Hello, Reader!

To many, this announcement will come as no surprise, however I also know there will be some people who will be caught off guard by it. But either way, I couldn’t be more excited for the future.

Your future, my future, and the future of SPI.

I decided to sell Smart Passive Income.

Before you read too deep into this, I invite you to read what I have to share below, because it’s important.

Selling SPI was never a goal of mine, and not too long ago if you asked me if I would sell it, my answer would have been a hard “NO”.

In fact, in 2022, I had my first offer from a venture capitalist who was attracted to the new community and recurring revenue business model Matt Gartland and I implemented. Even though the numbers were attractive, it was an easy no because I knew exactly what they wanted: your contact info, and eventually your wallet for whatever programs and services they were going to offer you that had nothing to do with SPI.

There was ZERO consideration for what the brand stood for, the community we were building, and zero care for your future as a subscriber and student of SPI, Reader.

A year later, another offer came through, from a different venture capital firm, and again, a hard pass.

In those conversations, it was always about the numbers first, and that’s what told me they knew nothing about what was important to me. If I were to even entertain the idea of selling SPI, it would have to be because that’s what was best for the community and the future of the brand.

Fast forward to 2025 in Seattle, at my 4th Card Party, an event I host that brings nearly 10,000 Pokémon fans together. While at the event, someone who was working with me noticed that I was answering emails and preparing a script for a YouTube video for SPI that I had to film when I got back home the next week.

She could tell I was tired and distracted, and I definitely was.

It was like I was straddling two different ladders, trying to climb both at the same time. The Pokémon YouTube channel that I started with my kids in 2020 has become a new calling for me, however Smart Passive Income, which I started in 2008, is my baby.

And for the last 2 or 3 years, I’ve felt the push and pull mentally between the two. My time and my actions have been divided, and maybe you’ve even felt that on your end.

But, like a parent who sees their child off to college (which I will likely experience very soon), Smart Passive Income just turned 18 years old in 2026, and it’s my time to let it go, so it can move forward into even bigger and better things, beyond me.

So now you might be wondering: “Pat, so who bought Smart Passive Income from you?”
​​

Funny story.

The person helping me at Card Party was a woman named Patricia Prak, who happens to be Liz Wilcox’s sister and assistant. Patricia told Liz how busy and tired I was at the event, and she jokingly suggested to Liz, “You should just buy SPI from him so he can focus on the Pokémon thing, and maybe you could take over and give SPI your full attention.”

One week later Liz, Matt and I had a discussion about what that might even look like, and guess what: no numbers were shared on either side. 100% of our discussion in the first two months were about the future of SPI, its community, and its subscribers.

Do we share the same values? Is there alignment in what the goals are for the community? Could SPI potentially be left in better hands with Liz? Could Liz’s business goals align with SPI, and vice versa?

The answer to all of the above questions was yes.

Let’s be honest though: Liz and I are not the same. Although we’re both 80s babies, Liz is a former Survivor contestant that is way more quirky and bubbly than I am. She’s animated, expressive and some may even say, eccentric.

But at the same time, when it comes to why we do what we do online, and who we’re doing it for, the similarities are incredible.

Like my LEED Exam blog, she got her start with an RV blog that she later sold. She currently generates passive income from her email marketing business that houses a community of over 4,000 people, which is what gave her the time to explore buying SPI and giving more of herself and her time to it.

But most of all, when it comes to our similarities: we’re both authentically ourselves, and we show up to serve.

Liz officially bought SPI in April of 2026, and while I had contemplated making this announcement back then, we decided to first have her come on as Director of Community so people could get to know her first, and I wanted to make sure to set her up for success and give her time to prove herself.

And she has.

Since April, she’s already increased activity and engagement in our community by over 400%. I’ve personally received messages and DMs from people who have said that the only other time the community has ever “felt like this” was back when it was launched in 2020.

That’s Liz’s doing. She’s showing up more than I ever did. She’s implemented a successful recurring co-working experience, and is helping to answer so many questions and make connections that only a person who truly cares would.

Also since April, she’s doubled the number of new members in our community. That’s all Liz, too. She saw some very clear holes in our marketing and used her email expertise to encourage more sign-ups, and the community is booming because of it.

So now that the announcement is official, I can confidently welcome the new owner of SPI, Liz Wilcox, who will take the baton and run the next leg of this journey alongside you.

I’m not going too far, though. I will be back on the podcast from time to time with updates, and I’m here to advise and help Liz through the transition as well. She’s already been showing up on the podcast, and I’ve heard a lot of people say they love the new style and energy she brings to the show. She’s got a vision for the show that is akin to the early days of the podcast, and I can’t wait to hear it, too.

Now finally, you might be wondering, what are my plans for the future?

As you might remember, my partner Caleb Wojcik and I recently sold our physical product company SwitchPod. Today, you just got the news about Smart Passive Income.

Other than advising a few companies on the side, most of my time will be spent on building upon what I started in the Pokémon space with my channels. My family is also involved in that venture as well, and it’s something that is bringing us even closer together.

I invested in a large physical space to become a film studio where a lot of production will occur both for Pokémon related content, and other new ventures, too. I do have a drive to learn more about storytelling and eventually get into filmmaking, too.

But it’s not just about videos and content, or Pokémon. The drive is much bigger than that. In several episodes of the SPI podcast, you may recall that I’ve spoken about how I’ve wanted to do something that positively impacts kids and families. I even tried to make an impact in my local community at a school and curriculum level, only to be met with a lot of politics and red tape.
​
With the Pokémon content and the event I run, I’m seeing firsthand the impact that my content is having on kids and their families. Moms and Dads are spending time with their kids, off-screen, to connect together. I’ve had parents tell me that my content is the only content they’re comfortable letting their kids watch. And I’ve even had people struggling with mental illness say my videos have saved their lives.

Although many people have called me “The Mr. Beast of Pokémon”, I personally do not like that comparison, nor do I believe Mr. Beast is all that good for kids to begin with, but that’s a conversation for another time.

What matters is, I don’t want to become the next Mr. Beast…

I want to become, in a sense, the next Mr. Rogers.

I grew up with Mr. Rogers, someone who taught me about good values, and about life. He was that voice I heard on my television almost every day, and I’d like to step forward and be a similar voice to today’s kids. Right now that’s with Pokémon, and in the future, it could be through something else.

No one will ever replace Mr. Rogers, and I could never be him. But, I am inspired by him, and I’d like to have that same positive impact on the world.

None of this would be possible without you.

You have given me the opportunity to step forward into something I never thought possible. Thank you, so much, from the bottom of my heart.

I’d like to think the world is a better place because of what I started in 2008, and I’m grateful for those of you who have sent me messages or letters saying I played some positive role in your life story as an entrepreneur.

A big thanks to the SPI team and everyone who has been a part of this journey with me. The openness to Liz and how y’all have teamed up to work even better together is so exciting!
​
Former CEO, and my business partner Matt Gartland, deserves a big thanks as well. He has played a major role in shaping SPI for nearly a decade and a ton of the biggest business decisions over the years were made with his counsel. And thanks to Caleb Wojcik too, the previous CEO, who spent the last 2 years keeping things organized and getting us to this point as well.
​
Thank you to Jess Lindgren, my assistant turned business manager, who will continue to make sure I have what I need and get to where I need to go, when I need to, on my new adventure.

And thank you, to Liz. I am so blessed we crossed paths, first on the SPI podcast, then at Kit’s event Craft + Commerce, and through your sister once again. There is literally no one else in the world I could imagine taking it from here. SPI is in good hands with you, and you are in good hands with SPI. You already know this.​
​
And to think, none of this would have even been a thing if I didn’t get laid off from my architecture job in 2008. Thanks boss, you did me a solid back then, even though I didn’t know it at the time. Truly.

Here’s to the future. Whatever road you’re on, I know you’ll get there. But remember, where you’re going, you might not even need roads.

Sincerely,

Pat Flynn

​P.S. Please listen to this podcast episode on SPI with both Liz and I talking about the acquisition. A heartfelt, genuine conversation about the sale, and our plans for the future, too.

PPS. For those that are super curious, Liz is doing something wildly transparent over here. It's these kinds of ideas that I'm most excited for you to see, study, and implement into your own online business.

The post The Most Important Announcement I Have Ever Written appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

So I bought Smart Passive Income. Holy moly. I can finally say it. 

My palms are literally sweating. And my stomach feels like it’s in knots thinking about how to fill this blank document…not to mention thinking about you reading this right now. Woooo. This is a lot.

Even though I’ve been around, I’m not sure I’ve been properly introduced. 

Hi friend. My name is Liz Wilcox. I’m a single mom of two (one bio, one bonus) girls and I’ve been in the online business arena for 10 years. I started as an RV travel blogger back in August 2016. I sold my first digital product in July 2017, and I’ve been hooked ever since. 

You name a digital product, I’ve tried it. Plus, I’ve even dabbled in ecommerce with a site that sells merch around the state of Texas. No. I’m not from Texas. I’m just a lady who has loads of ideas and jumps on an opportunity when I see it. 

And since April 1st, 2026, I’ve been the sole owner of this website. 

