Matt Gray Outlines 13 Steps to Building a $15k/Month Side Hustle

In a recent LinkedIn post, Matt Gray outlines a comprehensive 13-step strategy for building a side hustle capable of generating $15,000 per month. Gray, a proponent of leveraging expertise for entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizes clarity, consistent value delivery, and community building as core components of his approach.

Identifying and Distilling Value

Gray’s framework begins with introspection, urging aspiring entrepreneurs to identify topics where they can provide significant clarity to others. He suggests asking peers and colleagues about perceived areas of expertise. The key, according to Gray, is not to be the absolute top expert, but to be sufficiently knowledgeable to guide those who are less experienced.

Following this self-assessment, Gray stresses the importance of distilling this value proposition. He asks:

“By helping someone achieve massive clarity, what are they able to achieve? This is your value proposition. If you can’t articulate the transformation, neither can your customers.”

This distillation process, as Matt Gray argues, is crucial for effectively communicating the benefits of a service to potential clients.

Platform Selection and Content Strategy

The next critical step involves choosing the right platform to reach the target audience. Gray advocates for going where potential clients already reside, citing LinkedIn as an ideal environment for professionals seeking growth due to its algorithm and high-intent user base.

Gray’s strategy then pivots to content creation, emphasizing daily output. He advises documenting knowledge, sharing insights, answering questions, and consistently providing value. The principle of “consistency beats perfection” is central to this phase.

Engaging and Building Relationships

A significant portion of Gray’s strategy focuses on direct engagement and relationship building. He recommends DMing every individual who interacts with the content to understand their goals and needs. This is framed not as a sales tactic, but as a method for building connections.

“Ask them what they do and what their goals are. This isn’t selling. It’s connecting. Build relationships before you need them.”

As Matt Gray points out, these initial interactions can lead to offering free consultations. He suggests that after providing value, most individuals will be receptive to a one-on-one call.

Leveraging Consultations for Market Research and Growth

Gray views each consultation as an opportunity for market research. He suggests reflecting on what exercises were effective, identifying client blockers, and considering what resources could enhance value. This iterative process of conducting consultations and analyzing the outcomes is key to understanding what outcomes can be promised and who the ideal target demographic is.

Furthermore, Gray emphasizes the power of community. He proposes adding participants from consultations to a group chat, stating, “Community is your moat.” This fosters a sense of belonging and connection among clients.

Scaling to $15k/Month

As the expertise and client base grow, Gray suggests developing longer-form content, such as case studies and process breakdowns, to build authority. The transition to monetization involves offering a paid community with features like weekly Q&As and monthly goal check-ins. Gray’s philosophy here is that “Free gets them in. Value keeps them paying.”

To streamline the sales process, Gray advises redirecting traffic from content to a website with a clear path to purchase, linking to tools like Stripe for checkout and Calendly for scheduling 1:1 calls. Finally, he touches upon scaling the operation by investing in resources like coaches, AI matchmaking, and community managers, rather than solely relying on personal time.

“Scale by adding leverage, not hours.”

This detailed roadmap, as presented by Matt Gray, offers a structured approach for individuals looking to monetize their expertise and build a substantial side hustle.