Strategies to turn your Audience into Real Value!

If you are trying to build your presence on LinkedIn and want to cut down on the learning curve, then I would recommend the LinkedIn OS from Justin Welsh.

I started on LinkedIn after taking his course. You can check it out here!

Realizing the value of a follower!

“Don’t aspire to make a living; aspire to make a difference.” — Denzel Washington

NOTE: This newsletter is a little longer than the usual editions. There are 3 different category of creators that I cover in this article.

If you don’t want to read everything, you can browse over to the category that best fits you.

In a world that seems obsessed with numbers, it’s easy to believe that bigger is always better.

The bigger your follower count, the more successful you’ll be, right?

A few weeks back I had a consultation call with this podcaster.

She has a podcast that was more than 2 years old.

The podcast had about 260k downloads and was getting about 8k-9k downloads every month.

Her problem?

She wanted to scale it up to about 50K per month so that she can get sponsors for the show.

I asked her one question – “How are you monetizing your current audience?”

..and she said that she wasn’t even monetizing the show yet.

For many creators, whether on LinkedIn, podcasts, or blogs, this idea of “bigger is better” can turn into an endless chase.

In fact, it becomes an endless chase because nobody told them that irrespective of the following that they have, it is still an audience that they can monetize.

See, the hard truth is that more followers alone won’t fulfill your vision if you’re not engaging with the ones already there, hanging on your words and watching what you’ll do next.

Think about this for a moment.

Hundreds—maybe even thousands—are already listening to you.

They’re engaging with your content, following your ideas, maybe even rooting for you.

But what’s your plan for them?

Are you nurturing real relationships with these individuals?

Or are you waiting for the “next big milestone” to feel like your work truly matters?

This is the critical mindset shift most creators overlook.

Before focusing on new numbers and larger audiences, it is important to look at how you can deepen your impact with those who are already paying attention.

Let me give you another statistic.

For every new follower that you add, did you know that you are losing two followers?

They might not be unsubscribing.

But they are dropping off your feed everyday.

Thanks to new creators, new posts and newer algorithm that pushes newer posts onto their feeds.

Over a period of time these people stop engaging with your posts or, listening to your episodes..

Which essentially means that you are carrying a lot of dormant listeners in that million followers/listeners you have on your account.

But if you had engaged in the beginning itself and captured their email addresses or, monetized them in some way, you wouldn’t have lost them to dormancy.

Remember, you’re likely sitting on an asset that’s growing in potential every day—your follower base.

Start thinking about how can you move them from a follower count to sustainable income, deeper relationships, and a loyal community that grows with you.

This is a simple guide to taking your audience to the next level.

Whether you’re focused on monetizing, building a stronger brand, or engaging your followers more deeply, these strategies will help you make the most of what you’ve already built.

For LinkedIn Creators: Converting an Audience into Freelance Clients

If you’re building a following on LinkedIn and offering freelance services, you’re perfectly positioned to turn that audience into clients.

Here’s how to leverage your LinkedIn presence to capture leads and drive business:

Step 1: Use Content to Build Your Email List and Generate Leads

Offer a High-Value Freebie or Guide:

With each post, provide an optional download—like a checklist, template, or short guide that aligns with your services.

For example, if you’re a marketing consultant, create a “5-Step LinkedIn Marketing Plan” that your followers can download by providing their email.

You can use a service like Topmate to deliver it to them. They charge a % on the fees that you charge. But if you are offering a freebie, there is no charge.

So, you can easily start without breaking the bank.

If you have a website, you use something like an Optimonster to put together an optin form and an email service like Convertkit to deliver it to them.

If you are worried about the investment then you can go with an affordable yet quality service like BirdSend which can do both – building an optin form and sending the email to your subscribers, for you.

Run Polls and Interactive Content:

Use LinkedIn’s polling feature or post discussion-starters that are directly related to your expertise.

When people engage with these posts, follow up with respondents individually and offer a free resource or a short consultation to learn more about their needs.

Once again, I will recommend that you integrate a list building service into this flow, so that you are able to capture the email addresses and built an email list.

Step 2: Offer Free Consultations and Discovery Calls

Schedule 15-Minute Calls:

Offer free 15-minute consultations to qualified leads, using scheduling tools like Calendly or Tidycal.

