The Market Your Message Show

How I Gained 6,500 Subscribers in 2 Weeks—Without Ads (Ch 17. Build Your Audience)

• Jonathan Milligan

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Supercharge Your Audience Growth with the Guest Video Traffic Playbook

Want the books? PlatformGrowthBooks.com

Episode Summary:
Host Jonathan Milligan shares the powerful “Guest Video Traffic Playbook” that helped him gain 6,500 email subscribers in just two weeks—without spending a dime on ads. In this episode, Jonathan breaks down how hosting and guesting on virtual summits and video interviews can rapidly grow your audience, boost your authority, and open doors to new opportunities.

Key Topics Covered:

  • The story behind Jonathan’s first virtual summit and how it exploded his email list.
  • Why being both a guest and a host of video interviews is the fastest way to grow your network and credibility.
  • The pitfalls of waiting for interview invites and the importance of proactive outreach.
  • How technology and virtual events have made it easier than ever to connect with new audiences.

The Guest Video Traffic Playbook:

  1. Build Your Digital Stage:
    • Create a strong online presence and register on speaker networks like HeySummit.
    • Craft a compelling speaker profile that highlights your expertise and availability.
  2. Become a Detective:
    • Use Google to find virtual summits in your niche.
    • Reach out to past summit hosts and ask about future opportunities.
  3. Ride the Wave:
    • Promote every interview you land across your website, social media, and email list.
    • Leverage momentum from high-profile appearances to secure more interviews.
  4. Become the Host:
    • Organize your own virtual summit by inviting experts, setting a date, and preparing a simple registration page.
    • Collaborate with guests to promote the event and maximize reach.
  5. Execute with Excellence:
    • Conduct engaging interviews, make it easy for people to register, and ensure every guest brings value to the audience.

Action Step:
Create your “Guest Expert One Pager”:

  • Get a professional headshot.
  • Write a punchy 2-3 sentence bio.
  • List 3-5 hot topics you love discussing.
  • Brainstorm 5-7 questions hosts could ask you.
  • Include links to previous interviews or content.
  • Add your contact info and availability.
  • Register on speaker networks and use your one pager to pitch yourself for interviews.

Key Takeaways:

  • Proactively seek out interview opportunities—don’t wait to be discovered.
  • Use the momentum from each appearance to secure more guest spots and grow your audience.
  • Hosting your own virtual summit can dramatically accelerate your list growth and establish you as an authority.

Connect:
For more resources and to get the physical editions of the “Your Message Matters” series, visit platformgrowthbooks.com.

