Hey there! Welcome back to the Start That Business blog. I’m so excited to continue the Launch Your Business series! If you missed Part One, I encourage you to check out Episode 44 before diving into today’s discussion.

Today, we’re exploring the second path you can take to start your online service-based business. If you’ve been struggling with clarity, self-doubt, fear of failure, or feeling overwhelmed by too much information, you’re in the right place. Let’s break it down!

The Audience-First Path: A Different Approach to Starting Your Business

One of the three main paths to launching a service-based business is the Audience-First Path. Unlike the Service-First Path, where you create and offer services right away, this approach focuses on building an audience first before creating your services.

What Does Audience-First Mean?

Instead of jumping into service delivery immediately, you begin by establishing a marketing channel and consistently creating valuable content to attract and grow your audience. This could be through:

• A blog
  
• A podcast
  
• A YouTube channel or vlog
  

You invest time in providing useful content in your niche, positioning yourself as an expert, and building trust with your audience before offering paid services.

Steps to Follow in the Audience-First Path

1. Create Your Marketing Channel – Decide whether you want to start with a blog, podcast, or video content.
   
2. Produce Valuable Content – Consistently share information that aligns with the type of service you plan to offer in the future.
   
3. Offer a Freebie – Provide a free resource (like a PDF guide, checklist, or mini-course) to build your email list and offer quick wins to your audience.
   
4. Engage & Gather Feedback – Pay attention to comments, questions, and messages from your audience to understand their pain points.
   
5. Develop Your Services – Once you’ve built a solid audience and understand their needs, create services tailored to their challenges.
   
6. Start Selling to Your Audience – With an engaged audience and a strong marketing foundation, you can now introduce your paid services and start generating revenue.
   

Who Is This Path Best For?

The Audience-First Path works exceptionally well for service-based businesses where the service itself is intangible or invisible, such as:

• Coaching businesses
  
• Event planning and management
  
• Personal shopping and styling
  

For example, if you’re a business coach, you can start a blog or podcast sharing business growth tips. If you’re a personal stylist, you might launch a YouTube channel offering style guides and fashion advice. Over time, you’ll refine your services based on audience engagement and feedback.

My Personal Experience With This Path

When I decided to start my coaching business, I took the Audience-First Path. I began with a blog, sharing insights on business startups. Eventually, I transitioned to podcasting, which allowed me to connect with my audience on a deeper level. After months of creating content, I launched my freebie—the Business Clarity Blueprint—to help aspiring entrepreneurs gain clarity on their business ideas.

Now, as I approach one year in podcasting, I am rolling out my coaching services, which I’ve carefully designed based on what my audience truly needs. This process has allowed me to build an engaged community while ensuring my services align perfectly with my audience’s struggles and goals.

Pros of the Audience-First Path

✅ You have an audience to sell to when you’re ready – By the time you launch your services, you already have people who trust you and are eager to work with you.

✅ Less immediate pressure – Since you’re not offering services right away, you have time to fine-tune your approach without the stress of fulfilling orders immediately.

✅ You can sell faster later – Once you introduce your services, it’s much easier to market them through the channel you’ve already built.

✅ Your services are better aligned with your audience’s needs – The feedback you gather while growing your audience helps shape your offerings into exactly what they need.

Cons of the Audience-First Path

❌ Delayed income – Because you’re spending time building an audience first, you won’t make money immediately.

❌ It requires patience – Since you’re creating free content upfront, it may feel frustrating not to have a paid offer available right away.

❌ Some upfront investment – Depending on your chosen marketing channel, you may need equipment like a microphone for podcasting or a camera and lighting setup for vlogging.

Is This the Right Path for You?

If you already have a full-time job or another income source and don’t need to generate revenue immediately, this path is a fantastic way to ease into business ownership. However, if you need to replace your 9-to-5 income quickly, the Service-First Path (covered in Episode 44) may be a better option.

Recommended: 3 Paths You Can Take To Start a service Based Business

Final Thoughts

The Audience-First Path is a strategic and sustainable way to start a service-based business. It allows you to build credibility, trust, and demand before launching your paid services. By focusing on creating valuable content and engaging with your audience first, you set yourself up for long-term success.

As Psalm 32:9 says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” I pray that the Holy Spirit guides you in choosing the best path to launch your business. 🙏🏽

Next up in this series, I’ll be discussing the third path to starting your online service-based business. You won’t want to miss it!

If this blog post has helped or encouraged you, please share it with someone who needs it. Also, don’t forget to download the Business Clarity Blueprint at startthatbusinesspodcast.com to get started on your journey!

Let’s keep moving forward together