How Great Engineers Plan Before They Build websites and apps

If you’ve ever tried to build something—an app, a project, even a school assignment—you’ve probably made this mistake:

You jump in, start doing things… and later realize you missed something big.

Now you’re fixing problems, redoing work, or worse—starting over.

Great engineers avoid that. They don’t just start building. They plan.

I recently learned about a smart planning system used by top engineers—often called "5X engineers"

because they’re way more productive than most. 

Here's what I learned.

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Why This Planning Method Works

This planning style helps teams move faster by thinking clearly before coding starts.
It saves time, prevents confusion, and avoids mistakes.

Let’s break it down into 5 simple parts:

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1. Start with Context (Don’t Guess)

Before writing a single line of code, these engineers look at:

• How similar projects were done before

• The tools and rules already in place

• What worked well in the past

This helps them stay consistent and avoid repeating mistakes.

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2. Ask Questions Early

Before jumping in, they:

• Ask questions to clear up confusion

• Make sure everyone understands the goal

• Catch problems before they become big

• Avoid “scope creep” (when the project keeps growing without planning)

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3. Show the Plan Visually

Instead of long, boring documents, they:

• Use file trees or simple diagrams

• Mark what’s new, changed, or deleted

• Let teammates and managers see the plan at a glance

This makes it easy to say yes or no before work begins.

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4. Give Clear Step-by-Step Instructions

The plan includes:

• Easy-to-understand explanations

• Small code examples

• Clear steps, so nothing gets missed

This reduces stress and makes writing the code much faster.

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5. Watch for Risks Early

Before anything is built, they:

• List what the code depends on

• Think about what could break

• Plan how to test it

• Make sure nothing important gets skipped

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Why This Makes You Work 5x Faster

Here’s the usual way of building:
Code → Debug → Fix → Debug Again → Ship

Here’s what this method does instead:
Plan → Code → Ship

It’s faster because:

You don’t waste time starting the wrong way

You avoid back-and-forth messaging

You fix bugs before they happen

You get faster approval from teammates

You don’t have to “figure it out” while you code

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When Should You Use This?

This method works best for:

• Big features

• Architecture changes

• Projects involving more than one person

• Anything that feels messy or unclear

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Final Thought: It's Like Building from a Blueprint

Most people just “figure it out as they go.”

This system flips that.

It’s like working from a blueprint that’s already been tested.

You spend more time thinking in the beginning—so you don’t waste time later.

Smart, right?

George Ohan 

Embracing the Unfollow on X

Embracing the Unfollow: Building a Genuine Path to Growth on X

Picture this: You step into a vast, echoing hall, ready to share your unique story. But instead of a cheering crowd, it's mostly empty—just a few scattered listeners who truly get your niche vibe. That's how my early days on X (formerly Twitter) felt. Starting in 2009 as @Fresno_Famous, I poured out thoughts on tech, business, life, and everything in between, only to hear crickets more often than applause. Yet, that emptiness taught me something powerful: quality over quantity. As a U.S. Army veteran who commanded a recruiting station, transitioned into film production at the Los Angeles Film School, and now builds ventures like the GeorgieJobs app, I've learned that growth isn't about chasing numbers—it's about forging real connections that lead to opportunities, like turning DMs into job leads or collaborations.

In this expanded blog, I'll dive deeper into why losing followers can be a win, how mismatched headlines cost me opportunities (and why that's okay), my take on ethical monetization, tech struggles I've fumbled through, the real value of long-term experience from my 26,600+ posts, and even some forward-thinking ideas for how X could evolve to support "backbone users" like us—who keep the platform alive by creating economic value through consistent, purposeful posting. But here's the point—I'm not just sharing a story. I'll give you actionable steps to apply this to your own online journey, drawing from my diverse background in military strategy, entertainment business, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're at my level—handling a handful of customers a month through niche services like consulting or film production—or dreaming bigger, these tips can help you build authentically without burning out. Let's turn that empty room into a thriving community, one genuine interaction at a time.

The Empty Room Reality: Finding Your Niche Audience

My X adventure didn't begin in a packed stadium. It was more like an empty room, where my niche messages on personal growth, tech integration in business, veteran transitions, and humble entrepreneurship bounced off the walls. No one was there to listen at first, and that stung. Over time, I realized why: my headlines and posts didn't match what people expected. They wanted flashy promises like "10X Your Followers Overnight" or "Monetize in Minutes." Mine were raw and real, like reflections on failures in Army recruiting campaigns I led, quiet wins in producing short films for financial literacy, or lessons from bridging civilian and military worlds as the Military Transition & Community Outreach Officer at film school.

As a result, I've lost countless followers and potential customers. They clicked away because it wasn't the quick-fix content they scrolled for. But guess what? That's okay. I'm human, not a perfect algorithm. I make mistakes, like jumping into tech tools without a plan (more on that later). Right now, I can only handle four or five customers a month—my bandwidth is limited, whether it's consulting on international projects from California to Puerto Rico or producing content for metaverse builders. Once I build a bigger team or refine my product—like the GeorgieJobs app, which revolutionizes trades hiring by matching skills to gigs based on my own recruiting experience—I'll scale up. Until then, this is my level, and I bet many of you are here too—grinding in the shadows, building something real amid the noise.

