Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Eric Siu

Leveling Up is a weekly interview series with entrepreneurs and marketers on the latest in business and marketing. Learn actionable strategies & tactics on how you can make your business grow and mistakes to avoid during your journey. Learn from individuals who have founded billion dollar companies to best-selling authors. Entrepreneur and host Eric Siu also shares insights and learnings along the way.

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Top 10 Leveling Up with Eric Siu Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Leveling Up with Eric Siu episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Leveling Up with Eric Siu for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Leveling Up with Eric Siu episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Why Marketing Funnels Are Not The Best Way To Think About Your Business

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

01/06/21 • 6 min

Today we are going to talk about Why Marketing Funnels Are Not The Best Way To Think About Your Business.

Why Clubhouse Will Fail

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

04/29/21 • 8 min

Why Clubhouse Will Fail

In today's episode, Eric continues his series on Clubhouse by explaining some of the major obstacles facing its success. He talks about how he became addicted to it, built up a following, and spent a significant amount of time on it, before dropping his usage by 90%. Hear about the problems with Clubhouse's execution, monetization, and follower retention, as competitors like Twitter and Facebook launch their own versions.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:19] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:23] How Eric started using Clubhouse in December 2020.
[00:54] Clubhouse’s success among course-creators and coaches.
[01:26] How Eric ended up spending 30 to 40 hours a week on Clubhouse.
[02:12] Why Eric’s usage of Clubhouse dropped to 4 hours a week.
[02:41] The emergence and threat of copies by competitors like Twitter and Facebook.
[03:08] Copying may not kill you: Snap Chat / Snap is still successful despite being copied.
[03:33] The problem with Clubhouse’s android app.
[03:52] The threat of Clubhouse being ‘out-executed’ by its competitors.
[04:29] How people are not spending as much time on Clubhouse as they did in the past.
[04:32] The question of monetization.
[05:49] Despite its problems Eric hopes that Clubhouse succeeds.
[06:02] Let Eric know your thoughts in the comments, subscribe, and like.

Resources From The Interview:

Clubhouse

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4 NEW Social Media Careers for 2021 & Beyond

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

06/10/21 • 7 min

If you’re looking for a new career, this episode is for you! From TikTok to Snapscan, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Podcasts, there have been a lot of developments in social media recently, and these platforms have evolved to the point where there is a need to develop new roles. Today on Leveling Up, Eric gives a breakdown of four new social media careers for 2021 and beyond; roles that even Eric is currently trying to fill in his own business. To find out what opportunities exist for you, or what new roles you may need to establish in your company, tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:22] Eric introduces the topic by mentioning some of the recent developments across different social media platforms.
[00:45] The first new role: native writers who are really good at creating content for one specific platform.
[01:36] Short form video creator: for platforms like TikTok, Snapchat Highlights, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.
[02:20] Content refresher: Updating content that is performing well to improve SEO.
[03:03] Thumbnail creator: YouTube Thumbnails are as important as headlines.
[03:59] The importance of having people dedicated to specific channels.
[04:15] How to go about getting one of these jobs.
[04:51] Don’t forget to hit the subscribe and bell buttons.

Resources From The Interview:

MrBeast

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I Just Created and Launched 500 Ads in 5 Minutes, Full Walkthrough

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

04/21/25 • 5 min

Most companies take weeks to launch personalized B2B ads. I did it in five minutes—without AI.

One campaign re-engaged a ghosted lead, got their CMO’s attention, and closed the deal fast. Some companies using this are slashing CPCs by 50% and doubling engagement. The arbitrage is now—before everyone catches on.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES

(00:00) The Evolution of Advertising

(02:48) Personalization at Scale

(05:06) The Future of Marketing with Technology

To suggest a topic, comment your idea on the Leveling Up with Eric Siu YouTube channel.

For more content from Eric, check out the Marketing School YouTube channel and the Leveling Up newsletter.

