Earning $3 million a year, let’s see how Ben Thompson builds his writing empire
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In the digital age, creators with strong writing abilities can influence millions of readers around the world, and Ben Thompson is undoubtedly the best among them. This digital media critic from the United States has established his own writing empire - Stratechery with his in-depth analysis and unremitting content output every day. His influence is not limited to the Western world. His name is equally resounding to Taiwan’s technology circles and entrepreneurs.
Ben Thompson grew up in the United States, but spent a significant part of his life in Taiwan. In the 2000s, he taught English in Taiwan and during this period he deeply realized the huge potential of the technology industry. This experience led him to pursue a career in technology and business, culminating in the creation of his own website, Stratechery. Living in Taiwan not only gave him a deeper understanding of the Asian market, but also allowed him to appreciate the differences in business models between the East and the West. These experiences profoundly influenced his subsequent writing style and views.
The writing success of Taiwanese son-in-law Ben Thompson is not an accidental success, but a gradual accumulation through continuous efforts and strategic thinking. His success story proves that in today’s era of globalization and digitization, a person’s influence can transcend national boundaries, as long as he has a unique perspective, unremitting efforts, and a computer that can connect to the world.
If you want to explore how Ben Thompson built his writing empire, it’s natural to start with his newsletter. Ben Thompson is arguably the pioneer of subscription-based e-newsletters, building a writing empire that earns millions of dollars a year through his continued writing. His success story not only shows how to become an influential creator in the Internet age, but also allows us to understand how to stand out in the highly competitive digital media market through stable output and precise content planning.
Recently, Ben Thompson accepted the well-known podcast “How I Write” Exclusive interview, where he talked about his writing experience, which was quite exciting! Below, I will help you make some simple summaries and make some notes based on my own understanding for your reference.
Continuously create content
Ben Thompson believes that the key to success on the Internet is continuous content production. He keeps writing every day, which has enabled him to accumulate about 2,480 articles in the past ten years, equivalent to the content of 50 to 60 books. This massive output allowed him to build a solid readership and ensured his success. He emphasizes that the importance of quantity is often underestimated, and this is one of the main differences between him and other writers who have similar insights but fail to succeed.
Cultivate the power of storytelling
The success of Ben Thompson’s article is that he not only analyzes it, but also incorporates a fascinating story. He believes that people like to listen to stories because they have a beginning, a process, and an ending. He gave an example of how to attract readers by telling a story. For example, when he discussed the conflict between Disney and Charter, the second largest cable TV operator in the United States, he opened with the story of the launch of the first commercial satellite. This opening is not only interesting, but also makes readers interested in the technical details that follow.
Maintain a focused work environment
For writers, entering the state of flow is very important. Ben Thompson likened writing to writing a program, emphasizing the need to keep the structure of the entire article clear in mind while performing specific writing work. To achieve this flow state, he stresses the importance of having a focused work environment. Although he primarily works from home now, he stresses that there was a time when he needed to rent a separate office space to stay focused due to his young children.
How to handle different types of content
Ben Thompson simply divides the content he produces into two categories: “articles” and “updates”. Articles are public and usually require more explanation and guidance in order to attract a wider readership; updates are for subscribers, immediate and direct, and are usually based on current news. Such articles are relatively easy to write because he knows who the readers are and can go directly to the topic.
The Importance of Setting Deadlines
Ben Thompson believes that setting deadlines is the key to staying productive. He recalled the experience of writing his graduation thesis in college. At that time, he completed the entire thesis by working for 36 hours continuously. This “extreme” working mode helped him stay efficient in his subsequent career. He emphasizes that there is a clear deadline every day, and this sense of urgency drives him to continuously produce content.
Understanding and responding to readers’ needs
Ben Thompson mentioned that despite the challenges he faces every day in writing, he feels psychologically liberated by writing from paying subscribers, knowing that these readers are willing to pay to gain access to his insights. He believes that the key to providing value to these readers lies in clearly structured thinking and logical reasoning, rather than always “right” content.
Learn from mistakes calmly
Ben Thompson believes that when he makes a mistake, it is important to correct it quickly and explain to the reader how he made the mistake. He quotes John Gruber: “I like to be always right, and the best way to always be right is to fix it as soon as you’re wrong.” This candor not only enhances his credibility, but also allows readers to understand his thought process and learn more from it.
How to succeed with paid subscription model
Ben Thompson’s business model is not complicated. It is actually a high-frequency, low-cost operation method. He believes that stable content output and readers’ continued subscription over time are the keys to success. He emphasized that the key to success is to continue to produce content and continuously optimize it in the process.
How to deal with work pressure and physical and mental exhaustion
Ben Thompson admits that the stress of daily writing is not easy to handle, especially when faced with criticism. He mentioned that sometimes he had trouble falling asleep because he felt that the article of the day was not good enough; but he also believed that this pressure was a kind of motivation that drove him to keep improving.
Ben Thompson’s success is not only because he is an early online writer, but also because of his deep understanding of writing, keen grasp of readers’ needs, and his unremitting pursuit of continuously producing high-quality content. His experience tells us that in the Internet age, stable output, the ability to tell stories, and a deep understanding of readers’ needs are all key factors to becoming a successful creator.
Ben Thompson’s Writing Secrets
After in-depth understanding of Ben Thompson’s success, I compiled his writing secrets as follows:
secret
Description
Continuous output
Write every day, continuously accumulate content, and build a solid reader base.
Storytelling ability
Through engaging stories, the analysis is not only in-depth but also more readable.
Focus and flow
Find a work environment that allows you to enter a flow state and improve writing efficiency.
understand readers
According to different article types, accurately target readers’ needs and adjust the content depth in a timely manner.
Set deadlines
Set a daily writing deadline and use pressure to drive efficient output.
learn from mistakes
Be brave enough to admit mistakes and correct them quickly to enhance the credibility of the content.
Understand the market and positioning
Determine the target reader group, delve into vertical fields, and create a professional image.
Learn from Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson’s success tells us that writing is not only a communication and expression skill, but also a continuous process of self-challenge and growth. Through the continuous production of content every day, he has not only established his leadership position in the global technology review community, but also maintained the high quality and influence of the e-newsletter through constant reflection and improvement.
For any creator who wants to build a personal brand and influence in the digital age, here are some lessons to learn from Ben Thompson’s experience:
- Continuously create: produce content every day and develop stable creative habits.
- Story writing: Make the analysis narrative and enhance the reader’s reading experience.
- Focus and discipline: Create a suitable working environment and formulate a clear work plan.
- Continuously learn and adjust: accept criticism humbly, grow from mistakes, and constantly optimize your content. Through this podcast episode’s Exclusive Interview, we get to know Ben Thompson How to build a writing empire of your own in the Internet age through unremitting efforts and precise content strategies. His story reminds us that no matter what field we are in, as long as we are persistent and good at learning, we can find our place in the global market.
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Further reading
- From Taiwan to global: How Ben Thompson built his writing empire
- What is the “subscription economy”? Create the strongest business model and shift from price competition to experience improvement
- All moves! The operating secrets of Taiwan’s first million-done subscription project are revealed
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