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Interview with BlogRadio Co-Founder Tirrell Payton

Tirrell Payton is one of the two founders who set up San Diego, CA and Joplin, MO based internet radio site, BlogRadio. They have been listening to their favorite blogs since their founding in 2009.

Internet radio is a new phenomena sweeping across the U.S. It allows a near unlimited access to so many different types of music to almost anyone with an internet connection. Today we speak with BlogRadio Co-Founder Tirrell Payton, who has been riding this new wave.

BlogRadio allows you to listen to any blog, any time, anywhere. By using streaming technology, users can access their favorite blog RSS on their desktop or mobile device.

With so many blogs out there, it can be difficult to find the time to read all of your favorites. With BlogRadio, you can take the blog with you and listen to it on the way to work, while exercising or on your home computer.

When did you start the business?

We began in 2009.

What were you doing before this, and is this your first business?

I have launched a few other businesses prior to BlogRadio, and also worked as a supply chain management consultant for Accenture. Founder Bruce Hopkins has long been known in the Bluetooth and mobile space for his expertise in the industry. He also worked for Accenture prior to launching BlogRadio.

What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to start a similar business?

The art is in the start, to quote Guy Kawasaki. The point is to just start doing something. In our case, we both started with full time jobs, families and major responsibilities. The typical "live on ramen for three months in a one bedroom apartment," which is often portrayed in the media for startups, didn't fit for us. The important thing is to work at your business. Start small with something demonstratable. We have a lot of big ideas, but if we'd waited for them to come to fruition we never would have succeeded.

Also, network. A lot of people have big dreams about starting the next big thing, but they never leave their house. By attending conferences and events, we've made some great connections who are helping us make things happen.

What outside resources did you use to help get things up and running?

The Adobe/Nokia Open Screen Project Fund gave us a grant to get started, which helped hugely in moving us forward.

Did you operate your business from your home? What were the challenges and benefits to this strategy?

Yes. Being in two different locations has been difficult to collaborate. Sometimes email doesn't get the point across.

With the current economy messed up, what cost saving tips would you have for a new entrepreneur?

Only buy what you need, and don't try to predict the future or buy ahead. Understand the now and at most a month from now, and plan for that.

Have you utilized social marketing at all?

We have a presence on Twitter and Facebook, which is starting to trickle in interest. We've also started working with bloggers to offer BlogRadio as a way for their readers to access their posts.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

Something is better than nothing, and getting something in front of a prospective customer helps show your value to them. I wish I had started "something" rather than waiting for the perfect idea.

Thank you very much for your time Tirrell, we hope we can keep listening to you guys kick out the jams.

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