Right now, I’m going back and forth on this page between waxing poetic and trying to get out “the most brilliant piece I’ve ever written” and remembering that brevity is our friend. 

Let’s go with the latter, shall we? (maybe there’s brilliance in that, anyway.)

Okay…so the facts first.

I’m not Pat Flynn.
I’m not from San Diego.
And Back to the Future is not even in my top ten favorite movies of all time. 

But the big thing Pat and I have in common is you. 

Yes…you!

We both love entrepreneurs. Especially the ones just trying to figure out this online thing so they can reap the benefits later. 

And we’re both incredibly transparent about how we’ve built online income.

Another difference between Pat and myself is that (and you may have noticed this if you already started to Google me) I’m just not as successful as him. 

My YouTube channel holds steady at around 2k subscribers. And my videos compared to his are laughable. Unedited. Crappy camera. No transitions. You get the picture. Or maybe not? Feel free to watch a few seconds here to see just how cruddy and cringe they really are.

As for my socials, I have an Instagram account that looks like I have a decent amount of followers, but let me tell you something. I was on a TV show a few years ago and that’s the only reason I have 15k. If you compared it to other people who did that show with me, my “follower count” is embarrassingly low. 

Now, my email list… that’s what I’m most proud of and where I feel like I really shine. With about 13k, I’ve managed to make around half a million dollars a year for the last three years. But even then! When I got SPI, the email list here sat at over 92k!! That’s literally seven times the size of mine. Plus a thousand more.

Wait…why the heck am I pointing out all my flaws to you in an intro post that is supposed to convince you that I’m the right fit to take over this brand?

Well, like I said…I’m transparent over everything else. 

Plus, I want you to know that you and me? 

We’re in this together, friend. 

Like you, I don’t feel like I’ve “made it” the way Pat Flynn has.

Like you, I am still on my learning journey when it comes to building an online business that takes advantage of systems that allow me to make money without being involved in every transaction. (<— aka: how we define smart passive income around here)

And like you (especially now that I bought SPI and have to pay it off), I really need to focus on my WINs.

If I focus on What’s Important Now each and every day, I know I will stack my wins and learn a whole heck of a lot. 

And everything I learn, I’m going to report back to you.

That is exactly what Pat did at the start of this site.  And it’s exactly what I’m going to do now.

In a kinda fun and weird way (with a nod to our founder’s favorite movie of all time), we’re gonna go back to the roots of the site…which is the only way I see us creating a future for SPI. 

I hope you’ll follow along. I’m sure we have a lot to teach one another.

Your new crash test dummy,
Liz Wilcox 

PS. There’s a “where we’re going, we don’t need roads” joke in here somewhere, but I can’t figure it out.

The post A note from the new owner of Smart Passive Income appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

SAN DIEGO, Calif., September 2, 2026 — Smart Passive Income (SPI), the online business education brand founded by entrepreneur and creator Pat Flynn, today announced that entrepreneur and email marketing expert Liz Wilcox has purchased 100% of SPI Media and SPI Labs from Flynn and his longtime business partner, Matt Gartland. The transaction was completed on April 1, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition marks a new chapter for one of the longest-running education brands in the creator and online business space. Flynn founded Smart Passive Income in 2008 after being laid off from his architecture job and building his first successful online business. What began as a blog documenting his experiences building income online grew into a global education platform encompassing podcasts, courses, a membership community, newsletters, and other resources for entrepreneurs.

Today, the Smart Passive Income Podcast has surpassed 80 million downloads, SPI's educational programs have served more than 50,000 students, and the brand reaches an audience of more than 100,000 subscribers.

“Smart Passive Income has been my baby for 18 years, so selling it was never something I took lightly,” said Flynn. “Over the years, Matt and I had opportunities to sell, but I always knew that if I ever handed SPI to someone else, it had to be about more than numbers. It had to be someone who understood what this brand stands for, who genuinely cares about the people we serve, and who could give SPI the attention it deserves. There is no one else I could imagine taking it from here besides Liz.”

A New Owner With Deep Roots in Online Business

Wilcox is an entrepreneur and email marketing expert who has spent a decade building online businesses. She began her entrepreneurial journey with an RV travel blog, which she later sold before focusing full-time on email marketing. Her Email Marketing Membership has grown to a community of more than 4,000 members, and Wilcox has generated more than 70,000 sales across her online businesses.

Her relationship with SPI began years before the acquisition. Wilcox appeared multiple times as a guest on the Smart Passive Income Podcast and developed a relationship with Flynn and the SPI team before eventually joining the company as Director of Community in 2026.

The idea of an acquisition first surfaced in 2025 while Flynn was balancing his responsibilities at SPI with the rapid growth of his Pokémon-focused media ventures. Initial conversations between Wilcox, Flynn, and Gartland centered not on the financial terms of a potential sale, but on whether Wilcox's values and vision aligned with SPI's mission and community.

Those conversations ultimately led to Wilcox purchasing SPI Media and SPI Labs in April 2026.

“SPI represents so much of what made me want to become an entrepreneur in the first place,” said Wilcox. “I've built my own businesses around the idea that you can work hard and with intention on the right things now to create more freedom for yourself later. That's what Smart Passive Income has always stood for. I'm incredibly excited to build on that foundation and help the next generation of entrepreneurs put the ‘income' in Smart Passive Income.”

Wilcox will serve as Owner and CEO of Smart Passive Income.

Building on SPI's Original Mission

Under Wilcox's leadership, Smart Passive Income will continue its focus on helping entrepreneurs build sustainable online businesses. The SPI name, community, educational programs, and core brand will remain in place, with no major changes planned as a result of the acquisition.

Wilcox plans to place particular emphasis on helping early-stage entrepreneurs move from ideas and audiences to businesses that generate meaningful income.

“One of the original ideas behind Smart Passive Income was simple: work hard now so you can reap the benefits later,” said Wilcox. “I love that idea because passive income was never supposed to mean doing nothing. It's about building something intentionally that can eventually give you more freedom, flexibility, and choice. I want to bring that message to a whole new generation of entrepreneurs.

This is why we are taking things from ‘Team Flynn’ to ‘Team WIN.’ WIN stands for What’s Important Now and I think it’s important for each person that comes to us to learn what they need to focus on. Too many new business owners and content creators try to do everything, all at once. Our main focus from here on out will be to help each individual realize what path will strengthen their vision and make them true and smart, passive income.”

Since the acquisition closed in April, Wilcox has been working inside SPI as Director of Community while Flynn and the team prepared for the public transition. During that period, SPI has seen significant increases in community participation and new member growth, giving Wilcox an opportunity to begin shaping the company's next chapter before formally stepping forward as its owner.

What's Next for Pat Flynn

Flynn will step away from the day-to-day operations of Smart Passive Income while remaining connected to the brand he founded. He will continue to make monthly appearances on the Smart Passive Income Podcast and will serve as an advisor to Wilcox during the transition.

His next chapter will focus primarily on the Pokémon and family-focused media ventures he began building in 2020, along with new projects centered on storytelling and filmmaking.

“Over the last few years, I've felt myself being pulled in two directions,” Flynn said. “SPI will always be part of who I am, but the work I'm doing now with Pokémon, storytelling, and families has become a new calling for me. I'm seeing firsthand how this work can bring parents and kids together, and I want to give myself the space to see where that can lead. Knowing SPI is in Liz's hands makes it possible for me to do that.”

Flynn has invested in a new physical production studio that will support his Pokémon-related content and future creative projects. His longer-term goal is to use storytelling and entertainment to positively impact children and families.

Gartland, who played a key role in SPI's growth and evolution for nearly a decade, will also fully exit the company to focus on other business ventures.

“Matt has played an enormous role in shaping SPI into the company it is today,” Flynn added. “Some of the biggest decisions we've made over the last decade happened with his counsel and leadership. I'm incredibly grateful for what we built together and excited for what's ahead for all of us.”

An 18-Year Legacy Enters Its Next Chapter

Flynn created Smart Passive Income in 2008 after his architecture career was unexpectedly disrupted by a layoff. He began publicly sharing what he was learning about building businesses online, including both his successes and failures, and became known for his transparency and “crash-test dummy of online business” approach.

That philosophy helped SPI grow alongside the creator economy itself. The Smart Passive Income Podcast launched in 2010 and has since surpassed 80 million downloads. SPI's online courses have served more than 50,000 students, while its newsletters, podcasts, community, and educational resources reach entrepreneurs around the world.

For Wilcox, preserving that trust while evolving SPI for today's entrepreneurs is at the center of what comes next.

“I don’t want to chance SPI at all” Wilcox said. “In fact, I want to bring it back to its roots. My vision is to take everything people already trust and love about SPI and ask, ‘How do we get back to what matters to early stage entrepreneurs? How do we make this even more useful for the entrepreneur who's sitting at home right now wondering how to turn their idea into real income?' I've been that person. I know what that feels like. And I can’t wait to dig in with our subscribers and listeners.”

Flynn added, “SPI is in good hands with Liz, and Liz is in good hands with SPI. This isn't the end of Smart Passive Income. It's the beginning of its next chapter.”

The transition will be discussed in a special episode of the Smart Passive Income Podcast featuring Flynn and Wilcox, along with a video interview and additional information here.

