5 Steps to Kick Start Your Online Journey

Please keep reading until the end I have a surprise for you!

Welcome to the second article on SustainaEarn! Over the past year, I’ve learned a lot about building a personal brand and sharing my voice online. I’ve made mistakes, gained insights, and grown in ways I never expected. That’s why I’m here—to share what I’ve learned with you. If you’re standing where I was 365 days ago, these insights could make all the difference for you.

Why is this so important? Because in today’s world, personal branding and writing are more than just good ideas—they are essential. This isn’t just for those who already have a defined message. Many people don’t realize the value of their thoughts and experiences until they start sharing and engaging in discussions. A personal brand isn’t just about having a message; it’s about creating value and discovering your unique voice along the way.

Why You Should Listen to Me

A year ago, I was just like you. My LinkedIn had fewer than 400 followers, and the idea of creating a newsletter or building an audience seemed daunting. Fast forward: I now have over 10,000 followers on LinkedIn, a newsletter with 3,000+ subscribers, and advertisers booked months in advance. Most importantly, I’ve done this as a full-time employee, during one of the most challenging years of my career.

My message has reached almost 12 million people ⬇️

This isn’t about bragging—it’s about showing you what’s possible. The whole idea of SustainaEarn is to transfer the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the past year into something valuable. If you’re standing where I was 365 days ago, I’m confident these insights can help you take that first step and keep going.

Let’s dive into the steps you need to take, backed by lessons from my own journey.

Step 1: Just Start

If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, stop. It doesn’t exist. What held me back initially were questions like:

• What will people think? Honestly, most of them won’t care as much as you think. Focus on your goals, not on a passing comment from someone.

• Am I good enough? Maybe not right now, but you will improve. I’ve learned more in the past year by showing up consistently than in the previous 32 years of my life.

• What do I have to share? Start by creating content for someone who is 1-5 years behind you in your journey. Your insights, experiences, and unique perspective will be most valuable to them.

Remember this: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." I love this Chinese saying because it perfectly captures the essence of building something meaningful. It’s not possible to go back in time, but right now, we’re at the second-best time to start. Building your personal brand and online presence compounds over time. For example, if we look at SustainaEarn today, it only has two articles. But if I stick to it, in a year, it could become a library of insights, experiences, and valuable thoughts. The earlier you publish your first post, the better your foundation for the future.

Step 2: Pick a Topic

Forget about perfect niches or lifelong topics. Start with what excites you. Ask yourself:

• What am I knowledgeable about? Many people decide to completely go with what they are passionate about or what is currently trending. The problem is that you would need to research, study, understand, and shape an opinion before creating valuable content. Therefore, I suggest starting with something you already have knowledge about, something you already hold an opinion on. Begin there, knowing that this doesn’t have to be the last thing you ever write about.

• What topics interest you? The best combination is being both knowledgeable and passionate about a topic, as this makes you incredibly powerful. However, it’s not necessary to have both perfectly aligned from the start. You can mix the two along the way and eventually find your sweet spot.

• What questions have I recently answered for myself? Ask yourself or even consult Google: What questions have you been researching recently? Chances are, these are not just on your mind. The likelihood is high that someone else has had similar questions but didn’t look them up. Use these as starting points. They are often closely related to your passions, interests, and areas of expertise.

Your initial topic doesn’t have to be your forever topic. For me, I began writing about sustainability—something I live and breathe professionally. As you create, your focus will naturally refine itself.

Step 3: Pick a Platform

Choosing the right platform is crucial. Focus on mastering one instead of spreading yourself too thin. For me, LinkedIn was the perfect starting point. Here’s why:

• My target audience is on LinkedIn.

• It’s text-driven, making it a natural fit for a writer.

• It’s less resource-intensive compared to video platforms like YouTube or visual-heavy platforms like Instagram.

Pick a platform where you feel comfortable and where your audience is likely to be. Once you master one, you can expand to others.

Step 4: Commit but Don’t Overpromise

Consistency is key, but it’s okay to start small. When I began, I committed to posting once a week. There were weeks I missed—it was difficult for various reasons: trying to be perfect, worrying about what others would say, or fearing that my post would get only three likes, just like the last one. The first period is the toughest, and you need to build a habit and commit to it. As James Clear says, "Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit." Make sure you never miss twice, stick to your goal, and keep going. Over time, you’ll learn, become better, and even quicker at creating content. Today, I post daily, but that’s the result of months of practice, consistency, and habit-building.

Pro tip: Treat the first six months as a learning phase. Don’t worry about numbers or audience growth. Focus on experimenting, finding your voice, and understanding the platform. For example, in my journey, I grew from a few hundred followers to 2,000 in the first eight months. Then, as I became better, quicker, and more attuned to the platform, audience, and algorithm, I grew from 2,000 to 10,000 in just four months. The lesson? You need to overcome the initial phase—it’s the hardest, but as you improve, the results will come faster.

Step 5: Embrace the Journey

If you’re fixated on numbers or a finish line, you’ll miss out on the most rewarding parts of this experience. For me, the journey has been full of surprises:

• Learning new skills.

• Discovering opportunities I never imagined.

• Building a community of like-minded individuals.

Document your challenges, wins, and learnings—they will come in handy one day. For example, I’ve often reflected on my early struggles and breakthroughs, and those notes have not only guided my own growth but also helped me create content that resonates with others. These reflections become a powerful resource for learning, teaching, and inspiring others on similar journeys.

The growth will come, but the lessons you learn along the way are what make it worthwhile.

Let’s Build a Community

Why do I believe a community is the ideal space for creators and entrepreneurs to thrive?

SustainaEarn Community is a space designed for individuals ready to uncover their passions, turn ideas into opportunities, and build meaningful online ecosystems. Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow, this community is here to help you align your vision, mission, and goals with actionable strategies for personal and financial growth.

But it’s more than that. It’s a place where you can share your thoughts, validate your wildest ideas, and express your craziest dreams—without judgment. Here, you’ll find the support and accountability you need to push forward, alongside people who truly get it.

We foster open discussions on finding purpose, starting projects, building personal brands, and monetizing your efforts through social media, newsletters, and digital products. This isn’t just a space for learning—it’s a space for doing, creating, and building value-driven ecosystems that reflect who you are.

As this newsletter grows, I want to explore ways we can support each other. Would you like to create a space where we can share insights, articles, podcasts, and more? Let’s turn SustainaEarn into a thriving community where we learn and grow together. If this excites you, share your thoughts below. I’m ready to give it a shot if you are!

Why this matters:
Creatorpreneurship can feel lonely, and the journey is rarely easy. That’s why this community exists—to make sure you don’t have to walk this path alone. Together, we’ll navigate the highs and lows, celebrate wins, and grow not just as creators, but as individuals.

In the SustainaEarn Community, we believe in growth through collaboration, progress over perfection, and the magic of creating together. This is where passion meets action, and action transforms into results.

It’s not just a group—it’s a shared journey. And it’s yours to enjoy, with others just like you.

Join the our community now!