Lecture Notes on Building Audience Before Launching a Funnel

Introduction

• Focus on generating traffic to your funnel before it goes live.
• Many entrepreneurs focus solely on building funnels without preparing the necessary audience.
• Importance of "planting seeds" to gather leads and followers in advance.

Importance of Competition

• Russell thrives in competitive environments.
• Anecdote about early business competition with companies like LeadPages and Infusionsoft.
• New ClickFunnels branding launched, generating renewed excitement and momentum.
• Competition drives innovation and business growth.

Gathering the Audience: The Primary Focus

• Key mistake: Launching a funnel without an audience.
• Building and gathering an audience should be the first step for entrepreneurs.
• Differentiates between the cost-heavy paid ads and organic, free traffic methods.

Building Relationship and Networking

• Start building relationships with influencers in your niche early.
• Engage actively with influencers' content to build visibility.
• Importance of attending relevant events to network with key figures.

Publishing as a Platform for Growth

• Create a platform to engage with your audience (e.g., podcasts, blogs, YouTube).
• Publishing consistently helps in finding your voice and increases visibility.
• Helps to build connections with other influencers by providing them with a platform.

The Long-Game: Consistency in Publishing

• Publish consistently to endure long enough to get noticed.
• Influencers value platforms; offering them access is a way to build relationships.
• Importance of starting early, even if the audience is initially small.

Finding and Engaging with the Community

• Engage with influencers at your level or slightly above to grow together.
• Develop relationships through mutual promotion and networking.

Conclusion: The Strategy for Long-Term Success

• Constantly gather and nurture your audience.
• Balance between building your product and growing your audience is crucial.
• Publishing and networking should be regular, prioritized tasks.
• Traffic Secrets book is recommended for detailed strategies on building traffic, emphasizing Evergreen strategies.