In this episode, Tom Hunt, founder and CEO of Fame, discusses his journey to achieving 3.8 million ARR without external funding, the lessons learned from management consulting, and the importance of company values and culture in scaling a business. He also shares insights on B2B podcasting, including who should start a podcast, common mistakes companies make, and the significance of strategic guest selection for maximizing ROI. In this conversation, Tom Hunt discusses the evolution of B2B podcasts as essential content engines for marketing. He emphasizes the importance of integrating podcasts into broader marketing strategies, streamlining production processes, and understanding customer personas. Tom shares insights on when to start marketing for B2B companies, the lessons learned from working with large brands, and the significance of company culture and values. He also reflects on his journey in angel investing and outlines Fame's go-to-market strategy, highlighting the intersection of services and products in the current landscape. Finally, he discusses the impactful use of AI in podcast production. TAKEAWAYS: - Tom Hunt emphasizes the importance of bootstrapping and learning from failures. - Management consulting provides essential skills for running a business. - Company values are crucial for maintaining culture and client satisfaction. - Niche specificity is key for B2B companies considering podcasts. - Strategic guest selection can lead to significant ROI in podcasting. - Consistency in podcast release schedules is vital for growth. - Understanding the difference between service and product companies is important for podcast strategy. - High ACV products have a better chance of ROI from podcasting. - The first year of podcasting is often about building relationships rather than immediate listener ROI. - Investing in podcasting can yield long-term benefits for businesses. - Podcasts serve as a foundational content engine for B2B companies. - Integrating podcasts into marketing campaigns can enhance SEO and social engagement. - Streamlining production processes is crucial for efficiency. - Understanding customer personas is essential for effective marketing. - Retention is the key to sustainable growth in B2B. - Service-led growth can drive client acquisition and retention. - AI can significantly enhance podcast production efficiency. - Company culture and values play a vital role in business success. - Angel investing can be more ego-driven than strategic. - The landscape of services and products is increasingly converging.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction 01:26 The journey to $3.8M ARR 04:38 Intangibles from management consulting 07:05 Scaling Fame: values and culture 12:38 Should every B2B company start a podcast? 15:31 Key factors for podcast success 22:04 Podcast ROI and consistency 25:12 Whose podcasting better for? Service vs Product companies 28:40 Podcast as a content engine 30:34 Roles/Team you need to launch and run a successful B2B podcast 35:37 "Whoever is closest to the customer, whoever wins" 37:15 When to start a podcast: early-stage vs mature companies 41:47 Client feedback loops in content 44:11 The role of values and culture in business success 47:23 Tom's experience in angel investing into 12 companies 50:24 Fame's GTM strategy and growth levers 55:14 Leveraging AI in podcast production
FounderVideo Podcast Ep. 25: Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO at Fame (https://www.fame.so/) "FV 25: From $0 to $3.8M ARR: B2B Podcasting & Growth Strategies | Tom Hunt" Brought to you by: https://foundervideo.com Increase the profitability of your LinkedIn Ads - book a free strategy call today.
