The unsexy things that actually grew my business - Ep 114
It is easy to measure a business’s success by flashy milestones like a five-figure launch, a partnership with a major brand, or a video that goes viral.
While those moments are exciting, years of full-time content creation have taught me that they don’t always lead to a profitable business.
In reality, the biggest difference-makers are often the unglamorous, behind-the-scenes habits, systems, and decisions made on no-makeup admin days in front of a laptop.
In the latest episode of the podcast, I break down the unsexy strategies that have actually grown my creator business.
These are the foundation-building choices that have made my work more sustainable, more profitable, and significantly less stressful to run. Here is a look at the core habits that have transformed my business over time.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating:week in my life vlog for YouTube—very normal week feat. Andrew’s birthday, farmer’s market, coffee shop work sesh, etc.
What Austen is consuming: all the Italian food at St. Ann’s festival in Hoboken
In this episode:
Designing functional systems
Systems create a foundation that makes success repeatable. Instead of starting from scratch every day, I rely on my Notion backend, a clear goal-setting structure, and daily task lists.
Eliminating decision fatigue allows me to focus my energy on high-value tasks.
As I began outsourcing, I created standard operating procedures and recurring checklists for launches, podcast publishing, and video uploads to keep everything running smoothly.
Doubling down on what works
Rather than constantly trying to reinvent the wheel, I rely on analytics over feelings to guide my strategy.
For example, after seeing a recent Instagram reel perform exceptionally well, I created similar videos and turned the concept into a series.
When something resonates with your audience, letting it become repeatable content is one of the smartest strategic moves you can make.
Prioritizing SEO for long-term visibility
Social media algorithms are constantly changing, but search engine optimization helps Google and YouTube categorize content so it reaches the right audience for years.
Whether optimizing metadata on short-form videos or building search authority for blog posts, YouTube, and Pinterest, taking a create once, benefit for years approach ensures your content continues working for you long after it is published.
Building an email list that’s mine
Social media platforms are rented land where you are always at the mercy of algorithm changes. An email list gives you direct ownership of your audience connection.
Even a small email list is incredibly valuable because subscribers are often your warmest leads. You can steadily grow this list using simple free lead magnets that solve a specific problem for your audience.
Investing in education to accelerate growth
Teaching yourself every skill takes time, but investing in courses allows you to buy a proven framework and learn much faster.
Courses I’ve taken in topics like SEO, YouTube and creating digital courses have given me structured roadmaps to follow.
While buying a course will not automatically yield results, putting in the work and following the material step-by-step pays off immensely.
Learning to advocate for myself
Revenue growth often comes down to negotiation, pricing, pitching, and clearly articulating return on investment.
Self-advocacy also means knowing when to say no.
I recently turned down a software sponsorship featuring an AI image generation tool because they way they wanted me to market it did not align with how I run my business.
On the other hand, when negotiating with brands, presenting clear analytics and facts has consistently helped me secure higher rates.
Hiring experts for specialized protection and growth
Many creators assume growth requires hiring a full-time team, but working with specialists for specific periods can be far more effective.
Hiring an accountant, a lawyer to secure trademarks, a virtual assistant, and an SEO expert for my blog allowed me to stop trying to master everything.
Outsourcing these areas freed up valuable time to focus on creative direction.
Routinely tracking the numbers
Tracking metrics may feel dry, but reviewing backend data is essential for setting priorities.
Regularly monitoring monthly income by platform, YouTube analytics, brand partnership rates, affiliate click-throughs, and month-over-month blog traffic shows exactly where to direct time and resources for the best return.
Diversifying income streams
Relying solely on brand deals can lead to income instability during slower months.
Building passive income streams like affiliate links, ad revenue, digital products, and memberships creates financial resilience.
Transforming how I monetize allowed me to move away from chasing unpredictable trends and build real stability.
I talk more about starting and scaling passive income streams in my digital course, The Influencer Income Accelerator. You can read more about it and enroll now.
Summary:
All of these things have helped me create a business that is far more profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable to operate than if I were feeling overwhelmed and scattered by just chasing trends.
Listen to the full podcast episode today to dive deeper into each of these strategies and learn how to implement them in your own business.
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