Chris Krimitsos; Founder of PodFest

Chris Krimitsos, visionary podcaster and the successful author of the book, Start Ugly, sat down to chat with Steve Sims on his podcast, The Art of Making Things Happen. Krimitsos shared pearls of wisdom that show insight, and he discussed his studied approach to business trends, the power of podcasting, and why it’s not only okay to start ugly, but it’s a state worth revisiting.

As the founder of Pod Fest and author of Start Ugly, Krimitsos offered information about why podcasts exist and are growing so rapidly as businesses. He also divulged details about the exponential growth potential of podcasting and the impetus behind the push forward in the podcasting and information-sharing industry.

Building the foundation for the current state of podcasting and its expansive popularity, Krimitsos went into the history of how people consume media, such as early radio programs, based on the programmer’s schedule. Moving ahead, he explained that now on-demand technology allows people to fit media into their schedules rather than working around the schedule established by the radio station.

The details went on to include some facts about how automotive technology enabled podcasting to jump ahead as a segment of the entertainment industry. Audio dramas are one specific podcast style mentioned and went into why there’s no value to formal distribution systems anymore.

As an example, he shared that the airwaves are free now, because there’s no need to go through security to enter a TV station or radio station. The podcasting industry is in its early stages and is set to explode exponentially.

Driverless cars are another aspect of technology that are poised to help build the podcasting industry. Looking at driverless cars as an example, people won’t have to focus on the road, which is going to increase the demand for entertainment, such as podcasts in short and long-form content styles.

Monetization, an area that adds to the inspiration many podcasters seek when creating content, is another aspect of the podcasting industry that Krimitsos delved into with Sims. The discussion went into variations between long-form content and short-form podcasts, and why there’s room for both in the market.

Demographics of podcasters and audiences is another topic discussed in this information-packed podcast with Chris Krimitsos. The podcasting market is also divided into demographic segments, with younger groups having an average age of 15 and older demographic groups in their 50’s.

In addition to great content, a podcast must be entertaining and interesting to hold the focus of an audience. Krimitsos also believes podcasting can serve as an educational tool to elevate the intelligence of a worldwide audience.

Another advantage of getting into podcasting is the low barriers to entry. The cost of getting started is fairly low. Plus, its delivery to your audience is instant. Further, it can be downloaded instantly by anyone at any time.

One key secret Krimitsos shared in the conversation with Sims is about the value of speaking as a guest on podcasts produced by other creators who have great relationships with their audiences. He divulged that after a recent podcast he had appeared in, sales of his book, Start Ugly, increased, driving it to a spot in the top 200 with two days of the podcast’s release.

The annual event, Pod Fest, is entering its sixth year, and its expected attendance is approaching 1,800 podcasters this coming year. Krimitsos enjoys helping creators succeed, and the event treats everyone who attends as if they were family.

One way that’s popular as a way to enter podcasting is by guesting on niche and popular podcasts. It’s noted that many popular podcasts began by professional guests creating a home base on their own podcasts only after building a group of followers.

The book by Krimitsos is the story of a case study of a 100-year old story that was written to make people get out of their own way in business, with a message about embracing technology and innovation. To learn more about Krimitsos and his book, Start Ugly, listen to him describe it on the podcast, The Art of Making Things Happen.

To learn more about Chris Krimitsos:

Listen to the podcast: Chris Krimitsos on The Art of Making Things Happen

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