Leveling Up with Eric Siu

In today’s episode, we welcome back Bob Glazer, to discuss how marketing is changing, and to explore some of the key methods for layering performance marketing into one’s growth strategy. Bob is a Serial Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, and is the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Acceleration Partners. He is also the author of the new book Moving to Outcomes, about why partnerships are the future of marketing. Tuning in you’ll hear Bob break down the meaning of affiliate partnerships, why it is often poorly defined, and how they can provide some of the most effective outcomes in marketing. He delves into the topics he covers in his new book, including some of the problems it solves for leaders as well as long-term marketing strategies. Bob discusses how Affiliate Partners has grown since it first started, why he describes them as a partner management recruiting specialist firm, as well as the benefits they’ve experienced from working remotely over the past ten years. He also shares some of the misunderstandings around affiliate marketing, why it’s such a huge opportunity, and why he believes companies should master quality before scaling. Tune in for a fascinating conversation on the future of marketing, remote work, and so much more! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:15] Today’s topic: How Marketing Is Going to Change Forever and How to Layer Performance Marketing Into Your Growth Strategy With Bob Glazer. [00:25] Introducing today’s guest, Bob Glazer, and his new book Moving to Outcomes. [02:44] The lack of ROI that businesses have been experiencing with paid ads and social media. [04:19] How Bob defines affiliate and brand marketing. [05:53] Bob’s company Affiliate Partners and why Bob defines them as a partner management and recruiting specialist firm. [07:06] A breakdown of partnership marketing, Affiliate Partners, and what makes them a truly global company.  [09:11] An overview of the content in Bob’s new book Moving to Outcomes. [11:01] Some of the topics and marketing challenges that are addressed in Moving to Outcomes. [11:51] Why Bob enjoys writing books: it’s a way to solve problems and share knowledge. [13:29] Practical methods for instituting affiliate marketing strategies.  [15:49] Insights into Acceleration Partners’ payment structures and the benefits of a hybrid approach. [18:08] Some of the awards that Acceleration Partners has won, why a positive working environment is so important, and why they prioritize accountability and flexibility. [20:13] How Acceleration Partners has been remote for ten years and how they have compensated for the in-office element. [21:38] Some of the ways that their clients and employees meet up in person.  [24:03] An overview of Acceleration Partners hubs in the US. [24:47] The plans for Acceleration Partners over the next five years. [27:19] Bob’s thoughts on current trends in wage inflation. [29:32] The benefits of reaching out to check in on employees who left your business on good terms.  [30:13] Bob’s favorite performance marketing tool. [30:57] Bob’s book recommendation and why he often gives it to people as a gift.   Resources From The Interview:     Robert Glazer Robert Glazer on LinkedIn Affiliate Partnerships Moving To Outcomes LinkedIn Talent Insights Must-read book: Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts     Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter   Eric Siu on Instagram

In today’s episode of Leveling Up, Eric talks with Brett Malinowski about how he grew his YouTube channel to 122 000 subscribers in 90 days, sold out $1.7M in NFTs in 17 minutes and built a Twitter following of 176 000 subscribers. In our conversation, Brett shares the details of his NFT journey, from first becoming involved with crypto in 2014, to working in film production, to the creation of a hugely successful NFT project. Hear how Brett built the Magic Mushroom Clubhouse Project, the huge profit they made, and why he has reinvested his profits into building NFT projects. Brett explains his passion for NFTs, why he created The NFT Academy, and how his projects are helping businesses leverage the power of NFTs to prepare for Web3. We also discuss why community is much more successful than influencer marketing in the NFT and Web3 space, and the value of platforms like discord for forming valuable networks. To learn more about Web3, NFTs, and how to grow your YouTube channel in a record amount of time, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:15] Today’s topic: He Built His YouTube to 122k Subs in 90 Days, Sold Out $1.7M in NFTs in 17 Minutes, and Built a 176k Twitter Following With Brett Malinowski. [00:55] An overview of Brett’s journey from college to starting the NFT Academy. [02:11] How Brett grew his following from scratch on YouTube. [02:26] How timing, previous experience in the crypto space, and access to video equipment helped his channel become successful very quickly. [03:22] A breakdown of Brett’s production process for his videos. [04:15] Learn about Brett’s Magic Mushroom Clubhouse project. [05:41] The huge profits Brett made and why he reinvested most of it into his Clubhouse project. [07:08] The role of NFTs in Web3 and how investing in NFTs will help build a foundation for your business for Web3.  [08:49] The NFT Academy and why it’s a great educational tool. [10:27] Why community will continue to remain a crucial element of NFTs and Web3. [12:07] The role that timing has played in the growth Brett has seen on social media platforms like Twitter.  [13:50] Brett’s advice on the best PR strategy for brand new projects. [13:55] Why community is much more successful than influencer marketing in the NFT and Web3 space. [18:42] Brett’s approach to compensation for community members and contributors. [21:30] How Brett is balancing his many different projects.  [23:06] A breakdown of the NFT Academy and how it is helping businesses learn about and leverage the power of NFTs. [24:04] The Million Dollar Mint Club and why Brett is excited about it. [25:20] Brett’s recommended resources for learning about NFTs and staying informed of the latest developments. [25:57] Brett’s favorite NFT tools.   Resources From The Interview:   Brett Malinowski on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsg20ERGZt9eHVZRXROJSqg  Brett Malinowski on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebrettway The Magic Mushroom Clubhouse NFT: https://magicmushroomclubnft.com/ NFT Academy on OpenSea: https://opensea.io/collection/nftacademy Pop-In: https://www.popinpass.com/ Whiteboard Crypto: https://whiteboardcrypto.com/ Nansen: https://www.nansen.ai/ Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro   Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter   Eric Siu on Instagram

In this video, I will discuss why NFTs have more incentive alignment and why all marketers need to use this in their growth playbook. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:54]  We are all driven by incentives [01:42]  NFT = More incentive alignment [03:45]  Gary Vaynerchuk and Vee Friends [05:32]  Brett Malinowski [06:32]  Web 3 is being able to own [07:20]  Brands using NFT (Nike, Heineken, Gucci)   Leveling Up Heroes NFT: 👾 Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/vbXEDP5gdM 📲 Follow Our Twitter For Updates: https://twitter.com/levelingupnft 🔥 Learn More About The NFT Project: https://heroes.levelingup.com/heroes/   🥳 Let’s Level Up together! Connect with me through my social media and get a free book: https://linktr.ee/levelingupofficial   😎 Need to grow your business but don't know where to start? Request a free chat with a Growth Expert at Single Grain, my Digital Marketing Agency: https://www.singlegrain.com/marketing-plan/

Any incumbent YouTuber will tell you that getting your content to stand out above the rest has become infinitely more competitive than in the early days of YouTube. As a result, individuals and businesses often become discouraged when they don’t see their audience grow in the way they expected within the first few months, or even years, of their channel. Today on the show we get together with Jake Tran, an up-and-coming YouTuber who creates in-depth business video essays on money, power, and crime, to uncover exactly what it takes to be a successful YouTuber, and some of the business strategies that can help you achieve it. We talk with Jake about how he became a YouTuber, why slow growth is normal, and the one video topic and subsequent share that had a massive impact on his total number of views. Jake unpacks his economic model for us, as well as some of the recent changes he’s made, and explains why he is dedicated to providing more value than subscribers pay for. He also delves into some of the business concepts that have shaped his outlook, most notably the concept of a blue ocean, how it impacted his channel, and what his plans are for the future. If you’re intimidated by starting a YouTube channel, or are eager to grow the one you currently have, make sure you tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:15] Today’s topic: How Jake Tran Made One Tweak To Skyrocket His YouTube to 1M Subs(MS). [00:25] Introducing today’s guest Jake Tran, who creates business essays on YouTube. [01:02] Why Jake chose to focus his video essays on money, power, and crime. [02:16] Jake’s YouTube journey, and why his latest venture started with two channels. [04:27] How trying to imitate someone else’s YouTube channel can inhibit your growth. [05:47] The concept of a blue ocean and how Jake implemented its lessons about eliminating the competition to elevate his YouTube channel. [07:43] The nature of creative work and the amount of time Jake typically spends on a video. [08:15] The dilemma of time spent creating quality videos in relation to the number of views at the start of your career.  [08:57] How having his video shared on a prominent channel boosted Jake’s numbers. [10:11] An overview of Jake’s comprehensive research process. [11:12] Jake’s insights on what to avoid if you’re trying to grow your YouTube channel. [12:22] The economics of being a YouTuber and where they earn their revenue through AdSense and sponsorships. [14:03] Jake’s economic model, his new Join button, and his long-term plan. [16:31] Hear about Jake’s nomadic lifestyle, being a Renaissance man, and what he prioritizes in his life. [20:16] The surprising amount of times Jake has been recognized from his YouTube channel.  [21:15] Jake’s top business tool and book recommendations.   Resources From The Interview:   Jake Tran Jake Tran on LinkedIn Jake Tran on YouTube Jake Tran on Instagram Jake Tran on TikTok Graham Stephan on YouTube Marques Brownlee on YouTube   Kurzgesagt: In a Nutshell on YouTube   Skype Loom Adobe suite LEMMiNO   The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant   Must-read book: The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime   Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram

