Hampton Liu on the way he monetizes using the platform he owns:
…but, whatever we call it, the idea is to optimize for growth and impact rather than revenue.
Now, revenue is usually still a factor because in order to build good things, you usually need the help of other people, and you should pay them well.
But, just to use the fitness routine as an example, if we sold it we’d make more money, but reach fewer people. And, all we did was swap that so we still make some money, but we reach and help far more people. Hopefully.
So, to summarize, sponsorships in this context mean talking about someone else’s stuff — I just choose to talk about my own stuff.
Except, my main stuff, my main product, which is the Hybrid Fitness Routine, is free.
And, we make money, and pay our employees, and make a living offering options for people who want them — different formats of that fitness routine, like:
- a book
- some cards, or
- the app.
The free things for people who just wanna test it out, first. Or, like college me, who didn’t have whole lot of money but still wanted to learn. And, the options and different formats are for people who want those options.
Giving big value to your audience at no charge not only enables a wider impact for the good you’re trying to bring (as Hampton points out above), but also gives then a chance to really get a sense for your sincerity and commitment to making that impact.
Audiences invariably reward that kind of goodwill (provided you give them an opportunity to).
— Tang
Hampton Liu’s owned platforms are: Hybrid Calisthenics and Coffee with Hampton podcast.
