You’ve probably heard me say “consistency matters” a thousand times, and it still does. But consistency alone won’t pay your bills. Over and over I see creators copy big channels — the fancy gear, the slick launches, the viral sequences — and skip the foundational work that actually creates revenue.
This episode exposes 5 myths that keep you broke and replaces them with practical, immediate steps you can take to monetize your content, own your audience, and build sustainable revenue without waiting for platform handouts.
Thank you
, , , , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.What you’ll get from this post
A clear explanation of the five myths that are killing profit
Actionable frameworks you can use this week — including the Four M’s and the BOSS method
Real examples (how a $37 Substack class generated nearly $1,000, how a Google Doc sold an $8,000 program)
Myth 1 — You have to mimic the big channels
This is the classic trap: you watch a legendary launch (you know who I mean — the big-name author/creator with the recent massive book launch), you try to reverse engineer it, and you assume the same exact steps will produce the same exact results. Spoiler: they won’t, unless you already have the foundations in place.
Copying only the surface — the gear, the fancy lighting, the studio aesthetic — without clarifying the fundamentals leaves you with pretty content and no customers. Big names can be vague because they’ve already built brand trust, systems, and offers. If you’re newer, that vagueness costs you money.
The Four M’s: a practical foundation
Before emulating anyone, do this: define the Four M’s — Mastery, Market, Message, Method. This is your business foundation. If you do these four things well, you can use inspiration from the big channels without getting lost in mimicry.
Mastery: What is the one thing you could talk about for hours? What do you know better than almost anyone in your niche?
Market: Who is your specific target audience? The tighter the niche, the easier it is to connect and sell.
Message: What is the running theme people will remember after they listen? This is your “why” and your positioning.
Method: The system or framework you teach — your signature path from Point A to Point Z.
The people who grow sustainable businesses are clear on these four things. Attempting to get the same success without understanding these is just noise.
"You can copy the pros, but if you skip the foundations, you're gonna stay broke."
Myth 2 — Chasing views and subscribers will make you rich
Views and subscribers are satisfying. They feel like progress. But let’s be honest: they don’t pay the electric bill. If you obsess over vanity metrics — follower counts, views, likes — you’ll likely burn out and miss the actual signals that matter.
What matters instead are metrics that connect to revenue: conversations, DM leads, booked calls, email signups, and actual purchases. I’ve had videos with 50–60 views that turned into two or three paying clients. Why? Because the content served a clear need, built trust, and offered a path forward.
Shift your KPI focus
Track conversions: DMs, form submissions, and booked calls.
Track engagement quality: meaningful comments, replies, survey responses.
Measure the cost of customer acquisition when you use paid tactics.
Monitor lifetime value by seeing who returns and purchases again.
Vanity metrics feel good but won’t replace a thoughtful sales system. The smarter move is to do less chasing and more converting.
"Views and subscribers alone don't pay the bills."
Myth 3 — Hidden offers or no offers at all
If you never tell people what you sell, they won’t buy. Seems obvious, but most creators are hiding offers or waiting until they "have more followers" to put anything out there. That’s a lose-lose. When I tested Substack and asked my audience, I created a $37 workshop and made just under $1,000 in a week — simply because I asked what people wanted and made it easy to buy.
Three ways to stop hiding your offers
Ask first: Post a simple poll or question to see demand before you build. Save time and reduce risk.
Make it visible: Put your offers on one page (use a Linktree-style page or a simple "links" page on your site).
Price and present: Put a clear price tag and a short description — no mystery. Open mouth, open store. Closed mouth, closed store.
I sell workshops, courses, and services. When people ask me what I do, I could say "find me on all socials," or I can give them a single link. One page to rule them all. That clarity increases conversions because it reduces friction.
"Open mouth, open store. Closed mouth, closed store."
Myth 4 — You don't need a lead capture system
Email is currency. When a visitor gives you their email, they’re effectively trusting you with a direct line to their attention. If you don’t capture email addresses, you’re invisible in between episodes. People watch your content, then move on. You never get a chance to nurture them.
Lead capture basics that actually work
Create a simple lead magnet tied to a pain point (PDF, checklist, short video, or setup walkthrough).
Use one-call-to-action (CTA) per piece of content to avoid confusion.
Automate delivery with an email provider (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Substack, etc.) — no manual delivery.
Sequence nurture emails for 2–4 weeks that build trust, give quick wins, and invite the first sale.
Little wins matter. When Meta went sideways during recent platform outages, creators who owned their email lists were able to keep selling. Those who didn’t lost reach and revenue overnight. Be a landlord, not a renter.
Myth 5 — You must depend on platforms to make money
This is the landlord vs. renter conversation. Platforms are useful visibility channels, but they are rented land. Substack is great. YouTube is great. Facebook can be great. But if you build a business that relies entirely on someone else’s algorithm and monetization rules, you’re vulnerable.
How to think and act like a landlord
Own your destination: a website, an email list, and an e-commerce or booking system you control.
Leverage platforms for discovery, but funnel the audience back to your owned channels.
Build offers you can deliver independently (digital products, workshops, 1:1 coaching, templates).
Reduce reliance on platform monetization — you can still monetize via sponsorships, but prioritize direct-to-customer revenue.
I was tired of feeding the content beasts without seeing consistent returns. So I stopped waiting for platform thresholds and started selling directly to my audience. If I can do this from a “remedial” starting point, you can too.
"We're going to think like landlords, not renters of land."
Actionable checklist — what you can do this week
Define your Four M’s. Write one paragraph for each: Mastery, Market, Message, Method.
Audit your offers. Are they visible? Can someone find and buy in less than two clicks?
Choose one meaningful metric to track beyond vanity (e.g., booked calls, DMs converted, email opt-ins).
Create a simple lead magnet and setup an automated delivery via email provider.
Build a single “links” page on your website and add it to your bio across platforms.
Test a small paid offering (workshop or course). Price it low to validate demand — like $27–$97.
Survey your audience or use PodPage/Substack surveys to ask what they need next.
Visibility isn’t a single moment. It’s a relationship. Build it, own it, and monetize it thoughtfully. I’ll see you in the next stream.
About the Author
Tanya Smith is the CEO of Get Noticed with Video LLC and host of Stream Like a Boss® TV, where she helps podcasters and livestream creators turn crickets into clients—without chasing algorithms or losing their authentic voice. Through practical strategies and proven workflows, Tanya empowers creators to grow their audience, build authority, and monetize their message with confidence.
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