Former eCommerce powerhouse Mike Jackness went from owning multiple 7-figure Amazon brands to running one of the fastest-growing YouTube gambling channels in Las Vegas. In this episode of Marketing Misfits, hosts Norm Farrar and Kevin King unpack how Mike turned his decades of Amazon and affiliate marketing experience into a completely new media business and how it’s already breaking even in just six months.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why Mike sold all his Amazon brands and what he saw coming before tariffs hit again
✅ How he built a content machine that posts daily long-form videos + multiple Shorts
✅ The monetization math behind YouTube RPMs, merch sales, and sponsorships
✅ What it really takes to build a loyal community (and why women over 50 are driving his views)
✅ Why owning your audience email, community, and content is the ultimate business asset
Featuring:
🎙️ Mike Jackness – Former eCommerce CEO, creator of Desert Degens
🎙️ Hosts: Norm Farrar & Kevin King
00:00 The Pivot No One Expected
01:40 Meet Mike Jackness
03:52 Million-Dollar Affiliate Days
05:43 From Affiliates to Amazon
08:14 Amazon Reality Check
16:23 Building Superfans Online
26:44 Gambling on YouTube
39:11 Selling for Freedom
39:34 What YouTube Really Pays
42:08 Daily Grind of Creation
43:49 Personality Over Perfection
45:12 Who’s Actually Watching
47:24 Expanding Beyond YouTube
53:20 Turning Fans Into Buyers
58:18 What’s Next for Degens
01:04:09 Lessons for Every Creator
This episode is brought to you by:
- Sellerboard: https://sellerboard.com/misfits
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- 8fig: Get 25% off 8fig off at https://8fig.co
- Stack Influence: Use code MISFITS for 10% off at https://stackinfluence.com/
- Levanta: Get 20% off Levanta's gold plan and book your call today - https://get.levanta.io/misfits
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