Connect with Eric:

Single Grain << Eric's ad agency

X @ericosiu

Instagram @ericosiu

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Five Steps Towards Positioning Your Company to Be Obviously Awesome with April Dunford | Ep. #354

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

05/04/20 • 22 min

Marketing teams know one thing, sales another, and Founder-CEOs yet another, but having a positioning expert in the middle of them all can tease out a bunch of value for a young B2B company. Most people tend to conflate positioning with branding, but the truth is that the former is a more fundamental step in the journey to refining corporate identity. Today’s guest is April Dunford, a positioning expert, entrepreneur, angel investor, advisor, and author of Obviously Awesome. She joins us on the show to discuss the positioning methodology in her book, lend insight into her consultation process, and sketch out some of the value she is able to add to her clients’ scaling journey in that respect. April works mostly with smaller B2B businesses helping them define their services and ideal client. In today’s episode, we hear about April's career trajectory as a multiple vice president to positioning consultant, having worked with successful startups and global giants in the tech space. April defines positioning for listeners before getting into the five steps that a company should take in order to get a laser-sharp focus on their exact product and ideal customer before taking that data froward into a sales pitch and marketing campaign. For a load of great value and information about positioning, and to learn how you can take your B2B business to the next level, make sure you hear what April has to say.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:20] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:39] April’s focus on startup positioning and acquisition/divestiture for larger firms.
[00:58] Why April moved from being a vice president to focusing on positioning.
[01:45] How Obviously Awesome gives April’s positioning methods for distant clients.
[02:22] Tech giants April worked for such as IBM, Nortel, Sybase, and Siebel.
[03:50] What positioning is: finding one’s market and niche in a nutshell.
[05:39] How April repositioned a database product as a data warehouse to great success.
[07:55] The five steps to arriving at your company’s positioning.
[07:56] Competition, unique capabilities, value, customer segmentation, and market category.
[09:46] How to think through the five steps in the correct order.
[09:50] Finding out what one’s best customers would use if your business did not exist.
[10:40] Figuring out what one has that one’s competitive alternatives don’t.
[10:51] Applying the ‘so what’ question to gauge the validity of one’s competitive features.
[11:11] Arriving at one’s value themes: the basis of one’s value proposition for customers.
[11:26] Defining a good B2B customer as businesses that would benefit from one’s values.
[11:40] Figuring out which market category to dominate using the last two steps.
[12:03] Taking positioning and turning it into a pitch and branding starting point.
[12:24] Companies April has worked with which grew from small to large, through positioning.
[14:28] How April helps companies clarify vague, broad definitions of target audience.
[16:19] The way April generated huge revenue from a single ad through knowing her audience.
[16:50] How April structure her services through a two-day positioning workshop.
[18:07] Pricing structures that April uses for her amazing services.
[18:44] Must read books for April: Crossing the Chasm, Four Steps to the Epiphany...
[20:04] April’s favorite business tool: Zoom.

Resources From The Interview:

How Clinton Sparks Helped Make FaZe Clan The Most Popular Esports Organization In The World | Ep. #376

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

08/05/20 • 36 min

Staying ahead of the pack and knowing what the next big thing is is not an easy skill, but it’s one today’s guest, Clinton Sparks, has mastered. As a Grammy-nominated producer, with over 75 million records sold, it would have been easy for Clinton to rest on his laurels and stick with music only. Instead, he is the former Vice President for Business Development at FaZe Clan, a professional esports company, author, and founder of Get Familiar Radio. Sparks recently resigned from Faze and started the worlds most diverse gaming organization called XSET.

