My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Bottom-Up Brand Building Framework
A brand building approach that starts with direct individual customer interactions and grassroots engagement rather than mass marketing campaigns or top-down messaging strategies
How It Works
Creates authentic brand loyalty by making individual customers feel personally seen and heard, turning them into evangelists who organically spread the brand message. Works by prioritizing listening over broadcasting
Components
Reply personally to every comment and DM in early stages
Go where your customers naturally gather (tournaments, events, hangouts)
Give away product to create authentic user-generated content
Screenshot and reshare personal interactions to show responsiveness
Create insider moments that make fans feel part of exclusive community
Scale personal touch through community managers who maintain the voice
When to Use
When building new brands with limited budgets, targeting niche communities, or when authenticity and personal connection are key brand differentiators
When Not to Use
When you need immediate mass market penetration, have unlimited marketing budgets, or are selling truly commoditized products where personal connection doesn't drive purchase decisions
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Instead of buying Instagram ads, a new water brand founder personally responds to every comment, shows up at basketball tournaments to give away free samples, and creates content with real users, building 150k engaged followers in 2 months”