Growing a loyal Facebook Live audience—whether you’re a beginner or established writer—doesn’t happen overnight. You have to earn it. And it is, oh, so worth the effort!
Every program is a new opportunity to prove you’re a valuable resource to your audience. They’ll know, like, and trust you faster because of your consistent interaction with them. Relationships will spring up between you and your viewers. They’ll connect with each other as well. You’ll build an online community, all for free.
The #1 way to grow your audience is to offer them the content they want while also delivering the content they need. This two-pronged approach will help them discover you in the crowded online marketplace.
Your programs can become a springboard for products, services, and events, all while continuing to provide new messages via your Facebook Live program.
Two foundational elements need to be consistently marketed: your program’s audience and its content.
Who Will Your Program Serve?
If you’re like me, you’ve been serving your audience for years, perhaps decades. So you already know how to describe them.
If not, consider these questions: Who responds to your message at work, church, in your community, and on social media?
What are their common traits? Are they mostly female? Male? What’s their age range and ethnicity? Important as those elements are, they’re external.
Their internal commonalities are more valuable to you as a content creator. What problems or pains do they share? What words do they use to express those issues?
Or are they striving to reach a goal instead? If so, what challenges do they face? What’s keeping them from moving forward? And how do they articulate those obstacles?
These are the people who will be drawn to you online, just like they’ve been drawn to you in real life for years. Market to them. Serve them, and they’ll reward you with their loyalty.
What Content Do They Want?
Review the questions listed above again. When you know the pains, challenges, obstacles, and problems your ideal target market has, you can create content just for them. This is no time to be generic! They want content that applies directly to them, and well they should. And you’re just the one to offer it…because you know them so well.
When they describe their problems, what words do they use…exactly? How do they explain their struggles…specifically? The answers to those questions lead directly to your content. Themed programs hold a myriad of additional topics. Unpack them and share one point or principle per Facebook Live program.
Let Your Audience Be Your Content Partner
Without realizing it, your audience will suggest new content ideas as they engage during your live programs.
The single biggest advantage of hosting a regular Facebook Live program is that your viewers will tell you when your content is on target. And…they’ll tell you in real time. How? By asking follow-up questions. When they ask how to apply your message to their unique situation, you’ll know you’re “hitting the mark.”
Allowing them (inviting them!) to participate in the conversation isn’t an interruption. Their input broadens your message, making it richer, fuller, and more helpful.
The more you talk about what your audience wants to talk about—while still focusing on your message—the longer they’ll watch, which will strengthen your connection with them. You want them to connect with both you and with each other. A regular Facebook Live program is designed specifically for that type of interaction.
As writers, we might go weeks or months without any feedback from our audience. But when we serve them via Facebook Live, we hear their questions, comments, and gratitude immediately. This is a sweet reward!
Patricia Durgin is an Online Marketing Coach and Facebook Live Expert. She trains Christian writers and speakers exclusively, helping them develop their messaging, marketing funnels, conversational emails, and Facebook Live programs. Patricia hosted 505 (60-minute) Facebook Live programs from 2018-2020. That program is on indefinite hiatus. She’s also a regular faculty member at Christian writers and speakers conferences around the country.
Website: https://marketersonamission.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarketersOnAMission
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