Episode
#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
Description
Many of you have asked me how I have built a popular blog and podcast. I've contemplated writing a long post about this, and then Mari Takahashi (@atomicmari) -- a successful ballerina, gamer, and content creator -- sent me some very good questions that I decided to answer in this episode.The Tim Ferriss Show has almost 300 million downloads and is the first business interview podcast to cross a hundred million downloads -- but with its fair share of mistakes and trials by fire along the way. Additionally, my blog receives between three and four million unique visitors per month.There are certainly bigger podcasts and blogs, but I share how I've been able to grow both with only a couple full-time employees and a few part-time assistants. Enjoy!This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. While I often praise this company's Lion's Mane Mushroom Coffee, I asked the founders if they could help me improve my sleep. Their answer: Reishi Mushroom Elixir. They made a special batch for me and my listeners that comes without sweetener; you can try it at bedtime with a little honey or nut milk, or you can just add hot water to your single-serving packet and embrace its bitterness like I do.Try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/ferriss and using the code Ferriss to get 20 percent off this rare, limited run of Reishi Mushroom Elixir. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you'll be disappointed.This podcast is also brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is the #1 cloud bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients.FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more.Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month and see how the brand new Freshbooks can change your business, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter "Tim Ferriss" in the "how did you hear about us" section.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at tim.blog/sponsor.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Tim Ferriss talks about his performance limitations, thought experiments, and life's lessons.
00:00 - 00:51 (00:51)
Summary
Tim Ferriss talks about his performance limitations, thought experiments, and life's lessons. This episode is sponsored by Tim Ferriss' email newsletter, Five Bullet Friday.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss answers listener questions on this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, discussing habits and routines of world-class performers.
00:51 - 05:25 (04:33)
Summary
Tim Ferriss answers listener questions on this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, discussing habits and routines of world-class performers. He also shares a special offer from Athletic Greens.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The ATR 2100 is recommended for podcasters who need a USB-connected microphone that produces high-quality audio recordings, while the iXm Yellowtech is an all-in-one device that contains batteries, SD cards, and other useful features.
05:25 - 11:29 (06:04)
Summary
The ATR 2100 is recommended for podcasters who need a USB-connected microphone that produces high-quality audio recordings, while the iXm Yellowtech is an all-in-one device that contains batteries, SD cards, and other useful features. Always use new batteries when recording and consider using services like Zencaster to upload high-quality audio recordings directly to Dropbox.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, the importance of starting with the right question is discussed as well as the strategy of getting the audience to fall in love with the messenger first in order to sell more effectively.
11:29 - 14:55 (03:26)
Summary
In this podcast, the importance of starting with the right question is discussed as well as the strategy of getting the audience to fall in love with the messenger first in order to sell more effectively.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The strategy of asking unusual questions during an interview can prevent the interviewee from rehearsing a story, ensure a positive mood, and build confidence.
14:55 - 20:05 (05:10)
Summary
The strategy of asking unusual questions during an interview can prevent the interviewee from rehearsing a story, ensure a positive mood, and build confidence. Experienced individuals tend to rehearse their material or work on stories they are comfortable telling.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss suggests that asking the right questions makes all the difference in a conversation.
20:05 - 24:40 (04:34)
Summary
Tim Ferriss suggests that asking the right questions makes all the difference in a conversation. He also recommends exploring Tribe of Mentors to learn more about how to craft effective questions for gaining insights from guests.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The ideal time to start monetizing a podcast is after it has received 100,000 downloads per episode, giving it leverage to interact with sponsors.
24:40 - 34:40 (10:00)
Summary
The ideal time to start monetizing a podcast is after it has received 100,000 downloads per episode, giving it leverage to interact with sponsors. Monetizing with sponsors based on CPM rates is recommended to avoid high churn rates.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The decision to name a blog after oneself for recognition or use a company name to reach a broader audience depends on the intention to sell the blog as part of a media company later.
34:40 - 38:58 (04:18)
Summary
The decision to name a blog after oneself for recognition or use a company name to reach a broader audience depends on the intention to sell the blog as part of a media company later.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, the host shares the strategy of creating raving fans who comprise approximately 5-10% of your audience for each post to increase engagement and loyalty.
38:58 - 44:35 (05:36)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the host shares the strategy of creating raving fans who comprise approximately 5-10% of your audience for each post to increase engagement and loyalty. The audience demographic is predominantly male and the aim is to create exceptional content that will resonate with everyone in the audience over time.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The use of social media scheduling tools, such as Edgar, can be very helpful if you run ads on your blog and need to schedule posts while on vacation.
44:35 - 49:15 (04:40)
Summary
The use of social media scheduling tools, such as Edgar, can be very helpful if you run ads on your blog and need to schedule posts while on vacation. However, covering a product on your blog that was presented over lunch is not recommended due to potential legal gray areas.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast episode highlights the importance of setting comment rules for bloggers to foster a healthy online environment and prevent disrespectful behavior.
49:15 - 53:13 (03:58)
Summary
This podcast episode highlights the importance of setting comment rules for bloggers to foster a healthy online environment and prevent disrespectful behavior. Examples are given of bloggers who have successfully implemented comment rules and why they are necessary for maintaining control over the online space.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss talks about his Five Bullet Friday email and recommends against starting a podcast or blog just for monetary gain.
53:13 - 57:23 (04:10)
Summary
Tim Ferriss talks about his Five Bullet Friday email and recommends against starting a podcast or blog just for monetary gain. He also recommends the invoicing and payment tracking tool, Freshbooks.
Episode#296: How to Build Popular Podcasts and Blogs
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Use code "ferris" to get 20% off on Four Sigmatic's limited run of Reishi Mushroom Elixir without any sweeteners, which can help you improve the quality and onset of your sleep naturally.
57:23 - 1:01:26 (04:03)
Summary
Use code "ferris" to get 20% off on Four Sigmatic's limited run of Reishi Mushroom Elixir without any sweeteners, which can help you improve the quality and onset of your sleep naturally.