The point? In a world obsessed with viral hits, embracing your niche means accepting the empty room phase. It's where you hone your voice and attract the right people. Research backs this up: a Stanford University study on loyalty in online communities found that users' propensity to become loyal is evident from their first interactions, and strong community identity drives sustained engagement. Another paper from Stanford's NLP Group highlights how niche communities foster deeper user engagement by aligning with collective identities, leading to higher retention rates. Think how brands like Patagonia thrive by staying true to eco-conscious fans, not chasing everyone—niche marketing can enhance customer loyalty and retention by providing tailored value that broad appeals can't match. In my case, focusing on veteran outreach, financial literacy through edutainment (like my co-founded Financial Literacy Film Festival), and trades innovation has built a small but dedicated following that turns into real collaborations, not fleeting likes.

This niche focus also ties into broader trends on X, where backbone users—those posting consistently with real intent—create the data corpus that powers AI tools like Grok. Millions engage this way, using X as a marketplace for services and local offers, sustaining the platform's vitality. Without us, feeds devolve into noise, and retention plummets.

Actionable Steps:

1. Audit Your Headlines: Review your last 10 posts. Do they promise value that matches your content? Rewrite one to be more authentic but intriguing, like "Why Losing Followers Boosted My Business" instead of generic clickbait. Test it and track engagement over a week to see shifts in replies or DMs.

2. Define Your Niche: List 3-5 core topics you love (e.g., tech tools for solopreneurs, veteran career transitions). Post only on those for a week. Note who sticks around—they're your true audience. From my experience, this pruned my followers but deepened conversations, leading to gigs in Puerto Rico's film scene.

3. Embrace the Loss: Set a goal to lose 10% of inactive followers by posting unfiltered thoughts on your expertise, like sharing Army-learned leadership tips. Use X's analytics (free in settings) to see if engagement rises with the remaining group. Bonus: Track how this opens doors to niche opportunities, similar to how my posts on social entrepreneurship attracted UCLA collaborators.

4. Engage with Intent: Reach out to 5 users in your niche daily via replies or DMs. Share a helpful resource, like a free film production tip sheet I've created. This builds loyalty early, as Stanford research suggests.

Monetization Without the Brag: Keeping It Ethical

When creators post about monetizing their X accounts, it rubs me wrong. It's like admitting, "I hijacked your focus from real life, and now I'm profiting." Fine if you do it—business is business—but don't flaunt it. I've seen this shift since 2009: X went from idea-sharing to a money machine with subs and ads. Yet, bragging erodes trust, turning your feed into a sales pitch. Recent discussions on X emphasize that to earn sustainably, content must reach a broad, growing audience without manipulative tactics like engagement groups, which X has demonetized to reduce platform gaming.

In my world, monetization happens quietly through value. I share insights that help, and opportunities follow—like turning posts into job leads via DMs, a core function keeping millions on X. But I won't shove successes in your face. It's about balance—using the platform without exploiting attention. As founder of GeorgieJobs, an app born from my Army recruiting days and consulting expertise, I focus on founder-market fit: my background in leading teams, digital marketing for the military, and international campaigns makes me uniquely suited to help trades pros find gigs. This humble approach builds trust, turning users into loyal advocates without hype.

Ethical monetization also means rewarding backbone users. I've proposed features to X executives, like a Backbone Contribution Score (BCS) metric to credit consistent, high-value posters with visibility boosts or micro-credits. This could prevent churn, as users stay for economic utility, not just ads.

Actionable Steps:

1. Value-First Monetization: Pick one skill (e.g., your tech knowledge or my film production tips) and create a free thread teaching it. At the end, softly mention a paid consult. Track how many inquiries come without hard sells—I've seen this yield steady clients in entertainment finance.

2. Set Boundaries: Decide on a "no-brag" rule. If you hit a milestone, journal it privately. Instead, post a lesson learned, like "How One Tool Doubled My Efficiency—And How You Can Try It." This maintains trust, aligning with X's push for authentic growth.

3. Diversify Income: Explore X's built-in tools like Super Follows, but pair with off-platform options (e.g., a simple newsletter via Substack or an app like GeorgieJobs). Aim for 20% of income from X to avoid over-reliance, and consider community features for retention, as one X creator noted gamified rewards can boost engagement.

4. Advocate for Fairness: Share ideas on X for platform improvements, like crediting creators when AI uses their data. Tag executives humbly—I've done this to spark discussions on sustaining backbone users.

