26 Oct How to Create a Community of Loyal Fans & Followers

Hey!

So I made a decision to start a podcast, something I never thought I’d do. And even though it’s out of my comfort zone and I don’t have the experience in podcasting specifically, I feel very clear it’s necessary in order to squash all the noise out there giving people bad information on Affiliate Marketing. My goal in doing this is to educate people on how easy it can be to start a business in Affiliate Marketing without money, experience or special skills in tech or design.

Affiliate Marketing is all about people, and building relationships. Which I’m going to dive into a bit here with you today.

When the idea of starting a podcast came up I’ll be honest, it made me nervous. Sure, I have a ton of experience and a proven track record for success with Affiliate Marketing and I am dying to share that with people like you so you can have the freedom you desire. But I don’t know a thing about the podcast world.

And then the lightbulb went off…

It’s just another form of media; another way to build a relationship with people; another way to share my knowledge to support other people’s dreams – all of these things I am an expert in!

So why was a feeling so uncomfortable?

Because it was new and I was way too focused on the HOW instead of the WHO (that’s for another video/post). But when I stepped outside of myself and into my mission to serve others, the choice was easy.

Starting a podcast, or a blog, or a YouTube channel, or whatever form of media you choose (don’t limit yourself) is all set to build relationships with potential clients. By showing them who you are and what you stand for, how you can help them, you gain their trust and they begin to like you. People BUY from people they know, like and trust. When you take them on a real-life journey through your successes (and failures), you humanize yourself and become relatable. This is KEY!

Listen, I get it. It can feel hard to get over the fear of being seen, of screwing up, of being responsible to share things the “right” way and that’s perfectly normal! Being human is a series of mistakes and triumphs and if you think about the people you admire most I bet you they’ve been through it all (just like you).

Instead of staying stuck in fear and inaction, focus on who you want to help and commit to doing whatever it takes to make that happen.

It’s okay to be uncomfortable. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to screw up (we all do). The bottom line is DON’T QUIT!! Your knowledge is so valuable and people need to hear it (it’s why the fire in your belly is so strong!).

Putting yourself out there on different platforms will help you gain confidence in being seen, it will allow you to have more eyes on your message, and it will invite people into your community so that you can create the impact you know you’re here to make.

One of the biggest things that’s helped me is to just record myself and put it up on YouTube as practice. You can make these videos private to start and as you find your flow, you can start putting them out into the world for real! Sometimes I go back and watch my videos and cringe, but it’s an opportunity for me to learn how I can improve. That’s what’s available for you when you lean in – growth. We are all learning and doing our best, so don’t let discomfort or fear stop you from moving forward.

A great TIP for video (especially when you start) is to really try to stick to ONE teaching point. Lists are okay if you keep them short and focused, making sure each point is related to the big picture. But too many things in one video leads to confusion and people will be less likely to take action on what you’re sharing. Don’t give more than 3 points in a video. As you become better and better at this, there may be times you can increase that to 5-7, but again, I don’t recommend this at first.

We are a short attention span society so give your audience easy consumable nuggets that leave them wanting more (which you will give them in another video).

The people watching your videos, listening to your podcasts, reading your posts and emails, these are the people that become customers. Nurture them. Give them what they want. Provide a solution to their problem using your expertise as the “thing” they need to succeed. It’s easy as entrepreneurs to have a ton of ideas. But if you’re not hitting on the pain points of your audience and bringing them a solution, you’re missing the mark completely.

Focus on the end goal: impact & income. Stretch yourself into the places that scare you and continue practicing so you gain confidence (it’s really the only way). As you begin to build your audience, you will begin to see patterns like where they hang out (are they on YouTube, Instagram, do they prefer email?). This takes time, but it’s worth it.

So tell me, was this helpful? Where are you in your journey of building your community? How can I help YOU succeed?

I’m here for YOU, and I am grateful you’re here.

Chat soon.

Eric