It’s happening…creators are claiming the upper hand in their businesses. They’re shifting from rented media – platforms like YouTube and TikTok – into owned media. Public platforms still serve a purpose, but creators are discovering the profitability and long-term potential that membership access spaces offer. If you’re intrigued but not sure how to dip your toes into these uncharted waters, then this episode is for you.  Matt Estes and Tonner Jackson, CEO of Course Studio, discuss the creator COO category and the evolution of the courses market. They explore the importance of owned media and the rise of creator operator types. They also delve into the challenges of driving transformation in courses and the balance between community and coaching.  The conversation highlights the potential of combining courses and memberships and the need to keep costs low in owned media. They wrap up with advice for creators taking their first steps in owned media. Listen as we explore: How to turn creator personalities into big media brands, the different purposes of rented media and owned media, and combining course content with community experiences to transform the learning experience Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with Tonner: Making a Profitable Start in Course Creation: Tonner gives a crash course in courses for creators who want to shift into owned media. His top tips: keep costs low and validate ideas before making a major investment. He recommends starting with an inexpensive live product to gauge interest and gather feedback. Then, you can explore the possibility of a full-fledged course. The Purposes of Rented Media and Owned Media: First things first – what are the different types of media? Rented media is intermediated by a platform and an algorithm, like YouTube or TikTok. On the other hand, owned media is an audience a creator has more control over, like an email list or RSS feed. There are pros and cons to each type, but the gist is: use rented media for audience discovery and owned media for audience retention and monetization. Combing Course Content with Community Experiences: Data shows educational communities drive better outcomes and provide timely feedback, but curating these spaces can be a major drain on a creator’s time. Tonner advises that creators be intentional about the commitments they make to communities, balancing the benefits of the format with their own investment of time. Jump into the Conversation: [05:00] Addressing Creators’ Resistance to Selling [10:12] How Category and Audience Contribute to Profitability Potential [18:23] Rented Vs. Owned Media [26:28] The Strategic Value of a Creator COO in Owned Media [32:17] The Evolution of the Courses Market [38:08] Balancing Community and Coaching in Courses [42:57] Driving Repeat Purchases in Courses [47:24] Combining Courses and Memberships [54:43] Keeping Costs Low in Owned Media [57:33] The Role of a Creator COO [01:03:42] Taking the First Step in Owned Media Continue the conversation with these resources: Follow Tonner Jackson on LinkedIn and X Explore Course Studio’s web and mobile products for creators

Picture this: A membership platform that thrives outside the gamble of Adsense revenue. That's the domain Chris Sharpe and his business partner Adriene Mishler have built at Yoga with Adriene. They’ve shifted from ephemeral profits to constructing a community of over 50,000 members away from YouTube.  In today’s episode, Chris reveals the secrets that can transform viewers into a committed community. He discusses his evolution from independent filmmaker to entrepreneurial success. From early experiments with a cooking channel to prioritizing creation over marketing, we'll uncover what has made ‘Find What Feels Good’ thrive. Chris shares his insights on the challenges of high-value transactional sales, the importance of recurring revenue, and the art of maintaining creative and business control. So, whether you're an established creator, a burgeoning entrepreneur, or someone who simply loves a good journey of growth and success against the odds, this episode is your ticket behind the scenes of a thriving creator's universe. Show Notes: Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with Chris: Outsource to Scale: One vital lesson is to delegate non-core activities. As a creator or Creator COO, identifying functions like bookkeeping, accounting, and HR can free up essential time and energy to focus on growth. By outsourcing these tasks, you also tap into expertise that can handle them more efficiently, reducing errors and long-term costs. Focus on Community and Recurring Revenue: Chris encourages creators to look beyond one-off sales and to invest in building a thriving community. This gives creators a more consistent revenue stream and a deeper connection with their audience, leading to long-term brand loyalty. Prioritize Creative Integrity and Control: Maintaining creative and business control is key for Chris. To stay content, creators need to create content that aligns with their vision, rather than chasing quick profits. The episode sheds light on the strategies for balancing the creative process with marketing, emphasizing profit margins, and managing a team—all while staying true to your core values.  Jump into the Conversation: [01:24] Building a YouTube Following and Monetizing Through Find What Feels Good [06:36] Establishing a Working Partnership and Category Dominance  [15:55] The Un-Sexy Day-to-Day Responsibilities of a Creator COO [26:45] Transitioning from Ad Revenue to Direct-to-Consumer Sales [34:38] Revenue Streams: Transactional vs. Relational  [42:37] Building a Media Brand & Delivering Value [46:02] Splitting Brands: Yoga with Adriene and Find What Feels Good [57:00] Chris’s Advice for Aspiring Creator COOs [01:01:00] Where the Next Generation of Creator COOs Might Come From Continue the conversation with these resources: Follow Chris Sharpe on LinkedIn and X

