3-Step Plan for A SPEC-tacular Audience

3-Step Plan for A SPEC-tacular Audience

By now you have already noticed the play on words, and I’ll admit…It is certainly dreadful. But perhaps you’ve seen past it and have realized: this post holds the secrets to gaining an audience and achieving your wildest dreams!

Well…sort of. I mean, I’m not an expert on the subject, but this is what I’ve been learning, and I think it’ll make sense to you like it did me. Sure, it’s a little difficult, but I’ve discovered the three “secret” steps to successfully gaining an audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1 Aim for the Tribe
Identify your audience. Ask yourself:

“What kind of content do you make? And who would be interested in it?”

“Well I’m glad you asked, Kaz! On my YouTube channel, humor and a slice of life—especially for those who enjoy clever banter and proper etiquette. I write speculative fiction—both cyberpunk and industrial fantasy. I’ve found that people who enjoy reading it are, in fact, also fans of witty conversation and the high moral ground.”

Step 2 Enter the Village
The Audience is an incredible group of people, and these smart individuals hold a lot of power. However…there are some things we cannot expect them to do. Find us, for example. The interwebs are sprawling. How can you get your target audience to notice you hiding in the bushes? Of a very dense jungle? With a pilot who is even now betraying you? (Maybe that’s just me.)

How to build an audience: Be where your audience is, Be heard, Be prepared for their appearance. Click To Tweet

• Be where your audience is. You may have thought the jungle was a one-time metaphor, but Oh no! Here it is again. If you have something that you think a certain tribe needs, you will go to them, to their…jungle gym, if you will, and spend time with them. You certainly wouldn’t want to be viewed as a traveling salesmen, but if you cultivate relationships, become a useful part of the community, your ideal audience will eventually know you.

 

• Be heard. In the real world, (because jungles don’t exist in the real world) you should frequent blogs they like. Comment regularly. Ask questions. Perhaps, once you are at least an acquaintance, ask the blogger to do a guest post for you. Their followers, then, may visit your virtual establishment. Build a great body of content first, and have enough of it ready to go that you can impress anyone you approach and pitch.

 

• Be prepared for their appearance. When they visit you, that is your primary opportunity to offer them something they’ll enjoy. If, in this jungle, someone stopped by my dugout, I would welcome them with a tray of hors d’oeuvres and a spot of tea. How daft would it be to say, “Come in and sit down, but I’ve got nothing, man. Nothing. Can I interest you in…a spoonful of peanut butter?” (I jest. Peanut butter would be delicacy in the jungle.) My point here is, have something to offer. Content, people. Content them with your content.

Invest in your real estate.

I mentioned my dugout before. But know this. I intend to have a nice place in the jungle. There shall be landscaping. There shall be real chairs. To accomplish this, I need to spend jungle currency. (Earning and saving it is another matter entirely.) The point is, I have to spend money. Investing in your virtual presence will work. Pay for your domain name. Dress it up. Place an ad, boost a post on social media. Have snazzy business cards. You don’t need to lay out a fortune to accomplish this. Setting aside $50 here and there at key moments will do the trick.

Request an audience with the village leaders.

There are some people who have pull in this grand village. Your target audience knows them, loves them, and follows their lead. Learn the village hierarchy, and spend time being a learner. You’re not there to push your agenda. You’re there to learn from the masters. They have achieved what you have not. I have found that it is best to approach them humbly, as pupils. (Not the eye kind.) In time, the relationship may evolve from master/pupil to wise colleague/well-respected amateur. One can go places from there. At that point, you can ask whether they might be willing to mention you, share your posts, use their influence on your behalf. You will not have simply used them; you will have built a relationship with them.

And that is something that can last whether your career is ultimately successful or not.

“Has anyone given these a shot? If so how’d it go? Add your experience to the comments below.”

      (I found this rhyme carved into a rock wall in the village’s “Magic cave.” Is it a prophecy? Will folks actually comment on my post!)

Thanks to: ClkerFreeVectorImages, for the edited photo of Specs. And thanks to: Wikipedia , Graham Campbell, OpenClipartVectors, and rebel68, for the unedited images.