The Internet Can Change Your Life
In fact, it has already changed mine.
The internet has given me a voice to advocate for causes close to my heart, gaining inspiration, building a community and learning from people who I wouldn’t otherwise get to connect with. It has offered me opportunities beyond my wildest imagination to say the least.
Yet 99.9% of the population, probably including you, is not even beginning to tap into this tool. Oh, we use the internet, we consume it. But most do not ask themselves this one question:
“How can I take my unique superpower or perspective and apply the internet to it?”
This story is all about how to start a content project and leverage the internet to propagate your cause.
But FIRST
If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:
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Best tools for building your passion project
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How she found her following…
Today, Mia Nguyen (OCE2021) is known as the Viet Boss Babes. But prior to this, she was just a “normal” international student from Vietnam who recently entered the workforce, finding her place in Canada.
Like many immigrants adapting to their new home, Mia found herself constantly seeking to connect with those with similar experiences as her own.
“While there are many Asian-focused and women-focused platforms, there's none specifically for Vietnamese women.”
Great opportunity spotted.
With some research, she had a feeling that by combining her love for storytelling and her unique heritage she would be able to resonate with people like her.
She also had a feeling that, given the busy lives of young professionals, a podcast would be the best medium to reach her target audience.
So after months of planning and discussions with her closest group of friends, she took a leap and started her project.
How much it took to start?
According to Mia, she focused on scrappiness to get her project off the ground.
Here’s what her tools look like:
- $40: Tripod from Amazon
- $225: DJI Mic 1
- $12/month: Descript – Audio & Video Editor
- $0: Camera – Mia’s current iphone
- $0: Lighting – Free sunlight :)
“People think they need fancy equipment to start a content project, but it’s the story that matters the most when you first start. I’ve seen many content creators with 10K+ followers who use nothing but their phone.”
So equipped with nothing more than a big idea and enthusiasm, Mia officially launched her podcast, Viet Boss Babes.
To kick things off, Mia would invite her friends or friend of friend to her podcast.
Pleasantly surprised by how willing people have been in sharing their stories, it further fueled Mia’s desire to create.
And the response?
“People whom I don't personally know have messaged me saying how relatable the topics are, and many have been inspired to pick up the phone, call their family or pursue their next big projects. That's exactly why I started Viet Boss Babes.”
Soon enough, she started to build a community around her. And if that sounds easy to do — you should know, it’s certainly not…
Challenge: the reality of producing content
“For my first episode, I invited my friend, Ann Phan, to come over on a Sunday. I was super nervous and overprepared with the script. We had to re-record the introduction maybe 10 times because of my nerve and I was reading off the script.”
Making the conversation flow more naturally while sticking to the topic is something the new podcast host is trying to balance.
How does Mia get her guest to open up in public?
“Start with small questions to warm up. Small questions will lead to bigger ones”
She is also looking to use reciprocity by sharing her own vulnerability to get the guest open up about theirs and deepen the conversation.
Another challenge was editing.
“I'm not a producer by training, so picking up editing was a grueling and time-consuming process. Learning about audio editing, color grading, and distribution has offered the steepest learning curve.”
Key to Growth: Consistency
Currently, Mia is focusing on growing the network via digital channels like Youtube, Instagram and Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
She is also prioritizing consistency and getting into a sustainable routine to produce more content.
Her goal: “Becoming the Call Her Daddy for Vietnamese is on my vision board!”
Lessons to takeaway
Starting a podcast from scratch, you’ll learn a thing or two.
1. Do it scared. Do it broke. Do it anyways
“My new year resolution was to do something that scares me. Producing content and putting myself out there through Viet Boss Babes was intimidating.”
2. Stop taking yourself so seriously
“Initially, I was worried that people would judge me, but I later realized that no one cares about you that much and it is a liberating thought. Do it and the right people will care.”
3. Less is more
More equipment, more software, more script does not necessarily equal more audience. Make use of what you already have and focus on your main selling point: the story.
4. Find your why
“To me, Viet Boss Babes embodies worldly lives and diverse lived experiences coming together to celebrate the communities that we've built outside of our roots. This is what motivates me to create.”
Like what you read? Share with friends!
PS. This summer, we are going to tackle pressing global issues and drive innovation in regions (such as your own community) where it is needed the most. Want in?
We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders.
You can also explore purposeful opportunities through our Impact Internship Opportunities Database.
Get Curious.
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Lena
https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/