About Smart Passive Income

Founded by Pat Flynn in 2008, Smart Passive Income helps entrepreneurs build businesses that generate income, create freedom, and serve their audiences. Through podcasts, online courses, community, newsletters, workshops, and other educational resources, SPI provides practical strategies and support for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

The Smart Passive Income Podcast, launched in 2010, has surpassed 80 million downloads, and SPI's educational programs have served more than 50,000 students.

For more information, visit SmartPassiveIncome.com.

About Liz Wilcox

Liz Wilcox is an entrepreneur and email marketing expert known for helping business owners simplify email marketing and turn subscribers into customers. After beginning her online business journey as an RV travel blogger, Wilcox sold the business and built an email marketing company centered around her Email Marketing Membership.

Over a decade in online business, Wilcox has generated more than 70,000 sales, built a membership community of more than 4,000 entrepreneurs, and created a business generating more than half a million dollars annually from an email list of fewer than 15,000 subscribers. She has appeared multiple times on the Smart Passive Income Podcast and joined SPI as Director of Community before becoming Owner and CEO in 2026.

For more information, visit LizWilcox.com.

Media Contact

Sandra Mann
Director of Marketing
Smart Passive Income
[email protected]

The post Liz Wilcox Purchases Smart Passive Income from Founder Pat Flynn and Business Partner Matt Gartland appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

You already know that, just like you, your readers get a ton of emails everyday. So what makes them open one over another? An eye-catching subject line, my friend! 

Feelin’ the pressure? You’re not alone. Subject line intimidation is REAL.

So let’s take a look at the top five email subject line mistakes people  make — and how to avoid them. 

5. Making the Subject Line Too Long

The short story: Long subject lines are hard to read—especially on mobile devices, which is where most people are reading their email—so keepit short and sweet. 

Brevity is key in best practices for email subject line length.

You want your subject lines to be  clear, concise, and to the pointSave the meat of your conversation for inside the email  Shorter subject lines will give you a better chance at getting your emails opened by readers.

• Keep your subject lines 5 words or less for maximum impact. 
• Make the most intriguing part visible on mobile for higher open rates.

I’ve been on a one-word subject line lately and I’m not gonna lie, they are FIRE with my audience. 

4. Write for a Friend, Not for a Blog Post Title

Forget about search engine optimization when it comes to email subject lines. In other words, don’t write  blog post titles for subject lines and stuff them with keywords! 

Inboxes are not indexed by search engines the way that social media, YouTube, and Google are. Yes, there’s a search bar in all email platforms, so technically there’s indexing happening, but people input search terms differently within their inbox. Usually it’s by email address or highly specific keywords they know will be in the body of the email.

Think about your subject lines the way you think of writing a text or email to a friend. Make it personable, relatable, and intriguing

Best practice for email subject line content: Make it Fun!

So forget about keywords and  click-baity titles (like clichéd subject lines you’ve seen a hundred times) and write like a human. . 

• Imagine you’re writing to a friend, not your entire list. What would make it fun for them to open the email? 
• Put yourself in your reader’s shoes. What bold faced words in the subject line t would make your email irresistible?

3. Writing the Subject Line First

If you get overwhelmed by the subject line and it blocks you from sending out your email newsletters,try writing the email first. There’s no email marketing rule book or SOP that states you have to craft that subject line first. Some, maybe most, writers and marketers don’t write the subject line first. It’s not a recipe and it’s not a house. There’s no right or wrong order to craft an email. 

Best practice for the process of writing an email.

• Flip the process and start with your email first!
• What’s your core message in two or three words? Nailing that down will make it easier to create a more honed-in subject line.

2. Using Tricks Too Much

There are a lot of tips and tricks that I could give in this blog post. Like put a personalized name in the subject line, ask a question, add fake spelling mistakes or get creative with words. I’m not saying don’t do this, but everything in moderation, and only when it feels true to you and your business.

We all want to stand out in our subject lines, but too many tricks and gimmicks can feel like you’re trying too hard. I’m ALL for FUN. Just keep in mind that doing it all the time might make your subscribers’ eyes glaze over, and skip your email altogether.

Best practice for subject line tricks?

• Use them sparingly.
• Keep your value high and predictable, while leaving the gimmicks unpredictable.

1. Using “RE:” in Subject Lines

Using “RE:” at the beginning of a subject line was once a cool novelty that worked. Over time it’s been overused, and by marketers who were borderline spammy. It might seem like your email is a response to an existing conversation or a continuation of a thought, but these days it’s more dirty trick that annoys readers than clever subject line fun. 

Maybe just don’t use it as a way to get people to open your emails.Cause it probably won’t work and will damage your reputation with your audience.

BONUS Subject Lines Faux Pas: Focusing Too Much on the Subject Line 

Subject lines matter! But who the sender is matters even more. If somebody knows you and they’re familiar with your name or your business name in the sender section, that is more likely to get opened than the subject line.

I wrote a subject line, where the subject line said, write a compelling subject line, because I had forgotten to write or change the subject line.  My longtime subscribers, people who really know me, opened it anyway. That email still had an excellent open rate. 

So when you can focus more on getting people to understand who you are in the inbox and how you can help them, and why they should open every single email, the subject line becomes secondary to the sender.

People want to buy from people, my friend. So be real and keep the subject lines simple. 

The TL;DR Version of Email Subject Lines

• Mistake #5: The never-ending subject line. 
• Correction #5: Keep it short and sweet, especially for mobile users.
• Mistake #4: Writing like it’s an SEO contest. 
• Correction #4: Instead, write like you’re talking to a friend.
• Mistake #3: Starting with the subject line. 
• Correction #3: Write your email first, then craft the perfect subject line.
• Mistake #2: Too many tricks and gimmicks.
• Correction #2: Focus on good content and concise subject lines.
• Mistake #1: Using “re:” unless it’s a genuine reply. It’s just a dirty trick that annoys people.
• Correction #1: Just skip it. Make every email a fresh email. 

The post Top 5 Email Subject Line Mistakes To Avoid appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

If you’re looking for your next email marketing platform, and you’re curious if Kit is right for you, well, you’re in the right place! Here’s our comprehensive Kit review for 2026, which will cover:

• What Is Kit?
• Why do I need an email service provider (ESP)?
• The rebrand from ConvertKit to Kit
• Kit Features
• Kit Pricing
• Key Benefits of Kit
• Drawbacks of Kit
• Kit & Email Marketing: More Resources to Read, Listen & Learn

What is Kit?

Kit is an email service provider (ESP). Essentially, it’s a technology service that lets you send email campaigns to a list of subscribers. Kit is one of literally hundreds of ESPs out there, and—full disclosure—it happens to be the one we prefer and use at SPI.

Although we’re biased, we can still be objective! In this post, we’ll cover the features, benefits, and drawbacks of Kit as we see them, to help you decide if it’s the right ESP for your business.

Email marketing strategy: Why you need an ESP

If you’re reading this, you might already know what an ESP is and why you need one. But in case you don’t, an ESP is the most important piece of technology to support your email marketing strategy.

Email marketing is one of the most powerful methods to build relationships and market your products and services to your audience. Let’s talk about why that is.

In its most basic form, email marketing involves you sending emails to a group of people who’ve chosen to hear from you by “subscribing” to receive emails from you. You could technically use a simple email program like Gmail to accomplish this—but we don’t recommend it, because you’ll quickly find it insufficient (and because your personal email account will get flagged as spam if you send too many emails from it!).

As your business grows and more people subscribe to get your emails, you’ll want the ability to do more sophisticated things with your email marketing, like customizing the emails people get according to their interests, and using reports and analytics to determine what’s working well or not.

You also need to make sure you’re respecting people’s privacy and not spamming anyone. An email service provider also helps you to stay in compliance with government regulations around the world, such as the CAN-SPAM act in the United States, the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union (GDPR), and the Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL).

Things can quickly get out of hand without the help of a dedicated email marketing platform. That’s where an ESP like Kit comes in.

Okay, let’s get into the nitty gritty of Kit’s features!

Psst… Want to grow your email list and learn powerful segmentation and automation strategies that allow your business to run on its own? Check out the Email Marketing Magic course.

100 Emails Challenge

Build your email list now with our three-day challenge

Three days, three emails, and one download, all packed with step-by-step instructions to walk you through the process of taking your email list from zero subscribers to 100+.

Free newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.

Kit features

These are the key features of Kit, organized by how you’ll use them.

Sending emails

• Autoresponders/drip campaigns (sequences): Send a sequence of pre-written emails automatically to a specific segment of subscribers on your list, triggered by a specific event or action, with the aim of guiding them to take a specific action. 
• Broadcast emails: Send standard announcements or one-time emails to your subscribers on a specific date.
• CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and CASL compliance: CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and CASL are laws that set the rules and requirements for commercial email messages, and give recipients the right to have you stop emailing them—so compliance is crucial!
• Dynamic (personalized) email content: Your email content can display different text or images, according to your customer segmentation.
• Responsive email templates: Ready-to-go email designs, as well as the ability to create your own custom templates. Kit automatically formats your landing pages for various devices, such as desktop computers and mobile phones.
• WYSIWYG email editor: The built-in email editor lets you see how your email will look with your template’s styling applied while you’re composing it.