In this episode, we will discuss some NFT marketing mistakes based on our own experience to help you avoid them!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:58]  1. Not blitzing hard enough with Promotions [01:35]  Still, we had an amazing NFT collab with “friends”  [02:51]  2. Not having unique PFPs  [04:55]  3. Launching two tiers at the same time [06:45] 4. Not hiring a full team ready   Leveling Up Heroes NFT: 👾 Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/vbXEDP5gdM 📲 Follow Our Twitter For Updates: https://twitter.com/levelingupnft 🔥 Learn More About The NFT Project: https://heroes.levelingup.com/heroes/   🥳 Let’s Level Up together! Connect with me through my social media and get a free book: https://linktr.ee/levelingupofficial   😎 Need to grow your business but don't know where to start? Request a free chat with a Growth Expert at Single Grain, my Digital Marketing Agency: https://www.singlegrain.com/marketing-plan/

Today on Leveling Up we are joined by Brian Dean to share updates on Backlinko and Exploding Topics. As many of you know, Brian recently sold Backlinko to SEMrush, and in our discussion we hear about how he started the SEO blog, how he excelled in a red ocean with it, some of the most successful SEO strategies he came up with, why course creators are an attractive acquisition for software companies, and lessons he learned during the acquisition. Exploding Topics is Brian’s newer project, and we get to hear how it evolved from an early personal trend spotting project to an acquihire that he subsequently grew. Brain talks about the work he has put into Exploding Topics, shares some numbers around its current success, and also talks about how he approached acquiring the business from Josh Howarth who is now his CTO. In this conversation, we also talk to Brian about life in Lisbon, hear about all the grunt work he did to get ahead, and also get some behind-the-scenes insights into his longstanding relationship with Eric and Neil. Tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [01:07] An introduction to Brian Dean and the story behind Backlinko and Exploding Topics. [01:51] Why Brian started Backlinko in 2013 at a time where SEO was already so competitive. [04:40] What the Skyscraper Technique is and how it became so famous. [06:18] Classic pieces from the Backlinko blog: the Skyscraper Technique and more. [07:07] How much traffic Brian was able to generate for Backlinko per month. [07:20] The method Brian used to make money from Backlinko through courses. [09:13] Being acquired by SEMrush and why course creators are an attractive acquisition for software companies. [11:33] Why Brian started Exploding Topics and the main mission of the business. [14:17] The story of Brian acquiring what became Exploding Topics and how he went about it. [16:06] Numbers around the business: ARR, blog traffic, email list, newsletter subscribers. [18:00] How Brian had to ‘eat poopoo’ initially to get ahead. [21:34] Brian’s thoughts on the crabs in a bucket mentality on SEO Twitter. [23:27] Brian’s experiences traveling and why he ended up in Lisbon. [24:50] What media Brian is consuming and why he is not focusing on self-improvement. [25:35] Lessons learned from the acquisition around due diligence and relationship with the buyer. [28:00] Brian’s favorite tool that isn’t Exploding Topics. [28:53] The best way to find Brian online.   Resources From The Interview:   Brian Dean on LinkedIn Brian Dean on Twitter Backlinko Exploding Topics Josh Howarth on LinkedIn SEMrush MicroAcquire Brain.fm   Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter   Eric Siu on Instagram

In this video, learn how Alex Lieberman of Morning Brew accidentally launched a podcast and what is the most challenging thing in his "Founder's Journal" journey. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] - Intro to “Alex Lieberman and The Founder’s Journal Podcast” [00:30] - What is The Founder’s Journal  [02:51] - The hardest thing in Alex’s podcast journey  [04:50] - Outro Leveling Up Heroes NFT: 👾Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/vbXEDP5gdM 📲Follow Our Twitter For Updates: https://twitter.com/levelingupnft 🔥Learn More About The NFT Project: https://heroes.levelingup.com/heroes/   Connect: 📚 Get My Book, Leveling Up: How to Master the Game of Life: https://levelingup.com/freebook 🐦 Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericosiu 📸 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ericosiu/ 🍄 Follow Leveling Up on IG: https://www.instagram.com/levelingupofficial/ 😎 Listen to Leveling Up Podcast: http://www.levelingup.com/ 👨‍🏫 to Marketing School Podcast (5 million downloads per month): https://marketingschool.io 📈 Get a Free Consultation from my Digital Marketing Agency, Single Grain: http://www.singlegrain.com/   More: 🖼 NFT ONLY Videos https://levelingup.com/nftvideos 🤑 Wealth Building ONLY Videos https://levelingup.com/wealthvideos 📈 Marketing Trends ONLY Videos https://levelingup.com/marketingtrends 🧑🏻‍🏫 Marketing Case Studies https://levelingup.com/marketingstudies 🚀 Start a Marketing Agency ONLY Videos https://levelingup.com/startagency 💰 Marketing Career Tips ONLY Videos https://levelingup.com/careervideos ———— Enjoyed this episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe: http://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=gogrowtheverywhere

