7 Reasons Why You’re Not Connecting with Your Audience

It’s a common frustration: you write, you publish, you promote — but the engagement you want remains out of reach.

Your message is out there, but it seems to evaporate into the digital ether, unseen and unheard.

It’s like a nightmare, where you’re running down a hall to escape something but the hall just grows longer the faster you run.

Why does it always seem your audience is just out of reach?

Welcome to the Abyss.

More than a few writers have experienced the disheartening sense of speaking into a void.

Despite creating what they feel is amazing, meaningful content, the anticipated connection with the audience just doesn’t happen.

This can be one of the most discouraging things you, as a writer, can face.

It can leave you discouraged, questioning your skills and the value of your message.

What’s the missing link here?

Could it be the strategies you’re employing to reach your audience are actually what’s holding you back?

There is a nuance to audience engagement that is often very subtle and easily overlooked in the broad strokes of content creation.

The answer is simple… transform your approach.

Here are seven reasons you might not be connecting with your audience and actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles:

1. You have an undefined audience.

If you’re writing for everyone, you’re effectively writing for no one.

Define your audience precisely. This is what’s known as “niching down.”

For example, when I started my audience building, I was writing to help other creators who wanted to learn to write well. Not much traction.

Then I changed the strategy to writing for created that wanted to make a living from their passion by using short-form writing and newsletters to build a community of readers. Still not where I wanted to be.

Now, I write to teach aspiring creators the basics to getting started turning their non-fiction work into money generating, audience building machines using proven strategies, actionable advice, and the combination of skills they’ve acquired to succeed.

I’ve gotten much better results this way, and so can you.

2. You lack authenticity.

People want to have a genuine connection. It’s human nature.

They want to hear about your failures just as much as your triumphs.

Why? Because it makes you a real person and not just words for them to consume. It helps build your authority and it inspires, because you’ve tried, failed, and got back in the fight.

You’re not an expert because you’ve beat every challenge that’s come your way. You’re an expert because you won’t quit, you’ve struggled, you’ve adapted, and you’ve overcome the obstacles they face.

3. You ignore feedback.

It’s easy to dismiss a negative comment or criticism.

Sometimes, it’s just someone wanting to be negative, which happens all to frequently in our online world dominated by outrage culture.

But often you can find at least a nugget of truth in that criticism that can help you be a better writer if you’re being honest with yourself.

Pay close attention to comments, emails, and social media interactions. Ask yourself what seems to resonate with your intended audience. Adapt your content based on that feedback.

4. You have inconsistent output.

Regular interaction keeps your audience engaged.

If you’re only posting sporadically, once or twice a month, you’re losing out on a lot of opportunities to connect with and build an audience.

Being as prolific as possible, while still maintaining a sense of balance for your own life, is important.

Establish and maintain a consistent publishing schedule that will keep your audience waiting for your next article or email.

5. You choose complexity over clarity.

I know a lot of big words. I know how to use them. I don’t.

Why? Because I’m not trying to prove how smart I am to my audience. I’m trying to prove how valuable I am to them.

Simplify your messaging.

Avoid jargon and overly complex explanations.

Use analogies and simple language to make your content accessible.

And get to the damn point.

6. You neglect SEO and social media strategies that work.

Without going overboard with keyword stuffing or sounding unnatural, you should educate yourself on SEO best practice’s to enhance your content’s visibility.

Writing on Medium already helps you with its own SEO authority, but every little bit you add to that will enhance your probability of gaining new readers.

On social media platforms, don’t just post a link or follow whatever trend is popular.

Engage with your audience where they spend their free time, and use these platforms to promote interactive discussions. Show a genuine interest in what people are having to say.

7. You fail to innovate.

Don’t be a trend follower. Be a trend setter.

Find new ways to present your content. Look into the concept of Transmedia, collaborate with other creators whose work you enjoy, try new and interesting formats.

Experimentation can lead to huge breakthroughs in engagement.

Your audience will begin to see you as someone they can emulate and aspire to be like. They will try to emulate your strategies.

At that point, you will no longer be a follower, but a leader.

At the end of the day, adaptation is your greatest tool to build an engaged audience.

Breaking through all the noise out there means adapting to the preferences of your audience while remaining true to your message.

Make sure you’re engaging, taking the feedback you’re given in stride, and be willing and able to change your strategies.

Your audience isn’t just numbers on a screen.

They are people, and connecting with them means understanding and responding to their needs and providing solutions to their problems.

I challenge you to take these tips and put them into action.

When you’re done reading, write these down, be honest with yourself, and see if you can improve in these areas.

I truly believe if you do, you will see more of the results you want.

Let me know in the comments how you plan to put these steps into action!

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

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