Thread
In 2019, I had never made even $1 online.
3.5 years later:
- 468M+ content impressions on 2 platforms
- $3.07M in online income at 94% margins
- 5 successful revenue streams
Here are 15 short (but important) lessons from my journey:
3.5 years later:
- 468M+ content impressions on 2 platforms
- $3.07M in online income at 94% margins
- 5 successful revenue streams
Here are 15 short (but important) lessons from my journey:
Build a creator funnel:
This is a simple journey your audience goes through, increasing the chance they become a customer at each step.
It has 4 key parts:
1. Discovery
2. Trust
3. Relationships
4. Monetization
The first part is getting discovered.
This is a simple journey your audience goes through, increasing the chance they become a customer at each step.
It has 4 key parts:
1. Discovery
2. Trust
3. Relationships
4. Monetization
The first part is getting discovered.
Get Discovered:
If nobody finds your thoughts/ideas, nothing else matters.
You want to start by creating valuable content where people are already consuming.
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- TikTok
- Etc.
There are 4 ways to do this:
1. Educate
2. Entertain
3. Challenge
4. Empathize
If nobody finds your thoughts/ideas, nothing else matters.
You want to start by creating valuable content where people are already consuming.
- TikTok
- Etc.
There are 4 ways to do this:
1. Educate
2. Entertain
3. Challenge
4. Empathize
Teach People (educate):
The easiest way to get discovered is by teaching prospective followers & customers how to do something.
These are "tactical" Tweets and threads that show off a bit of your expertise.
Share your knowledge!
Like this:
The easiest way to get discovered is by teaching prospective followers & customers how to do something.
These are "tactical" Tweets and threads that show off a bit of your expertise.
Share your knowledge!
Like this:
Entertain People:
Teaching is helpful, but if you hammer your audience with teachings 100% of the time, you run the risk of boring them.
If you bore them, you might get tuned out.
You don't have to be a comedian. But switching it up can help.
Like this Tweet:
Teaching is helpful, but if you hammer your audience with teachings 100% of the time, you run the risk of boring them.
If you bore them, you might get tuned out.
You don't have to be a comedian. But switching it up can help.
Like this Tweet:
Challenge People:
Content that challenges perceptions should get the reaction:
"I've never thought of it like that before", or...
"What an interesting observation" or just...
"Damn."
Open people up to a new perspective and win.
Like this Tweet:
Content that challenges perceptions should get the reaction:
"I've never thought of it like that before", or...
"What an interesting observation" or just...
"Damn."
Open people up to a new perspective and win.
Like this Tweet:
Empathize With People:
Some content reaches your audience & says, "I understand what you're going through" or, "you're not alone".
This content draws your audience in closer & greatly humanizes an otherwise inanimate social media profile.
Like this:
Some content reaches your audience & says, "I understand what you're going through" or, "you're not alone".
This content draws your audience in closer & greatly humanizes an otherwise inanimate social media profile.
Like this:
Learn To Actually Add Value:
All of these pieces of content are intended to "add value" to the reader.
It's a phrase that is used so often, but people rarely understand how to approach it.
But, it's not a mystery.
Here's my favorite way to describe it, from @dvassallo
All of these pieces of content are intended to "add value" to the reader.
It's a phrase that is used so often, but people rarely understand how to approach it.
But, it's not a mystery.
Here's my favorite way to describe it, from @dvassallo
Build Trust:
Once you get discovered, you must build a deeper level of trust.
Not trust in the traditional sense of the word, but trust in your expertise.
That you actually know what you're doing & can back up what you talk about.
This is critical.
So how do you do that?
Once you get discovered, you must build a deeper level of trust.
Not trust in the traditional sense of the word, but trust in your expertise.
That you actually know what you're doing & can back up what you talk about.
This is critical.
So how do you do that?
Write a Newsletter:
A newsletter is a great way to show your expertise.
Long-form allows you to go deeper & more tactical in teaching.
You're showing people how your brain works.
I write to 61,000+ subscribers each week in The Saturday Solopreneur: www.justinwelsh.me/the-saturday-solopreneur-newsletter
A newsletter is a great way to show your expertise.
Long-form allows you to go deeper & more tactical in teaching.
You're showing people how your brain works.
I write to 61,000+ subscribers each week in The Saturday Solopreneur: www.justinwelsh.me/the-saturday-solopreneur-newsletter
Start a Podcast:
If you don't want to write, start a podcast.
It shows your expertise, and you get the side benefit of connecting w/ interesting people.
Social proof!
Like how @dickiebush & @nicolascole77 do it on the Ship30for30 podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtFcV2yaX3s
If you don't want to write, start a podcast.
It shows your expertise, and you get the side benefit of connecting w/ interesting people.
Social proof!
Like how @dickiebush & @nicolascole77 do it on the Ship30for30 podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtFcV2yaX3s
Leverage How-to Videos:
Don't like interviewing? Turn the camera around on yourself.
This is a great way to build trust by literally walking people through how to do something.
A master at this is @aliabdaal
Check out his channel below: youtube.com/c/aliabdaal
Don't like interviewing? Turn the camera around on yourself.
This is a great way to build trust by literally walking people through how to do something.
A master at this is @aliabdaal
Check out his channel below: youtube.com/c/aliabdaal
Learn to "Deplatform":
I started a newsletter because I wanted to "deplatform" my audience from social media to something I actually own:
An email address.
I've found this is the best way to guard against the unforeseen, like algorithm changes or being banned.
A must.
I started a newsletter because I wanted to "deplatform" my audience from social media to something I actually own:
An email address.
I've found this is the best way to guard against the unforeseen, like algorithm changes or being banned.
A must.
Deepen Relationships:
Once trust is built, you can build deep relationships.
Use community to show a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse.
It's easier to invite someone once they trust your expertise.
Build your community of fans like @jayclouse
join.creatorscience.com/
Once trust is built, you can build deep relationships.
Use community to show a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse.
It's easier to invite someone once they trust your expertise.
Build your community of fans like @jayclouse
join.creatorscience.com/
Finally, Monetize:
With a community of fans, monetization becomes a lot easier.
You basically have a "shopping mall". A captive audience.
People are looking to buy and you're the store owner.
No algorithm. No open rates. No friction.
Here are some things you can do:
With a community of fans, monetization becomes a lot easier.
You basically have a "shopping mall". A captive audience.
People are looking to buy and you're the store owner.
No algorithm. No open rates. No friction.
Here are some things you can do:
Explore How to Use Community:
1. Get feedback
2. Get beta testers
3. Build an affiliate program
4. Get your first testimonials
5. Presell with a great discount
6. Get support for your content
And so on.
Monetization is now MUCH easier.
It's on you to get creative.
1. Get feedback
2. Get beta testers
3. Build an affiliate program
4. Get your first testimonials
5. Presell with a great discount
6. Get support for your content
And so on.
Monetization is now MUCH easier.
It's on you to get creative.
That's a wrap!
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @thejustinwelsh for more of these
2. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @thejustinwelsh for more of these
2. RT the tweet below to share this thread with your audience