Hello and welcome to The Market Your Message Show. I'm your host, Jonathan Milligan, an author of the series. Your Message Matters. We're currently going through a six book series. We're in book number four, and as a thank you to this amazing community, I am releasing the book one chapter at a time that you can listen to right here. On the podcast today we're gonna talk about the guest video traffic playbook. I have used this strategy in two different ways and I'm excited to share it with you. If you've heard of virtual summits or you haven't, this should be an eye-opener because it's an amazing strategy. When I held my own virtual summit, had about 30 speakers that I interviewed. They all promoted it to their list, and I was able to gain several. Thousand email subscribers in the matter of two weeks. It was a powerful strategy. Now you can also be a guest on someone else's virtual summit that can also bring traffic and new subscribers your way. So you're gonna learn a lot in this lesson. If you want the physical additions of the books in the series, you can go to platform growth books.com. That's platform growth books.com. There'll be a link in the show notes as well, and with, once you go to that page, you'll have options of getting the Kindle, the paperback, hardcover, there's even companion workbooks. Or you can purchase the audiobooks if you want them without the extra commentary. From the podcast. Alright, so with that we're gonna jump right into chapter 17, all about the guest video traffic playbook. Chapter 17, the Guest Video Traffic Playbook. It was early 2015. I sat at my desk staring at my goals for the year. One goal, kept taunting me, host a virtual summit For years, I'd watched others do it. They'd interview 10 to 20 experts on a hot topic in boom, thousands of new email subscribers and days. It seemed like magic. How did it work? Simple. Experts emailed their list about the free summit. People signed up with their email to access the recordings. Instant list growth. I took a deep breath and decided this was my year. I launched the Amplify Summit, focusing on writing, speaking, and coaching. I lined up 30 expert interviews. My heart raced as I hit send on the promotional emails. Two weeks later, I blinked at my screen in disbelief. 6,500 new subscribers. My list had exploded in growth. That's the power of the guest interview strategy. But here's the kicker. You don't need to host a massive summit to win. Being a guest can be just as powerful, ready to supercharge your audience growth. Let's dive into the world of video interviews. You'll learn how to land coveted guest spots and host your own attention grabbing events. Buckle up your audience is about to get a whole lot bigger, the video interview strategy. Breaking free from obscurity. You've got valuable insights to share, but are you falling into common traps that keep you hidden from your ideal audience? Let's talk about what doesn't work. Many creators sit back and wait for interview invitations to roll in. They believe their content will magically attract attention. Spoiler alert, it won't. When you're new, no one knows you exist. Your brilliance is trapped in a bubble of anonymity. Even if you've started reaching out inconsistent efforts, lead nowhere. A few sporadic emails won't cut it. You need a system, not wishful thinking. Why do these old school approaches fail? They keep you small. Your potential audience never hears your voice. Your network grows at a snail's pace, if at all. Worst of all, you miss out on collaborative opportunities that could skyrocket your visibility. It's time for a paradigm shift. Successful creators take control of their interview destiny. They don't wait to be chosen. They choose themselves. Here's the secret, become both the guest and the host. As a guest, you tap into established audiences. As a host, you build your own platform and attract high level collaborators. Technology is your ally In this new world, virtual events have exploded, creating more opportunities than ever before. Online summit platforms, video tools, and social media make it easy to connect with potential partners and audiences. The key is proactivity. Don't wait for permission. Seek out interview opportunities relentlessly create your own events to showcase your expertise alongside others in your field. This dual approach isn't just about getting more eyeballs on your content. It's about quickly growing your network and credibility. It's about becoming a go-to expert in your niche. Are you ready to step into the spotlight? Let's dive into the specific strategies that will transform you from unknown to in demand. Stepping into the spotlight, your video interview action plan, ready to become the go-to expert in your field. Let's break down the steps to video interview success. Step one, build your digital stage first, create a magnetic online presence. Register on speaker networks like, Hey, summit.com. These platforms are your ticket to visibility. Craft a speaker profile that sings. Highlight your unique expertise and the value you bring. Be specific about your availability for virtual events, in-person gigs and podcast interviews. Think of your profile as a 24 7 talent agent. It's always pitching you to potential even while you sleep. Step two, become a detective. It's time to get strategic. Use Google to your advantage. Search for your topic plus virtual summit and uncover a gold mine of opportunities. Reach out to past Summit hosts. Ask about future events or if they know other organizers in your niche. Remember, every connection is a potential door to new audiences. Step three, ride the wave. Have you landed a high profile interview? Fantastic. Now milk it for all it's worth. Share it everywhere. Your website, social media, email list spread the word. One. Successful interview can snowball into an avalanche of opportunities. Take my experience with John Lee Dumas on Entrepreneur on Fire. After that aired, I received daily interview requests for six months straight. That's the power of momentum. Step four, become the host, ready to level up. Host your own virtual summit. Here's how. Pick a hot topic in your niche. Set a date. Give yourself at least two to three months of prep time. Dream big. List 30 potential guest experts. Reach out and aim to confirm 10 to 15 participants by hosting a summit. You're not just joining the conversation but leading it. Step five, execute with excellence. Now bring your summit to life Conduct engaging 30 minute interviews with each expert. Set up a simple, compelling landing page for free registration. Work with your guests to promote the summit to their audiences. Think of your summit as a potluck dinner party. Everyone brings a specialty dish, their expertise and leaves satisfied with new knowledge and connections. Remember, each step builds on the last. As you gain experience and exposure, doors will open wider and faster. Stay consistent. Stay curious, and watch your audience grow. Your voice matters. It's time to amplify it through the power of video interviews. Today's exercise, create your guest expert, one pager. Ready to position yourself as an irresistible interview guest. Let's build your one pager. This powerful tool will make you stand out to potential hosts and streamline your outreach efforts. One, snap that headshot. Get a professional looking photo that shows your personality smile. Make eye contact with the camera. Use natural light if possible. There is no need for a fancy studio. A simple clean background works wonders. Two. Craft your bio. Write a punchy two to three sentence bio hook readers with your unique expertise or perspective. What makes you different? What results have you achieved for others? Keep it tight and compelling. Three, identify your hot topics. List three to five main topics you love discussing. Be specific. Instead of marketing, try Instagram reels for solopreneurs or email sequences that convert cold leads. Four, spark conversation. Brainstorm five to seven intriguing questions host could ask you. These should showcase your expertise and promise valuable insights for the audience. For example, what's the biggest mistake you see new entrepreneurs make with your topic? Can you provide a case study of how you helped a client achieve a specific result? Five, showcase your style. Include links to two to three of your best previous interviews or talks. No prior interviews. Link to a blog post or video where you're sharing your expertise. Six. Make it easy to book you. Add your contact information and any relevant social media links. Include your time zone and general availability. For interviews seven, register on. Hey, summit. Head to hey summit.com. And create your speaker profile. Use the elements you've just created to fill it out completely. This puts you on the radar of summit organizers looking for fresh voices. Now, combine all these elements into a single, visually appealing document. Keep it to one page. Host our busy and appreciate concise information, your challenge. Spend the next hour creating your one pager. Don't aim for perfection. Done is better than perfect. You can always refine it later. Remember, this one pager is your ticket to more interviews and a broader audience. It's worth investing time to get it right. Once it's ready, you'll have a powerful tool to supercharge your outreach efforts. Key takeaways, proactively seek interview opportunities via speaker networks and direct outreach to expand your audience. Use the momentum from high profile interviews. Secure more guest spots to greatly boost your visibility. Hosting your own virtual summit can dramatically accelerate list growth and establish you as an authority in your niche.