Exploring the role of creator-operators in scaling successful businesses, the podcast delves into the nuances of finding and compensating a creator COO. It highlights the differences between creators and operators, the need for operational partners, and practical strategies for running a thriving enterprise. From aligning objectives with creator partners to redefining success metrics, this episode equips listeners with tools to navigate complexities in the creator economy.

Angus Parker, General Manager for YouTube star Ali Abdaal, discusses managing the operations of a creative genius. He shares insights on addressing key man risk by creating diverse revenue streams and the importance of structured methodologies like OKRs to optimize creative collaboration. Angus emphasizes the balancing act of a COO in a personality-driven brand, the cultural shift in the creator economy, and strategies for sustainable revenue, highlighting the need for commercial savvy and community building in the digital landscape.

Discussing the rise of Creator COOs in the booming creator economy, Jim Louderback shares his insights on building and selling $100M+ creator startups. Explore the shift to DTC empowering creators, the evolution of monetization strategies, the transition to full-time partners, and the importance of equity in the creator economy. Learn about networking in the creator industry and advice for aspiring creators and tech professionals entering the space.

Picture this: you open your partner’s inbox to find a $10k deal just sat there, in junk, unread!  Well, this happened to today’s guest Amanda Marcovitch, the Business Manager for Youshaei Studios. Under Amanda’s management, Jon has seen his YouTube channel skyrocket with over 405k subscribers, and a staggering 300 million views in the past year alone. She’s also cultivated lucrative partnerships with brands like American Express, Google, HubSpot, and Microsoft. Join Matt Estes and Amanda as they unpack the layered responsibilities of the Creator COO. From driving operational efficiency to navigating brand sponsorships. Strategies and best practices for vendor management and team coordination. And the key traits creators should look for when considering a COO partnership.  So whether you’re an aspiring Creator COO or you’ve realized you really need to hire one, this episode is an essential listen. Show Notes: Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with Amanda: What to look for in a Creator COO: Profitability is profitability, no matter the business. Amanda explains that while media experience is great, operational skills are more important. She dives into the specific areas of expertise that fall under this umbrella, including strategic planning, financial management, and legal administration. How to know when to hire a Creator COO: We all let things fall through the cracks from time to time, but when keeping on top of brand deals becomes unmanageable, it’s time to get help. Creator COOs calm the chaos and fine-tune operations for efficiency and profitability. The importance of trust in the creator-Creator COO partnership: Creator COOs need to be deeply invested in the long-term success of the creator. And trust is key. Creators hand over their passwords, bank accounts, and deepest darkest secrets to the COO. As trust grows, so does the business.  Jump into the Conversation: [03:30] The importance of trust between creators and Creator COOs [07:00] Qualities of a great Creator COO [14:00] KPIs to track in the content world [18:45] Key capabilities of a Creator COO [21:00] Pain points that indicate the need for a Creator COO [29:00] Amanda’s advice for aspiring COOs [32:00] Where the Creator COO role is going   Continue the conversation with these resources:Follow Amanda Marcovitch on LinkedIn and X

Behind every creator is an operations executive. Someone running the business side of the brand so creators can do what they do best—create. What does it mean to be a creator’s COO? The role is developing as we speak, and we want to learn from those who are figuring it out in real-time.  Through intimate conversations, you’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at these leaders’ journeys. Along the way, they’ll share what they’ve learned and their advice to other business operations professionals supporting creators. The new wave of digital creators and communities is transforming the face of business. Without the creator, there wouldn’t be a brand, but without the COO, there wouldn’t be a business. Join us as we dive deep into the stories of these unsung heroes so you don’t have to navigate the role alone.