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How to learn marketing as a solo founder / small team with no time or budget (part 1)

I know, we all hate marketing, and everyone says they have the magic solution.

But the truth is, there is no 'one-size-fits-all'. This blog post is the first in a series where I talk through my own journey of marketing my business Earthfound and maybe it might have some helpful tips for you as well!

Any questions, or anything you think I should have included? Let's chat!

  1. 2

    Nice write-up.

    I'd like to focus on these two points:

    Choose your audience

    Learn the rules and then be helpful

    I've been trying to use this piece of advice on Twitter.

    My target audience are people in tech: web developers, programmers, agencies, etc.

    But looking at their tweeting pattern is just weird. It seems like everybody is "helping others", everybody is "positive", everybody is giving one another shout-outs and kudos for "being awesome".

    It seems like a big feel-good hippie circle-jerk (excuse my French).

    I'm a programmer and feel absolutely out of my depths at marketing, especially on twitter. If everybody is doing this exact same thing, does this really count as helping?

    1. 2

      Thanks for sharing this, I agree it can be tough to work out how to start interacting. If you're finding twitter too 'loud' then maybe have a look at some other platforms? LinkedIn might be a good one, or even Reddit depending on what your niche is.
      I'd also say this niche is still too wide (although you just might not have given me the details) but go narrower to find 'your' people.

      Remember that in these early days, it helps to think of it less as marketing and more as a new type of user testing. You're learning what sort of interactions these audiences respond to. You can take language, specific pain points and even whole topics for content or new product features just by observing.

      1. 1

        I'd also say this niche is still too wide ... but go narrower to find 'your' people.

        Well, this sentence has incited some thoughts in me now. I'll try narrowing down and really do hope you're right.

        If that doesn't work out, I'll just admit marketing isn't for me.

        Remember that in these early days, it helps to think of it less as marketing and more as a new type of user testing. You're learning what sort of interactions these audiences respond to. You can take language, specific pain points and even whole topics for content or new product features just by observing.

        Again, you make some nice points worth pondering. I mean, your thought process is a good few levels above mine. It's reinforcing my belief that perhaps marketing is not for everyone.

        But thank you for such thoughtful response.

  2. 1

    I'm apart of a small team with similar challenges. Definitely looking forward to learning.

    1. 1

      Thank you for reading! I hope you find it useful :)

  3. 1

    Thanks for sharing Meri!

    As a newbie SaaS founder & indie maker with a background in software development, marketing is something that I struggle a lot with at the moment.

    I'm clearly out of my comfort zone, but it's good, it means that I'm learning new things ;-)

    1. 1

      Thanks for sharing this! I think it's so key to hear from others who are struggling as well, it helps to know we're not going it alone :)

  4. 1

    The freshness and intensity of this article is captivating. The information that you have shared is highly useful.

    Thank You

  5. 1

    Hi Meri, Just read your blog and wanted to thank you for sharing it with us. As far as my knowledge goes in marketing, you have covered all the important and basic points in your blog.

    1. 1

      Thank you so much for reading!

  6. 1

    Thanks a lot for sharing

    1. 1

      You're welcome! Thanks so much for reading :)

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