Anyone have practical examples on "finding where your customers hangout and add value"?

If someone asks a question you can answer, answer it! Don’t post a link or push your product, just engage. Put a meaningful link in your bio, but most communities can sniff a sales play from a mile away. You need to make some deposits (value without wanting anything in return) before you can make a withdrawal (an ask or call to action).

Here's a great case study by @harrydry. I love sharing this article as the best example of how to do exactly what you're asking.

https://www.indiehackers.com/post/0-19k-email-subs-how-i-promote-my-content-83a2be1707

Harry never comes across as a link spammer because he re-purposes his content for each platform.

Facebook groups have been AWESOME for me.

I joined:

1. blogging groups, as I teach SEO and marketing strategy
2. van life groups, as I'm a soon-to-be van-lifer and I plan to video my van build
3. digital nomad groups, as I hope to help digital nomads.

I have had very heavy traffic simply from answering the questions that users post in the groups. Usually, I'll post 1-3 bullet points that I thinks are very important and pertain to their question and then I'll link to a blog post I've written about the topic, just in case they want to read more.

I find that people are actually very appreciative, and I've never been treated as if I was spamming or link building. That is because:

1. I make sure to actually provide VALUE. It's not just my link, it's actually the answer to their question with a link in case they wanted more detail.
2. I post the link last, almost as if it's an afterthought.
3. I try to come across as very humble and very open to answering more questions! I want to make friends, not deal with customers.

I think this same concept can be applied in reddit forums, or here on indie hackers (exhibit A lmao) or wherever else across the internet. Just think about the groups your niche would be joining and fall into - and provide value.

Best of luck to you!

Take a look at my comment history 😉

Recently I read book from @arvidkahl, he get customer for feedbackpanda.com from online english teacher group.

My product is for bloggers who earn money from affiliate marketing.

So I've spent a long time in tons of blogger Facebook groups, answering questions, being helpful.

I also write specific articles about common questions in those Facebook group, so the next time someone asks, I can also include a link.

Often I don't link right away, I wait until someone asks a follow-up question which is too involved to type in a comment. And I never pretend the article isn't mine. I just say, "Hey I wrote a blog post about this topic, take a look at let me know if you have questions that aren't answered."

Eventually people start tagging me when my app or article will answer someone else's question. But it takes a long time. I've been in these Facebook groups for years.

I'm collecting such case studies on my blog here: https://syften.com/blog/

Is that what you're looking for?

I know that Failory and starterstory grew from reddit.

I'd say that intent matters if you're trying to hard-sell without adding value, you'll just end up being seen as a spammer.

This is a good question really.

I used to run a service connecting photographer friends with businesses, target customers mostly are restaurant owners.

So I call them and approach them in-person.

Wow some fantastic responses on here, thanks all!

I actually have always had this question but never worded it very clearly! But I have also been doing extensive research. For small investment products like tools and newsletters, going on Twitter or IndieHacker, giving out a freemium works well because the product idea is simple, the target audience might be looking for it already, and it's a low touch, short sales cycle. For B2B services, it's more relationship focused and some guy coming out of the blue trying to spam random articles to me doesn't rub off well or I just won't review because I'm busy with running operations. For B2B, being genuine and upfront on your purpose on reaching out (not selling but a good excuse can be feedback on x or discussion x) is adding value. The person might find some insights useful during this. Once that relationship is established, you can send materials that person might like, send referrals, or offer x that might be value to them with more context to the relationship. That person would be more inclined to check it. It doesn't have to be add value on the first interaction but it should be net value add throughout the entire relationship.

Talking about your work with many people usually reveals where your audience could be hanging out. More practically, ask one target customer where they hang out, you might find out where others hang out...!

Although startup bibles recommend "find where your customers hang out and add value etc" an alternative is to "find customers where you hangout" which served Facebook and Twitter well.

Building authority through social media is playing the long game. There's so many variables that you can't really make a "case study".

It is solid advice, but like has been said, the secret is to give with expecting back. Know that the seeds you're planting are building equity for your brand. You might get immediate results or it might take years.

That's just how the game works. If you focus on instant ROI, that's how you get sniffed out.

@Maxsper

For me it was just trying, talking and trying.

What i mean:
Go to twitter, find people you think will match, ask them where they go.
Might be discord/slack -> go there, ask around

I just keep doing this, and keeping adding amazing platforms to my routines