Digitally She Does It Podcast

EPISODE 120: 3 easy ways to build an engaged audience online

• Karen Davies • Season 1 • Episode 120

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In this episode of The Digitally She Does It Show, I’m diving into 3 super simple (but seriously effective!) ways to build an engaged audience online - perfect if you’re just getting started or feeling stuck with slow growth. I’ll be busting a few common myths around audience size because it’s not about big numbers, it’s about the right people!

I’ll walk you through how to get really clear on who you want to help and why that clarity is the secret sauce to building genuine connections.

We’ll also explore how to create visibility routines that actually fit your lifestyle, the power of lead magnets that speak directly to your dream clients, and how to tap into collaborations that expand your reach in the right ways.

Whether you’re building from the ground up or refining your current strategy, this episode is packed with actionable tips and encouragement to help you grow a thriving, values-led online community and a business you absolutely love.


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Karen Davies [00:00:00]:
Hello and welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show. This is episode one two zero and in today's episode I'm going to be talking about three easy ways to build an engaged audience online even if you are starting from scratch. So let's jump right in and let's get started. 

Welcome to the Digitally. She does it show. I'm your host, Karen, and I'm here to lift the lid on what it actually takes to create a successful business. If you are an ambitious creative ready to build a business on your own terms and without compromise, then this podcast is perfect for you. With my award winning approach to marketing an expert knowledge in creating online courses, this show will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to bring those big dreams to life.

Karen Davies [00:00:52]:
Join me each week for a dose of motivation and marketing know how, along with actionable step by step strategies to help you accelerate your business's growth. So let's dive in, and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday. 

Hello, and welcome. Thank you for joining me today. I am your host, Karen, and I really do appreciate you hitting that play button to listen to today's episode. In today's episode, I'm going to be talking about three easy ways to build an engaged audience online even if you've never done this before and you're starting from scratch. But before I dive into today's episode, I just want to let you know that this episode is being sponsored by the Easy Course Kickstarter Kit. If you are looking to create a digital product like an online course, then this is where you start.

Karen Davies [00:01:49]:
So if you are sitting on that idea and you want to bring it to life, then the Easy Course Kickstarter Kit is going to be your best friend because this kit will give you the clarity, the tools, and the plan to make it happen. Now there's lots happening in the Easy Course Kickstarter kit. It's been designed to get you off that first sort of rung of the ladder, so to speak. So if you are tired of sitting on your valuable knowledge and expertise and you are ready to turn it into a digital product that you can sell on repeat, then this kit was made for you. So head on over to www.karen-davies.com/kit to grab your copy and finally get your course out of your head and into the world. 

Okay. So, back to today's episode and let's dive into today's topic which is three easy ways to build an engaged audience online. Even if you have never done this before, you're starting from scratch, and maybe you just don't know how to go about starting to build your audience.

Karen Davies [00:02:56]:
So if you've been thinking about creating an online course, a group program, or any kind of digital product, but feel like, I don't even have an audience yet, so I've got nobody to sell to, therefore, what I'm gonna create is gonna flop, then this episode, it will be for you. So let's dive straight into this episode. Now the reason why I've decided to do this episode is because this is something that I come across a lot. So many people sort of say to me that they can't create an online course because they don't have an audience. What they actually mean is that they don't have the system in place that's gonna help them to grow an audience because there is a thinking that you need to have a large audience in order to be able to make money, and it's simply not true. You need an engaged audience of people that are ideal for you and what it is that you're offering in order to make sales. So you don't have to build an audience of thousands and thousands of people to be successful at selling digital products. You just need to build an engaged audience that are interested in your message, what you have to say, and, of course, how you can help them move through the place of challenge for them to a solution through the offers that you have to, offer.

Karen Davies [00:04:30]:
So I just wanted to really throw that out there because it's a common myth that I come across all the time. Now the first thing that I would encourage you to do so step one is to get crystal clear on who it is that you want to talk to. So before we even talk platforms, content strategies, or even algorithms, you need to get clarity first. You need to know who it is you're trying to reach and who you can serve, who you can support and deliver a solution for. Now without this, it's going to be like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. Now that's not a strategy a strategy. That is survival mode, and you cannot operate from that place because it's exhausting. So you need to understand who your ideal people is, who your ideal people are so that you can create something that they need.

