Ep 24: How to Market a Startup | Lessons from VidFest Expo

How do you actually market a startup in today’s noisy digital world? In this episode, I share my honest review of VidFest 2025 in Atlanta and the powerful lessons I took away about content marketing for startups. From YouTube growth hacks to networking with creators like Roberto Blake and Gabe Aluisy, I break down the insights that matter most for founders trying to grow with limited resources.

You’ll also hear our latest numbers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, what’s working, what’s not, and the surprising strategy that got us 200+ new subscribers in one week.

If you’re building a startup and wondering how to grow an audience, this episode is for you.

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⏱️ Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome & startup update

02:00 – Website + social media metrics (Facebook, IG, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube)

07:30 – YouTube growth test: boosted video results

10:00 – Weekly article roundup (leadership, adaptability, conversations)

14:30 – First impressions of VidFest Expo

16:30 – Speakers who stood out (Roberto Blake, Gabe Aluisy, more)

20:00 – Finding my tribe: creators who “get it”

22:30 – The tough question: What do you sell?

24:00 – Why startups must focus on revenue-generating products

27:00 – Networking, shoutouts, and future podcast guests

29:00 – Free social media marketing course + wrap-up

📝 Key Takeaways

Community matters – Surround yourself with creators who understand your journey.

Video accelerates trust – Short clips and YouTube growth tactics outperformed articles alone.

SEO isn’t optional – Optimizing YouTube and startup content helps build organic reach.

Revenue clarity is critical – Every startup must answer: What do we sell?

Events = leverage – VidFest unlocked strategies, partnerships, and motivation to refine DissedMedia’s growth.

✅ Action Items for Founders

Audit your startup’s content: Are you balancing organic SEO with short-form discovery?

Write a clear one-sentence answer to “What do you sell?”

Test one video-first strategy this week (YouTube Shorts, IG Reels, or TikTok).

Join at least one founder or creator community to share insights and stay accountable.

Track one key metric for 30 days (e.g., subscriber growth, engagement rate) and optimize against it.

Speaker & Event Mentions
https://vidfestexpo.com/vidfest-home-page#section-toPcuLMT3C

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