STOP Chasing Numbers!
You Don’t Need a Big Audience You Need a Real One
Years ago, I wrote a report called “500 Buyers,” where I demonstrated that you can build an online business with only 500 customers. I’ve since revised that number downwards, and I’m convinced that you can make a viable online business with 100-200 customers.
Let’s take a closer look at this and see what is achievable.
Most people think online success means having a massive audience.
Tens of thousands of subscribers. Viral videos. Endless reach.
But that kind of growth often comes with more stress than success. More noise than clarity.
More strangers than supporters.
What if you flipped it? What if you focused on building a small, trusted group of people who actually turn up and want to grow with you.
Not followers. Not fans.
But friends, acquaintances, and customers, readers, clients. Call them whatever you want, but a small group of people you engage with and guide on a regualr basis.
People who reply to your emails. Who read your work. Who trust what you say.
The magic number isn’t 10,000. Or even 500 as I thought..
It might be just 100.
Most people overlook the mindset shift required for this.
You don’t need 100 customers today.
You need a process that attracts the right kind of person, then gives them enough value to take the next step when they’re ready.
You achieve that with a clear message, consistent publishing, and a simple offer.
The kind of things anyone can learn, even if they don’t see themselves as a “marketer.”
I gave up on the marketer label years ago. I am simply here to provide a way forward for those willing to listen and take action, anything else is just noise.
What happens when you build this way?
You don’t need to post on five platforms every day
You stop worrying about follower counts
You make sales without feeling pushy
You feel connected to your audience because you actually care
Growth still happens, it may be slower, but it’s the kind that sticks. I have people in my community who were in my first community back in 2006.
Hell, I have members whose children were toddlers when they joined and are now off to college.
Here’s the fun part:
If you can get 100 people to join you at $20/month, that’s $2,000/month.
What about 300 at $25 or 500 at $99? Use your numbers and see where you’d want to be, then focus on achieving those.
And most of that can come from a simple writing-based system.
Now, do the math, and you’ll see that your goals are achievable. While you’ve got the calculator out, check this one-man business. I don’t think I need to say any more about it…
It’s not about scaling to the moon, big numbers or a luxury lifestyle. It’s about making the online world work for you.
And once you hit 100 it’s up to you what you do, you can stop. Or keep going.
Either way, you’ve won.
Want help building that kind of audience?
That’s what I built The Inner Circle for.
It’s not some hypey mastermind. It’s a small, focused group of people who are building online businesses the simple way by writing, sharing, and connecting.
If that sounds like your kind of space, come check it out at the link below or by getting access as a paid subscriber.