Do this to get your first 10,000 followers (on any platform)

Summary

This video shares the journey of growing a social media presence and the challenges faced along the way. It emphasizes that gaining the first 10,000 followers is the hardest step, but persistence and consistency lead to growth. Key principles include focusing on solving audience problems, delivering valuable content, and avoiding subprime followers who aren’t genuinely interested. The speaker shares personal success stories, such as retiring family members through social media income, and encourages creating content that resonates deeply with your audience for long-term success.

Takeaways

• 💪 Gaining followers can transform your life, but it takes time, persistence, and consistent effort.
• 🎯 Reaching 10,000 followers is the hardest part, but once you achieve it, growth becomes much easier.
• ⏳ It took 4 years of daily posting to reach 10,000 followers, but the compounding effect made it faster to reach 1 million.
• 🛠️ Create at least 100 videos early on; the lessons from successful and failed content help you improve.
• 🤔 Focus on solving problems for your audience, but don't niche down too far—target a broader group with similar struggles.
• 📧 Build an email list and aim for at least 20% of your audience to subscribe. Email lists are more valuable than followers.
• ⚠️ Avoid trying to go viral for entertainment if it attracts the wrong audience; focus on building a relevant, engaged community.
• ⏱️ The first 1-3 seconds of your content are critical—capture attention quickly and clearly state how it benefits the viewer.
• 👥 Your content should be about solving problems for others, not showcasing yourself. Think of how it can change their life.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Like any skill, you improve with practice—whether it's creating videos or running a business, repetition leads to mastery.

Q & A

What is the hardest part of growing a social media following according to the speaker?

The hardest part of growing a social media following is reaching the first 10,000 followers. After that, growth tends to be easier due to the compounding effect.

What does the speaker compare social media growth to, and why?

The speaker compares social media growth to the compounding effect of doubling a penny every day. Initially, the growth is slow, but over time, the numbers can grow exponentially, just like the value of the penny increases significantly over 30 days.

What advice does the speaker give regarding creating content early on?

The speaker advises producing 100 videos as soon as possible without overcomplicating the process. The lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful videos will improve the content over time.

What mistake do many people make when defining their target audience?

Many people make the mistake of niching down too far. The speaker recommends targeting broader categories of people who share similar problems instead of narrowing the audience too much.

What is the '20% rule' the speaker refers to?

The '20% rule' refers to aiming for 20% of the people who follow you to be on your email list. The speaker emphasizes the importance of an email list over social media followers, as it is more valuable for building a business.

Why does the speaker warn against growing a 'subprime audience'?

Growing a subprime audience, such as attracting followers just for entertainment or irrelevant content, may lead to an audience that isn't interested in buying your products or services, making the large follower count meaningless for business.

How should the first 1-3 seconds of a video be structured?

The first 1-3 seconds should grab the audience's attention and clearly explain what the video is about, focusing on how it can help the viewer. It's essential to plan these moments carefully to ensure engagement.

What is the speaker’s stance on self-centered content?

The speaker advises against creating self-centered content, like showing workouts or meals without context. Instead, content should focus on solving the audience’s problems, as this is more likely to create engagement and growth.

What analogy does the speaker use to explain the importance of repetition?

The speaker uses the analogy of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Olympic athletes, explaining that repetition is key to improvement. Just like athletes get better by practicing more, creators improve their content by doing more reps in content creation.

What should creators avoid to improve retention and audience quality?

Creators should avoid trying to go viral with irrelevant content, like using trends or skits that don't align with their business goals. This can lead to attracting a subprime audience, which harms long-term growth.