Premium Physical Publications
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Sam Parr proposes creating premium physical publications (quarterly or monthly hardcover magazines or newsletters) targeting high-net-worth individuals or specific industries, delivered physically in an era dominated by digital content.
Key Points:
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Premium Physical Format:
- Quarterly delivery in a manila envelope
- Stapled printer paper format to create an "underground zine" feel
- Deliberately not "beautiful" - opposite of high-gloss magazines
- Price point of $500-2,000 per year subscription
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Content Strategy:
- Focus on well-written articles
- Target specific industries with many employees (financial advisors, advertising)
- Name as many people and companies as possible within the publication
- Create rankings like "top person this quarter"
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Business Model:
- People would pay annual fees partly just to see their names in print
- Leverage the perceived legitimacy of physical media vs. digital
- Create a "mom and pop" or "underground" feel to differentiate
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Example Implementation:
- Sam considered doing this for "Moneywise" (personal finance podcast for high-net-worth people)
- Austin referenced "Arena Magazine" as a successful example (though with a more premium, high-gloss approach)
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Psychological Insight:
- Physical media feels "more legit and exciting" than digital
- People value seeing their names in physical print
- Creates exclusivity through physical distribution and high price point
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.