65. Building a community around your content (with Charles Commins)

65. Building a community around your content (with Charles Commins)

Author: Louise Shanahan July 1, 2022 Duration: 17:02

Podcasting is a great way to connect with people, but it's also a bit of a one-sided conversation. How do we cultivate a community vibe?

This week, 15 Minute Freelancer's very own editor Charles Commins gets on the other side of the mic to join me for a chat about community-building. We focus on podcasts but the lessons apply to any kind of content you create, e.g. newsletters, blogs and YouTube channels.

We cover:

  • how to build a thriving podcast community (or any content-based community)
  • ways to foster connections with and between listeners
  • how to set the tone for friendly banter and support (and handle bad behaviour)
  • pros and cons of Patreon, Slack, Meetup and Discord 
  • the monetization question


Mentioned in this episode:

MIC’s Podcast Club - https://www.meetup.com/micpod/
It’s all Cobblers to Me - https://cobblerstome.com/

Say hi to Charles:

Charles' website: vibrantsoundmedia.com
Twitter: @charlescommins
LinkedIn: Charles Commins
Instagram: @charlescommins

Say hi to Louise:

Louise Shanahan is a freelance health and medical copywriter and a big fan of finding your freelance niche. She's on a mission to help others build a freelance business that feels easy and works for them – in weekly snack-sized bites.

LinkedIn: Louise Shanahan
Twitter: @LouiseShanahan_
Website: thecopyprescription.com

Leave me a voice note on memo.fm/15/

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated.



Ever feel like building a business for yourself is a full-time job in itself, before you’ve even landed a client? 15 Minute Freelancer cuts through the overwhelm with manageable, actionable advice designed to fit around a busy schedule. Hosted by freelance health copywriter Louise Shanahan, each episode draws directly from her own journey and the real, sometimes messy, realities of working for yourself. You’ll hear honest behind-the-scenes stories about pricing, difficult clients, and finding focus, alongside straightforward strategies for the nuts and bolts of running a sustainable operation. The aim is to move beyond generic hustle-culture advice and focus on what actually works, helping you shape a freelance career that supports the life you want, not one that consumes it. This isn't about theory; it's about practical steps you can implement almost immediately. Tune in for a candid, snack-sized conversation that feels more like a chat with a knowledgeable friend than a business lecture. Whether you're just considering the leap or are years into your freelance path, this podcast offers a refreshingly realistic perspective on entrepreneurship.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 93

15 Minute Freelancer
Podcast Episodes
2. 3 things I wish I knew when I started freelancing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
Thinking about starting a freelance business? Worried about where to start? In the second episode of 15 Minute Freelancer, Louise Shanahan reflects on three things she wished she knew when she was making the leap from 'p…
1. 7 simple ways to find freelance clients in 2021 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:09
The very first episode of 15 Minute Freelancer is here! Your host is freelance health copywriter Louise Shanahan. After 10 years in a 'proper' job, Louise started her own freelance business 5 years ago and hasn't looked…

«1...678910