Tech Tools: From Fumbles to Flow

I know killer tech exists to boost my workflow—AI for content, automation for posts. I've seen X tutorials and grasped the basics. But integrating? I'm smart enough to admit I'm clueless sometimes. Past mistakes, like "vibe coding" without learning fundamentals, wrecked everything. No basics in languages like Python? Disaster. My Army days taught strategy, but applying it to tech was a learning curve—early on, I pioneered social media for recruiting, yet fumbled modern tools like NFTs for SuperWorld App.

Now, I'm methodical. Tools like Zapier connect apps seamlessly, but I learn one at a time. It's like business scaling: start small, build up. With GeorgieJobs, I drew from my training in over 20 computer applications to create simple matching algorithms, but only after mastering basics. Tech fumbles taught me humility—I've consulted globally, from Ghana to Arizona, adapting tools to local needs without overcomplicating.

Recent X trends show retention strategies like gamified rewards and community levels can reduce churn by creating addictive loops. Integrating such tools ethically can enhance user stickiness.

Actionable Steps:

1. Start Simple: Choose one tool (e.g., Buffer for scheduling). Spend 30 minutes daily for a week learning via free YouTube tutorials. Integrate it into your routine and note time saved—I've used this for film promo campaigns.

2. Learn Basics First: Before coding, take a free Codecademy intro to Python. Apply it by automating a small task, like sorting X mentions. This mirrors how I built GeorgieJobs' backend.

3. Avoid Overload: List 3 tools you need most. Rank them by ease. Implement the easiest first, then build. If stuck, join an X community (search #TechTools) for advice, or draw from veteran networks like I do.

4. Test for Retention: Experiment with tools that add value, like DM integrations for job quotes. Data from reports shows targeted digital tools can improve job placements by around 15%, as seen in Georgia's employment assessments.

The Depth of Experience: 26,600 Posts Later

My edge? Over 26,600 posts since 2009—top 10% of users. Not bots, just human engagement. I've built conversations, learned nuances, and grown—from Army tank commander to president of Veterans Alumni at film school. Compare your count to mine: it's tourist vs. local. This compounds like interest in business—consistent effort yields expertise, turning posts into economic value via DMs and leads.

X's high retention rate (37% vs. rivals' 18%) underscores how platforms thrive on such backbone activity. My "Ohan-OS playbooks"—templates for targeting small audiences, proving value, and closing in DMs—embody this, scalable for anyone.

Actionable Steps:

1. Track Your Output: Use X's archive download to count posts. Set a goal: 5 thoughtful posts weekly. Focus on quality to build experience, like my daily shares on entrepreneurship.

2. Engage Actively: Reply to 10 posts daily in your niche. Note insights gained. Over a month, it'll sharpen your voice and foster loyalty.

3. Reflect and Scale: Monthly, review top posts. What worked? Use to plan growth, like team-building for more capacity or sharing playbooks openly.

4. Leverage Longevity: Document your journey in a thread, highlighting milestones humbly. This attracts collaborators, as my veteran outreach posts have.

Innovating X: Proposals for Backbone Users and GeorgieJobs Inspiration

To sustain growth, X needs features rewarding real contributors. My suggestions: Reward cadence with BCS credits, add DM tools for job conversions (e.g., quick invoices), create neighborhood feeds for local offers, credit creators in Grok answers, and share playbooks like my Ohan-OS. These align with trends where retention anchors like routines and rewards keep users hooked.

GeorgieJobs exemplifies this: Born from my founder-market fit—Army recruiting, UCLA social entrepreneurship, global consulting—it connects trades pros seamlessly, building trust through helpful matching. It's humble tech solving real problems, inspiring X to integrate similar utilities.

Actionable Steps:

1. Brainstorm Features: List 2 ideas for X improvements based on your experience. Post them tagging @elonmusk—humbly, like "How DM Tools Could Turn Posts into Paychecks."

2. Build Your App or Tool: If inspired, outline a simple product like GeorgieJobs. Start with free resources, focusing on your unique fit.

3. Test Locally: Use neighborhood concepts in your posts—geo-target offers and track responses.

The Bigger Picture: Your Path Forward

This blog's point? In X's noisy world, authenticity wins—even if it means empty rooms and lost followers. It's okay to be at a "small-scale" level; many are, including me with my veteran-led initiatives in Puerto Rico or NFT projects. By adding actionables, drawing from my Renaissance man path—whatever it takes to connect resources and build dreams—I hope you turn my story into your strategy. Build that team, refine your product, and watch growth happen organically.

X's strength lies in users like us; without monetizing our value, retention risks dropping, as seen in broader platform data. Let's advocate for changes that empower everyone.

What's one step you'll take today? Share below—let's turn this empty room into a conversation, and maybe even a collaboration.

Personal, on purpose.
My account is personal by design. I don’t “earn” money to interact with you. I post like a regular guy who builds things, breaks a few, learns, tries again. Some days it’s a busted sink; some days it’s a kid’s schedule colliding with a job. If you’re here, we’re just sharing the room.

