Think you need a perfect brand, a big following, or a fancy setup to succeed online? These 23 outdated “rules” are quietly sabotaging you from showing up online.
You’ve got the ideas. You’ve got the drive. You want to create a business or show up online or take your marketing to another level but something keeps holding you back.
Maybe it’s imposter syndrome. Maybe it’s perfectionism dressed up as preparation. Maybe it’s a checklist of “must-haves” you think you need to finally be legit.
But let’s be real: most of that stuff? Optional.
And in a lot of cases, completely made up.
This list is your permission slip to get started imperfectly. We’re debunking the most common excuses creatives and entrepreneurs tell themselves before they start.
And if just one of these blocks gets cleared up for you by the end of this post? That’s a win.
Let’s prove those limiting beliefs wrong.
1. “I don’t want to be on camera.”
Not vibing with showing your face on video? Cool, you don’t have to. There are successful podcasters, educators, and content creators who have built entire brands without ever turning on their camera.
You can record audio-only podcasts, do voiceovers on B-roll, or use carousels and writing-based posts to get your message across. You don’t need to be a video star to show up online.
2. “I don’t have a perfect aesthetic.”
You’re not a design agency—you’re a human being with something to share. Waiting until you have the perfect look is just procrastination in disguise.
Audiences care way more about what you’re saying than whether all your content uses the exact same hex code. Use a simple Canva template and go. You can evolve your style over time.
3. “I don’t have a huge following.”
We all start somewhere. And honestly? Your first 100 followers are often the most loyal, engaged, and impactful.
You don’t need a massive audience to start selling, building credibility, or getting clients. Focus on making meaningful connections instead of chasing vanity metrics.
4. “I’m not an expert yet.”
The world doesn’t need more gurus. It needs people who are real.
You don’t have to be ten steps ahead—just a couple steps ahead of the person you’re helping. Share what you’re learning. Document your journey. That’s often way more valuable (and relatable) than expert advice.
5. “I don’t have a team.”
You don’t need a social media manager, copywriter, designer, and video editor to start. You need a few scrappy tools and a little creativity.
With free or low-cost options like Canva, CapCut, and ChatGPT, you can do more than ever solo. Start small. Batch when you can. Be resourceful. This makes you even more ready when it comes time to hire, because you’ll know how to do every task in your business.
6. “My website isn’t finished.”
Guess what? You don’t need a perfect website to start building momentum.
Use a Linktree, a Google Doc, or a Notion landing page in the meantime. Your business is allowed to grow while your website is under construction. Don’t let perfection delay your progress.
7. “I need better branding first.”
Branding matters but it doesn’t need to be custom or expensive from day one.
People connect to clarity, and there are hundreds of color palette options you can choose from on Pinterest as a starter option.
Start with your voice, your values, and a few visuals that feel like you. That’s enough to be recognizable and memorable.
8. “I’m not niche enough.”
The pressure to pick the perfect niche is real, and paralyzing. But clarity often comes through doing.
Start with what excites you. You’ll refine your direction over time, and your audience will help guide you based on what resonates.
Besides, you don’t even necessarily need a niche! YOU are the niche,
9. “I don’t have the ‘right’ gear.”
You don’t need a DSLR, a mic setup, and a Pinterest-perfect office. Your phone is a powerhouse. Natural light, good audio apps, and basic editing tools can take you far.
Let your content speak louder than your equipment.
10. “I can’t keep up with trends.”
Trends are exhausting to chase and unnecessary. Focus on evergreen content: answering questions, solving problems, telling stories.
People will still find that content months or years from now. Show up in a way that’s sustainable for you.
11. “I don’t have a morning routine.”
Success isn’t reserved for 5AM club members. Some of the most successful creatives work best at night, on weekends, or during random inspiration bursts.
Your routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Just create space for what matters, whenever that fits in your day.
12. “I don’t look like a typical founder/influencer.”
Good. That’s exactly why we need you. The business world needs more diversity, not more sameness.
Show up as yourself! Quirks, curls, sweats, whatever. People are craving realness more than ever right now.
13. “I’m introverted.”
Introverts can be magnetic creators. You just need a strategy that works for you. Batch content, lean into writing, automate where possible.
You don’t have to be constantly on to be consistent.
14. “My voice isn’t ‘cool’ or ‘professional.'”
You don’t need a radio voice. You need your voice.
Think of all the creators you follow with unique voices, accents, or quirks. It’s part of what makes them memorable. Speak clearly, confidently, and people will listen.
15. “I don’t know SEO / email / etc.”
You don’t need to be a tech whiz to start. Focus on sharing value consistently, then layer in new skills over time.
Google, YouTube, and ChatGPT are your besties. Start messy, then optimize.
16. “I’m not doing what everyone else is doing.”
Exactly. That’s your superpower. If you were doing what everyone else is doing, you’d just blend in. Trust your different-ness. It’s how people remember you.
17. “I don’t have the perfect niche statement or elevator pitch.”
Guess what? No one remembers a pitch—they remember how you made them feel. Start with this: who are you helping, and what do you love helping them with? Speak from the heart. Refine the language later.
18. “My content isn’t ‘original’ enough.”
Every idea has been done, but not by you. Your take is what makes it fresh. Your stories, voice, and personality are the originality.
Don’t hold back because someone else said it first. Find a way to say it like YOU.
19. “It’s already been done.”
Ok cool then there’s proof it works? Take inspiration and then make it your own. Your perspective adds something new, even to an old idea.
20. “I don’t have time to be consistent.”
Then be realistic instead of idealistic. Maybe it’s once a week. Maybe it’s a 30-minute batch session on Sundays.
You don’t have to do it all to make progress, you just have to do something consistently.
21. “I don’t have testimonials yet.”
Start with examples of what you would do, try some case studies, beta offers, or even screenshots of kind DMs.
Do you have proof from what you’ve accomplished for yourself or for a company you worked for? For example, building an email list or growing a following? Showcase that. You can build social proof along the way.
Everyone starts with zero. Let your early results speak until others can do it for you.
22. “I can’t afford to invest in software/tools.”
Use free trials, freemium versions, and no-cost tools to your advantage. Canva, Notion, Google Docs, and CapCut can take you far.
Upgrade when it makes sense. Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to invest. Start with what’s accessible now.
23. “I’ve already waited too long. It’s too late.”
It’s not too late. It’s never too late. In fact, you might be better prepared now than you were when you first had the idea.
Your timing is valid. Start today anyway. Your dream doesn’t need to wait until everything is perfect. It needs you to start where you are, with what you’ve got.
Momentum beats out perfection every time. I swear it.