Marketing Online When No One Knows You: How I Got Started

Marketing online when no one knows you feels like yelling into a void.

No followers. No likes. No claps. No validation.

Just you…and your dream.

That was me in 2015.

I didn’t have a brand. I wasn’t a social media guru.

I didn’t even own a laptop at first. Most of my early online marketing efforts were typed out in a hot, crowded cyber café in Aba, with mosquitoes biting my legs under the desk.

But even then, something inside me wouldn’t quit. I knew this was possible. I just needed a way in.

If you’re in that same place, trying to market online when no one knows you. I want to share the real, practical steps that helped me grow from invisible to credible.

And yes, this article is evergreen.

These principles worked in 2015, and they still work now.

Step 1: Pick a Clear Audience, Not a Crowd

Before marketing anything, I had to decide who I wanted to talk to.

That was hard at first. When no one knows you, your instinct is to shout to everyone, hoping someone will listen.

Big mistake.

I learned (the hard way) that clarity beats volume.

So I sat down and asked:

• Who am I here to serve?

• What specific problem can I solve?

• Where do these people already hang out online?

For me, the answer back then was aspiring creatives and online entrepreneurs who needed help starting and standing out.

That clarity shaped every piece of content I created, every comment I left, and every profile I set up.

Practical Tip: Make a Google Doc and write one paragraph describing your ideal follower or customer. It sharpens every decision you’ll make later.

Step 2: Build an Identity, Not Just Content

Once I had clarity on who I was speaking to, I had to show up with an identity, something consistent and trustworthy.

Your brand isn’t just colors and logos. It’s what people feel when they see your name pop up.

So I made a choice:

• I would show up with value, not vanity.

• I would be real, not perfect.

• And I would share my process, not just polished results.

Back then, I started a humble Blogspot site, awesomedeeds.blogspot.com, where I poured my journey, lessons, and thoughts.

That blog didn’t go viral. But it gave me a base. A hub. A digital handshake.

Practical Tip: Pick one platform (blog, Medium, Twitter, or LinkedIn) and publish 1 piece per week. Don’t overthink it. Use a simple structure: Problem → Experience → What You Learned → Tip for Others.

Step 3: Comment Like You’re Starting Fires

I didn’t have an audience. But I realized I could “borrow” attention, ethically.

So I started commenting with purpose on popular blogs, Facebook groups, and Twitter threads.

Here’s what I did:

• Found 5–10 people already serving my target audience.

• Turned on post notifications.

• Left valuable, story-driven comments, not just “Nice post!”

That single habit brought eyeballs to my blog. People started clicking my name. Some followed me. Others shared my stuff.

Practical Tip: Write 3–5 insightful comments every day. Think of it as micro-blogging. Your comment is a mini resume; make it helpful, unique, and human.

Step 4: Teach While You’re Learning

In 2016, I made a shift that changed my life: I stopped pretending to be an expert.

Instead, I became a documenter.

I shared:

• What I was reading

• What I was struggling with

• What I was trying and failing at

• What little wins I discovered

That transparency built trust. People connected with me behind the lessons. And oddly, that made them take my advice more seriously.

Practical Tip: Start a weekly “What I’m Learning” series. Can be a blog post, email, or tweet thread.

Use a template like:

This week I learned…
Here’s what I tried…
What worked (or didn’t)…
What I’d do differently next time.

One step at a time.

Step 5: Ask, Don’t Just Publish

Want to know what built momentum faster than any content I posted?

DMs and questions.

I would message people like:

• “I saw your comment on XYZ: how did you figure that out?”

• “I just wrote about [topic], curious what you think.”

• “What’s your biggest challenge in [topic] right now?”

And I meant it.

These questions opened conversations. Conversations led to connections. Connections led to collaborations and shares.

Marketing online when no one knows you is not a publishing game; it’s a relationship game.

Practical Tip: Reach out to 5 people this week. Use their first name. Mention something they said or did. Keep it short and sincere.

Step 6: Stay Consistent Even When No One Claps

This is the hardest part.

I blogged for months with zero comments.

I posted on Facebook and Twitter and got crickets.

I emailed five people, and none replied.

But I kept going.

Here’s what I learned: Consistency is a compounding investment.

Every blog post was a new door.

Every comment was a seed.

Every DM was a test.

I treated every week like a training ground, not a performance.

Practical Tip: Use the “3×52 Rule”: Post or comment at least 3 times per week for 52 weeks. Set a calendar reminder. Track your posts in a spreadsheet.

You Don’t Need to Be Famous to Be Found

You’re not invisible, just undiscovered.

Marketing online when no one knows you is about showing up, over and over, with heart, skill, and sincerity.

I started with no followers, no paid ads, and no blueprint. But I had a vision and a willingness to act. And that made all the difference.

So stop waiting to be “ready.”

Start showing up like someone already worth following.

Because you are.