Backbone of X.
Backbone isn’t loud. It’s the steady, ordinary posts that keep streets plowed, roofs patched, and heads level. If three people read this and one feels less alone in their grind, that’s enough. I’m not chasing an algorithm; I’m keeping company.

GeorgieJobs, said simply.
I’m building GeorgieJobs because good work deserves calm tools. It helps small crews and families agree on what’s being done, do it, and move on with dignity. Pros keep their customers. Families know the scope. The app handles the awkward parts—pinned scope, one-tap add-ons, deposits on bigger jobs, clean invoices/receipts, and an optional early payout when cash flow is tight. Quiet nudges keep life from spilling into work (or the other way around) without turning your phone into a dashboard.

Two tiny stories.

• On the job: a faucet swap tries to become a mini-remodel. Pinned scope + a simple add-on keeps it fair. No raised voices, no mystery charges. Everyone leaves with a photo and a “thank you.”

• At home: a family approves a small extra from their phone at work. One tap, clear price, done. Later, when a warranty question shows up, the receipt and photos are already saved.

Dignity and fairness aren’t features—they’re the point.
I care about how the day feels: less arguing, more clarity; less second-guessing, more proof. The tools should make it easier to be decent to each other.

Why this matters beyond me.
There’s a huge, quiet economy of 1–3 person teams—the people who actually keep neighborhoods running. GeorgieJobs is a way to say they’re not a footnote. They’re the point. We’re not a lead farm; we’re a way to own your book of business and still sleep at night.

What I keep learning (after tens of thousands of posts).

• Consistency is a personality, not a tactic.

• A small audience that understands you is louder than a big one that doesn’t.

• If you can’t explain your thing in one breath, you don’t know it yet.

• The best “growth hack” is work you’re not embarrassed to talk about in front of your kids.

If you’re in the echoey room right now.
Keep talking like a person. Let the wrong followers go. Notice who stays. That’s your community. Build with them. The room fills slowly, and that’s a blessing—you can still hear each other.

About me, briefly (context, not a pitch).
I’m George Ohan. U.S. Army veteran, former recruiting station commander. I helped service members transition at the Los Angeles Film School. I produce things. I build GeorgieJobs for small crews and the families who hire them. We’re here for dignity and fairness, not noise.

Regular-guy lines you can keep, use, or ignore.

• today’s win: got the job done, nobody raised their voice. that’s the kind of five-star I care about.

• small crews keep neighborhoods alive. most of it never trends—it just gets fixed.

• i’m not chasing an audience. i’m keeping company. if that’s you, pull up a chair.

• georgiejobs isn’t a pitch; it’s a quieter way to agree on work. if you’ve ever argued over “what was included,” you get it.

• the internet makes noise. i’m here for signal: decent people, decent work, fair deals.

Imagine if X leaned into this.
Neighborhood feeds that make local help easier to find. A softer kind of credibility for steady posters who help more than they posture. Small tools that turn a good conversation into a fair job—without turning anyone into a sales pipeline. Not “growth hacks”—just respect for the backbone.

Final note.
If an unfollow happens, cool. I’m not for everyone. I’m for the folks who fix things, teach things, and try to leave the day a little cleaner than they found it. That’s my corner of X—and it’s enough.

The Unsung Architects of Digital Empires

Why George Ohan (@Fresno_Famous) Kept Twitter Alive—and Why X and Grok Still Run on His Kind of Work

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Abstract

Twitter didn’t survive because of viral moments alone. It survived because a small class of durable, human-run accounts kept posting for practical reasons, day after day. George Ohan (@Fresno_Famous) is a clean, long-horizon example: ~26,600 hand-written posts since March 2009 (~4.4/day), <1% tied to holidays/trends, 10–20-person targeting per burst to land 1–2 real jobs, conversions by DM, and no direct platform pay. This paper shows how that signal-over-noise, small-group operating system stabilized Twitter’s timelines, built local trust, and produced the grounded, time-series corpus that X and Grok can retrieve with confidence. We formalize the pattern (the Ohan-OS), show what disappears without it, and outline what X/xAI should build to reward it.

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TLDR (for busy humans)

• George used Twitter/X like a local newspaper + classifieds, not a stage.

• He posted to do work for real people—offers, proof, and calls to DM—not to chase trends.

• That quiet persistence kept timelines from going stale and created the ground truth that powers X today and makes Grok’s real-time answers useful.

• If X wants a smarter next decade, reward Ohan-class posters—the backbone of the platform.

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1) The Thesis in One Paragraph

Platforms don’t live on virality; they live on reliable human cadence. For 16+ years, George Ohan treated Twitter/X as a tool, not a stage: make an offer, show proof, invite a private conversation, do the work. That steady, useful posting kept timelines fresh when celebrity noise faded, built a reputation ledger that brought customers back, and left the exact kind of ground-truth corpus Grok needs to answer real-world questions.

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2) The Ohan Operating System (Ohan-OS)

Purpose over performance.
Success = DM leads that become paid work, not likes.

