Build your Audience
One of the questions we hear often is about how to build your online audience. For some small businesses, this happens easily and for some, it requires more work and intentionality. Here are a few of our top tips for growing your online audience from where it is today!
Show up
Take advantage of as many social media platforms as you can. As long as they align with your messaging, why not push your content out to as many channels as you can? You’ll catch different segments of your audience when you show up in multiple places. There may be some overlap, but your fans hanging out on LinkedIn are different from your fans on Facebook, and they’re different from your fans on Instagram. Post consistently in a way that is sustainable for you. It could be daily, it could be weekly, but whatever it is, create a schedule and stick to it!
Understand your audience
You need to know who your audience is if you’re going to create content meant for them. Who is your ideal customer? Who is your actual customer? Spend some time thinking through what your target customer is looking for what they’re interested in. Get as specific as thinking about their gender, income levels, age ranges, personality traits, and hobbies. Engage your audience in conversation to get to know them and find out what they want. Not only in the products and services you offer, but what kind of information and entertainment to they want? Share funny memes, community events, and tips and tricks of your trade.
Actually Create. The. Content.
Be sure you’re creating good, quality content. From graphics to blog posts, to live videos, your audience wants quality material. Engaging content converts your audience to raving fans. Everything you need to create the perfect content for your audience is at your fingertips. Use your imagination, get creative, and think about targeting your ideal fan. Make content for them! What do they want? Even more, what do they need that you can offer?
“Use your imagination, get creative, and think about targeting your ideal fan. Make content for them! What do they want? Even more, what do they need that you can offer?”
Stick to a Schedule
Set a schedule, try it out and see what happens! If you need to change it up, don’t be afraid to experiment! Most people work well with consistent routines and schedules. When you’re posting consistently, you’re building a reliable brand. Find what works for you, it maybe once a day, or once a week. Play with your content schedule to see what is working to build engagement with your audience.
Putting for effort with your content and your consistency will convert to engagement. Posting sporadically will not translate to consumers coming into your store in droves. With the sheer amount of competition on the Internet, it takes intentional effort to become a success. You won’t find out what schedule works for you unless you try. Go for it!
Be a Peach
Remember, you’re not for everyone. In a blog from 2019, we talked about finding your niche and being okay with the fact that you cannot please everyone. It is true, not everyone is going to want what you’re offering.
Have confidence in what you do offer and you will have an easier time clarifying your target audience. It’s the difference between saying “we are a restaurant” and “we are a vegan restaurant in an urban setting.” See how that clarifying statement narrows the audience for who may visit your restaurant?
When you know exactly who you are as a business, and you can market to a specific audience instead of casting a wide net and hoping for the best. In our vegan restaurant example, if you’ve clearly communicated who you and you make delicious food, you’ll gain a loyal following! Sure, you may not be for everyone, but that’s okay. You know who you are and you’re playing into your passion. It may be hard to hear if you’re a people pleaser… but it is true. Find what you love (and what you’re good at!), focus your passion, time, and energy there, and watch your small business flourish! Your fans will follow!
Do you have suggestions on how to build your online audience? Comment below - we’d love to hear from you! Or, if you’d like more information on how Larison Media can help build your online audience, let’s chat!