If your default is opening social media and binging on updates from others, there's a problem. The world needs to know what YOU can offer, and I believe everyone can add value. So first, switch to intentionally becoming a creator.
10 ridiculously simple tips I wish I knew about building an audience when I first started:
I mostly winged it 🤫
Let me share my lessons so you don't have to:
(a thread 🧵)
If your default is opening social media and binging on updates from others, there's a problem. The world needs to know what YOU can offer, and I believe everyone can add value. So first, switch to intentionally becoming a creator.
Most beginner creators people aim too far high and crash. It never works for me. Instead choose tiny habits like 2 tweets a day in the morning. Or 1 video for Youtube. Or 1 short essay each day on Substack. Optimize for consistency.
What comes naturally to you? Writing your thoughts, choose Twitter. Editing interesting footage and layering a voice-over? Choose Youtube. Short essays? Choose Substack. Pick one and stick with it for at last 1 month.
Don't focus on big bold segments with hundreds of active prolific creators already fishing. Find specific audiences and move towards them.
I was a no-code maker in 2018 so that niche came naturally. Later, I expanded to the community niche. Now #buildinpublic
If your favorite niche still feels big, combine two different ones and see if it resonates w people.
Many of my fav creators are masters at this. @5harath blends mindfulness + product, @JensLennartsson is marketing + no-code, @jackbutcher is design + mindset
Each social platform has styles that work and formats you can be inspired by
Don't copy their content but use their style/format as a guide
Ex: @brandonthezhang @jackbutcher @shl have unique recognizable formats on Twitter
People are scrolling so fast on all these feeds, if you sound half-ass or hesitant, they'll move on
To write with conviction, speak about things you know and have tried and have worked well (be ready to produce proof!)
Some people never make progress because they are trapped by trying to look flawless. I make a ton of mystakes. Typos. Bad grammar at times. Busy professionals don't care. They'll get the message.
Pride yourself in consistency
It goes without saying but I think it's worth mentioning
There are no free lunches
If you want to build an audience, you have to give value, your time, resources you already have etc.
You can't just ask people favors without giving freely first
More from Social media
Great bit of journalism here by Sophia :) fun fact, we had some verrrrry interesting conversations about what exactly the Trump campaign might be doing on TikTok.
So let’s talk about that!
Super glad I could be of help btw :P
Anyhoo: my background = senior web dev, data analysis a specialty, worked in online marketing/advertising a while back
You’ve got this big TikTok account that’s ostensibly all volunteer, just promoting Trump’s app because they’re politically minded and all that.
Noooooope. They’re being paid.
Sophia says it’s just possible (journalist speak I assume) but I know exactly what I’m looking at and these guys, Conservative Hype House, are getting paid to drive traffic and app installs for Trump.
So how do you know that, Claire?
Welp, they’re using an ad tracking system that has codes assigned to specific affiliates or incoming marketing channels. These are always ALWAYS used to track metrics for which the affiliate is getting paid.
So let’s talk about that!
Donald Trump has spent the last few months trying to ban TikTok.
— Sophia Smith Galer (@sophiasgaler) October 6, 2020
But I've found videos that suggest his re-election campaign might be using a TikTok hype house to track how well pro-Trump messaging performs on there. My story and a \U0001f6a8 thread \U0001f6a8 below. https://t.co/2XWLTRKLqq
Super glad I could be of help btw :P
Anyhoo: my background = senior web dev, data analysis a specialty, worked in online marketing/advertising a while back
You’ve got this big TikTok account that’s ostensibly all volunteer, just promoting Trump’s app because they’re politically minded and all that.
Noooooope. They’re being paid.
Sophia says it’s just possible (journalist speak I assume) but I know exactly what I’m looking at and these guys, Conservative Hype House, are getting paid to drive traffic and app installs for Trump.
So how do you know that, Claire?
Welp, they’re using an ad tracking system that has codes assigned to specific affiliates or incoming marketing channels. These are always ALWAYS used to track metrics for which the affiliate is getting paid.
✨📱 iOS 12.1 📱✨
🗓 Release date: October 30, 2018
📝 New Emojis: 158
https://t.co/bx8XjhiCiB
New in iOS 12.1: 🥰 Smiling Face With 3 Hearts https://t.co/6eajdvueip
New in iOS 12.1: 🥵 Hot Face https://t.co/jhTv1elltB
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New in iOS 12.1: 🥳 Partying Face https://t.co/p8FDNEQ3LJ
🗓 Release date: October 30, 2018
📝 New Emojis: 158
https://t.co/bx8XjhiCiB
New in iOS 12.1: 🥰 Smiling Face With 3 Hearts https://t.co/6eajdvueip
New in iOS 12.1: 🥵 Hot Face https://t.co/jhTv1elltB
New in iOS 12.1: 🥶 Cold Face https://t.co/EIjyl6yZrF
New in iOS 12.1: 🥳 Partying Face https://t.co/p8FDNEQ3LJ
So let's check in on "Newsguard," one of the Orwellian groups (e.g., The Atlantic Council) that totally reliable sites like @voxdotcom and @axios use to decide what is "Unreliable" and "fight disinformation."
