Digital Social Hour Podcast Summary
Episode: How Snapchat Stars are Making Millions: Insider Secrets | Van Oaks DSHH #859
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Van Oaks

1. Introduction and Background

In this engaging episode of the Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly welcomes back longtime guest Van Oaks, marking his return after a hiatus since 2021. Van shares his evolving role from Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the popular TV show Diesel Brothers to his current focus on consulting and new entrepreneurial ventures.

“Yeah, it's been a minute,” (01:11) Van begins, expressing enthusiasm about reconnecting and diving into new projects.

2. Leveraging Social Media for E-commerce Success

Van delves into his experience with the Diesel Brothers, highlighting the seamless transition from a TV show to a thriving e-commerce brand. He attributes much of the success to a strong social media presence, which propelled the show to become the number one TV show on the Discovery Channel for eight consecutive years.

“They had a social media following and then they came out with a TV show. It was number one and it ranked up there for eight years,” (01:49) Van explains.

He contrasts traditional reality TV royalties with the lucrative opportunities on platforms like YouTube and Snapchat, emphasizing the superior CPM (Cost Per Mille) rates on Snapchat.

“YouTube... CPMs alone pay you a hundred grand per episode,” (02:41) Van remarks, illustrating the financial advantages of digital platforms over conventional TV.

3. Advertising Platforms: Snapchat vs. Facebook

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the comparative benefits of advertising on Snapchat versus Facebook. Van highlights Snapchat's resurgence and its generosity towards content creators, awarding significant payouts to top influencers.

“Snapchat is paying the most by far, it's not even close,” (03:10) Van asserts, criticizing Facebook for its lack of engagement and support despite its vast advertising spend.

He shares his own accolades, mentioning his recognition as the Snap Star of the Year in 2019 and his role as a top media buyer on the platform.

“They flew me out to New York, did the whole thing. It was actually pretty cool,” (04:00) Van reflects on the personalized support Snapchat offers compared to Facebook.

4. Marketing Strategies: Giveaway Model

Van discusses the innovative giveaway model employed by his agency, Go Media. This strategy involves purchasing merchandise that enters customers into high-value giveaways, such as trucks or Lamborghinis, every month.

“When your offer is that good, you're selling a T-shirt and I'm selling a T-shirt. But if you buy my T-shirt, you can win a truck,” (05:33) Van explains, emphasizing how compelling offers can drastically reduce customer acquisition costs and enhance engagement.

He highlights the effectiveness of this model in generating high engagement and low-cost traffic, stating:

“Traffic's usually three times cheaper when your offer is so good and it gets a lot of engagement,” (06:27)

5. Personal Struggles and Mental Health Journey

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Van opens up about his battle with mental health, stemming from a life-altering accident involving his family. He recounts the traumatic experience of a side-by-side vehicle rollover that resulted in severe injuries to his children and immense financial strain due to medical bills.

“I struggled with heavy depression. The darkest, darkest time in my life as a parent,” (08:14) Van shares, detailing the emotional toll and its impact on his marriage and personal well-being.

Despite traditional therapies and pharmaceuticals failing to alleviate his depression, Van found solace in alternative treatments such as MDMA therapy, psilocybin therapy, and ayahuasca. He credits these methods with his recovery.

“I did the MDMA therapy, I did the psilocybin therapy, and then I did the ayahuasca... it's never come back,” (13:51) Van affirms, highlighting the effectiveness of these alternative approaches in overcoming his depression.

6. Health and Biohacking Practices

Van emphasizes the critical importance of health, particularly sleep, in achieving personal and professional success. He shares his extensive biohacking regimen, which includes:

• Advanced Sleep Technology: Utilizing a Sleep Number bed that regulates body temperature and adapts firmness based on movement, alongside tracking sleep with the Oura Ring and Whoop devices.

  “I never had better sleep than I have right now,” (22:19) Van praises his sleep setup, underscoring the benefits of quality rest.

• Exercise: Daily workouts, except Sundays, to release endorphins and maintain mental clarity.

  “The most underrated thing that you can do for your emotions and for your physical wellbeing is exercise,” (28:08) Van states, advocating for consistent physical activity as a cornerstone of mental health.

• Sleep Hygiene: Advocating for an eight-hour sleep schedule, minimizing blue light exposure before bed, and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and alcohol to enhance REM and deep sleep cycles.

  “The leading cause of autism in kids is lack of REM cycle sleep while their mom's pregnant,” (20:24) Van warns, linking sleep quality to long-term health outcomes.

7. Future Projects and Innovations

Looking forward, Van shares his excitement about a new project aimed at democratizing venture capital investments. Recognizing the barriers faced by average investors, such as accreditation and high minimum investment requirements, Van is developing a marketplace that connects everyday investors with venture funds.

“It’s going to connect, it’s going to go through your whole portfolio and say like you're heavy on residential, you're light on stocks, you need this, you need that,” (31:39) Van describes the platform's functionality, which leverages AI to personalize investment opportunities.

He envisions this platform as a bridge between small investors and high-return VC deals, effectively lowering the entry barriers and optimizing investment strategies through real-time portfolio analysis.

“This website will be able to make what's called an SVP to where people can vest... it opens up VC investing to your average day,” (32:17) Van elaborates, emphasizing the platform's potential to revolutionize personal investing.

Notable Quotes

• “Snapchat is paying the most by far, it's not even close.” — Van Oaks (03:10)
• “When your offer is that good, you're selling a T-shirt and I'm selling a T-shirt. But if you buy my T-shirt, you can win a truck.” — Van Oaks (05:33)
• “I struggled with heavy depression. The darkest, darkest time in my life as a parent.” — Van Oaks (08:14)
• “The most underrated thing that you can do for your emotions and for your physical wellbeing is exercise.” — Van Oaks (28:08)
• “This website will be able to make what's called an SVP to where people can vest... it opens up VC investing to your average day.” — Van Oaks (32:17)

Conclusion

In this episode of the Digital Social Hour, Sean Kelly and Van Oaks provide a compelling blend of entrepreneurial insights and personal resilience. Van's journey from scaling e-commerce through innovative social media strategies to overcoming profound personal challenges offers listeners valuable lessons in both business and life. His commitment to health, mental well-being, and groundbreaking investment platforms underscores the multifaceted approach required to thrive in today's digital and fast-paced world.

Listeners are left inspired by Van's candid storytelling and actionable takeaways, reinforcing the podcast's mission to equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the knowledge and motivation to succeed.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments as per the podcast guidelines.