How I Got 300K Views on My Podcast with Top Regional Entrepreneurs

🎧 308.1K Views | 14.1K Watch Hours | 27.6K+ Subscribers

Author

Salim Akil
April 09, 2025

When I first started the B Model Podcast, I wasn’t entirely sure where it would go. All I knew was that I wanted to create a personal branding strategy—not just for myself, but also for my guests. However, my strategy was never about a single episode going live; it was about a 12-month content creation plan that would provide long-term value.

My goal was simple: to break down not just the success stories of entrepreneurs but also the real mechanics of how they built their business models.

Today, the podcast has grown significantly, accumulating thousands of hours watched and attracting an engaged audience of entrepreneurs. But the journey wasn’t smooth—it was filled with trial and error, budget constraints, technical challenges, and a failed first episode. Here’s what I learned along the way.

Why a Podcast?

After spending seven years in e-commerce operations, I realized I had unintentionally disconnected from my high-profile network. I wanted to rebuild and expand my connections through meaningful conversations with industry leaders, and a podcast felt like the perfect medium.

The second reason was more personal. I’ve always been fascinated by successful entrepreneurs’ stories—their journeys, struggles, and achievements. But one thing was always missing: the "how". Everyone talks about vision, hustle, and big milestones, but few dive into the details of how they structured their business models, built operations, and tackled challenges.

With B Model Podcast, I wanted to move beyond inspiration and deliver real, actionable insights—how businesses actually work, what succeeds, what fails, and what other entrepreneurs can learn.

Starting on a Minimum Budget

I knew the podcast wouldn’t generate income in the first two years. That meant keeping costs as low as possible while ensuring good quality. Fortunately, I secured a few small sponsors early on, which covered some initial expenses, but I stuck to a lean, test-first approach before making major investments.

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One of the biggest challenges was choosing the right equipment. If you ask around, people will recommend the most expensive gear, which wasn’t an option for me. My strategy? Borrow first, test, and buy only what’s necessary.

After multiple trial-and-error setups, I ended up with:

  • 🎧 DJ Mic

  • 📱 Two iPhones for video recording

  • đź“Ś Two stands

  • đź’ˇ Lighting stands (which I never used!)

One key lesson: Location matters. My studio had a glass ceiling with great natural light, making the lighting equipment I bought completely unnecessary. Sometimes, the simplest setup works best.

The First Recording: A Lesson in Failure

Like many first-time podcasters, I thought I was ready when I hit "record." The reality? The first episode was a disaster.

The conversation didn’t flow, the audio quality was poor, and overall, I wasn’t happy with it. Thankfully, I made a smart decision—I chose a guest I knew well, which allowed me to redo the episode without any awkwardness. That first failure was essential—it gave me the space to experiment and improve.

  • Islam Zween – CEO of Argaam Investments (Podcast)

  • Rabea Ataya – Founder of Bayt.com (Podcast)

  • Idriss Alrifai – Founder of Fetchr (Podcast)

  • Ahmed Arif – Co-Founder of Clara (Podcast)

  • Paris Norriss – Founder of Guy in Dubai Show (Podcast)

  • Bilal Abou Diab – Co-Founder of Vault Wealth (Coming Soon)

  • Tariq Abu Samra – Co-Founder of Blooming Box (Coming Soon)

Editing Struggles & Outsourcing Challenges

After recording, I assumed the hardest part was over. Wrong.

Since I was on a budget, I hired a low-cost editing agency. This turned out to be another challenge:

❌ Missed deadlines

❌ Inconsistent quality

❌ Artwork that didn’t match my brand

I quickly realized that paying less sometimes costs more in time and frustration. Eventually, I took a more hands-on approach, guiding the editing agency step by step. 

One big win? I learned how to edit everything from A to Z, which gave me valuable insights into the production process and helped me delegate better in the future.

How I Generated Traffic

I strategically targeted well-known entrepreneurs with established industry networks, leveraging their audiences. This helped me gain exposure through LinkedIn, media mentions, and direct engagement from industry leaders.

Key Metrics:

  • Views: 308.1K (985% increase from the previous 365 days)

  • Watch Time: 14.1K hours (>999% increase)

  • Subscribers: +27.6K

Device Breakdown:

  • TV: 74.6%

  • Mobile: 21.7%

  • Computer: 2.8%

  • Tablet: 0.8%

Content Strategy

Bilingual Targeting:

  • Arabic & English subtitles on all marketing materials.

Pre-Launch Awareness:

Distribution Channels:

Short-Form Video Strategy:

  • Each episode created 30+ short videos (50 sec–1.5 min long), distributed over 60 days per guest.

  • 210+ short clips generated—enough content for a year.

Guest-Centered Promotion:

  • Shared short clips across guests’ social media to expand reach.

Monetization Strategy

I’m now reaching out to corporations to sponsor Season 2, which will feature 20 guests.

Revenue Streams:

  1. Corporate Sponsorships: Aligning with companies that want brand visibility.

  2. Custom Themed Episodes: Creating podcast topics tailored to sponsor interests.

  3. Partnerships with Ecosystem Players: Collaborating with organizations looking to support entrepreneurial content.

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I wanted to share my real experience to help others avoid common pitfalls when launching a podcast. If you’re considering starting one—or if you know a sponsor interested in supporting Season 2—let’s talk!

👉 Book an online meeting if you need advice on starting a podcast. Happy to connect!

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