How I Cleaned Up My Online Presence

My 'Authenticity Audit': How I Clean Up My Online Presence to Attract the Right Audience (and Repel the Wrong One)

Lately, I’ve been wrestling with something a bit uncomfortable. As I’ve been building out my 52-product challenge, documenting my journey, and trying to connect with other solo founders, I noticed a disconnect.

Some of my online content, especially when I was trying to “market myself” in a certain way, felt… off. It felt like I was trying to fit into a mold, like a generic “marketing guru” or an overly polished entrepreneur.

This left me feeling inauthentic, and honestly, the connections I was making felt shallow. It was all about likes and follows, not about genuine conversations or shared struggles. I realized I was attracting the wrong kind of attention, or worse, no real attention at all.

The "Forced" Feeling

I love building products, sharing the messy reality of it, and connecting with others on a similar path. But when I started seeing content from others that seemed to follow a strict, formulaic approach, I felt pressure to do the same. I found myself writing captions that didn't quite sound like me, or sharing updates that felt manufactured.

This isn't the journey I want to document. I want to share the real wins, the real failures, and the real learning.

I want to build a community around genuine shared experiences, not just chasing vanity metrics. So, I decided it was time for an "Authenticity Audit" of my online presence.

My 'Authenticity Audit' Framework

The goal here isn't to delete everything, but to refine. To prune what doesn't serve my core message and to amplify what does. I broke it down into a simple, actionable process:

1. Content Review: Does This Sound Like Me?

This is the core of it. I went back through my posts, my tweets, my newsletter snippets. I asked myself:

• Does this reflect my genuine thoughts and feelings?
• Is this the kind of advice or insight I would give a friend?
• Does this sound like me, Hien, the solo founder from Vietnam, or does it sound like some generic online persona?

For anything that felt forced or didn't align, I either edited it to sound more like me or archived it. It’s about making sure every piece of content is a true representation of my voice and my journey.

2. Engagement Analysis: Are These My People?

It's not just about what I'm posting, but who is responding. I looked at the comments, the DMs, the people who engage with my content regularly.

• Are the people interacting with me genuinely interested in what I’m doing?
• Are they other solo founders, builders, or people facing similar challenges?
• Are the conversations meaningful, or are they just generic compliments?

If I found myself engaging more with people who didn't seem to resonate with my core message, I started to subtly shift my focus. I’d engage more with those who did get it, fostering those genuine connections.

3. Value Alignment: Does This Attract Who I Want to Serve?

This is about clarity. Who am I trying to reach? What problems am I trying to solve for them?

• Does my online presence clearly communicate the value I offer?
• Does it attract people who are looking for practical, no-fluff advice on building and iterating?
• Does it repel those who are looking for quick-rich schemes or guru-level pronouncements?

By being clear about my own values and what I’m building, I can naturally attract people who are aligned with that. It's about being specific, not general.

Pruning and Focusing

The result? I’ve archived a good chunk of older content that just didn't feel right. I’ve also become much more intentional about the platforms I spend time on and the conversations I engage in.

Instead of trying to be everywhere, I'm focusing on where my audience is and where I can have the most authentic interactions. This means more focused conversations on X (formerly Twitter), more honest sharing in my newsletter, and less time trying to force content onto platforms that don’t feel like a natural fit for my journey.

Takeaway for Solo Founders

If you're feeling that same disconnect, that pressure to be someone you're not online, it's time for your own authenticity audit.

1. Review your content: Does it sound like you? Edit or archive what doesn't.
2. Analyze your engagement: Are you connecting with your "people"? Focus your energy there.
3. Align your values: Be clear about what you offer and who you want to serve.

By cleaning up your online presence, you’re not just tidying up your digital space; you’re actively attracting the right audience and repelling the noise. This leads to more meaningful connections, better feedback, and ultimately, a more sustainable and enjoyable journey as a solo founder. It’s about building in public, yes, but it’s also about building authentically.