Building in public is not only a great way to build an engaged audience but also to establish trust and credibility with your target market. Here are some tips for anyone that’s new to the space.
Do:
1. Use whatever platform feels right
Building in public is all about storytelling, so choose the platform that suits your brand and target audience the most. If you’re a fashion brand, Instagram may be the perfect platform for you. On the other hand, if you’re in the tech space, Twitter might be a better fit.
2. Approach it from the position of a learner
The most successful builders come from a place of curiosity and learning. Don’t pretend to be an expert or try to put out wisdom from the get-go. Instead, share your updates, make friends, and have conversations. Building in public is all about making connections and building relationships.
3. Give, give, and give
Building in public is essentially audience building. That means you need to give, give, and give. Share your insights, experiences, and learnings. By giving, you’re building credibility and trust with your audience.
4. Engage in two-way conversations
Ask your audience questions and listen to what they have to say. By doing so, you’ll understand what they’re looking for and what they want. In a way, they’re helping you to build the product.
Don’t:
1. Expect to get an audience overnight
Building in public is a slow process. Don’t expect to start sharing your journey and have a massive audience right away. It takes time to build trust and credibility with your audience. Set realistic expectations and be patient.
2. Share everything
Sharing everything can be overwhelming for your audience. Instead, package your content in a way that your audience can learn from you. Don’t just share your daily to-dos. Focus on sharing insights, experiences, and learnings that can help your audience.
3. Imitate others
Don’t imitate others. Take inspiration from others, but make it your own. No one can beat you at being yourself!
4. Expect business outcomes from it
Building an audience and having customers are not the same thing. Don’t expect that building an audience will power your business. Be okay with helping people, even if they won’t buy from you. That’s what audience building is all about. It’s about conversations and interactions, and most founders just don’t think of it this way.
