CEO Refusing Multi-Million Dollar Offer: Insights into the Podcaster's Decision Regarding a $100 Million Deal
Chillin' with the Boss: Unraveling the Secret sauce of Steven Bartlett's Podcast Empire
In the heart of London's trendy Shoreditch district, Steven Bartlett is prepping for another episode of "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, a global podcast sensation with over 10M YouTube subs and 25M social media followers. Only Joe Rogan's podcast outshines it. This time, the discussion revolves around the debate between economist influencer Gary Stevenson and entrepreneur Daniel Priestley, probing whether entrepreneurial activity can save the middle class. The episode amassed 3.6 million views and 46K comments on YouTube.
What makes this content tick? Well, it's not just the fiery debates. Bartlett, a media whiz kid, pays close attention to the nitty-gritty details to draw viewers in. Leveraging his social media expertise, he tests and tweaks every aspect of the project, ensuring it's irresistible. Titles with catchy caps and exclamation marks (like EMERGENCY DEBATE: They Lied About The Economy Recovering!), crisp lighting, and enticing video previews (Bartlett raising an eyebrow) are all part of his master plan.
Bartlett, a 32-year-old tech mogul, initially launched the podcast as a side project to hear varied CEO opinions. Fast forward to today, it's racked up a billion listens on streaming services, with monthly listeners reaching 50 million in December. Guests include comedian Trevor Noah, self-improvement gurus, longevity experts, and even sexologists, all courtesty of interesting content and growth hacking methods, thanks to partnerships with brands like LinkedIn, Oracle, and Shopify, speaking engagements, and merchandise sales like hoodies and planners.
Bartlett is steering clear of streaming service contracts like other top podcasters (such as Alex Cooper's $125 million deal with Sirius XM and Joe Rogan's $250 million contract with Spotify). He's gunning for independence, even if media giants are prodding with lucrative offers — estimated to be worth $100 million.
Last year, Bartlett jetted off to New York for high-level meetings with media honchos, but mum's the word on who and how much.
Bartlett's journey began in uncertainty back in 2017. With a little-known name in the media, he leveraged data analysis and constant experimentation to build the project. He later employed A/B testing to every aspect, testing keywords, descriptions, and even eerie video previews (usually those with a serious face did the trick). However, a turning point came in 2020 when he took the project more seriously following the release of a popule episode featuring former Google employee Mo Gawdat, which reportedly topped the UK podcast charts.
Growing up as an African outsider in a rural England town provided Bartlett with the drive he needed to succeed, fueled by both internal and external pressure. His entrepreneurial spirit bloomed in 2013 with Wallpark, an online forum for students that gave him a grasp of digital marketing. In 2014, he launched Social Chain, a marketing company that specialized in connecting brands with potential clients via user-generated content, making him a young millionaire. He departed Social Chain in 2019 due to disagreements over the company's direction. Bartlett joined Dragon's Den as one of the investors and has since invested in unicorn companies like SpaceX and Whoop.
Determined to create something new, he dipped his toes into the podcast world. Bartlett spent a whopping £50k on state-of-the-art equipment, auto-tracking cameras, and GoPros to produce content throughout his workday. He upped the game by releasing episodes twice a week, embracing video format, and investing in innovative analytical tools. The custom Pre-Watch system tracks the activity of 1,000 volunteers who agree to preview episodes before release. Data from these preview sessions is used to optimize audience interest in the final version. Being contract-free allows Bartlett the freedom to post optimized episodes on all major social networks.
The future looks bright for Bartlett, who recently moved to LA to work with high-profile Hollywood experts and is preparing to open a New York headquarters to connect with media and brands. Bartlett is always on the lookout for new tech advancements, currently exploring AI technologies. The studio is even testing AI-generated podcasts, using Bartlett's voice samples. Despite AI-copying fears, the competition's impending implementation scares Bartlett even more.
As Bartlett once said, "The Bulldozer is always behind you. You have a choice: let it run you over or take the wheel yourself."
- The podcast, under the management of media whiz kid Steven Bartlett, delves into diverse discussions not only limited to entrepreneurship, touching on various topics such as finance, technology, entertainment, and general news.
- Bartlett's focus on combining compelling content with efficient marketing strategies, including catchy titles, enticing video previews, and strategic partnerships with brands like LinkedIn, Oracle, and Shopify, helps attract millions of listeners each month.
- Aiming for independence, Bartlett has strategically maintained contract-free status, potentially worth $100 million, despite offers from media giants, showing his commitment to his unique approach in the world of business and lifestyle.
