2 steps to choose the online platform that's right for you

Hey friends,

If you’ve been reading Story Alley for a while, you’re probably aware of how much we like Twitter. However, we are not blind to the risks of only building your audience there….especially right now.

A couple of weeks ago we discussed why - if you’re building on Twitter - it might make sense to diversify your online presence by adding another platform. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the platform that’s right for you?

Whether you've spent years building an audience on one platform or you’re diversifying, choosing the right channel to focus on can be challenging. Today, we’ll share a two-step framework to help you determine the platform that’s best for you.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Start with your end goal

Every time you’re starting something new, it’s worth taking a step back and thinking about your end goal. It is futile to spend energy building something - especially something as time and energy-consuming as building an audience - unless you have a clear idea why you’re doing it and what you’d like to achieve. As Simon Sinek would say, start with why.

Without a clear vision of what success would look like, it is impossible to know what to focus on. Maybe you’re trying to start a new career in a completely unrelated field and sharing your transferrable knowledge would help you attract opportunities. Perhaps you’d like to move up the ladder and get to your next promotion faster. Or maybe you’re considering starting something new and want to establish yourself as an expert before going public with your idea.

Whatever the case, it is worth asking yourself what your goal is and how you would measure success. Once you’ve figured this out, it is time to do some research.

Step 2: Discover where your target audience hangs out

Now that you know what you’re trying to accomplish, it will be much easier for you to know who exactly your audience is. For example, if you’re switching careers, your audience is likely people who work in your new field of choice. If you’re starting a company, you’re probably targeting potential customers, employees and investors. The people who can help you achieve your goal are the ones you should aim to attract.

Once you’ve defined who they are, it is time to find out where they hang out. This means learning what social platforms they’re active on and whether they prefer to consume information in written, audio or video form. Chances are you already know this but in case you’re not sure, you can always use tools like SparkToro to find out.

It is always better to meet people where they are and share information in the way they prefer consuming it. Knowing where your target audience hangs out would help you determine the right platform to focus on. Building an audience is hard enough as is and you don’t need the added friction of attracting people to a platform they don’t already use.

Bonus: pick a content format that feels authentic

You can have a clear goal, be on the right platform and proceed great content, but unless its format feels natural, you may struggle to attract an audience. People resonate with people who are authentic and look like they’re having fun. If you’re forcing yourself to use a content format you dislike, your target audience will likely see through it. So, don’t sweat it too much and share (good) content in a way that you enjoy and that feels authentic. Results will be sure to follow.

With love,

Team Salley

What is Salley?

Salley helps you build habits that allow you to create a strong online presence. With us, you can stay accountable and earn stress alleviating rewards for hitting your content goals.