How Ben Albert Uses Connection to Grow Communities and Podcasts

Using Pinterest + SEO to Grow Your Podcast with Andi Smiley

Pinterest is an underrated growth channel for podcasters. In this episode of Behind the Workflow, Simona Costantini and Taly Melo chat with Andi Smiley, founder of The Friendly Podcast Guide, about using Pinterest and SEO to grow a podcast sustainably. Andi shares how she schedules content in advance, builds long-term traffic, and creates workflows that support real life without burnout. Perfect for podcasters who want a hands-off, search-driven growth strategy. Episode Timestamps / Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Behind the Workflow 01:46 Meet Andi Smiley and The Friendly Podcast Guide 03:26 How Andi discovered Pinterest for podcast growth 05:05 Why Pinterest users behave differently than Instagram or TikTok users 06:22 Managing broken links and redirects on Pinterest 07:51 Is Pinterest oversaturated? Why that mindset holds creators back 09:01 Andi’s full Pinterest workflow from idea to promotion 10:03 Static pins vs video pins and what performs best 12:18 Using AI for pin titles, descriptions, and SEO 13:10 Where to link pins: blog, YouTube, or podcast players 14:55 Delegation, motherhood, and building sustainable systems 17:36 Custom workflows for different podcasting styles 19:25 Why batching increases long-term consistency 22:25 Helping clients align Pinterest strategy with business goals 25:23 Pinterest analytics and measuring real engagement 27:31 Pinterest SEO vs podcast SEO 28:43 How big Pinterest really is for creators 29:29 Top three actionable Pinterest tips for podcasters 32:18 Seasonal podcasting and avoiding burnout 34:15 Is Pinterest right for you? Free checklist 35:59 Where to connect with Andi Smiley 37:42 Final thoughts and wrap-up Key Takeaways * Pinterest supports scheduling and long-term discovery * Pinterest users are action-oriented, not passive scrollers * Static pins still perform extremely well * SEO matters on Pinterest just like podcast platforms * Consistency beats volume * Seasonal podcasting improves content quality and longevity 🔗 Andi Smiley Links * The Friendly Podcast Guide (Podcast): https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/friendly-podcast-guide-teaching-women-how-to-grow-a-podcast-without-burning-out/7c114ad0-673a-013a-d753-0acc26574db2 [https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/friendly-podcast-guide-teaching-women-how-to-grow-a-podcast-without-burning-out/7c114ad0-673a-013a-d753-0acc26574db2] * Free Checklist – Is Pinterest Right for Me?: https://friendlypodcastguide.com/is-pinterest-right-for-me-checklist/ [https://friendlypodcastguide.com/is-pinterest-right-for-me-checklist/]

How Ben Albert Uses Connection to Grow Communities and Podcasts

We are taking a different angle on workflow this week. Ben Albert shows us how your mindset, your guest selection process, and your community strategy can become the heart of a strong podcast workflow, even without complex tools or automation. Ben is the founder of Real Business Connections and GrowGetters ONLY, and he has built a thriving podcast and community by focusing on something simple. Real human connection. In this conversation, he shares how he finds guests, why he avoids overly automated systems, and the small touch points that create long term relationships. We explore how his podcast and community support each other, how he repurposes content without burning out, and why he believes every creator needs their own combination lock approach to success. Inside the episode we talk about: * How Ben rebuilt his career through podcasting and connection * The importance of selecting guests you are genuinely excited to learn from * Two powerful intake form questions that save time and deepen relationships * Why Ben avoids complicated systems and keeps communication personal * How his podcast and community work together as a growth flywheel * What creators can do to build real trust with their listeners and guests TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 Welcome to Behind the Workflow * 00:40 Introducing Ben Albert * 02:11 Ben’s story of starting Real Business Connections * 03:00 Losing his job during the pandemic and launching a podcast * 04:30 Why networking often feels transactional * 06:00 What real connection means in the context of professional growth * 11:35 The VIEW framework and how it shapes connection * 14:50 How Ben selects guests intentionally * 16:30 The two intake form questions he uses and why they work * 18:50 Why he keeps communication manual instead of automated * 20:20 What happens after a guest books * 22:40 The problem with funneling guests into automated emails * 24:40 Balancing creativity with workflow structure * 26:10 How to choose the right guests for your show * 29:00 Business adjacent storytelling and why it connects with listeners * 30:45 Ben’s post production process for clips and trailers * 33:40 How he collaborates with editors * 36:20 Should every podcast have a community * 38:45 How his podcast and community feed each other 41:10 The small but meaningful touch points that matter * 42:20 Ben’s three takeaways for creators and podcasters * 44:28 Where to find Ben Albert * 45:00 Closing thoughts CONNECT WITH BEN ALBERT Website: https://realbusinessconnections.com [https://realbusinessconnections.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benalbert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benalbert] GrowGetters ONLY Community: https://weallgrowtogether.com [https://weallgrowtogether.com] SPONSORED BY NORTHFLOW Behind the Workflow is powered by Northflow, the content planning platform for creators and agencies who manage multiple shows and want more clarity in their day to day work. Plan your episodes, manage your assets, track tasks, and bring your team together in one place. Learn more at northflow.io [http://northflow.io].

