If you’re building a personal brand and no one’s engaging with your content... read this

A lot of creators (and biz professionals + founders) post content but wonder why no one really talks back. They’ve asked me:

Everyone throws the word “community” around and sadly (imho), it’s become a business buzzword more than anything else. But really tho?

The best creators I know are building relationships in public.

And no, they’re not blasting out content just hoping “community” gets sprinkled on top 🧁. They’re being really intentional, present, and actually… human. Yup, shocker in 2025.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Thoughtful replies in their own comment section (not just “thanks” or “so true!”)

• Turning DMs into convos (and then into collabs 💰)

• Spotlighting their audience in their content

• Asking the kinds of q’s that spark convos, not just dropping gems (although that’s awesome too)

The best part about this is that you don’t need to be on 10 platforms or build a full-blown, full-time “community strategy” to make it work. If you’re reading this, I already know you’re juggling a lot, so we’re keeping it simple, clear, and doable.

And if you forget everything else, just remember this - you just need to consistently create opportunities for conversation, and follow through when people actually show up.

Why I care about this sm (and how I know it works)

Before building Arena, before this newsletter... I worked at LinkedIn.

My whole job? Helping creators - from Fortune 500 execs to pro athletes - build actual communities around their voices and expertise through content, not just vanity metrics.

And what I saw is that the ones who grew fastest weren’t the loudest (or even the most famous). They were the ones who made space for people to join in real, meaningful conversations.

You can 100000% do that too.

📍 Start here: How to build a community on LinkedIn

💡 First, know who you’re building for.

You can’t invite someone in if you don’t know WHO the helly you’re talking to. 👀 Forreal, what are they struggling with? What do they care about?

💬 Make your content collaborative. Use polls, questions, and carousels that invite interaction. Don’t just teach (ie. share your insights/knowledge/etc), you’ll want to think about “how can this topic start a conversation?”

👀 Stay present in your comments. Reply thoughtfully, ask follow-up q’s, and make people feel genuinely heard. This is the easiest way to go from “influencer” to “leader.”

💬 Tactics that actually work

✨ Use polls. Keep them specific and relevant to your niche. People love sharing their opinion, so this is an easy way to give them a reason. Plus you can get some realllly good market research.

✨ Include a question. Instead of just telling, ask q’s at the end or beginning like:

• → “Has this been true for you?”

• → “What would you add to this?”

• → “What’s a mistake you’ve made that no one warned you about?”

✨ Participate in posts. Leave meaningful comments on other people’s content. This is also another super low lift effort tactic. Basically, you can ride the wave of the original poster’s audience (+ helping increase their engagement) and tap into extended audience beyond your immediate network. But the best part is it also help build real relationships.

🔁 Pro tip: LinkedIn recently added impressions to track your reach and can help you see what topics drive replies. That can help shape your content roadmap.

Sidenote: I actually love seeing impressions on my comments now. I don’t even care if it doesn’t get a ton of likes/replies - knowing people are seeing my comments lets me know I’m still reaching my community in different mediums which is more than enough for me. 🤓 

🔁 Keep it going: Nurturing the community you’re building

👀 Be consistent (but sustainable) Set a posting and engagement rhythm you can actually keep up with. Quality > burnout. Need help being consistent? Check this out ⤵️

• Drowning in To-Do Lists? The 12-Week Hack That Changes Everything

• Stop Overthinking Content: A System for Multi-Hyphenate Creators

💡 Want to go even deeper on how to turn your content into a real business? There’s a free event coming up that’s stacked with smart, tactical advice for creators looking to go from brand to biz. ⬆️

Build More Than Just a Following

When it comes to building a business online, finding your audience is only the beginning. The real work is what comes next, and that’s what The Creator Business Summit is all about.

On July 16th, you’ll hear from four of the sharpest minds in the creator world: Shaan Puri, Codie Sanchez, Chris Koerner and Tyler Denk. All ready to give you the inside info on how they went from dreamers to moguls.

They’ve built audiences, grown brands, and launched businesses worth millions—and they’ll show you how they did it.

From personal brand to business empire, this summit is packed with real strategies, tools, and proven frameworks to help you build like never before.

Side-hustlers. Full-timers. Big media brands. There’s something for everyone to learn.

Sign up today.

Whether you're building a business on the side or a full-time creator, this is a rare chance to learn directly from folks who've scaled audiences into full-on companies. I’ve already registered and planning to tune in myself! :)

Now it’s your turn… What’s one simple move you can take this week to start turning your followers into a real community?

• → Post a poll?

• → Comment more intentionally (on 5-10 posts from other creators in your network)?

• → Share something real you’ve been thinking about but haven’t said out loud yet

Your next collaborator, client, or creative partner might already be following you. You just might’ve not given them a reason to raise their hand yet. 👀

You got this,

Adriene

P.S. Want help building a content or engagement strategy that actually moves your career or business forward? I offer 1:1 consulting calls (15–60 mins) to help you get clear and take action. 👉 Book your call here.