What's the secret to building a supportive content community?

It might be counterintuitive to niche, because we feel we are reducing the number of people we reach. However, how many clients do we truly need? How many return buyers can we serve well? It's much better to reach a few thousand people who truly connect with our message, than millions who only vaguely relate.

In my role as a community manager for The Messy Inbetween Podcast, I discovered that the secret to building a supportive content community lies in fostering genuine connections and meaningful interactions. It's not just about sharing content. I found that when I take the time to respond to comments, acknowledge feedback, and even share behind-the-scenes stories or anecdotes related to the podcast, it creates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among our listeners. Building trust and showing that we valued their input and presence was instrumental. Ultimately, it's about being authentic, responsive, and proactive in building a space where our audience feels heard and appreciated, and that's the true secret to a supportive content community.

One of the best places to start conversations with potential clients, find content ideas and generate qualified leads is in the comments section of your posts. Simply by responding to your audience's questions, you can develop a greater understanding of where they struggle the most. Then, you can ensure your product/service truly meets their needs. Further, once you've had a conversation in the comments, send them a connection request and continue the conversation in the DMs to really level up your engabement.

The pain point my community of writers most has is the lack of bylines we're awarded. Many of us write for executives and companies, so our work doesn't carry our name. Rather than as a business page, I began Write Wiser to assuage this, providing a place for writers to post, receive pro-editing from a seasoned writer, and be able to point to articles that carry their name. I'm proud to have done this for my peers!

You can't directly pitch anyone for collaboration. It won't work because the base is not created. The base is the relationship with them. 3 steps that can help you with collaboration - 1. Create a concrete strategy for how your process will flow. 2. Reach out to your niche people and connect with them personally. 3. A few interactions through DMs and calls will make you understand their personality and core values. You can finally offer them for collaboration and proceed with them.

Collaborating with fellow creators can give your engagement a refreshing twist while creating a healthy environment for your peers to thrive. Come up with creative ways for collaborations but focus on these elements: 1. Is their target audience overlapping with yours? This may not help either of you expand your TA base. 2. Is their target audience not interested in your content at all? This will also not help in boosting your engagement or reach. 3. Does their target audience comprise that could be interested in your content if it reached them? This is when you've struck gold. Remember to be mindful of what you are offering to the creators you collaborate with, making it a mutually beneficial collaboration.