What your audience really wants
Same thing my audience wants
I’ve been thinking about you and me a lot lately. Who are you? Who am I? What are we doing here together? What do you want from me? Now that I’m writing and podcasting full-time (as in trying to earn a living), I have to think about things like “Audience” and “Marketing” and other shit that I never thought I’d enjoy - BUT
I’ve been participating in Substack Grow, and honestly, it’s not bad. When I frame it right, it’s kinda fun. Also, it gives me an opportunity to share what I’m learning in a very meta-creative way.
I learned a lot about you in the last week, so this might be useful for you, too because I learned that a lot of you have an “audience” of your own. Feel free to try this for your work. I had to apply to be in Substack Grow, so you’re getting some secret info here. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Who are you? 🫵
Last week I took a look at you. During Substack Grow, we did an exercise to identify WHO I’m out here shouting at - cuz it ain’t the void. I see you out there
They recommended these steps:
Describe your audience in 1-2 sentences.
Include the key traits (e.g. relevant skills, interests, experiences, or backgrounds).
Bonus: Add specific names/personas to bring these readers to life
Some of you I don’t know (yet - introduce yourself!), but here are some observations I made about those of you I do know:
Afterward, I noticed that I took the easy road, labeling the things you do in the world. I started with what I can see. Most of you I only know from comments, messages, and occasional exchanges. It’s hard to learn about each other like that, but one common thread that I’ve noticed is that a lot of you don’t seem to know how brilliant you are. You’re funny, passionate, sweet, sincere yet strangely irony-pilled. In general, you’re mostly creatives, thinkers - and inordinately modest.
Who am I? 🤔
This wasn’t really part of Substack Grow, but once I realized how cool you are, I wasn’t really sure why you followed me, and I felt pretty weird about writing to such awesome people. So I did the same exercise for myself:
Holy crap, we have a lot in common… and if I think you’re cool, I must be cool, too.
I realized you come here because I’m being me, and it reflects back to you in some way. So, I need to keep being me.
When I think about it that way, it’s easier to hit publish.
What we’re doing here together 🤝
It was hard for me to realize that you might actually enjoy what I make, but if I enjoy what you make, and we’re so similar, it makes sense. DUH. Just two authentic people making and enjoying each other’s shit. What are we doing here? I’m learning, growing, sharing, and making cool shit and you’re out here seasoning my creations with your perspective, and a lot of times you’re influencing what I make and vice versa.
The first of you came here to support me, and the rest of you came because you enjoy my content. I'm not sure why this was so hard to believe, but I know if it’s hard for me, it’s probably hard for you to see that you’re doing the same thing. I bet if you looked at what you make and who you make it for, you’d find the same thing: people come for you and stay because they see themselves in your creation. Pretty cool.
Some takeaways 🎁
Substack offers coupons. If you want to sign up for a paid subscription, give it a try for 7 days for free, or just use this link for 20% off.
For my fellow Substackers not in Grow: I learned that most people that have my “Open rate” (>35%) have 3-5% paid reader conversion. I have <3% paid subscribers. I’ll let you know if this changes after implementing Operation Coupon Clipper.
Who cares about what you make today? If you put something out in the world, who are the people that are excited about it? At Substack Grow, they said then think about Importance: who will help you grow? I’d argue these are the same people, or at the very least they have the same characteristics.
I’m learning that the people who are paying attention are doing so because I put out something they relate to. Even when I was working in corporate, I stuck to this. The people I’ve connected with at every phase of life liked me for who I am even when I stood out like a sore thumb, and that is what brought me to the place where I actually want to be - here with you. 💗
So, I finally know what you want: You want me to be me.
I’m making some changes to this newsletter. I’m going to be posting more consistently, sharing things that I learn each week. I’ll also be adding a new podcast soon, along with Season 2 of Syllojism!
Paid content will include at least:
Friday Feelings - a look into my limbic system
The Monthly Rabbit Hole - A smattering of the things I Googled, read, and my monthly consumption Stats
What Do I Meme - Explanations for my most talked about memes
Bonus podcast content
If you’re excited about these things, Here’s a limited-time coupon for 15% off: