Starting a Business with ZERO Audience
Episode 823: Show Notes
Today, I dig into how I would start a business with zero existing audience. First of all, I have to admit that I’ve never met anyone who actually has no audience. Everyone has up to 1,000 connections that they can leverage from day one. Whether you believe it or not, you already have an audience and it’s your job to leverage existing connections to build momentum for the life and the business you want. Ultimately, the number of people in your audience and the number of followers you have has little to no influence on how much revenue you can generate.
Showing up and getting visible can be very vulnerable. It subjects you to judgment, which often holds people back from making it happen. But getting visible isn’t necessarily about growing an audience. It’s about growing a community of real relationships. Emphasizing growing my community rather than chasing the numbers has been not only enlightening but empowering too, and I want to share that experience.
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How to Utilize a Digital Product to Convert Strangers to Buyers
This is my favorite way to build an audience! A lot of people assume they have to build an audience first and sell later, but that isn’t the only way to do it. Digital products are low-hanging fruit that you can sell from the very beginning. Even if your audience doesn’t buy it immediately, putting an offer out there and promoting it will attract the right people to pay attention to you. You can build trust and create a clear path for someone to take the next step at the same time. Selling can mean offering value! That’s the whole point. Sales shouldn’t be about taking away from people. It is just another tool you can use to connect with them.
How to Build an Audience You Can Sell to
Here’s a strategy I would use if I were starting from scratch and trying to build an audience that I could also sell to. To earn money as quickly as possible, you need to build visibility! Visibility is how you get in front of strangers and simply make them aware of your existence. Right now, my favorite visibility channel is Instagram, as it is a great way to connect with brand-new people! Not only can you use an existing account, regardless of how many followers you have, but you can also start from zero followers and build an audience. It’s totally up to you to decide! The main thing you need to do is leverage your connections to build your following.
Leveraging Digital Products to Build Your Audience
Pick a very specific topic for your content that is narrowed into your ideal client’s main problem and how to solve it. Focus on this topic for the first 30 to 90 days in order to create consistency. If you stay consistent, you will be seen as an expert. Then, you need to launch and market a low-priced digital offer that you can utilize to attract buyers. If you don’t know where to start, don’t panic! I outline the steps to this process in my Digital Product Jumpstart, so be sure to check that out.
Once you have your digital product, you need to figure out what messaging drives your engagement and purchases. Reels are an incredible way to get in front of new people, be exposed to users who have never seen your content, and get some free organic reach! The best part is that you can use your “B-roll footage,” meaning you can film moments from your everyday life and post them. While you are creating content to get in front of new people, you will also need to reach out to your network, share what you’re doing, and ask for their support. Cross-promoting your social networks is highly effective and you should be doing more of it!
The Best Way to Communicate with Your Followers Directly
One of my favorite strategies is to DM followers who express interest in your offering and send them a link to a specific product. They’re much more likely to follow through if they receive a private message from you. Minichat is a great tool you can use that will automatically send the link to followers who comment on your reels, even while you are sleeping. People no longer open all of their emails and text messages because of spam, but because of the privacy restrictions in place for DMs, people can’t spam you as easily and the open rates are therefore massive! Nearly 100%! Take advantage of this strategy right now before it changes and becomes something you need to pay for. It is so easy!
The Biggest Mistake that People Are Making
Consistently producing content is great, but be aware of this trap! If Reels are the visibility channel, posts and stories are the “nurture” side of Instagram. They are a great way to actually convert cold buyers with your content. Customers who have already purchased from you are way more likely to purchase again than somebody who came in via a cold lead. So, when you’re ready, build a list of buyers and email them regularly using storytelling and magnetic marketing. This can help you share your transformation and remind them of how you can help them. It’s a great place to continue that nurture cycle. You can grow this email list while continuing to add value! What you sell and how you talk about it can provide value, and reminding people to take action is a positive thing. Be louder. Talk about what you do consistently. Take people on a journey! It is your job to tell people how and why to work with you. For step-by-step instructions, check out my Digital Product Jumpstart today.
Quote This
You should be talking about what you sell daily. Daily!
Highlights
How to Utilize a Digital Product to Convert Strangers to Buyers [0:14:11]
How to Build an Audience You Can Sell to in 2024 [0:16:57]
Leveraging Digital Products to Build Your Audience [0:22:05]
The Best Way to Communicate with Your Followers Directly [0:29:41]
The Biggest Mistake that People Are Making [0:33:47]
OUR HOST:
Abagail Pumphrey
Boss Project on Instagram | Facebook
Abagail Pumphrey, the Co-Founder & CEO of Boss Project, has been a driving force in the creative entrepreneur industry since 2015. With a passion for empowering service-based business owners around the globe, she became internet-famous after the launch of the transformative training, "Trello for Business." This innovative system revitalized the operations of over 10,000 business owners, making a significant impact on the online business landscape.
Under Abagail's leadership, Boss Project has been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Marie Claire, INC, and HuffPost. Her twice-weekly podcast, The Strategy Hour, is a staple in the business community, continuously topping Business and Management Charts on Apple with millions of listeners from around the world.
Abagail's superpower lies in her ability to break down complex concepts into easy-to-implement, duplicatable systems. As an expert in online sales and a data-driven strategist, she has turned a layoff into a 7-figure work-from-home business. Abagail's mission to help more female founders become financially free, without letting their businesses take over their lives, continues to inspire and guide entrepreneurs on their path to success.
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