008: Cody & Cole Hock on Running A Creator Business That Does Everything
Apr 30, 2024
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Cody & Cole Hock share insights on cold emailing success, partnering with Kenny Beecham for Enjoy Basketball, leveraging physical products for community engagement, and the value of in-person connections for creators. They discuss strategic collaborations with ESPN, Omaha Productions, and NBA teams, emphasizing building a supportive community and sending positive messages online.
Riverside FM presents a seamless podcast recording solution for the Hey Creator podcast, offering ease of use and high-quality audio. The tool's ability to record audio and video locally and individually per guest ensures reliability, even in cases of connectivity issues or background noise. Additionally, the AI clip generator feature simplifies the creation of short-form vertical videos, enhancing the podcast's engagement and reach.
A Unique Creator Business Model with Enjoy Basketball
Cody and Cole Hawk, founders of Enjoy Basketball, showcase a distinctive creator business that leverages multiple platforms like newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, and merchandise, alongside partnerships with major brands like ESPN and Nike. By partnering with sports creator Kenny Beacham, they emphasize the importance of a diversified approach in building a successful creator business.
The Value of Cold Emailing in Professional Success
Cody and Cole's endorsement of cold emailing highlights its pivotal role in their career achievements, from securing internships to establishing strategic business connections. Their proactive outreach mindset, rooted in consistent cold emailing, underscores the power of networking and seizing opportunity through direct communication.
Establishing Connection Through In-Person Events and Audience Engagement
In-person events such as pop-up shops and community meetups, like those organized by Enjoy Basketball, create a unique opportunity for audience interaction and brand engagement. These events foster direct connections between creators and their fans, generating a sense of community and deepening audience loyalty.
Advantages of Building a Positive Community Online
Enjoy Basketball's emphasis on creating positivity in a space often characterized by negativity highlights the value of cultivating a supportive and celebratory online community. By focusing on uplifting the game and providing a platform for shared enjoyment, creators can differentiate themselves and foster a loyal following that resonates with their positive messaging.
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (@mattragland) and Tim Forkin (@timforkindotcom) interview Cody (@Cody_Hock) & Cole Hock (@UpNorthCole). These two brothers manage entertainment creators, but we wanted to talk about Enjoy Basketball — the media and lifestyle company they founded with one of the biggest sports creators on the internet, Kenny Beecham.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(1:45) — About today’s show
(2:53) — “Cold emailing is my favorite thing to do.”
(10:21) — What goes into a great cold email?
(15:38) — Why choose Kenny as the face of Enjoy Basketball?
(18:18) — The first channel that made sense for their business
(24:29) — How EB pulls almost every lever a creator business can pull
(28:29) — Why they partnered with ESPN & Omaha Productions
(35:54) — How physical products create serendipity
(38:48) — The value of in-person community building for creators