Building Community Through Substack

Keywords: entrepreneurship, Hollywood, ghostwriting, job board, digital marketing, memoir writing, online business, creative agency, marketing strategies, AI in writing, Substack, community building, podcast production, digital nomad, business lessons, creative entrepreneurship, content creation, marketing strategies, audience engagement, remote work, entrepreneurship, technology, recommendations, app development, personal taste, user experience, innovation, business strategy, content creation, virtual business

Summary: In this episode, host Mitch Beinhaker interviews Kyle Cords, who shares his journey from working in Hollywood to becoming an entrepreneur. Kyle discusses his experiences in the entertainment industry, the challenges of managing creative talent, and the evolution of his partner Amy's memoir ghostwriting business. They explore the creation of a job board for writers, the importance of digital marketing, and the unique dynamics of running a business that prioritizes value for time. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on writing and the constant need for adaptation in the online business landscape. In this conversation, Kyle Cords discusses the intricacies of building a community on Substack, the challenges of podcast production, and the lessons learned from running a podcasting business. He reflects on the digital nomad lifestyle, sharing insights on balancing work and travel while emphasizing the importance of creating a sustainable system to avoid burnout. The discussion also touches on the evolving nature of content creation and the value of experiences gained through travel. In this conversation, Kyle Cords discusses the evolution of his entrepreneurial journey, focusing on the development of his app, OmList, which aims to provide personalized movie recommendations. He explores the challenges of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, the importance of understanding personal taste in recommendations, and the flaws in current recommendation systems. Kyle emphasizes the need for a more human-centric approach in technology and shares insights on building a user base and monetization strategies for apps.

Takeaways

• Kyle transitioned from Hollywood to entrepreneurship seeking more control over his efforts.


• He started a management company that was unconventional and ran by creatives.


• The challenges of managing people led him to focus on product-based businesses.


• Amy's memoir ghostwriting business evolved into a job board for writers.


• The job board connects clients with qualified writers without the need for an agency model.


• Digital marketing and SEO are crucial for maintaining a successful online presence.


• Pinterest is a valuable platform for reaching Amy's target audience.


• AI currently lacks the capability to write long-form content like novels.


• The importance of adapting to changes in digital marketing strategies.


• Creating value for clients is essential in a service-based business. Substack offers a unique platform for community building.


• Data ownership is crucial for content creators.


• The podcast production process can be complex and costly.


• On-demand business models reduce inventory burdens.


• Podcasts serve best as marketing tools rather than standalone products.


• Creating a structured system is essential for podcast success.


• Traveling as a digital nomad can shift priorities over time.


• Experiences gained from travel are invaluable.


• Flexibility in business operations can lead to unexpected opportunities.


• Balancing creativity with business acumen is key for success. The lifestyle of a virtual entrepreneur allows for flexibility.


• Innovative solutions can address common pain points in content creation.


• Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur changes one's mindset.


• OmList aims to provide personalized recommendations based on user taste.


• Current recommendation systems often fail to account for individual preferences.


• Human elements in technology are crucial for genuine connections.


• OmList's approach focuses on comparing users with similar tastes.


• Building a user base requires strategic marketing and engagement.


• Monetization strategies for apps can include subscriptions and ads.


• Understanding user needs is essential for app development.

Titles

• Building Community Through Substack


• The Art of Podcast Production


• Lessons from the Podcasting Journey


• Reflections on the Digital Nomad Lifestyle


• Navigating the Creative Business Landscape


• The Importance of Data Ownership

Sound Bites

• "I want to know what my ROI is."


• "We don't want to do the agency models anymore."


• "It's a constantly moving goalpost."


• "I think Pinterest is really fascinating."


• "You will have all of your data."


• "It's a puzzle. Right. Yeah."


• "On demand is such an amazing business model."


• "Podcasts are best as marketing tools."


• "You could never experience again in your life."


• "It's been such a dream."


• "You're really like a virtual entrepreneur."


• "I felt like my brain was completely changing."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kyle and His Journey

03:43 Kyle's Background in Hollywood and Transition to Entrepreneurship

06:51 The Evolution of Amy's Memoir Ghostwriting Business

10:30 Creating a Job Board for Writers

14:14 Managing Digital Presence and Marketing Strategies

16:08 Navigating the Challenges of Online Business

18:39 The Unique Dynamics of Amy's Business Model

21:25 Building a Community on Substack

26:12 Navigating the Challenges of Podcast Production

31:20 The Business of Podcasting: Lessons Learned

36:54 The Digital Nomad Experience: Reflections and Insights

39:18 The Virtual Entrepreneur's Lifestyle

40:49 Innovative Solutions for Content Creation

41:52 The Shift from Employee to Entrepreneur

45:48 Introducing OmList: A New Recommendation App

46:44 Understanding Personal Taste in Recommendations

48:41 The Flaws in Current Recommendation Systems

51:06 The Human Element in Technology

53:07 OmList's Unique Approach to Recommendations

56:14 Building the User Base for OmList

58:11 Monetization Strategies for Apps