It’s become quite apparent to me that one of the most impactful things I can do as a maker is to start building an audience before I start building a product. I decided to write about this first, as I feel it’s the most intimidating part of my journey. This is new territory for me, and quite honestly, it’s terrifying to think about putting myself out there. Self-doubt rushes in, and I put it off for yet another day. Well, not today!

But how?

Despite my reservations, I’m convinced building an audience is worth pursuing. But just how will I do this? I don’t want to come across as fake or forced. I’m not interested in appearances. I have a desire to find my people, but I’m not exactly the most articulate and am riddled with imposter syndrome. The task didn’t seem possible to me until I came across the idea of just being helpful on the internet. This, to me, seems entirely within my realm, albeit outside of my comfort zone.

What’s exciting for me is the idea of interacting with people in a more meaningful way, that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’ve been learning from many over the years, and for the first time, I’m starting to feel like maybe I could give back.

It’s hard going at this alone.

Working from home can feel isolating sometimes. It’s nice to be able to focus and get a lot of work done, but there are times where just going out to a coffee shop and being around people results in a massive boost in morale and mental state. Meeting people in person and hearing about what they’re up to makes me feel like I’m part of a community. In the end, it’s less about “building an audience” and more about finding your people.

When my wife, Jo and I launched Elsie, someone reached out to her on twitter and introduced her to a couple of people. Those intros led to a couple exciting meetings which sparked a few ideas for Jo and I. It inspired us to think about which direction Elsie would take over the next few months. This excitement was all a result of someone who enjoyed Jo’s tweets and decided to reach out and say hello. How awesome is that? 🤗

What I have done so far.

Last year, I started a podcast with Chris Oliver to begin documenting our business journeys and sharing it with the world (ok, maybe just our mom’s at first). It’s been great! I had no idea how to record a podcast or even how to publish it, but I started anyway. Chris and I try and record weekly, and over the last few months, we’ve seen our listenership grow and grow. We recently reached over a thousand downloads! Not bad for only having 14 episodes. 🙌 This has led to meeting new people and having fun conversations on twitter, which makes this whole journey that much more fun.

What’s next?

Apart from this blog, I have a few ideas I’d like to explore:

  • Organizing a small local meetup
  • Start a recording 5-10 minute videos documenting my progress
  • Find a good way to be helpful on the internet

I think I’ll start with these and see where it goes. Are there any ideas you have that have worked for you?