One example:
OK, so "The Daily Wire" and "https://t.co/oEa89coNak" are unreliable. Fair enough, maybe they are (I don't use either one of them).
So let's look into one of our new official arbiters of "reliability," Newsguard!
What's their advisory board look like?
https://t.co/5N8op70VE1
OK, so maybe a few names jumped out at you immediately, like, oh I don't know, (Ret.) General Michael Hayden, former Director of the CIA AND former Director of the National Security Agency in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2003! Google him, he's famous!
Newsguard is all about "seeing who's behind each site," (like how Michael Hayden is behind Newsguard?)
All they want to do is fight "misinformation." That's laudable, right?
Also, Newsguard has a "24/7 rapid response SWAT TEAM!!"
So cool!
https://t.co/EDN3UXvBR9
Ok, I'm not a journalist or a former CIA director, so I have no idea what's true or not unless someone tells me, so hey, Columbia Journalism Review - what do you think of Newsguard Advisory Board Member Michael Hayden?
One example:
OK, so "The Daily Wire" and "https://t.co/oEa89coNak" are unreliable. Fair enough, maybe they are (I don't use either one of them).
So let's look into one of our new official arbiters of "reliability," Newsguard!
What's their advisory board look like?
https://t.co/5N8op70VE1
OK, so maybe a few names jumped out at you immediately, like, oh I don't know, (Ret.) General Michael Hayden, former Director of the CIA AND former Director of the National Security Agency in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2003! Google him, he's famous!
Newsguard is all about "seeing who's behind each site," (like how Michael Hayden is behind Newsguard?)
All they want to do is fight "misinformation." That's laudable, right?
Also, Newsguard has a "24/7 rapid response SWAT TEAM!!"
So cool!
https://t.co/EDN3UXvBR9
Ok, I'm not a journalist or a former CIA director, so I have no idea what's true or not unless someone tells me, so hey, Columbia Journalism Review - what do you think of Newsguard Advisory Board Member Michael Hayden?
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Week 1 highlights: getting shortlisted for YC W2019🤞, acquiring a premium domain💰, meeting Substack's @hamishmckenzie and Stripe CEO @patrickc 🤩
2/ So what is Brew?
brew / bru : / to make (beer, coffee etc.) / verb: begin to develop 🌱
A place for you to enjoy premium content while supporting your favorite creators. Sort of like a ‘Consumer-facing Patreon’ cc @jackconte
(we’re still working on the pitch)
3/ So, why be so transparent? Two words: launch strategy.
jk 😅 a) I loooove doing something consistently for a long period of time b) limited downside and infinite upside (feedback, accountability, reach).
cc @altimor, @pmarca
4/ https://t.co/GOQJ7LjQ2t domain 🍻
It started with a cold email. Guess what? He was using BuyMeACoffee on his blog, and was excited to hear about what we're building next. Within 2w, we signed the deal at @Escrowcom's SF office. You’re a pleasure to work with @MichaelCyger!
5/ @ycombinator's invite for the in-person interview arrived that evening. Quite a day!
Thanks @patio11 for the thoughtful feedback on our YC application, and @gabhubert for your directions on positioning the product — set the tone for our pitch!
Week 1 highlights: getting shortlisted for YC W2019🤞, acquiring a premium domain💰, meeting Substack's @hamishmckenzie and Stripe CEO @patrickc 🤩
2/ So what is Brew?
brew / bru : / to make (beer, coffee etc.) / verb: begin to develop 🌱
A place for you to enjoy premium content while supporting your favorite creators. Sort of like a ‘Consumer-facing Patreon’ cc @jackconte
(we’re still working on the pitch)
3/ So, why be so transparent? Two words: launch strategy.
jk 😅 a) I loooove doing something consistently for a long period of time b) limited downside and infinite upside (feedback, accountability, reach).
cc @altimor, @pmarca
4/ https://t.co/GOQJ7LjQ2t domain 🍻
It started with a cold email. Guess what? He was using BuyMeACoffee on his blog, and was excited to hear about what we're building next. Within 2w, we signed the deal at @Escrowcom's SF office. You’re a pleasure to work with @MichaelCyger!
5/ @ycombinator's invite for the in-person interview arrived that evening. Quite a day!
Thanks @patio11 for the thoughtful feedback on our YC application, and @gabhubert for your directions on positioning the product — set the tone for our pitch!