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Join me as I chat with Chris Josephs, Co-Founder of Autopilot, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for growth hacking startups. Learn his step-by-step formula to building and converting attention, affinity, and authority into brand loyalty and startup growth.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:20 Chris’s Viral Formula Overview
08:13 Step 1: Build Niche Meme account with Authority
14:36 Step 2: Find Creative ways to build loyalty and vitality
19:18 Step 3: Getting free press
23:54 UFC Sponsorship Retrospective
28:23 How Chris would build a meme account
40:49 Startup Idea: Twitch for Online Shopping
46:52 SIP success stories
1) Chris doesn't see himself as a marketer or growth guy. He's a SOCIAL ENGINEER.
• His focus? Reverse engineering virality and creating formulas for content that EXPLODE on social media.
2) The Pelosi Tracker origin story:
• Built meme pages with millions of followers
• Focused on politician stock trades
• Translated virality into a real product (Autopilot app)
Key insight: Memes + Authority = Powerful combo
3) Chris's framework for building viral meme pages:
a) Create an account with a clear, catchy name
b) Engage as a "reply guy" on relevant topics
c) Do deep, investigative journalism to build credibility
• Marry memes with authority to become THE go-to account in your niche.
4) The UFC sponsorship case study:
• Sponsored the event (base layer of credibility)
• Sent a fake Nancy Pelosi to the fight
• Drove a Cybertruck with "Pelosi 2024" around Vegas
• Goal: Maximize surface area for virality and build brand loyalty
5) Chris's viral formula:
• Each additional stunt increases chances of going viral:
a) UFC sponsorship alone = 10% chance
b) +Fake Pelosi = 15% chance
c) +Cybertruck stunt = 20% chance
• Keep adding elements to boost your odds!
6) Key to monetizing meme pages:
• Don't just post funny content. Mix in authority-building posts to be taken seriously.
• High engagement does not mean High monetization
• Authority + Engagement = winning formula
7) Startup idea alert: Live shopping streams for Gen Z women
• Imagine: The Twitch of online shopping, where influencers livestream their browsing & purchasing decisions.
• Huge potential here. Who's gonna build it?
8) Growth hack: Build relationships with journalists
• Create an email list of reporters in your niche
• Regularly send them high-quality, relevant info (no selling!)
• Become their go-to source for stories
• Free press = Priceless marketing
9) Remember: Consistency is key in building your brand.
• Find your angle (like Autopilot's "Pelosi 2024 - Invest like a politician") and double down on it.
• Create moments, build loyalty, make people LOVE your brand.
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas
🎯 To build your own portfolio businesses powered by community you might enjoy my membership.
You'll get my full course with all my secrets on building businesses, peer-groups to keep you accountable, business ideas every single month and more!
Spots are limited.
https://www.communityempire.co/
📬 Join my free newsletter to get weekly startup insights for free:
https://www.gregisenberg.com/
70,000+ people are already subscribed.
To improve your rankings your business on Google and using AI for SEO, sign up to
http://boringmarketing.com/
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/Chrisjjosephs
Autopilot: https://www.joinautopilot.com/
Pelosi Tracker: https://x.com/PelosiTracker_
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:20 Chris’s Viral Formula Overview
08:13 Step 1: Build Niche Meme account with Authority
14:36 Step 2: Find Creative ways to build loyalty and vitality
19:18 Step 3: Getting free press
23:54 UFC Sponsorship Retrospective
28:23 How Chris would build a meme account
40:49 Startup Idea: Twitch for Online Shopping
46:52 SIP success stories
1) Chris doesn't see himself as a marketer or growth guy. He's a SOCIAL ENGINEER.
• His focus? Reverse engineering virality and creating formulas for content that EXPLODE on social media.
2) The Pelosi Tracker origin story:
• Built meme pages with millions of followers
• Focused on politician stock trades
• Translated virality into a real product (Autopilot app)
Key insight: Memes + Authority = Powerful combo
3) Chris's framework for building viral meme pages:
a) Create an account with a clear, catchy name
b) Engage as a "reply guy" on relevant topics
c) Do deep, investigative journalism to build credibility
• Marry memes with authority to become THE go-to account in your niche.
4) The UFC sponsorship case study:
• Sponsored the event (base layer of credibility)
• Sent a fake Nancy Pelosi to the fight
• Drove a Cybertruck with "Pelosi 2024" around Vegas
• Goal: Maximize surface area for virality and build brand loyalty
5) Chris's viral formula:
• Each additional stunt increases chances of going viral:
a) UFC sponsorship alone = 10% chance
b) +Fake Pelosi = 15% chance
c) +Cybertruck stunt = 20% chance
• Keep adding elements to boost your odds!
6) Key to monetizing meme pages:
• Don't just post funny content. Mix in authority-building posts to be taken seriously.
• High engagement does not mean High monetization
• Authority + Engagement = winning formula
7) Startup idea alert: Live shopping streams for Gen Z women
• Imagine: The Twitch of online shopping, where influencers livestream their browsing & purchasing decisions.
• Huge potential here. Who's gonna build it?
8) Growth hack: Build relationships with journalists
• Create an email list of reporters in your niche
• Regularly send them high-quality, relevant info (no selling!)
• Become their go-to source for stories
• Free press = Priceless marketing
9) Remember: Consistency is key in building your brand.
• Find your angle (like Autopilot's "Pelosi 2024 - Invest like a politician") and double down on it.
• Create moments, build loyalty, make people LOVE your brand.
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas
🎯 To build your own portfolio businesses powered by community you might enjoy my membership.
You'll get my full course with all my secrets on building businesses, peer-groups to keep you accountable, business ideas every single month and more!
Spots are limited.
https://www.communityempire.co/
📬 Join my free newsletter to get weekly startup insights for free:
https://www.gregisenberg.com/
70,000+ people are already subscribed.
To improve your rankings your business on Google and using AI for SEO, sign up to
http://boringmarketing.com/
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/Chrisjjosephs
Autopilot: https://www.joinautopilot.com/
Pelosi Tracker: https://x.com/PelosiTracker_
Creators & Guests
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For more startup ideas, we created a database of 30+ startup ideas you can take at https://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas