Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Terry O'Reilly, Founder of Apostrophe Podcast Company, located in Burk's Falls, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is storytelling; our medium is podcasting. Apostrophe is a podcast production company and a podcast network - so we create podcasts from the ground up and selectively take on outside podcasts. Our customers are our listeners - different for each podcast series. Our business model is built on advertising and licensing. The bigger our audience numbers, the more advertising we can attract. We also license our shows to various networks. Last year, our shows were downloaded over 7 million times.
Tell us about yourself
I was an advertising copywriter at national advertising agencies for many years. Then I co-founded an audio production company called Pirate Radio & Television in 1990 and became a commercial director. The company grew over the years to have 8 recording studios in Toronto and New York. In both stages of my career, I was a storyteller. Advertising requires an acute sense of story structure since the space/timing is so limited. Plus, advertising has to work very hard to be noticed - and liked - so it taught me to be interesting and bold in my writing. In 2005, we pitched an idea for a radio show about advertising to the CBC. Surprisingly, they bought it. Surprising because CBC radio is advertising-free. But they liked the idea of a behind-the-scenes look at the ad industry. So began my radio broadcasting career.
I sold my interest in Pirate back in 2012 but continued the CBC radio show called Under The Influence. When podcasting emerged, we were one of the first to do it, back in 2011. The radio show and podcasting came right out of our skillset in audio. That eventually led to the creation of a podcasting company - a family business. Creating great storytelling, combined with sonic excellence, is still exciting for me after all these years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment is co-founding two different, profitable companies where the product is creativity. Managing and nurturing a creative culture is a delicate process, and you have to protect that spirit with everything you've got.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Finding the smartest people per square foot. The other side of that coin is getting rid of the wrong people quickly.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Create the company you cannot find. (Find the gap in the market).
- Stay on top of your financials. (Don't overreach).
- Employ bold marketing. (Stand out in the marketplace).
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://apostrophepodcasts.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terryoinfluence/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terryoinfluence
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terryoinfluence
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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