In these calls, learn about the potential client’s needs and offer a high-level suggestion or two, giving them a taste of the value you can bring.

Create a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) on Your Profile:

Make sure your LinkedIn profile has a clear CTA in your bio, inviting people to schedule a consultation.

Use simple language, like “Looking to improve your LinkedIn strategy? Book a free 15-minute consult here.”

Invite them to get on a call with you.

Some scheduling apps also offer you an option of capturing the email addresses of people booking these calls, directly into your autoresponder.

Make use of it and build your email list as well.

The only thing you might want to keep in mind is to keep your audience informed that they are joining your email list.

This is usually done through a small message at the bottom of the booking app.

Step 3: Build Trust with LinkedIn Newsletters and Articles

Start a LinkedIn Newsletter:

LinkedIn’s newsletter feature is perfect for sharing in-depth insights and consistently reaching your audience.

Use it to publish case studies, offer tips, and feature client success stories.

This positions you as an expert while demonstrating the results your clients can achieve with your help.

The newsletter feature on LinkedIn is not that great from an audience building perspective. And the fact that the subscribers still live on LinkedIn means that you have very little control over them.

But you can use this nifty little trick that I am using to build your email list from this newsletter.

The newsletters on LinkedIn gets you decent subscribers.

Publish snippets of newsletters that you are sending out to your subscribers, on the LinkedIn newsletter platform. Then ask the reader to subscribe to your email list to get the complete newsletter.

This works really well and you will be able to build your email list.

Write Articles that Address Common Challenges:

Write LinkedIn articles that tackle specific pain points of your audience.

For example, if you’re a freelance web designer, write about “3 Common Web Design Mistakes Businesses Make.”

At the end of each article, include an invitation to reach out to you for a free consult or to discuss how you can help solve these issues.

This helps in inviting a specific category of audience to engage with you.

For Podcasters:

Podcast listeners are loyal and invested—they’re tuning in regularly, which means you have a unique opportunity to build deep engagement and turn that into meaningful value.

Step 1: Capturing Listener Emails

Create a Lead Magnet:

Offer a high-value freebie that’s exclusive to your listeners.

This could be something like a bonus episode, a resource guide that complements your show’s content, or a behind-the-scenes look at your creative process.

Mention this lead magnet during episodes, directing listeners to a specific link where they can claim it by joining your email list.

You can use the same services like service like Convertkit or, BirdSend to do this.

Promote During the Show and in Show Notes:

Remind listeners throughout each episode about the lead magnet, and include a link in the show notes.

This builds your email list—giving you direct access to your listeners beyond the podcast.

Step 2: Offer a Paid Membership or Subscription Option

Use Platforms like Patreon or Supercast:

Membership platforms like Patreon allows you to offer exclusive content to paid subscribers.

Consider providing early access to episodes, ad-free listening, or bonus segments that dive deeper into topics you discuss on the show.

Step 3: Monetize with Affiliate Marketing and Sponsorships

Targeted Sponsorships:

Now this can a tricky affair especially if you have low listenership.

But we have found success in getting sponsorships from small brands and businesses.

These brands are interested in partnering with podcasters, especially if your show aligns with their target audience.

And considering that their budget too will be less, it makes sense for them to do it with small time podcasters.

Approach relevant brands or sign up with podcast ad networks like Midroll or AdvertiseCast, which can help you find sponsors.

You will have to do some real hard work to find these brands, but it is worth it.

Affiliate Links:

This is my favorite method.

Recommend specific products or services by using affiliate links and sharing them in your show notes or, on your podcast website.

Some affiliate programs pay per sale, while others pay per click, providing you with income that can grow as your audience engages with these recommendations.

For Bloggers: Turning Readers into Revenue

Bloggers often build audiences with a specific interest or niche focus, making it easier to monetize through multiple streams.

Here’s how to take your blog’s readership from passive to profitable.

Step 1: Capture Emails to Build a Community

Lead Magnets Tailored to Your Niche:

Offer downloadable resources that your readers will find valuable.

For a travel blogger, this could be an exclusive travel checklist or a budget guide; for a productivity blogger, consider printable planners or a goal-setting worksheet.