We kick off the show by learning more about esports and why Clinton thinks marketers should be paying more attention to it. He talks about the importance of understanding this young, internet-savvy generation who can spot inauthentic advertising a mile away. We find out more about how to properly speak to gamers and discover what resonates with them. We then turn our attention to how Clinton’s upbringing fostered his entrepreneurial spirit and the value of building enduring relationships. Clinton struggled to find his place in the world, but through hard work, honoring his relationships, and showing empathy, he has managed to succeed. From there, we move onto the younger generation’s desire for fame over greatness and how the culture of instant gratification has devalued the true meaning of the hustle. Throughout the episode, Clinton highlights the importance of your reputation and ensuring that business deals are about reciprocity over financial gain. We wrap the show up with a look at what is on the horizon in the esports world along with the main takeaways from Clinton’s book, How To Win Big in The Music Business. Tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[00:20] An overview of Clinton’s background and some of his professional achievements.
[01:26] Why marketers need to pay more attention to and spend more in esports.
[02:32] Clinton’s suggestions of good places to start when delving into esports marketing.
[03:52] How the gaming mentality is different from the typical consumer.
[05:26] Hear more about Wendy’s recent Fortnite marketing campaign.
[07:42] Find out more about how Clinton always manages to stay ahead of the curve.
[09:41] The scene from Good Will Hunting that Clinton finds so relevant to the world today.
[12:29] Clinton shares more on his book, How To Win Big in The Music Business.
[14:55] The importance of being honest about where you are and where you aspire to be.
[15:50] Why Clinton thinks people should focus on greatness and not fame to truly succeed.
[18:36] Hear more about Clinton’s expanded definition of greatness.
[19:35] Clinton’s tips on building great relationships and his dirt pile strategy.
[22:05] What is currently exciting Clinton most in the esports world.
[25:11] Why it’s important to consider how valuable a business deal is for the other person.
[26:43] Hear about why Clinton’s favorite business tool is social media and how he uses it.
[29:20] Clinton’s favorite business book.
[31:45] What to expect from Clinton’s book, the main takeaways, and how to find it.
[34:51] The best way to find Clinton online.

Resources From The Interview:

Reed Duchscher Reveals Creator Secrets Learned From Managing MrBeast, Dude Perfect, Typical Gamer & More (Over 1.7B Views!)

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

03/01/21 • 31 min

Reed Duchscher Reveals Creator Secrets Learned From Managing MrBeast, Dude Perfect, Typical Gamer & More (Over 1.7B Views!)

Today’s guest is Reed Duchscher of Night Media, a multimedia talent management company and creative outpost for the largest creators on the internet. Reed’s company has worked with people such as MrBeast, Typical Gamer, and other voices from the most influential of the influential. In today’s episode we talk about how Reed founded Night Media and the role he is playing in shaping the future of the content creator business model. Our conversation begins with Reed’s journey from working as an NFL sports agent to founding Night Media in 2015. From there, we talk about the dynamic between content creators and managers, what informs Night Media’s choice for who to work with, and the services managers can offer to creators on the back end. Reed gets into the value he is adding to the creator community through the Creator Economics podcast, the work he did with MrBeast in launching the MrBeast burger, and his vision to map the blueprint for how to turn creators into sustainable virtual digital companies. We talk about the different products that creators can sell, whether creators should take equity or cash in partnerships, why creator communities are more important than subscriber count, and a whole bunch more in today’s conversation. Be sure to tune into this one.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[01:15] Introducing Reed Duchscher and his journey to working with content creators.
[02:22] The business model at Night Media; why it’s not built like an agency.
[03:10] How Night Media thinks about the types of clients it signs.
[04:39] Prioritizing engagement and community over subscriber count.
[06:10] What creators should expect from managers.
[07:07] Why creators need to be good at creating communities.
[08:38] Other creators Night Media is interested in/working with.
[10:35] Making a new blueprint for what creators can do with their fan base.
[10:50] The story of the development of the MrBeast burger.
[14:04] Some indications of the revenue MrBeast Burger is generating.
[15:21] Creator-focused educational content discussed in the Creator Economics podcast.
[17:08] Reed’s thoughts on content creators getting cash or equity on collaborations.
[20:03] Digital products and merchandise types open to creators.
[21:50] The business infrastructure opportunities most creators miss.
[22:45] Why creators are going to start having to raise capital.
[23:32] Spend and production team size on MrBeast videos.
[24:26] Blockchain and whether people will buy a small percentage of channels.
[25:48] How Reed connected with the team of creators he worked with.
[26:55] Favorite business tools of Reed’s.
[27:55] Reed’s favorite business book.
[28:20] The best way for people to find Reed online.