Workflow Wednesday: Cindy Let Her Clients Run the Process... and Paid the Price

In this first episode of the series "Workflow Wednesday", Taly Melo and Fran Melo unpack a real-world workflow used by “Cindy,” a podcast production agency manager juggling seven clients across multiple platforms. From Slack messages to scattered Excel sheets, Cindy’s system relied on memory and manual coordination—until it started breaking. This episode walks through the breakdown of that chaotic handoff process and how it was rebuilt using a structured system inside Northflow. Whether you run your own agency or manage multiple client shows, this episode gives you clear, actionable insight into: * Consolidating incoming client requests * Setting and enforcing workflow boundaries * Reducing tool overload and scattered communication * Simplifying approvals and asset delivery You’ll also hear a candid discussion on what matters more than the tools themselves—and why getting clients to follow your process is just as important as building one. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Workflow Wednesday 01:00 – What this series is all about 01:40 – Meet “Cindy,” managing seven clients and multiple tools 03:20 – The four stages of a client handoff workflow 04:45 – What a chaotic workflow looks like in practice 06:50 – How client preferences create confusion 07:55 – The real issue: no boundaries or rules 10:25 – Why rule-setting starts with onboarding 11:10 – How to centralize client requests, files, and tasks 12:00 – How Cindy simplified everything inside Northflow 13:20 – Explaining contacts vs. members in Northflow 15:10 – Stat: 54% of teams say broken workflows reduce productivity (Formstack) 16:30 – Using templates and automation for consistency 18:20 – How to redirect clients back into your system 19:00 – Key takeaway: the importance of protecting your process 20:45 – Final thoughts 21:55 – Outro and next steps Key Takeaway A strong client handoff process does more than deliver assets. It protects your workflow, reduces friction, and creates a repeatable structure that your team and clients can trust. Build it, communicate it, and stick to it. This episode is powered by Northflow — the content planning platform built for podcast production agency owners who are done duct-taping tools together. From client requests to approvals and final asset delivery, Northflow helps you streamline your process in one central place. No spreadsheets, no Slack chases, no confusion. Try Northflow free: northflow [https://northflow.io].io Subscribe for more insights on podcast workflows, systems, and tools to help your agency scale smarter. Connect with Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow [https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow [https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow [https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow] X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/goNorthflow [https://x.com/goNorthflow] Website: https://northflow.io [https://northflow.io]

021: 5 Game-Changing Podcast Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed (Northflow Update)

Workflows don’t need to be complicated, they just need to work. In this episode of Behind the Workflow, hosts Simona Costantini and Taly Melo take you behind the build of the latest Northflow product updates designed to make podcast production smoother, faster, and more flexible. You’ll learn how to: * Streamline your workflow with drag-and-drop task management * Update production timelines directly from the planning calendar * Reduce mental clutter using smart filters for tasks and shows * Simplify file sharing with Google Drive integration * Get a first look at the brand-new dashboard UI built for creators and agencies Whether you’re managing one show or an entire production slate, these updates are built to help you stay organized, focused, and in flow. 👉 Try Northflow free at https://www.northflow.io 🎧 Subscribe for more insights on podcast workflows, systems, and tools that help creators scale smarter. We talk about: * 00:00 Intro and what’s new at Northflow * 00:35 Why these updates matter for podcasters * 01:10 Drag and Drop feature overview * 02:20 Faster episode planning and calendar updates * 03:30 New filters for tasks and shows * 05:10 Google Drive integration explained * 07:00 Sneak peek at the new dashboard * 09:00 What’s coming next for Northflow * 10:30 Key takeaways and how to get early access Connect with us * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow [https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow [https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow [https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow]  * X: https://x.com/goNorthflow [https://x.com/goNorthflow]  * Website: https://northflow.io/ [https://northflow.io/]

020: The Secret Behind 100+ Podcast Guest Spots – Greg Wasserman of RSS on Workflows That Win

In this episode of Behind the Workflow powered by Northflow, hosts Simona Costantini and Taly Melo sit down with Greg Wasserman, Head of Relationships at RSS.com, to uncover what really drives successful podcasts – and it’s not downloads, it’s relationships. Greg has appeared on more than 100 shows, giving him a front-row seat into what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to podcast workflows, guest onboarding, and monetization. Together, they explore the systems that keep podcasts running smoothly, from guest booking and prep forms to content repurposing and programmatic ads. You’ll learn: * Why relationships are the #1 growth strategy for podcasters * The biggest workflow mistakes guests and hosts make * How to create a 5-star guest onboarding experience * The truth about programmatic ads and monetizing through RSS.com * Why strategy and systems separate great podcasts from forgotten ones #podcastworkflows #northflow #rssdotcom #gregwasserman #podcastsystems #podcastmonetization #podcastingtools #podcastagency #behindtheworkflow We talk about: * 00:00 The truth about smooth vs. messy podcast workflows * 01:00 Meet Greg Wasserman, Head of Relationships at RSS.com [http://rss.com] * 03:00 From media sales to mastering podcast relationships * 05:00 Beyond ads and sponsors: new ways to monetize podcasts * 07:30 How agencies can help podcasters make more money * 10:00 Building authentic relationships that drive growth * 13:00 The most common guest onboarding mistakes * 16:00 What makes a 5-star guest experience * 20:00 Why strategy and systems separate great shows from forgettable ones * 28:00 The right way to handle guest communication and tech hiccups  * 41:00 Programmatic ads explained: how to monetize smarter * 48:00 Key takeaways: workflows, relationships, and strategy that win Connect with Greg * Website: https://rss.com/ [https://rss.com/]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman/]  Connect with us * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow [https://www.instagram.com/gonorthflow]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow [https://www.youtube.com/@gonorthflow]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow [https://www.linkedin.com/company/northflow]  * X: https://x.com/goNorthflow [https://x.com/goNorthflow]  * Website: https://northflow.io/ [https://northflow.io/]