In this video, learn what are the key things you need to know in selling out your NFT Project and how you become a person of value! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [01:41] - Build for the long-term [02:00] - Key things: Proven Team and Road Map [03:06] - Read $100M Offers - Alex Hormozi [03:33] - Collabs with “Top Influencers” [05:53] - Building NFT Project is like a Start-Up [07:23] - Hiring People Carefully [08:55] - Be A Person of Value [10:20] - Join Communities   Leveling Up Heroes NFT: 👾 Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/vbXEDP5gdM 📲 Follow Our Twitter For Updates: https://twitter.com/levelingupnft 🔥 Learn More About The NFT Project: https://heroes.levelingup.com/heroes/   🥳 Let’s Level Up together! Connect with me through my social media and get a free book: https://linktr.ee/levelingupofficial   😎 Need to grow your business but don't know where to start? Request a free chat with a Growth Expert at Single Grain, my Digital Marketing Agency: https://www.singlegrain.com/marketing-plan/

The world has experienced a tremendous amount of change in the past two years and as a result, we are currently in an ongoing state of flux. Making sense of the social landscape we find ourselves in is integral to how we navigate our lives and our careers. It is especially important for anyone involved in investing, marketing, and optimizing new business ventures. We cover some fascinating topics in today's conversation so make sure you tune in to hear it all!TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:15] Today’s topic: Bootstrapping a $50M+ Business, Growing a Twitter to 120K+ Followers with Romeen Sheth. [00:53] An overview of Sheth’s career and the function of Metasys. [03:08] How Sheth recognized a need for a company like Metasys to support the rapidly growing gig economy. [05:48] A breakdown of Sheth’s workflow and how he integrates his business with his investment activity. [07:51] What Twitter means to Sheth and how he has recently grown his following. [09:27] Why Sheth approaches Twitter as if he were building an online honeypot. [11:36] The typical amount of time Sheth spends on a Twitter thread. [13:42] Sheth’s top two pieces of advice for anyone who is entering the Twitter space, blogging, or any kind of content marketing.  [14:11] Learning to strike the balance between authenticity and providing useful information online and how that helps you maintain a practice of posting. [15:44] Sheth’s experience of direct message conversations on Twitter and why they tend to be more substantive than on other platforms. [16:51] Why it’s valuable to view Twitter as an accelerator. [18:48] What Sheth means by Clarity of Thought and how he has been honing that skill. [22:13] Sheth’s learning habits and the important integration of reading, critical thinking, and application. [24:41] Sheth’s definition of the Renaissance Decade and the massive amounts of change he is anticipating in the coming decades.  [29:07] The investments and areas of interest that Sheth is most excited about. [32:23] The average amount of time Sheth spends reading per day and how it supports his investing. [33:40] Sheth’s book recommendations and profound insights into self-knowledge and what society encourages you to aspire towards. [37:13] Sheth’s favorite personal and business tools. [38:48] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!   Resources From The Interview:   Romeen Sheth on LinkedIn Romeen Sheth on Twitter Metasys Technologies Square One: Conversations with the Best in Business Longreads   Must read book: The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail   Must read book: How Will You Measure Your Life? Must read book: Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life Oura Ring Eight Sleep  Leave Some Feedback:   What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter  Eric Siu on Instagram

As the world of crypto continues to evolve and grow, there is a vast array of associated new possibilities that are available to investors on a regular basis. On the show today, we welcome Josip Rupena, the CEO and Founder of Milo, a company that is bringing together the worlds of digital assets and real estate. Milo is here to give all of our listeners a few reasons why you should consider this avenue for yourself! We speak about the company's focus, what exactly they are trying to provide for their customers, how their application process works, and who is best suited to work with Milo. We also get some great book and tool recommendations from Josip and hear about his own real estate investment aspirations, so join us today to hear it all! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:10] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:51] Josip's professional background and foundation in financial services. [01:40] Our guest explains the interest rates associated with crypto mortgages.  [03:57] How to view digital investments and holding appreciating assets. [04:50] The periods associated with Milo's processes. [05:19] Who gets approved? Josip explains what it takes to get through the application process. [05:58] The transferral of cryptocurrency to a custodian.  [06:28] How the funding at Milo has worked so far. [06:57] The most common amounts for the loans that Milo deals with currently. [09:05] Suitable customers for Milo; Josip explains their vetting process. [10:08] Important elements that Josip and his team look at in applications.  [11:25] How the Milo team is spread out geographically. [11:44] Two business book recommendations from Josip. [12:11] Josip's personal approach to real estate investing at the moment. [13:04] Why Josip loves the white-boarding tool from Miro for collaborating and workflow.  [13:19] How to find Josip and Milo online and learn more!   Resources From The Interview:   Josip Rupena on Twitter Milo  Morgan Stanley Goldman Sachs  Miro    Must-read books: Reminiscences of a Stock Operator and Liar's Poker     Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter   Eric Siu on Instagram