I feel the same that trying to have paywalls now it is a bit too early.I'm exactly your target demographic. I traveled few months last year, and I'm currently working to setup my life so I can slow travel full time. I agree 100% that you have identified a pain point. I've been on some of these forums daily since 2022, and it's obvious how people come with good intentions and post some information, but then slowly stop when idiots start their bullshit. In the end I've stopped reading all of them. I was genuinely thinking about doing similar few months ago, but decided I have better problems I want to tackle. I genuinely wish there is a normal forum for this, as normal as these kinds of things can be. There is a real problem where people who don't have successful older guys around them to show them the game. I'll share my opinions below, I just want to say two things:
1. I really hope you make this honestly
2. I don't claim to be expert in anything below.
I do think some kind of opt in for nominal amount, let's say - 30EUR yearly, or something similar HAS to be there to filter people out.
You talk about global worldwide thing. But somehow in your welcome post you use a lot of "passport bros", "expat", "mgtow", "west is bad", "cost of living", "flag theory" keywords. I know SEO is important, but I don't have words to explain how weak this sounds. It sounds like usual self important American bullshit. I know The Algorithm likes those words, but if I heard a guy using those terms in real life, I would run the other way. Normal people in other countries don't speak like that.
I don't believe you for one second you want to build your network for the right reasons. Reason is that creating a Discord takes 2 minutes. Creating a forum like this one takes one day max. If you wanted to do it, it would already be done. But somehow Substack "upgrade to paid" is already there?
What is the value add for me to join your network? You don't post any social proof that resonates with me at all, you just talk about you life vaguely and have some keywords around. It all sounds so generic, google keywords planned filler. You can say a lot about other similar communities, but they are not vague or generic by any stretch of the imagination.
To be completely blunt this whole thing reeks of a typical digital nomad grift. You know which ones I'm talking about. I'm not saying this is you, just giving you honest feedback.
OP has to do the heavy lifting of running a community, attracting new members, and maintaining good vibes, for years.
Exact how MJ did it.
Communities are like gardens, once unattended will have wild grasses growing all over. I have my own first-hand experience of building wechat groups and spend countless moments kicking up accounts that do nothing but spamming promotional ads.
Doing it as a hobby to learn skills it's fine. But as MJ warned before, running forums and writing books are not ideal way to hit your first pot of gold in life.
There is a company owned by an Irish expat in Singapore doing corporate setup and basic accounting services. He charges 2-3x compared to other similar companies offering identical services. It's amazing and amusing how new expats in Singapore are willing to pay much more to him for routine paper work than any high school graduate can do. It is a highly competitive field.
If you focus on your global experience, and connection and dive deep into niches there could be real gold to be found.
Being an American in a foreign land can be an advantage because once you developed your own followers and publicity, and if you offer an essential service to other expats they are going to trust you more.
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