I am getting the feeling that some of you feel that audience development to build your audiences and support bases is overwhelming.  It doesn’t have to be.  Yes, you can (and should some day) create a comprehensive plan to have a logical path for building your audiences and support.  However, if you are feeling overwhelmed, here is what I suggest to do:

1. Breathe!

2. Evaluate what is working and what is not working.

3. Get rid of what is not working so you have more room to breathe.

4. Add one audience relations program to get started with that newly created space.  Just one! 

Audience relations programs are any program that helps you to build relationships with your audiences.  This is not another marketing message.  This is a one-to-one interaction or meaningful group experiences to get to know the people in your audiences.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Coffee talks and conversations – either by groups or one-on-one.  These are casual let’s get to know each other better with no other agenda attached.
• Thank you programs that reach people and make them feel special.
• Parties or other social events.
• Online Hangouts – I haven’t seen many of these happening lately.  Why not?
• Meetup programs.
• Community programs/Outreach events with audience interaction and direct participation.  I suggest smaller based formats so you can get to know people better.
• Survey conversations/focus groups – turn your questions that you are dying for answers  into conversations with specific people.
• Audience side-by-side creating – have your audience participate in creating with you.
• Volunteer programs for each segment of your audiences.  You can get your donors to volunteer, your subscribers to volunteer, your purchasers to volunteer, etc.  What do you need help with?  What can they help you with?

Again, any program that helps build that connection with your audience members and builds the relationships with them is worth pursuing.  Many of these programs do not cost that much to carry out.  Start out a step at a time.  Choose one!  Share with us your results.

If you want more tips and ideas and/or more explanation of these ideas – join the Tip of the Week Club!  I give out a tip each week, and it is rather inexpensive to join.

Cheers to happy and loyal audiences,
Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza
Chief Audience Builder