Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

In episode #2016, Eric talks with Alex Lieberman about how Morning Brew grew into a $75M+ email juggernaut, and the future of media. Morning Brew is a media company that has redefined the business news landscape through approachable, digestible, and downright funny content! Co-founded by Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief in 2015 at the University of Michigan, the company has grown from producing an exceptional daily newsletter for business leaders, to so much more. Tuning in you’ll hear from Alex about how they built Morning Brew from the ground up, their continually evolving marketing strategies, and what it was like selling a controlling stake of the company to Business Insider. We talk about the role of paid acquisitions and growth marketing, and Alex recounts how one of their most successful creative ads led to them transitioning from Facebook adverts to using influencers on TikTok and YouTube. Alex also shares the details of how he started the Founders Journal Podcast and gives listeners a sneak peek into his upcoming podcast called Imposters, where he interviews esteemed athletes, artists, and business leaders about the biggest challenges they’ve faced in their lives and careers. Make sure you tune in for this thought-provoking and exciting conversation to learn more about what it takes to build a successful media company!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: How Morning Brew Grew Into A $75M+ E-mail Juggernaut (And The Future of Media).
• [01:02] Get to know today’s guest, Alex Lieberman, and how he created Morning Brew. 
• [02:32] Some of the reasons why Morning Brew grew as quickly as it did.
• [03:36] The role of paid acquisitions, growth marketing, and good relationships.
• [04:13] How one of their most successful ads led them to transition from Facebook to using influencers for platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
• [06:09] How Alex determined his role at Morning Brew and what he is working on right now. 
• [10:46] Alex’s thoughts on the next phase of his career and founding new companies.
• [13:53] The story of how Alex started The Founder’s Journal Podcast.
• [16:22] The challenge Alex faced when he was selling Morning Brew while also doing his podcast.
• [18:28] How often Alex records his podcasts and the topics that resonate most with his audience. 
• [22:07] Future media trends that Alex is excited about.
• [23:13] The creator economy and how Morning Brew supports creators who don’t necessarily want to be entrepreneurs.
• [26:09] How the scope of Morning Brew as a media empire has increased.
• [28:16] Alex shares his profound book recommendation.
• [29:17] Why the screen time app on Alex’s phone is currently his favorite business tool. 
• [30:29] Some of the ways that Alex takes care of his mental health.
• [31:15] Alex’s upcoming podcast, Imposters, and how it explores the biggest personal challenges that his guests have had to overcome.
• [32:10] That’s it for today!
• [32:10] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Morning Brew: https://www.morningbrew.com/daily

 

• Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com

• The Founder’s Journal Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-journal/id1509276485

• KickOff Labs: https://kickofflabs.com/company/

• Upwork: https://www.upwork.com/

• Atomic: https://atomic.vc/

• Robinhood: https://robinhood.com/us/en/

 

• Must read book: When Breath Becomes Air

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In episode #2015, Neil and Eric talk about awesome marketing tools for 2022 & beyond. From apps that help you automate personalization on your site, to tools that enable you to take your user experience to the next level, there’s something here for everyone. Tune in to hear their top pick of tools for 2022!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: Awesome Marketing Tools for 2022 & Beyond.
• [00:30] How Mutiny can help you automate personalization on your site.
• [00:57] Use the AI tool Jarvis to automatically generate content for you.
• [01:19] Discover the many uses of Tweet Hunter for elevating your tweets.
• [02:01] The Full Story app and how it can help you gain a more nuanced understanding of your user experience.
• [02:32] Learn how the Shield App can take your LinkedIn Analytics game to the next level.
• [02:56] The Flow app is an excellent tool for elevating your user flow, and it’s pretty affordable if you don’t have too many active users.
• [03:18] Our final recommendation is Metadata, a first for b2b businesses that want to generate revenue, not just leads. 
• [03:51] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!
• [04:04] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Mutiny

Jarvis 

Tweet Hunter

Full Story

Shield App

Flow 

Metadata

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• Single Grain

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In episode #2014, Neil and Eric talk about how to create exemplary thought leadership content. We think of thought leaders as experts who are masters in their field and create incredible online content that others in their industry trust and aspire to emulate. Tune in to learn how you can create exceptional content and set yourself on course to becoming a trusted thought leader!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: How to Create Thought Leadership Content.
• [00:27] Neil’s definition of Thought Leadership Content.
• [00:47] The most common ways that people use content to become thought leaders.
• [01:18] How to use stats and data to elevate your content.
• [01:42] How to reach out to people with more followers than you to collaborate.
• [03:25] The importance of patience and consistency in becoming a thought leader.
• [04:48] How you can zig when other people are zagging in a new industry.
• [05:24] That’s it for today! Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe!
• [03:44] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