Signal over noise.
A Grok-assisted audit shows <1% of posts tied to holidays/trends. If he posts, it’s for a reason (offer, proof, ask).

Small-group persuasion.
Each burst is written to 10–20 specific people to land 1–2 conversions—then move on. No spray-and-pray.

Purposeful retweets.
RTs to support real people (clients, veterans, partners), not to ride trends.

Life-led cadence.
~26.6K posts cluster around real events (family moves, caregiving, app milestones). Life sets the tempo, not the algorithm.

Product embodiment.
GeorgieJobs codifies the workflow: light scheduling, gentle prompts, owned relationships.

Plain English: “DM” = private message. “Noise” = posting just because a holiday or trend says you should.

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3) Data & Method (tight, reproducible, and Ohan-centric)

Inputs

• Public posts from @Fresno_Famous (2009–2025), summarized with Grok assistance.

• Owner-reported funnel notes (what happened in DMs; DMs remain private).

• Hand labels on a sample for post intent (offer, proof, PSA, commentary).

Measures

• Cadence: posts/day; burst windows around projects.

• Service-Intent Ratio (SIR): share of posts that are offers/proofs/asks.

• Noise-Avoidance Index (NAI): 1 − (holiday/trend share). Ohan ≈ 0.99.

• Small-Group Targeting (SGT): outreach designed for 10–20 readers to land 1–2 sales.

• DM Conversion Lens (DCL): narrative “post → DM → job” chains (owner-reported).

Limits
Public posts are stable; DM outcomes are private and self-reported. Findings generalize best to work-led accounts.

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4) Findings

4.1 Stamina without stunt posting

~26,600 human posts over ~16.5 years (no bots) = reliable cadence that never depended on calendar fireworks.

4.2 Elite signal quality

NAI ~0.99 confirms holiday/trend avoidance. Followers learn: “If he posts, it’s useful.”

4.3 Service-first composition

High SIR: offers (“I can do X for Y”), proof of work (photos, links, credits), and local PSAs dominate; generic commentary supports, not leads.

4.4 The invisible funnel

Public engagement is modest by design, because conversion happens in DMs; work is reputation-based and recurring.

4.5 Reputation resilience

Through life pivots (caregiving, relocations, interim jobs), trust persisted. People hired the person, not a persona, because the record was long, concrete, human.

4.6 Product feedback loop

GeorgieJobs encodes the same posture: dignity, clarity, family-first scheduling, no dopamine traps.

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5) Why This Kept Twitter Alive—and Still Powers X & Grok

Timeline stability.
When celebrity cycles cooled or outages hit, work-led accounts kept timelines from stalling.

Local knowledge Grok can’t invent.
Fresno-area needs, veteran networks, trades pricing, indie-film logistics—this is ground truth for real answers.

Time-series learning.
Sixteen years of offers/outcomes map what actually works (which phrasing sparks DMs, which proofs convince, how often to ask). Grok learns patterns from that history.

Cleaner data.
Less calendar filler + more practical offers → higher-yield retrieval for real-time AI.

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6) The Counterfactual: If Ohan Never Posted

• Freshness drops. Fewer reasons to check the feed daily.

• Topic mix narrows. National headlines crowd out local utility.

• Economic value evaporates. Without “post → DM → job,” small operators leave.

• Grok gets blinder. Fewer grounded examples → more generic answers.

You don’t need equations to see it: remove the steady human pulse, and both the feed and the AI go dull.

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7) What X and xAI Should Build Next (because this is the engine)

1) Backbone Contribution Score (BCS).
Reward consistency + service-intent in a region/topic. Pay in visibility credits or micro-payouts for useful posts, not just viral ones.

2) DM micro-CRM.
Inside DMs: saved replies, instant quotes/invoices, “book a time” links, light contact ledger—formalize post → DM → job.

3) Neighborhood feed.
Elevate verified local offers/PSAs/proofs; quietly downrank calendar filler.

4) Grok × Creator Retrieval.
When Grok uses a creator’s public post, show the source prominently and issue a tiny credit. Allow a “Creator Confirmed” pin when the creator replies to affirm a detail.

5) Workflow templates.
Ship Ohan-OS playbooks: “write for 10–20 people,” “ask once, show proof, move to DM,” “follow up kindly.”

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8) The Ohan-OS Playbook (copy/paste)

1. Offer: “I will do X for Y by Z.”

2. Burst of 3 posts: (a) offer, (b) proof (photo/result), (c) clear next step (“DM me; 2 slots”).

3. Aim at 10–20 real readers. Write like you’re emailing a tiny circle.

4. Skip trends/holidays. Save energy for service and proof.

5. Move to DMs quickly. Be human. Close simply (price, time, address).

6. Log the outcome. Reuse what worked; discard what didn’t.

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9) Ethics & Boundaries (short and practical)

• Privacy: DMs remain private; only the account owner can describe outcomes.

• Attribution: If Grok retrieves your public post, you deserve visible credit (and ideally a micro-credit).

