“How to Become the Center of Influence Through Bingeworthy Podcasting” with Alex Eremia of The BingeWith Podcast
As part of my series of interviews about “How to Become the Center of Influence Through Podcasting”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Eremia, CEO of BingeWith.
Trained as a data analyst, Alex has experience building eCommerce and web products. Alex worked at Google Express where she was part of the team to create the first Google eCommerce experience for the Google Home and helped reach positive order margins for some stores. Most recently she founded BingeWith to help everyday content writers match the prowess of Bloomberg by engaging their audience with insightful audio content. She originates from Romania and was raised in Toronto prior to moving to California in 2012.
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Can you tell us the “backstory” about why or how you got started as a podcaster?
During my time as a student, I found it challenging to keep up with the required amount of reading each week. I realized that a variety of my classmates also grappled with this challenge. I identified this problem as ‘content cram’ — and considered the value that students and other consumers would find from being able to more seamlessly digest content. After moving to California from Toronto in 2012, I was trained as a data analyst on the Google Express team. Throughout my time at Google my passion for coding, tech and the voice space came to life. I identified the huge opportunity for innovation in the voice arena and made the decision to become an entrepreneur in the space.
Can you share a story about the most interesting thing that has happened to you when working with unique content entrepreneurs, publishers and/or podcasters?
Our first publisher was based in the UK and I reached out to them with a cold email saying that I really liked their stuff and shared an audio version of their content. They replied back by saying “how did you know what I sound like, the audio sounds just like me!” It was a funny coincidence since I had no idea what they actually sounded like. By chance, I chose a voice that so closely matched their diction and dialect.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you first started in the voice tech space? What did you learn from this?
When I first started working on the Google Assistant app team as an analyst, I uploaded about seven thousand training phrases to help the assistant learn the questions it can expect. When we were ready to deploy the app, the system gave us an error because it didn’t allow punctuation in training phrases. It was a harrowing road to sort things out — but we learned to start training assistants with smaller training sets.
What are the main takeaways you would recommend podcast producers give to first-time listeners?
It all comes down to the value you are providing for first-time listeners. If you’re able to bridge the gap between providing valuable content and positioning yourself as a relatable host, you’ll be able to bring listeners back. I would recommend podcast producers give to first-time listeners 2–3 smart soundbites into a new way of thinking about a topic. Include some factual statistics to backup this new perspective. You always want your listeners to walk away feeling a bit smarter than before.
Check out the full interview in Tracy Hazzard’s Authority Magazine article about Alex Eremia!
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Podcaster Influencer, Alex Eremia of the BingeWith Podcast shares the best ways to:
1) Book Great Guests. Reach out to folks that you respect in your industry with an offer of appreciation. A short blurb about how you enjoy the content they share along with an invitation for them to discuss more on your show is often well-received. It’s a strong way to build rapport with large industry players.
2) Increase Listeners. Consistency is key for getting listeners. Have a schedule and stick to it. You’ll show that you’re dependable and will build trust. When you are first starting out, have at least a few episodes ready when you launch. This will let your audience sink into the content.
3) Produce in All Types of Languages. A major part of your success stems from your ability to identify the specific target audience you’re trying to reach. Knowing what your audience cares about helps triage the topics you talk about. It also equips you with the knowledge to know the correct language and tone to use in that discussion. Don’t shy away from being colloquial and informal to showcase your personality and company culture.
4) Encourage Engagement. Ask questions and create content that spurs a conversation. Invite discussion with thought-provoking content. Tie the questions you ask back to your social media posts to invite more engagement. Posting questions on social media can also remind your audience to listen to the podcast, which is a nice feedback loop. This ensures you’re not just approachable, but that you’re also open to embracing listener feedback.
5) Monetize. Focus on creating great content and teaching your audience something valuable. You’ve started a podcast because you have something to share with the world. Starting by creating thoughtful content, attaining the audience you need and leaning a repeatable process. Once you begin to secure a steady stream of downloads and consistent audience engagement, you’ll be able to approach ad agencies or brands themselves that would be interested in tapping your audience.
What makes a podcast binge-able? What do you think makes a podcast unique from the others?
Check out the full interview in Tracy Hazzard’s Authority Magazine article about Alex Eremia!
