NotebookLM Guide: Practical Examples

NotebookLM by Google is a powerful AI tool for summarizing various types of content, including books, videos, podcasts, and blog posts.

Despite its usefulness, many people haven't explored its potential. This guide demonstrates how to use NotebookLM effectively, using a Growth Hacking Video on YouTube as an example.

To use NotebookLM with YouTube videos, you first need to transcribe the content.

2 methods are available:

1. Use the YTScribe Chrome Extension to transcribe the video directly.

2. Download the video using Cobalt Tools and transcribe it with Riverside FM's Free Transcription Service.

We'll go with #1.

Once you click on Transcribe Video, you will be redirected to YTScribe where you can copy the transcript.

Once you have the transcript, follow these steps:

1. Go to NotebookLM and click on New Notebook.

2. Click on Paste text, insert the transcript, and press Insert.

You will see a few options popup.

NotebookLM offers several useful features:

1. Pasted text: Contains the transcript. Rename sources for clarity when using multiple inputs. I always do it after pasting my sources. You can add more audio, video, PDF, or anything using the + button besides Sources.

2. Notebook Guide: Toggle visibility of the guide window.

3. View Chat: Ask specific questions about the sources. Currently, it is not as good as ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini and gives very short answers. It is probably how Gemini works. Gemini is much worse to prompt.

4. Audio Overview: Generates a 2-person podcast discussing the Sources. You can discuss any Arxiv (AI Research) Paper using it. Its extremely useful but probably hallucinates so double-verify.

5. Help me create: My most used feature other than Chat. I always use Timeline and TOC. Those are my must haves. And sometimes I use Study Guide and FAQ. They are extremely useful in connecting dots and getting the main gist of any conversation.

To get the most out of NotebookLM:

1. Rename the Untitled Notebook and Sources.

2. Click on Timeline and TOC to generate helpful guides. Name it using numbers like #1, #2, #3 like I do. Its short, easy, and avoids naming conflicts.

The Timeline feature provides a chronological overview of events mentioned in the content, including dates and a Cast of Characters.

The Table of Contents feature offers a high-level overview of the entire video, with accurate headings and subheadings. The headings that you see in this newsletter are mostly thanks to NotebookLM.

NotebookLM's versatility makes it valuable for content creators/consumers across various mediums. It can be used with PDFs, videos, podcasts, and other formats. The tool's ability to generate notes around specific topics with remarkable accuracy makes it an essential resource for anyone creating online content.

While NotebookLM may have some limitations, its value far outweighs any current drawbacks. As a free tool, it's worth exploring to enhance your content creation/consumption process.

Top Tweets of the day

1/

The comments are mind-blowing. Some examples are Descript, ChatGPT, and PhotoRoom.

2/

AI Generated Videos are here and they will be indistinguishable in <6 months. Expect video creators to rise now.

3/

2 types of products:

1. Painkillers: Essential and urgently needed (e.g., paracetamol for fever).

2. Vitamins: Beneficial but not essential (e.g., melatonin for insomnia).

Painkillers always sell because they address critical issues (like worsening fever).

Whether you're an agency, digital product, or SaaS, aim to be a painkiller to grow faster.

Great Product (Painkiller) + Great Marketing = Money Printer

One recommended video on How to Operate

This video is one of the best on how to be an operator by Keith Rabois. Anyone who is a manager or wants to hire should watch it.

He has learned his operating philosophy from the greats like Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, and Jack Dorsey.

Rabbit Holes

1. 3 unethical ways (not) to grow your newsletter - These tactics are amazing. The author doesn't mention the names but if you want to find them, you can just search the description into Google or ask ChatGPT/Perplexity about it. The first one is Retention. I personally recommend using them as most big tech has grown on top of others doing unethical growth hacks. Its funny how people with ethics use Facebook Ads or literally any AI product (like OpenAI) that grew only because of unethical stuff like spying on people or web scraping the internet without consent.

2. The marketing magic of a €200k ARR timer tool - Build products outside your own industry and you're bound to have little to no competition.

3. How Moonpig.com Grew 30% (Without Marketing!) - Moonpig's marketing genius was growing through word-of-mouth virality. This is the power of K-Factor being greater than 1. K-Factor is a metric that measures the virality of a product or service, essentially quantifying how quickly and widely it spreads through user referrals.

Until next time!

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More Startup Spells 🪄

1. Mux's Marketing Strategy (LINK)

2. Trendjacking (LINK)

3. Volume x Time = Quality (LINK)