Are you truly in control of your audience? |

You've put a lot of time and effort into growing your following. Shouldn't that hard work pay off? Here's why owning your followers is crucial to the success of your creator.

Why shouldn't the effort pay off?

Being popular on a platform doesn't necessarily mean that you have a relationship to that particular audience. And if you don't, you're missing out on one) users seeing what you have to offer, and 2)) the benefits -- the potential for monetization, building community, and the growth that comes from getting that audience first place.

This is the definition of "owning your audience" means and why it matters.

What exactly does it mean to be able to control your audience? (And why is it crucial?)

Owning your audience means building connections with your audience according to your personal preferences. They know who you are, and what they do with your content, whether they're introducing your brand for the first time , or are long-time fans.

You build those relationships by deciding when and how you communicate with your followers. Your communication with them is through a platform or channel which you manage, such as your email list, your online community, or even your site. That direct line of communication is flexible, meaning it is easy to reach individuals at the right moment, whether that's one individual client or your entire email list.

There's a difference between posting on Instagram and trying to hope that that the algorithm will put your post in front of the people who follow you vs. knowing that your message will reach the people you want to.

Imagine you're hosting a dinner party for some new friends. To ensure they'll are having a blast You must know some facts about them before they arrive Are they averse to specific dietary restriction? What kind of music do they like? Do they prefer beers, wine, or a mocktail?

Like asking your family and friends for their preferences helps you cater a party to your guests. Getting to know your target audience more than just "likes" or "follows" can help you develop items and contents that will meet their needs.

The result? Your business will grow with more sales and happier customers.

It is a risk not to own your target audience

When you don't own your audience, you miss chances to develop connections, and monetize your followers, make sure your followers get to see your content and also grow your business.

Three ways social media platforms make difficult to control your audience:

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok don't let you take your audience that you've built up by bringing them along. It's not possible to message all your TikTok fans at the same time or make a list of all their email addresses so that you can communicate with them on your terms.

The algorithms used by social platforms are designed to keep users engaged with social media applications for as long as they can making platform profit above creators' success. Changes in algorithms means your users could not view your work in the moment you share it -- if they even see it. These platforms also promote works of others for your fans and showcase your work with the branding of the platform, not the one you own.

There's no reason to suggest that content creators shouldn't avoid social media altogether. It's an excellent way to grow your following and let new audiences get to know your work however, it's not the onlyway to communicate with your audience. Making use of social media along with other channels (like email) could make a huge impact in boosting the growth of the business of your creator.

Strategies to create connections with your audience on your own terms

A big part of owning your followers is having complete control over the way they experience your brand at all times no matter if they're a new subscriber or a regular.

There are many options to make that happen. We have two suggestions for creators:

Get your email list growing early on

Pick a user-friendly, all-in-one platform for creators.

1. Begin to build your email database early on

Email is an established and reliable marketing method due to the fact that it's simple and inexpensive to begin -- and building your mailing list before the deadline can yield a wealth of benefits.

The success of your workshop is at the decision-making process *.

(*The Instagram algorithm changes frequently and at no notice, which means the data in this graph could alteration. This is one of the main reason why people are tired with Instagram -- and moving to channels they own such as email or private community sites.)

What you do with the place you host these digital goods -- and control your other company -- could make a a big difference, too.

2. Select platforms and tools that are user-friendly for creators.

A lot of platforms treat creators as though they're in a vacuum and only produce content and engage followers on that platform instead of as actual people who work to build brands and business. The companies do not understand the importance of starting and develop a successful business as a creator.

That is to say, they aren't creator-friendly.

A user-friendly platform allows you to manage your audiences connections and directing their experience a whole lot simpler.

"Creators are always working to create their own fan base as well as long-lasting connections but that should not be the reason to get locked into one particular platform. It's your right to take the fruits of your time and labor along with you wherever you travel."

"That is the capability to move your data clients, data, and profits with you to a different platform, or , at very least, export off your current platform quickly and in a simple manner."

These platforms allow you to connect with every person -- clients, students, free community members as well as paid subscribers to your email list -- to the extent you need. You can send a note to everyone on your list or even a certain student in a course cohort through the same dashboard.

Platforms such as Facebook do not send data to the email service you use. (They don't even let you export emails.) So, you aren't able to use audience info to segment your audience, so you must work on multiple platforms to communicate with everyone.

"I need to hire an assistant who is full-time to allow members in, welcome them, moderate, and so on. There's Google Sheets and separate Facebook Messenger software, which costs $30 per month in addition to Facebook's algorithm and interruptions. The mess is so messed up."

This becomes especially important if you plan to go further than provide content for free. If you want to start making money by offering digital services and community it is essential to have the proper equipment.

Set up a platform where they can share their updates with their supporters

It's the bottom line: the software that you choose to use must see and help you in a holistic way in your work as an artist rather than just an opportunity to generate more revenue. Platforms that are supportive of creators understand how crucial that creators be in control of the relationship and communications with their audience. When you're able to take control of these things and have control over them, you can begin to build an incredible company for creators on your terms.

Are you ready to start on a platform which puts your success at the forefront? Join us for your free account today . We can't wait to watch you grow.