Promote these lead magnets at the end of each post, and consider pop-ups that trigger when readers are about to leave the site.

These are called exit pop-ups and most optin form builders offer this option.

Implement Scroll-Triggered and Exit-Intent Pop-Ups:

Use pop-ups that appear when a reader reaches a certain point in an article or is about to leave. These are effective for capturing emails without interrupting the reading experience.

Step 2: Earn Revenue Through Affiliate Marketing and Sponsored Content

Integrate Affiliate Links Naturally:

Instead of just placing ads or banners, weave affiliate links into your content where it’s relevant.

For example, if you’re a fitness blogger, you could mention specific products or brands you use in a workout guide, linking to them with affiliate codes.

Because it is a natural inclusion, your reader won’t find it intrusive and are more likely to click on it and buy it.

Partner with Brands for Sponsored Content:

Approach brands that align with your niche and offer to create blog posts, tutorials, or product reviews in exchange for payment.

Sponsored content allows you to offer your audience valuable information while generating income. Make sure to choose brands that genuinely resonate with your readers to maintain trust.

Step 3: Create and Sell Digital Products or Courses

Ebooks, Guides, and Printables:

Digital products are an excellent way to offer more in-depth information on topics you cover.

For example, a recipe blogger might create an eBook of exclusive recipes; a parenting blogger could offer a printable activity book.

These products are easy to scale and can be sold directly on your blog.

Launch Online Courses:

Courses are a natural extension of in-depth blog content.

If you’re a finance blogger, for instance, consider a course on budgeting or investment basics.

You can use platforms like Teachable or Podia to create a polished course and market it to your existing email list for a profitable launch.

BONUS TIP:

Don’t look at creating high value courses. Create small, low effort courses which are about 10-20 minutes long and sell it as a low ticket offer.

Such courses convert extremely well in comparison to high ticket courses.

Maximizing Your Impact Across All Platforms

Whether you’re a podcaster, LinkedIn creator, or blogger, here are a few final steps to make the most of your efforts:

• Repurpose Content Across Channels: Use snippets from your blog posts, podcast highlights, or LinkedIn insights across different platforms. A podcast quote could become a LinkedIn post, or a popular LinkedIn tip could inspire a blog article. Repurposing content reinforces your message and gives it greater reach.
• Host Live Q&As and Webinars: Organize regular live events to engage your audience more personally. For instance, podcasters can host live Q&As, LinkedIn creators can hold workshops, and bloggers can offer webinars. These events build trust and give you a platform to showcase your expertise.
• Create a Value Ladder: Build a pathway that starts with free, high-value content and scales up to premium offerings. For example, you might offer a free download, followed by a low-cost digital product, and ultimately, higher-priced services or memberships.

The Big Picture: Turning Numbers into Value

As you grow, remember that it’s not just about how many followers or listeners you have.

It’s about building relationships, delivering value, and strategically guiding your audience to become not just passive followers, but invested community members.

Take a look at your current following and ask yourself: Are you making the most of what you’ve already built?

With these strategies, you’ll turn your numbers into lasting value and create real, sustainable growth.

Recommended Newsletters

Here are few newsletters that I would recommend that you sign up to if you are interested in learning the art of running a side-hustle:

• Write, Build, Scale – https://sparklp.co/p/40cf6480e8
• Why we buy – https://sparklp.co/p/6d27bbcf8b
• The Book Bub – https://sparklp.co/p/3bcef5f1d4
• The Stacked Marketer – https://sparklp.co/p/5c2039bc2c

Sign up to these and follow them. You will get a lot of information and content for your blog posts, podcasts and even social media posts.

I will share more such ideas in my future newsletters.

I put in about 18 hours every month to create this newsletter, starting from researching to writing and editing it.

So, If you enjoyed reading this Newsletter, I would sincerely appreciate it if you could recommend it to others. You can send them to https://theloudspeakeronline.com to subscribe to it for FREE!

What am I reading?

I absolutely love books and I read a lot.

In fact, I don’t just read a lot, but I also take notes on every book that I read.

I have pages and pages on information in my Notion Second Brain, so that I can find them and use them when ever I need.

Want to know more about the books I read. You can check it out here!

That’s it for this week!

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