The Impact of Bad Actors and the Potential Shakeout in the Creator Economy

We are joined by the Founder and CEO of ConvertKit, Nathan Barry. Nathan might be the most transparent business builder we've ever encountered, and he's conveniently built one hell of a newsletter software business while operating that way. We dive into the various hype cycles of newsletters, the evolution of the creator economy, and Nathan's own approach to content and transparency. Whether you're a media executive at a major company, or an individual creator in the first innings of launching whatever you are launching, we truly believe you can learn a ton from Nathan. 

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. 

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Show Notes

(00:03:24) - (First question) - The problems as they existed a decade ago versus the problem ConverKit is trying to solve now

(00:06:13) - Whether or not the TAM of email marketing is expanding 

(00:09:14) - The value of an email subscriber compared to an RSS feed subscriber

(00:11:25) - Differences between producing media as an individual and as a brand 

(00:13:12) - Brands who have produced content well in the podcast space 

(00:15:32) - Changes to the creator ecosystem and where creators should start today

(00:17:56) - Timeless growth strategies to consider as a creator 

(00:20:31) - What he uses his podcast for and being clear about the audience 

(00:25:25) - Timely content, timeless content, and the trade off being made for either form

(00:26:30) - The motivation for ConvertKit’s annual conference and measuring the ROI on customer acquisition

(00:31:36) - The acquisition of FanBridge and the impact it’s had on their business

(00:36:42) - Whether or not more acquisitions are on the horizon for him 

(00:40:07) - Changes in email customizability and the runway for further innovation 

(00:42:49) - Potential opportunities to innovate and expand on the RSS feed protocol

(00:44:29) - The rapid expansion of the creator economy during the pandemic

(00:46:12) - Being open and transparent and a possible tipping point for overdoing it

(00:55:55) - Reflecting on working so hard for a decade and lessons learned from it

(00:56:47) - Launching a local newspaper and how it fits into his grander vision 

(00:59:43) - Debrief