Leveling Up with Eric Siu

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

In today’s episode, we continue our NFT compilation series where we take a nuanced look at NFTs, the implementation of Web3, and how it will affect business and marketing in the future. For today’s installment, we get together with Matt Colon, Global President of Music at YMU, to talk about his work with Steve Aoki, the documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, and the launch of A0k1verse NFTs. In our conversation, Matt gives an overview of how NFTs feature in the music industry, why it’s so much more complex than NFTs that are made to trade visual art, and how the concept of ownership has transformed in the digital era. Tuning in you’ll hear Matt break down how they built a tokenized membership community, their long-term vision for the project, and how NFTs are connecting audiences and musicians in a novel and unprecedented way. Matt describes the future ecosystem he envisions, how digital passports would work, and some of the artists who are already involved. He also delves into his thoughts on Web3, the importance of storytelling, and why he is preparing for a massive paradigm shift. To learn more about NFTs, Web3, and the music industry, be sure to 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: Creating Steve Aoki's Netflix Documentary, A0k1verse NFTs, and more with Matt Colon. [00:15] Introducing today’s guest Matt Colon, Global President of Music at YMU. [01:02] Matt’s background and some of the figures he’s worked with like Steve Aoki. [02:12] An overview of how the world of NFTs relates to the music industry in general. [04:48] What NFTs can accomplish for musicians. [06:58] Matt’s perspective on the value of NFTs and the concept of ownership in the digital age. [10:23] How Steve Aoki is tackling NFTs and mobilizing his fanbase. [12:10] Steve’s broad reach and his incredible touring record.  [12:43] A breakdown of the tokenized community they have built for Steve Aoki. [14:25] A0k1verse and the long-term goals of their NFT project. [18:20] The documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, which Matt produced, about Steve Aoki, and how it has affected Steve’s brand. [19:59] How its Netflix release changed the documentary’s impact. [21:14] Steve’s relationship with the director and how the documentary became a father-son story.  [24:06] Matt shares his ten-year outlook on NFTs, Web3, and the accompanying paradigm shift. [28:45] Matt shares his favorite book of the moment. [29:06] Why you shouldn’t have to micromanage your employees. [31:44] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!   Resources From The Interview:   A0k1verse Matt Colon on Instagram Matt Colon on Twitter Doodles Doodles NFT   I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead Must-read book: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention     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

For decades the music industry has been wildly imbalanced, with only a fraction of the 40-billion-dollar industry going towards musicians. Today’s guest is on a mission to disrupt the status quo and give fans the power to directly participate in the careers of their favorite artists. Many of our listeners will be familiar with Justin Blau, also known as 3lau, a famous DJ, electronic dance music producer, and the CEO and co-founder of Royal, a music investment platform that allows fans to easily invest in artists and earn royalties alongside them. As part of our NFT compilation series, we sat down with Justin to discuss his new company, the Web3 space, and why he is so excited about it. In our conversation, Justin breaks down his journey, from studying finance to dropping out to pursue his fast-growing DJ career, to founding Royal. He unpacks some of the lessons he's learned, why he never expected to sell his NFT for 11.7 million dollars, and some of the challenges Royal is expected to face as it grows. He also talks about the siloed nature of the Web3 space, why he believes in Web2.5, and the importance of adjusting your perspective and staying in touch with the needs and wants of the mainstream.  Be sure to tune in to this fascinating conversation on the possibilities of Web3, the music industry, and 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: Selling An NFT for $11.7M, Raising $71M from a16z for his Music NFT Startup, Royal, with Justin 3lau. [00:15] Introducing today’s guest: CEO and Co-Founder of Royal, and well-known DJ, and electronic dance music (EDM) producer, Justin Blau, also known as 3lau. [00:59] How Justin co-founded Royal and how it allows fans to invest in musicians they love. [01:36] Justin’s unique journey from studying finance and being a DJ to co-founding Royal. [03:48] How the music industry makes money, the disproportionately small amount that currently goes to artists, and how Royal disrupts that model. [04:46] An overview of Justin’s past and upcoming NFT projects. [06:16] Some of the biggest challenges that Royal will be facing as they grow. [06:30] Why Justin refers to Royal as a Web2.5 platform.  [07:41] How Justin balances being a musician and a startup co-founder. [08:52] Justin’s insights into Web3 and how the insularity of the industry sometimes results in people losing perspective of what the mainstream world wants. [10:26] How Justin put together an exceptional team for his startup. [11:17] An overview of how Justin went about selling his NFT for 11.7 million dollars. [12:56] How Royal is currently being marketed and why most of its growth has been organic. [14:09] Resources to better understand Web3 and NFTs, and why Justin refers to them as limited digital assets. [15:07] The time it took Justin to grow his reach at the start of his music career.  [17:03] Justin answers our rapid-fire questions! Learn about his favorite business book, favorite business tool, and more. [17:58] That’s it for today; Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe! Resources From The Interview:     Justin Blau on LinkedIn 3lau on Twitter 3lau on Instagram 3lau on Facebook 3lau Royal Oura Ring Oculus Must-read book: The Intelligent Investor Rev Ed.: The Definitive Book on Value Investing     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 am going to talk about my NFT investing strategy and why utility is more important than art for me! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:00] - Intro to my NFT investing strategy! [00:27] - Some of my NFTs (Cryptopunk, BAYC, Doodles, Etc) [01:00] - Steve Aoki’s NFT (Design, Brand, Utility) [02:44] - The Community (A0K1VERSE) [03:17] - Leveling Up Heroes [04:30] - Long-term mindset in investing [05:55] - Let us know your strategy! [06:20] - Outro Leveling Up Heroes NFT: 👾Join Our Discord To Get On The Hero List (Pre-sale Feb 27): 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