Growing Your Social Media Followers or Understanding Intent
Which One is More Important?
Thank You
Before I share this week’s post, I wanted to say “Thank You!” to the newest Money Sprouts community members-Chris and Emma. I take your investment in this project very seriously. It is my goal to continue to be of service and help content creators with a tool that is accessible, robust and engaging. You made my day!
Social Media Followers vs. Understanding Intent
The other day I was hanging out with a friend of mine during my recent trip to New York City. This friend is a creator and like many of us…tired of the business model that they find themselves currently in (even though it’s lucrative). As we were talking I was sharing some suggestions on what my friend could do to begin building at least one income stream that is solely THEIRS. Not dependent on being assigned a project, working directly with a brand or relying on a partnership of sorts.
Then my friend said something that touched on a topic that has been on my mind for a while.
What did they say?
I quote loosely “I don’t have a lot of followers and don’t really have the energy to build a following.”
My friend had no idea that I would then become awkwardly intense as I tried to explain that followers DON’T MATTER.
Understanding “INTENT” matters more.
In fact, the concept of “intent” is a topic that doesn’t get enough discussion even though understanding this concept is the key to unlocking earnings.
Sounds cheezy. It’s true
Affiliate Disclosure
“In order for me to support this newsletter, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please note: As an Amazon Associate I may earn income from qualifying purchases that you may make if you interact with an Amazon Affiliate link associated with Creators Getting Paid”
What Is Intent?
Put simply, intent is someone’s “Ultimate desired outcome”
I’ll share some examples below:
Example #1-A content creator wants to make recurring/passive income.
Desired outcome could look like the following:
Affiliate payouts
Workshop sales
Course sales
Ad Revenue
Projects negotiated so that they get monthly payouts
The content creator would need to understand how to design content with their audiences’ intent in mind.
Examples:
A problem that your audience is struggling with but you have a helpful tool for. You create a piece of content, experience or guide that walks them through solving their problem.
A result that your community member desires-Their intent is to get the result YOUR INTENT is to create content that helps people achieve the result that they’re looking for.
Example #2-Travel Focused Website
A person is planning a trip to a city that is new to them. They are looking for the easiest way to visit things that they enjoy. For this example I will share what I do as I design content for my Denver/Colorado website. I will share where I would optimize the content to earn income.
Before I share the strategies below I do want to remind people to ALWAYS disclose affiliate and other relationships where you are receiving compensation. If you don’t understand how that works, do your research.
If someone is attending a specific event such as a Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders game-I write a post that answers all of the needs that visitor may have.
What to do-Itinerary
Monetization focus-Direct people to the website and increase page views with the goal of getting approved for an ad network.
Where to Go-Points of interest that compliments the experience that they’ll be having in town.
Monetization focus-Direct people to the website and increase page views with the goal of getting approved for an ad network.
Tour company that provides tours to areas of interest shared in this type of post (affiliate income)
How to go to what they want to do
Monetization focus-Direct people to the website and increase page views with the goal of getting approved for an ad network.
Tour company that provides tours to areas of interest shared in this type of post (affiliate income)
Brand partnership with a company that aligns with this type of post
Where to stay
Hotel affiliate-Affiliate companies such as TravelPayouts are a great way to find the right affiliate program to work with
Monetization focus-Direct people to the website and increase page views with the goal of getting approved for an ad network.
Must Bring Items
Amazon Affiliates-I am often annoyed with Amazon but they’ve recently changed their Terms of Service so I think that finally affiliates are better able to optimize the affiliate program.
By the way, all content that I create for my Colorado project is designed to drive people back to the website with the end goal of getting approved for an ad network. Every move I make on this site is intentional.
What About Growing Social Media Followers?
Sometime in the next couple of weeks I plan on publishing an article about “What to do when your favorite social media platform owner goes rogue.” Until then, I think we need to talk about social media and how it’s keeping a lot of amazing creators from monetizing their platforms.
Real Talk
Growing your social media followers is a good thing. It’s important to remember that growing your followers is a specific skill set.
Selling and earning money is a different skillset.
I’ve noticed that sometimes being hyper-focused on growing followers will hide a discomfort of fear of selling.
I said what I said.
There are so many metrics to focus on. Here are the ones that I think are incredibly important in the order of importance-depending on how you’ve designed your project.
Email or Newsletter Subscribers
Page views-if you have a website
Podcast downloads or YouTube Views
Social Media Followers
If you’re trying to monetize your brand, figure out how you enjoy earning money. What gets you results and then DOUBLE-DOWN on that skill.
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Understanding Intent is at The Heart
(Of Everything)
I explain more to my Money Sprouts community members below.