How to Grow an Audience if You Have 0 Followers

Introduction

People often think they'll "blow up" just 90 days into starting a podcast. In reality, building a significant following takes years of consistent effort and improvement. Here's my journey and some advice for those starting out.

The Early Struggles

In the beginning, I did 150 episodes just about running a gym better. These weren't instantly popular, but they were necessary steps. Recently, someone messaged me saying, "It's easy for you because you already have a big audience." But everyone's journey starts somewhere—just start.

Start Small, Build Consistently

I received a DM from someone discouraged by their lack of audience or following. The important thing is to keep creating more cool content, which will eventually give you more cool stuff to talk about. For context, you can see my podcast's first episode timestamped in 2017. It took me five and a half to six years to hit the top ten. During this time, I released one to three podcasts every single week without fail.

Learning and Improving

Over this six-year period, I learned to find my voice, communicate effectively, teach, entertain, present, and speak confidently about various subjects. Initially, I only discussed how to run a gym, but around episode 150, I branched out to topics like marketing, sales, and general business. Both my content and my delivery skills improved over time, leading to my podcast ranking highly next to names I’ve admired.

The Importance of Long-Term Thinking

If you think you'll achieve success in just 90 days, you're mistaken. Realize that you'll be spending the first year just finding your voice. Think in terms of decades, not days. When a decade passes, it will be clear that you were thinking strategically long term.

Actions Over Outcomes

A friend who started at the same gym as me started posting short-form content every day for six months. Eventually, his videos took off, but it took nine years of business experience for that to happen. The key was focusing on the process, not the outcomes. If you can become consistent, doing what needs to be done regardless of immediate results, you will break the cycle of inconsistency and scarcity.

Consistency is Key

Many people struggle because they can't do something repeatedly. You must do the doing without seeing the immediate results and continue until you improve. This trait will keep you financially stable long-term.

Activities Define Success

According to "Atomic Habits," both winners and losers have the same goals. What differentiates them is the commitment to activities that bring results. Many high school seniors believe they’ll be millionaires by 25, but only a small percentage will achieve that because they focus on the activities that make a million dollars, not just the goal itself.

The Shift in Perspective

When you focus on the activities rather than the outcomes, your self-esteem remains stable regardless of income fluctuations. Whether your earnings go up or down, your satisfaction comes from doing what needs to be done consistently.

The Long Haul Commitment

I started making podcasts six years ago and committed to the process long-term. When starting my YouTube channel, I told my vendor I was in for a decade, not just looking for quick leads. This long-term commitment leads to eventual success and keeps you emotionally grounded.

Conclusion

Success comes from focusing on consistent actions, not immediate outcomes. At the six-year mark, I've released 400 episodes of my podcast. If you commit to producing content consistently without focusing on quick results, your following will grow.

Keywords

• Podcasting
• Consistency
• Long-term thinking
• Business growth
• Audience building
• Social media strategy
• Content creation

FAQ

Q: How long will it take to grow an audience from zero followers? A: It can take years. My journey took approximately six years of consistent weekly postings to hit the top ten in my podcast category.

Q: What should I focus on when starting a podcast or YouTube channel? A: Focus on the process and consistent creation of valuable content. Don't get fixated on quick results; instead, aim for long-term improvement and audience growth.

Q: How can I stay motivated if I don't see immediate results? A: Shift your focus from outcomes to actions. Measure success by your consistency and the effort you put in rather than quick wins or monetary gains.

Q: How important is finding your voice in content creation? A: Very important. It can take about a year to find your voice and develop a style that resonates with your audience.

Q: What topics should I start with? A: Start with what you know. My first 150 episodes focused on running a gym, which evolved into broader topics like marketing and sales as I learned and grew.

Q: Is it necessary to invest in professional services from the start? A: Not necessarily. My friend started by posting short-form content daily with minimal investment and achieved significant success after six months. Focus on consistency and quality rather than immediate professional help.