episode 0023- making opinions matter: a new way to do social media with francis lyons

Francis Lyons has had a long and diverse career with a plethora of work experience in various industries, not the least of which was becoming executive producer of MTV's "Made". But years later, a conversation about the current state of social media led to the exploration of a new kind of social media. One based on merit, that rewards creativity rather than engagement.

Cue the creation of ooPoll, where users can "watch daily short video polls while earning rewards and celebrating creativity." Tune in to hear how Francis and his team are changing the game, allowing users to engage with communities in different ways, and ultimately get people off of their phones and into the real world.

Show Highlights:
1- Francis dives into his background, including a stint as an executive producer at MTV. (12:20)
2- The transition from producer to co-founder of Truepic, an app that verifies photos and videos, and ultimately ooPoll, a new kind of social media app. (22:55)
3- Getting past the “I don’t know what I’m doing” stage in creating a tech company. (26:45)
4- How did ooPoll start, what was the initial vision, and how is it different from other social media apps? (31:30)
5- Some examples of how ooPoll could be used for celebrities and influencers, as well as regular (non-famous) people. (40:15)
6- How Truepic and ooPoll will work together in the near future. (43:00)
7- How ooPoll may be used to help people get off their phones. (45:00)
8- How small- and medium-sized businesses can use ooPoll to advertise, rather than using traditional social media. (48:00)
9- How do ooPoll points convert to coupons and gift cards? (49:35)
10- Allowing the community to influence how the app is run and what the app offers, rather than overcooking it and assuming what people want. (52:30)
11- How ooPoll could help break the echo chambers of society. (1:03:15)
12- How many users are on the platform today, and what is the growth vision? (1:06:15)
13- How to get on ooPoll, and where to learn more. (1:10:30)
14- Listener question: what is the 10-year plan for the app? (1:13:55)

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