You don't need to go viral—you need to be valuable. The reason I grew is simple: I didn't build my brand to be liked, I built it to be useful.
As a local entrepreneur in Hampton Roads, I used my phone, my voice, and my skillset to teach what I knew.
I recorded clips in between training sessions. I posted quotes that sparked conversations. That consistency created compound trust.
Now that I've transitioned into the digital marketing world, the skills from martial arts transfer to regular project management.
If you're reading this from Norfolk, Virginia Beach, or anywhere in the 757: your story is your edge. Lean into it.
Post like your clients are already watching... because they are.
Document real moments and explain them simply. Don't be afraid to repeat yourself either.
People watch reruns.
Why Most Creators Stay Broke (And What to Do Instead)
Biggest Mistakes I See
Hiding behind trends: You copy instead of connect. Viewers scroll right past.
Rambling too long: No one asked for your life story. Frankly, no one cares. Say the valuable thing for 80% of the video...20% of the time you can talk about yourself and your past.
No community: You post... but don't reply. People like engaging with you. Do you just respond with a few fire emojis and a "yeah, thanks for the good vibes!" or are you actually talking with these people?
Selling too early: You offer before building value. That's why nobody buys. "Jab, Jab, Hook" - Concept from Gary Vaynerchuk
How I Started
I posted 5x a day on Tikok everyday for 4 months straight. It was obsessive, I worried my friends and family. But I learned. What worked, what didn't work. What gets watchtime, what loses followers, what gets "bad attention"
I aimed to solve one pain point in 10 seconds or less.
I treated my comments like an AOL chatroom. People asked, I answered. I showed up. Just don't live there. Limit yourself to your comment section to at most 1 Hour a day, 5-15 minutes at a time to prevent digital overwhelm.
If you're a business in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, or Hampton, remember this: the people in your area aren't looking for motivational influencers. They're looking for someone they can trust, learn from/do business with, and refer. Be that person.
Your 15-Minute Daily Content System
This method works globally, but it was built right here in Virginia Beach. Try it for yourself!
Scroll through your texts or DMs
Find one moment where you helped someone (even if it was just advice).
Write (5 Minutes)
Turn that into an article title, talking points, and sub-talking points from your own experience
Record (5 Minutes)
Turn on your camera and talk about it like you're teaching a 6th grader
Edit (5 Minutes)
Edit out all the boring parts, the "ums", "uhs", lip smacking, 2-3 seconds of you thinking, 15+ second rambles, etc
Post It
No music
Do that 3 times this week, and you'll start to see traction.