Today, we cover updates on Cobra Kai, books, and Poshmark. More at www.bemovingforward.com.
Moving Forward is also available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Cobra Kai: from underseen hit to worldwide phenomenon
If you’ve been following the show for a while, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of The Karate Kid films and its spinoff series Cobra Kai. The latter, I’ve been following since its debut in 2018. I’ve interacted with some of the creators and on episodes 303, 304, 305, I spoke with Peter Veunnasack, a content creator who has built a podcast, YouTube channel, and a fan community around Cobra Kai.
On Friday, Cobra Kai made its debut on Netflix, a much bigger platform than YouTube Premium, which is where it originated. In just a few short days, it became the number 1 show in the US and as of this week, it is the number 1 show streaming on Netflix, globally.
This is what happens when an already great program relaunches on a much bigger platform. Cobra Kai was already a hit in its own right, garnering tens of millions of views. This was no small feat in itself, especially on a streaming platform that didn’t have the content or resources to become truly competitive with the bigger players. Now that it is on the biggest streaming platform out there, it has gone from niche hit to cultural and global juggernaut.
Congrats to everyone involved and what better vindication for the “OG fans” who’ve been telling everyone for the past two years that they need to watch this show.
Books: taking the next steps
This year, one of my goals was to finish writing my book on Poshmark. I believe this one is timely and necessary as retail businesses struggle to survive; navigating this pandemic. My Poshmark journey is documented in last year’s mini-series, which I encourage you to check out.
I completed the manuscript in late spring / early summer, working with Megan Prikhodko, a phenom of an editor. Right now, I’m in the middle of the next steps. With this book, I’ve decided to try the traditional publishing route, which I discussed with Alissa Carpenter last year.
Self-publishing can be a worthwhile venue. It can save you time if you do it right, while giving you greater creative control. However, it also means you are taking on every aspect of the book, including the post-publishing marketing. If you don’t have a large following, this can be a challenge.
Taking a lesson from Cobra Kai, I’m trying to position my next book to reach a larger audience beyond Amazon.com by seeing if I can get it traditionally published and in as many stores as possible.
Whether or not I’m successful in getting my book to a traditional publisher, I know that self-publishing gives me an avenue to get it out there. Too often, I see people who start books but never finish, or worse, complete a manuscript and give up just because they’ve been rejected by literary agents and publishers.
If you have something to say, make sure to see it through to the end and share it with the world. There’s no shame in self-publishing if you can’t get the attention of a literary agent or publisher. There are many paths to getting your book to press and they all have their pros and cons, challenges and rewards.
Poshmark: video and USPS challenges
Speaking of Poshmark, we’re continuing to build out our business, focusing more on online sales than ever as we’re still in the midst of this pandemic. Retail has been hit particularly hard with big-name brands filing for bankruptcy on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Worse, many small businesses are simply shuttering their doors, unable to adapt.
As I write in my new book, shifting to online was a matter of being competitive in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, it’s a matter of survival.
I believe the next big wave of Poshmark sellers will be small businesses. When we began, we were one of the few retail businesses that used it as a sales channel. Now that in-person sales are dwindling, I believe more small boutiques and retail shops will be using platforms like Poshmark to stay afloat.
Video
One new feature that has been a great game changer for Poshmark is video. Similar to Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms, Poshmark has recently rolled out video stories. Sellers can use listings to create still or “slide show” type videos or upload short video clips to market their store or individual listings. I’ve started using this feature, shooting short videos right off my phone; using a simple video editing app to add voiceover. Poshmark adds links back to the seller’s store or “closet” so viewers can automatically shop or browse. Sellers can also tag individual listings to promote them and add text.
Poshmark remains ahead of the curve when it comes to new features that make it that much easier to stand out.
USPS Challenges
One of the recent challenges has been one that’s completely out of our control: shipping. Normally, Poshmark’s shipping time is 2-3 days. With the recent situation with the USPS, we’ve experienced significant delays, adding extra days or even weeks. We continue to ship out all orders the same or the next day but have taken on the added responsibility of actively communicating with our buyers, especially for higher-end items when delays happen. While we can’t control the post office, we can and are being more proactive in communicating with our buyers.
For more on our Poshmark journey, check out the Poshmark miniseries.
What I’m reading / read
If It Bleeds by Stephen King (****)
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