Collecting new subscribers

• Custom responsive landing pages: Use the included tool to quickly create a landing page to collect email addresses. Kit automatically formats your landing pages for various devices, such as desktop computers and mobile phones.
• Embeddable forms: Collect email subscribers anywhere on your website by dropping in a Javascript or HTML form, or by using the WordPress plugin.
• Site builder: Create a website directly on Kit to publish newsletters, host a digital storefront to collect payment for one-time or subscription products, and build custom pages. Set up a landing page and collect payment for one-time or subscription products right inside Kit.
• Visual automations: Kit allows you to create rule-based paths using if-then logic, so that when a subscriber takes a particular action, you can send them pre-defined emails or add them to a segment.

Learning about your subscribers

• A/B testing: Kit lets you test different subject lines for your emails, and automatically determines the winner based on their respective open rates.
• Reporting/analytics/ROI tracking: Learn how often your subscribers open your emails, click on links, and complete various actions.
• Segmentation/tagging: Segmenting your subscribers into different categories (similar to but more powerful than other programs’ “lists”) allows you to send them emails that are better tailored to their needs and interests.
• Polls: Add polls directly to emails to engage with and collect information about subscribers, which you can then use to build segments.
• Subscriber Signals: A new feature launched at Craft + Commerce in June 2026, Subscriber Signals is Kit’s subscriber intelligence product. It enriches your subscriber list with professional and social context (like role, company, location, and public social presence when available) and pairs it with Kit engagement data —so you can quickly spot influential or high-intent subscribers, build smarter segments, and take action (like tagging and targeted outreach) without doing manual research.

Growing your income

• In 2022, Kit Commerce was added to the platform, allowing users to try selling digital products to their subscribers by creating customized product pages that can be embedded in your emails, along with automated sales funnels.
• The current iteration of Kit also features a site builder. You can create a website directly on Kit to publish newsletters, host a digital storefront to collect payment for one-time or subscription products, and build custom pages.

Connecting with and supporting other creators: The Creator Network

• In 2023, Kit launched the Creator Network, which helps users guide their audience members to discover other creators and get discovered in turn.
• You can also get paid for Creator Network recommendations you make via the aptly named Paid Recommendations.

Expanding the platform’s capabilities: App store + MCP

• As part of the 2024 rebrand, they also launched an app store, where you can find custom apps to do more with Kit. The app store will launch with five apps: KitBoard (add CRM to your account), Wordsmith (turn YouTube videos into newsletters, SavvyCal (add booking widgets to emails), Mighty (connect your Mighty community and content with Kit), and SegMetrics (learn about how you gain, engage, and convert subscribers).
• Kit also offers a self-service app builder to create your own add-ons. (As of this writing, the service is currently in beta.)
• Kit released their MCP in June 2026. Connect Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and more directly to Kit so every AI analysis and action is personal to your business and your list.

ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL RECORDING SPACE: KIT STUDIOS

• Kit Studios are professional recording spaces available free to all Kit customers on Creator or Creator Pro plans. Whether you're recording a podcast, filming a YouTube video, shooting a course, or hosting a multi-person interview, the studios are fully set up when you arrive: cameras, lighting, and microphones included. The only thing you need to bring is an SSD external hard drive to record your content on.
• With three locations in 2026 and more planning to open, Kit customers can reserve time at studios in Boise, ID, Chicago, IL, and, most recently, New York City, NY.

Start your Kit account — free for your first 10,000 subscribers!

Start your account now

This is an affiliate link

From “ConvertKit” to “Kit”: Behind the rebrand

In summer 2024, the company previously known as ConvertKit officially became Kit. The new name was announced in July during the Craft + Commerce Creator Conference and went live in October. (They had previously rebranded to Seva in 2018, but considerable negative feedback to the new name caused them to revert to ConvertKit until this year.)

The change to Kit was more than a name change, though, because the company launched several big new capabilities to their platform as well. We covered some of the new features in the section above, but here are the highlights:

• An app store where developers can create add-ons to augment Kit’s capabilities
• A central data hub with enhanced reporting
• An expanded Creator Network to help users find new collaboration partners

Kit also made a point of rebranding in public by sharing information about the rebranding process through blog updates, live-streamed design sessions, and a four-part YouTube mini-documentary. This transparency gives an interesting insight into the company’s thinking. And we think it’s a smart move given how their previous rebrand went.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about pricing.

Kit pricing

For a long time, Kit only offered paid plans. But in December 2019, the company announced a new free tier if you have fewer than 1,000 subscribers. They recently expanded the free tier to include creators with up to 10,000 subscribers.

Here are Kit’s pricing options as of August 2026:

Kit FREE Plan

• $0/month for up to 10,000 subscribers

The Free plan includes:

• Unlimited landing pages and opt-in forms
• Unlimited email broadcasts
• Audience tagging & segmentation
• Sell digital products

Kit Creator Plan

• $33/month for up to 1,000 subscribers (paid annually; $39 if paid monthly)
• $50/month for up to 3,000 subscribers (paid annually; $59 if paid monthly)
• Tiered pricing up to $1,916/month (paid annually; $2,299 if paid monthly) for up to 400,000 subscribers

The Creator plan includes:

• All the features of the free plan
• Unlimited Visual Automations
• Unlimited email Sequences
• Kit MCP
• A/B test subject lines
• Survey subscribers with polls
• Remove Kit branding
• SMS marketing
• Apps & integrations
• RSS campaigns
• 24/7 email & chat support

Kit Creator Pro Plan

• $66/month for up to 1,00 subscribers (paid annually; $79 if paid monthly)
• $99/month for up to 3,000 subscribers (paid annually; $83 if paid monthly)
• Tiered pricing up to $2,166/month (paid annually; $2,599 paid monthly) for up to 400,000 subscribers

The Creator Pro plan includes:

• All the features of the Creator plan
• Subscriber Signals
• Engagement analytics
• Unlimited users
• Insights dashboard
• Deliverability reporting
• Subscriber engagement scoring
• Collaborative editing
• A/B test subject lines & content
• Facebook custom audiences
• Newsletter referral system
• Edit links in sent broadcasts
• 24/7 priority email & chat support

Both the Creator and Creator Pro plans offer a 14-day free trial so you can see if it’s right for you before committing.

We’ll keep this post updated with the latest Kit pricing, but you can also visit the pricing page on the Kit website.

Let’s get into the reasons we like Kit next!

Benefits of Kit

We’ve used Kit to power Smart Passive Income’s email marketing for several years. In that time, we’ve found it to be the ideal ESP for our needs. We also think it’s a great solution for a range of entrepreneurs and digital creators looking for a robust, feature-rich email marketing platform.

The best email service provider for new entrepreneurs.

Easy to learn, powerful when you need it.

Get your free account

This is an affiliate link

From where we sit, the power of Kit falls into two main categories: user benefits, and audience benefits.

Kit benefits from the user’s standpoint

First, Kit has everything a business owner needs to get up and running quickly:

• You can collect emails.
• You can set up a simple landing page to collect emails.
• You can sell products (one-time purchase or subscription).

These features allow someone to start selling even while they are in the process of setting up a website somewhere else. It also makes it easy to execute on one of the main lessons in our Smart From Scratch course: using selling as a key step in the idea-validation process.

Second, the Kit team designed their platform to grow with the sophistication of the user. When you start, you probably just want to collect email addresses and send emails. But as you grow, you’ll want to start tailoring your message and segmenting your audience. At that point you can take advantage of things like automations and dynamic content. As you and your business become more advanced, the Creator Pro Plan is your next step—you won’t have to switch to a different email service provider five years down the road. This sets Kit apart from some other ESPs, particularly Mailchimp.

Some people find Kit a bit daunting (see Drawbacks below), but if you’re somewhat tech-savvy we think it’s pretty approachable. In particular, we like the accessibility of Kit’s automation builder, which lets you create automations in a straightforward, linear way.

We tried Infusionsoft for a year and found its automation builder innovative but overwhelming. You had to already understand how automations work, as well as the various symbols common in automation builders. We find Kit’s automation builder, on the other hand, makes it easy to string automations together in an advanced way. With multiple templates to choose from, setting up an automation for the first time is easy for any user.

We also like Kit’s approach to subscriber management. With Kit, all your subscribers go into one big pool; there are no lists. Instead, subscribers can be put into segments by assigning them attributes using tags and custom fields. These let you treat your subscribers as unique humans with different needs; not all subscribers are created equal. The other benefit of the way Kit treats subscribers? You’re only charged once for each unique subscriber, unlike some other ESPs.

Kit’s recently launched Creator Network is also a big plus in our eyes, from both a business-building and community-building perspective. It allows you to grow your subscriber base while also fostering connections with other entrepreneurs and creators.

Last but not least, if you’re moving from another ESP like Mailchimp or AWeber, Kit offers a free migration service that can take some of the headache out of switching.

Kit benefits for your audience

Kit gives you the opportunity to tailor your messaging to your audience. You can have as many forms and landing pages as you want. You can have as many tags, custom fields, and segments as you want. You can be as specific in talking to your audience as you want to be.

As you collect information about your audience, you can start to segment subscribers so you don’t bother people with things they aren’t interested in. Kit makes it easy to collect details about your audience along the way, and you aren’t penalized for that through higher costs, as you would be with a list-based email platform.

Drawbacks of Kit

No solution is perfect, of course. Here are some of the drawbacks we and other Kit users have noticed.

• Moderately steep learning curve. The interface can be a little overwhelming for a beginner. Taking full advantage of all of Kit’s features—like segmentation, tagging, and automations—requires some learning (and potentially coding). You can shorten this learning curve by following their Getting Started video series, as well as the rest of the content on their well-organized support site
• No list-based organization. Although we like the way Kit lets you organize subscribers using tags (and doesn’t charge you for duplicate subscribers, as we mentioned above), the lack of a list-based organization system can be confusing if you’re coming from other platforms. Over time, though, we think you’ll find this system more flexible than managing lists.
• Barebones email and landing page templates. Kit requires CSS coding to create custom advanced email templates and landing pages beyond the included options. Some users report that the email design tool can be buggy.
• Analytics could be more robust. The free and Creator plans don’t offer the same advanced deliverability reporting, subscriber scoring, and analytics features of the Insight feature that the Creator Pro plan offers, which makes sense but may be a bother to some users.

Thankfully, one of the previous drawbacks of Kit, that there was no free option, hasn’t been the case since 2019. This free tier makes Kit comparable at the entry level to other popular ESP options like Mailchimp.

Lastly, this is by no means a drawback, but as Kit continues to expand its offerings to include things like the Creator Network and Kit Commerce to its core email marketing capabilities, there’s a chance that the platform’s value could get spread thin. To be clear, we don’t think this is going to happen and have a lot of confidence in Nathan and the Kit team, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Our big takeaway on Kit

With the recent updates, Kit is coming closer to being a one-stop shop for creators who want to grow, nurture, and sell to their audiences with a platform that’s largely ready to use and automatable. If you’re looking for your first or next email marketing platform, we think it’s a great solution for growing your audience and increasing your income while retaining creative control over what you put out into the world!

Kit & email marketing: More resources to read, listen & learn

So there you have it—our review of Kit’s email marketing platform! We’ll leave you with a few more resources if you’re curious about Kit, or want to dig further into email marketing.

Kit [Full Disclosure: As an affiliate, we receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

SPI 825: Behind the Scenes of a Major Rebrand & Lessons Learned After a Hard Fail—my conversation with Kit CEO Nathan Barry about setting his company’s sights on more ambitious goals with the rebrand.

What Is Email Marketing? + Best Practices:
An SPI How-to Guide

Email Marketing Magic Course

AP 0712: How Do I Migrate an Email List from AWeber to Kit? – Smart Passive Income

Why I Switched from Aweber to Infusionsoft to ConvertKitI hope this post has been helpful in deciding whether Kit is the right ESP for your business. Whatever email marketing platform you choose, nothing is more important than having the right email marketing strategy, so be sure to check out our essential guide to email marketing and consider the Email Marketing Magic course if you want more hands-on support with your email marketing, available inside the SPI Community. Good luck!

The post Kit Review 2026 appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

SAN DIEGO, Calif., April 21, 2026 — Smart Passive Income (SPI), the online business education company founded by entrepreneur and creator Pat Flynn, today announced the launch of the Superfans System, a new guided roadmap designed to help creators and online entrepreneurs know what to build, when to build it, and how to turn an audience into a sustainable business.

Built into the SPI Community and based on the framework Flynn introduced in his 2019 book Superfans, the Superfans System organizes the entrepreneurial journey into five distinct levels: Foundation, Casual, Active, Connected, and Superfans.

Rather than giving entrepreneurs another library of information to navigate on their own, the system identifies where someone is in their journey and directs them toward the courses, strategies, community support, and monetization opportunities most relevant to that stage.

“Entrepreneurs today don't have an information problem. They have an overwhelm problem,” said Flynn. “There are thousands of videos, podcasts, courses, and experts telling you what you should be doing. The harder question is, ‘What should I be doing right now?’ That's what we wanted the Superfans System to answer.”

From Information Library to Guided Roadmap

Since launching in 2008, Smart Passive Income has helped entrepreneurs learn how to start and grow online businesses through podcasts, courses, workshops, and community.

But as the creator economy has expanded, so has the number of strategies competing for entrepreneurs' attention.

Creators are now expected to navigate short-form video, YouTube, podcasting, email marketing, online courses, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, communities, memberships, live events, and more, often without a clear understanding of which strategies make sense for their current stage.

The Superfans System was created to simplify that journey.

Members begin by identifying their current stage within the system and are then guided toward the SPI resources most relevant to what they need to accomplish next. Instead of presenting every available course and tactic at once, the system provides a clearer pathway through SPI's existing education, community, workshops, office hours, and other resources.

“We're trying to lead the forefront of entrepreneurial education and not just overwhelm you,” Flynn said during the system's launch. “We want to guide you.”

The shift also reflects SPI's move toward what Flynn describes as “community-powered courses,” combining education with implementation, accountability, feedback, and support from other entrepreneurs working through similar challenges.

The Five Levels of the Superfans System

At the center of the system is Flynn's Pyramid of Fandom, which illustrates how someone can move from discovering a creator for the first time to becoming an active member of that creator's audience, community, and ultimately one of their most loyal supporters.

The Superfans System translates that concept into a five-level business roadmap:

Level 0: Foundation — Get Clear
Entrepreneurs define who they serve, what their audience needs, and the problem their business is positioned to solve.

Level 1: Casual — Get Found
Creators focus on discoverability and audience growth through channels such as short-form video and social media, while exploring early monetization opportunities including affiliate marketing, advertising, sponsorships, and brand partnerships.

Level 2: Active — Grow the Relationship
Entrepreneurs turn casual followers into an audience that intentionally follows their work. Strategies include email marketing, podcasting, YouTube, products, services, courses, and other ways to build deeper relationships while generating revenue.

Level 3: Connected — Build Community
Creators deepen those relationships through communities, memberships, live streaming, virtual and in-person events, webinars, and other experiences that allow audience members to interact with both the brand and each other.

Level 4: Superfans — Create Deeper Experiences
At the highest level, entrepreneurs focus on their most engaged customers and supporters, creating deeper experiences, increasing loyalty, encouraging word-of-mouth growth, and building a business supported by people who actively want the brand to succeed.

Each level builds on the one before it, while allowing entrepreneurs to return to earlier stages as their business evolves.

“Most people are taught to think about their audience like a funnel,” Flynn said. “Traffic comes in, some become subscribers, and a smaller number become customers. Funnels are useful, but they don't automatically create connection. Superfans are created by the moments and experiences you give people over time.”

Building Businesses Around People, Not Just Algorithms

The launch comes at a time when artificial intelligence, changing algorithms, and an increasingly crowded content landscape are reshaping how creators build audiences online.

While social media can help creators reach large numbers of people, the Superfans System emphasizes moving beyond reach alone and developing relationships that creators can sustain regardless of platform changes.

“You don't need millions of followers to build a thriving business,” Flynn said. “You need the right people who care about what you're doing.”

Short-form content, for example, may introduce a creator to a casual audience. Email, podcasts, and long-form video can then deepen that relationship. Communities and live experiences can create stronger connections between audience members, while the most engaged supporters can ultimately become customers, advocates, and Superfans.

That progression also opens different monetization opportunities throughout the entrepreneurial journey rather than treating monetization as something that only becomes possible after building a massive following. During the launch, Flynn highlighted opportunities ranging from affiliate marketing, platform revenue, and brand partnerships at earlier stages to courses, consulting, memberships, events, and other offers as audience relationships deepen.

A New Direction for Entrepreneurial Education at SPI

The Superfans System represents a broader evolution in how Smart Passive Income approaches online business education.

Rather than asking members to choose from a large catalog of courses independently, SPI has organized its educational library around the five Superfans levels. Members can access resources including Smart From Scratch, Short-Form Formula, Email Marketing Magic, YouTube From Scratch, podcasting education, community-building programs, and other SPI courses according to where those resources fit within their business journey.

New courses and resources can also be added to the system without requiring every member to immediately pursue them. Instead, resources become available as options when they are relevant to a member's stage.

“Information is everywhere now,” Flynn said. “Technically, you can probably find out how to do almost anything we teach somewhere online. What's missing is having that information put into a system, knowing when you need it, and having other people taking that journey alongside you.”

That emphasis on implementation was central to the system's April launch, which followed SPI's 14-Day Video Challenge. Flynn used the challenge to demonstrate how a single tactic, short-form video, fits within the larger process of building an audience and business. Participants were encouraged to view publishing consistently not as an end goal, but as one step toward developing deeper audience relationships.

“Entrepreneurship can feel incredibly lonely, especially when the people around you don't understand what you're trying to build,” Flynn said. “Having a roadmap matters. Having people who can help you stay on that roadmap matters just as much.”

Flynn goes into more details of how someone can build a creator empire with their Superfans in episode 928 of the Smart Passive Income podcast.

