By Allen Kopelman
People ask why I started the B2B Vault podcast. Like many entrepreneurs, I had been blogging and found most people listen a lot more than they read. As podcasts became more popular, I noticed more people doing podcasts than ever before, so I started listening to them, and that’s when my idea was born.
Podcasting, like most digital platforms, requires technical knowledge and upfront investment. When I started a few years ago, there were quite a few roadblocks. Fortunately, I’d been following Noah Kagan at appsumo.com, and I won a cash prize plus his recommendations for podcast and video gear, and I was on my way!
I bought an excellent webcam and microphone, but my first few videos were not that good. I quickly realized I needed to research and figure out a cool way to record a video and turn it into an all-in-one podcast, vlog, and blog. I then hired Justin to help me figure out how to bring my crazy, unconventional ideas to life.
Finding My Voice
I recall Noah saying you have to make at least 100 videos and podcasts to find your unique rhythm and voice. As you become more comfortable with the medium, your presentations will get better, and you will get better, he said.
I wanted my podcast to be wildly unconventional, so for starters, I decided not to have one or two a week, like most I had seen, but a whopping four to five episodes a week. And instead of having guests on my shows, I would add people in real-time and live stream our discussions on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Best of all – and this is totally off the wall – there would be NO editing, just raw footage, just as if you picked up the phone and called me. My show would be unscripted, down-to-earth conversations on emerging trends and topics affecting business owners.
Finding My Topics
Next, I had to decide what we’d discuss. Google showed us trending payments industry topics and breaking news items that businesspeople search for, such as payment technology and new laws that could potentially affect business owners.
Alternative payment methods are another hot topic; I expect to see more emerging digital payment methods and cryptocurrencies in 2022. We explore the commoditization and consumerization of payment processing. Dig into why businesses must accept more than cash and credit cards to attract and retain customers.
I also use my own business and payments industry experience in the podcast. After working in hospitality as a chef for many years and transitioning to merchant services in 1998, I co-founded Nationwide Payment Systems with my business partner Dave in 2001. Today, we’re celebrating our 20th year in business with a new website, logo, and podcast series. It’s great to have you with us on this journey.
So after 20 years, I bring you the B2B Vault – The Payment Technology Podcast. With new episodes every week, I look forward to a new round of engaging discussions that educate merchants about payments and opportunities to grow their businesses.
Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!
