Betches' Aleen Kuperman on explaining new media to immigrant parents—and not wanting to write about 'The Bachelor' again

Aleen Kuperman is co-founder and CEO at Betches Media. The company has grown from a blog created in a dorm room at Cornell in 2011 to a sprawling media network including nine podcasts, New York Times-bestselling books and millions of Instagram followers. In this episode of the “Ad Block” podcast, Kuperman talks about growing up as the child of Russian immigrants who escaped the Soviet Union in 1988, a year before the Berlin Wall fell. In particular, it was a struggle to explicate what “Betches” was to her parents, who had always had high expectations for her future. “I had to explain to my parents, ‘I’m not going to medical school next year,’” she says. “I was terrified to have that conversation. They were like, ‘What’s a blog? How are you making money? What are you talking about?’” As with many new media startups, the business model evolved quickly, and as soon as she had gotten her parents on board, things would change. “They had just figured out Facebook, now they have to go learn Instagram,” Kuperman says. Tangible successes helped, like the book deal the team landed while still in college. “To my parents, that’s legit. A book, they understand.” Kuperman grew up hearing the stories of the family’s journey out of Russia, living in Vienna and Italy off the personal possessions they could sell before eventually being allowed into the U.S. and settling on Long Island. “Only now, I think back to all the things they instilled,” like her strong work ethic, she says. “It... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-18 09:01:00 UTC ]
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E-books among Amazon.co.uk's top sellers as its parent's profits tumble

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 27/04/2011 - 09:39 Amazon.com has reported a steep drop in profit despite boosting sales by over a third. Amazon.co.uk also revealed that one print book and four ebooks were among its top 10 bestselling items in the quarter, with the Kindle... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder acquires "Calmer, Easier, Happier" parenting title

Written By: Jenny Roper Publication Date: Tue, 26/04/2011 - 15:00 Hodder & Stoughton has bought world rights to two parenting guides by Nöel Janis-Norton, an advisor to actress Helena Bonham Carter. The first title Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting will be published in spring 2012 and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Helen Dunmore to write for Hammer

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 21/04/2011 - 10:29 Random House imprint Hammer has acquired the latest title by Orange-prize winner Helen Dunmore, in a special project for the Penguin author. Century and Arrow publisher Kate Elton bought UK and Commonwealth rights to The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nielsen Media and Reed Business Information

The breakup of these former media powerhouses exemplified the industry’s creative chaos: divestment, downsizing and dissolution, followed, perhaps, by opportunity. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spielberg to write for Palazzo retrospective

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Wed, 20/04/2011 - 15:13 Palazzo Editions will publish a "major" retrospective of the work of Steven Spielberg in August 2012, written in co-operation with the director. Steven Spielberg: A Retrospective will be written by film critic and documentary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report: Media M&A in Q1 2011 Surpasses All Individual Quarters in 2010

After a disappointing fourth quarter of 2010 (with $2.4 billion in transaction value) in the media industry, investment bank Berkery Noyes reports an upswing for first quarter 2011, to the tune of $13.8 billion in transactions. Berkery Noyes identified the largest transaction in the first... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite Google Changes, Demand Media Foresees Q1 Growth

In a statement released yesterday, Demand Media reaffirms the financial outlook for fiscal year 2011 given on February 22, despite the Google algorithm change which took place in late February. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: Mortenson Concedes He Conflated Parts of Memoir

The author addressed the "60 Minutes" allegations in an interview with Outside magazine. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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United Business Media Reports 7.5 Percent Underlying Revenue Growth in Q1 2011

United Business Media (UBM) shared its first quarter report today, with a 13.7 percent increase in total revenue, rising from 2010 first quarter’s $338.74 million to first quarter 2011’s $385.07 million. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Specific Media appoints UK publisher services director

Ad network Specific Media has appointed Fox Networks Group's Graeme Lynch as its new UK publisher services director. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Advantage Business Media Buys "Continuity Insights" Portfolio

Advantage Business Media, a b-to-b publisher targeting the communications, manufacturing, design and science markets, has purchased the assets of Continuity Insights from Gardner Publications. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Cache: Playing Catch-Up in E-Books

Outside the United States, the digital book business is still in its infancy and has problems to resolve before taking off. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Active Interest Media Acquires BoatQuest.com

Active Interest Media has acquired BoatQuest.com, adding the online classified page to its portfolio of properties, which includes Yachts Magazine and Show Management. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: Self-Publisher Signs Four-Book Deal With St. Martin's

Amanda Hocking, the 26-year-old author who shot to fame by selling more than a million copies of her self-published books, has signed a deal with St. Martin's Press. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Forbes wins £50k Warwick Prize for Writing

Publication Date: Wed, 23/03/2011 - 07:50 Writer, journalist and editor Peter Forbes' exploration of mimicry and camouflage in nature, art and warfare has been awarded the £50,000 Warwick Prize for Writing. His Dazzled and Deceived (Yale University Press) was described by chair of judges... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomberg L.P. Creates Bloomberg Media Group

Bloomberg announced today that it will launch the Bloomberg Media Group, a media group that pulls together all of Bloomberg’s consumer properties. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dorchester Media Puts Remaining Magazines on the Block

After putting select teen and romance titles up for sale last month, New York City-based Dorchester Media has decided to sell the rest of its magazine stable, offering up the eight magazines that comprise the Woman's Romance Group, such as 92-year-old, 250,000-circ. flagship True Story. The move... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: Noted Self-Publisher May Be Close to a Book Deal

Amanda Hocking, the darling of the self-publishing world who has sold more than 900,000 copies of nine books in the last year, has been shopping a four-book series to major publishers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Luke Johnson to write business advice for Portfolio

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 17/03/2011 - 15:57 Luke Johnson, best known in the book trade for his spell owning Borders, and fellow Financial Times journalist Mrs Moneypenny are writing business titles for Penguin's business imprint Portfolio. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Decoder: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publisher Steps Down

Barry O'Callaghan, the chief executive of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, resigned on Tuesday after less than two years on the job. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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