Wait But Why

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Wait But Why provides long-form, stick-figure-illustrated blog content across almost everything, plus an online store with merchandise and books.

Target Customer

General readers seeking in-depth, explanatory essays on science, technology, psychology, society, and self-improvement; fans of Tim Urban and the Wait But Why brand; newsletter subscribers (approximately 601K) and readers of popular posts.

Key Differentiator

A distinctive combination of long-form, big-idea writing paired with simple stick-figure visuals, covering a wide range of topics, and supported by an active store and book/merchandise ecosystem.

Implementation Timeline

Content updated regularly with multiple weekly posts; Tim Urban writes posts every Tuesday and Wednesday (per team responsibilities page). The site also features ongoing posts, archives, and a bookstore timeline of publications.

Pain Points

1Difficulty finding long-form, thoughtfully explained content on diverse topics
2Desire for accessible visuals to accompany in-depth written work
3Need for a centralized source of thought-provoking analysis across multiple domains (science, technology, society, psychology)

Key Features

1Long-form posts and essays
2Stick-figure illustrations accompanying content
3Categories and archive for easy navigation
4Online store with posters, phone cases, mugs, and other merchandise
5 wbw book and related content (e.g., Finn's Cave)
6Community engagement via comments and newsletters (email updates)

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Tim Urban — Writer / Content Creator (responsible for writing posts on a schedule)
2Andrew Finn — Business/Operations (described as handling the business side and Wait But Why as a site)
3Alicia McElhone — Manager of Lots of Things (Managerial/operational responsibilities for the site)

Client Results

1Large audience and subscriber base (approx. 601K newsletter subscribers)
2Strong engagement around popular posts (e.g., numerous highlighted articles and comments counts)

Competitive Advantages

1Unique visual storytelling (stick-figure illustrations) combined with long-form analysis
2Broad topic coverage across science, technology, society, psychology, and self-help
3Integrated monetization and community through an online store and book offerings
4Established audience and engagement through frequent updates and newsletters

Key Benefits

1In-depth, thoughtful exploration of diverse topics

2Accessible visual explanations via stick-figure illustrations

3Engaged community and regular content updates

4Integrated merchandise and book offerings that extend the brand

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A popular long-form, stick-figure-illustrated blog about almost everything, with an online store offering merchandise (posters, phone cases, mugs, etc.) and books related to the content.

Target Market

Readers who enjoy deep-dive explanations and broad curiosity across science, technology, culture, and life topics; individuals seeking approachable yet detailed analyses.

Unique Value Proposition

Wait But Why delivers deep, interdisciplinary essays paired with simple visuals, creating accessible, thought-provoking content across a wide range of topics, supported by a merchandise ecosystem and published books.

Technical Requirements

Site uses AJAX-powered components (Powered by Ajaxy); interactive features likely require JavaScript.

Pricing Model

No explicit pricing information provided for content; a separate store exists for merchandise and books, but pricing details are not disclosed in the content provided.

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