Summary

The article advocates for content creators to build deep relationships with their audience, akin to Taylor Swift's engagement with her fans, to create a loyal following and succeed in a saturated market.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful connections with one's audience, drawing inspiration from Taylor Swift's personalized interactions with her fans. It suggests that in an era where content is oversaturated and AI-generated content is on the rise, the depth of engagement is more crucial than ever. The author argues that content creators should focus on building credibility and forming deep relationships rather than solely pursuing passive income or viral content. By being genuine, responsive, and appreciative of their audience, creators can cultivate a dedicated fan base that values authenticity over mere content consumption.

Opinions

Taylor Swift's success is partly attributed to her genuine and personal interactions with fans, which transcend short-term business ROI.
Content creation in 2023 requires more than consistency; it demands a human touch and deep, personal connections.
The rise of AI has devalued generic content, making it essential for creators to offer more than just regular output.
Creators are encouraged to engage with their audience on a personal level, such as replying to comments, offering tailored advice, and recognizing individuals by name.
The article dismisses the notion of quickly achieving passive income as a primary goal for content creators, advocating for a focus on audience trust and credibility first.
Building a community of fans, rather than just followers, is presented as the key to a sustainable and profitable career in content creation.
The author suggests that effort and personality are indispensable components of successful content creation, and creators who are unwilling to invest these may not deserve a loyal audience.
Systems and effort combined create a powerful strategy for content creators, akin to the "magic" of Taylor Swift's approach to fan engagement.

Use the “Taylor Swift Method” to Build an Audience of Raving Fans

Take content creation to the “deep” level.

With over 264 million Instagram followers, multiple Grammy Awards, and dozens of records in the music industry, Taylor Swift is one of the most impactful artists of our time.

Her army of fans (called "Swifties," as I learned) is one of the largest and most loyal.

And maybe one of the many factors that added up to her success is that she dared to be human and spend time on activities that are ROI negative from a short-term business perspective.

Swift went as far as surprising couples on their wedding days after being invited via Twitter:

Sending flowers and notes to her fans:

Or crashing a bridal shower:

And those are just the romantic ways Taylor won her fans' hearts over the years.

But she also...

Here's how you can use what she has done to grow your audience, credibility, and income as a content creator in 2023:

Choose Depth Over Width

Taylor Swift's cute gestures were not ROI positive in the short run.

But that's not the point.

The point is that she went the extra mile to create depth instead of width.

If you're trying to grow your audience as a content creator in 2023, that's exactly what you should try too.

With the rise of AI tools, content has become worthless. You can "create content" within seconds by pressing some buttons.

A few years ago, you could almost build an audience just by showing up regularly and being consistent.

Take the early days of Medium as a platform: Many first-movers benefited from the vast number of readers compared to the small number of writers who invested in the platform.

And the same is true for any other content platform.

Don't get me wrong — consistency still matters. Showing up matters. But what matters even more is showing your human side and building deep relationships.

Content is worthless without relationships.

We're not interested in generic, repetitive content anymore. We're seeking meaning and relationships.

We follow people because we can relate to them.

Nobody's interested in what you think or do. They're interested in seeing their own reflection in your content.

As a creator, you probably won't crash the weddings of your subscribers.

But what you can do is reply to their messages and comments, offer tailored advice, connect via live videos, and much more.

I replied to every single comment on my articles for months when I decided I wanted to write online for a living. I realized that was the only way to connect with my most engaged readers and show appreciation, so it was a no-brainer.

I still read nearly every email and comment I receive, and reply to the most thoughtful because I want my readers to know I genuinely care.

And if we're honest, that's not even hard to do.

Even with 40,000 email subscribers and over 60,000 followers on Medium, I can easily enter 1-on-1 conversations if I want to. It's just a matter of choosing depth in a world that is only becoming louder and more shallow.

If you're a new creator, this is even easier but also more helpful.

And let's face it: in 2023, most niches are oversaturated.

No matter your niche, you probably aren't the only creator. There might be dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of other creators fighting for the attention of the same audience.

Being just like them won't help you stand out. And frankly, "creating content" isn't enough — even if it's great content.

To make a full-time income and build wealth as a content creator, you don't need followers. You need fans.

You need people who don't just "follow" you but who love what you do. You need to be their favorite — the one they can relate to. And that's created through depth only.

Depth can mean going the extra mile and entering private conversations.

It can mean replying to comments and emails.

It can mean retweeting.

It can mean referring to a specific person and calling them by their name during a live stream.

It can mean running giveaways and thanking your audience in personal ways.

When I launched my Facebook group, I replied to every single post for a year.

I hosted dozens of live Q&A sessions replying to my community’s questions.

I organized interviews with top writers to show their human side too.

During my latest marketing campaign, I used a tool called Bonjoro to send personalized videos to my audience. My partner and I recorded dozens of videos to VIP buyers of our offers to thank them for their trust. It took us about 1–2 minutes per video and had a huge impact on the relationships we built and the number of sales we made.

Going the extra mile and showing personality is only a matter of effort.

And if you're not willing to make an effort, you might not deserve an audience that loves what you do anyway. (Sorry, not sorry for that #truthbomb.)

Systems + Effort = Magic

Taylor Swift can afford to surprise a handful of fans in a personal way because she doesn't need to worry about money. Plus, she knows those small gestures will go viral and turn even more people into Swift lovers.

But the same strategy is applicable to you.

When I tapped into the creator economy, everyone was talking about building passive income.

People who hadn't made a single dollar in a "passive" way were trying to sell dreams like:

Creating an online course *once* and selling it forever.

Selling templates/pdfs/ebooks/etc. passively.

Being able to retire and only work 2–3 hours per week while having enough passive income to live however you want.

After making multiple six-figure profits selling digital products like online courses and coaching programs, I can confidently say most advice you'll find on building passive income is utter bullshit.

Building passive income as a content creator is the creme de la creme.

It's the cherry on top of having a profitable business model and systems that work.

It's the last thing you do, not the first.

If you start creating content because someone sold you on the idea of "passive income," I bet you'll give up within six months — max.

Forget the idea of passive income and focus on building your audience and credibility the "Taylor Swift Way" first.

Create content people will love and build relationships that turn followers into fans.

Be human.

Talk to your audience.

Don't be afraid of getting paid for the work you do, but also don't expect to get rich quickly if nobody knows or trusts you yet.

The internet is loud, and it's not going to get silent anytime soon.

Everyone's fighting for attention, clicks, and conversions.

If you want to stand out and build your own little corner full of people who support what you do and love to pay for your work, choose depth and personality.

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