#182: Noah Kagan — Behind the scenes of writing (and marketing) Million Dollar Weekend
Feb 20, 2024
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Noah Kagan, CEO of AppSumo and successful YouTuber, discusses his recent book, Million Dollar Weekend. He shares insights on testing marketing strategies, dealing with agent feedback, and the art of a compelling proposal. Noah reflects on the balance between business and personal branding, emphasizing authenticity in content creation. He talks about the transformative nature of rejection in writing, the importance of beta readers, and the role of strategic marketing in book publishing. Get inspired by his candid approach to creativity and entrepreneurship!
Iterating based on feedback is crucial for book development.
Collaboration with experts enhances content quality and challenges assumptions.
Traditional publishing offers editing support and wider distribution benefits.
Deep dives
The Journey from Proposal to Book
Noah Kagan shares his experience of turning a book proposal into a published book. He initially faced rejection from an agent but used that setback to improve his proposal over the course of a year. The final book ended up deviating from the original proposal in terms of chapter structure and titles. Noah emphasizes the importance of testing and iterating, whether it's cover designs, subtitles, or chapter organization.
Working with a Collaborator
Noah hired a highly regarded collaborator, Tall, for his book. They worked together to refine the content, challenge assumptions, and ensure the book effectively communicated its unique ideas. Noah appreciated the honesty and valuable feedback provided by Tall, as it pushed him to improve the book's quality. He also discusses the benefits of studying successful books to learn from their storytelling techniques and apply them to his own work.
Choosing Traditional Publishing over Self-Publishing
Noah decided to pursue traditional publishing for his book, aiming to swing for the fences and achieve wide recognition. He recognized that traditional publishing offered certain advantages, such as comprehensive editing, fact-checking, and wider distribution channels. Additionally, Noah wanted to work with a publishing house that believed in his book and was willing to invest significantly in its success.
The Importance of Packaging and Marketing
Noah highlights the significance of book packaging and marketing. He emphasizes the need to frame ideas and stories in compelling ways that resonate with the reader. Noah conducted various tests, including cover designs and subtitle choices, to ensure the book had the desired impact on its target audience. He also draws parallels between marketing a book and running a business, emphasizing the importance of solving problems and creating compelling content.
Building a Core Launch Team and Leveraging Networks
The podcast episode discusses the importance of building a core launch team and leveraging personal networks when marketing a book. By creating a team of early readers and reaching out to individuals in your network, you can generate honest reviews and gain valuable feedback for the book. The episode emphasizes the significance of having an email list and utilizing it to connect with potential readers. Additionally, the importance of working with prefluencers, or individuals who are on the rise and have engaged audiences, is highlighted as an effective marketing strategy.
Involving the Audience and the Power of Feedback
The podcast explores the powerful impact of involving the audience and gathering feedback during the book writing and marketing process. The guest speaker shares how he engaged beta readers and implemented their suggestions to transform his book, resulting in a higher quality product. Not only did this involve asking for feedback from readers, but it also included actively seeking out constructive criticism and making necessary changes based on different perspectives. The episode emphasizes the value of making customers or readers a part of the experience, whether through early access, beta reading, or other forms of engagement.
Noah Kagan is the CEO of AppSumo, an 8 figure company that is the #1 software deals site. He also runs a YouTube channel where he shares his tips for finding financial freedom with more than 930,000 subscribers.
Before AppSumo, he was the 30th employee at Facebook reporting directly to Mark Zuckerberg and the 4th employee at mint.com.
Noah has built this reputation for being a relentless tinkerer. He's constantly running small experiments. A couple weeks ago, Noah's new book, Million Dollar Weekend, officially became available for sale. And since that time, he's been everywhere. The Tim Ferriss Show, School of Greatness, Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal. In this episode, you'll learn about his experience making the book itself.
