Thread
How to productize yourself (so you can do what you love):
I absolutely hate talking numbers.
But trust and authority are important.
Over the past 4 years, I've pursued my genuine interests and turned them into a $500-$600K a year business...
As a one-man show.
While working 2-4 hours a day.
(Don't close your mind off just yet).
But trust and authority are important.
Over the past 4 years, I've pursued my genuine interests and turned them into a $500-$600K a year business...
As a one-man show.
While working 2-4 hours a day.
(Don't close your mind off just yet).
Ever since the idea of 4-hour workdays and 1 million dollar years were planted into my head, everything I did was to achieve that goal.
I had to create systems for my work and build the business in a way to support that.
It won't happen if you don't believe it will.
I had to create systems for my work and build the business in a way to support that.
It won't happen if you don't believe it will.
A successful one-person business is comprised of:
- An authoritative brand
- Interesting & useful content
- A quality product or service
- Authentic marketing & promotions
Let's break down how you can create each with your current interests, expertise, and experience.
- An authoritative brand
- Interesting & useful content
- A quality product or service
- Authentic marketing & promotions
Let's break down how you can create each with your current interests, expertise, and experience.
// BRAND //
A brand is meant to attract followers.
As a one-person business, YOU are the brand.
Followers follow leaders.
The question:
What are you leading people towards?
What big goal are you working towards in your life?
A brand is meant to attract followers.
As a one-person business, YOU are the brand.
Followers follow leaders.
The question:
What are you leading people towards?
What big goal are you working towards in your life?
While there are other important aspects to a brand like:
- Brand colors (your fav colors)
- Brand feel and tone (your tone)
-
The brand mission and message are the most important.
- Brand colors (your fav colors)
- Brand feel and tone (your tone)
-
The brand mission and message are the most important.
If your big goal is to make $1 million, your brand mission is:
> Help 1000 people make $1 million
That is how you position yourself whether you have zero experience or not.
Don't get too caught up in it right now.
Your goals can (and should) pivot when you find a better path.
> Help 1000 people make $1 million
That is how you position yourself whether you have zero experience or not.
Don't get too caught up in it right now.
Your goals can (and should) pivot when you find a better path.
To summarize:
Your personal brand is how you display your value in public, where anyone can find and follow you.
Your perceived value is determined by what you are building and the lessons you are passing down on your journey.
But how do you attract people to your brand?
Your personal brand is how you display your value in public, where anyone can find and follow you.
Your perceived value is determined by what you are building and the lessons you are passing down on your journey.
But how do you attract people to your brand?
// CONTENT //
Your job is to become a one-person media company.
If you aren't already aware, media is how you capture attention, deliver free value, and get in front of the entire internet.
There's paid media (ads) and organic media (social growth).
Both are useful.
Your job is to become a one-person media company.
If you aren't already aware, media is how you capture attention, deliver free value, and get in front of the entire internet.
There's paid media (ads) and organic media (social growth).
Both are useful.
My favorite combination is both.
I stay far away from paid ads on specific platforms (for now).
I would rather pay someone with a following to promote my work.
Why?
So I have something to show for it.
Not just a one-off sale, but a leverageable following that I can nurture.
I stay far away from paid ads on specific platforms (for now).
I would rather pay someone with a following to promote my work.
Why?
So I have something to show for it.
Not just a one-off sale, but a leverageable following that I can nurture.
The thing that people struggle with the most is figuring out what to talk about.
"Blah blah my niche oh noo"
Stop worrying about your niche.
Your niche is the combination of your genuine interests.
Your niche is you.
You are interesting because of what you are interested in.
"Blah blah my niche oh noo"
Stop worrying about your niche.
Your niche is the combination of your genuine interests.
Your niche is you.
You are interesting because of what you are interested in.
Write down 3 broad interests.
Example:
- Bodybuilding
- Mindset
- Online business
Then, break those down into pieces that you can research and use as inspiration.
**Your domain of mastery is what you are learning to achieve your goals (as a brand).**
Example:
- Bodybuilding
- Mindset
- Online business
Then, break those down into pieces that you can research and use as inspiration.
