John Lee Dumas is the man behind the Entrepreneurs on Fire website and the super popular EOFire podcast. This podcast is an award winning podcast that reveals the journey of inspiring entrepreneurs seven days a week. John has interviewed a list of who’s who in the business and entrepreneurship world including Barbara Corcoran, Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin and even me.
John is also an amazing example of a successful entrepreneur in the podcast industry. I don’t have to tell you this because his numbers and income reports speak for themselves. Today, we are going to talk about his first book Podcast Launch and why and how he wrote it. We also talk about how the book was the inspiration for JLDs successful podcasting course and community called Podcaster’s Paradise.
We also talk about how John built a list and used his book and podcast as a lead generation tool. He created a free podcast course and didn’t hold anything back. Some people said he was crazy for doing this, but the lead generation results of the course also speak for themselves. This is fun episode where my friend John shares how his book, course, and funnel led to his biggest earner at the time which was Podcaster’s Paradise.
You can find JLD here:
Entrepreneurs on Fire
Entrepreneurs on Fire Podcast
Books and Course by JLD including Podcast Launch and Free Podcast Course
Podcaster’s Paradise
Podcast Launch
@JohnLeeDumas Twitter
John Lee Dumas facebook
Show Notes
[01:41] In hindsight, writing a book seemed liked the most obvious step. Entrepreneur on Fire was meant to be about entrepreneurship, but listeners wanted to know John's method for podcasting, so he decided it was time to tell his story.
[03:34] John and Kate wrote the book from start to finish, and he has rewritten and revised it several times. The day it launched it was the number one ranked book in Amazon for podcast and podcasting. He wrote the book in a weekend.
[04:29] The book launched in February of 2013 and Podcaster's Paradise launched in October of 2013. Writing the book helped John realize that he did have a process.
[05:14] How starting is hard, but once things are started they flow. It took about 70 hours for John to write the book.
[06:29] The book helped John realize that there was an audience for people wanting to podcast. This sparked the idea for Podcaster's Paradise.
[08:51] Podcast Launch was the MVP for Podcaster's Paradise. John also had more to share and knew that people wanted a community.
[09:54] How John created a wire frame of what his course would look like, then he told his book readers that he was creating a live podcasting workshop. He also gave his early readers early access at a discounted price. He also said it would open in 45 days at a higher price.
[11:25] The webinar proved that it was a viable product and he created everything and opened the doors at $397 and he still has his lifetime founding members that got in at $197 early adopter discount price. Now the product costs much more.
[13:09] John was able to bounce ideas off of his 35 founding members as he built out the course. The feedback helped in the creation process.
[14:18] John put an offer for the free audio version of the book on the second page of the book. This was a great optin for his webinar. Even people browsing the book would find the optin link. This method combined with others helped build a nice targeted email list.
[17:39] Podcast Launch has been a great lead generation tool for Podcaster's Paradise and the book continues to make sales.
[18:26] All of the funnels lead to Podcaster's Paradise because at the time this was his biggest source of revenue.
[19:33] The best thing he did was create the FreePodcastCourse.com It teaches everything without being a cliffhanger. This allowed him to build a 12,000+ person email list that he can use to market.
[22:01] There is an image leading to the free course right at the beginning of the book, and it drives leads every single day. He also uses the Entrepreneur on Fire intros and Leaddigits.
[24:44] John has several intros that he uses to present his calls-to-action in his podcast.
[25:14] John shares how Chandler helped him increase his lead generation sign ups into the free podcast course.
[31:54] How John has found some great podcast mentors who he can recommend to his readers and listeners. The referral system generated revenue for John.
[33:07] How we have to pay our dues and have our seasons of work before we can learn and scale in a massive way.
[33:54] John also has people he recommends for intro, outros, and logos. He is also one of nine affiliates for LibSyn. Use promo code FIRE for two free months.
[35:18] When he has a guest recommend a book he mentions his Audible.com affiliate link.
[37:47] John recommends coming from a place from within to provide genuine value when writing a book. Then take a step back and add on marketing tactics and tools. Focus on email capture and bonus content that will grow your list.
Links and Resources:
self-publishingschool.com
Spsfreetraining.com
Ernest Hemingway
Leaddigits
1755: Growing your business past 7 figures using a book (how I did it) with Chandler Bolt
Entrepreneurs on Fire
Entrepreneurs on Fire Podcast
Books and Course by JLD including Podcast Launch and Free Podcast Course
Podcaster’s Paradise
Podcast Launch
@JohnLeeDumas Twitter
John Lee Dumas facebook
SPS 263 The Game Has Changed: Virtual Events & Building A Knowledge Based Business with Dean Graziosi
SPS 264: Ghostwriting 201: Secrets To A Great Ghostwritten Book with Sean Platt
SPS 261: Email Marketing + How To Build Your Email List with Igor Kheifets
SPS 260 Children’s Books, Pop Ups & Launching A Clothing Line with Princess Booker
SPS 259 Editing 101: Everything You Need To Know Before Hiring An Editor with Qatharina Wanders
SPS 258 $105k From My Book Launch Within 3 Months with Brian Luebben (From Passive To Passionate)
SPS 247 How To Format A Book + Atticus Overview & Deep Dive with Dave Chesson
SPS 256: Understanding AI To Grow Your Business (AI Deep Dive) with Chris Winfield
SPS:255 Brave Thinking & Growing Your Coaching Business with Mary Morrissey
SPS 254 Valuepreneurs, “Funderdome” & Publishing Before Your 60th Birthday with Steve Waddell
SPS 253 The Creative Process, Humor, And Becoming Prolific with Jon Acuff
Sold Out Coach + The Sage, Struggler, And Sherpa with John Meese
SPS 251 The 5 P’s Of Profitable Podcast Guesting with Dustin Riechmann
SPS 250 Network Marketing Lessons + “Go For No” Marketing Your Book with Ray Higdon
SPS 249 Using Your DISC Profile To Write & Publish A Book Successfully with Dr. Robert Rohm (Personality Insights)
SPS 248 The Jerry Springer vs The Oprah Approach To Writing About Tough Life Experiences with Paul Scanlon
SPS 247 Million Dollar Weekend: From $50 & A Weekend To $80M/Year In Sales with Noah Kagan
SPS 246 Using Atomic Habits To Write & Publish A Book, 4M+ Copies In 3 Years with James Clear
SPS 245 SPS Throwback Rich Dad Poor Dad & 46M+ Units Sold of his Self-Published Book (Robert Kiyosaki Interview)
SPS 244: When Faith Fails: Writing About Your Faith As A Christian or Pastor…with Dominic Done
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