4 Quick Notes for Creators Starting Out

Insights from Ali Abdaal's Head of Youtube - Tintin Smith

Video

I still recommend watching the video. These are the lessons that I found valuable out of what he said.

TLDR for Creators Starting Out

1. Collect Emails. Write personal emails.

2. Create content for your ideal student (Target Audience)

3. Create paid offers. You only need one core product.

4. Don't sell info, sell transformation. Speak to feeling, needs and desires.

1. Collecting Emails

I see other creators doing this all the time. Whether it is a newsletter or a freebie, they have somewhere for you fill in your email to get a newsletter from them.

In the marketing world, this is called collecting leads.

Actionable: Start a substack. Don't be like me. I write lots of articles. You can use it solely as a newsletter platform.

Question: Would you like to receive an article straight to inbox or a weekly newsletter that guides you to the articles that were posted this week?

2. Create for your Ideal Student

Everyone tells you to create for a defined ideal target audience to flesh out their profile down to how old they are, what they care about, what they're interested in.

Some say, “Create for you, but 5 years younger”. Essentially, you but missing some of the information you have right now. Guide them on the problems you had in the past that you solved.

I found it really restrictive in the beginning, but it is also very helpful to frame it this way, because then you know what would resonate with this person. Your bullshit meter comes up, and you're able to be more critical when you look at your content.

If you're struggling to work this out on your own, this is how I have AI interview me to redefine my target audience once in a while.

Actionable: AI Prompt to Discover Target Audience

System prompt

Interview me, and discuss with me. Giving me 5 short bullet point suggested options for each question. 

If adding emoji, preferentially set it at the start of the line. Use emoji in section headings. Use emoji as visual signposts. Keep the section heading unbolded. 

Chat prompt

Goal: Based off what you know about me and this interview help me figure out my dream student as an educational YouTube creator that creates about [YOUR TOPIC e.g. Obsidian & Zettelkasten].   

[WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE ON YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE e.g. burnout knowledge workers, ADHD-ers that want to think in a bottom-up manner]    

We need to get more specific. Help me create a persona. Think of it as developing a character sheet as a novelist. We want to dive deep into this person's motivations, needs, problems and desires. 

3. One Core Product

TinTin is saying that you only need one core product in order to create a six-figure business. This would be a more expensive product priced around $300, But being able to focus all your energy on this one product is likely to create something that is a lot more valuable.

Personally, I found that just trying to create something that people have to pay for motivates you to dive deeper into what you have that is actually valuable to other people.

4. Sell Deeper

Which brings me to the last point. Both Tintin and Dan Koe talk a lot about selling transformation. Having a vision instead of just trying to be a technical person providing information.

This struck me really deeply. Because why is Dan Koe so successful? Why is Ali Abdaal so successful?

People don't really think about the products that they sell, even though both are YouTubers that sell courses, they sell their apps. But that's not how we think of them.

We think of creators by how they slot into our shelf of needs. What do they provide us?

We think of Ali Abdaal as the productivity guy (an ex-doctor we can trust) who has this friendly demeanor, and he usually provides value-packed content in a nice polished style that remind me of Apple products.

He is not going to be the first person to tell you about something, but when he does tell you about it, it's all packaged up nicely for you to be able to take it in. So most of us are willing to get his take on things.

We think too much about being subtle with the value that we're providing, but look at how Ali Abdaal does it. He is so to the point and direct.

Ali Abdaal’s Landing Page goes “How can I help you” aka What transformation do you need?

Dan Koe? He sells a vision, a lifestyle that you can live like him. If you just do what he does. His brand just keeps reiterating the message that you should do the one-person business, that you can be a creator online, and it is possible to succeed because he succeeded. He is living the 4 hour work week. He is going on walks. He is disciplined. He seems stoic.

The transformations Dan Koe promises

He is selling the dream, that you can do all the things promised in his video. He makes the offer longer term (6 to 12 months) and he makes it difficult (monk mode) because that tricks your brain into thinking that if you really could do it, it would change your life. The promises here are actually pretty generic, but look, he got a few million views. And he does provide value if you click into the video. So even if you don't get the exact transformation, you are going in that direction and you're willing to follow this person.

✨ Hi! I’m Pamela.

Hope that helped!

I’m starting a series of short actionable notes from my favourite resources every week. Think of this as a curated set of insights for thinkers and content creators. You have just read the first one!