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Conquest

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Hey guys,

I was listening to a podcast from @Andy Black and he mentioned the importance of just getting out there. I don't want to misspeak for him, but my takeaway was that it is important to post a working MVP, and allow the market to guide you. For instance, a website just needs:
1) Question with the customer's Needs answered
2) 2-3 bullet points saying "Hi! We fulfill your need"
3) Call-to-action button which services the client.

I do think I've done well in taking action on an idea very shortly since joining the forum, but I am shocked at how little I know. Even website building through WordPress plugins feels like a slow crawl. I have a deadline of 10/20/21 to have a website functional with my MVP online, but I think it would be foolish to publish crap.

I want to deliver as much value as possible to others, but I am a) unsure if I will through this idea, and b) struggling to find the balance of starting, and spending more time on quality. More than anything, I'd like to ensure I'm not action-faking and publish a product that is of use to others.

Maybe it is semi-expected that someone's first time producing will be useless, and that is part of the process? Or maybe this is a personal problem, and I am just inexperienced with Producer skills (web design, copywriting, etc). If my frame of thinking is flawed let me know!! I am capable of the work so long as I train the right belief systems! (But your help would go a long way).
 
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Andy Black

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That podcast was the one discussing landing pages? Yes, I'm suggesting people get landing page out there quicker and with less copy. That's not an MVP though.

Do you even need a website or landing page to get started?

I'm curious if this helps in any way?
 

Miketing

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Listen to Andy. The man knows what he's talking about. He's done this (many times) before, you haven't.

In fact, it's even easier than you think. You don't even need a proper WordPress website.

I built an agency/productised service "website" for myself which was just a one-page site built on carrd.co. You can make a site with that in literally a couple hours.

When building the site, I just focused on understanding my market and addressing their needs.

I then went out and emailed the owners of some businesses that I wanted to work with - from the same domain.

My "website" wasn't professionally designed, I didn't have a fancy "About us" page, I didn't add any special plugins, and I definitely didn't write any code.

Do you think those business owners cared?

Well... from those emails I sent, I ended up booking calls with the CEOs of many 7 and 8 figure businesses, some up to $50M in yearly revenue.

After speaking to them, several of those then went on to become paying clients of mine.

All using that same one-page "website".

All because I focused on their needs rather than worrying "which WordPress plugin should I use?".
 

The-J

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Maybe it is semi-expected that someone's first time producing will be useless, and that is part of the process? Or maybe this is a personal problem, and I am just inexperienced with Producer skills (web design, copywriting, etc). If my frame of thinking is flawed let me know!! I am capable of the work so long as I train the right belief systems! (But your help would go a long way).

You are simultaneously more capable and less capable than you think.

Just get started.
 
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Conquest

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That podcast was the one discussing landing pages? Yes, I'm suggesting people get them out there quicker and with less copy. That's not an MVP though.

Do you even need a website or landing page to start your testing?

I'm curious if this helps in any way?
Yes, the podcast on landing pages. You're absolutely right, a website would make it easier, but it's not necessary for testing.

I can easily see the market's pain points through a similar survey, distribute it through social media platforms, and use that info to better the product. My market is individuals looking to become more consistent with their habits, so I will start posting around at subreddits for example.

After exhausting social media, I believe the next step is cold-emailing/reaching out, likely on LinkedIn.
As this is happening, I can nail down a deliverable addressing the needs, and finalize the website lastly.
 

Conquest

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Listen to Andy. The man knows what he's talking about. He's done this (many times) before, you haven't.

In fact, it's even easier than you think. You don't even need a proper WordPress website.

I built an agency/productised service "website" for myself which was just a one-page site built on carrd.co. You can make a site with that in literally a couple hours.

When building the site, I just focused on understanding my market and addressing their needs.

I then went out and emailed the owners of some businesses that I wanted to work with - from the same domain.

My "website" wasn't professionally designed, I didn't have a fancy "About us" page, I didn't add any special plugins, and I definitely didn't write any code.

Do you think those business owners cared?

Well... from those emails I sent, I ended up booking calls with the CEOs of many 7 and 8 figure businesses, some up to $50M in yearly revenue.

After speaking to them, several of those then went on to become paying clients of mine.

All using that same one-page "website".

All because I focused on their needs rather than worrying "which WordPress plugin should I use?".
Love this. It made me realize I'm thinking in the wrong sequence of events, and not of the Internet as a tool.
I'm surprised you had credibility without a website, given how accessible information is now.

Did you write anything in the emails to suggest credibility? Or did you just showcase an excellent job at understanding their pain-points?
 

Miketing

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Love this. It made me realize I'm thinking in the wrong sequence of events, and not of the Internet as a tool.
I'm surprised you had credibility without a website, given how accessible information is now.

