Today, we’d like to introduce you to Rod Jones.
Hi Rod, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Way back in 2010, I began a journey of exploration into the craft beer world after experiencing Flower Power from Ithaca Brewing Company during an after-work event. As a beer, it grabbed my attention and opened my eyes and taste buds to the changing world of beer. Fast forward five years later, and many beers later, I launched Rod J BeerVentures.
Rod J BeerVentures initially started as a blog in various forms before settling, as well as sites on many other social media, with YouTube being the primary focal point that would feed the others. Initially, I wasn’t sure how much I would do or even how well it would be accepted, but it was my wife’s urging that she saw the potential opportunity, as she had already been a fan of YouTube.
Well, to make a long story short, I put the time in to teach myself various aspects of social media marketing which, with my undergraduate degree in journalism and advertising as well as also being a former bartender, everything just seemed to come together. Not only did I educate myself in the social media aspect, but I also educated myself deeper into the beer industry, which also paid dividends, which I think is what my subscribers and followers enjoy.
Looking to today, I have been able to develop followings on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Tumblr, Pinterest, and TikTok, along with the blog/website. This is something I hadn’t thought of when I launched Rod J BeerVentures, and it has been great to see the successes that have come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to the successes that I have had I can’t say has been smooth, but no great opportunity ever happens without putting in the work in my opinion. I am a big fan of serendipity, and for me, it was about putting myself in the best scenarios, and then the opportunity would follow from doing so.
Social media is a great check on the human ego. It took time for things to settle in online and to be able to build. Nothing is just instant and automatic. So, being able to be patient is a major key to having success. This is one thing that I had to learn along the way.
Another was being able to have thick skin when needed, Placing yourself out there in the social media circle while it may bring a lot of good fun feedback, there is the other side as well which may not be as good, Fortunately, I have seen less of this then some of my peers but it can be a challenge for many.
One other struggle I will mention is the consistency of providing information. With this being more of a side focus for me and not something I do 100% of the time, finding the time to do reviews and uploads can be challenging. It took a while to find the right groove, but having that groove is so important for what my followers and subscribers can expect and when.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With Rod J BeerVentures, the main focus of many of the videos I share are beer reviews. These are what have built the brand and channels and what people have come to expect. But with my reviews, I try to provide the key elements that matter around beer the same way you would review if you were judging the beer as a beer judge but using my unique style.
But what separates me relates to one of the other questions I answered, which is that I put in the work to educate myself. So, I read books, read online articles, studied the breweries of the beers I review, and even taught myself to brew to learn how to make beer and learn the process. And I believe this comes through to my viewers or readers, as well as my discussions with breweries from across the country.
Apart from the reviews, the interviews are some of the works that I am most proud of. To be able to have breweries come online or even sit with me live in person to discuss their breweries is something that can’t be understated by how huge that is. And each year, it gets better as I connect more and more with the industry.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Books: The Joy of Homebrewing, Tasting Beer, This Ain’t the Beer That You’re Used To, The Beer Bible, The Beer Diet, and Hooray for Craft Beer.
Apps: Untappd is my most used, but others I have are Beer Styles and BJCP Styles, which are both good for beer education.
Podcasts: I do enjoy the Beer in Front Podcast, Cold Brue Podcast, Brewsing Banter Podcast, Upstate Beer Boys Podcast, and Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast.
Other Resources: Various things online via Google searches as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: rodjbeerventures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodjbeerventures/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodJBeerVentures/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rod-j-beerventures
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RodJBeerVenture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RodJBeerVentures4U
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=J7xKUU5rNmpQvBfg4zly5Q&utm_source=ishare
- Other: https://linktr.ee/rodjbeerventures
