Craig Hewitt is the Founder and CEO of Castos, a bootstrapped podcast hosting and analytics platform with a services arm for podcast production. He’s been in podcasting almost a decade, having started his own show, Rogue Startups and his production service Podcast Motor (which he folded into Castos). Craig not only shares his ponderings on his show, but he also writes a weekly newsletter called Founder Insights.What we covered in this episode:Craig's background in salesLaunching a podcasting productized service in 2014Stair stepping to SaaSWhat is Stair Stepping?Acquiring Seriously Simple PodcastingProduct positioningGrowth and marketing for CastosHis approach to podcastingCastos OriginalsBootstrapping vs raisingFounder Insights newsletterRecommendationsBook: Who Not How by Dan SullivanPodcast: Startups for the Rest of UsIndie Hacker: Moritz DausingerFollow CraigTwitterPersonal websiteMy linksTwitterIndie Bites TwitterIndie Bites YouTubeJoin the membershipPersonal WebsiteBuy A Wallet2 Hour Podcast CoursePodPanda (hire me to edit your podcast)This Indie Life PodcastSponsor - AhrefsThank you to Ahrefs for sponsoring Indie Bites. Ahrefs is the most complete and valuable SEO tool on the market. Bootstrapped companies such as VEED and Transistor have used Ahrefs extensively to understand how to craft their SEO strategies, which have been such a pivotal part of their growth.If you want to get more traffic from Google on your side-project, I’d recommend first trying out Ahrefs Webmaster Tools for free. You’ll see what keywords your pages are ranking for, understand how Google sees your content and discover what changes you need to improve your search ranking. You should also check out their YouTube channel to understand both the basics of SEO and some more advanced techniques.To try out Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, head to ahrefs.com/webmaster-tools

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos and a coach for startup founders, joins to discuss prioritization in life and business. He shares insights on buying back time, optimizing for convenience, and finding the right work focus through coaching. The conversation emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, making significant decisions, and transitioning from co-hosting to solo podcasting. They also reflect on the benefits of customer interactions for startups and the evolving nature of professional partnerships.

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos and a podcasting innovator, shares insights on navigating the evolving podcast landscape. He discusses Spotify's recent acquisitions and their implications for analytics and data privacy. The conversation dives into the unique challenges of measuring listener engagement compared to traditional web metrics. Craig also reflects on the difficulties CEOs face in staying engaged as their teams take over daily operations, emphasizing the importance of OKRs for strategic alignment. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Craig Hewitt, an expert in internal tools and startup challenges, shares valuable insights for founders. He discusses the tough decisions between buying and building internal tools, along with tips for navigating a competitive space as a solo founder. Hewitt also delves into the phenomenon of 'zombie companies,' where investors demand their money back, and offers advice on selecting the right accounting software. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration for non-technical founders looking to connect with the right talent.

Craig Hewitt, a key player in private podcasting and the growth of Castos, dives into the burgeoning trend of private podcasts as vital communication tools for businesses. He discusses Apple's latest subscription announcement and how it shapes the podcasting landscape. The conversation highlights the integration of mobile apps for better audience engagement and innovative monetization strategies beyond traditional advertising. Craig also shares insights on improving user experience for significant growth and tackling the challenges founders face in balancing product quality with business expansion.

Craig Hewitt, the founder of Castos, returns to share insights on the startup's growth journey over the past year. He discusses the impact of hiring a growth marketer and the intriguing results of offering a free trial without requiring a credit card. Hewitt delves into merging brands, enhancing user experience, and the rise of private podcasting. He highlights new features at Castos and explores strategies for catering to both small and enterprise customers, emphasizing the importance of understanding user needs.

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, shares insights from his startup journey and the trials of navigating growth challenges. He discusses the recent trial signup modifications aimed at enhancing customer conversions. The conversation touches on the benefits of a freemium model, removing payment barriers, and nurturing potential clients. Hewitt also highlights the importance of team dynamics and collaboration in achieving success, as well as the strategic shifts necessary in the evolving podcasting landscape.

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, shares his journey of managing a growing team. He discusses the emotional challenges of delegation and the necessity for founders to adapt their roles. Communication is a key focus, especially in remote setups, as he emphasizes daily standups and empowering autonomy. Craig also highlights the importance of a unified vision for team cohesion, recounting the struggles of a stalled feature launch and the strategies implemented for improvement. The chat culminates in insights on refining user onboarding and marketing to boost growth.

Craig Hewitt, an innovative founder, discusses his strategic decision to implement no credit card trials for his startup, aimed at reducing drop-off rates and improving user onboarding. He shares insights on the challenges and metrics involved in this approach, emphasizing the need for patience to gauge success. The conversation also covers the complexities of big bets, highlights the arrival fallacy in achieving career milestones, and stresses the importance of monitoring key performance indicators for sustainable growth in subscription-based businesses.

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, shares insights into the evolution of his podcast hosting company and the importance of delegation. He discusses integrating a new growth marketer, emphasizing trust and structured processes for team productivity. Craig reflects on his unpredictable SaaS journey, the emotional hurdles of hiring, and how they turned around stagnant growth with a 30% increase in trial sign-ups. He also celebrates milestones while hinting at strategic shifts and upcoming experiments to enhance their business model.