A little while ago on Instagram we asked what challenges you face in your business, and you spoke up loud and clear. Some were struggling with getting organized, while others needed a little help building their following. However, one thing that kept coming up again and again was creating killer content.

One question, from beauty blogger Salty Maskcara, stood out.

“For me, it’s capturing the right audience. I want my content to attract people who value what I’m offering, not just give it a ‘like’ and move on. I also want to provide value to people, so having the right audience is important because I want people to feel like they gained something from my posts.”

Connecting with your audience (customers, followers, and fans) is one of the most important things a fempreneur can do. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most difficult to pull off–especially if writing isn’t your strong suit. Thankfully, there are a plethora of strategies that can help you find and attract your tribe. Here are just four of our favorites.

1. “Know your audience before you know your story”

The key to connecting with your audience is knowing who they are in the first place. Before you design a product, service, or even write a blog post, ask yourself: “Who is this for?” If you have no clue, then you’ll have a hard time finding people who are ready for what you’re sharing or selling.

Before diving into your next great idea and spending hours, weeks, or even months pouring your heart into it, stop and figure out who you’re creating your content for. Ask yourself: “Who is this for” and really come up with an answer. Be sure to think about the challenges your ideal audience member faces, the things they love, and where they hang out. Go deep!

2. Give the people want they want (but first, ASK!)

One of the easiest ways to connect to your audience is to give them exactly what they want. Because you’ve already done the research to figure out who you’re creating content for and some of the things they love, you should use that information to design offerings that tap into their desires and fill their needs.  And when you’re not sure what to focus on next, go straight to the source and ask what they need and want.

3. Be interesting

Listen, the Internet is way too crowded to make your audience suffer through boring or tedious text hoping to find hidden gems. Connecting with your tribe means you have to engage with them in ways that catch their interest, particularly because they have so many options.

Don’t trip. You don’t have to be a comedian or guru like Seth Godin to reach your peeps. But skip the walls of text in favor of bullet points and numbered lists, opt for compelling images for your social media feeds, and use your followers’ feedback to shape the tips you share and the content you create.

4. Authenticity over everything

Want to build your following and connect with people who will actually sign up for your ish? BE YOURSELF!

Drop the business buzzwords and meet your customers where they are. Talk about your struggles (if there’s a lesson in it), let them follow you behind the scenes of your biz, and kick off your heels every now and then.

You don’t have to dish all of your dirt (or even a little bit), but people trust businesses and brands that feel human. There’s a reason Oprah is OPRRRAAAAH, and Ellen rules the airwaves. Sure, their businesses are well-oiled machines, but their audiences also feel like they know them…even if actually they don’t.

In short, let your guard down a little, be yourself, and don’t try to act (or speak) like the competition. Do you, boo! And your audience will appreciate it.

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Need a little help connecting on Instagram? Check out our brand new Complete Instagram 2018 Planner that will help you take your IG feed from lackluster to FABULOUS.