How I Actually Got People to Pay Attention
As we discussed previously, we’ve already tackled the "Now, Not How" hurdle. You’ve hit the Go button. But now you’re facing a slightly more daunting question: "I’ve built it... so why isn't anyone here?"
I’ve been immersing myself in digital marketing for 2 years, and it’s a total game-changer. The "experts" make it sound like you need to be a coding wizard or have a Hollywood budget, but in reality, it’s just about having a solid game plan so you aren’t just shouting into the void.
Here is the Digital Marketing 101 guide I’m using to keep my projects moving, focusing on the basics that actually work.
1. Digital vs. Traditional: The End of the Megaphone
Traditional marketing (billboards, TV commercials) is like standing in a stadium filled with 50,000 screaming fans, holding a megaphone, and hoping the right person hears you. Digital marketing is a high-IQ conversation with the exact person who needs your help.
The Edge: Immediate Feedback. In the digital world, if you aren’t getting results, you know within minutes, not months.
I remember back in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a business club at my school, I was trying to raise funds by going door-to-door. I spent hours walking, sweating, and knocking on doors only for a few neighbors to see me. Contrast that with a quick post shared from my phone that reached hundreds of people while I was still eating my protein bar. The "manual" way felt like work; the "digital" way felt like leverage.
2. The "Core 4" Strategy
Most people start with Media—shouting, "I need a TikTok account right now!" That’s backwards. I’ve started running every idea through these four filters to ensure I’m not just feeling productive:
Model: Is the offer actually good? Does the business logic even work?
Market: Who are you talking to? You must understand their problems on a deep level.
Message: Are you speaking their language and offering a genuine solution?
Media: Now you pick the platform. If your audience is on LinkedIn, don’t waste your time on Snapchat.
3. Strategy vs. Tactics
This was a huge "aha" moment for me.
Strategy is the big picture (The Why).
Tactics are the tools (The How).
If your strategy is to sell winter coats in the desert, no matter how perfect your "tactics" are, you’re doomed to fail. You can’t optimize a product that nobody wants. It’s like putting a carbon-fiber spoiler on a sports car that doesn't have an engine—it looks cool, but you aren’t going anywhere.
4. Organic vs. Paid (Time vs. Money)
It’s the classic trade-off every creator faces:
Organic: Free to post, but requires a tremendous amount of time, patience, and consistency.
Paid: Costs money, but moves at warp speed.
[Insert Personal Experience Here]
Best context: Talk about the first time you "put yourself out there" without a budget, or a time you realized $5 could do more than 5 hours of manual labor.
Example: "I used to think you needed thousands of dollars to run ads, but I experimented with a tiny $5 budget and was shocked to see that it reached [Result]."
5. Search vs. Discovery
Search (Google/YouTube): People have Intent. They are actively looking for a solution (e.g., "How to start a business").
Discovery (Social Media): People are Browsing. You have to be interesting or helpful enough to interrupt their scroll through memes and life updates.
[Insert Personal Experience Here]
Best context: Describe a specific "scroll-stopping" moment you had as a consumer and how you copied it.
Example: "I realized I only stop scrolling when I see a post that starts with a bold, slightly uncomfortable question. So, I tested that hook on my own project and the engagement doubled."
6. Products vs. Services
When you market a product, you focus on Features and Benefits. When you market a service, you sell an "End State." Because a service is intangible, you have to paint a vivid picture of how much better life will be once you’ve helped them.
My 1/100 Update
Following the Law of 100, I’m putting these principles into play right now. I’m not swinging for a "viral" hit; I’m going for progress. I’m currently on rep [Insert Your Current Number]. It feels great to finally have a plan instead of just a prayer.
What is one marketing "myth" you used to believe? One thing I used to believe was that you needed to be an expert before you could say anything. It turns out all you need to be is 1 step ahead of the people you’re helping. Let’s discuss in the comments!
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