How to Grow an Audience if You Have 0 Followers

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistency and long-term commitment over immediate success. They recount their journey of building a top-ranked podcast over six years, starting with no audience and evolving the content over time. They advise against the misconception that success comes in 90 days and instead advocate for focusing on the process and actions, such as creating content and making outreach efforts, rather than solely on outcomes. The speaker shares a story of a friend who achieved significant income from content creation after a period of consistent posting. They stress that success is found in the activities that lead to the desired outcome, not the outcome itself, and highlight the need to maintain self-esteem and commitment through the process.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ Persistence is Key: The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistency in creating content, such as podcasts, and not expecting overnight success.
• 🚀 Start Small, Grow Over Time: Initially, the podcast focused on a niche topic (running a gym), but it evolved to cover broader subjects like marketing and business as the speaker's interests and skills developed.
• 📈 Long-term Mindset: Success is not achieved in 90 days but over years of dedicated work. The speaker encourages thinking in terms of decades rather than days.
• 💡 Find Your Voice: The first year of creating content is about discovering one's unique communication style and learning how to effectively teach, entertain, and present.
• 🌟 Content Evolution: The subject matter and the skill in delivering it both improve over time, as demonstrated by the speaker's podcast ranking highly in entrepreneurship and business.
• 🤝 Build Relationships: The speaker mentions the importance of making daily outreach efforts and creating valuable content, which can lead to significant success, as seen in a friend's story.
• 🔄 Consistency Over Outcome: The speaker advises focusing on the process and being consistent in actions, regardless of immediate sales or results.
• 💼 Success is a Process: Success is not about achieving a specific outcome but about committing to the activities that will lead to growth and eventual success.
• 🎯 Focus on Actions, Not Just Goals: The speaker points out that goals alone do not make one unique; it's the consistent activities and behaviors that lead to success.
• 💡 Commit to the Journey: The speaker shares personal experiences of committing to long-term projects without being swayed by immediate results or setbacks.
• 📚 Learning from 'Atomic Habits': The speaker references the book 'Atomic Habits' to highlight that winners commit to the activities that lead to their goals, rather than just the goals themselves.

Q & A

What misconception does the speaker address regarding the growth of a podcast audience?

The speaker addresses the misconception that a podcast can become successful within 90 days. They emphasize that building a following takes time and consistency, as it took them six years to reach the top ten.

How did the speaker initially start their podcast?

The speaker started their podcast in 2017 by talking about how to run a gym better, focusing on a niche subject before expanding to broader topics like marketing, sales, and business.

What advice does the speaker give to someone who feels discouraged due to having no audience?

The speaker advises to simply start creating content and to not be discouraged by the lack of an audience initially. They emphasize the importance of starting and being consistent in content creation.

What is the significance of the speaker's first 150 podcast episodes?

The first 150 episodes were significant because they were focused on a specific topic—how to run a gym better. This allowed the speaker to establish their expertise and find their voice before expanding to other topics.

How did the speaker's podcast evolve over time?

The speaker's podcast evolved from being focused on gym management to covering broader topics like marketing, sales, and general business, reflecting the speaker's interests and growth over time.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of consistency in content creation?

The speaker believes that consistency is key to success. They argue that one should focus on the process of creating content and engaging with the audience, rather than solely on the outcome or sales.

What example does the speaker provide to illustrate the power of consistency?

The speaker shares the story of a friend who started posting content daily for six months, and then experienced a series of successful videos that led to a significant income increase.

How does the speaker define success in the context of content creation and business?

The speaker defines success as committing to the activities that lead to the desired outcome, rather than focusing solely on the outcome itself, such as making a million dollars.

What advice does the speaker give to avoid the emotional ups and downs in business?

The speaker advises to focus on the activities and behaviors that one can control, rather than external outcomes. This shift in focus can help maintain self-esteem and reduce emotional fluctuations.

How does the speaker view the concept of 'overnight success'?

The speaker views 'overnight success' as a result of consistent and committed actions over a long period, rather than a sudden, unexpected event.

What is the speaker's approach to setting goals for their content creation?

The speaker's approach is to commit to the process for the long term, aiming for a decade of consistent content creation, rather than seeking immediate results.