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THE SECOND 90 DAYS - #buildinpublic
A journal of building a $15/mth and $150/mth courses membership.
Currently at 51 members and $1,330 MRR.
A journal of building a $15/mth and $150/mth courses membership.
Currently at 51 members and $1,330 MRR.
The first 90 days is here: https://twitter.com/AndyBlackJnr/status/1356745604765011975
Main learnings from the first 90 days:
You don't need a website, or even a domain to get started.
I asked friends on Facebook and LinkedIn if they were interested in the $15/mth Bootcamp first. Even when it looked like there was demand I setup a free installation of New Zenler on andyblack(.)newzenler(.)com
I asked friends on Facebook and LinkedIn if they were interested in the $15/mth Bootcamp first. Even when it looked like there was demand I setup a free installation of New Zenler on andyblack(.)newzenler(.)com
You don't need to collect email addresses before launch.
I messaged everyone via Facebook or LinkedIn messenger. I did send people to a Google Form to get their contact details and more info, but I didn't even use their email addresses.
I messaged everyone via Facebook or LinkedIn messenger. I did send people to a Google Form to get their contact details and more info, but I didn't even use their email addresses.
Don't overthink the copy in your post, and don't over-design it.
I made my Facebook and LinkedIn posts very conversational, and initially posted without any graphics.
It started with:
"I'm thinking of ..."
I made my Facebook and LinkedIn posts very conversational, and initially posted without any graphics.
It started with:
"I'm thinking of ..."
I briefly explained what would be in the Bootcamp (videos, a Facebook group, and occasional Zoom calls).
I made sure to mention the $15/mth price, and to explain why it was so low ("so I can help more people").
I only wanted people who knew the price to raise their hand.
I only wanted people who knew the price to raise their hand.
A lot of hands were raised because I had a reasonable network on Facebook and LinkedIn who already knew what I did, *and* the offer appealed to them. If you're not known as "The XYZ Guy/Gal" in your circles already then this will be tougher.
The first 90 days was purely organic inbound marketing.
For this next 90 days I'd like to start paid ads and hopefully create some little machines that bring in new members like clockwork.
For this next 90 days I'd like to start paid ads and hopefully create some little machines that bring in new members like clockwork.
For those on a tighter budget:
It wasn’t until after I’d had quite a few sales that I bought a domain and paid for New Zenler ($477/year) so I could use a custom domain.
I could have used my free subdomain andyblack(.)newzenler(.)com and know people who still do.
It wasn’t until after I’d had quite a few sales that I bought a domain and paid for New Zenler ($477/year) so I could use a custom domain.
I could have used my free subdomain andyblack(.)newzenler(.)com and know people who still do.
I made $40k over 4 years selling a stand-alone course on a subdomain on thinkific(.)com
Don’t get stuck choosing and buying a domain.
Don’t get stuck choosing and buying a domain.
I have a Facebook group for paid members. I create a Q&A thread each Monday, and answer their questions at the end of the week. It helps me find out what they’re stuck on, and what content or courses to create for them.
Day 91 (Mon 08-Feb-21)
Had 3rd and 4th $15/mth cancellations today. At 49 members and $1,300 MRR.
I know one of them hasn't been getting results and struggled and got frustrated with the Google Ads interface.
I'm not sure about the other yet. I'll check up.
Had 3rd and 4th $15/mth cancellations today. At 49 members and $1,300 MRR.
I know one of them hasn't been getting results and struggled and got frustrated with the Google Ads interface.
I'm not sure about the other yet. I'll check up.
Day 93 (Wed 10-Feb-21)
Had a couple of weird days where I was very interested in figuring out Twitter, Revue newsletters, and setting up a new podcast. These are NEW, and would involve me learning. Why am I doing something new instead of what I planned (running ads)?
Had a couple of weird days where I was very interested in figuring out Twitter, Revue newsletters, and setting up a new podcast. These are NEW, and would involve me learning. Why am I doing something new instead of what I planned (running ads)?
A business coach gave me some advice years ago:
"F*ck why. It only holds you back."
"F*ck why. It only holds you back."
So this evening I ignored the siren call of fiddling with new stuff and went back to the plan:
1) Copy 40+ Google Ads articles from a forum to my blog.
2) Setup a newsletter opt-in on the site.
3) Run Google Dynamic Search Ads to each of the blog posts.
1) Copy 40+ Google Ads articles from a forum to my blog.
2) Setup a newsletter opt-in on the site.
3) Run Google Dynamic Search Ads to each of the blog posts.
4) Setup video ads on YouTube and Facebook.
So far 9 articles have been copied to the blog. Two of us will finish off the rest by this time next week. We'll get the newsletter setup by next week. (Could it be a Revue one?
Hmmm.)
So far 9 articles have been copied to the blog. Two of us will finish off the rest by this time next week. We'll get the newsletter setup by next week. (Could it be a Revue one?
Hmmm.)
Day 95 (Fri 11-Feb-21)
Pull yer finger out and simplify Andy. Next week is about creating a simple sales page and figuring out how to get a consistent stream of visitors via paid ads that convert into new members.