From Followers to Superfans

Flynn first introduced the Pyramid of Fandom in Superfans in 2019, arguing that creators and entrepreneurs don't need massive audiences to build successful businesses. Instead, they can create meaningful growth by deliberately moving people from casual awareness toward deeper connection and advocacy.

Seven years later, SPI has turned that philosophy into a structured learning experience.

“Superfans aren't created the moment somebody sees one of your videos,” Flynn said. “They're created through the moments you create for them over time.”

The Superfans System is now available as part of the SPI Community.

For more information, visit The Superfans System.

About Smart Passive Income

Founded by Pat Flynn in 2008, Smart Passive Income helps creators and entrepreneurs build sustainable online businesses through education, community, and practical implementation. Through its podcasts, courses, workshops, challenges, and membership community, SPI provides entrepreneurs with proven strategies for growing an audience, generating income, and building businesses designed to create greater freedom and flexibility.

At the center of SPI's approach is the belief that successful online businesses are built by serving people first and developing trust over time.

Media Contact

Sandra Mann
Director of Marketing
Smart Passive Income
[email protected]

The post Smart Passive Income Launches the Superfans System, a New Roadmap for Turning Audiences Into Sustainable Online Businesses appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Sandy Mann, Director of Marketing
SPI Media
[email protected]

Smart Passive Income (SPI) is excited to announce the merger of its two entrepreneurial online communities into one unified SPI Community. This integration introduces a three-tiered membership structure designed to provide targeted resources and benefits that support entrepreneurs from the early stages of ideation to achieving full-time income.

The decision behind the merger

For years, SPI successfully operated two distinct communities: the All-Access Pass for early-stage entrepreneurs and SPI Pro for advanced business owners. While these communities served members well, SPI recognized the potential to deliver even greater value by combining them into one unified space.

“When I joined SPI, we began exploring why these two communities existed separately,” said Caleb Wojcik, CEO of Smart Passive Income. “It became clear that merging them into one place would enhance interactions, learning, and networking opportunities for everyone. This also led us to implement a tiered structure to better meet the needs of entrepreneurs at every stage, including features like mastermind groups, sprints, and quests to foster connection and progress.”

These changes ensure members can share insights, collaborate, and grow together within a more dynamic, supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The new tiered membership structure

The SPI Community now offers three membership tiers tailored to different levels of entrepreneurial growth and unique learning needs:

• Start: Geared toward beginners, this tier provides DIY education through self-paced courses, live events, and discussion channels to help members build a strong foundation.
• Accelerate: Designed for those seeking additional support and accountability in a do-it-with-you setting, this tier includes everything in Start plus benefits like cohort-based course accelerators, peer-led masterminds, monthly quests, and office hours with Pat Flynn.
• Thrive: Built for established entrepreneurs, this application-based tier with quarterly enrollment periods offers exclusive access to vetted Mastermind groups, quarterly Sprints, additional office hours with Pat Flynn, the Full-Time Entrepreneur Playbook, and expert-led Thrive-only discussion channels.

This marks the start of an exciting new phase for Smart Passive Income. By uniting its communities and introducing a tiered membership structure, SPI is reinforcing its commitment to equipping members with the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to achieve their business goals — supported by a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

To learn more about the decision to restructure and merge the communities, listen to the bonus podcast episode, The Updated SPI Community Is Here—Behind the Scenes of What’s New with Caleb Wojcik. The episode is available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/the-updated-spi-community/.

About Smart Passive Income

Smart Passive Income (SPI) is committed to guiding entrepreneurs from idea to income through education, feedback, and accountability. Founded by Pat Flynn, SPI equips individuals with the tools and support to achieve personal fulfillment, financial independence, and long-term success. By offering a range of resources and a thriving membership community, SPI fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth. Rooted in the belief that entrepreneurship is the best path to controlling your future, SPI empowers its members to build meaningful and sustainable businesses. Learn more at smartpassiveincome.com.

The post Smart Passive Income Unites Two Entrepreneurial Communities with a Tiered Membership Model appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Hundreds of hours of research and 73 pages of notes—that’s what it took for Aprilynne Alter to multiply her YouTube subscriber count by 12 times in 30 days!

By the time you finish reading this post, you’ll know how she did it, too. More importantly, you’ll have actionable steps that you can use to boost your subscribers and grow your channel on YouTube.

There’s a lot of competition on YouTube — Is it worth it?

To understand this in context, let’s look at some facts first. YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine. It’s also the top streaming platform. Hundreds of millions of creators jump onto the YouTube bandwagon yearly—but only a tiny percentage succeed.

Is it worth investing the time to become a better YouTube Creator?

Absolutely—and the numbers confirm my thinking, too. YouTube’s 4.95 billion monthly active users eclipses Netflix’s 40 million. And according to SocialBlade, YouTube has over 61 million creators. The platform has one of the best creator programs in the world, and it has a growing collection of high-quality, free resources. If you put in the time and energy, I believe YouTube can open up incredible opportunities for you and your business.

As a YouTube Creator, I always leap at the opportunity to learn from others in this space. In the past, we’ve gained wisdom on The Smart Passive Income Podcast from more prominent YouTube creators like MKBHD and Sean Cannell. But this time, I wanted to speak to an up-and-rising YouTube creator. We liked what Aprilynne was doing with her YouTube channel, so we invited her to the show.

Listen to Aprilynne on The Smart Passive Income Podcast:

12x YouTube subscriber growth in four weeks

Aprilynne grew her YouTube channel from 1,000 to over 12,000 subscribers in four straight weeks.

And yep—those are real numbers. As I write this post, I see that her channel has over 52,047 subscribers. But that’s not why I’m sharing Aprilynne’s lessons with you. Here’s why I think her approach is worth examining:

Like most internet-based platforms or social media, YouTube is rapidly evolving too. And that’s why Aprilynne’s learnings are very relevant—because everything you’re about to learn is based on what she discovered by doing in the last six months.

Adding tens of thousands of new subscribers to a brand-new YouTube channel isn’t easy. Aprilynne doesn’t have a background in media or video either—in fact, she previously quit a career in finance! She also had a challenging experience with her first YouTube channel.

She’s also achieved this without creating too many videos—her channel has just twenty-four videos as I write this. It’s evident that Aprilynne’s success comes from careful research—she’s been studying the best YouTube creators. Take a closer look, and you’ll see the results of her study: four out of the twenty-four videos have over 200K views. And one of the four videos has over 800K views!

So, what did Aprilynne do differently with her second YouTube channel?

When I spoke to her on the podcast, it all started to come together. So, without further ado, let’s get into Aprilynne’s four-step process for YouTube subscriber growth. Implementing these four steps will definitely help you grow your YouTube channel fast. So get ready to take notes because this one is super actionable!

Ready to learn YouTube the smart way?

The All-Access Pass community has the courses (like YouTube From Scratch!), resources, support, and accountability you need.

Learn About the SPI Community

Aprilynne’s four-step process for YouTube subscriber growth

What you’re about to learn is simple to understand, but it can be hard to implement if you miss the details, so pay close attention. Here are Aprilynne’s four steps:

1. Start with the Packaging
2. Focus on the Intro
3. Pay Attention to Your ENTIRE Audience
4. Preplan Like a Boss

These steps may appear self-explanatory, but let me walk you through each one of them step-by-step.

1. Start with the packaging

“If you think about what goes into the success of a video, it’s around 50 percent the packaging,” says Aprilynne.

Packaging is about the three critical elements of a YouTube video:

1. Idea
2. Title
3. Thumbnail

Aprilynne realized she spent 99 percent of the time creating the video and just one percent on the packaging. I like the word packaging because it is something we experience every time we buy physical products at a store—packaging is what you see before you experience a product.

It’s the same with videos, too—people experience the above three elements before they watch the actual video. And if they aren’t clicking on your video, then the video might as well not even exist.

Start with the idea—what do you want to communicate to your audience? How would you describe your video in one line?

Once you’ve nailed your packaging, it’s time to move on to step number two.

2. Focus on the intro

Aprilynne spoke about this on the show, but I learned everything else from this step in this video on her channel. Here are four specific tips from Aprilynne on this:

2.1. Focus on the first five seconds

The first five seconds play a massive role in deciding the success of your video. That’s because YouTube looks for a match between your packaging and what you say in the first five seconds. For example, if your video is about “how to create killer thumbnails,” make it clear in the first five seconds.

Second, it also helps the viewer decide whether to continue watching. Promising “killer thumbnails” and discussing your new backyard vegetable garden in the first five seconds is not a good idea.

2.2. Keep the intro length short

The intro is the time you spend at the beginning of the video, including the first five seconds. Keep the intro to anywhere from ten to about forty-five seconds—not more than a minute.

2.3. Nail the setup

“Setup” refers to three essential elements: curiosity gap, context, and input bias. Here’s what you want to do to nail your setup:

1. Create a curiosity gap: In simple words, give your viewers enough to want more. This topic deserves an entire post, but here's a great post from Descript.
2. Establish context: Tell your viewers what the context is. If your title includes “killer thumbnails,” tell them if they are thumbnails for YouTube videos or podcasts in Apple Podcasts.
3. Input bias: This is based on human behavioral psychology. It refers to the idea that the more time, effort, and money you spend on something, the more you'll value it. In the context of this post, one way of doing this is to tell your viewers how much effort you put into researching the stuff they are about to learn. If you want to dig deeper, read this great HubSpot article about how MrBeast uses input bias in his videos.

