Happy Thursday!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. The week is almost over! On Tuesday, I shared a tip about the power of building relationships with your audience—a suitable topic as we head into the last busiest months of the year..

Although digital communication reaches more people than in-person interactions, the human connection is valued more than ever. People buy from people they trust, and that’s a fundamental truth in business.

But how do you create relationships with total strangers on the internet?

Start Where Your People Already Are

Instead of trying to build an audience from scratch, go where your ideal clients are already spending time. Join industry Facebook groups, participate in relevant Reddit communities, or engage in LinkedIn discussions.

The key is to show up as a helpful member of the community, not as someone trying to sell something. People will start to recognize your name and associate you with valuable insights.

Share Your Human Side

People connect with people. Share the story behind why you started your business, the challenges you've faced, or what you learned from a recent project. When you show vulnerability and authenticity, you permit others to see you as a real person rather than just another service provider.

But, sharing your story doesn't mean oversharing personal details—it means showing the human perspective behind your professional expertise.

Be Genuinely Helpful Before Being Promotional

The fastest way to build trust online is to help people without expecting anything in return. Answer questions in industry groups, share valuable resources, celebrate others' wins, or offer quick advice when someone is struggling with a problem you can solve.

When you lead with helpfulness, people remember you when they need your services or when someone asks for a referral.

Consistency Builds Familiarity

Building relationships online is like building relationships anywhere—it takes time and repeated positive interactions. Show up regularly, use a consistent voice, and be reliable in your communication. People need to encounter you multiple times before they feel comfortable reaching out or making a purchase.

This is why sporadic posting or constantly changing your message makes relationship building so much harder. (I know, it’s hard to do as I’m guilty of doing this as well. But we’re in this, together!)

Turn Digital Interactions Into Real Connections

Look for opportunities to move conversations from public forums to direct messages, from social media to email, or from online to phone calls. The goal isn't to immediately pitch your services, but to deepen the relationship through more personal communication.

Sometimes a simple "I'd love to continue this conversation—mind if I send you a direct message?" can transform a casual interaction into a meaningful business relationship.

What’s Your Takeaway?

Did any of these offer insights on how to build stronger relationships with your online audience?

The connections you make today become the foundation for all your future business growth.

Until next Thursday,

P.S. Remember, every person behind every screen is dealing with real challenges and looking for someone they can trust to help them solve problems. When you approach online relationship building with genuine care for others, the business results follow naturally; it’ll just take time.