You Must Give a Little

I want people to read my blog, I want people to subscribe to my newsletter, and I want to be followed on Instagram. These are all similar goals for anyone creating content, but why do we deserve to have fans when we aren’t fans first? This is an issue I am dealing with right now trying to grow my website and write about my passion. I want to gain readers and have people sharing my blog, but am I doing this for others?

When I was reading Austin Kleon’s book “Show Your Work!”, one of his quotes resonated with me. He says:

If you want fans, you have to be a fan first. If you want to be accepted by a community, you have to first be a good citizen of that community. If you’re only pointing to your own stuff online, you’re doing it wrong. You have to be a connector. The writer Blake Butler calls this being an open node. If you want to get, you have to give. If you want to be noticed, you have to notice. Shut up and listen once in a while. Be thoughtful. Be considerate. Don’t turn into human spam. Be an open node.

When we start being fans of others we begin to learn about the ideas that make us fans. We realize the attraction certain websites or newsletters bring to us and we begin to implement those skills into our own content creation.

How to Become a Fan

• Comment on other content creators in your niche. This will help you build relationships with others in your same field.
• Read books and write reviews from authors that inspire you.
• Share content that is valuable to you and can bring value to others.

How to Get Fans

• Create quality content. Quality over quantity. No one wants to read your 75 mediocre articles, but I guarantee that if you write an exceptional piece, people will subscribe, and be willing to wait for the next great piece of content.
• Communicate with your audience. When you are starting out you must be judicious in responding to comments or emails. A new fan that sees you interacting with him and answering any questions, will be a fan that continuously returns to your website.
• Be grateful. If someone shares or reviews your content, be thankful for it. Starting out those initial promotions can be the edge your content needs to increase in popularity.

Final Words of Advice

If you are passionate about what you are creating you won’t quit when times get tough. In my situation, I love to share what I learn from reading, and I know I will enjoy it for the rest of my life. If it takes years for my website to take off, I won’t mind, because I am doing something I love!