So you want to grow your audience …

Great! No matter what stage of business, this is something we all want and need to focus on.

Growing an engaged audience (it doesn’t have to be huge) will help you to create a community around the work that you do and truly is a business asset.

When you first begin to focus on audience growth, it can all feel somewhat overwhelming. Where to begin? What platform to focus on? How to even get started?

Photo credit: Anna Moffat Photography

My top tip is to begin with your email list 

This is digital real estate that you can own (not rent from Zuckerberg and co.) and it is completely under your control. You get to decide when you land in inboxes, what to put in the subject line that will encourage opens and how often to be in touch. Unlike when dealing with social media algorithms, you truly are in charge.

Ok. So, next question, how can you grow your list? The answer is as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Basically, you need to create a value exchange, as in, you give somebody something, they give you their email address. Nowadays inbox zero is a dream for many, so you really do need to fight for your right to appear in there. Hence the offering.

What we’re essentially talking about is a value exchange

Often called lead magnets, or freebies, what we’re essentially talking about here is providing something useful and valuable to your prospect, in return for their email address and future attention. The more clarity you have around who your ideal customers are and their needs, the easier you will find it to create your first (or next) lead magnet.

For example, I can and do help all kinds of businesses with all kinds of marketing support. However, I know that the thing my community wants most is an engaged audience. So instead of creating really broad lead magnets on topics like ‘How to grow your business’ or ‘How to make bring in a regular monthly income’ (both things I help clients with), instead I create far more targeted lead magnets on topics such as ‘Your Audience Growth Checklist’, ‘25 Ways To Grow Your Audience Without Paying For Ads’ and ‘10 Best Places To Share Your Lead Magnet To Get More Sign Ups’

As well as straight-forward pdfs like these, you can also create quizzes, videos, even the first chapter of your book - anything that is interesting and useful to your ideal client.

So what will your next lead magnet cover?

Stumped for ideas? Then it’s time to go back to the drawing board and start mapping out that ideal client, who they are, what they care about and what their heart desires right now.

If you’re ready to learn how to grow an engaged audience who will buy from you, then join the waiting list for my new programme Audience Growth Club and secure an exclusive, subscriber-only price when it goes on sale later this month.

It runs from Mon 10th January - Fri 10th February and you can register your interest here. The waiting list will close on Wednesday 24th November and you will be sent your exclusive subscriber offer on Thursday 25th November, valid for five days.