Resources From The Interview:

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
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Startup Secrets with Activision Co-Founder Howard Marks

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

04/26/21 • 101 min

Startup Secrets with Activision Co-Founder Howard Marks

Welcome back to another episode of Leveling Up hosted on Clubhouse! Today’s guest is Howard Marks, the legend behind Activision and Acclaim who has recently been pioneering crowdfunded investing with his company StartEngine. We also open up the floor to a bunch of different people in the Clubhouse chat who ask brilliant questions all centered around building a successful startup, from how to land funding to defending yourself from the competition. Tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
[02:12] The story of acquiring Activision, moving to LA, and the innovations that followed.
[12:53] Alisa Jacobs from Queens Gaming Collective introduces herself and her company.
[14:48] Further details of Howard’s process of acquiring Activision.
[17:10] Trouble Activision was in and Howard’s process of reinvigorating it.
[21:36] Feeling things out, thinking in decades, and utilizing lawyers and bankruptcy.
[23:48] What drives Howard and why he started StartEngine, and how it has evolved.
[38:53] How StartEngine is innovating in the landscape of raising capital using crowdfunding.
[44:02] The three core pillars of a successful crowdfund.
[45:25] A brief description of how to utilize Clubhouse to connect with new friends.
[48:29] Qualities Howard looks for in founders that make him want to fund them.
[51:47] Howard’s belief in having an impossible mission and how he arrived at it.
[53:59] The mission, values, stated goal, strategy hierarchy.
[57:44] What industries Howard is most fascinated with.
[59:12] Whether StartEngine invests in Latin American companies.
[1:01:45] How to defend yourself against bigger competitors in your industry.
[1:03:20] When to start raising capital and what investors look for in early-stage companies.
[1:07:52] The importance of aligned KPIs and OKRs with your investors
[1:10:25] How the conversation around equity crowdfunding has changed.
[1:14:39] Hear how servicing companies would get funding from StartEngine.
[1:17:04] Howard’s perspectives on startup opportunities in the cloud gaming sphere.
[1:20:47] Creating a minimum viable product and balancing school with entrepreneurship.
[1:23:45] Advice on getting the gaming and tech community to adopt your technology.
[1:25:50] What is preventing StartEngine from funding thousands of companies per month.
[1:27:52] The lack of purpose in pitches by passionate people on Clubhouse.
[1:32:50] When to know whether to take on more funding if it is available.
[1:36:11] Howard’s favorite game of all time.

Resources From The Interview:

Leave Some Feedback:

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
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The $300M Founder That Lives on a Farm and Flies Planes | Nathan Barry

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

02/15/24 • 75 min

Nathan Barry, founder of ConvertKit, shares his journey from software designer to content creator to software founder. With ConvertKit now sending 2.5 billion emails per month and generating $40 million in revenue, Nathan discusses the power of building an audience and leveraging it to create long-term enterprise value. He also delves into his passion for flying and the parallels between flying and entrepreneurship. Nathan emphasizes the importance of having goals outside of work and optimizing for the journey rather than just the destination.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/vuwfio0Uw4Y

Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Nathan Barry introduces himself and his journey from software designer to software founder
(02:57) Nathan Barry discusses his passion for flying and the process of getting a pilot's license
(06:43) Nathan Barry expresses his goal of using flying for both personal and work-related purposes
(08:14) Nathan Barry discusses the limitations and considerations of owning a larger plane
(09:49) Eric asks Nathan about the payment structure for the pilot.
(12:30) Nathan talks about his podcast and the journey of building an audience.
(14:02) Nathan shares the story of Mark Sisson and the value of redirecting audience attention to a product.
(15:08) Nathan explains the power of an audience in promoting and selling products.
(16:03) Nathan discusses the success of Mark Sisson's Primal Kitchen and the value of an audience.
(18:19) Nathan talks about the three rules for building an audience and creating enterprise value.
(19:46) Nathan shares his experience building ConvertKit and its long-term enterprise value.
(20:05) Nathan Barry and Eric Siu discuss the potential of agencies as successful businesses.
(21:25) Nathan Barry shares his perspective on monetization options for creators.
(25:52) Nathan Barry talks about the current growth and future potential of newsletters.
(29:46) Nathan Barry shares a story about how having an audience can shortcut career paths.
(31:24) Transitioning from personal brand to building a business
(32:22) Using personal brand to drive attention to other businesses
(34:21) Debate on the success of creator-led agencies
(39:15) Strategies for growing Twitter following
(42:09) Repackaging and reposting content for maximum reach
(45:47) Nathan Barry is transparent about his financials to inspire others.
(52:59) Nathan Barry discusses the flywheel strategy for growing a newsletter.
(55:30) Advertising as a loop closer drives new subscribers for sponsorships.
(57:54) Growing the newsletter audience leads to book sales and more opportunities.
(59:59) Building network effects between creators through the Creator Network.
(1:01:36) Convertkit's Creator Network and Spark Loop acquisition.
(1:06:09) Nathan suggests using partnerships with other blogs to promote the subscription service and increase email sign-ups.
(1:07:38) Eric asks Nathan about his quote "making money is a skill" and Nathan explains that building a successful business requires developing a range of skills.
(1:11:37) Nathan shares where people can find him online, including his podcast and newsletter.

