Marketing Online When No One Knows You (Part 2)

In the first part of this series, I shared how I overcame fear and started marketing online when no one knows you – the internal battles, the doubts, and the invisible start.

If you haven’t read that yet, I suggest starting there.

This article is part two: a breakdown of how I structured my content, chose the right platforms, and built consistency.

The exact approach I used to begin gaining traction in the early days.

There’s a voice in your head that says, “Who are you to post this?” “Nobody knows you.”

Now here’s the part most people don’t talk about enough…

What happens after you finally start?

When you show up online, post something valuable, and… nothing.

No engagement. No clients. Just the sound of your voice in a crowded digital room where nobody even looks up.

Welcome to the second phase of this journey.

The part where belief meets action.

This is where the real work begins – marketing in the dark, building credibility from scratch, showing up consistently even when you feel invisible.

There’s something incredibly humbling, even terrifying, about starting online when no one knows you.

No followers.

No list.

No connections.

Just a sense of conviction and the nagging voice that maybe, just maybe, your message matters.

That was me.

I didn’t have a big brand or a viral product. I wasn’t “in the know.”

I didn’t have insider access to big-name marketers or a perfect launch funnel.

All I had was a desire to show up online and build something real. Something that would grow. Something that would impact others and make room for me, too.

This is how I started marketing online when no one knew me, and how I got people to pay attention.

1. I Stopped Waiting for “Perfect”

Perfection is often procrastination in disguise.

I thought I needed the perfect website, perfect photos, perfect niche, perfect strategy, before putting anything out there.

But truthfully, trying to get everything perfect was just another way of hiding.

So I decided to stop waiting and start publishing. I started with a blog that wasn’t fancy, just helpful.

I didn’t have a big team, but I had ideas and a point of view. That was enough.

The sooner you start sharing your voice, the sooner you start getting feedback. And momentum begins with movement.

2. Choosing My Platforms Strategically (Not Emotionally)

In the beginning, it’s tempting to try to be everywhere: YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook.

But if you’re not careful, you’ll end up overwhelmed, discouraged, and scattered.

That was almost me.

So instead of jumping on every trendy platform, I made a strategic decision: focus on just three.

Here’s why I chose them:

Facebook: Because most of the communities I wanted to be part of (and later, influence) were already thriving there. Facebook groups gave me access to real conversations where I could quietly observe the struggles of my target audience.

Twitter: Because it’s built for thought leadership. I could post short insights, link to my blog, and start showing up in search results just by being active and intentional. It also helped me clarify my ideas fast, since every character counts.

Email: Because this is where the real relationship begins. Social platforms are rented land. The algorithm decides who sees you. But email is direct, permission-based, and personal. I started growing a simple list with just one lead magnet: a PDF guide that solved a real problem.

Instead of trying to be everywhere, I decided to go deep where it mattered, and this made all the difference.

3. I Showed My Work (Before I Felt Ready)

I used to believe I had to be seen as an expert before I could teach, lead, or sell.

But the truth is: people don’t just buy from experts. They buy from people who care, people who help, and people they relate to.

So I started sharing what I was learning, what I was building, what I was struggling with.

I wrote behind-the-scenes content. I created tutorials, breakdowns, and checklists. I didn’t wait until I had a thousand clients or success stories.

Documenting became my way of connecting.

People began to respond. Some would DM me just to say, “Thanks for being real.”

That feedback became fuel.

4. I Focused on Conversations, Not Just Content

Posting content is one thing.

But connecting with people?

That’s the leverage.

So I stopped thinking like a broadcaster and started thinking like a builder.

I responded to every comment, every DM, every reply.

I left thoughtful comments on others’ posts. I joined conversations. I shared other people’s work and added insight.

This wasn’t “networking.” It was relationship-building, and that’s what builds trust over time.

People remembered me not because I was the smartest person in the room, but because I made them feel seen.

5. I Created Something Useful

Instead of trying to go viral or become a “brand,” I focused on creating something that would help someone.

For me, that started with writing and giving away resources.

A checklist. A cheat sheet. A free guide.

Something practical. Something people could use immediately.

When someone downloads something useful from you and gets value, you earn trust.

And trust is the currency of all future marketing.

Those early opt-ins became the backbone of my first email list. And that list became the launchpad for my first sales.

6. I Kept Showing Up, Even When It Felt Pointless

This is the hardest part: showing up when it feels like no one’s watching.

But here’s the truth: someone always is.

Even when the post gets one like. Even when the email gets two opens. Even when your blog has three views.

Every time I hit publish, I reminded myself: I’m practicing. I’m building muscle. I’m creating a body of work. And slowly, silently, it’s making a difference.

People started to come back. They remembered what I wrote. They shared it with others.

Some reached out and said, “I’ve been following you for months. How can I work with you?”

All because I didn’t stop.

Final Thoughts

Marketing online when no one knows you can feel like shouting into the void. But it’s not.

It’s showing up with humility, heart, and consistency.

It’s planting seeds, even when the ground looks empty.

It’s building trust in silence, before the applause ever comes.

I didn’t go viral. I didn’t get a shoutout from someone famous.

I just kept showing up, sharing what I knew, and caring about the people on the other side of the screen.

That’s how I started, and it’s still how I grow today.