**Your domain of mastery is what you are learning to achieve your goals (as a brand).**
Your job is to switch from full-time consumer to full-time researcher.
You are learning about your interests in relation to your goal (so you have something to apply every teaching to and gain experience).
Become an expert in your domain and share your discoveries.
You are learning about your interests in relation to your goal (so you have something to apply every teaching to and gain experience).
Become an expert in your domain and share your discoveries.
"How do I position myself in the market?"
Don't overcomplicate this.
Just be honest with exactly what you are doing to achieve your goals.
@SahilBloom & @thejustinwelsh are great examples of this.
Don't overcomplicate this.
Just be honest with exactly what you are doing to achieve your goals.
@SahilBloom & @thejustinwelsh are great examples of this.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh // PRODUCT //
You can start with a full fledged digital product, nobody said you can't, but it isn't optimal.
Instead, start with an MVO.
Minimum viable offer.
There are 2 options for this.
You can start with a full fledged digital product, nobody said you can't, but it isn't optimal.
Instead, start with an MVO.
Minimum viable offer.
There are 2 options for this.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh 1) A single-skill freelance service
When studying a marketable skill like web design.
2) A pack of consulting calls
When studying an interest like health, performance, or mindset.
You can sell these for $500-$1000 right out of the gate.
When studying a marketable skill like web design.
2) A pack of consulting calls
When studying an interest like health, performance, or mindset.
You can sell these for $500-$1000 right out of the gate.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh One thing to note:
I recommend people go with option 2 no matter what.
You will have much more success (and potential scalability) if you become an educator instead of a freelancer.
You can teach marketable skills 1 on 1 instead of doing it for someone else.
I recommend people go with option 2 no matter what.
You will have much more success (and potential scalability) if you become an educator instead of a freelancer.
You can teach marketable skills 1 on 1 instead of doing it for someone else.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Why start with this? Because it's easier to sell (with direct outreach) when you don't have a large audience.
There are ways around this... like writing a thread, getting it in front of someone elses 100,000+ audience, and selling a product there.
There are ways around this... like writing a thread, getting it in front of someone elses 100,000+ audience, and selling a product there.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Most people should follow this path:
- Start a service business
- Sell a beginner-level service
- Learn complementary skills
- Make your service better
- Charge more & get results
- Productize your service
- Use the results to sell to the audience you've been building
- Start a service business
- Sell a beginner-level service
- Learn complementary skills
- Make your service better
- Charge more & get results
- Productize your service
- Use the results to sell to the audience you've been building
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh How do you productize your service, or even know where to start with the service itself?
Easy, build something that helps you achieve your goals faster
Or, build something you would have wanted to achieve your goals faster.
Easy, build something that helps you achieve your goals faster
Or, build something you would have wanted to achieve your goals faster.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh All of my products were either a system I built for myself (to improve my life or business) — or a system I would have wanted.
My favorite way to do this is in Notion.
If I'm a writer, I build out a Notion dashboard with templates to help with my writing (or my clients).
My favorite way to do this is in Notion.
If I'm a writer, I build out a Notion dashboard with templates to help with my writing (or my clients).
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh As you spot problems that hold you back, your system gets better.
Other examples:
For a web designer - create steps for building a website and a project management dashboard
For a productivity guy - create a habit tracker and todo list for yourself (like I did)
Other examples:
For a web designer - create steps for building a website and a project management dashboard
For a productivity guy - create a habit tracker and todo list for yourself (like I did)
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Then, all you have to do is:
- Choose a software (like gumroad)
- Record loom videos on how to use the system
- Write a curriculum for what people need to know about what you teach
Boom, now you have both a product and service that serves as the base of your income.
- Choose a software (like gumroad)
- Record loom videos on how to use the system
- Write a curriculum for what people need to know about what you teach
Boom, now you have both a product and service that serves as the base of your income.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh // MARKETING //
You have a brand, content ideas, and offer — but how do you get people to buy it?
By understanding human perception.
