Stop chasing followers when you're not even talking to the ones you already have.
Everyone wants a million followers, but nobody wants to talk to the people they already have. Followers are just a number on a screen. A community is a group of people who actually care about what you're saying.
The problem with just chasing followers is you're always performing for strangers who might leave the second you stop being entertaining. Since there's no real connection, you're constantly fighting for their attention.
"When you build a community instead, these are the people who buy your products, support you, defend your brand, and show up to your live sessions on a Sunday night because they trust your voice and love your face, even when you're being extra."
Creators who do this best aren't trying to be influencers. They're just trying to be helpful. They reply to comments and treat their audience like peers instead of numbers.
Business brands can do this too, but you have to stop being a faceless corporation. People don't connect with logos. They connect with the people behind them. Show the personality that makes your company real.
So to recap: if you want to grow a community, stop focusing on your follower count and start looking at your comment section. Give people a reason to stay, not just a reason to watch.
Please direct all complaints, grievances, and unhinged rants about ghost-town comment sections to my YouTube comment section.
It gets lonely down there. Same handle on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok — @kirkpadmore.
Rant on YouTube