In this episode of The Virtual Ventures Podcast, host Andres Sanchez sits down with Kurt Elster, an experienced podcast host, business owner, and Shopify expert. Kurt shares his insights on the advantages of podcasting for networking and outreach, as well as the personal challenges and triumphs he has encountered along the way.
1. Podcasting as Outreach and Networking:
Kurt highlights the unique ability of podcasts to offer individuals a platform to share their stories and engage in personal conversations. The podcast format encourages positive responses and creates opportunities for networking, collaboration, and lasting relationships.
2. Overcoming Challenges:
Kurt transparently shares the struggles he faced in the early days of his podcast, including episodes that needed to be deleted due to a lack of content and personal turmoil that affected the quality of the show. To overcome these challenges, Kurt now suggests pre-interviews and working out an outline with his guests, leading to better results.
3. Learning and Growing through Mistakes:
Kurt emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes, mentioning instances where he had to rerecord episodes that turned out to be even better than the original. These experiences have taught him the importance of consistent planning, research, and self-sufficiency before seeking professional help.
4. The Power of Podcasting for Marketing:
Kurt reflects on how starting his own podcast allowed him to promote his services as a Shopify expert and attract clients from the Shopify Experts program. Consistent publishing and commitment to delivering valuable content became critical factors in the success of his podcast as a content marketing strategy.
5. Lessons from Building Businesses:
Drawing from his experiences with web development and building e-commerce platforms, Kurt advises starting projects by attempting them himself. This firsthand experience helps me gain a better understanding, confidence, and ability to effectively communicate with professionals when the time comes to hire them.
6. The Journey of Podcasting:
Kurt shares his enthusiasm for interviewing people and asking them questions as a complete stranger. He refers to podcasting as networking at scale, allowing hosts to create content, build relationships, and put themselves out there. He regrets not utilizing social media effectively earlier in his business career but sees podcasting as a powerful way to connect with a wider audience.
Conclusion:
Through his conversation with Kurt Elster, host Andres Sanchez explores the transformative power of podcasting for outreach, networking, personal growth, and marketing. Kurt's journey serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of consistency, learning from mistakes, and seizing opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship and content creation.
As podcasting continues to gain popularity, individuals and businesses alike can harness its unique benefits to connect with audiences, expand their networks, and achieve remarkable growth. By leveraging the insights shared in this episode, listeners have the potential to embark on their own virtual ventures and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.