—

What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.
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I plan to make $25 million in 2024 | Vivian Tu

Leveling Up with Eric Siu

12/21/23 • 70 min

Vivian Tu, also known as "your rich BFF," shares her insights on personal finance and wealth-building. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on increasing your earning power rather than just saving money. Vivian discusses her journey from working on Wall Street to becoming a successful salesperson in tech and media. She also shares tips on legally avoiding taxes, the value of investing in index-tracking ETFs, and the power of creators in today's digital landscape. Vivian's goal is to help people achieve financial independence and create a better future for themselves and their families.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/xGZg8IiDNSg

Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

(00:00) Vivian Tu shares her goal of being rich and desired wealth.
(06:00) Focus on increasing earning power rather than saving.
(07:16) Importance of learning and being selfish in job choices.
(09:50) Vivian's mom's reaction to her leaving JPMorgan.
(11:53) Tax-saving strategies: retirement accounts, mortgage interest, tax credits.
(14:28) Why do rich people buy high-end fake bags?
(16:04) Women providing for themselves and investing.
(20:16) Being flexible in partnership roles.
(21:10) Vivian's portfolio consists of index-tracking ETFs and target-date retirement funds.
(21:51) Slow and steady investing is recommended for most people.
(22:13) Chinese culture associates investing with luck and gambling.
(23:41) Vivian wrote a book to provide a comprehensive guide to personal finance.
(25:09) Vivian's business made $3.2 million.
(27:20) Vivian feels more fulfilled making $300k from her business.
(30:26) Instagram is a powerful platform for Vivian's content.
(33:01) Vivian Tu mentions the shift in attention spans and content delivery.
(34:00) Vivian Tu shares her content creation process and time allocation.
(37:31) Vivian Tu breaks down her revenue streams, with brand partnerships being the largest.
(41:40) Pricing yourself as a creator.
(42:30) Vivian Tu plans to expand into different mediums in the next five years.
(43:49) Vivian Tu talks about the structure of her core team.
(50:47) Vivian Tu talks about her best friend David Suh and how they empower each other in their businesses.
(53:01) Vivian values her friends who understand her experience.
(54:43) Vivian believes friendships should be a cost-benefit analysis.
(58:09) Some biases hinder certain minorities' success.
(1:00:35) Vivian empowers diverse talent in her hiring decisions.
(01:01:30) Vivian Tu talks about her family and work ethic.
(01:04:17) Vivian Tu shares her experience as an Asian American business creator.
(01:06:51) Vivian Tu shares where to find her book and online.
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
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Connect with Eric Siu:

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FAQ

How many episodes does Leveling Up with Eric Siu have?

Leveling Up with Eric Siu currently has 1117 episodes available.

What topics does Leveling Up with Eric Siu cover?

The podcast is about Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education and Business.

What is the most popular episode on Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

The episode title '7 Jeff Bezos Frameworks That Will Supercharge Your Growth' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

The average episode length on Leveling Up with Eric Siu is 22 minutes.

How often are episodes of Leveling Up with Eric Siu released?

Episodes of Leveling Up with Eric Siu are typically released every day.

When was the first episode of Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

The first episode of Leveling Up with Eric Siu was released on Nov 11, 2014.

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Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Eric Siu

Top 10 Leveling Up with Eric Siu Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Leveling Up with Eric Siu have?

What topics does Leveling Up with Eric Siu cover?

What is the most popular episode on Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

What is the average episode length on Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

How often are episodes of Leveling Up with Eric Siu released?

When was the first episode of Leveling Up with Eric Siu?

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