Karen Davies [00:05:41]:
Your audience is not going to grow when you try and speak to everyone. It only grows when you are specific and you have a message that is for them. So I just want you to take that on board because, again, I do a lot of networking. It's one of my favorite marketing strategies because I like meeting people, I like connecting, and I like having those conversations. And the amount of times I've been in a networking meeting and somebody has literally said, anybody can buy my product. I've heard that so many times and the moment they say that I know they've not done the groundwork. They do not know who it is they're trying to attract because when you try and speak to everyone you end up speaking to no one because it's not specific enough. So I want you to ask yourself, who do I really want to help? Now not just in terms of job titles or demographics but what kind of person lights you up? Who do you feel excited to serve? So if you like working with moms because maybe there's a relatability there, you're a mom yourself, you understand the challenges, their pain points, the the stuff that they need help with, then maybe your ideal audience are busy moms of children of a certain age.

Karen Davies [00:07:21]:
The more specific you can get, the more effective you can be with your messaging, but also, and most importantly, the offer that you create. So get really clear on exactly who this person is. Now I also want you to think about what they are struggling with right now. Not what you think they need, but what they feel stuck with. Are they feeling overwhelmed? Are they tired of trading their time for money? Are they in that place of confusion that they don't know what the first step is that they need to take? So where are they now? Because we need to go and meet them where they are. And then thirdly, what transformation can you help them achieve? So what's the before and after that you are offering? It might be something like, like for me, I help you go from an idea to your first course in thirty days. Something simple, clear, easy to do, or I help you create digital products that sell on autopilot. Both of those statements are very clear, very timely, and they talk about the before and the after.

Karen Davies [00:08:42]:
So it's going from a place that they are right now to a place that they want to be. So what does that look like? What transformation can you help them achieve? Now when you're clear on this, then you can really focus in on your content, and your content will become magnetic because it will cut through the noise. It will connect with the right people. Suddenly, you are going to be receiving responses from your content because you'll get comments like, it's like you're in my head. If you can achieve that online, then you've nailed your clarity because clarity is power. Before we do anything, we need to be clear on what it is that we're trying to achieve, who we wanna work with, the struggles, the pain points, the challenges, and the transformation. Because you're not building an audience of followers And I think in the digital world, I think that is a belief that many entrepreneurs carry around. You're actually building a community of future buyers and it that is really important to take on board.

Karen Davies [00:09:59]:
And for those future buyers, they need to feel seen, they need to feel heard, and they need to feel understood before they are even ready to buy. So clarity isn't just a marketing tip. It's the foundation of everything. And once you've got this nailed down, everything else gets easier. So get clear on who it is that you wanna help, their struggles, and the transformation you can help them achieve. The second thing, the second step is about creating content with purpose. Not just throwing content out into the world because you think it's nice to have, it's a nice thing to share with people. It's about creating the right content because you know you need to be visible.

Karen Davies [00:10:53]:
You know you need to be consistent, but what nobody really tells you is what kind of content actually works or how to show up consistently without burning yourself out. And here's the truth, not all content is created equal. Just posting for the sake of it, like throwing up random quotes, sharing Canva graphics because you feel you should be posting something, or even talking about your dog because it's a cute thing to do and you're looking to get a reaction from people won't build the kind of audience that's going to buy from you. So your content needs to do three things. It needs to connect you with the right people. It needs to position you as somebody that can help, and then it needs to gently lead people towards your paid offer, whatever that might be. So it could be an online course. It could be a digital master class.

Karen Davies [00:11:56]:
It could be a digital product. It could be a membership, or it could be your consultancy services. But to make this feel manageable, I tend to use the one three one method. So when it comes to creating my own content, I have a very simple framework that I work by. So number one, value posts. This is where you teach, you inspire, and you share a quick win because here, you're helping your audience solve a problem or see something in a new way. So these kind of posts are going to build credibility and establish you as somebody that knows what they're talking about. So, for example, it could be things like three mistakes to avoid when planning your first online course.

Karen Davies [00:12:46]:
So it could be something really simple like that, or it could be a quick mindset shift that's helped you go from being a service based entrepreneur to as to to creating scalable income in your business. I'm only using those, examples because that's the kind of content I would be creating. Now these are gold because they would position me as the expert all without me being salesy. So think about what value posts you can create. The three in the one three one rule is creating three engagement posts. These are designed to spark conversation. So you wanna be able to show your personality and you wanna invite interaction because these are what build the relationships and the relationships are going to be what drives those sales. So ideas could include asking a really simple but relevant question or sharing a behind the scenes moment or even telling a personal story or relatable struggle that you know somebody in your audience is going to be going through as well because these posts are what's going to make you human.

Karen Davies [00:14:04]:
They're gonna help your audience feel like they know you. And when people feel connected, they are far more likely to trust you and then eventually buy from you. And then the the other one, so the one three one framework, the other one is an offer post. So you create one offer post in a week because this is where you can then confidently invite people to take the next step with you, whether that's joining your email list, grabbing your digital product, or even signing up for some training. This isn't going to be pushy because it's a service. You're helping people, so we should never be hiding what it is we have to offer. Just let people know that they can go deeper with you. So examples of this are things like, for me, it would be ready to plan your course the smart way, grab my easy course kickstarter kit for £27.

Karen Davies [00:15:00]:
Or if you love this post, you'll love what's inside my free guide, 10 steps to online course success. This rhythm, this framework that I've shared with you, the one three one system, so one value, three engagement, one offer post, It isn't just doable, it's really effective because it meets people where they're at and it builds connection and gives them a really clear path to move forward with. Now, you don't need to be on every platform. Again, I think that's another myth. You have to be everywhere all of the time to get connected. It's simply not true. You need to be consistent on one platform. So pick the platform where your audience hangs out and where you actually enjoy creating content and commit to showing up there with intention and with purpose because you can always repost your content elsewhere at a later date.

Karen Davies [00:16:06]:
Now I just wanna sort of share something with you that, back in April, I made a vow that I was gonna show up every day, not weekends, so every day during the week on Instagram. And I was gonna create a reel with a hook and content because I wanted to experiment to see how that would translate in my metrics, in the engagement that I received, and, of course, with my followers as well. And it was really interesting because the more I showed up, the more consistent I was, my metrics grew. My followers grew, and my engagement grew. And what they told me was that it's not necessarily about the content you create, although the content is important. So you do have to get your content right. So understand what content you need to share to be effective. It's the the magic is in the consistency because that's how you're gonna grow your numbers, your followers, your engagement, and all of those metrics that are going to be important so that you can turn those followers into buyers.

Karen Davies [00:17:21]:
So it's really worth taking the time, mapping out a plan, and showing up consistently. Because when you show up with intention, consistency, and clarity, that's when your audience will grow. And not just any audience, an audience that's aligned, engaged, and excited to then buy from you. Now my third tip is about focusing on a routine, not just the content. So this is more about focusing on being visible and creating a routine to be able to do so and not just the content that you're then going to create. Because here's the piece that most people miss when they're trying to build an audience. Posting content is only half of the equation. Of course, it's the content that builds the trust with the people who already follow you.

Karen Davies [00:18:20]:
But if you wanna grow your audience consistently and you wanna attract new people that are aligned with you, then you need to create pathways for them to discover you in the first place. So this is where your visibility routine will come into play. So think of them as tiny little doors that sit around the Internet that people can open up, and come and walk through to come into your world. Now you do not need a huge PR or marketing budget to do this, and you certainly don't need a million of followers to make this work. You just need a few smart strategies done really well and done consistently, which is I'm gonna share these with you. So the first strategy that I would consider you I would encourage you to consider is a lead magnet. This is a a free resource that solves a small specific problem for your ideal person. So this is gonna give them a quick win, and it's gonna bring them into your world and introduce them to what you do.

Karen Davies [00:19:23]:
And it could be a short guide. It could be a checklist, a cheat sheet. It could even be a mini training video or even a template that they can just plug and play into their business. The key is to make it relevant and easy to digest. So it's not about trying to solve everything, it's just helping them to take one step forward. And when somebody downloads it, they can, of course, join your mailing list, meaning that you have a direct line to them that sits way beyond social media. Because, again, here's the thing, we don't own social media platforms. What we do own is our email list.