Did you write anything in the emails to suggest credibility? Or did you just showcase an excellent job at understanding their pain-points?

What do you even mean by "credibility" exactly?

All people really care about is whether you can help them or not -- whether you can solve their problems or not.

Does having a fancy website prove that I can help you solve your problems?

Well, unless your problem is related to web development, probably not.

The funny thing is...

Showing that you deeply understand their pain points and problems is actually THE best way to show credibility.

"The better you can articulate your audience's problems, the more likely they are to believe that you can solve them." - Alex Hermozi (paraphrased)

This is similar to what @Andy Black says with "Show, don't tell".

For example, here's a screenshot from one of his tweets:

1634434192250.png

Here, he is asking questions about their specific situation and problems... and by doing so, this SHOWS that he has solved them before.

So, who would you believe is more "credible"... who would you believe is more qualified to solve your problem?

Someone with a fancy website? Or someone who has SHOWN that they've solved your exact problem before?
 
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Conquest

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Showing that you deeply understand their pain points and problems is actually THE best way to show credibility.

"The better you can articulate your audience's problems, the more likely they are to believe that you can solve them." - Alex Hermozi (paraphrased)

This is similar to what @Andy Black says with "Show, don't tell".

So, who would you believe is more "credible"... who would you believe is more qualified to solve your problem?

Someone with a fancy website? Or someone who has SHOWN that they've solved your exact problem before?
Gospel. I appreciate your time @Miketing.
 

Andy Black

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Dayum. @Miketing said everything I would have, but better. I forgot I even tweeted that screenshot.

I love carrd.co. So simple. Great story how you used it too.


@BLACKxSTAR70 … I’ve provided a digital marketing service since 2009 without a website for that service. I focus on helping people (usually in communities) and spending my time and money on “diesel and coffee”.

Check out “Who have you helped?” in my signature, and episode 13 from the Let’s Chat Sales podcast.

The takeaway from Just Start Already was how you can get people to raise their hand very simply. The survey part could be overkill.
 

Andy Black

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I can easily see the market's pain points through a similar survey, distribute it through social media platforms, and use that info to better the product.

Forget the survey. Get into 1-2-1 conversations, take it to zoom, and help people as you go.
My market is individuals looking to become more consistent with their habits, so I will start posting around at subreddits for example.
As long as you’re posting to help people. Don’t go in and post helpful advice when no-one has asked it - not until people start tagging you as The XYZ Guy/Gal.

After exhausting social media, I believe the next step is cold-emailing/reaching out, likely on LinkedIn.

You won’t “exhaust social media”. That’s not a great way to look at it. There’s millions of people who need help, and you’ll never get round to them all, especially doing it one by one.

Start helping people one at a time, become an expert by helping people, get known as an authority by helping people, then start encapsulating your knowledge so you can help even more people.

Consider creating a personal branded domain, and a YouTube channel and/or blog. (Check out episode 12 of Let’s Chat Sales I think. maybe check out my personal branded domain too.)

As this is happening, I can nail down a deliverable addressing the needs, and finalize the website lastly.
I find it helpful to reframe in terms of helping people and NOT to preempt the solution.

You’re end goal isn’t to build a website. It’s to help people, get paid, and help more people. A website and email list you own will likely be part of your final solution, but you may be able to start, sell, and scale without them.
 
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Conquest

Contributor
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Oct 10, 2021
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I can easily see the market's pain points through a similar survey, distribute it through social media platforms, and use that info to better the product.

Forget the survey. Get into 1-2-1 conversations, take it to zoom, and help people as you go.

As long as you’re posting to help people. Don’t go in and post helpful advice when no-one has asked it - not until people start tagging you as The XYZ Guy/Gal.

After exhausting social media, I believe the next step is cold-emailing/reaching out, likely on LinkedIn.

You won’t “exhaust social media”. That’s not a great way to look at it. There’s millions of people who need help, and you’ll never get round to them all, especially doing it one by one.

Start helping people one at a time, become an expert by helping people, get known as an authority by helping people, then start encapsulating your knowledge so you can help even more people.

Consider creating a personal branded domain, and a YouTube channel and/or blog. (Check out episode 12 of Let’s Chat Sales I think. maybe check out my personal branded domain too.)


I find it helpful to reframe in terms of helping people and NOT to preempt the solution.

You’re end goal isn’t to build a website. It’s to help people, get paid, and help more people. A website and email list you own will likely be part of your final solution, but you may be able to start, sell, and scale without them.
@Andy Black I appreciate you reframing my train of thought. I'll immerse myself in how I can help people, and learning more about their problems first.
 

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