New Entrepreneur with No Money: Part 4

Quick Recap: So, you’re a new entrepreneur, right? Maybe it’s a full-time leap out of your comfort zone or maybe it’s a side hustle you’re hoping will replace your full-time job. But like true entrepreneurs, you decided not to take the usual side-hustlin’ gig of schlepping MLM products (I know this because you’re here, not on whatever site the MLM gods tell you to stick to for all your inspiration.) and you developed an idea on your own.

And like most entrepreneurs, you didn’t come from wealth or an old-money family. You’ve got bills to pay, perhaps a family, and you are coming at this with an idea and maybe a talent you’ve got stored away.

This blog series is for you. It’s about how to start with nothing and put a few slow-burn ideas that will gather strength across time. These methods may not be everyone’s bag, but they have worked for me when I set out to build something. They are not get-rich-quick schemes. Some guys sell courses and make hefty promises to you. But these will begin to get eyeballs to you and what you are about.

We talk about creating a platform for yourself or your company. In addition to the work you’re doing to develop your actual product or service, you are going to make a plan with a very detailed understanding of what exactly you are wanting from this idea, making clear visuals in your head and having something typed or written out that you can study anytime you need to for inspiration and a clear understanding of exactly what you want to do and how you plan to do it. Then, you will create a platform for yourself to talk about that vision and all other ideas and topics related to that vision. You will begin (in obscurity) to talk to the ether about these topics by starting either a blog, podcast, or a YouTube channel.

Then, it’s time to get active on the interwebs by connecting with people interested in or talking about the same things you are on a variety of social networks. You won’t have to choose them all but select at least two or three that you can be diligent about. And respond to anyone who talks to you – not to sell your vision but to make genuine connections.

This brings us to one of the most proven ways to build your blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. You are going to research as many other blogs, channels, or podcasts that are similar to yours. Your Google search will lead you to some of the big-time players in your field. This is okay, but we’re going to dig deeper than that.

Are you ready? You set? Ok, let’s go!

See The Other Posts in this Series

It’s Time To Network!

I’m not going to lie to you. When you first start out doing this, some of you are going to shake your head or roll your eyes. “Aw, man! You’re telling me I have to talk to more people I don’t know?”

You gotta walk before you can run, hot shot!

Maybe by now you’ve followed the steps, and you’ve built yourself a blog or a YouTube channel, and maybe you’ve created that Facebook page or Twitter profile. And maybe you’ve announced your new channel on those outlets. Maybe even invited all your friends and family members to like your page.

As you wait for those friends and family to half-heartedly follow through on their end – so long as they don’t have to buy anything or you don’t clutter their feed with infomercials or posts begging them to read your content.

This part is going to make you connect with people you don’t know (yet), and as uncomfortable as that is, let me make it easy for you and let you know that you won’t have to sell them anything. In fact, it is critical that you don’t try to. You don’t know it yet but some of these people you’re about to connect with will become either your first customers, your first blog or channel subscribers, or even collaborative colleagues as you get this off the ground.

You’re going in to find the other junkies just like you.

To start, let’s get to know the players that are already in your game.

Do a Google search for blogs that are related to the very idea, company, or niche that you’re talking about. Niches are very important. They narrow down the few sold-out fanatics of that thing from the wide gulf of generalized websites and podcasts.

An example of this is: A fan of the Dallas Cowboys is one thing and can spark conversations with other people who either like or don’t like the Cowboys. But there’s a billion blogs devoted to the Dallas Cowboys. But a fan of the Dallas Cowboys players who also grow fu-manchu facial hair narrows that down a lot. If you’re a fan of fu-man-chus and you love when they’re sported by your favorite Cowboys wide receiver, you are about to discover a community of other people just like you who “always thought it was rad when a football player has a fu-manchu.”

By the way, I haven’t got the slightest idea if any Cowboys players have a fu-manchu, but if someone does – for Dallas or any other NFL team – I can almost guarantee there’s an online shrine to it somewhere.

I deal in ridiculous specifics.

Now that you’ve pulled up specific blogs related to what you want to talk about, you need to make yourself familiar with the site, the host or blogger, and the team of regular commenters. You’re going to read, watch, or listen to their materials. Some of it may suck. That’s okay, because even if it does, you’re going to fake it that it doesn’t suck. Go to the comments section of the posts and give the author some love. But don’t just say, “Great post!” and be done. Or worse, don’t be the guy who says, “Ditto. By the way, I’ve got the greatest blah blah blah blah blah blah.” These kinds of comments are known as spam, and they will get your comment deleted or flagged for wasting everyone’s time.