2.4. Front-load the stimulus

Keep changing the visuals fast in the first few twenty-odd seconds. According to Aprilynne, MrBeast changes visuals at the beginning of his videos every 1.4 seconds. Mark Rober does it every 1.6 seconds.

3. Pay attention to your ENTIRE audience

This post is about YouTube subscriber growth. Everything I’m sharing in this article is based on what Aprilynne uses to create what she calls “banger videos.”

These videos help you reach new audiences, and they do that without ignoring your audience—casual and core viewers included.

In other words, make your videos appealing to your subscribers, but don’t ignore folks who aren’t subscribed. Design your videos also to pull in casual YouTube viewers who don’t (yet) know who you are.

4. Preplan like a boss

Most folks script and then shoot. There are two problems with this.

First, this can put a lot of pressure on the editing process. You might realize while editing that you needed product footage or a second camera angle.

Second, the jump from scripting to filming can clip your creativity. In other words, you may now stick to the script and ignore other perspectives.

That’s why Aprilynne annotates her videos after scripting. She lays it all out before the camera starts to roll, mapping every scene, every shot. Here’s how she breaks it down:

“I used to film everything and then edit. Now, I script it, go through it line by line, and annotate what I want on screen. So I separate it into talking head footage, B roll that I film, screen shares, and visuals I make. And so I plan all of that out beforehand. It makes filming a lot easier because I know for my talking head portion, which [lines] I need to say to the camera, what I can just read—which is a lot easier.”

Go deeper with YouTube growth

If you want to start a YouTube channel, my YouTube From Scratch course—which I created with my friend and videographer Caleb Wojcik—is the perfect place to start. Two of my YouTube channels have collectively clocked over 200 million views and over a million subscribers—I put everything I learned from growing these two channels into the course.

YouTube From Scratch—and our entire course library—are exclusively available in the All-Access Pass and Pro communities. My team and I created them to help you find like-minded creators and establish accountability on your entrepreneurial journey. It’s the best way to grow as an entrepreneur online, so check it out today!

The post How to Rapidly Grow Your Subscriber Count as a YouTube Creator appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

New to the world of podcasting? You might be wondering, well, what is a podcast? And how do they work? In this article I'll cover what a podcast is, what they're used for, and how to get started as a podcast listener or creator. Plus, I have several free resources for you on this page to help you get started right away.

What is a podcast and how do they work?

A podcast is an on-demand episodic show you can listen to or watch online. You can download or stream from the internet on your smartphone, computer, or tablet and listen when it’s convenient for you.

A podcast “episode” is a single instance of a podcast, much like the episode of a TV show.

Here’s an example—an episode of our very own SPI Podcast, which has been running since 2010:

For beautiful, easy-to-embed podcast players like the above, look no further than Fusebox — the official podcast player of SPI! [Note: I am a compensated affiliate for Fusebox.]

Podcasts are an extremely popular form of media that’s growing quickly. The first podcasts were produced by individuals, but now they’re also made by companies, news outlets, and other organizations. Podcasting has become big business, with companies like Apple, Spotify, iHeartMedia, SiriusXM heavily invested in podcasting.

For the listener, podcasts are a versatile medium! The audio-only format of podcasts makes them easy to consume in various settings, such as while commuting, cooking, traveling, or working.

You can think of podcasts as “background” content, but you can also give them your full attention if you like.

Speaking of content, podcast topics can cover a huge range, from true crime to business strategies to parenting tips to comedy or kids’ content. If you have a topic in mind, there’s probably a podcast out there for it! And if there isn't, that might mean an opportunity for you to start your own podcast on that topic! 

Podcasts are typically available either in seasons with a set number of episodes or in an ongoing series. Our podcast Flops came out with an eight-episode season in 2021, while other SPI Media shows like AskPat 2.0 and The Community Experience were released weekly (until being sunsetted last year). The Smart Passive Income Podcast is still released every week on an ongoing basis.

How podcasts started (a brief history of podcasting)

Podcasts have their roots back in the 1980s, but they didn’t take off until the early 2000s. In September 2000, the company i2Go introduced a digital audio news and entertainment service called MyAudio2Go.com that allowed users to download news, sports, entertainment, weather, and music in episodic audio format. The following month, tech entrepreneur Tristan Louis proposed attaching sound and video files in RSS feeds (see below). This idea built steam over the next few years, and in 2004 the term “podcasting” emerged to describe this new way of distributing audio content. In 2005, Apple added a podcast subscription feature to iTunes 4.9 and launched a podcast directory in the iTunes Music Store.

Since then, the sky has been the limit for podcasting, with somewhere between 3 and 5 million podcasts in the world right now!

What are podcasts used for?

So what’s the point or purpose of a podcast? What are they good for? A whole lot!

For the listener, a podcast is a great way to learn about a given topic—and/or be entertained!—in a way that’s convenient to them. Podcasts are free (for the most part) and easy to find, and given their growing popularity, cover a wider and deeper range of topics than ever before.

For the podcaster, the uses and benefits of a podcast can be enormous. Podcasts are a great way to build and serve an audience by entertaining and/or educating listeners on a given topic.

One of the key advantages of a podcast for the podcaster is that you get to speak directly to people, using your voice. Your podcast episode may be heard by thousands or even millions of people, but for each listener, it’s just you and them.

It’s been said that podcasting is the best way to scale intimacy and make a direct connection with each of your listeners.

What is a podcast host and why do you need one? (How an RSS feed works)

Podcasts are made available to listeners via a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed.

An RSS feed allows content creators to publish notifications of new content such as blog posts or, of course, podcasts.

Here's how that works. The podcast creator submits their podcast’s RSS feed to a directory, which makes it available to listeners via a podcast app or the creator’s website.

A podcast listener can receive new installments or episodes of a podcast automatically by subscribing to the podcast’s RSS feed in their chosen podcast app. 

But how do you create your podcast's RSS feed? 

That’s where a podcast hosting platform (or podcast host for short) comes in.

A podcast host is a service that provides a place to store and distribute your podcast's audio files via an RSS feed. The podcast host automatically generates the RSS feed for your podcast, and then submits it to podcast directories, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and others.

You might be thinking, Do I have to use a podcast host? Can I host my podcast on my website? The short answer is yes—but hear me out.

There are several benefits to using a podcast host instead of DIYing it. A podcast host can:

• Provide storage for your podcast episode files, and allow them to be downloaded by listeners.
• Automate the creation and syndication of your RSS feed to podcast directories.
• Offer built-in analytics, so you can see how your show is growing and which episodes are the most popular.

Yes, you can technically host your podcast’s RSS feed on your own website. And yes, most podcast hosts cost money, with those costs generally increasing as your show grows.

But for most creators, hosting your podcast on your own website is way more trouble than it’s worth. 

You might save a few bucks, but in our opinion, the lack of analytics alone makes hosting your podcast on your website a bad choice.

Thankfully, you have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to podcast hosts. Our recommended platform is Fusebox, thanks to its ease of use and helpful features. [Note: I am a compensated affiliate for Fusebox.]

Other popular hosting platforms include Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean, Anchor, and Blubrry.

It’s relatively easy to work with a podcast host. You set up an account on their website, where you can enter the details of your podcast, upload episodes, and explore options for monetizing your show. Some platforms charge a monthly fee (variable depending on how much content you publish), while others are free.

Last but not least, you might be thinking, Isn’t a podcast host also a person? Yes! A podcast host can also refer to the person who is the face and voice of a podcast. (For instance, Pat is the host of the SPI Podcast.) Glad we cleared that up.

Types of podcasts and podcast examples

As a medium for entertaining and sharing information, podcasts can take many different forms! Here are some of the most common podcast formats, along with examples.

• Interview: A host invites one or more guests to discuss a given topic. This show format requires research and outreach to find guests for each episode. (The Smart Passive Income Podcast, Armchair Expert, Fresh Air)
• Solo Talking/Storytelling: As the name suggests, a single host “runs the show.” The time that would be spent on guest research and outreach for an interview show is instead directed toward research and preparation of the show’s content. (Hardcore History, Revolutions)
• Cohosted: A show with two or more hosts who can provide different personalities and perspectives and sometimes humorous banter.  (Stuff You Should Know, My Favorite Murder, Flops, The Community Experience)
• Roundtable: An expanded version of a co-hosted podcast with more hosts who engage in conversations and banter around a given topic. (SmartLess, Pod Save America)
• Documentary: Similar to a TV documentary, this podcast format typically has a narrator, and can include interview segments, sound effects/music, and even scripted scenes. (Serial, Startup Podcast)

Note that many podcasts are a hybrid, incorporating elements of multiple formats. For example, the New York Times’ The Daily is a cohosted podcast that incorporates interviews.

Who makes podcasts?

Podcasts can be created by just about anyone, from an individual to a small team to a large company!

What is a podcast producer?