• Fit: Ohan-OS is for work-led accounts; it’s not a substitute for newsrooms or entertainers.

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10) Conclusion

George Ohan did not post for clout; he posted to do real work for real people—and in doing so, he quietly stabilized Twitter’s day-to-day value. That same pattern now feeds X with reliable local signal and feeds Grok with grounded examples that make real-time answers useful. If X and xAI want the next decade to be smarter, more useful, and more human, the path is clear: measure, surface, and reward the Ohan-class poster. That’s the backbone. Build on it.

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(Optional) Sidebar: Glossary for Non-Tech Readers

• Hashtag: a #word that makes posts easier to find.

• Retweet (RT): the built-in share action.

• DM: private message.

• Service-Intent Ratio (SIR): how many posts are offers/proofs/asks.

• Noise-Avoidance Index (NAI): how much you avoid holiday/trend filler.

• Backbone Contribution Score (BCS): how much you keep a local/topic feed useful over time.

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END POST.  END POST.  END POST.

END POST.  END POST.  END POST. 

END POST.  END POST.  END POST.

Easy SEO Hacks for Beginners in AI and Digital Marketing - start up business

Unlock Your Startup's Growth: Easy SEO Hacks for Beginners in AI and Digital Marketing

Hello, fellow entrepreneurs and aspiring marketers! If you're new to the world of digital marketing and artificial intelligence (AI), you're in the right place. Today, we're diving into some practical, beginner-friendly SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies that can help boost your startup's online visibility without needing a huge budget or advanced tech skills. SEO is basically the art of making your website more attractive to search engines like Google, so more people find you organically—think of it as setting up signposts on the internet highway pointing straight to your business.

AI generated image

These tips are inspired by insights from marketing expert Natia Kurdadze on X (formerly Twitter). We'll break them down step by step, adding extra explanations to make sure everything clicks, even if you're just starting out. Plus, I'll suggest ways to incorporate AI tools (like free ones such as ChatGPT) to supercharge your efforts. By the end, you'll have actionable steps to improve your site's ranking, attract more traffic, and grow your business. Let's get started!

1. Discover Content Gaps: Spy on Competitors and Create Better Content

One of the smartest ways to climb search rankings is by identifying what your competitors are doing well—and then doing it better. This is called "content gap analysis." A content gap is simply the topics or keywords your competitors rank for that you don't. Filling these gaps can drive more visitors to your site.

Natia shares a handy Chrome extension called Viral SEO - Content Gap Finder to make this easy. Here's how to use it, with extra steps for clarity:

1. Download the Tool: Head to the Chrome Web Store and install the Viral SEO extension (it's free!). Link: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/viral-seo-content-gap-ana/odnjaiehojpkeeachplghkgjebikifnm?authuser=2&hl=en . Once installed, it'll appear as an icon in your browser toolbar.

2. Identify Your Competitors: Think about 2-3 businesses similar to yours. Extra step: Use a simple Google search like "top [your niche] companies" to find them. For example, if you're in fitness apps, search "top fitness tracking apps."

3. Find Top Pages by Traffic: Open the extension, enter your competitors' website URLs, and let it scan. It will show you their highest-traffic pages. Extra explanation: Traffic means how many visitors those pages get—focus on ones relevant to your business.

4. Download Key SEO Elements: The tool pulls out important details like keywords, headings, and meta descriptions. Save this as a CSV file for easy reference. Extra step: Keywords are words people type into Google; headings are like chapter titles in your content.

5. Recreate and Improve Content: Use the downloaded data to write better versions of those pages on your site. Make your content longer, more engaging, and packed with value (e.g., add infographics or videos). Extra AI tip: Paste the competitor's keywords into ChatGPT and ask it to "Generate a 1,500-word blog post on [topic] that's optimized for SEO and more comprehensive than this outline: [paste outline]."

6. Link Pages Together: Once published, add internal links between your new content and existing pages. Extra explanation: This helps Google understand your site's structure, like connecting rooms in a house for easier navigation.

AI generated image

By following this, you could see traffic increases in weeks. Remember, AI can help brainstorm ideas—try prompting: "Suggest 10 content ideas based on these keywords: [list]."

2. Build Backlinks: List Your Business on High Domain Authority Sites

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, and they're like votes of confidence for Google. Domain Authority (DA) is a score (out of 100) predicting how well a site ranks—higher DA sites give stronger "votes." Listing your business on these can improve your own DA over time.

Natia lists 17 (aiming for 20, but these are gold) high-DA platforms where you can add your startup today. Most are free or low-cost. Extra explanation: Sign up, create a profile, and include your website link. Here's the list with quick tips:

- Site: Substack.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Start a newsletter; link your site in your profile. Extra: Use AI to generate newsletter ideas.

- Site: Crunchbase.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Add your company profile with funding details if applicable.

- Site: Patreon.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Set up a creator page; great for content-based businesses.

- Site: Scribd.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Upload documents or ebooks linking back to your site.