Karen Davies [00:20:00]:
Our email list is an asset that we have in our business. So if the powers that be that own the social media platforms were to close those platforms down, and let's face it, they could do, where would you be with your audience? So it's smarter to bring people into your world and get them signing up for something so that you can communicate with them in a more direct way. So always think about how you can grow your email list. This is how you build a warm permission based audience that's primed for your offers. So it's worth taking the time and looking at what freebie you can create that's gonna entice people to sign up to your mailing list. The second strategy I want to share is probably one of the fastest, most authentic ways to grow your audience, and that's borrowing somebody else's. So, find people that are similar to you in your niche and offer to be a guest on their podcast or speak at their virtual event or community or join their Instagram lives or Facebook groups for a mini training. So give them something of value because you will then get in front of their audience, and then you'll be able to build your audience.

Karen Davies [00:21:20]:
This works really well when you're first starting out because it somebody else has already done the work. So you can get in front of them and you can start building your audience off the back of theirs. And when you show up with value and clarity, these people will come looking for more from you. Now public speaking is something that I have done quite a lot of, and it's really helped me to make genuine connections but also build my audience as well. So this is something that I would really encourage you to think about. Even if the prospect of speaking in front of an audience terrifies you, it's worth persevering because this is a faster way to grow. And then the third and final sort of tip that I'm gonna give you, for growing an an engaged audience is about creating strategic collaborations. Collaboration is one of the most underused growth tools out there.

Karen Davies [00:22:21]:
Now you don't need to be huge to do this. You don't need to be a big influencer in your space to be able to collaborate. You just need a network. So look for people with similar audiences, but provide different offers, and see if you can co host a free workshop or a challenge together. Or maybe do a content swap like doing a blog feature or an email promo. Or maybe go together on a live and teach something where it needs both your expertise. Because this is gonna grow your visibility and it's gonna position you as the go to voice in your space. And, also, collaborations are fun.

Karen Davies [00:23:05]:
They build relationships. They take the pressure off you so that you don't have to do everything solo, and it also injects fresh energy into your content. I do collaborations a lot of the time. It might even be that I have somebody come on this podcast and be a guest, but I love collaborations. And one of the reasons why I really enjoy going networking is because I get to connect with like minded people and I get to have those conversations. How can we work together? How can we work towards each of our goals in a way that's going to help but also benefit each other as well? So find a network, be a part of that network, and reach out for collaborations. Now it doesn't need to be fancy or perfect, you just need to be intentional with what you're trying to achieve. And I just wanna also, bust another myth as well.

Karen Davies [00:24:01]:
You do not need to go viral. You just need to show up consistently in the right spaces with the right message. So before I finish today's episode, I just want you to ask yourself, what one lead magnet can I create this month? Where could I pitch myself or speak or be interviewed? Who could I collaborate with for mutual growth? So start there. Take one step at a time because visibility has a compound effect. The more visible you are, the more your visibility grows. The more people will discover you, and the easier it will become to grow an audience that will buy from you without having to work really hard, without having to buy into trends that just come and go all the time or without chasing algorithms. So I just wanna quickly recap on what I've shared today. So first is about getting clear on who you help and how.

Karen Davies [00:25:14]:
Secondly, I would encourage you to use the one three one content method to start building trust online. And then number three is about setting up visibility habits that bring in fresh eyes on your content on a weekly basis because this is the foundation for growing your audience that actually is gonna generate you those sales. And once you have that, you are in a perfect position to then launch your first digital product, which leads me nicely on to the easy course kickstarter kit. Because if you are looking to create a product that you can scale and make money on repeat with, then the easy course kickstarter kit is your step by step system to help you validate your idea, plan a profitable course, and map it out as well, all without the overwhelm. 

It's super affordable at £27, and it comes with lots of different bonuses that's gonna help you move faster and smarter. If today's episode has inspired you or maybe you've had a light bulb moment or you just wanna kinda share it with somebody else in your space, then I would love you to share this episode with a friend who you feel needs to hear it because if you have benefited by this, then somebody else is going to as well. And I would love you to leave me a quick review so that other people can also find my show. Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode.

Karen Davies [00:26:51]:
I hope you found this episode of value. And, of course, please do feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode. If today's discussion has sparked some inspiration and you are eager to get started with creating your online presence, then visit my website, www.carendavies.com. 

And if you're ready to take the first step in creating an online course, then please do check out the Easy Course Kickstarter Kit at www.karen-davies.com/kit. I will be back next week with another episode. But until then, have a great week. I hope you enjoyed this episode of the digitally she does it show. Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.

Karen Davies [00:27:42]:
New episodes drop every week on Wednesday. So why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode? Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.