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.
• It can take 6 months to find your groove and to be sure you are getting the right guests, have the right format, and are targeting the right audience.

 

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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 

 

Links to Resources Mentioned

Seequs Digital

Business Revolution Podcast

[email protected]