenhom of $100 MBA teaches 10-minute business lessons 7 days a week and does it very effectively. Sean McCabe teaches entrepreneurship the same way. Both use podcasting to add value, build relationships, and market products they sell.

Music: “Life of Riley” & “Wallpaper” (incompetech.com).

Show Notes & Links