Strategy Hour | Online Marketing for Business Growth
Episode 979: Starting a Business without a Single Follower
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Host: Abigail Pumphrey - Business Strategist
Introduction: Embracing Value in Sales
Abigail Pumphrey kicks off the episode by redefining the concept of selling:
"Selling can be giving value. That's literally the whole point. If you're selling someone something and they're purchasing it, they should be getting more value than their dollars put in."
[00:00]
She emphasizes that sales should be about adding value rather than viewing it as a transactional exchange.
Overcoming the Fear of Visibility
Abigail shares her personal journey of increasing visibility in her business and the vulnerabilities that come with it:
"Getting visible has only ever positively impacted me. Not to say that there hasn't been challenges or criticism along the way, but more often than not it has connected me to more people that I genuinely care about."
[04:30]
She highlights that visibility fosters genuine relationships and a supportive community, which is crucial for business growth.
Leveraging Existing Networks
Addressing the common fear of starting without an audience, Abigail breaks down how everyone is connected to a sizable network:
"You are connected, on average, to at least a thousand people. I've seen this figure be even higher."
[11:15]
She categorizes these connections into family and family ties, school acquaintances, professional contacts, online friends, and community involvements. By leveraging these existing relationships, entrepreneurs can build momentum without starting from scratch.
Building a Community, Not Just an Audience
Abigail stresses the importance of nurturing a community over merely growing a follower count:
"It's not about growing an audience, it's about growing a community of real relationships."
[09:45]
She explains that a highly engaged community, even if smaller, can drive significant sales and support compared to a large but passive audience.
Strategizing Digital Product Launches
A core focus of the episode is on utilizing digital products to attract and convert customers from the outset:
"The digital products I'm talking about are such low hanging fruit that we can put them in front of someone from the very beginning."
[22:50]
Abigail advocates for launching digital products first to validate offers and build trust, rather than waiting to build an audience before selling.
Maximizing Instagram for Visibility
Contrary to the belief that Instagram is declining, Abigail presents it as a powerful tool for new businesses:
"Instagram is a great way to connect with brand new people. And if I were starting from scratch, I would start a brand new Instagram account."
[31:10]
She discusses strategies like creating Reels and utilizing B-roll footage to maintain a consistent and engaging presence. Abigail also introduces the use of tools like ManyChat to automate interactions and drive sales effectively.
Automating Engagement with ManyChat
Abigail delves into the benefits of automating customer interactions to maintain high engagement rates:
"People can't just spam you. Like businesses, literally, there's regulations. You can't just DM anyone in a mass without their approval... the open rates are massively huge, like nearly a hundred percent."
[38:20]
By setting up automated responses, businesses can ensure immediate engagement with potential customers, enhancing the likelihood of conversions.
Integrating Email Marketing for Sustained Growth
Email marketing is highlighted as a vital component for nurturing leads and driving repeat sales:
"Emailing those customers once a week on a regular basis and really weaving in things like storytelling and magnetic marketing, you can consistently share your transformation... and remind people of how you can help them."
[49:35]
Abigail emphasizes building an email list composed of actual buyers, which is more effective for future sales compared to a list sourced solely from cold leads.
Consistency and Daily Actions for Success
The host underscores the importance of consistent daily actions to amplify results:
"What if we commit to one reel a day? What if we commit to sharing a few stories a day? What if we commit to one email a week? It is a marketing plan."
[55:00]
She encourages entrepreneurs to adopt a disciplined approach to content creation and engagement, ensuring sustained visibility and business growth.
Conclusion: Taking Action and Leveraging Resources
Abigail wraps up by guiding listeners to actionable steps and available resources:
"The very first thing I would do before I do anything else is I would head to bossproject.com/jumpstart grab Digital Product Jumpstart... This is what I've used to grow my company. These are the strategies I've used to bring in over $3.11 million in just entry point digital products."
[1:10:45]
She invites listeners to utilize her "Digital Product Jumpstart" course to systematically build and scale their businesses without needing an existing audience.
Key Takeaways
- Value-Driven Sales: Focus on providing more value than the cost, making sales a mutually beneficial exchange.
- Leverage Existing Networks: Utilize personal and professional connections to build initial momentum.
- Build a Community: Prioritize fostering genuine relationships over merely increasing follower counts.
- Utilize Digital Products: Launch digital products early to validate offers and attract paying customers.
- Maximize Instagram: Use Instagram Reels and B-roll footage to enhance visibility and engagement.
- Automate Engagement: Implement tools like ManyChat to maintain high engagement rates and drive conversions.
- Integrate Email Marketing: Nurture relationships with an email list of buyers to sustain long-term growth.
- Consistency is Key: Commit to daily and weekly actions to ensure ongoing visibility and business expansion.
Final Thoughts
Abigail Pumphrey provides a comprehensive roadmap for entrepreneurs looking to start and grow a business without an existing audience. By leveraging existing connections, utilizing strategic digital products, and maintaining consistent engagement through platforms like Instagram and email marketing, entrepreneurs can build a thriving business from the ground up.
For more detailed strategies and resources, visit bossproject.com/jumpstart.
This summary encapsulates the core discussions and insights from Episode 979 of the Strategy Hour podcast, providing actionable strategies for entrepreneurs beginning their business journey without an established audience.