The Russell Brunson Show

Shut It Down or Double Down: Nathan Barry’s Road to $45M with Kit (ConvertKit)


Listen Later

Nathan Barry, the creator behind ConvertKit (now rebranded as Kit) came to visit my Inner Circle and gave a very special presentation. Nathan’s journey from a designer to building a software empire fascinated me. He originally tried to solve his frustrations with MailChimp and, in doing so, founded a business that today generates $45 million annually.

In this episode, Nathan and I unpack the lessons he’s learned from building and scaling ConvertKit to rebranding it into something bigger. He offers transparent insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the crucial moments when you have to either shut down or double down.

Throughout the conversation, Nathan opens up about the turning points that shaped his business. From battling churn to leveraging direct sales in the early days, he shares how a relentless focus on product quality and customer experience laid the foundation for his success. He also discusses his decision to turn down a $200 million acquisition offer and the ripple effects it had on his executive team—proving that even the right decision can bring new challenges.

Key Highlights:

  • Shutting Down or Doubling Down: The pivotal question every entrepreneur faces when their business stalls.
  • Fighting Churn: Strategies Nathan used to reduce churn, including shifting customers to annual plans.
  • The Power of Direct Sales: Why doing things that don’t scale—like concierge migrations—helped build momentum early on.
  • Rebranding and SEO Challenges: How transitioning to kit.com presented unique hurdles and opportunities.
  • The Importance of Execution: Why Nathan built a habit of writing 1,000 words a day for 600 days—and how it fueled his entrepreneurial success.

    This episode is literally packed with valuable insights for anyone navigating the ups and downs of scaling a business. Tune in to learn practical strategies for growing your audience, retaining customers, and staying focused on what matters most.

    Don't forget to check out this awesome deal from Mint Mobile! https://mintmobile.com/funnels

    And if you want to enjoy the Marketing Secrets Show ad-free, check out https://marketingsecrets.com/adfree

    Get 70% off on Welch Equities' retail price at wealthyconsultant.com/secrets

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

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Russell Brunson ShowBy Russell Brunson | YAP Media

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    875 ratings


    More shows like The Russell Brunson Show

    View all
    The Kevin Miller Podcast by Kevin Miller | YAP Media

    The Kevin Miller Podcast

    1,341 Listeners

    The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast by Pat Flynn

    The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

    3,439 Listeners

    Social Media Marketing Podcast by Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner

    Social Media Marketing Podcast

    1,446 Listeners

    The Amy Porterfield Show by Amy Porterfield

    The Amy Porterfield Show

    4,578 Listeners

    The Side Hustle Show by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation | YAP Media

    The Side Hustle Show

    1,592 Listeners

    The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk

    The GaryVee Audio Experience

    16,798 Listeners

    Earn Your Happy by Lori Harder | YAP Media

    Earn Your Happy

    2,802 Listeners

    Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips by Eric Siu and Neil Patel

    Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

    1,255 Listeners

    The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell by Dan Martell

    The Martell Method w/ Dan Martell

    360 Listeners

    The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business by Jenna Kutcher

    The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business

    12,067 Listeners

    Noah Kagan Presents by Noah Kagan

    Noah Kagan Presents

    905 Listeners

    The Game with Alex Hormozi by Alex Hormozi

    The Game with Alex Hormozi

    4,329 Listeners

    This Naked Mind Podcast by Annie Grace

    This Naked Mind Podcast

    2,570 Listeners

    Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing) by Hala Taha | Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing | YAP Media Network

    Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

    1,290 Listeners

    Negotiate Your Best Life Podcast with Rebecca Zung by Rebecca Zung, Esq. | YAP Media

    Negotiate Your Best Life Podcast with Rebecca Zung

    329 Listeners

    Elevate with Robert Glazer by Robert Glazer | YAP Media

    Elevate with Robert Glazer

    345 Listeners

    Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan by Heather Monahan | YAP Media

    Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

    1,159 Listeners

    The Thais Gibson Podcast by Thais Gibson

    The Thais Gibson Podcast

    271 Listeners

    The Trent Shelton Podcast by Trent Shelton Companies

    The Trent Shelton Podcast

    5,844 Listeners

    Wealthy Way by Ryan Pineda

    Wealthy Way

    2,126 Listeners

    The Greatness Machine by Darius Mirshahzadeh | YAP Media

    The Greatness Machine

    139 Listeners

    Financial Feminist by Her First $100K | YAP Media

    Financial Feminist

    6,259 Listeners

    Marketing Made Simple by Powered by StoryBrand

    Marketing Made Simple

    288 Listeners

    Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing Podcast by Russell Brunson

    Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing Podcast

    160 Listeners

    Marketing Against The Grain by Hubspot Media

    Marketing Against The Grain

    353 Listeners

    Build with Leila Hormozi by Leila Hormozi

    Build with Leila Hormozi

    862 Listeners

    BigDeal by Codie Sanchez

    BigDeal

    719 Listeners

    MSTR Today: Daily insights of Michael Saylor and Strategy (MicroStrategy) by John Lee Dumas

    MSTR Today: Daily insights of Michael Saylor and Strategy (MicroStrategy)

    8 Listeners