This week I find myself on Dubai – speaking at the Kajabi Sessions event hosted by Jen Blandos from the Female Fusion Network. I love being in new places and being in front of new people, sharing my message. On Wednesday I was able to share my thoughts from my upcoming book, Simplify The Funnel. It landed well and more people are subscribing to this “Simplify” message – it’s so exciting!
Part of what I shared was around my SEED Marketing™ model – including how to grow your audience online in 2025. I thought I would unpack things a little for you in this week’s newsletter.
While everyone seems to be chasing the latest growth hacks, AI content bots and mass content publishing strategies, it’s actually the work that some of the “under-the-radar” successful creators are doing that is working the best in the public domain. In looking at what they were doing, a clear pattern emerged that challenges what most “experts” are teaching about audience building and I decided to put it to work for previous clients and now it’s in my book.
I can pin it down to one real strategy that is really all about knowing the importance of “the art of showing up” - and this is really all we need to be focussed on.
With this focus of showing up, our purpose should not be about being everywhere, it should be about being significant somewhere.
The Audience-Building Myth That’s Killing Your Growth
Here’s what most people get wrong about growing an audience, they focus on quantity over quality…
- Posting as much content as possible
- Being present on every platform
- Creating endless pieces of content
- Chasing vanity metrics like follower counts
- Automating everything possible
- Using AI content creation
But here’s what I’ve learned after helping hundreds of businesses build genuine audiences…
The size of your audience means nothing if they’re not engaged. And they won’t engage if you’re spread too thin to actually connect with them in a human level.
That’s what my SEED Marketing™ model is all about.
The SEED Marketing™ Model: A Deeper Dive
Let me break it down and show you how you can get some real results using this approach.
Everything follows a four part framework…
S - Shape Expert Content
This isn’t about showing off or proving you’re the smartest person in the room. It’s about consistently demonstrating how you can help solve specific problems.
- Identified you core expertise
- Choose ONE primary platform
- Post a minimum of 3 focused posts per week
- Make each piece solve a specific challenge
By following this, your engagement rate will jump in just a few weeks. And by reducing your content output, you will have time to craft better content. Instead of rushing to fill a content calendar, you could focus on creating pieces that actually help your audience.
Here’s what actual expert content looks like...
- Sharing specific experiences
- Providing clear solutions
- Including implementation steps
- Showing real results
- Maintaining authenticity
Ignore those that say “Share the What and the Why, but sell the How” – start showing people you are a real expert by actually helping them in your public content.
Give some of the How so people can take the first steps on getting a result from implementing your content and then they will come back for more.
E - Engage Your Audience
Here’s something that I have spotted - we’ve become so obsessed with automation that we’ve forgotten the power of actual conversation. Remember when social media was actually... social?
The typical automation setup that many creators have include things like…
- Auto DMs set up on Instagram
- Automated LinkedIn connection messages and cold outreach bots
- Long email sequences for every scenario
- Chatbots running Facebook page conversations
The problem is that I have worked with clients that have had the same set up. There are AI challenges and coaches teaching this and charging some big bucks for templates and automated flows that you can import into platforms like ManyChat. The problem is, those that I have seen using these, come to me asking why their funnels are not converting. Almost every one of them has had zero sales from these automated bot based AI set ups.
People can smell automation from a mile away. People want to talk with people not bots.
Here’s what I would do instead…
- Turn off all long term automation except essential email sequences and response messages in DM's
- Dedicate 30 minutes each morning to genuine engagement
- Responded personally to every comment
- Asked thoughtful questions after your comment response to promote further engagement
Real engagement isn’t about being clever. It’s about being present. We all need to show up, be more human and develop ways to create real engagement.
E - Echo Core Values
This is where most people miss the mark entirely. They’re so busy trying to copy what seems to be working for others and want to be just like them so much that they lose their own voice.
Early in my business journey, I tried modelling the style, frequency and content of the high-energy, aggressive internet marketers that were popular at the time. Know what happened? I attracted the wrong audience, grew a list of freebie hunters and had some clients not aligned with the values I had. Truth be told, I hated every minute of it.
Everything changed when I started echoing my true values..
- Serve first – the rewards will come later
- Do things on time – respecting the clients and your own time
- To the highest possible standards – never cutting corners
- Minimising waste – not just time, but money and resources
- Have fun – there is no point in doing anything unless there is joy in it
And I then focussed on the values I wanted to bring in the work itself…
- Simplification over complexity
- Implementation over theory
- Human connection over automation
- Results over vanity metrics
Your values aren’t just nice words on your website. They’re your compass for every piece of content you create, every comment you make, and every connection you build.
Here’s how to help shape and then echo your values effectively…
Define Your Core Values
- What do you absolutely believe about your industry?
- What practices will you never engage in?
- What promises will you always keep?
Demonstrate Through Action
- · Share behind-the-scenes glimpses
- · Document your own implementation
- · Show how you handle challenges
Be Consistently You
- · Use your natural voice
- · Share genuine opinions
- · Stand firm on your principles
There is only one YOU. Be YOU. Stop trying to be anyone else. What you see in terms of success in their content could all just be false. Authentically create content and echo your values in everything that you put out.
D - Deliver Actionable Content
Here’s a truth bomb: Your audience doesn’t need more information. They need implementation guidance. Think about it - how many “helpful tips” have you consumed this week alone? But how many have you actually implemented?
Do you create beautiful, information-rich posts that get lots of likes and engagement, but generated nothing for your business? I have seen it with lots of creators online. Everything looks amazing, a lot of work goes into content, but little in terms of real sales revenue is generated from it all.
Here is some of the before and after content that I’ve personally helped clients to change up in terms of their content marketing strategies…
Before… content that really didn’t work…
- Generic “top 10” lists
- Theoretical best practices
- Industry news updates
- Motivational quotes
- Opinion pieces on other content
After… content that got the best results…
- Step-by-step implementation guides
- Real case studies with specific steps
- Templates and frameworks
- Action-focused challenges
When you switch up content to give actionable content, people will actually start implementing and getting results. And guess what happens… They comment, share and come back for more!
Making This Work in Your Business
Let me give you a simple way to implement the SEED Marketing™ Model this week in your business…
Monday - Shape
- · Choose your primary platform
- · Identify your core expertise
- · Plan three pieces of valuable content
Tuesday-Thursday - Engage
- · Spend 30 minutes daily on genuine engagement
- · Respond to every comment
- · Join relevant conversations
Friday - Echo
- · Review your content against your values
- · Share a behind-the-scenes story
- · Stand firm on your principles
Weekend - Deliver
- · Create one piece of highly actionable content
- · Include specific implementation steps
- · Ask for and share results
This week, I challenge you to:
Audit your current platforms
- Where are you seeing real engagement?
- Which platform hosts your ideal clients?
- Where do you enjoy showing up?
Review your content
- Is it shaping expertise or just making noise
- Does it reflect your true values?
- Can people actually implement what you share?
Assess your engagement
- Are you building relationships or broadcasting?
- How much time do you spend in real conversations?
- What’s your response rate to comments?
Remember - simplicity isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what matters. The businesses that will thrive in 2025 won’t be the ones with the most sophisticated marketing strategies. They’ll be the ones brave enough to…
- Focus on one platform
- Show up consistently
- Engage genuinely
- Deliver real value
Your audience is waiting. They just need you to show up as yourself.
Chat soon
P.S. I’d love to know - which platform will you choose to focus on? Drop a comment below or join tomorrow’s Q&A in the community where we’ll dive deeper into implementing the SEED Marketing™ Model for your specific business.
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