How can you use networking to find the most engaging content for your target audience?

1 Connect with influencers

Influencers are people who have a large and loyal following in your field and can shape opinions and behaviors. By connecting with influencers, you can learn from their insights, strategies, and content. You can also leverage their authority and credibility to boost your own reputation and reach. To connect with influencers, you can follow them on social media, comment on their posts, share their content, join their groups, or reach out to them via email or direct message. Be genuine, respectful, and helpful, and avoid spamming or pitching them.

2 Join relevant groups

Groups are online communities where people with similar interests, goals, or problems can interact and exchange information. By joining relevant groups, you can tap into the collective wisdom, experience, and feedback of your peers and potential customers. You can also find out what questions, pain points, and needs they have, and what kind of content they find valuable and engaging. To join relevant groups, you can use platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, Quora, or Slack. Be active, contribute, and follow the rules of each group.

3 Attend events and webinars

Events and webinars are opportunities to learn from experts, network with other professionals, and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in your industry. By attending events and webinars, you can discover new ideas, insights, and best practices that can inspire your content creation and curation. You can also ask questions, participate in discussions, and collect feedback from your audience. To attend events and webinars, you can use platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, Zoom, or YouTube. Be prepared, punctual, and polite, and follow up with the speakers and attendees.

4 Ask for referrals and recommendations

Referrals and recommendations are sources of trust, credibility, and social proof that can help you grow your network and reach new prospects and customers. By asking for referrals and recommendations, you can access the content that your existing contacts find useful, relevant, and engaging. You can also get insights into their preferences, needs, and challenges. To ask for referrals and recommendations, you can use platforms like LinkedIn, email, or phone. Be specific, courteous, and grateful, and offer value in return.

5 Monitor social media trends

Social media trends are indicators of what topics, keywords, and hashtags are popular and influential in your niche and industry. By monitoring social media trends, you can identify the content that is generating the most engagement, buzz, and conversation among your target audience. You can also spot gaps, opportunities, and challenges that you can address with your content. To monitor social media trends, you can use tools like Google Trends, Twitter Trends, BuzzSumo, or Social Mention. Be alert, curious, and creative, and adapt your content to the changing needs and interests of your audience.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?