Build Log / Mar 14–19
Week 2: Distribution Education
Video series hit 3K impressions then flopped. Got banned from a subreddit. Found Reddit as primary channel. Realized personal brand IS the product.
Video series: one hit, one flop
Post 1: 3,159 impressions, 1,292 video views, 14 comments, 61 reactions. Post 2: 341 impressions, 0 comments, dead on arrival. The difference wasn't timing — it was early comments. Comments are algorithm fuel on LinkedIn. 14 comments in the first hour pushed Post 1 to 2nd and 3rd degree connections. Zero comments killed Post 2 in the feed. Also learned: title cards kill watch time (17s vs 12s average). Open with code on screen, not a label.
Got banned posting AI-written copy
Posted Claude-written content to a subreddit. Got banned. Deserved it. The content was polished but generic — it didn't sound like me. Every piece of content that performed was written in my own voice. Raw, opinionated, slightly rough. The lesson: own voice beats AI copy for distribution. Use AI for code, not for posts.
Reddit works, LinkedIn is brand
Reddit sent 44 unique visitors in a week with minimal effort. LinkedIn sent more total but required daily posting and engagement hacking. Different tools: LinkedIn builds personal brand, Reddit drives traffic. I also shipped a shareable certificate with a dynamic OG image — proof of completion you can post.
The real insight
A friend called and said: "In my circle you are the most up to date on AI." Not because of tinyagents — because of consistent posting. The product is the excuse to post. The posting is the thing. This personal brand transfers directly to my main company when it comes out of stealth. Honest self-assessment at end of week: effort 8/10, effectiveness 5/10. The gap was user conversations — 11K views and zero real conversations with users.