How I Started A Blog For Content Creators In 2023
I am Dario, the founder of TubeSpotter. It's a blog that I started in April 2023, where I publish interviews with successful content creators.
The focus of my website is to highlight individuals who have turned content creation into a viable career, especially among the new generation.
By sharing their stories, I aim to provide information and inspiration to those who are considering starting their channels.
Currently, the traffic has been quite low so far, with only a couple of hundred visits, as I haven’t worked on the site promotion yet, but despite this, I am determined to grow and improve it further.
What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
For many years, I have been captivated by success stories of people creating their own startups and side projects. I was particularly drawn to those who achieved success despite lacking programming skills. I spent a considerable amount of time researching and reading about these stories, even documenting them in a Word file.
However, despite my fascination, I lacked the confidence and direction to start something myself. It wasn't until I realized the importance of choosing a topic I was familiar with that I began to consider launching my project.
For the past eight years, I have been working as an onboarding advisor for a software company. Recently, I have taken the time to brainstorm and reflect on my interests, and one particular passion has emerged — I thoroughly enjoyed reading about entrepreneurs who had made it.
However, there were already established websites dedicated to such stories, like IndieHackers, FounderBeats, StarterStory, and a few others. So, I didn't want to create a duplicate.
During my research, I discovered that YouTube and TikTok were gaining significant popularity, as indicated by Google Trends. That's when inspiration struck — I decided to interview content creators on these platforms. Thus, the idea for TubeSpotter was born.
Starting from a point of familiarity or passion can make the journey more enjoyable and increase your chances of success.
Take us through the process of building the first version of your product.
The idea for TubeSpotter originated from observing the rise of TikTok and the growing interest of the younger generation in becoming influencers. I began contemplating what value I could bring to them in this specific area.
Considering my limitations in programming skills and the need for a simpler approach, I decided that conducting interviews with successful content creators could be a useful and interesting resource for those who are just starting out.
After conducting thorough research on the internet, I discovered that established online magazines occasionally interviewed YouTubers. However, I couldn't find any website that focused on interviews in the style of StarterStory or IndieHackers, for example. This realization motivated me to proceed with my project idea.
As I started building the first version of TubeSpotter, I initially focused on creating blog articles. Since I didn't have any interviews lined up yet, I crafted content related to content creation to start generating visibility and attract attention from search engines. However, my ultimate aim is to publish stories of successful content creators on the platform in the near future.
Describe the process of launching the business.
Launching the website involved different key steps. First, I had to find a suitable domain name that aligned with the topic. To help me with this, I utilized AI name generators available on the web.
After narrowing down my options, I settled on TubeSpotter, as I wanted to avoid any confusion with the word "tails", because “TubeTales” was my other domain option.
Next, I needed to choose a content management system (CMS) that would best support my limited programming skills. After careful consideration, I determined that WordPress was the ideal choice. Its user-friendly interface, vast selection of plugins, and strong community support made it the perfect fit.
Once the foundational elements were in place, I invested approximately $70 in a template. With countless options available, it was challenging to make a decision.
Ultimately, I opted for a colorful template that allowed me to assign each category — YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch — their official colors, making them easily distinguishable.
In terms of expenses, my total investment for the launch, including the domain name, SSL certificate, and template, amounted to around $200.
Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?
From the moment I launched TubeSpotter, my main focus was not on implementing advertisements or making immediate profits. Instead, I followed the advice often given by entrepreneurs: just start. And that's exactly what I did.
To attract customers, the first step was to create high-quality content that adhered to the rules of SEO. Conducting searches on the most popular topics related to content creation helped me kick-start the website with informative articles, ensuring the page wasn't empty before publishing interviews.
To retain users, my strategy revolves around publishing interviews with highly successful content creators, primarily from YouTube and TikTok. These individuals share their journeys to success, which I believe are of interest to anyone, especially those aspiring to create their channels and earn their first income.
Additionally, I plan to tag and mention the content creators I interview on Twitter, leveraging their established follower base to attract more users to TubeSpotter.
