I'm curious to know: 1) Which thumbnail style would you most likely CLICK ON 2) Which thumbnail style would you want for YOUR interview 3) Which thumbnail style do you LIKE the best Please answer the poll with your gut, but I'd love to hear about 1, 2, and 3 in the comments (especially if the answers are different!).

🎙️ Based on a podcast between William Renner and Matt Burns In the dynamic world of online community building, Matt Burns has emerged as an insightful voice on the Skool platform created by Sam Ovens and popularized by Alex Hormozi. After leaving his corporate job at Monday(dot)com, just 50 days before this conversation, Burns has quickly positioned himself as someone who deeply understands the psychology behind successful community building and what it takes to monetize effectively in today's digital landscape. I recently sat down with Burns to discuss the culture of Skool, the psychology of status in online communities, and the strategies that actually work for creating thriving digital spaces that generate sustainable income in an increasingly disconnected world. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 When asked about the new affiliate features on Skool, Burns doesn't hesitate to identify the core human motivation at play. "What drives people, right? Let's take it out big picture. What drives humans to do anything? We have health, wealth... what do all those things really chunk up to? Status." This focus on status as the underlying driver of human behavior provides a powerful framework for understanding community dynamics. "You want status with the people you care about, status from your peers," Burns explains. "Health, wealth, money, all of those things chunk up to this." The affiliate program on Skool taps directly into this status economy, creating a system where members can increase their standing by bringing valuable new people into communities they believe in. It's a sophisticated approach that goes beyond simple referral mechanics. "When you think about having a group where somebody that you really respect or look up to or just wanna be closer to... what's a great way to get somebody's attention? You bring in great community members to that community," Burns points out. This creates powerful feedback loops that benefit everyone involved when implemented correctly.

Copywriting might not be the first skill that comes to mind when building an online community, but on Skool – the growing community platform – it can become a powerful tool for success. Bijan has seen this firsthand with his "Copywriting Secrets" community, which has grown to over 700 members. In a recent conversation, he shared how understanding the fundamentals of copywriting has shaped his approach to building his Skool community and how these same principles can help others create more engaging spaces on the platform. Understanding Copywriting for Your Skool Community When asked to define copywriting for beginners on the Skool platform, Bijan offered a clear perspective: "Copywriting is everywhere. It's on every product that we consume daily." He explained that copywriting goes beyond simply writing words and hoping people will buy. Instead, it involves creating an entire ethos using only words. For those new to Skool who may be unfamiliar with copywriting, Bijan emphasized the importance of understanding what the market wants: "You gotta look at all the questions people are asking. Become obsessed and consume a lot of questions that people have about products." This market research forms the foundation of effective copywriting that resonates with potential community members. The core principle, according to Bijan, is to develop an intimate knowledge of the problems people in your niche are facing. "Use Vid IQ and flip the comments so it's questions first. Go deep down YouTube rabbit holes. Look up every possible way to talk about the problems," he advised. By understanding these specific problems, you can position your Skool community as the solution. Crafting Your Skool Community's First Impression For those starting a fresh Skool community, Bijan highlighted two crucial elements: "The about page is super important. The graphics on the about page and the writing on the description." When creating copy for your Skool community, Bijan recommends not judging yourself too harshly at first: "Don't judge yourself for sounding stupid. Just write some terrible stuff on your about page and then come back to it tomorrow." He emphasized that the iterative process of writing, evaluating, and rewriting is essential for developing strong copywriting skills.

In today's fast-paced world, many people struggle to find time for self-reflection. That's where Angela, founder of an innovative journaling community on Skool, is changing the game. Through her structured approach and accessible methods, she's built an online space where members learn practical journaling techniques for mental health, personal growth, and even grief processing. Building an Accessible Journaling Community on Skool's Platform "A lot of people think that they just don't have time to start journaling. The excuse is, I don't have time, I'm too busy," Angela explains in one of her community sessions. She addresses the common barriers people face: family obligations, work commitments, and packed schedules. But through her Skool community, she's proving that even the busiest individuals can incorporate this powerful practice into their lives. What makes Angela's approach unique is her focus on practicality and flexibility. Rather than promoting journaling as an all-or-nothing practice that requires extensive time commitments, she's developed multiple pathways that suit different lifestyles, schedules, and preferences. Five Innovative Approaches to Journaling Through Skool Angela's Skool community centers around teaching actionable journaling techniques that work for real people with real constraints. Her methodology includes five distinct approaches: 1. The Early Morning Method - Waking up 15-20 minutes earlier to journal in peace before the household stirs 2. The Scheduled Approach - Setting non-negotiable alarms specifically for journaling time 3. The Replacement Technique - Substituting scrolling or TV watching with short journaling sessions 4. The Habit Pairing Strategy - Connecting journaling with existing habits like drinking tea 5. The Voice Note Alternative - Using technology to record thoughts when writing isn't possible "We have alarms for everything else. We got an alarm to drop the kids off. We got an alarm to eat, right? So set the alarm to... this is definitely mental health," Angela tells her community members, emphasizing the importance of intentionality.