Brief Summary
Justin, a solopreneur, built his online business to $1.7 million in revenue last year, working only 5 hours a day. He sells online courses, sponsorships in his newsletter, and a monthly subscription email. He attributes his success to consistent content creation on social media, focusing on building trust and expertise. He emphasizes the importance of tools and systems for efficiency and recommends starting small and experimenting to find what works best.
- Justin's business model revolves around selling online courses, newsletter sponsorships, and a monthly subscription email.
- He emphasizes the importance of consistent content creation on social media to build trust and expertise.
- He recommends starting small and experimenting to find what works best for your business.
Intro
Justin, a solopreneur, shares his journey of building a multi-million dollar online business with zero employees. He explains how he makes money through online courses, newsletter sponsorships, and a monthly subscription email. He emphasizes the importance of consistent content creation on social media to build trust and expertise.
How he makes money
Justin explains his revenue streams: online courses on LinkedIn and content creation, a newsletter with 100,000 subscribers that he sells sponsorships for, and a monthly subscription email offering copywriting techniques. He describes himself as a "knowledge entrepreneur" and emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge and expertise.
Revenue
Justin reveals that his business generated $1.7 million in revenue last year and anticipates reaching $2.5 million this year. He acknowledges the difficulty of comprehending how one person can achieve such success without a team. He attributes his success to consistent content creation, building a large audience, and leveraging tools and systems to streamline his business.
How to become a solopreneur
Justin emphasizes the importance of choosing a topic you're passionate about, educating yourself thoroughly, and consistently creating content on multiple platforms. He believes that building an audience is a numbers game, and with a large enough following, even a small percentage of conversions can lead to significant revenue. He also highlights the importance of tools and systems for efficiency, such as scheduling tools, project management software, and note-taking apps.
When he left his 9-5
Justin shares his experience working in technology and eventually becoming a VP of Sales at a tech firm. He describes the high-stress environment and the burnout that led to a panic attack. This experience ultimately motivated him to pursue building his own business online.
Costs to run a one-person business
Justin explains that his business expenses are primarily software-related, totaling around $620 per month. He uses Kajabi as his all-in-one marketing and website solution, along with other tools like testimonial.io, Taplio, and Hypefury. He avoids paid advertising and rarely works with freelancers or contractors, focusing on building his business through content creation.
Content Marketing Strategy
Justin outlines his content marketing strategy, which focuses on consistent content creation on LinkedIn and Twitter. He describes his approach as a "discovery and trust" funnel, aiming to reach new audiences on social media and build trust through longer-form content like his newsletter and website articles. He believes in presenting offers in a non-aggressive way, focusing on providing value and building relationships with his audience.
How to find ideas for content
Justin shares his methods for generating content ideas, including subscribing to aggregator newsletters, analyzing popular YouTube videos, and seeking inspiration from podcasts and everyday experiences. He emphasizes the importance of putting his own spin on popular topics and addressing challenges faced by his ideal customer. He also stresses the importance of capturing ideas as they arise to avoid forgetting them.
Daily routine as a solopreneur
Justin describes his regimented daily routine, which includes waking up early, posting content on social media, engaging with his audience, going to the gym, and dedicating a few hours to creative work. He outlines his weekly schedule, focusing on writing his newsletter on Mondays, creating content on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and working on strategic projects on Fridays.
The fastest way to learn and grow
Justin attributes his rapid business growth to his hypothesis-driven approach, which involves testing ideas, analyzing results, and scaling what works. He encourages aspiring solopreneurs to experiment with different strategies and embrace the learning process.
Advice for new solopreneurs
Justin advises aspiring solopreneurs to identify their passions and areas of expertise, start talking about them online, and prioritize taking action over consuming information. He emphasizes that everyone's journey is unique and that starting is the most important step in building a successful online business.
