I still shake my head at the old me.
What a goon.
The ideas I had about online business, social media, getting clients… sigh. I used to do what Jeff Walker (internet business celeb) calls “hope marketing”. You see this all the time on the socials. People who post all kinds of free… really good… content.
And then “hope” people will think they’re swell and hire them or buy their stuff.
In case you don’t know…
That’s WHY so many of your favorite developers or graphic designers, writers, etc… end up becoming full-time content creators. They learned how to create really great content, but they never learned how to use it to sell their stuff.
So, they just say “screw it” and go all-in on content and ad revenue.
Of course, on the flip side, you have the people who just scream “buy my stuff” in every post, video, etc. They don’t add any value. Those are a rare breed these days because almost nobody pays attention to them and the platforms often boot them pretty quick.
And so, it makes you wonder…
Is there a middle ground?
A way to add value to a platform, to create content that’s helpful and people enjoy… but that ALSO sells your stuff? On that front, the most common answer here is the Gary Vee approach… jab, jab, jab (and often jab, jab, jab, jab, jab)… right hook.
That is deliver a bunch of free, really great content for a long period of time.
Then, every so often come with an ask.
And that’s great if you can wait that long. But, I don’t know about you… I got a family to feed. I don’t have 60-mil sitting around for me to sit there and jab all day. You can laugh and snicker at “ROI” all day, but I need to see some.
Plus, the brutal truth is…
Most people are pretty good at the jab and downright awful at the right hook. So, they end up just being professional, unpaid content creators anyway.
Thankfully, that’s not the only way to do it.
Several years back, I came across a copywriter who had nailed what he calls “infotainment”. That term has gained more popularity since, but he was one of the OGs and really has it down to a science. And, it’s a perfect fit for social media.
Really any form of modern day content marketing.
It’s more of a jab, right cross. Jab, right cross.
A simple 1-2 combo… implemented day in and day out.
Since I started doing it my own business has grown almost ten-fold. From a side gig I hoped one day would be main gig… to actually being what I do full-time. And letting me live the lifestyle I had always dreamed of.
And, it doesn’t require you being some eccentric…
Or acting crazy on social.
Or using every obscure new platform that pops up.
A simple, repeatable daily routine that works with audio, video, written content… whatever medium you prefer — and lets you create in the *way* you enjoy. So, you actually do it and you don’t have to feel all awkward and uncomfortable every time.
Anyway, I teach what I learned from this OG in Lesson 6 of my Social Media for Freelancers course. Because it’s up on Skillshare, you can get it essentially free.
That’s because, as teacher there, I can get you an exclusive 1-month free trial of the platform (the normal trial is just 7 days) — which gives you full access to all 30,000+ courses.
And then, if you simply cancel before the month is up, you never pay a penny. Might be worth a look to you. Either way, I created a page here that explains the whole thing: https://johnmorrisonline.com/skillshare
Later,
John
P.S. Patrons already have access here: https://myjohn.us/patreon
