The Difference Between Content That Builds an Audience Vs. Content That Doesn't
Why Most Content Gets Ignored (And How to Create Content People Actually Crave)
Grow your audience and monetize with digital products. My premium guides will help you build faster without getting stuck in overwhelm.
Last week, I watched two creators with identical follower counts post similar content.
One got 47 likes and crickets in the comments.
The other sparked a 200-comment debate and gained 300 new followers overnight.
Same topic. Same audience size. Completely different results.
This isn't about luck or algorithms playing favorites.
It's about understanding a fundamental truth that most creators miss:
Audience-building content doesn't just inform—it transforms the relationship between you and your reader.
The Fatal Flaw of "Spray and Pray" Content
Most content creators are stuck in broadcast mode.
They push out information like a fire hose: tips, insights, industry news, motivational quotes.
It's perfectly decent content. It might even be valuable.
But it's forgettable.
This type of content treats your audience like empty vessels waiting to be filled with your wisdom.
The reader consumes it, nods along, maybe saves it for later (spoiler: they won't read it again), and scrolls on.
No connection formed. No reason to come back specifically to you.
What Audience-Building Content Does
Content that builds an audience does something radically different: it makes the reader feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves.
Think about the creators you follow religiously.
The ones whose content you actually look forward to. I guarantee they're not just sharing information—they're creating a shared experience.
They're saying: "We're the kind of people who think about X differently." "We understand something others don't." "We're building toward something together."
The Three Pillars of Magnetic Content
1. Strong Point of View
Audience-building content takes a stance. It doesn't hedge with "it depends" or try to please everyone.
It draws a line in the sand and says, "This is what I believe, and here's why."
When you share a strong perspective, you naturally attract people who think similarly and repel those who don't. This isn't a bug—it's a feature.
A small group of aligned followers is infinitely more valuable than a large group of passive observers.
2. Personal Stakes
The best content creators don't just share ideas. They share what those ideas cost them to learn.
They talk about their failures, their struggles, and the painful lessons that led to their insights.
This vulnerability creates a connection. When someone shares not just what they know but how they learned it, readers think: "This person gets it. They've been where I am."
3. Forward Motion
Content that builds audiences always hints at a journey.
It's not just "here's what I think" but "here's where we're going together." It creates anticipation for what comes next.
This could be a methodology you're developing, a contrarian thesis you're proving, or simply a unique lens through which you consistently view your industry.
The Litmus Test
Before you hit publish on your next piece of content, ask yourself:
Does this reveal something specific about how I see the world?
Would someone who resonates with this want to hear more from me specifically?
Am I just sharing information, or am I inviting people into a perspective?
If you're just sharing information, you're creating consumable content.
If you're inviting people into a perspective, you're building an audience.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Building an audience through content requires you to be more than an information aggregator.
It requires you to have something to say, not just something to share.
This is why most content doesn't build audiences.
Having a strong point of view is risky.
Being vulnerable about your journey is uncomfortable.
Committing to a consistent perspective is constraining.
But it's also the only way to transform casual readers into genuine followers.
The creators who understand this don't just gain followers—they build communities.
They don't just share content—they start conversations.
They don't just broadcast—they connect.
The question isn't whether you can create content.
The question is whether you're brave enough to create content that matters to the people who need to hear it.
What's one strong opinion you hold about your industry that most people would disagree with?
That might be exactly what your audience needs to hear.
If today’s newsletter inspired you, check out my shop. I’ve created premium guides and resources designed to help you grow, and monetize your skills.
This is great information. Though I’m new to this platform, I 100% with the information you provide here. On other platforms I’ve noticed that vulnerability and authenticity always garnered better engagement and growth opportunites.
Awesome information. Thank you.