Instead, show some real love by giving an example of something that stood out to you in their post, their channel, or their pod. By the way, podcasting is a little trickier because there isn’t a set website for many of them. Unless you find the actual websites they’re posted on. Many podcasters set up their home base with a self-hosted website/blog (Yes, a blog) that features an embed of their latest pods. Others set up shop on sites like Podbean – which works like a blog –

Or Soundcloud – which works like a YouTube channel. Get to know these sites and authors.

They may not comment back immediately. Comment on the next post anyway. Read it or view the video on YouTube and leave a thoughtful comment.

Leave Your Calling Card

Remember how I told you to not promote yourself on these comments? That may be good advice, but you should also remember that you’re still in business. So, when you leave a comment, make sure and list your URL to your site in the appropriate field of the comment form. Because at some point after enough commenting, someone is going to click on your name to see just what you’re about.

The more you comment naturally on someone else’s article, the more they will be inclined to check out yours, or their readers will be.

Always Respond to Comments

It should go without saying that if someone leaves a thoughtful comment on your blog or YouTube video, you should always respond to it, and preferably within a couple of hours. It keeps the newly forming relationship fresh.

Make this Networking a Part of Your Daily Routine

You want to make a regular practice of viewing these blogs. You might be surprised at just how many of them begin to become your favorites. On the one hand, you know these guys are doing exactly what you’re trying to do. They’re becoming experts in their field, their niche. And on the other hand, you might actually be learning new tips from them. Embrace this.

Take a good hour each morning or afternoon – whenever you have an hour you can mark as free – and go through your growing list of sites and channels, and leave comments, respond to comments. Become a regular on these sites. You will also find that you begin to build rapport with these other bloggers or YouTubers or podcasters, and that will set you up very well for the next part of this section.

Collaboration with Blogs.. The Art of the Guest Post

So, you’ve been blogging or YouTubing enough videos that you’re starting to gain a little bit of traction from it. Maybe you’ve got a hundred readers or viewers/subscribers at this point.

You’re getting to know these other content folks, and as you do, you’re building trust with them as a fellow expert in your field. You’ve proven some consistency to write and post every week, and now it’s time to connect with other readers.

Reserve a few posting dates on your blog schedule (It works a little differently for YouTube and podcasts) and then invite some of the bloggers you are getting to know to contribute a guest blog. They may or may not say yes to this. Some bloggers will see this as a chance to help a newcomer get more traffic (they’ve been there). Some of them may have thousands of readers and just wouldn’t see posting on your site to be beneficial to them enough to spare the time to do it. If that’s the case, shake the dust off your feet and try not to take personal offense. These are busy people, after all. And they may legitimately not have the time.

And while you’re inviting these bloggers to contribute guest posts to your site, also ask them if they would allow you to write a guest blog on their site. You might be surprised how many of them would be open to this.

Once you’re in as a guest blogger, congratulations! You have officially made contact with this blogger’s readers. You’ve gotten some cred. Make sure you tune into their post on that day because there will be comments. As you would on your own site, make sure and respond promptly on their comment. And be sure and thank the blogger for letting you post on their big-time site.

Collaboration with YouTube and Podcasts

Collaboration works differently with YouTube and Podcasts. In blogging, everything is being read. Which means you can send the article to your blogger from anywhere in the world. In video and audio, the post is dependent upon the two of you being in the video at the same time. This is great if your guest collaborator happens to live in the same town. But there’s a ninety-nine percent chance that’s not the case.

You need to figure out a way to conduct your interview or allow them to post their video ahead of time. Thankfully we are all familiar with Skype, Google Hangouts, and other similar kinds of tech. You might start off with just using these tools since it won’t cost you anything, and most of them will give you the ability to record the video chat. Once you’ve gotten a few of these under your belt and maybe after you’ve begun to sell a few products or services, I would recommend investing in a good microphone. You can also acquire better streaming from apps like Zoom or GoToMeeting.

Podcasting will work almost this same way, and particularly if you are a guest on their show, you’ll want to have a good working mic to make sure the connection is clear. I recommend a Yeti mic. A lot of YouTubers and podcasters use this or something similar. They connect to your computer via USB and they generally are around $100. (Though if you’re on a tighter budget, you might check out Facebook Marketplace as these often are sold used. If you don’t mind a slight scratch on the mic, this is usually good enough for me).

Keep These Connections

I have built networks with bloggers I collaborated with and guest hosted with going as far back as 2008, and some of those connections have become great social media friends. And they’re all over the world, which opens the door for me should I ever want to visit these places. It’s always good to know someone wherever you are.

You never know when these contacts will come in handy, and should you start a new project in the coming months and years ahead, you may find that these guys are some of your first supporters.

If you have an experience in networking, tell us about it in the comments below.

And stay tuned for the last part of this series, where you will get to be a smartass! Ever wanted to be one of those? Now you can. For your job! We’ll be talking about what it means to be an expert in your field.