How It All Began

The process can be broken down into four essential steps: intention, observation, execution, and evaluation.

1. Intention

   I joined Twitter after hearing that many talented writers were active there. Soon, I realized I could also use it to offer value, influence others, and build an audience.

   Providing value is crucial — repeat this to yourself. No matter your area of expertise, share your insights. Don’t get hung up on defining your niche; focus on beginning your journey. I automated my tweets, allowing me to dedicate only 1 to 1.5 hours weekly to content creation.

   I'm cautious about my spending because I'd rather invest wisely. The only paid tool I use is a tweet scheduler, which has proven to be a worthwhile investment.

2. Observation

   If your goal in starting a business is purely financial, the results may vary. However, if you aim to address real issues that people face, they’ll be more inclined to pay for solutions that simplify their lives. I subscribe to services like Amazon Prime and Hypefury because they save me valuable time and enhance my daily life.

   To discover what problems you can solve, consider these questions:

   • What challenges do people encounter?
   • What are your strengths?
   • What solutions can you provide that align with your strengths?
   • Reflect on what could have benefited your past self.

   Jotting down your thoughts might reveal connections.

Twitter serves as an excellent platform to gauge the challenges people express openly.

3. Execution

   Once you've identified potential solutions, it's time to take action.

   Step 1: Offer a free resource. People appreciate freebies, and this can serve as your 'lead magnet.' This could be a checklist, an ebook, or an email/video course. Twitter is particularly effective for this, as a single tweet can attract attention, even without a large following.

An online scheduler also helps me automate direct messages to those who engage with my posts, providing them with the link without the hassle of manually messaging everyone.

Step 2: Transition to a paid offering. Start small; don’t rush into selling high-priced products. Building trust with your audience is essential. Consider offering a simple Notion template or an ebook before progressing to more complex offerings, like a course, if the interest is there.

4. Evaluation

   Not every attempt will yield results, but reflecting on your efforts will guide your future strategies.

   • What feedback have you received?
   • How has your audience responded?
   • Can you update existing products based on feedback?

   This reflective process will help you refine your offerings. For example, I received feedback that my Notion checklist was useful but challenging for those unfamiliar with the platform. A quick upload of a PDF version allowed more people to benefit from my work.

Three Quick Tips for Success

To avoid common pitfalls and gain traction, keep these three tips in mind:

• Prioritize Relationships over Followers: Focus on building genuine connections. A supportive community is far more valuable than simply chasing numbers. Twitter can be distracting, so use tools to filter the accounts you want to engage with, allowing you to focus on meaningful interactions.
• Avoid Direct Sales Pitches: Rather than directly asking someone to buy your product, engage them in conversation. Treat them as individuals rather than potential customers.
• Stay Consistent: Consistency is key to gaining traction on any online platform. Establishing credibility and trust takes time. I typically tweet between 7 to 10 times daily, dedicating an hour each Monday for scheduling and engaging on other days. If you’re short on content, interact with others to provide value.

Implementing these strategies has significantly boosted my follower count, increasing from 300 to over 1,000 per month.