social media

Trimming Your Passions to Find Your Online Audience

In trying to grow the amount of people “following” me, I’ve often struggled with trying not to narrow what I post online into one specific niche; while at the same time recognizing that targeting a very specific audience is exactly what builds followers. It’s my blogging paradox, if you will.

The most ‘followed’ people online have a very targeted message and their audiences know what type of content they will find by returning to a specific blog. Just like everyone else, I have many interests (aka passions) and have no specific drive to in dilute these interests down to one specific niche.

This really came to my attention in the last few weeks as I’ve frequently been getting and losing Twitter followers.

I can absolutely understand why it’s happening too and here’s why… 

One of my tweets will be about search marketing, and within a few hours I’ll get a new follower (or two!) that’s clearly monitoring Twitter for mentions of Search Marketing keywords. However, I might not make another tweet about search marketing for a few days; choosing instead to discuss music or social events.

True to form, after a few too many “non-SEM” tweets, I’ll lose those specific followers. Though I may gain a few followers interested in music and local Austin events.

The struggle, I suppose, is trying to decide whether I’m capable of finding an online audience that’s just. like. me.

You know, the average analytical online marketer / graphic designer / indie music nerd / who rides motorcycles / fixed gear bikes.

Sure, I could just jump on one of the previously mentioned topics and choose to only cover that in my blog.

That would make a lot of damned sense, but it wouldn’t be me. It would be a fraction of me, and thus only deserving of a fraction of my attention.

So I guess we’ll see what happens. If you’ve got thoughts on this, or want to share your approach to growing an online audience, please share.

© 2008 Analytical.Me.