Build It and they will come!

Build it and surely everyone will want to come to your site and buy your thing! It is so useful. It is everything you ever wanted.

I have these thoughts as well. I have spent a lot of years fighting against the very notion. As makers, we want to build things. Things that we like and others like too. The reality is, just because you built it doesn't mean anyone will come and buy it or even visit. Sounds depressing. You put your heart and soul into an idea, surely there are so many people out there who need it too. It is possible you might be right, but those people don't know that they have the need or don't know where to find you.

You use the SEO tools and have good scores. Social media sites, you have accounts on them all and post regularly. Yet, still no one seems to respond or visit your site. You just don't get the visitors that will utilize what you have created. You are out of money and out of time.

Think about this; does anyone know you, are you known?

Who am I?

I spent many years as the person behind the curtain. Making things happen for companies. Using my skills to get the company where it needed to go. I was not comfortable being the person in the limelight. Truly, I am still not comfortable with it. Sadly, while I was known within the companies that I worked for, I was not known outside the companies.

All people saw was the success of the company and the person who was there to take the credit. Each time I would move on to the next thing that needed to be done or fixed. Reality is that I am a person who can see beyond what is right in front of me. Some call it, “thinking outside the box.” Which really isn't true, there is no box. There is only the puzzle. Putting the pieces together is what I do. As long as those pieces are not about me.

What do I do?

Give me an engineering problem and I can find or design you a solution. Ask me how something works and I can provide you with a detailed design description. Request insight on an industry and I will provide you with the direction that the industry will take in the future. All of these examples are just puzzles with interlocking pieces. You just have to understand how they fit together. Why did I tell you this? So I could tell you this: I am not known by people so none of what I can do matters.

I have been told that with my abilities that I should be doing something more than what I am. Hence my problems in the corporate world, there are not many bosses out there that are happy when you understand their job better than they do, or when you are honest. Trust me, they are happy with you until they start fearing for their job. So what does this mean to you?

Been there

Since no one has really shown up at your site to buy your thing, you are frustrated. Personally I have been there. I have worked with Fortune 500 companies. I have pitched ideas that have made them considerable amounts of money, I have pitched others that never made it. There is nothing worse than watching an idea crumble due to the actions or inaction of others.

Case in point. I spent two years designing a revolutionary communications network. Primed to start the project, we just had a contract to sign. Our meeting to sign the contract was delayed then scheduled for 9-12-2001. The company we were partnering with was headquartered in the World Trade Center in New York. We watched as the idea came crashing down with the WTC. It took us three days to find out that everyone from the company had made it out of the WTC safely.

Trust me when I say, I understand that your idea is something you really want to make happen.

What do you do?

You need to become known. What does that really mean? It means that you have to let people in and know who you are. Many people don't have a problem with this. However many people do. There are generations that did not grow up being connected all the time. We have to fight the urge to stay behind the curtain and let people see who we really are. Don't get me wrong, sometimes people put just too much about themselves out there. If you are trying to help people though, then they need to know who you are and what you can do. You have to become known.

You have skills

Start using your skills to help others. Make a list of skills that you have. Ask your coworkers for a list that they think you have. Put the list together and find the one that stands out. Then start helping people. Pick a social media platform and answer questions, not only on the social media platform but also on your site. Share your knowledge and skills with others, then ask for help in areas that you need to learn.

Learn in public

Share your learning experience with others. If you are not an expert, say so. People will gravitate more to people who are not experts. Those sharing their learning experiences and how they made mistakes are thought of as more genuine.

No fear

Fear is the biggest issue we all face. Afraid to post that message or publish that video? Click the button! Make a comment on someones blog. Don't be mean or troll, but be honest and make suggestions to help. Do not allow your fear to stop you from becoming known to those who need your help. They are out there just waiting for you to say something.

Find what you have passion for, but ensure that it is sustainable.

You might think that this is complete rubbish, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I have seen this work. Makers who follow traditional rules of business can do well, others not so much. We have to break out of the traditional business rules and make our own and become known.