Have you ever been stuck for a topic to write about? Last week I was trying to come up with a blog post for you and I couldn't decide on the topic. There were several I was considering and every time I got started there was an interruption.
First, a tweet came in telling me that for the low price of $49 I could buy twenty five thousand followers, guaranteed. Wow! Fifty bucks and I could have 25K new followers. Second, I was sent a message on Facebook showing how by using simple tricks, (tricks, not tactics), I could increase likes for my page. Neat, trick people into liking me. Finally, I was privy to a conversation that discussed using slick gimmicks to increase your social voice and presence. Awesome!
It dawned on me that for many people the best way to increase your social presence is through tricks, gimmicks, and purchasing people. Wow... there was the topic I was looking for. How not to be completely disgusting in your use of social media. But I figure, "Building an audience" was a better title.
Yes, you can build an audience based on tricks, gimmicks, and purchasing people. I would consider these throw backs to an age of advertising that is getting lost in the world of people interacting with people and trust advisors, not being marketed and sold by companies.
I will let you in on a secret for building your audience. It isn't fast. It's certainly not flashy. It is a secret that ad companies, marketing experts and sales people don't want you to know. Yet, it is so simple anyone can do it and become a huge voice in the social space if used properly. Yes, even for police and law enforcement.
Here's the secret. Communicate. That's it. No flash, no flare, no fireworks. Talk, listen, answer. Want to speed up the process? If you want to fast track the building of your audience, I would highly recommend providing your perspective audience great content. Content that is value based on THEM, not you. Social media done well is never about you, it's about the people you are trying to reach.
Providing your audience great content that focuses on their needs, i.e. personal safety, crime prevention, traffic alerts, cyber safety, fraud awareness, will lead to shares, re-tweets, subscribers, likes, comments and views. Be a conduit for providing information that positively impacts your community. Build your audience one voice at a time.
What you will achieve is an audience that wasn't tricked or bought to follow you, but an audience that truly wants to have your information and your attention. I would rather have 20 people from my community that are engaged and committed to sharing in the communication circle than twenty thousand that couldn't care less what I have to say.
Big numbers mean nothing if there are no connections. Build your audience with engagement, trust, transparency, honesty and a pure commitment to enhancing their lives and increasing their quality of life within their (your) community. The numbers you are looking for will come over time. Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved by taking shortcuts.
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