Pull yer finger out and simplify Andy. Next week is about creating a simple sales page and figuring out how to get a consistent stream of visitors via paid ads that convert into new members.
A great a relevant podcast with @TomLibelt and @GetTheAudience: https://gettheaudience.com/e06-tom-libelt-systematized-marketing-audience-building/
Day 103 (Sat 20-Feb-21)
Oops. I've not updated this in 8 days.
Since the last update on day 95 there's been 4 cancellations of the $15/mth membership, and a few signups.
I think I'm currently at 54 members and $1,425.
Summary of what I've been up to below
Oops. I've not updated this in 8 days.
Since the last update on day 95 there's been 4 cancellations of the $15/mth membership, and a few signups.
I think I'm currently at 54 members and $1,425.
Summary of what I've been up to below
This week I'd planned to run ads to the course. Instead I was like a dog with a bone trying to figure out Twitter.
Why?
One of my superpowers is posting an inordinate amount in forums and Facebook groups. I quickly get known in them, and known as the Google Ads Guy.
(Cont.)
Why?
One of my superpowers is posting an inordinate amount in forums and Facebook groups. I quickly get known in them, and known as the Google Ads Guy.
(Cont.)
The audiences I've built up over the years in forums and Facebook groups has mostly brought me to 54 members and $1,400+ MRR.
A few months ago I came across the line:
"Don't say different things to the same people. Say the same things to different people."
Cue an AHA moment.
A few months ago I came across the line:
"Don't say different things to the same people. Say the same things to different people."
Cue an AHA moment.
I've nearly 12,000 posts, hundreds of threads, and at least 40 Google Ads threads in thefastlaneforum alone.
Here's a master thread linking to most of my Google Ads threads: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/andys-adwords-posts.52850/
Here's a master thread linking to most of my Google Ads threads: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/andys-adwords-posts.52850/
The downside to posting in closed communities like forums and Facebook groups is there's only so many people who can see your posts. Hence me wanting to move my posting activities to a platform that's more "open".
I've had a look at using my Facebook profile, but I believe it's against Facebook's terms to use it for business.
I've had a look at using a Facebook page, but it's an art to generate any organic reach with a Facebook page (check out Rachel Miller - she's the genius at that).
I've had a look at using a Facebook page, but it's an art to generate any organic reach with a Facebook page (check out Rachel Miller - she's the genius at that).
There's something fascinating about tweets and threads on Twitter.
1) The brevity forces us to write better.
2) Sharing seems to be baked into the DNA of Twitter. We can retweet individual tweets, whole threads, and tweets within threads.
1) The brevity forces us to write better.
2) Sharing seems to be baked into the DNA of Twitter. We can retweet individual tweets, whole threads, and tweets within threads.
3) We can even embed threads in other threads!
4) We can easily get the URLs of threads we've created and share them again (something I do a lot in forums but can't easily do on Facebook).
4) We can easily get the URLs of threads we've created and share them again (something I do a lot in forums but can't easily do on Facebook).
I've spent the last two weeks trying to figure out how to move my posting activity to Twitter, and whether I can be "The Google Ads Guy" on Twitter as well as in various forums and Facebook groups.
It took me two weeks of fully immersing myself in Twitter for it to finally click.
"You can't break tackles at marathon pace."
- Blaise Brosnan
Picture courtesy of https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/may-treble-inspires-england-to-big-france-triumph
- Blaise Brosnan
Picture courtesy of https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/report/may-treble-inspires-england-to-big-france-triumph
I'll start creating Google Ads threads soon. Those that like them, and my other posts and replies, may see my profile name and head back to my profile to see what I'm about.
I've setup my profile so it appeals to people interested in me and what I do.
I've setup my profile so it appeals to people interested in me and what I do.
Day 128 (Wed 17-Mar-21)
First Zoom with someone who found me via Twitter - a SaaS founder in the early stages.
I suggested he tell everyone in his current network what he's up to, and growing his personal profile on Twitter.
First Zoom with someone who found me via Twitter - a SaaS founder in the early stages.
I suggested he tell everyone in his current network what he's up to, and growing his personal profile on Twitter.
Day 129 (Thu 18-Mar-21)
A BIG DAY OF FIRSTS!!
• 1st signup to the $15/mth Bootcamp via Twitter.
• 1st "tag" by someone on Twitter when someone else asked about Google Ads resources.
• 1st Zoom call of someone looking to hire me who found me on Twitter.
A BIG DAY OF FIRSTS!!
• 1st signup to the $15/mth Bootcamp via Twitter.
• 1st "tag" by someone on Twitter when someone else asked about Google Ads resources.
• 1st Zoom call of someone looking to hire me who found me on Twitter.
Been thinking about metrics to record for Twitter as a marketing channel
https://twitter.com/AndyBlackJnr/status/1372845142445600769?s=20
https://twitter.com/AndyBlackJnr/status/1372845142445600769?s=20
