DYFConf Notes: Kai Davis – How to Build an Audience

First mindshift “I’m not an expert”

“What would I talk about?”

  1. teach them how to solve a simple problem
  2. Share a controversial opinion
  3. Teach your expertise

Second mindshift “stop thinking leads, start thinking audience”

Builds a relationship with people. These aren’t leads. These are people in your audience.

Gives an example of Nick D and his weekly newsletter.

Playing the two year game. Long game.

Nick didn’t have to maintain much time in investing on individual relationships.

“The Garden principle” – we want to teach as much as we know. Water your audience with content to grow them as people and as businesses.

“Bigger checks take longer to grow.”

3rd Mindshift “Reaching your Audience”

“Looking sideways” – who is already reaching this audience. We want to use someone else’s audience as leverage. How can I work with the owner of this audience? How would it be valuable to them?

Make a list of your dream placements and partners. How can you be helpful to these partners?

Colleagues aren’t competitors

Schedule time to meet other professionals. How can we work together to share useful information to your audience?

There’s no “one right way” to build an audience

4th Mindshift “Pitching, Following Up and Presenting”

The most impactful marketing tool? Direct personal contact.

One email every day to our dream list.

What makes a great pitch email?

Be persistent. Follow up until they hate you.

What separates those who succeed versus those who fail? Their ego. No response doesn’t mean failure. Keep following up.

Don’t take a lack of response as a “no”.

It can take 7-10 emails until someone is ready to collaborate with you.

Plan each and every email in a follow up sequence. take a couple hours to predict different scenarios.

This is moving from reacting to acting first.

Once you move forward and build your relationship, have a clear call to action and a next step for their audience.

For podcast interviews include specific call to actions rather than just “you can follow me on twitter”. Have a CTA to a lead magnet that warms them up.

“If you want to learn more, visit URL and enter your email.” This is a clear next step.

It can be a static page on your site based on where the audience is coming from (use the audience or collaborator name in the url). Create added bonuses for that specific audience.

Action list:

Further Reading:

Site: http://doubleyouraudience.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaisdavis