Understanding the Difference Between a LinkedIn? Audience and a Community

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the poll I sent out last week on the subject of audience and community. Your insights and engagement inspired this week's newsletter.

With LinkedIn?, it's crucial to distinguish between having an audience and building a community. Both play significant roles, but their impacts and the ways you engage with them differ greatly.

LinkedIn? Audience

Your audience consists of followers who consume your content. They might like, comment, or share your posts, but their engagement is often superficial.

An audience helps amplify your reach. They can boost your visibility and help spread your message to a broader network.

Audiences can be volatile. Their loyalty is often tied to the content you produce, and they may disengage if their expectations aren't met.

LinkedIn Community

A community is a group of individuals who engage with you on a deeper level. They share common interests, values, and goals, and they interact with you and each other regularly.

A community provides support, collaboration, and sustained engagement. They are more likely to stick with you through ups and downs and contribute to your growth.

Communities foster meaningful connections. They offer a sense of belonging and can lead to opportunities for collaboration and mutual support.

The Importance of Both: While having a large audience can enhance your visibility, building a community is essential for long-term success and meaningful engagement. A community is where real relationships are formed, and where you can find true advocates for your brand or message.

My Experience Discovering the Power of Community

This weekend, I conducted some user experience tests on my Restream account. During this process, I noticed a drop in my follower count—these followers represented my audience. It was a reminder of how quickly an audience can change.

However, something positive emerged from this experience. By maintaining a mindset of giving and engaging, I received two invitations to collaborate. These invitations came from individuals who saw value in my work and wanted to connect on a deeper level. This represents the strength of a community.

While my audience fluctuated, my community grew stronger. This experience highlighted the importance of nurturing a community over merely building an audience. It's the community that will support you, collaborate with you, and help you grow, even when things don't go as planned.

So, as you engage on LinkedIn?, focus on building a community. It's the key to lasting success and meaningful connections.

As a customer experience strategist and personal brand coach, I am dedicated to helping businesses, professionals and jobseekers find the perfect balance between your audience and community. By nurturing your community, you can boost awareness and advocacy, leading to lasting success and meaningful connections. But more importantly, finding this balance will also open up opportunities that would otherwise not have found you.

If you're ready to transform your business or LinkedIn? presence and build a thriving community, let's connect! Together, we can create strategies that not only grow your audience but also foster a supportive and engaged community.

Reach out to me today to start your journey towards a more impactful LinkedIn presence.