We dive into the reality of using LinkedIn for lead generation and why audio content might be making a surprising comeback while video content becomes less effective for busy professionals.

• LinkedIn claims 80% of B2B leads originate there, but regional businesses may find better results on local platforms like Alignable
• AI-powered prospecting shows 30% higher conversion rates when properly implemented
• Video content gets higher engagement but requires significant time investment for both creators and viewers
• Audio-only content is experiencing a resurgence as people seek to reduce screen time
• Business forecasting parallels the recent tsunami prediction – preparation matters, but overreacting to hype wastes resources
• Consistency trumps production quality in podcasting – create 100 episodes before expecting significant results

Check out Michigan Renaissance Festival starting August 16th and join our in-person networking group on the first Thursday of each month called Networking with Kids – find us on Eventbrite, Alignable, and Meetup

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We reflect on the journey of podcasting and content creation, comparing it to gardening where growth happens invisibly at first but eventually blossoms with patience and persistence.

• Recently reached milestone of 25 podcast episodes
• Importance of properly crediting sources in podcast content
• Growth in podcasting takes time, just like plants need weeks to emerge from soil
• Most "overnight successes" like Joe Rogan actually had years of brand-building first
• Much of viral internet content uses fake engagement from click farms
• Creating content with purpose is more sustainable than chasing algorithm rewards
• Episodes can gain traction months later when keywords become relevant

Keep planting your seeds and recording your episodes.

From Article:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/plant-seeds-even-you-dont-see-growth-yet-gary-jones-dkcle

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Staying consistent with podcasting becomes especially challenging during summer months when family obligations, home repairs, and world events compete for attention and energy.

• Summer creates unique challenges for content creators with disrupted routines and family priorities
• Home repairs and family health issues can quickly derail a podcast schedule
• World events and news cycles create additional distractions that drain mental energy
• Downloads and listener engagement naturally dip during vacation seasons
• Batch recording provides a buffer but requires significant advance planning
• Recording shorter episodes can help maintain consistency with less production time
• Finding creative recording spaces like your car can work when home isn't quiet
• The 23-minute episode length balances monetization potential and listener attention spans
• Involving older children in the podcast process can create both bonding and productivity
• Focusing on progress rather than perfection helps maintain momentum
• Remembering your "why" provides motivation during challenging periods

Be good or be good at it.

Ideas from:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/podcast-ideas-from-grow-radio-7240277072038834177/

Buzzsprout

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

We explore the top 10 ways to engage podcast listeners while sharing insights from personal experience in the podcasting world. The discussion reveals why authenticity trumps production quality and how building community can transform your podcast marketing strategy.

• Ask for feedback and reviews once you've built an audience beyond family and friends
• Encourage listeners to share your podcast on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Alignable
• Partner with sponsors through value exchanges like the Michigan Renaissance Festival ticket arrangement
• Consider offering exclusive content and early access to episodes for dedicated listeners
• Host live events or Q&A sessions where listeners can interact in real time
• Create community spaces where listeners can connect with each other and with you
• Minimize editing to maintain authenticity and save countless production hours
• Remember podcasting is a long-game strategy requiring consistency and commitment
• Focus on finding your unique identity and voice rather than perfect production
• Stay committed—most podcasts fail after just three episodes

Check out the Michigan Renaissance Festival and come network with us at Networking with Kids, first Thursday of every month at Jungle Java where business people can bring their children while making valuable connections.

Idea for this podcast is from this article from Gary Jones:

(6) 10 Ways to engage your podcast listeners | LinkedIn

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Michigan's new regulations prohibit using AI voices for B2B appointment setting beginning January 2025, with violations resulting in fines up to $1,500 per occurrence. Learn how AI is transforming podcasting while creating legal challenges for marketers and existential questions for content creators.

