Episode 9 of the Late Night Internet Marketing Podcast was a milestone for the show. I debuted a new podcast jingle and interviewed the man who created it — musician and entrepreneur Geoff Smith. The conversation covered the intersection of passion and business, the early days of podcasting, and practical advice on outsourcing creative work.
Combining Passion with Internet Business
Geoff Smith's story was a perfect example of what happens when you build a business around something you love. Raised by a musician father who played with The Temptations and Marvin Gaye, Geoff grew up immersed in music. He eventually discovered podcasting in its earliest days through Adam Curry's Daily Source Code and started creating jingles for podcast segments.
What started as a hobby — trading jingle work for iTunes gift cards — turned into a legitimate business. Geoff built relationships with podcasters, expanded into podcast jingles for major shows, and even launched a ringtone subscription service. His trajectory demonstrated a principle I come back to constantly: when you combine genuine passion with smart internet marketing, you create something sustainable.
Lessons on Creative Outsourcing
The most practical part of our conversation was about how to be a good client when outsourcing creative work. Geoff had worked with hundreds of clients by that point, and his advice was straightforward:
- Do your homework first. Before hiring someone, look at their existing work. Make sure their style and strengths match what you need. This saves time and prevents mismatches that lead to frustration on both sides.
- Provide as much information as possible. The more context you give a creative professional, the better their output will be. Share examples of what you like, describe the feeling you want to convey, and explain your audience.
- Talk on the phone. Geoff found that a phone conversation before starting a project revealed things that emails and questionnaires missed. You get a sense of each other's “vibe” that leads to better creative output.
- Be clear about what you want, but leave room for expertise. A good creative professional brings ideas and skills you do not have. Give direction, but do not micromanage.
What This Means for Entrepreneurs in 2026
The outsourcing landscape has evolved dramatically since this episode. Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and specialized creative marketplaces make it easier than ever to find talented people for any creative need. AI tools can handle basic audio editing, graphic design, and video production. But Geoff's core advice still holds: the quality of your outsourcing results depends heavily on the quality of your communication as a client.
The episode also touched on something I was planning for the show's future: a deep dive into the five pillars of affiliate marketing — niche identification, web presence, traffic, product selection and conversion, and visitor retention. These pillars became the foundation of the podcast for years to come, and they remain the core framework for building an affiliate business today.
The future of podcasting that I discussed in 2010 has long since arrived. Podcasting is now a mainstream medium with over four million shows worldwide. But the principles of creating valuable content, building genuine relationships with your audience, and combining passion with business strategy have not changed one bit.
