On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview Stephen Christopher about his show The Business Revolution podcast. This is another in the case study series where we peel back the curtain and look at the real-life mechanics of what it takes to launch and produce a podcast. We discuss target audience, format, facing fear, why guest interviews are a better way to grow a podcast, how podcasting fits into a weekly schedule, marketing, and email lists.
Main Questions Asked:
- What inspired you to start a podcast?
- How did you get over your fear of podcasting?
- Tell us about the format and frequency. Has it changed?
- How do you see guest interviews as a better way to grow the podcast?
- What were your expectations on how podcasting would fit into your schedule?
- Tell us about how you have been marketing the show.
- What marketing tactics are effective with regards to downloads?
- What is working for you in terms of emailing your list?
Key Lessons Learned:
Target Audience
- The show is for business owners who are running a business and are moderately happy with it, but are working too much and can’t figure out how to get to the next level.
- Figure out who your ideal audience is and how to get in front of them.
Format
- Before launching, Stephen thought the episodes would be between 12-15 minutes.
- Originally, Stephen planned for the shows to just be him, thinking that no one would want to be a guest on his show. He is now moving toward more interviews.
- Episodes now run between 20 to 70 minutes.
Guest Interviews
- This is a way to grow the podcast, as you have access to your guest’s audience.
- A lot of times interviewees have their own podcast and you are invited to be a guest on their show.
- Guest interviews are a great way to build professional relationships.
Scheduling & Time Management
- Stephen records a lot of the solo shows on the weekend and does the interviews during the week.
- Stephen has an executive assistant and someone who produces the show.
- To run a podcast, you need to be able to delegate or have money to pay people to do the behind the scenes work.
Podcast Marketing
- You have to find ways to stand out in front of your ideal client or audience.
- Even the people who are subscribed to your podcast and you think are listening need weekly reminders.
Email List
- Email filters are increasingly getting difficult to get past.
- Follow the people who are making a good living doing it do.
- Stephen is taking all his email titles and reducing it to one or two word titles.
- The emails are aimed at entrepreneurs, so it is sent out early on Tuesday in order to catch them before they go to work.
- Keep yourself out of spam filters by not putting too many links in the email.
- The Business Revolution podcast has a separate email from Stephen’s business.
Progress
- The show you start with isn’t always the show you end up with.
- Sometimes it’s not about download numbers but more about trending up.
