Stage 4, the Build stage, is a big one. As Corbett puts it: “this stage is a monster and a lot of people get stuck here.” In this episode we talk you through each step so you can rise up when others start to sink.
There’s a lot of fun stuff here — naming, website building, social media accounts. That stuff is exciting even when it gets challenging.
But built into the 9 steps of Build is also some difficult tasks that won’t happen over night.
Listen to this episode to get into the mindset of the big picture, avoiding the hamster wheel of building an audience forever without ever finding a way to earn a living with that audience. Enjoy!
(If you’re not already, subscribe in itunes so you can get the next episode in your sleep.)
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“9 steps: avoid the hamster wheel of constant work without revenue”
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Build Steps:
The real meat of each of these items is in the conversation. The items below are meant as simply a placeholder while you listen to the episode.
- Create an operating system: Entrepreneurs: Why You Need Both a Personal Workflow and a Company Operating System.
- Set goals and update your progress log (accountability loop).
- Find a business partner (optional).
- Name your company. Great tips from Corbett on this one around 20m in. More info: How to Pick the Right Domain Name (+ 11 Domain Name Tools, FS090).
- Setup your business (legal and finance): Small Business Accounting: Where Do I Put the Money? (FS009)
- Setup social media profiles.
- Setup your email list.
- Build your website. (There’s a great course in Fizzle on the essential of great site design for NON designers.)
- Grow a minimum viable audience. (This one and the next require some explanation.)
- Build a minimum viable product. What’s the smallest thing you could put out there to test interest in your idea? More info: How to Deconstruct A Truly Minimum Viable Product.
The Roadmap Episodes:
- Clarity (episode 100)
- Connection (101)
- Planning (102)
- Build (103)
- Money (104)
- Scale (105)
- 4 Updates (106)
Show Notes
Austin Kleon: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Nerd Fitness: Helping You Lose Weight, Get Stronger, Live Better
Blog Strategy 101: The 14 Step Video Guide
Learn how to set goals that actually stick!
The Top 10 Mistakes in Online Business
Every week we talk with entrepreneurs. We talk about what’s working and what isn’t. We talk about successes and failures. We spend time with complete newbies, seasoned veterans, and everything in between.
One topic that comes up over and over again with both groups is mistakes made in starting businesses. Newbies love to learn about mistakes so they can avoid them. Veterans love to talk about what they wish they had known when starting out.
These conversations have been fascinating, so we compiled a list of the 10 mistakes we hear most often into a nifty lil' guide. Get the 10 Most Common Mistakes in Starting an Online Business here »
Yay! You guys read my iTunes review! That was pretty cool to hear! Another great show guys, you’re really getting in to the nitty gritty.
Thanks so much for leaving it, Trudi.
This series is great. Lots of content you guys are going over. I’m certainly still in the build phase over at PDn9.com. Getting my site built and live was the big first step. Now, churning out the content and guest blogging are my biggest focuses and challenges. I took the advice about building an opt-in incentive and so far, it’s been a nice tool. Too soon to measure the success, but glad I did it. The build phase is a lot of work, but it’s fulfilling. I’m really eager to get to the point where I’ve got a product offered for purchase so I can understand what it’s like to earn a buck online. Thanks for the detailed podcasts guys!
“Now, churning out the content and guest blogging are my biggest focuses and challenges.” Don’t forget about this episode I recommended to you: http://fizzleshow.co/86
Good work on the guide, man.
Thanks a bunch! I’ve got the episode in iTunes! Enjoy your weekend.
Definitely loving the series so far, I can’t wait to listen to the remaining shows. I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to comment on the blog since I’ve been listening to you guys from episode 1! In listening to today’s episode I’m wondering if it’s more of a continuum rather than a series? Than again I know you guys have stated this would be the “ideal” roadmap. If this really is the ideal roadmap, I feel like I’ve taken quite a few detours along the way! Currently, I feel like there are bits and pieces of my brand/business that are in every stage 1 through 4. Is this common? Would it be a good idea to revisit each stage and really dive in to the details? Thanks !
“Currently, I feel like there are bits and pieces of my brand/business that are in every stage 1 through 4.” Totally normal. Nobody ever opens the sky and rides in on a golden chariot to deliver you a scroll made of opal and angel’s tears that decrees “Thou are done with stage one (Clarity™). Though mayest commence stage two (Connection™).”
Instead, it’s always “ok, i feel decent enough about that, I guess I’ll move on to the next stage even though I’m not 100% sure.”