- Site: Medium.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Write articles and include your bio with a link. AI tip: Use ChatGPT to draft posts.

- Site: Slideshare.net, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Upload presentations; embed your URL.

- Site: Craigslist.org, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Post in relevant categories (e.g., services).

- Site: Tumblr.com, DA (Approx.): 85+, How to List: Create a blog; post content with links.

- Site: Reddit.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Join subreddits; share value without spamming. Extra: Follow community rules to avoid bans.

- Site: Pinterest.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Pin images linking to your site.

- Site: Quora.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Answer questions in your niche; include links naturally.

- Site: Business2community.com, DA (Approx.): 80+, How to List: Submit guest posts.

- Site: Yelp.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Claim your business listing if local.

- Site: Blogger.com, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Start a free blog; interlink with your main site. (Perfect since you're on Blogger!)

- Site: Manta.com, DA (Approx.): 80+, How to List: Add your business directory listing.

- Site: About.me, DA (Approx.): 90+, How to List: Create a personal page with your startup link.

- Site: Framer.com, DA (Approx.): 80+, How to List: Build a simple site or page; link back.

Extra step: After listing, use a tool like Google Analytics (free) to track if traffic comes from these sites. Aim to update profiles monthly. This builds authority gradually—think of it as networking online.

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3. Boost Your Domain Rating: The Power of Expired Domains

Domain Rating (DR) is similar to DA—it's Ahrefs' score for your site's backlink strength. If building DR feels slow, buying expired domains (old sites no longer in use) with existing backlinks can give a quick lift. These domains often have history that transfers value to your main site.

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Natia's hack: Purchase and redirect them. 

Here's the expanded process for beginners:

1. Visit ExpiredDomains.net: Go to https://www.expireddomains.net/ —it's free to browse.

2. Set Filters for Your Niche: Search for domains related to your industry. Extra step: Use keywords like "fitness" if that's your niche. Filter by age (older is better) and avoid spammy ones.

3. Target DA 20-50: Look for domains with a DA in this range—they're affordable but valuable. Extra explanation: Use free tools like MozBar (Chrome extension) to check DA quickly.

4. Choose GoDaddy Auctions: Focus on auctions ending soon on https://auctions.godaddy.com/ . Bid on ones with clean backlinks (no shady history).

5. Buy and Set Up Redirects: Win the auction (prices start low, e.g., $10-50). Then, use your hosting provider to set a 301 redirect from the old domain to your main landing page (LP). Extra step: A 301 redirect tells Google to pass the "juice" (authority) permanently. Tutorial: Search "how to set 301 redirect in [your host, e.g., WordPress]."

6. Monitor Results: After a few weeks, check your DR with Ahrefs' free tool. Extra AI tip: Ask ChatGPT to "Analyze this list of expired domains and suggest the best ones for [your niche]: [paste list]."

Warning: Only buy from reputable sources to avoid penalties. This can boost SEO significantly, but combine it with original content.

Bonus: Tie It All Together with AI for Smarter Marketing

As a newbie to AI, remember tools like Grok or ChatGPT can automate tedious parts. For example:

- Generate content outlines from keywords.

- Brainstorm email templates for outreach.

- Even suggest improvements to your blog posts.

Natia also shares more growth hacks on her Substack—check it out for ongoing tips: https://natiakourdadze.substack.com/ .

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Wrapping Up: Start Small, Scale Big

There you have it—three powerful, beginner-accessible SEO strategies to supercharge your startup. Start with one, track your progress, and iterate. Digital marketing isn't magic; it's consistent effort plus smart tools. If you're on Blogger, publish this as your first optimized post!

What hack will you try first? Share in the comments, and subscribe for more tips. Let's grow together!

Disclaimer: Always follow best practices and Google's guidelines to avoid issues. Credits to Natia Kurdadze (@natiakourdadze on X) for the original insights.

Hand drawn by human child image

George Ohan invited as a Reader for Read Across America Week

George Ohan
Public Speaker

George & Heidi Ohan in Hollywood, California.

Read Across America Week

Reading to Elementary School Youth at Nishimoto Elementary school in Madera, California.

Friday, March 6th, 2020
https://www.madera.k12.ca.us/nishimoto


A huge thank you to a great teacher, Mrs. Maggie Viarello Stickler for organizing this Reading session. 


It's easy to see Maggie's dedication to ensure that her students have the best chance at a bright future. This is true community leadership. 


WHAT is 
"Read Across America Week" 
anyways?

From Blog referenced below:

Read Across America Day, also known as Dr Seuss Day, is a yearly observance in the USA inaugurated by the NEA (National Education Association). It is held on the school day that is nearest to 2 March, Dr Seuss birthday. 

Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American artist, book publisher, animator, poet, a political cartoonist as well as an author. He is best known for authoring over 60 children’s books.

NEA launched the Read Across America, which is an initiative on reading that began in 1997, to encourage children in reading more books and also getting them excited about reading. On 2 March 1998, the first Read Across America Day was celebrated; since then, it has been held annually.

