Offering a Product Is Not Marketing

Let’s get something straight.

Having a product does not automatically make you a business.  It makes you a person with a thing.  The internet has folks out here genuinely shocked when they launch something and nobody shows up. No orders. No inquiries. No excitement. Just vibes and a refresh button.

And then comes the spiral.

“Maybe my prices are too high.” “Maybe nobody wants this.” “Maybe I should quit.”

No. Pause.

What’s missing usually is not the product. It’s the marketing.

Marketing Is Not Magic

Somewhere along the way, social media turned marketing into this mythical creature. People think it requires going viral, dancing on camera, running ads or screaming into the algorithm until it feels awkward.

That’s not marketing.

Marketing at its core is communication.

It’s answering a few basic questions clearly and consistently:

• Who is this for?
• What problem does it solve?
• Why does it matter?
• Why should someone trust you?
• Why should they care today?

If you cannot answer those questions without stumbling, your audience is stumbling too.

Selling Without Context Is Just Noise

Most people jump straight to “buy my stuff” without ever introducing themselves.

No story. No explanation. No reason.

Imagine walking up to a stranger, holding out your hand and saying “give me $35.” No hello. No eye contact. No context.  That’s how a lot of marketing looks online.

People do not buy because you posted a product photo. They buy because they understand the value and feel connected to the person offering it.

Trust comes before transactions. HELLO SUMBODEE!!! 

You Don’t Need Fancy Strategies

Here’s the part nobody likes to hear.  You do not need funnels, ads or a perfectly curated brand to get started.  You need clarity.  You need repetition.

You need to say the same thing over and over in different ways until it feels boring to you. By the time you’re tired of hearing yourself talk about it, someone is hearing it for the first time. READ THAT AGAIN!

Marketing basics look like this:

• Explaining what the product is.
• Showing how it’s used.
• Sharing who it helps.
• Talking about why you made it.
• Answering questions before people ask.
• Showing up even when engagement is low. (and don't be in your feelings because you had two likes)

Unsexy. Effective. Necessary.

Visibility Comes Before Sales

A lot of people want sales without visibility.  That’s not how this works.

People cannot buy what they do not understand, remember or trust. Visibility is not about being everywhere. It’s about being consistent where you already are.

You earn attention before you earn money.  And yes, that takes time.

If You’re Embarrassed to Talk About It, That’s the Work

If talking about your product makes you uncomfortable, that’s a signal.  Not that your product is bad. But that you haven’t practiced explaining it yet.  Marketing is a skill. Skills get better with repetition, not avoidance.

If you can explain what you sell to a friend without apologizing or downplaying it, you’re building confidence. That confidence transfers.

Final Thoughts

Offering a product is the starting line, not the finish.  Marketing is how people learn who you are, what you offer and why they should care.

There is nothing wrong with taking your time to build that foundation. The loudest businesses are not always the strongest ones.

Inside the Hustle is about doing business with intention, not illusions.  So be real with yourself.  If the product isn’t selling yet ask yourself one honest question:  Have I actually told people why this matters?

Start there.