 

 

Connect with Us: 

 

• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

Single Grain

Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

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In episode #2013, Neil and Eric talk about their TikTok growth experiment and how followers stand a chance to win $5,000! The Marketing School team have been doing a lot of research around growth on TikTok and have decided to implement one of the most effective pieces of advice they’ve come across. Tune in to learn about the contest we’ll be running and how to participate!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:00] Today’s topic: Our TikTok Growth Experiment - Want To Win $5,000?.
• [00:18] How Marketing School is emulating an experiment that Sam Parr ran on TikTok.
• [00:47] A breakdown of how our competition will work.
• [01:26] Why Neil is so excited about this experiment.
• [01:38] The importance of experimenting in order to do well in marketing.
• [02:13] Why this competition is a great opportunity for exposure for participants who do well.
• [03:16] That’s it for today!
• [03:24] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

 

• Marketing School Clips on Youtube

 

• My First Million Podcast
• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

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• Neilpatel.com

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Growth Everywhere

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Twitter @neilpatel 

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In episode #2012, Neil and Eric talk about how they’re planning to grow their podcast in 2022. There are a whole host of methods they’ll be trying out this year, from making the podcast more entertaining to interviewing new guests and doing deep dives on trending topics, to doing contests and free giveaways. Tune in to hear how you can take part in their survey and share your feedback and recommendations for future episodes of marketing school!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: How We're Planning To Grow Our Podcast in 2022.
• [01:09] Our plans to make the podcast more entertaining and the survey we’ll be launching soon.
• [01:53] The contests and free giveaways we’d like to start running.
• [02:50] Our potential plans to advertise and be guests on other podcasts.
• [04:03] How we can use our blog posts to link to our podcast.
• [04:41] How we’re planning to update our content into longer, more substantive formats.
• [05:00] Go to https://www.marketingschool.io/improve to share your feedback and recommendations for the podcast.
• [05:18] That’s it for today!
• [05:24] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Go to https://www.marketingschool.io/improve to share your feedback and recommendations for the podcast!
• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

 

 

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• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

Single Grain

Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #2011, you’ll hear a collection of tried and true methods for driving more leads. While SEO and paid advertising definitely work, they can end up costing an arm and a leg. This is where other methods, like joint partnerships and CRO, come in. Tune in today to hear lead generation strategies that deliver results while also being cheap and actionable.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: Tried and True Ways to Drive More Leads.
• [00:28] Other ways of driving leads other than paid ads and SEO.
• [00:52] Doing joint partnerships with people in your space who are not direct competitors.
• [02:17] Spotting no-brainer opportunities to partner up.
• [03:19] Doing free and non-scalable work at the beginning at least.
• [04:08] Drilling down on CRO if your business already gets traffic.
• [04:47] That’s it for today, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!
• [04:48] Go to https://marketingschool.io/ to learn more.

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

 

• $100M Offers

 

• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

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• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

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• Neilpatel.com

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Growth Everywhere

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Twitter @ericosiu

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In episode #2010, we talk about how you should respond to the fact that the markets are crashing. At the end of the day, markets pull back after crashing. If you can keep this in mind then you can use recessions as a chance to take advantage while others are fearful. Tune in to hear how you can steer your business through the recession and come out even stronger on the back end.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: The Markets Are Crashing. What To Do About It.
• [01:22] The value of thinking long-term in a crashing market.
• [02:08] Being greedy while others are fearful.
• [03:37] Perceiving the current environment as a sale.
• [03:50] That’s it for today, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

 

 

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• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