“Would it be a good idea to revisit each stage and really dive in to the details?” I think so. Because after you’ve been working on stuff for a while you’ll have a lot more perspective when you come back in to the clarity, connection and plan stuff.
You’re doing it right, Jamila. Just doing it at all is often right enough. Now if you can keep it alive for long enough, new directions may just find you first.
That’s good to know. At least I know I’m progressing in some way even if it’s not 100% clear where it will take me.
So I have another question for you regarding audiences… I’ve read the PDF on identifying your target market but I’m still having some trouble. How do you find people that are essentially in a non-niche? Maybe it is one. Let me explain. I don’t promote a specific type of diet because really, everyone is different. What I’m trying to teach is a “lifestyle” diet through changing people’s habits. So with paleo for example, I could go to paleo forums, websites, etc. but I don’t know where to look for people who are tired of going from diet to diet and really want to make real changes. There are dietitians who specialize but it’s typically for clinical purposes (heart disease, diabetes, etc.) and that is definitely not what I want to do.
I have toyed around with targeting a specific group of people (rather than a specific ‘diet’ type) — entrepreneurs. I thought this might be a good group to target since your health is so important to every aspect of your business and a lot of the habits you develop to succeed professionally overlap with the habits you need to improve your health. Would it be better to target this way instead of boxing myself in with a specific nutrition focus? So torn with what to do. You’ve been really helpful so far Chase thanks !
“So I have another question for you regarding audiences.” I wish I had a great solution for you on that, but the reality of doing something new is always messy and never easy. But you’re doing the right work. You’re doing it. So, keep it up, Jamila.
Honestly, this step is always the least of my worries. I have enough self-determination to get things done, and the technical stuff I’ve done so much it’s pretty quick.
For me, it’s all the other stuff that I skip over in the beginning that comes back to bite me later. This series has definitely helped that.
2 things I learned from this episode (which I heard before but it was very clear this time):
1. Just solve a problem. “Make something for someone’s butthole.” – Chase
2. Offer something valuable in return for someone’s email.
Love it so far guys.
I think i meant to say “Offer something valuable in return for someone’s B-hole.” right? no, that doesn’t sound right. I’ll re-listen.
Thank you for such a great podcast. I am currently in this stage. I started building my blog on WordPress without knowing anything about the platform.You guys talked about creating content for your audience but also getting technical. How do you choose between this two time consuming activities? I am in this dilemma right know, between building great content poorly published because I lack technical skills and publishing really colorful articles that lacks the content substance as a consequence of spending time on the technical / designing side.
“between building great content poorly published because I lack technical skills” … I think this is a bit of a false dichotomy, Damian. Your articles will stand and fall on the content. And lots of sites stand on *very* simple designs (e.g., kottke.org or medium.com).
There’s a design course (for non-designers) within Fizzle. The main things I teach there are about finding that simplicity that still works (so you aren’t wasting time fiddling on the design). I recommend checking that out if you haven’t.
Short of that, here’s a handful of very simple wordpress themes (http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/free-medium-inspired-themes-wordpress/). And, honestly, you could just go with Squarespace.com… beautiful, easy, customer support, and you can always move to WP later if you want.
Cheers, Damian!
Loving this series!! Thank you so much! I’ve been getting so much out of it. Have a suggestion for something that would be so helpful. I listen to you guys as I walk my dog and often when I’m driving a car, which makes it difficult to take notes. I’d love it if there was a transcript download in the show notes of each podcast. So many times I hear you say something that totally resonates with me but I don’t have the time to re-listen to all the podcasts over again. Having a transcript would let me I’d print it the podcasts that most apply to what I’m working on at the moment and review all my “aHa” moments. Thanks so much for all you do. It’s incredibly helpful. So glad to be a part of the Fizzle community.
Point duly noted, Julie!
I am at stage 4 of the MVP and MVA section. My biggest struggle is that my audience is still very small. I am working on producing an ebook to build, measure and learn. The series has been right on for me. I have been walking through all of these steps within fizzle and have an actual idea that I am testing. My site is at habitatchat.com. I am terrified to release my first product, but know it’s what I have to do. Fizzle has helped me in so many ways that it’s hard to put it in words. I started with a niche site way of thinking, and now actually feel like I have a business idea that can do something. Thanks guys.
“I started with a niche site way of thinking, and now actually feel like I have a business idea that can do something.” Wow, that’s a good way of putting it. Thanks, Dave!