Truly Connecting With Your Target Audience on Social Media

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The truth is that you are not only in business for your health and well-being. You are also in it to succeed and to achieve greater professional success. In order to achieve that success, you must connect with your target audience on social media in some very real manner.

The best ways to connect with your target audience

You may have the most amazing, most profound, brilliant content in the universe; however, if you don’t share it with anyone else (or very few people), what will it do for you and your business? The answer is that it won’t do very much at all. Of course, that is not an irreversible situation. You can make changes to the situation, which will boost your reputation, give you solid credibility, and position you as a subject matter expert. At that point, you will be in the best position to solve the problems of the members of your target audience. You will be driven by the marketing principle of WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?). What that means is that no matter how amazing you and your business are and no matter what you say you can do, if you are not able to solve the other person’s problem(s), it won’t amount to a hill of beans. It has to be all about the other person. It can’t be about you (not in any situation that develops).

Without a strong connection to your target audience, it really doesn’t matter how much or what you have to say because nobody will read (or hear) about it. In that case, all of your efforts will have been for naught. It is very important for you to understand exactly what purpose your content serves for you and how you should make the most of it for maximum success. First of all, it is very important that you understand that your content is a means to an end. It is a vehicle through which you can spread your “gospel.” It is the way in which you will be able to connect your brand to your target audience. Of course, you should definitely not take for granted the idea that you may be facing challenges in that regard. It is not always as easy as “one, two, three” when it comes to making a solid connection between your brand and your audience.

Succeeding at connecting your brand with your target audience

You can assume that your content is amazing and profound (which it probably is). Why else would you be allowing your name to be associated with it? With that assumption driving you, you must now figure out get your content connected with your target audience quickly. There are several approaches that you can take.

  • Your social interactions should drive your content, not the other way around: Even if you have the best-written, most exciting content around, it doesn’t mean that it will necessarily elicit the response that you are hoping for from the members of your target audience. When you evaluate your content, if you can’t truly answer “yes” to that question. In other words, your content just doesn’t do it for your audience, you need to revisit the writing of your content and make sure that you revise it in such a way so that you have no doubt that your target audience will not only read your content from beginning to end but that they will also be hungry for more when they have digested what you shared with them. There are several elements that will cause your content to be a raging success. Each element is a part of the whole and you need each and every one of them in order to succeed. Your content must obviously be well written and educational. Additionally, it must be visually pleasing and it must be user-friendly on all of the possible social media platforms that people will be inclined to use. That is critical for you and your business.

  • Nominate your influencers right away: It is important to always bear in mind that you are the only person who is not allowed to boast about your business. If you do, it will seem conceited and obnoxious. Everyone else can do it as much as they like and their recommendations of your offerings, brand, and of you will be surrounded by credibility. It is just the way that it is! However, you shouldn’t feel that you have absolutely no control over the situation. The power that you hold in your hands is the power to choose who you want to share your story with others. Whether you realize it or not, you are surrounded by influencers in your niche or industry. You should take advantage of that fact because those influencers will be more than happy to help you. Of course, you can return the favor and recommend what they have to offer as well.

  • Put out a solid, reliable product and/or service: No matter what, you must never put out an inferior product or inferior services. Wherever you originally set the bar, the only place that you can go from there is up. Your high quality is why you are succeeding professionally. It would be suicidal to mess with that. You are definitely too smart for that. You have already proven that you have the ability to produce top-shelf material so don’t get lazy or comfortable because you need to continually prove yourself to the other people with whom you are connected. It is well worth your time and effort in the long run.

Conclusion

When it comes to your business, there are some things that you can’t live without. One is an amazing brand (including superior products and/or services), another is your relationship with your target audience. Without them, you would find yourself in a room by yourself with nobody to talk to. Remember, you are not in business to talk to yourself. Actions always speak louder than words. Make sure that your actions are making profound statements to the right people. When it comes to your content, remember that you will spark a great deal of interest from people if you present interesting ideas in thought-provoking ways. Don’t be afraid to be creative!

We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a complimentary assessment of your online presence, let’s have coffee.

Author

  • Michael Cohn

    Michael Cohn is the founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of CompuKol Communications. He has decades of experience in IT and web technologies. Michael founded CompuKol Communications to help small businesses and entrepreneurs increase their visibility and reputation. CompuKol consults, creates, and implements communication strategies for small businesses to monopolize their markets with a unique business voice, vision, and visibility. Mr. Cohn earned a Master’s degree in project management from George Washington University in Washington, DC; and a Master’s degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.

11 Responses

  1. Kenneth D. Steadman says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Linked Small Business Innovators
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    There is an assumption that the average business owner has defined a target audience.

    Do you find that to be the case?
    By Kenneth D. Steadman, MBA

    • Michael Cohn says:

      Ken, that is correct. In many cases the business owner do not have a clear vision of who their target market is. Many time we hear the statement “Our product/service is good for everybody”.

  2. robert brownfarley says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Online Marketing Network
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    I agree that your social interaction should drive your target audiance but without good quality relevant content onsite you won`t hold their attention and convert to the sales you desire. Also it`s important to do good keyword or keyphrase focused optimization in social marketing.
    By robert brownfarley

  3. Eliane Neumann says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Linked Small Business Innovators
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    it’s true. but there are so many ways.and it ‘s involving money. how can a little business invest on the most optimal investment? Social media? Google? a company that maintain the website?
    By Eliane Neumann Numerology

  4. CYNTH'YA REED says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Small Business Accelerator
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    Nothing is more critical than letting people know you believe in THE ABILITY for them 2B the best they can be. That alone is priceless along with integrity IN ACTION!
    By CYNTH’YA REED

  5. Allan Berger says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Executives Club of New Jersey
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    What Michael says is a critical part of an effective marketing strategy.
    By Allan Berger

  6. Boaz Giller says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Brand & Communications Management
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    “Whether you realize it or not, you are surrounded by influencers in your niche or industry. You should take advantage of that fact because those influencers will be more than happy to help you”.

    The question is how can you find and engage with them?
    By Boaz Giller

  7. Anthony Lunghi says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Small Business & Independent Consultant Network
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    A creative brand identity is important also.
    By Anthony Lunghi

  8. Don Purdum says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Linked Business
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    Great question! I network a lot offline, use social media to offer content people can use, and we offer various forms of free education to help them achieve their goals.
    By Don Purdum

  9. Michael Gillin says:

    We’ve just started to produce content for our community. The most difficult part for me is to provide useful information without selling. Obviously, I want our website visitors to buy. Our website is the sales brochure. I look at our blog as place for us to show that we have expertise and earn our customer’s confidence. Since we are just starting this format, ANY comments on this strategy would be helpful

  10. Michael J. Ayer says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: Succeed: Small Business Network, Powered by Staples
    Discussion: How Do You Connect with Your Target Audience?

    For me social media is great way to connect with target audience. By creating engaging content you can easily capture the attention of potential targets.
    By Michael J. Ayer