I meet many self-employed people who spend all their energy trying to ‘hack’ LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram algorithms.
They post constantly, use the right hashtags and hope that the algorithm will be kind to them today.
But the truth is: You are building your business on borrowed land.
Your own audience is worth its weight in gold
Once you have built your own audience – people who have actively chosen to follow you – you are in control of your own business.
You are no longer dependent on whether Mark Zuckerberg changes the algorithm tomorrow or whether Instagram suddenly decides that your content should not be seen.
Your audience is your most important business asset – and the only one you have complete control over.
5 tips for building your own audience:
1. Start by collecting email addresses
Your email list is 100% yours. No algorithm can take it away from you. Offer something valuable in return – a guide, checklist or free consultation.
2. Be consistent, not perfect
It's better to send a newsletter every month for a year than to send one every week for two months and then stop. Consistency builds trust.
3. Share your story and your mistakes
People don't buy from perfect companies – they buy from those they can relate to. Share both your successes and the bumps along the way.
4. Give more value than you ask for
For every time you sell something, give 3-5 times the value for free first. Tips, advice, insights – let people see your expertise.
5. Build relationships, not just followers
1,000 people who know, like and trust you are infinitely more valuable than 10,000 random followers who scroll past your content.
Stop building on borrowed land. Start building your own audience.
Your audience is waiting for you – they just need to know where to find you.
Kind regards,
René Hjetting
Your friend with the sharp pen 🖊️
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