In terms of the website design, I opted for a more straightforward approach by selecting WordPress as the platform. This choice was made due to my familiarity with its interface and prior experience working with it.
As for the design itself, I acquired a premium template called "Groovy," which was purchased from the marketplace known as ThemeForest. The installation process was completed swiftly, taking only a few minutes to set up.
In regard to content creation, I have primarily focused on producing general articles thus far. Before crafting an article, I conduct thorough research using Google Keyword Planner to identify popular topics related to content creation.
Once I come across an engaging subject, I commence the writing process and strive to publish an article on a weekly basis, until I accumulate a sufficient number of interviews to share.
The interview process I employ is straightforward and efficient. Initially, I compiled a comprehensive list of notable channels and their respective contact information in an Excel file. Once the list is finalized, I reach out to these channels directly via a well-crafted cold email. Upon receiving a positive response, I proceed to share a questionnaire using a Google Doc link.
It should be evident that a primary motivation for most interviewees is the potential to gain increased exposure and views for their channels.
However, currently, I have a limited number of interviews in progress, but as soon as additional interviews become available, I will proceed with publishing them accordingly.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
Today, things are going well, considering that TubeSpotter is a side project that occupies my spare time. However, my spare time has been limited recently, as I've become a father.
I see a lot of potential for this project if it receives the right attention, especially when I observe the success achieved by similar websites previously mentioned.
In the short term, my objective is to conduct as many interviews as possible and raise awareness of TubeSpotter, allowing me to start monetizing the effort I've put into this project.
In the long run, my goal is to make TubeSpotter a leading platform for content creators worldwide. I envision building a community similar to StarterStory but focused on entrepreneurs in the content creation space.
Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?
Although it has only been a few months since I launched, I've gained valuable insights from this short journey:
- The internet is packed with free resources and abundant opportunities. This is a significant advantage available to everyone.
- While I don't dwell on mistakes made so far, the one thing I regret is not starting TubeSpotter earlier. I realize now that I could have launched it a couple of years ago.
What platform/tools do you use for your business?
For running my website, I primarily rely on a few key tools. As mentioned earlier, WordPress serves as the backbone of TubeSpotter. Additionally, I find the Yoast SEO plugin invaluable, as it guides me through best practices for search engine optimization.
Apart from those, I utilize Grammarly for proofreading, Google Docs for sharing interview questions with the interviewees, Google Forms for those who want to be interviewed, and Google Sheets to keep track of all the individuals I contact for potential features on TubeSpotter.
I would also like to give a special mention to my hosting provider, SiteGround. Their support has been fantastic, particularly when it comes to technical matters. When I encountered difficulties installing WordPress on the host, their support team provided step-by-step instructions to resolve the issue.
What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?
So far, I've primarily relied on websites and podcasts for inspiration. In terms of websites, the most influential resources for me have been StarterStory (obviously!), IndieHackers, FounderBeats, Nocode-Exits, and Exploding Ideas, just to name a few.
When it comes to podcasts, I regularly listen to Side Hustle School. It's a valuable source of inspiration for anyone working a regular job and looking to start a side project as a second source of income.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
You can never have too much knowledge, so always keep learning. The internet is a treasure trove of resources that can expand your knowledge without requiring you to spend a dime.
If you want to start a project, begin with something you're familiar with or feel comfortable working on. Starting from a point of familiarity or passion can make the journey more enjoyable and increase your chances of success.
In my humble opinion, two key factors for success are consistency and discipline. Being curious is important, but staying consistent and disciplined can take you anywhere you want to go.
Also, don't let others influence your project. Just start, and as long as you're happy with what you're doing, keep going. Even if a project doesn't achieve the desired success, you'll always learn valuable lessons that can be applied to future endeavors.
Where can we go to learn more?
To learn more about TubeSpotter and stay updated, you can visit the following platforms:
More social media channels for TubeSpotter may be coming in the future!
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
