Description

On this episode of Rhodes to
Success, I interview Vernon Foster, who is a podcast educator,
speaker, and coach. He oversees a small army of audio engineers,
graphic designers, and transcriptionists under the Pod Parrot
brand. Vernon continually seeks out new ways to innovate and
strategically leverage podcasting as a viable platform for small
business professionals, startups, speakers, and coaches. During the
show, we discuss event planning, podcasting as a tool, how Pod
Parrot shifted focus, and how the industry as a whole is
changing. 
 

Main Questions
Asked:

• What are the biggest skills that
  go into event planning?
• What were your biggest skillsets
  in podcasting that you thought you could use to launch a
  business?
• What was the need you were
  filling, and how are you different from your
  competitors?

Key Lessons
Learned:

Event
Planning

• When it comes to event planning,
  it’s all about ‘butts in seats.’
• You need to start planning 6-12
  months before an event.

Podcasting

• This is an opportunity to
  interview potential customers and get real-time
  feedback.
• If you are going to create a
  product and service, and you don’t even know if it’s something
  people want, then you are spinning your wheels.
• Podcasting is the cheapest
  research and development you can do.
• Some people will say focus on the
  production, while others will say to create compelling
  content.
• Really great content is more
  important than having the best microphone.

Podcasting as a
Tool

• Podcasting is not your business;
  it’s a tool for your business.
• When podcasting is used properly,
  it can be a massive generator of business by connecting you with
  like-minded people.
• Podcasting brings you closer to
  your audience, and it lets you interview some of the people you
  might not normally have access to.
• If you don’t treat podcasting like
  a business, then it will just be a hobby.

Pod
Parrot

• Pod Parrot has moved from the role
  of service provider into the role of educator and
  evangelist.
• Vernon worked with clients
  one-on-one before he started the brand.
• The challenge to overcome is
  people flooding the marketplace.
• The market is shifting and
  becoming commoditized because people don’t want to pay a lot of
  money.
• There’s a lot of people who don’t
  understand the podcasting business.

Subscribe to the show
in  "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rhodes-to-success/id923134962">iTunes or Stitcher
Radio!

The music in today's episode was
written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them
out at  "https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic">https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic 

Links to Resources
Mentioned

Pod
Parrot

"http://podparrot.com/podcast/">Mic Science
Podcast