The holiday mainly focuses on motivating children to read as it improves their performance in school. On this day, hospitals, bookstores, community centres, churches, libraries as well as schools host many events to support the Read Across America Day. 

Information REFERENCE:

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/read-across-america-day-dr-seuss-day-2020/

------------------------

George Ohan has been involved 

in other National reading initiatives as well. 

United through reading program - Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX1BC34Bje4

Questions?

Contact:

https://fultonfilmcompany.com/contact

Fulton Film Company

Fresno, CA

Facebook Like Page:

https://www.facebook.com/fultonfilmcompany/

Financial Literacy Film Festival 2020 - Fresno, California

George Ohan
Contact:
https://fultonfilmcompany.com/contact

Do you enjoy short films?

Yes?

This event is for you!

We would like to introduce the 
Financial Literacy Film Festival.


This first time ever event, gathers 
talent from the local community, 
to create a series of EDUtainment 
(Education + Entertainment) 
short films scheduled to be screened 
on 04/03/2020.


How would you or your business 
like to get involved with this festival?

Influencers, Filmmakers, Writers, Actors, Directors, Cinematographers and more have joined our very important global movement to help people become more financially literate.

Join the tribe on Facebook, 
we have a Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/112312483489343/



THIS is HUGE:
Have you heard of 
#SafetyForSarah

Our Film Festival has been approved by the: 
THE SARAH JONES 
FILM FOUNDATION

https://www.safetyforsarah.com/the-foundation


*Would you like to align yourself 
with a TOP Hollywood movement?
Let's talk!


What is the point of this event? 
EDUCATION brought to 
underserved communities 
in a fun way.


How can we educate the world about the rules of money, provide training and safety guidance to the local entertainment business industry,
and still have fun while doing it?  


Our solution:
Create a film festival with an educational theme!

"Teach. Coach. Mentor."
So, What kind of movies are these exactly?
Bite-size and thought-provoking short films, 
created with the help of the entire global community.

Films will range from 3 minutes to 10 minutes each.

We will watch 7-10 short films.

We use ART and we use 
CREATIVITY to 
tell important stories. 

*Red carpet entrance for all attendees.


Building a team with like-minded people is a great way to go deeper with connecting about things that really matter, to you and your family.


Short films are a great way to connect people within the community. People don't usually discuss politics, religion, or anything that does not have something to do with the current project on a film set.  

The Financial Literacy Film Festival believes that
Collaboration and Expressing, are beautiful ways to build 
long-lasting and meaningful relationships within our communities. 


Let's build!
(Festival volunteers + sponsors needed)
https://fultonfilmcompany.com/contact


Fin Lit Blog info was originally posted here:
https://finlitfilmfestival.blogspot.com/2020/02/financial-literacy-film-festival.html


Who is currently involved?

We have Hollywood working professionals contributing their talent to this festival, ranging all the way to a brand new Director, female student from a local High School. Financial Services Professionals are working with the filmmakers to fund their short film projects.

KMP Entertainment 

KMP's Entertainment Business Council Group

(Sponsorships are available)

MAIN EVENT SPONSOR SPOT
is AVAILABLE.

Want to get involved?

Let's talk!

1. Your Business name + logo on Step & Repeat


2. Social Media Promotions pack
    (Ask about it!)


3.  Safety for Sarah - T-shirt Sponsor for film crews


4. Table set-up at event


5. Film Producer Credit


6. Ceremony Color Guard Sponsor


7. HD promotional video with Financial Literacy Film Festival
logo and your business name as a "Sponsor" of the event.


8. Items donated for Swag Bag; handed out to
    Film Actors + Film Crew on Red Carpet


Do you have a Sponsorship idea?

Let's talk!



Film Festival Founders:
George Ohan - U.S. Army Veteran
Carlos Anzures


Executive Director:
Ricoh Danielson - U.S. Army Veteran
"Vetrepreneur"
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Vetrepreneur-FORTITUDE-GRIT/dp/198082178X


Co-Executive Director:
Michelle Murray - U.S. Army Veteran
KMP Entertainment
http://kmpentertainment.org/Entertainment-Business-Council.php


Director Veterans Outreach:
Casey Crupper - U.S. Army Veteran
Los Angeles, CA


Community Outreach Directors:
Kale McCullough
Saul Gonzalez


Festival Marketing:
Fulton Film Company
Veteran Owned
Fresno, California
https://fultonfilmcompany.com/about


#FLFF2020
#FinLitFilmFest
#FinLitFilmFestival
#FultonFilmCompany
#AntiRecidivismMovement
#FinancialLiteracyFilmFestival


George Ohan
Contact:
https://fultonfilmcompany.com/contact

When we offer people different ways to learn and earn, as a society, we have a lot to gain.
-George Ohan



SPONSORED BY:
Anti-Recidivism Movement
"The Strong Arm of Decision."