If your content or promotions don't capture attention, educate, and nurture that attention, you lose.
Mastering AND marketing your craft.
You have a brand, content ideas, and offer — but how do you get people to buy it?
By understanding human perception.
If your content or promotions don't capture attention, educate, and nurture that attention, you lose.
Mastering AND marketing your craft.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Content 101:
- Dissect and emulate how your mentors write content
- Practice in the real world, fail, and get better
- Have a blend of step-by-step education, encouragement, and inspiration
The principles of content and marketing go hand in hand.
- Dissect and emulate how your mentors write content
- Practice in the real world, fail, and get better
- Have a blend of step-by-step education, encouragement, and inspiration
The principles of content and marketing go hand in hand.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Marketing 101:
1) Capture attention
Study hooks, headlines, and all social media posts that do well.
Use numbers, statistics, pains, and benefits of a topic to open a curiosity loop.
Do what works (and will always work) but make it your own.
1) Capture attention
Study hooks, headlines, and all social media posts that do well.
Use numbers, statistics, pains, and benefits of a topic to open a curiosity loop.
Do what works (and will always work) but make it your own.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh 2) Educate and nurture to build authority
We are transitioning out of the sleazy direct response marketing age of clickbait funnels and quick cash.
You have to be dedicated to dissecting and educating people on the DEPTH behind your interests.
We are transitioning out of the sleazy direct response marketing age of clickbait funnels and quick cash.
You have to be dedicated to dissecting and educating people on the DEPTH behind your interests.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh This means that you can't only rely on social media to market yourself.
You need a quality newsletter that you funnel people into to build authority around what you are selling.
That, and other long-form pieces like a lead magnet, podcast, or YouTube will help you sell more.
You need a quality newsletter that you funnel people into to build authority around what you are selling.
That, and other long-form pieces like a lead magnet, podcast, or YouTube will help you sell more.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh 3) Ask them to buy
Now that you've established authority with TIME in the game and DEPTH around your interests, ask someone to buy.
Target the pains their experiencing while pursuing their goals and the benefits of the solution you've created.
Now that you've established authority with TIME in the game and DEPTH around your interests, ask someone to buy.
Target the pains their experiencing while pursuing their goals and the benefits of the solution you've created.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh 4) Homework for you
Study:
- Customer levels of awareness
- Principles of persuasion and influences
- Promotion frameworks like AIDA and PASTOR
If you want to take it even further to practice in a real world setting:
Study:
- Customer levels of awareness
- Principles of persuasion and influences
- Promotion frameworks like AIDA and PASTOR
If you want to take it even further to practice in a real world setting:
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh Write a promotional tweet, landing page, and email using the AIDA and PASTOR frameworks.
Affiliate for a product or software that you already bought (like a website builder or course)
Then, practice selling it online by building an audience. Then transition into your own offer.
Affiliate for a product or software that you already bought (like a website builder or course)
Then, practice selling it online by building an audience. Then transition into your own offer.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh There are zero excuses or reasons to not be writing content if you want to do what you love.
The internet has created the potential for everyone to have a small (yet high paying) one-person business.
It's a matter of treating the internet like real life - display your value.
The internet has created the potential for everyone to have a small (yet high paying) one-person business.
It's a matter of treating the internet like real life - display your value.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh If you enjoyed this monster of a thread, consider spreading the love by retweeting the first tweet:
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh If you are a one-person business that struggles with:
- Anything we discussed in this thread
- Building an authentic following
- Writing compelling content
- Building a selling a great product
- Monetizing you (and what you love)
Digital Economics starts on the 26th.
- Anything we discussed in this thread
- Building an authentic following
- Writing compelling content
- Building a selling a great product
- Monetizing you (and what you love)
Digital Economics starts on the 26th.
@SahilBloom @thejustinwelsh If you want a complete one-person business dashboard to manage, run, and grow your business
And top-rated education, personalized help, and workshops
Consider enrolling before the price increases:
digitaleconomics.school
And top-rated education, personalized help, and workshops
Consider enrolling before the price increases:
digitaleconomics.school
