

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 28, 2020 • 7min
Biden won the US election but the country is still extremely divided. Here's how marketing made that happen
Messaging and marketing have a key role to play in the divided political situation in America. In this episode, we explore how Trump uses messaging to spread polarizing opinions, and how news and social media entities are the channels through which these tensions play out. Tune in for all this as well as to learn the importance of being aware of biases in the media we consume. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:38] Why America is still very divided based on vote counts. [01:44] BLM vs MAGA and how Trump’s great messaging won him the last elections. [02:49] COVID and examples of Trump’s messaging that polarizes people. [03:55] Competing messages between media organizations and Trump. [04:17] How powerful social media is for spreading polarizing messaging. [05:05] Curating the information we receive and being aware of its influence. Resources From The Interview: Naval Ravikant on Twitter 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
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Nov 27, 2020 • 6min
How To Do A Podcast Tour To Promote Your Book
In aid of the release of his new book, Leveling Up!, Eric has laid out the goal of appearing on one hundred podcasts in the next 12 weeks! Today we get to hear why podcasts are a great way to promote something like a book, how Eric is going about sourcing shows to approach, and the thought and planning that goes into presenting to different audiences. Tune in to hear how you can utilize these great resources for marketing yourself! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:56] Eric's goals right now with the book and the 12 week period he has laid out. [01:11] Why podcasts? Natural affinity to hosts and guests and huge audiences. [02:09] Eric's method for finding marketing podcasts to appear on using Chartable. [03:12] Topics to discuss on podcasts; finding enough content to keep it interesting. [04:14] Leveling up within your own business, and then beyond! [04:46] Using Mixmax to evaluate what is working and what is not. [05:19] Getting placed on big podcasts and staying clear on your goals. Resources From The Interview: Oprah Today Show Chartable
Anthony Pompliano Mixmax 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
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Nov 26, 2020 • 5min
How I'm Doing Influencer Marketing for My Book, Leveling Up
In this episode of the daily Leveling Up podcast, Eric talks about the outreach he is doing to market his new book, Leveling Up! You will get to hear about why he thinks that influencer marketing is where it is at currently, and how he is going about these strategies. So to catch all the good stuff about value for money, sourcing influencers and more, join us today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:25] Why Eric is aspiring to influencer marketing! [01:45] How Eric has been finding gamers using Twitter and email. [02:26] The messaging used to connect and collaborate with influencers. [02:57] The costs involved in this kind of marketing. [03:43] The value that you can get for your money in the influencer space. [04:03] Testing different influences and finding the best route before going all-in. [04:54] How to support Eric and his new book! Resources From The Interview: Followerwonk Mixmax Mail Merge Ninja 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
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Nov 25, 2020 • 7min
Is Amazon's Foray Into Pharma A Good Or Bad Decision?
Today we are going to talk about how Amazon is continuing to dominate the world and how they're getting into pharma and continuing to eat everyone's lunch.

Nov 24, 2020 • 7min
Bitcoin is SKYROCKETING - Why It's Here To Stay
Today, we are going to talk about how Bitcoin is continuing to skyrocket and why it's here to stay. So as of this recording, Bitcoin is at about 18.5 K right now, which is an all time high, but the, I think there's a couple of things to look at here. In this episode we'll dive in and talk about both sides.

Nov 23, 2020 • 33min
How To Create A Community of 60,000+ Strong And Use It As Your Secret Weapon (With Lloyed Lobo from Boast AI and Traction Conference)
If you want to build a community you have to focus on how you can provide value to them, but once you have one you can save a lot of money on marketing. Connecting people is Lloyed Lobo’s superpower, and today we talk to him about how he built a community of over 60,000 people and the returns this investment of his time is producing. Lloyed is Co-Founder and President of Boast.AI, and he is also one of the Co-Founders of the amazing Traction Conference. Before getting into the topic of community, Lloyed gives us the rundown of how Boast fuels the growth of innovative companies by automating R&D tax applications and more. From there, Lloyed talks about how the aims at Boast, to serve their clients, grew into early community-building events that evolved into the Traction Conf. We hear tips and tricks from Lloyed about the best ways of building a community, key learnings he had on his journey, and about the incredible conference Traction has evolved into. Lloyed highlights that a community-building strategy should only be used if you are prepared to give without expecting anything in return and if connecting people is truly your passion. For all you need to know about bringing people together and the power of leveraging networks as a secret marketing weapon, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [01:04] An overview of Boast’s services automating R&D tax applications and more. [00:40] How the mission to expand Boast and build a community birthed Traction. [04:36] The complexities of the R&D tax credit system in the U.S and Canada. [09:50] How Boast is using a fund to offer R&D returns quarterly. [11:12] Boast’s model for making money by taking a percentage of R&D returns. [11:35] Key learnings Lloyed had on the road to building Traction. [16:36] The last few years of Traction, how it has evolved and what it involves. [17:35] How Lloyed built Boast and his community using a philosophy of giving, not marketing. [19:43] The time it took to build Traction from its less formal stages to where it is now. [20:01] Community building tips: Email lists, in-person events, cadence, and a passion for connecting. [23:30] The return on investment of building a community. [24:47] The key to building a successful business and the steps to building a community. [28:28] Using Nir Ayal’s Hooked model to keep communities engaged. [29:39] Lloyed’s favorite book and different sources he gets his knowledge from. [31:07] Brilliant webinars Lloyed has recently engaged with. Resources From The Interview: Lloyed Lobo Lloyed Lobo Email Boast.AI Launch Academy Salesforce Twilio TechStars Founder Institute Startupfest Mars Eventbrite Josh Fechter Blitzmetrics Dennis Yu on Twitter Matt Epstein Nir Eyal Rippling Zenefits
Must-read books: Hooked, Blitzscaling
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
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Nov 22, 2020 • 6min
Why I'm Writing My Book, Leveling Up
As Eric prepares to release his new book, Leveling Up, he takes this opportunity to spill the beans on his inspiration and motivation for writing it! Eric talks about the time he has spent on its creation over the last five years, the publishing model he selected, and how he aims to tap into the discourse around habits, with his own take on improvement and and progress. Tune in to hear it all from the man himself! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:25] When the book was started and the time it has taken to write it. [01:22] The reason that Eric decided to write and publish Leveling Up. [02:35] Servicing the huge gaming community across the world! [03:23] The idea of the 'power-up', and relating it to the conversation around habits. [03:41] The main goal for the book: Refining the messaging and helping people. Resources From The Interview: World of Warcraft EverQuest Street Fighter Atomic Habits The Power of Habit Page Two The Coaching Habit 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
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Nov 21, 2020 • 7min
I Blew $200k Trying to Start a Coaching Program
In this episode, Eric shares the lessons that he learned from losing $200,000 trying to start a coaching program. He talks about not having sales nailed down, why good marketing alone is not enough to sell a product, and other key lessons he learned from this loss. To hear more, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:38] The benefits of doing a post-mortem after you complete a project. [01:10] What prompted Eric to start a training program when the pandemic hit. [01:50] How the campaign for the program was received. [02:15] The problem Eric faced by not having a sales team for the program. [02:50] Some of the things that went really well for Eric. [03:50] Lessons learned from the failure of the training course. [05:27] If you don’t have passion for your product, don’t pursue it. Resources From The Interview: Traction Leveling Up 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
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Nov 20, 2020 • 6min
How Fortnite & MrBeast Rake In The Cash By Giving Away Free Content
In this episode, Eric talks about giving away free content and why it can be such a successful business model. We hear about some examples of brands who have done this and why delaying gratification, if you can, will help you win. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:22] What Eric means by “the business of free content”. [00:50] Fortnite’s business model, giving away free content, and why this is so effective. [02:14] If possible, try to prolong giving away free content as long as you can. [03:02] How MrBeast has leveraged the free content model successfully. [04:10] Eric’s approach to monetizing Leveling Up and Marketing School. [05:12] Deferring gratification will put you in a better spot than most. Resources From The Interview: Mr Beast MrBeast on Twitter MrBeast on YouTube Fortnite Tim Sweeney Joe Rogan Bill Belichick Leveling Up 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
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Nov 19, 2020 • 6min
The Investor's Secret To Success With Business
In this episode, we talk about the importance of being patient in business. As entrepreneurs, it is easy to fall into the comparison trap and want to move as quickly as possible. Eric talks about the similarities between compound interest and business success and why a slow and steady approach is the best-kept secret out there. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:29] The comparison trap that many entrepreneurs tend to fall into. [01:27] Avoid comparing yourself with someone who has been in business for longer than you. [01:40] The magic number of years it takes to really see success and gain traction. [03:08] Experience compounds in the same way interest does, so be patient! [03:53] What Eric has learned from trying to achieve things too quickly. [04:59] There is no such thing as quick success, despite how it may appear. [05:39] Pre-order Eric’s book from your favorite bookseller. Resources From The Interview: Albert Einstein Warren Buffett Chai with Pabrai 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
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