Podcast Summary
The Power and Potential of Building a Business in the Digital Age: Rhett and Link transformed their talent into a successful YouTube partnership, generating tens of millions of dollars through various channels, demonstrating the opportunities in the digital age for entrepreneurs
The landscape of media and entrepreneurship has drastically changed, allowing individuals to build media empires through platforms like YouTube and TikTok. This is evident in the story of Rhett and Link, who transformed their talent into a successful YouTube partnership, Mythical Entertainment, reaching audiences far beyond traditional media outlets. Once struggling to make a living, they now generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue through various channels like advertising, brand endorsements, live shows, and merchandise sales. Their journey demonstrates the power and potential of building a business in the digital age. If you're an entrepreneur or business owner, this could be your chance to learn from successful figures in the industry. Subscribe to Wondery Plus and join the How I Built This podcast to speak with Rhett and Link and other entrepreneurs, gaining valuable insights into launching and growing your business.
The power of a strong friendship in building a successful business: A strong friendship can provide validation, mirroring, and shared experiences that help navigate unique perspectives and build a successful business, as demonstrated by Rhett & Link's YouTube success with over 75 million subscribers.
The strong bond of friendship between Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, formed since first grade and reinforced through shared experiences and values, played a crucial role in their success in creating entertaining content and building a business with over 75 million subscribers on YouTube. Their friendship, which began with a literal blood pact, provided validation and mirroring that helped them navigate their unique perspective and desire for a different kind of life. Their shared experiences, including their involvement in church and Campus Crusade for Christ in college, further strengthened their bond and influenced their content.
Using comedy to grow a Christian organization: Experimenting with irreverent, clean comedy attracted large crowds and grew a Christian organization, demonstrating the power of creativity, humor, and authenticity.
The duo's experimentation with comedy during their college years led to unexpected success and growth for their Christian organization. They began by mimicking a video they saw, which blurred the lines between reality and performance. Inspired by this, they started creating and sharing their own comedic content during weekly meetings. Their irreverent, clean comedy, set to subversive music, attracted large crowds and eventually caught the attention of the organization's leadership. Despite the separation of their comedy from any spiritual message, they were invited to host larger events and help grow the organization. Their journey showcases the power of creativity, humor, and authenticity in engaging and attracting people to a cause.
Rooted in faith and Campus Crusade for Christ, Rhett & Link's comedy career began with YouTube content.: Started making comedy content for Campus Crusade for Christ conferences, gained traction on YouTube, considered leaving engineering jobs, wives encouraged pursuit of comedy, embarked on college campus tour for evangelism training.
The early beginnings of Rhett & Link's comedy career were rooted in their faith and their involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ. They started making comedy content for these conferences and uploaded it to YouTube, which eventually gained traction. Around this time, they both graduated and considered leaving their engineering jobs to pursue comedy full-time. Their wives played a role in encouraging this decision, and they had to raise money to support themselves. Despite some initial trepidation from their families, they embarked on a comedy tour of college campuses, focusing on evangelism training. This faith-driven approach to comedy laid the foundation for their successful careers.
Experimenting with multimedia to connect with fans: Rhett and Link started their podcast and YouTube channel to share their humor and connect with their audience, not for monetary gain. They focused on authenticity and creativity, leading to a loyal fanbase through consistent and engaging content.
Rhett and Link's early multimedia endeavors, such as their podcast and later YouTube channel, were driven by a desire to connect with their audience and share their unique brand of humor, rather than as a means to make money. They experimented with various formats, like the "Rhett and Link Cast" podcast, which began as a quiet, off-the-cuff show recorded in a campus conference room. They later expanded to YouTube, capitalizing on the growing platform when their content was being uploaded there without their permission. Their approach was rooted in authenticity and creativity, focusing on building a loyal fanbase through consistent and engaging content.
From viral videos to unexpected TV show: Unexpected opportunities can lead to new experiences and growth, even if they don't align perfectly with initial intentions
The speakers, Ben and Rafi, went from creating viral videos for Campus Crusade for Christ to unexpectedly hosting a television show on the CW called "Online Nation" in 2007. This opportunity came with a significant increase in pay and felt divinely given to them. However, during the premiere, they realized that none of their written content was used and the experience was not what they had anticipated. Despite the disappointment, they saw it as a step forward in their careers and a reminder of the unexpected twists and turns that come with pursuing creative opportunities.
