5 Tips If You’re Struggling to Grow Your Audience (And Why You're Not Seeing Results)
Let’s be real for a minute: growing an online community isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s hard work, it's frustrating, and at times, it can feel downright impossible. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from building my community, it’s that the results are absolutely worth the grind. You want the secret? It’s not about chasing trends or trying to please everyone. It’s about being unapologetically you, staying consistent, and putting in the effort every single day.
It took us nearly 15 years to get where we are today and that meant being chronically online every single day and showing up for our community. Follow my tips below and watch your growth compound over time.
1. Consistency Is Non-Negotiable
I’m going to say this once and only once: if you’re not posting consistently, don’t expect to grow. I’m not here to sugarcoat it for you. If you’re only showing up when it’s convenient, you’re basically waving a red flag that says, “I’m not serious.” Look, it’s hard. I get it. But if you want people to trust you, they need to know you're reliable. That means showing up every day.
The consistency isn’t just in posting, either. It’s in showing up with content that aligns with your brand, your message, and your audience. If your followers can't predict what they’re going to get from you, they won’t stick around. People crave predictability, and if you can deliver value on the regular, they’ll keep coming back. No shortcuts. Just show up.
2. Engage or Die
Here's another truth bomb for you: if you’re not engaging with your community, you’re not building one. End of story. Posting content is just part of the equation. You need to respond to comments, answer DMs, engage in discussions, and make people feel seen.
It’s easy to ignore your followers or act like you’re too busy, but here’s the thing—you’re building relationships, not just an audience. Relationships take work. When someone takes the time to comment on your post, respond to them. When someone asks a question in your DMs, take a few minutes to answer them. Your followers don’t just want to follow a page; they want to be part of something. They want a connection. Don’t disappoint them.
3. Stay True to Your Brand (Even When It’s Hard)
It’s tempting to chase after every shiny trend or to post content just because it’s popular. But let me tell you—if it doesn’t align with your personal brand or your values, don’t post it. Period.
People can smell inauthenticity from a mile away, and if you try to fit into something that’s not you, they’ll notice. Stay true to your voice. Be unapologetic about your brand. If you try to be everything to everyone, you’ll end up being nothing to anyone. I’m not here to tell you what’s going to get the most likes or shares. I’m here to tell you that sticking to your brand is the only thing that will make you stand out long-term.
4. Don’t Let Fear of Judgment Hold You Back
When I started growing the CLJ community, I was terrified. What if people didn’t like what I was saying? What if they judged me? It was paralyzing. But guess what? I pushed through that fear, and here’s what I learned: the right people will resonate with you, and the ones who don’t, well, they’re not your audience.
Stop holding yourself back out of fear of judgment. You’re not here to please everyone, and you certainly shouldn’t be hiding parts of yourself to fit in. Authenticity is your superpower, and it’s what will attract the people who will stick around for the long haul. Let the naysayers do their thing while you focus on building your tribe.
5. Building a Community Takes Patience
The number one mistake I see people make is expecting overnight success. They think that one viral post or one great campaign is going to change everything. Well, here’s the truth: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Building a strong, engaged community takes time. And by time, I mean years, not months.
You need to show up day in and day out, and not just for a few weeks or months. If you’re serious about building an online community, get comfortable with the fact that it takes a lot of hard work and persistence. There’s no shortcut to success. Sure, you might get a lucky break, but it’s your consistency and dedication that will get you across the finish line. So buckle up and get ready for the long haul. It took us 15 years of posting to get where we are today with Chris Loves Julia. It is not an overnight success.
You Have to Do the Work
If there’s one takeaway from all of this, it’s this: building an online community takes hard work, consistency, and a whole lot of unapologetic authenticity. No shortcuts. No excuses. If you want to grow a real, engaged community, you have to show up, engage, and put in the work, day after day. So stop overthinking it. Just start showing up and do it. Your community will thank you for it.
Ready to take your online presence to the next level? Enroll in our Growing Your Audience course at Good Influencer and gain the tools and strategies you need to build a thriving community the right way.