• Michigan businesses cannot use AI voices for B2B appointment setting starting January 2025
• TCPA requires prior written consent for AI-generated or pre-recorded voice calls
• AI calling assistants sound obviously robotic and frequently fail in real-world applications
• AI synopsis tools threaten YouTube watch time by condensing hour-long videos into 4-minute reads
• Car podcasting presents unique acoustic challenges requiring experimentation with microphone placement
• YouTube is beginning to crack down on repetitive, low-quality AI content

Thanks to our sponsors: the Michigan Renaissance Festival, Metro Trading Association, Networking with Kids, and Get Prepped video game. Join us at Networking with Kids at Jungle Java in Clinton Township on the first Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Podcasting offers a distinctive advantage in today's AI-saturated digital landscape, creating an authentic connection between businesses and their audience that algorithms can't replicate. We explore how this medium transforms cold outreach into warm leads while establishing you as an authority in your field.

• Building trust and authority by consistently sharing valuable insights about your industry
• Transforming traditional sales funnels by creating warm leads through podcasting
• Learning from brands like Four Sigmatic and Backblaze that grew through strategic podcast marketing
• Aligning your podcast with specific business goals rather than trying to appeal to everyone
• Creating high-value relationships with guests, listeners, and industry partners
• Maintaining consistency without getting derailed by perfectionism
• Approaching podcasting as a long-term strategy rather than expecting immediate results
• Focusing on providing value rather than excessive self-promotion
• Using AI tools to enhance your podcast strategy without losing authenticity

Ready to see how podcasting can help grow your business? Start by defining your audience and goals, then either launch your own show or reach out to be a guest on podcasts in your niche. Remember that consistency and authority are your most powerful marketing tools.

Ideas from:

Buzzsprout

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/podcast-ideas-from-grow-radio-7240277072038834177/

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

I share my journey exploring AI tools to automate cold calling and appointment setting for business development while maintaining personal connection with clients. The quest to multiply my sales efforts across multiple counties without hiring additional staff has led to testing innovative solutions that could revolutionize how small businesses approach growth.

• The continuing importance of cold calling for business development despite networking efforts
• Testing Callin.io AI appointment setting system that integrates with Google Calendar
• How AI can pre-qualify prospects and automatically schedule appointments
• Technical challenges and programming considerations when implementing AI calling systems
• Potential cost savings of $30 for 3.5 hours of call time versus hiring staff
• The ultimate goal of expanding business reach across seven counties in Eastern Michigan

Whatever you do, be good or be good at it.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.

Trader Stu explores the challenges of post-layoff entrepreneurship and shares exciting news about being featured in an upcoming apocalyptic survival video game called "Get Prepped."

• Being featured as a trader character in "Get Prepped," an apocalyptic survival video game releasing this winter
• Average gamer today is in their 30s with disposable income - not just teenagers
• The Michigan Renaissance Festival sponsorship and themed weekend events
• Post-layoff entrepreneurship challenges and unrealistic expectations
• Most new business owners after layoffs rely on unemployment benefits for startup capital
• Without proper advertising and marketing budget, new businesses struggle to survive
• The three biggest challenges for post-layoff entrepreneurs: cash flow, marketing, and time management
• Approximately 45% of small businesses fail within the first few years
• The importance of having substantial capital when starting a business
• Many entrepreneurs create similar businesses in trendy fields without differentiation

Check out the Michigan Renaissance Festival this summer and fall, and look for "Get Prepped" coming this winter where you can find Trader Stu as the in-game trading post merchant.

Send us a text

The Michigan Renaissance Festival
Experience the Michigan Renaissance Festival, where history and fantasy collide!

Support the show

Thanks for listening to The Trading Post Podcast!

Find all our important links—including our LinkedIn, MetroTrading.com, and Michigan Renaissance Festival info—at:
https://linktr.ee/traderstu

Questions or guest suggestions? Email us at thetradingpostwithtraderstu@gmail.com

© 2025 The Trading Post Podcast. All rights reserved.