Great article. This is the exact path I'm currently walking. I haven't settled on a product idea, so I've just been creating content about what I know and seeing where it takes me.
I created a video series, which I gave away free, and now has over 140 subscribers. So I'm leaning towards a video content website. Once I have it ready to launch, I should have a couple hundred emails to send it to. It's not much, but it's more than the zero emails I had before starting to write/record.
I genuinely think this is a good approach for the average person.
1
Thanks Colin. That's great to hear and definitely the way to go. No point in waiting to build an audience only when you have your product ready. It takes time to grow a following so better start now and gain few new subscribers every day and be ready straight away when you have something to say/sell.
3
Hey marko, Thanks for sharing. I really love the article.
1
Thanks Emeka, I appreciate your words!
1
To build a strong relationship with your users, do you recommend personalized email marketing like Drip or newsletter-like email marketing eg; Mailchimp
1
I recommend whatever you're most comfortable about. These tools are all nice and pretty much all do the basics you need, but it's not about the exact tools. It's about what you do with them. The users on the other end don't care about what tool you use to get in touch with them, they only care about the message and the value that you provide.
2
Great thoughts, I like the idea.
Is it in your mind could be applicable for gamedev audience as well ?
Especially considering slow-indie-10%-entrepreneur kind development :)
1
I think it's pretty much applicable to any industry. You just need to adapt the strategy to your target market.
2
So many useful tactics at the right time. Thanks a ton @markos
2
I'd like to add or suggest a few things:
As a freelancer myself (Copywriter, Content Marketer, Consultant, Entrepreneur)
When you're looking for freelance talent for Copywriting or Content Marketing, look beyond the platforms such as upwork and people per hour.
Instead take a look at and try out specialized Facebook groups such as the Cult of Copy Job Board, SaaS Growth Hacks, Indiehackers :), and don't forget referrals.
Ask your friends, friends of friends, associates, partners, customers, competition, family.
You could find some vetted freelancers who work with you as a partner and you have the added benefit of a personal review from your referee.
2
Great Article
2
This is amazing!
I'm taking a similar approach with my site. I'm focused on building my audience of people who want to create great content. Most of my audience are lurkers, but a few are those who share a lot.
I guess that's just the way it goes.
1
Exactly. Every product/website has this same experience. It's just the way it is. Thanks Niel!
2
Thanks for posting this Marko. Ironically, all of this boils down the the 4 P's of marketing (product, place, price, and promotion) but in a digital world this is just done differently than in an offline world. Same concepts though. It's tough work. For all of the success stories, I love the stories like yours that really show that it's not as simple as putting up a site, some posts and then people find it and you make a million dollars.
1
hehehe totally agree Shane. I'm not sure that there are any examples at all of those results in recent years. It's all about taking small steps every day and then looking back at your work after say 6 months (or even longer) and seeing the progress all those small steps have resulted in.
2
Nice article :)
1
Thanks Davis!
2
Marketing is one of the main non-technical challenges for founders. As I just finished a three-year experience of doing marketing for a SaaS startup in the hyper-competitive industry of social media analytics I wanted to share my marketing lessons learned.
Great article. This is the exact path I'm currently walking. I haven't settled on a product idea, so I've just been creating content about what I know and seeing where it takes me.
I created a video series, which I gave away free, and now has over 140 subscribers. So I'm leaning towards a video content website. Once I have it ready to launch, I should have a couple hundred emails to send it to. It's not much, but it's more than the zero emails I had before starting to write/record.
I genuinely think this is a good approach for the average person.
Thanks Colin. That's great to hear and definitely the way to go. No point in waiting to build an audience only when you have your product ready. It takes time to grow a following so better start now and gain few new subscribers every day and be ready straight away when you have something to say/sell.
Hey marko, Thanks for sharing. I really love the article.
Thanks Emeka, I appreciate your words!
To build a strong relationship with your users, do you recommend personalized email marketing like Drip or newsletter-like email marketing eg; Mailchimp
I recommend whatever you're most comfortable about. These tools are all nice and pretty much all do the basics you need, but it's not about the exact tools. It's about what you do with them. The users on the other end don't care about what tool you use to get in touch with them, they only care about the message and the value that you provide.
Great thoughts, I like the idea.
Is it in your mind could be applicable for gamedev audience as well ?
Especially considering slow-indie-10%-entrepreneur kind development :)
I think it's pretty much applicable to any industry. You just need to adapt the strategy to your target market.
So many useful tactics at the right time. Thanks a ton @markos
I'd like to add or suggest a few things:
As a freelancer myself (Copywriter, Content Marketer, Consultant, Entrepreneur)
When you're looking for freelance talent for Copywriting or Content Marketing, look beyond the platforms such as upwork and people per hour.
Instead take a look at and try out specialized Facebook groups such as the Cult of Copy Job Board, SaaS Growth Hacks, Indiehackers :), and don't forget referrals.
Ask your friends, friends of friends, associates, partners, customers, competition, family.
You could find some vetted freelancers who work with you as a partner and you have the added benefit of a personal review from your referee.
Great Article
This is amazing!
I'm taking a similar approach with my site. I'm focused on building my audience of people who want to create great content. Most of my audience are lurkers, but a few are those who share a lot.
I guess that's just the way it goes.
Exactly. Every product/website has this same experience. It's just the way it is. Thanks Niel!
Thanks for posting this Marko. Ironically, all of this boils down the the 4 P's of marketing (product, place, price, and promotion) but in a digital world this is just done differently than in an offline world. Same concepts though. It's tough work. For all of the success stories, I love the stories like yours that really show that it's not as simple as putting up a site, some posts and then people find it and you make a million dollars.
hehehe totally agree Shane. I'm not sure that there are any examples at all of those results in recent years. It's all about taking small steps every day and then looking back at your work after say 6 months (or even longer) and seeing the progress all those small steps have resulted in.
Nice article :)
Thanks Davis!
Marketing is one of the main non-technical challenges for founders. As I just finished a three-year experience of doing marketing for a SaaS startup in the hyper-competitive industry of social media analytics I wanted to share my marketing lessons learned.