Experience Is Your Superpower

Your Audience Is Just Behind You

When I started in this crazy business 20 years ago, I was convinced that I needed to become a “Guru” before anyone would listen to me.

The content I created back then reflected that ridiculous belief. But then something happened, and it changed my outlook, which has stayed with me to this day.

I had purchased a complicated piece of software that created hundreds of blogs based on the content you fed into it.

If you gave it an article about dog training, it would identify every keyword-related domain name, buy the domains, and rewrite that article to fit the domains it bought.

At the time, I was a member of a community that did this type of thing, but most people couldn’t get the software to work. So, I created a 10-page PDF showing all the settings I used and screenshots of the process.

I sold 30 or 40 copies on the first day I sold it ($10). That was a fortune for me back then.

More important than the money, I then realised that my ideal audience was only one or two steps behind me, which has stuck with me throughout my career.

Use Your Experience

Consider this for a moment: who would you like to learn from on Substack?

The person who has just got their first ten paying subscribers in a month or the person with thousands of paid subscribers who has probably forgotten what it was like to struggle to get eyes on their offer?

Every time, I choose the person a few steps in front of me.

Create content that will help those just behind you. They are the ones who can benefit most from what you’ve experienced and are the ones most likely to benefit from what you’ve learned.

What do you think was my most-read post on Substack this month?

Yep, the one where I documented my first month on Substack.

Experience Works Both Ways

Today, I got my first paid subscriber. I am buzzing, but I got it because I paid attention to someone ahead of me here on Substack.

Yana G.Y.

, published a list of her subscriber benefits last week, and I realized that mine were so far off the mark that I had no chance of gaining subscribers.

So, I changed my benefits and created a “no-brainer” offer designed to compete with others on here.

Just like creating content for those just behind you, you should be learning from those just a few steps above you.

I should be paying close attention to people like Yana. She has just over a thousand subscribers more than me. She’s been through the grind of growing her account and attracting engaged subscribers, and most importantly, she shares what works.

I can learn more from her than from some of the people far ahead of me.

Growth is all about learning and application.

The Takeaway

Try creating content that will appeal to an audience who are just behind you, show them what works for you and what doesn’t. At the same time, pay attention to those a few steps ahead of you.

A Little Dessert

I’ve decided to add a little something after the main newsletter.

This week, I published my first book in 11 years. I did it as a part of a “Write a book in 14 days” Challenge I ran in The Inner Circle (my “Implementation Community” included as part of the VIP Tier for this newsletter)

Over the next week, I’ll turn that one-off challenge into an evergreen challenge. So members can take part whenever they get the urge to write and publish a book.

I intend to publish at least one book a month for the next year.

Speaking of the Community, here is the leaderboard for the past 30 days. (I stole this idea from

Jamie Northrup

😈)

Keep an Eye On Medium

I don’t know what’s happening over on Medium, but there are a lot of red flags appearing.

Accounts being suspended, AI content everywhere, Income dropping one month and miraculously improving the next, income down and views and reads up.

Something stinks there at the moment, and I’ve seen this type of thing happen on several sites in the past just before they imploded, so remember what they say about eggs and baskets!

(I don’t think it’s yet terminal, but something must be done soon.)

Notes That Hit

Finally, here is a post on notes that sums up where I feel I am… the first squiggle.

That’s it, let me know if you like having some dessert after the main course…

Have a great week

Mark

P.S. Here is the list of benefits if you upgrade to a paid tier.