How to Build an Audience in 60 Days

This probably sounds like the title of some crappy movie you'd maybe consider watching on a transatlantic flight. Or some clickbait YouTube video trying to snag your attention. But alas, it is merely a description of what I'm about to tell you.

Over the past couple of months, the time I've spent on Twitter has been met with a mixture of enthusiasm, laughs, confusion, and even disdain from people I know.

But one thing's for certain - it's resulted in growth.

After entering the month of July with around 300 followers, I just passed 5K this past weekend. And no, I didn't read every blog post and watch every video about "easy ways to gain followers" or "sure-fire social media growth hacks." In fact, I did absolutely none of that. So instead of promising you that there's a hack to building an audience (because spoiler alert - there isn't), I'm simply going to share a few of the lessons that I've learned from my time in the Twitterverse.

#1: Find your niche

The world's a broad place, so you've got to start small. Insert whatever version of the "if you please all, you please none" quote you see fit, because it applies here. When you're starting from scratch, it's best to build a presence within one community. Different social media platforms have different pockets of interaction, so I'd suggest doing some research to explore what's out there and find a place where you'd gel well with the constituents. I was lucky to find my home with the #WritingCommunity on Twitter - an incredibly welcoming, supportive, and fun group of folks to interact with.

#2: Learn how to speak the language

No community will be the same, and as a result, you have to adapt. Take time to truly observe and understand how members interact with one another. Quite frankly, this is table stakes - you can't expect to flourish in an environment where you aren't cognizant of how others behave. But that's not to say you have to be perfect, because the only way to learn is to put yourself out there and see what sticks. Experiment, be humble, and above all, be respectful. If you are genuine in your efforts, chances are, you'll be welcomed with open arms. You just have to truly care about learning about the community; if you come in with the sole goal of trying to get more followers, any group will smell your BS from a mile away.

#3: Actually support others

Like I said, there's no hack. If you're not a known commodity, celebrity, or the like, you won't be able to just whip up followers overnight because of your brand, your status, or what you do. So I can't stress this point enough: if you expect to receive love, you better be ready to give it back by 10x. The real key is to remember that, at the end of the day, everyone is just like you - trying to interact with like-minded individuals and make new connections. So the best way to grow? Actually support others.

Indeed, what a concept.

As simple as it may seem, it's something that I see people lose sight of far too often. Just think about it: if you're not willing to appreciate and boost others, why on Earth would they be willing to support and follow you? Make a concerted effort to interact with as many people as possible, support their goals, find out what they enjoy, and ultimately be a kind and compassionate person. In a world where people are focused on promoting themselves, stand out from the crowd and be someone who listens. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see how many doors it'll open for you.

TL;DR: It's not rocket science

If what I've said seems somewhat obvious, it should - that's the point! My goal is to highlight the fact that for your average Joe, building an audience isn't about hacking your way to the top or trying to find the best shortcut. The best way to grow is to put real, genuine effort into supporting and listening to people in a community that you resonate with and taking it from there.

Effort and time. That's really all it takes.

So what're are you waiting for? Start building today.