More Interactions = More Readers

When it comes to value and when people buy something, they make a purchase when they feel that what they receive in return is greater than what they're paying for.

Even if it's like a perfect 50-50, that's not enough. You have to feel like you're getting just a little bit more than the price.

How does this connect to community building? We've discussed this aspect before. People tend to be put off when posts mention the word 'free.' However, some form of recurring free event can be extremely helpful.

A recurring free event is valuable for establishing yourself as an authority. When it's tailored to something you're an expert in, it helps you demonstrate that 'Yes, I know this; this is what I do.’

So, how does this work? More interactions with a person make them more likely to want to continue interacting with you. And if people see you in different settings, like Facebook, Instagram, a meeting in person, for example, it increases the chances of interaction in the future. You're getting people used to seeing you in various places, and you're offering them value.

One suggestion we could explore further is event creation. I want to conduct more research on event creation, but one key aspect is setting limitations. For instance, limiting the event's size. We are limited to six attendees. A key point here is to aim for five to ten times the number of interested attendees, versus the number of people you actually have space for, creating that sense of tension.

Consider how you can create a regular, recurring event—be it weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. I wouldn't recommend going beyond quarterly. It should be based around something you're interested in, where you can provide value and introduce people to your work.

I also appreciate the idea of limiting the number of people with immediate access to something, as it can increase the appeal. If something feels overly accessible, it might not hold the same allure. See the full video: https://youtube.com/live/yg94JoNzx0s

Becoming Your Reader's Authority

Finding your niche and specific focus is vital. For example, on our platform, we focus on professional poetry development for underrepresented voices. This specialization helps us become authorities in this area. Becoming a "key person of influence", a term given by Daniel Priestley, means knowing your unique skill set and the value you can provide to others.

It's not about just being a poet; it's about honing in on a specific niche that separates you from the crowd.

You don't need to appeal to everyone. The more you can narrow and specify your audience, the more you can become an authority in that space. Even if your work has a specific focus, other people can still find and resonate with it. So, don't be afraid to narrow your audience to serve a particular group effectively.

Honing in on a specific niche doesn't mean other audiences won't find your work interesting or relevant. You can still attract different audiences, even if you're not directly targeting them.

Establishing yourself as an authority involves creating a book or publication, not just to have a book out there, but as a credential to showcase your expertise. This can help you secure speaking gigs or other opportunities in your field.

In summary, finding your specific niche, honing in on your unique skills, and creating a book as a credential can help you establish yourself as an authority in your field. These principles apply to various interests, not just writing. See the full video: https://youtube.com/live/yg94JoNzx0s

What Value Does Your Writing Have?

Value can come in the form of something entertaining. It can be valuable, taking people into a different mindset.

There's value in education and in establishing a connection with others. It's not just about your poem being the greatest work of art ever. It's about how you position yourself to get people who will find value in your poem.

One thing I see with writers is that sometimes they put their books out into the world, but no one buys them. They might resort to contests, paying $25 each, just to try to win.

Why is that? Well, you see people who don't have an audience, and there's a fear that no one will appreciate their work.

But I think there's often an entitlement that comes with writing. People might think, "Hey, my writing deserves an audience," but that's not always the case. Just because you put a lot of time and effort into your work and found value in it doesn't mean it will be valuable to others.

One of the things we need to discuss is that many people believe the work itself is enough to attract an audience. Creating something you think is your life's work or your best poem is great, but now it's out there, and it needs to find its place. The work doesn't stop with the work.

See the full video: https://youtu.be/qwIf8Un3lqM