Despite setbacks, continue pursuing opportunities: After a failed TV show, a group stayed confident and found success through persistence and creativity by attending general meetings, pitching new ideas, and partnering with sponsors.
Even when faced with failure or setbacks, it's important to remain confident and continue pursuing new opportunities. The group, despite having their show canceled after just four episodes, saw it as an opportunity to secure another chance in Hollywood. They attended "general meetings" with production companies, pitching their ideas on the spot, and even came up with a new movie concept in the lobby of one company. Although they were met with skepticism, they continued to produce YouTube content and eventually found a business model by partnering with sponsors. Through their persistence and creativity, they were able to keep moving forward and find success.
Creating a profitable YouTube channel through partnerships and innovation: Identify opportunities, build relationships, and execute a solid business plan to succeed on YouTube
Rhett and Link's success on YouTube came from their unique approach to monetizing their content through creative partnerships and business savvy. They wrote a song about playing Cornhole, reached out to a cornhole equipment company for sponsorship, and created a viral video that generated significant revenue. This was during a time when YouTube was not yet taken seriously as a platform for advertising, and Rhett and Link had to prove its viability. Despite their older age and responsibilities, they saw the potential in YouTube and created enough content to establish a brand when the platform began generating revenue. Their story highlights the importance of identifying opportunities, building relationships, and executing a solid business plan.
Creativity and adaptability in podcasting: Starting a podcast requires creativity, adaptability, and persistence. Success stories include Justin Long's 'Life is Short' and Rhett and Link's 'How I Built This.'
Creativity and adaptability are key to building a successful podcast. Justin Long invites listeners into the minds of various artists and thinkers through his podcast "Life is Short," while Wondery offers family-friendly adventures with "The Cat in the Hatcast." Rhett and Link, the hosts of "How I Built This" episode, started their podcast journey by broadcasting live on Ustream TV for $500 a show. They pieced together various opportunities, such as sponsorships and a live show, to grow their audience and eventually make a living from their podcast. Despite challenges like recording in a basement with occasional interruptions, they persisted and eventually found success. So, whether you're starting a podcast or just looking for new ones to listen to, remember that creativity, adaptability, and a bit of persistence can lead to great things.
A forward-thinking ad exec partners with the Fine Brothers for a successful Alka-Seltzer campaign: Content creators can find success through unexpected partnerships and innovative approaches to advertising.
The early days of YouTube were a time of innovation and opportunity for content creators. This was exemplified by the partnership between the Fine Brothers and Alka-Seltzer in 2008. At the time, the Fine Brothers had a small YouTube following, but a forward-thinking ad executive saw potential in their content and approached them with an offer to create a series of 21 videos featuring Alka-Seltzer's road trip across the country. The brothers asked for $42,000 for the series, which seemed like a lot at the time but was necessary to afford their production costs. The partnership was a success, and the Fine Brothers even came up with the idea to create spoof commercials for local businesses as part of the series. This was a new approach for Alka-Seltzer to reach a younger audience and was the beginning of commercial opportunities for the Fine Brothers. Another unexpected sponsor came in the form of a private message during a live stream about the 2008 financial crisis, leading to the creation of a sponsored song. These early experiences show the importance of being open to new opportunities and the potential for creative partnerships on YouTube.
Creative collaborations lead to unexpected opportunities and positive outcomes: Collaborating with unexpected partners can lead to groundbreaking projects, viral success, and positive impact for businesses.
Creative collaborations can lead to unexpected opportunities and positive outcomes. In this case, a music sponsorship deal between a small business service company and a YouTube duo led to the creation of a groundbreaking local commercial for a furniture store. The commercial, which focused on racial reconciliation, went viral and brought significant attention and sales to the business. The success of the project not only showcased the power of authentic and inclusive storytelling but also highlighted the importance of embracing new ideas and partnerships. The campaign, "I Love Local Commercials," was born from this success and provided an opportunity for other small businesses to receive free commercials. Overall, this story demonstrates the potential for creative collaborations to generate meaningful connections and positive impact.
Determination and high-quality content lead to success: Starting with local sponsors, Rhett and Link grew their revenue to $200,000 through ambitious goals and high-quality content. Their determination led them to Hollywood and a successful TV show, despite initial uncertainty.
Persistence and ambitious goals paid off for Rhett and Link. They started by creating engaging content with local sponsors, charging $5,000 per sponsored video, and grew their annual revenue to around $200,000. Their aspirations led them to Hollywood, where they created a TV show with IFC, moving their families to LA to executive produce it. Although they initially thought it would be temporary, the show became a success and they were convinced they wouldn't return home. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, their determination to create high-quality content and reach new opportunities led them to achieve their goals in the media industry.
Persistence and adaptability in entertainment: Failed projects are inevitable, but staying flexible and persistent can lead to success. Experiment with new ideas and don't let setbacks discourage you.
Persistence and adaptability are key in the entertainment industry. Misha Brown and Rhett McLaughlin, hosts of different podcasts and shows, shared their experiences with failed projects and the importance of staying flexible. The Swan, a reality TV show, was a massive pop culture fail, leaving participants isolated, berated, and ranked by judges. Despite its success online, IFC decided not to renew the show, leaving Rhett and Link in a bind. However, they didn't let this setback discourage them. Instead, they experimented with a low-lift, high-connection daily show, Good Mythical Morning, featuring a Chia Pet Lincoln. Although it didn't initially gain massive popularity, it was a fun experiment and gave them the momentum they needed when IFC's decision didn't go their way. By staying adaptable and persistent, they were able to turn a failed idea into a successful one.
Experimenting with content style and length pays off: Consistent experimentation with content can lead to significant growth, even without initial financial success. Platforms prioritizing watch time and discoverability can reward channels for engaging viewers.
Creating consistent content and experimenting with new styles, even without initial financial success, can lead to significant growth when platforms prioritize watch time and discoverability. Rhett and Link's daily show, Good Mythical Morning, gained traction through YouTube's algorithm change in 2014, which rewarded channels for keeping viewers engaged. Their early experimentation with longer-form content, funded by YouTube, helped them refine their style and eventually led to viral success, such as the 30 million view Carolina Reaper pepper challenge video. Despite the initial financial risk, the investment in content creation and experimentation ultimately paid off.
The authenticity of Rhett and Link's friendship fueled their channel's success: Starting as Christian entertainers, Rhett and Link's friendship and openness about their experiences, including personal crises of faith, helped build a loyal fanbase and contributed to the success of their Mythical Entertainment channel.
The sincere and authentic portrayal of their friendship was a major factor in the success of Rhett and Link's Mythical Entertainment channel. From the beginning, their content resonated with a broad audience, including kids and parents, who enjoyed watching and discussing it together. Despite starting out as Christian entertainers, their content evolved over time to include more mature themes, reflecting their own changing beliefs and the growing up of their children. Their friendship and openness about their experiences, including their personal crises of faith, helped build a loyal fanbase and contributed to the brand's success.
Rhett and Link's Christian comedy background gave them confidence and safety net to develop comedy skills: Starting from a unique background, Rhett and Link reinvested earnings into team and ideas, growing from 5 to over 100, and approached expansion organically, focusing on being purposeful with growth.
Rhett and Link's involvement in Christian comedy and conferences provided them with a unique confidence and safety net to develop their comedy skills. This experience, combined with their engineering background, led them to create Good Mythical Morning. As they gained success, they prioritized reinvesting their earnings into their team and ideas, growing from a team of five to over a hundred. They approached the expansion of their brand organically, with the addition of a business executive being a significant turning point. Their food content, which became Mythical Kitchen, was a natural outgrowth of their brand. While they have built a significant entertainment brand around themselves, they remain energized as creators and focus on being purposeful with their growth.
Success through hard work, innovation, and trusting others: Rhett and Link's success is attributed to their relentless drive, innovation, friendship, and ability to trust others to handle tasks.
The long-term success of a business or creative endeavor often comes down to a combination of hard work, innovation, and the ability to entrust tasks to others. Rhett and Link, founders of Mythical Entertainment and hosts of Good Mythical Morning, have built an incredibly successful business over the past decade through their relentless drive to create and innovate, as well as their dedication to their friendship. They attribute their success to both their own efforts and a bit of luck, but believe that their ability to let go of certain tasks and trust others to handle them has allowed them to focus on their passions and continue to thrive. By constantly making decisions and adapting to their environment, they have been able to overcome obstacles and stay motivated, ultimately leading to a vibrant and ongoing friendship and business.
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