The Poll Results are In!
Melissa G Wilson
Helping Thought Leaders Write, Publish, Launch, and Market their Books | Publishing Innovator and Book Creation Coach- Ask About My One-of-a-Kind Author Marketing Support Circles
Lately, I’ve become intrigued by marketing expert Mark Schaefer's argument against gated content. I’ve noticed it has gained traction in recent marketing discussions. He contends that gating content can hinder marketing efforts by creating barriers that deter potential readers. Schaefer's succinct advice is clear:?
"People hate gated content. Don't do things people hate.”
That left me wondering - how likely are people to follow someone with gated content?
I turned to LinkedIn and conducted a poll on the likelihood of following an author with gated content, which revealed interesting insights. Here are the results:
These results highlight a crucial point: the effectiveness of gated content is closely tied to the relationship between the author and their audience.?
Aha! The power of relationship building! Remember, my mission with Networlding is to build meaningful, mutually beneficial connections.
When readers feel aligned with an author's work, they are more likely to engage with gated content.? It all comes down to community and relationship building.??
What does this mean to you as an author?
Get to know your readers! Ask questions and converse with them on social platforms. Look for ways to build connections. Your primary goal should be to produce valuable content that resonates with readers.?
If you are moving towards having gated content, remember to start with building connections with your readers first and listening to what they need.? The decision to gate your content comes from understanding your audience.?
So, what do you think of gated content? Share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.
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Nonfiction book coach | Author
1 周Great advice. I try to gate very little, unless it has a lot of value for the right person. For example, I offer a free audiobook version of my book Get the Word Out on my website; that is gated. Since it's a particularly substantive give-away, exchanging an email doesn't seem hateful.