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Most people probably recognize Joe Rogan as the former TV host of “Fear Factor” or as a standup comedian with his own Netflix show. But did you know that Joe Rogan is also one of the world’s most popular social media personalities? His “Joe Rogan Experience” (JRE) podcast has released more than 1,400 episodes since launching in December 2009, and he now has multiple YouTube channels where this podcast content with famous guests has been converted into popular video clips. Given all this success, what have been the keys to winning the digital media game?
Key #1: Produce as much content as possible
The first key to Joe Rogan’s success might seem obvious: produce as much content as possible and upload it to as many platforms as possible. Think about it for a second – Joe Rogan has produced over 1,400 podcast episodes over a nearly 10-year period, or about 140 podcasts per year. That works out to about 3 podcasts per week, every year, for a full decade. That’s real dedication.
Key #2: Attract high-profile guests with their own built-in fan bases
Another key to Rogan’s success is his ability to pull in high-profile guests, all of whom come with their own diverse fan bases and audiences. This enables Rogan to expand his own audience base considerably. Similar to a late night talk show host, Rogan has pulled in some of the biggest names in Hollywood, politics, and entertainment. Recent high-profile guests on the Joe Rogan Experience have included Bill Maher, Bernie Sanders, and Robert Downey, Jr. What makes Rogan’s guest list so impressive is how he encourages them to get into the overall vibe and spirit of the show – like the time Elon Musk famously smoked weed on the Joe Rogan show back in 2018.
Key #3: Focus on creating authentic content
Which brings us to the third and most important point – Joe Rogan has mastered the art of creating authentic content. His podcasts are as raw as they get (often filled with obscenities, unfiltered political commentary and vulgar sexual references) – but that’s exactly what his audience expects from him. They don’t want overly slick production values, and they don’t want canned laughter to pre-rehearsed jokes. And they absolutely love it when Joe Rogan brings on micro-celebrities like Eddie Bravo to discuss their favorite conspiracy theories (9/11, Flat Earth, JFK).
Key #4: Develop content native for each platform
One important thing to keep in mind is that Joe Rogan’s digital media team does a fantastic job of understanding the nuances of each social media platform. So it’s just not a matter of creating as much content as possible and then distributing it far and wide – it’s also a matter of customizing it for each platform. It’s what Rogan does with all his content where the magic is really created – any one-hour podcast can be sliced and diced into shorter segments, including brief 5-, 10- or 15-minute clips for YouTube or screenshots for Instagram. It’s this mix of long-form and micro-content that makes Joe Rogan’s content strategy unique.
While Joe Rogan is perhaps best known for his viral YouTube clips and JRE podcast episodes, he’s also a force on social media platforms like Twitter, where he has over 5.7 million followers, and Instagram, where he has 8.3 million followers. Joe Rogan might not get as much love from the mainstream media as other A-list social media influencers (perhaps due to his anti-establishment or non-traditional views), but he’s nevertheless a force to be reckoned with, and someone who can provide insights to take your own social media presence to the next level.