When it comes to podcasts, a producer is someone who works behind the scenes to make sure the show is as good as it can be. They typically wear several hats, and their duties may include finding guests, organizing the episode schedule, overseeing the recording and editing processes, promoting the show, and more.

How to listen to a podcast

How easy is it to listen to a podcast? Pretty darn easy! Here’s what you’ll need:

• A smartphone, computer, or tablet with an internet connection.
• A podcast app

You’ll need an internet-connected device, such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet to access podcasts. Since you’re already reading this post, I’m guessing you’ve got this one covered.

Whether you’re searching for a specific podcast or want to search for a new one, a podcast app will come in handy. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube Music (formerly Google Podcasts)
• Spotify
• Audible
• SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher)
• TuneIn Radio
• Pocket Casts

Each of these apps can be downloaded to your device or accessed via the web.

So which one should you choose? To be honest, there’s not a ton of difference between them, especially if you’re just getting started as a podcast listener.

If you’re a Mac/iOS user, then Apple Podcasts is your go-to, and if you use an Android phone, then the Google Play Music app is the easiest option.

Each app also provides a podcast directory that you can search to find new shows. Many of these apps can even provide personalized recommendations based on the shows you listen to on the app.

If you find yourself turning into an avid listener of a large number of podcasts, you might find benefit from using an app like Pocket Casts, which is designed to filter and organize a large number of podcast subscriptions. But for 99 percent of listeners, most apps will do just fine.

Once you’ve found the podcast you want to listen to in your podcast app, you can either stream it or download it to your device to listen later. Your podcast app should also allow you to “subscribe” to a show so you’ll be alerted when new episodes are released.

Some podcast creators also make their podcast episodes available directly on their website via a web-based podcast player like Fusebox.

Here’s an example of how to use an embedded web player like Fusebox to play a podcast episode right on a webpage:

How to start a podcast

If you’re interested in how to start a podcast, you’re in the right place! At SPI, we have a ton of resources for first-time podcasters (and more advanced podcasters too, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves…).

In order to start a podcast, you need a few key ingredients:

• An idea for your show, of course!
• A podcasting microphone
• A podcast host to store and distribute your RSS feed
• Podcast artwork

That’s not all, though, and if you want the full scoop, check out our “How to Start a Podcast STEP-BY-STEP” guide.

It includes the lowdown on things like:

• Picking a podcast topic you can commit to
• Writing a compelling podcast description
• Choosing a podcast hosting service
• Recording your episodes
• And much more

The “How to Start a Podcast STEP-BY-STEP” guide makes starting your podcast easy and doable so that you can build your audience—and even start and scale a business with the help of your new show.

You can also check out our video guide to starting your podcast!

What is a podcast FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about podcasts, and our answers!

Why are podcasts called podcasts?

The word “podcast” is a portmanteau (combined word) of “iPod,” Apple’s original portable music player, and “broadcast.” Some people have also suggested “portable on demand” as a “backronym” for the word “podcast.”

Podcasts vs. radio: What’s the difference?

Are podcasts the same as radio shows? While podcasts and radio share a lot of similarities, since they’re both audio formats, podcasts are more versatile in a lot of ways. You can think of podcasts as the next “evolution” of the radio show.

Here are some of the key differences between podcasts and radio:

• Podcasts are usually edited, while radio is typically live.
• Podcasts can be streamed or downloaded on demand, while radio shows typically need to be listened to live. Radio stations are increasingly making their previously aired shows available online, but most radio content must be accessed when it goes live.
• Most radio content is aimed at a broad audience, while podcast content can be extremely niche.
• Most radio shows need to fill a specific time block, whereas podcast episodes can be any length.
• Radio shows typically have higher production costs, so they contain advertisements to help offset these costs. While podcast advertising is a growing industry, many podcasts don’t include ads because the cost barrier to entry for podcasting is so much lower than for radio.

Are podcasts free to listen to?

One of the best things about podcasts is that they are usually free to download and listen to. Yes, you’ll need a device to listen to them and an internet connection to download them, but the content itself is generally free of charge.

In recent years, some podcasters have begun creating additional paid content for their subscribers. These paid podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, although free podcasts are still a lot more common.

What is a podcast network?

A podcast network is a collection of podcasts under the umbrella of a single company, which produces, distributes, and/or makes those podcasts available to advertisers. Podcast networks can provide exposure and revenue for podcast owners and are a great option to consider once your podcast has grown a bit.

Some podcast networks are focused on a single theme, while others accept podcasts across a range of topics. The biggest podcast networks include iHeartRadio, Wondery, PodcastOne, HubSpot Podcast Network, and Audacy.

What is a video podcast?

Video podcasts are an increasingly popular form of podcasting. As the name suggests, they incorporate video and audio, allowing listeners to see and hear your content. Adding video to your podcast is typically more work, but it can help expose your show to a wider audience through platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

What equipment do you need to start a podcast?

As mentioned above in “How to Start a Podcast,” a microphone is the most important piece of equipment you’ll need to start your own show. However, there are a few other pieces of tech to consider:

• A desktop microphone stand
• A boom arm and shock mount to reduce unwanted vibrations
• A pop filter to reduce plosives (harsh sounds from certain syllables) in your recordings
• Software for recording and editing, such as GarageBand or Audacity
• Sound dampening materials to reduce room echo

Do podcasters make money from their shows?

They definitely can, and many of them do!

The most common way podcasts make money is through advertising or sponsorships. You can also use affiliate marketing to promote products on your show and earn a commission when someone purchases them using your link.

Our Amp'd Up Podcasting course — available exclusively to our community members — is designed to help podcasters grow and better monetize their shows while also reducing production time.

A free checklist for starting your podcast

Make sure you don't miss a step! The Podcast Cheat Sheet gives you all the steps you need to start your show.

Are you ready to start your podcasting journey?

I hope this primer on podcasts was helpful! Maybe you’re inspired to go find a new show to subscribe to, or even become a podcaster yourself!

Before you leap, however, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of podcasting.

Pros and cons of starting a podcast

The benefits of having a podcast can be numerous. A podcast can help you:

• Grow your brand or business
• Meet new people
• Develop new income streams
• Expand your audience

At the same time, podcasting may not be for everyone. It takes time, energy, commitment, and resources to start and maintain a podcast. To be successful, you need to produce a high-quality show and publish it regularly.

More resources for the aspiring podcaster (or just the pod-curious)

If the idea of starting a podcast is still exciting to you, great! We’ve got lots of helpful resources if you’re ready to keep learning about podcasts and what they can do to help you grow your business and connect with your audience.

If you’re interested in starting your own podcast, our How to Start a Podcast Guide gives you practical next steps.

But if you're ready to start your podcast in the most streamlined way possible, our Power-Up Podcasting® 2.0 course is for you. It's a step-by-step guide to launching a successful podcast that gets found and grows your online brand. You can take the course as part of the SPI Community — membership gets you all our courses and the support of a vibrant learning community to guide and motivate you towards podcasting success.

You can also explore The Smart Passive Income Podcast and read more about podcasting on the blog.

Ready to learn podcasting the smart way?

The SPI Community has the resources you need.

Learn more about the SPI Community

The post What is a Podcast? How podcasts work and how to get started appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Sandy Mann, Director of Marketing
SPI Media
[email protected]

SPI Media announces the addition of award-winning author, speaker, and agency owner Pamela Slim to its Experts in Residence Program. Pamela joins a distinguished roster of members, including Amy Nelson, Nausheen I. Chen, Yasmine Salem Hamdan, Caleb Wojcik, Terry Rice, Jason Feifer, Pat Flynn, and Matthew Gartland. With three decades of experience helping business owners scale their enterprises, Pamela brings invaluable expertise to the SPI Pro community.

About Pamela Slim

Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation, Body of Work, and The Widest Net (winner of the Best Sales and Marketing Book of 2021 award from Porchlight Books), is also the co-founder of the K’é Community Lab in Mesa, Arizona. Alongside her husband, Darryl, Pamela provides support and resources to numerous BIPOC entrepreneurs, contributing to the social, health, and economic development of their local community.

Pamela is frequently quoted as a business expert in publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Entrepreneur. She also runs an agency specializing in developing certification and licensing programs.

About the Experts in Residence Program

The Experts in Residence Program within SPI Pro offers exclusive insights, mentorship, and expert-led events designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills and foster continuous growth across key business domains.

When asked about joining the program, Pamela expressed excitement to share her expertise, helping SPI Pro members overcome roadblocks, accelerate market entry, and scale their businesses. She looks forward to learning about everyone’s business ventures and contributing to the exchange of ideas within the community.

About SPI Media

SPI Media is a trusted learning and development ecosystem serving a global community of online entrepreneurs. Comprising two vibrant online communities — the All-Access Pass and SPI Pro — SPI Media caters to entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The All-Access Pass is tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, while SPI Pro is an application-based community designed for established business owners seeking guidance for accelerated growth. SPI enables members to achieve their goals through top-tier educational content, community-building opportunities, and training experiences. To learn more about SPI Media and the Experts in Residence program, please visit SmartPassiveIncome.com.

The post SPI Media Welcomes Award-Winning Author Pamela Slim to Its Experts in Residence Program appeared first on Smart Passive Income.