Have you ever wondered if you can actually get an audience for your content or project without having a massive following? Like many new content creators, I asked myself the same question and set out on a journey to find the answer. I experimented with different platforms and marketing strategies to see if I could attract attention from scratch. My findings were fascinating, proving that even with zero followers, you can indeed capture eyeballs if your content is compelling enough.
How One Youtube Video Got More Views in 2 Days Than My Entire Channel in 6 Months?
Initial Struggles and Breakthroughs
Let’s start with a little backstory. My YouTube channel was relatively new, having launched in April '24. For six long months, my most popular video couldn’t cross the 100-view mark, and collectively, the channel barely managed 500 views. It was a humble beginning, full of learning curves and small wins.
But then, something remarkable happened.
A 22-second video I posted suddenly amassed 1.6k views in just two days!
The Unexpected Catalyst
It all started with a post on Hacker News about self-hosting Llama 3.2. The post initially received modest engagement with just five upvotes. However, as the post was gaining traction in the Asian hours, it gained momentum and eventually climbed to the first page of Hacker News.
This was a pivotal moment.
People were particularly intrigued by the performance of self-hosting Llama 3.2 on older graphic cards—something I had touched on but not fully explored in my post.
Seizing the Opportunity
Recognizing a golden opportunity, I quickly created a short video demonstrating the hardware setup and its performance. After the Hacker News post soared to the top, I embedded the video in a blog post on my site, Geek.sg. The response was overwhelming—the video garnered over 1.6k views shortly after being shared.
My Hacker News post had struck a chord. It demonstrated the power of relevance and timing, serving as a lesson that even without a large follower base, quality content could attract significant attention.
Beyond Hacker News: Exploring Reddit
Driven by this initial success, I wanted to test the waters on another platform—Reddit. Unlike Hacker News, Reddit appeared more accessible for generating consistent engagement, although the traffic volume was typically smaller. But what Reddit lacked in immediate reach, it made up for in meaningful interactions and discussions.
Successful Post Examples
Two of my recent Reddit posts stand out:
"Anyone upgraded to Next.js 15?"
"How to think about Server Component vs Client Component, SSR, Static vs Dynamic Route, and Caching"
Behind the Scenes of Successful Posts
So, what set these posts apart, and how did they achieve their respective successes?
"Anyone Upgraded to Next.js 15?"
This post was designed to spark a discussion among developers. I asked a direct question about a highly-anticipated update in the development community. The post included:
Clear Title: A direct question that many developers could relate to or had an opinion on.
Timeliness: This was posted the same day Next.js 15 was announced, ensuring it was relevant.
Engagement-Oriented Content: It was structured to invite responses and share experiences.
The result? A high engagement rate, with 68 comments and 34k views. However, despite the extensive discussion, it did not drive significant traffic to my site. People were more interested in sharing their thoughts directly on Reddit than clicking through external links.
"How to think about Server Component vs Client Component, SSR, Static vs Dynamic Route, and Caching"
In contrast, this post was less about sparking a debate and more about providing value. It aimed to educate and break down complex concepts. In this case, it was breaking down the some complex model on how content gets served and cached in Next.js. The approach included:
Skyscraper Technique: Creating comprehensive, in-depth content that aimed to be the best resource available.
Educational Value: Addressed questions and provided clear, step-by-step explanations.
Shareability: The content was designed to be shared among peers and junior developers. You can see it being shared more than twice of the other post with less than half of the views.
The outcome was different—while it received fewer comments (just six), it drove a significant amount of traffic to my site. The post’s resource-rich nature made it highly shareable, leading to over 160 click-through to Wisp's site in a day!
Hypothesis: Relevance Over Followers
From these examples, a pattern emerged—timely, interesting content can thrive without a huge follower base.
My hypothesis was validated: you don’t need a large following to get eyeballs on your content. You just need to be relevant and interesting.
And you can leverage on platform where follower counts matters less (ie Hackernew & Reddit)!
Practical Steps to Maximize Visibility
What Are People Thinking and Talking About These Days?
Understanding the current buzz in your niche is crucial for creating engaging content. Here’s how you can stay updated:
Announcements & News in the Ecosystem:
Follow Newsletters and News Channels: Subscribe to newsletters and follow news sites relevant to your industry. This keeps you in the loop about the latest trends and key announcements.
Utilize Google Trends/News: Google Trends and Google News are excellent resources for identifying trending topics and understanding what people are searching for.
Keep a Pulse on the Community (and Be a Part of It):
Engaging directly with your community helps you understand their interests and needs. I’ve elaborated on how to do this effectively in my blog post on Sales Safari.
Be Interesting
Creating content that resonates often comes down to being genuinely interesting. Here’s how you can ensure your content captivates your audience:
What Are You Spending Your Free-Time On?
Talk About It: Share your personal interests and hobbies. Authenticity can magnetize your content, attracting like-minded individuals.
Find People Doing Similar Things: Joining communities and interacting with others who share your interests can inspire new content ideas and foster engagement.
What Questions Do People Ask You?
Advice and Repeated Questions: Identify the common questions people ask you for advice on. This is a goldmine for content as it addresses real, recurring challenges.
Document Repetition: Topics you find yourself explaining repeatedly are likely of interest to a broader audience. Turn these into comprehensive guides or FAQs.
What Questions Do You Have?
Current Interests: Dive into topics you are currently curious about. Researching and writing about these will not only satisfy your curiosity but also provide value to those with similar questions.
Past Experiences: Reflect on past queries you've had and the journey you took to find answers. Share these experiences and lessons. For instance, my ongoing quest to understand content marketing is documented on my build-in-public page.
What Gets You Excited, Angry, or Surprised?
Emotions drive engagement. Whether it’s something that excites you, angers you, or surprises you, sharing these reactions makes your content more relatable and compelling.
Write About It
Finally, sharing your insights effectively is key. Here’s how to start writing without feeling overwhelmed:
Start with Point Forms: Don’t worry about crafting the perfect title or introduction initially. Just jot down your ideas in point form. This helps in organizing your thoughts without getting bogged down by structure.
Get AI to Format It: If you find formatting challenging, leverage AI tools to help refine your content. This can streamline the process and enhance readability.
Share It: Putting your content out there can be daunting, but the potential reward far outweighs the risk.
Worst-Case Scenario: If no one sees it, that’s okay. It’s a chance to try again with a different approach.
Best-Case Scenario: If it takes off, fantastic! Build on that momentum and continue producing engaging content.
Conclusion
So, can you get eyeballs on your content and project if you have 0 followers? Absolutely. The key lies in understanding your audience, staying current with trends, engaging with your community, and creating genuinely interesting content. By following these practical steps, you can capture attention and drive traffic even without a massive follower base.
Stay tuned for more insights and updates on my ongoing journey. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned content creator, there’s always something new to learn and explore. Remember, the next big hit could be just a post away!
