The creator economy (and the thin line we CAN'T cross)

We're not a Youtube channel. Our platform helps founders scale their startups ► https://slidebean.com/youtube

#startups #slidebean #influencers

Slowly but surely I’ve started to accept my place as an ‘influencer’. My Twitter bio says ‘accidental Youtuber’, and I very much believe that is the case.

Because technically, as an influencer, I cheated my way to your screen. This Youtube channel was/is a marketing campaign for Slidebean: up until recently, it was an expense for the company. It was funded by our marketing budget.

And don’t get me wrong, it has done wonders to get Slidebean in front of people, we have recovered that money tenfold; but as a self-contained business, this channel only started making money this year.

We got to buy fancy gear, and build ourselves a studio, and hire a team, and fly places- which obviously made us grow faster, it would have taken me so much longer to build 300K followers by myself.

So I’m a fan of the Sams, and the Johnnys, and the Kris’ that just built it themselves, on their talent, and the skin of their teeth. The Internet was just a megaphone to their skills and the content they produce. And for the longest time, the only way to monetize that talent was putting ads on it, or selling and endorsing things.

But today we have Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee- platforms where people pay their own money to support influencers' craft. There’s also a shady world of internet gurus, using their influence to sell thin air. So this is an incredible new phenomenon that I’ve wanted to talk about for so long.

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0:00 Influencer Economy - Intro

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Sidebean makes documentaries about startups, tech, and their impact on society. It is a venture-backed company that helps other startups navigate the complicated road to success. They love to cover stories around business, startups, and tech, trying both to teach and entertain.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is an independently produced audio adaptation of content originally shared by Sidebean. It was created by a fan who appreciates Sidebean’s thoughtful storytelling and wanted to make these ideas more accessible for audio-focused listeners. This is not an official production of Sidebean, nor is it affiliated with or endorsed by the channel. All rights to the original video content belong to Sidebean. If you are a representative of Sidebean and have any questions or requests, please feel free to reach out.

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