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In episode #2009, Eric talks with Sam Parr about getting two million monthly podcast downloads, selling to HubSpot, Twitter growth, and angel investing. Listeners may know Sam from his podcast, My First Million, or as the founder of The Hustle, one of America's fastest-growing media companies, which was recently sold to HubSpot. Tuning in you’ll hear Sam discuss the art of making podcasts, why he’s loved working with HubSpot, and how the concept of The Commander’s Intent has influenced his podcast. He breaks down the top three things that have helped him grow his monthly podcast downloads, like advertising on other podcasts, or being a guest on another show. We also discuss marketing and we unpack how Sam cracked the Twitter code, why he decided it wasn’t worth the effort, and how he uses the platform today. He also shares his approach to his personal finances, the book that had the biggest impact on him, and what he’s learned from angel investing. To learn more about Sam’s incredible career, along with plenty of podcasting and marketing advice, make sure you tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: 2M Monthly Podcast Downloads, Selling to HubSpot, Twitter Growth, Angel Investing with Sam Parr.
• [00:20] Introducing today’s guest Sam Parr, Founder of The Hustle. 
• [01:20] Sam shares his outlook on his personal finances.
• [04:09] What Sam is best known for and what he’s working on right now.
• [05:31] Why Sam is choosing to focus on his podcast and some of the things he’s done to grow it.
• [09:03] The most effective strategies for increasing your monthly downloads. 
• [10:14] Why you need to allow room for spontaneity in your podcasts.
• [10:36] The term Billy of the Week and its surprising popularity on Sam’s podcast.
• [11:37] The Agora newsletter and why it’s such a fascinating topic.
• [16:14] Sam’s thoughts on Grammarly and the exceptional founder of Toucan. 
• [17:47] The concept of the commander’s intent and how it shapes the way Sam prepares for podcast episodes.
• [19:46] How the output of their podcast has shifted.
• [22:23] How Sam was able to sell The Hustle to HubSpot.
• [24:55] Sam’s advice on how to work on your podcasting as a craft. 
• [25:58] What chargeable analytics can teach you about your retention.
• [29:28] The benefit of being part of HubSpot and how it allows Sam to focus purely on the content.
• [29:55] Some of the swaps they’ve done with other shows and their positive outcomes.
• [31:35] The one hack that has had the biggest impact on their downloads. 
• [33:31] How Sam grew his following on Twitter and why he stopped.
• [35:08] Why Sam has loved working with HubSpot.
• [40:46] Sam’s work as an angel investor and what he’s currently interested in.
• [44:10] Sam’s interest in real estate and how he is investing in it. 
• [49:22] Sam’s book recommendation: Mastery by Robert Greene.
• [50:47] Why investing in a high-quality podcasting setup has been so beneficial.
• [52:44] Why Sam never takes his phone into his bedroom.
• [53:50] That’s it for today!
• [53:53] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:  

• The Hustle: https://thehustle.co/

My First Million Podcast: https://www.mfmpod.com/

How to Get Rich: One of the World's Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Rich-Greatest-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B0017SUYY6

HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/

DreamHost: https://www.dreamhost.com/

The Agora: https://theagora.com/

Entrepreneurs on Fire: https://www.eofire.com/

Must read book: Mastery

Sam Parr on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theSamParr

Sam Parr on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamparr/

  Leave Some Feedback:  

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below
• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

  Connect with Us:   

• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

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Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

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In episode #2008, Neil and Eric talk about their top 3 SEO regrets. You’ll hear about the importance of building a brand, why regular content upgrades are essential, and the best way to stimulate organic traffic for your site. Tune in for all this and more!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: Top 3 SEO Regrets We Have.
• [00:25] How not building a brand negatively impacted our SEO.
• [00:55] Why we regret not doing enough content upgrades.
• [01:19] Why releasing free tools is one of the most effective methods for generating organic traffic to your website. 
• [01:47] That’s it for today, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!
• [01:55] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

 

 

Connect with Us: 

 

• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

Single Grain

Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

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In episode #2007, Neil and Eric discuss how not building a brand can slow down your SEO. Find out how building a brand benefits your SEO, how Google’s algorithm separates well-known brands from lesser-known entities, and more! Tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:20] Today’s topic: Not Doing This Will Slow Your SEO.
• [00:25] How not building a brand slows down your SEO.
• [01:17] The rule of seven and how it applies to brand recognition.
• [01:47] How incentives inform outcomes when it comes to building a reputable brand.
• [02:51] That’s it for today, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!
• [02:58] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

 

• Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro

 

Leave Some Feedback:

 

 

• What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.

 

 

Connect with Us: 

 

• Neilpatel.com

Quick Sprout 

Growth Everywhere

Single Grain

Twitter @neilpatel 

Twitter @ericosiu

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.