Noah Kagan on Growing An Audience

TL;DR

Quality over quantity is key in audience building.

Transcript

Hey guys and girls, so this is the bonus episode of my course. It's about audience building because I don't think I'm super good at it. And here's the guy who is awesome at audience building, he have built quite a few audiences. I'm sure you all know about it, about him. It's The Noah Kagan, he's the founder of AppSumo, Sumo.com, KingSumo, and like... Read More

Key Insights

• Noah Kagan emphasizes the importance of focusing on the quality of your audience rather than the size. He argues that having a large email list is meaningless if the subscribers are not engaged.
• Building a strong relationship with your audience is crucial. Kagan suggests personal engagement, such as responding to comments and emails, to foster a loyal following.
• Experimentation with different platforms is encouraged, but it's vital to find the medium that suits you best. Kagan highlights the importance of having an email list as a reliable communication channel.
• Kagan advises against building your audience on platforms you don't own, as they can change algorithms, affecting your reach. Email lists allow for direct communication and control.
• To convert people to your email list, Kagan suggests creating valuable tools or content that genuinely interest your audience, rather than relying on generic freebies.
• Engagement is key to maintaining an audience. Kagan recommends using autoresponders and sending regular, high-quality content to keep your audience interested.
• When it comes to giveaways, Kagan advises targeting them to specific audience segments and ensuring that everyone who participates receives some benefit.
• Building a personal brand involves being authentic and sharing valuable content. Kagan believes that people prefer buying from people, and businesses should adopt a human voice in their communications.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the most important factor when building an audience?

The most important factor when building an audience, according to Noah Kagan, is focusing on the quality of the audience rather than the size. He emphasizes that having a large email list is not beneficial if the subscribers are not engaged or interested in your content. Quality engagement leads to a more loyal and responsive audience.

Q: How does Noah Kagan suggest converting people to your email list?

Noah Kagan suggests converting people to your email list by offering valuable content or tools that genuinely interest them. Instead of relying on generic freebies, he recommends creating something that your audience will find useful and are willing to exchange their email for. This approach ensures that the subscribers are truly interested in your offerings.

Q: What are Noah Kagan's thoughts on using different platforms for audience building?

Noah Kagan advises experimenting with different platforms to find the one that suits you best. However, he cautions against building your audience on platforms you don't own, as they can change algorithms and affect your reach. He emphasizes the importance of having an email list as a reliable communication channel that you have control over.

Q: How does Noah Kagan keep his email list engaged?

Noah Kagan keeps his email list engaged by using autoresponders to deliver consistent, high-quality content. He recommends sending regular emails with valuable information that subscribers look forward to. Additionally, he suggests making the post-subscribe page engaging and providing a welcome message that highlights the best of what you offer.

Q: What strategy does Noah Kagan use for giveaways?

Noah Kagan uses targeted giveaways, recommending that they be run no more than once a quarter. He suggests giving away products that are specifically targeted to your audience to ensure engagement. He also advises making sure that everyone who participates receives some benefit, which helps build goodwill and encourages participation.

Q: What is the difference between building an audience for a personal brand versus a business?

According to Noah Kagan, building an audience for a personal brand and a business is similar, as they both benefit from a human touch. He believes that people prefer buying from people, so businesses should adopt a human voice in their communications. Both types of audience building involve sharing valuable content and being authentic.

Q: Why does Noah Kagan emphasize email lists as a primary communication tool?

Noah Kagan emphasizes email lists as a primary communication tool because they provide direct control over how you communicate with your audience. Unlike social media platforms, which can change algorithms and affect your reach, email lists allow you to consistently engage with your audience and ensure that your messages are seen.

Q: How does Noah Kagan suggest maintaining a clean email list?

Noah Kagan suggests maintaining a clean email list by regularly removing subscribers who do not engage with your emails. He recommends removing anyone who hasn't clicked or opened an email in three months. This practice helps reduce costs, improve open rates, and ensure that your list is composed of genuinely interested subscribers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Noah Kagan stresses the importance of quality over quantity in audience building, emphasizing that engagement is more valuable than sheer numbers. He shares insights on how to effectively engage with and convert audiences.

• Kagan recommends using email lists as a primary communication tool, as they provide more control compared to other platforms. He also suggests experimenting with different mediums to find what works best for individual needs.

• To maintain audience engagement, Kagan advises using autoresponders and consistently delivering high-quality content. He also discusses the strategic use of giveaways and the importance of a personal, human touch in business communications.