How To Start a Content Business in 2024

A common theme with my coaching clients is that they either have a content business or want to start a content business, like a blog or a YouTube channel. So, I thought I would discuss strategies and challenges.

A quick reminder: I currently have a "New Year's Resolutions Sale" going on — one month of accountability coaching for $199 (instead of $299). Read until the end of this message to learn more.

I.

First, a disclaimer. When it comes to content, I am obviously no Tim Ferriss or Gary Vee. They play in the Super Bowl, while I barely made the high school team (I think that was the first football analogy of my life).

Having said that, I have never been happier in my professional life than I am now. In essence, I get paid to have interesting conversations with exceptionally bright people. That's hard to beat.

Also, I often find it more helpful to look at the minor leagues. You can more easily relate to the people playing there and thus copy their strategies.

II.

The first thing to wrap your head around is that content creation is a highly reliable business model. If you put the work in, you will be able to make a living from it. I am not saying you will get rich — that depends on a lot of other factors. But it will pay the bills.

This goes completely against our intuition. When we look at bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers, it all seems so vague and far-fetched. "Yes, Ali Abdaal is making it work. But can I?"

You can. It is simply a matter of putting the reps in. Write about 100–300 SEO-optimized blog posts, and you will get traffic, subscribers, and clients. Record about 400–600 videos, and the same thing will happen to you on YouTube, as my vlogger friends tell me.

If anything, content creation is much more reliable than a traditional 9-to-5 existence. You are only dependent on yourself. No soulless corporations are deciding on your success and happiness in life.

III.

So, if this is true, why do so few people go through with content businesses?

The reason is that they require an immense amount of consistency. Every week, you need to publish your 1–2 long-form blog articles or record your 2–4 YouTube videos. And you need to do so without fail for at least 2–3 years before you start to see any traction.

Put differently - for 2–3 years, you are creating content full-time, but no one cares. You make little or no money. Outside of your family and friends, you get no social recognition. And their recognition is typically negative — "Why are you wasting your time with that content nonsense?"

This is why so few people make it — this initial valley of death. But if you persevere, if you keep producing anyway, it will work. Never doubt it.

IV.

You can monetize almost any content business.

Just look at me. I have terrible positioning. I talk about habits. I talk about quitting the rat race. I talk about dating and non-monogamy. I talk about groupthink and ideology. I am all over the place. Yet, even I can make a (modest) living from this.

Now, as a rule of thumb, the more you niche down, the more you can earn. If you are solving a specific problem, and one problem only, you will get customers that much quicker.

Also, the more "boring" your problem, the more likely you are to earn. If you produce content around finances or technology, you have more earning potential than in the personal development space or the skateboarding niche.

I call this the passion vs. market spectrum. The more you use your business to express yourself, the less you will earn. The more you play to the market, the bigger your paycheck.

There is no right or wrong here. I enjoy going extreme on the passion side of things and am okay with making less. Some people will do it for the money (which is just as fine). Some people will fall somewhere in the middle.

You must find your personal sweet spot.

V.

Find someone who has done it.

It becomes much easier to go through with this if you have someone to talk to who is a bit further along the way. In your mind, they will act as proof of concept.

Even more importantly, find someone to hold you accountable.

To move through the "valley of death," these initial 2–3 years when nothing much happens, you need to be consistent. You need to keep putting out content even though it seems pointless. Having an accountability buddy or coach will make all the difference. They will kick your butt when you are feeling lazy, and they will cheer you on when you are feeling down.

If you want to achieve an ambitious goal like starting a content business in 2024, I would love to be your accountability coach. As I mentioned, I currently have a "New Year's Resolutions Sale" going on.

If you schedule a free intro call by Monday, January 15th, your first month of accountability coaching will only be $199 — instead of $299.

This includes an initial goal-setting session via Zoom, daily online check-ins + a weekly 30-minute video call to keep you on track.

All you need to do — set up an initial free call here. You must schedule the call before January 15th, but the call can actually take place later. You will still get the reduced rate.

Note that there is no automatic renewal. If you decide after the first month that this is not for you, there is no obligation for you to continue.

This offer is for first-time clients only.

I look forward to helping you achieve your goals in 2024!

Until next week,

Niels