The cofounder and CEO of SparkToro, Rand Fishkin, took a timeout to speak with host Darrell Vesterfelt about his current mission to help content creators reach the right audiences (without wasting money), how to create empathetic content during a pandemic, and why you need help amplifying your message.
Rand Fishkin is the co-founder of SparkToro, and previously co-founder of Moz and Inbound.org. He’s also the author of Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World.
In this episode, Darrell and Rand discussed:

 How digital marketers can utilize Rand’s latest amplification tools
 Why you (still) need to think of your business or brand as a media organization first
 The larger goal of building an audience that knows, likes, and trusts you
 A sea change in how to think about the future of content marketing
  And much more!

The Show Notes

  SparkToro
  Want Your Content to Succeed? Make it Resonate with the Right Audience (no, not that one).
  How to Use Your First Ten SparkToro Searches
  Rand Fishkin on Twitter
  Darrell on Twitter




Rand Fishkin on the Future of Content Marketing

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Each week, hosts Matt Ragland and Tim Forkin talk through all stages of the creator journey, intentionally designing each conversation to meet you where you’re at along the way. We’re sharing lessons from over a decade of helping digital creators launch and scale courses, communities, and coaching services — along with building newsletters, YouTube channels, and podcasts to millions of subscribers and downloads for our clients.

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The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) give out their best advice for new creators. Tim lays out the lessons young creators need to learn in order to grow, while Matt speaks to established professionals looking to become side-hustle creators.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(6:06) — Tim: Can you get past your immediate circle?
(12:25) — Matt: Pick one topic, one platform, for one audience
(16:40) — Tim: Don’t be an expert or idol when you aren’t
(22:43) — Matt: Are you making content for fun, or are you building a business?
(27:30) — Tim: Real artists don’t starve
(30:51) — Matt: What long-term project can you build alongside your content?
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007: Best Advice for New Creators

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Nat Eliason (@nateliason) jam about what it actually takes to be a creator. Topics include Nat’s take on niching down, the main ways creators become replaceable, choosing between money and passion, why consistency alone isn’t enough, and much more.
(3:18) — Nat’s article Be Yourself, Not a Niche
(7:23) — The #1 way creators fail
(16:10) — Nat’s article When the Money’s Just Too Damn Good
(25:28) — Do you care enough to make your content great?
(32:25) — The illusion that success comes quickly as a creator
(40:17) — Balancing ambition, productivity, and parenting
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006: Nat Eliason on What It Actually Takes To Be a Creator

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) discuss equity for creators — more specifically, how and why creators should think about owning pieces of others’ businesses.
Stories include MKBHD’s deal with Ridge, the launch of Authors Equity, Blenders X Coach Prime, Pop Daddy Snacks and more.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(1:45) — Rundown of today’s show
(2:40) — MKBHD’s deal with Ridge
(10:48) — Authors Equity, backed by Tim Ferriss, James Clear and Louise Penny
(16:31) — James Clear’s new app, Atoms
(20:41) — The two ways creators can get equity in businesses
(21:41) — How John Barchard negotiated a deal to own part of an English soccer club in exchange for content
(25:45) — How Pop Daddy Snacks scaled their business by becoming a creator
(29:19) — How Blenders landed Deion Sanders to be their flagship “creator”
(36:33) — The creator skills you have are enough to own someone else’s business
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005: How Creators Can Get Equity In Their Favorite Companies

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside — get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) push through initial feelings of not wanting to record. The conversation evolves into how creators can make the most of their limited time — both in what they spend their time on and the quality of what they create.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside
(1:43) — Rundown of today’s show
(2:45) — Doing the work when you don’t feel like it
(7:45) — Managing capacity when you have limited time to create
(20:11) — Managing quality when you have limited time to create
(26:48) — How consistent writers can succeed on YouTube with little time
(30:32) — Are you prioritizing production value quality or message quality?
(36:45) — The middle is not where you want to be
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004: We Didn't Want To Record This Episode

The HeyCreator Show is presented by Riverside.fm — ⁠get 15% off a new subscription by using code HEYCREATOR at checkout.⁠
In today’s episode of The HeyCreator Show, Matt Ragland (⁠@mattragland⁠) and Tim Forkin (⁠@timforkindotcom⁠) talk about the value of niching down as a creator and what it can do for your business. 
After, we’re sharing the highlights from Justin Welsh’s (@thejustinwelsh) session at the HeyCreator Summit. Justin dives deep on why creators need to focus on outcomes, being unique, and defining their voice.
(0:00) — Presented by Riverside.fm
(1:43) — Rundown of today’s show
(4:39) — Become someone other people recommend
(10:10) — Being specific allows you to be broad
(19:30) — Justin Welsh from HeyCreator Summit 2024
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Rand Fishkin on the Future of Content Marketing

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