How to Grow a Small Audience (You Don’t Need a Big One—You Just Need This)

If you’ve been frantically Googling how to grow a small audience while secretly wondering if your 187 Instagram followers (half of which are your high school classmates and one very supportive aunt) will ever buy from you—this one’s for you.

Let’s clear this up once and for all: you do not need 10,000 followers, a blue checkmark, or a viral lip-sync reel to build a profitable online business. In fact, a small but engaged audience can be your biggest secret weapon. Yes, really.

In this week’s podcast episode, we’re busting the myth that you need to “blow up” before you cash in. I’m sharing my own story of how I started earning six figures online before I even posted consistently (and often felt guilty about it), plus real examples of entrepreneurs who made serious income with what most people would call a “tiny” following.

We’re diving into how to grow a small audience the right way—from showing up with value, to building trust, to turning your audience (no matter how small) into actual paying customers.

If you’re ready to stop obsessing over the algorithm and start focusing on what actually grows your business—hit play on this one. It’s a truth bomb wrapped in encouragement… with a side of tough love and a few laughs.

Episode #355

Confident & Profitable: Your Digital Product Kickstarter Workshop

If you’ve ever thought about creating your own digital product but had no clue where to start. I’ll be showing you how to come up with an idea people will actually pay for—and how to turn it into something YOU own and keep 100% of the profits from.

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Build a Loyal Audience Online (Without Going Viral)

I used to think the only way to make money online was to look ultra-polished and post five times a day. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Very wrong.

I actually built a seven-figure business while posting less than most influencers post in a weekend. How? I focused on building a loyal audience online—not a big one.

People don’t buy because of how many followers you have. They buy because they trust you. And trust comes from:

Consistent, valuable content (not just trends)
Showing up as a real human, not a highlight reel
Being ridiculously helpful, even when you’re not selling

Want a little boost of proof? According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from people they know over ads or influencers. And micro-influencers (with under 10K followers) often get 60% more engagement than their “famous” counterparts. Source: Nielsen on building trust with your audience.

Small is mighty. Seriously.

Increase Audience Engagement by Serving, Not Selling

One of the best ways to increase audience engagement? Stop shouting at the algorithm and start serving your people.

Here’s what works (and what I cover in the episode):

Talk with your audience, not at them (reply to comments, DMs, emails)
Ask questions and actually care about the answers
Create content that solves one specific problem, clearly and consistently

Engagement is a two-way street. You don’t need to post five reels a week if your audience feels seen, heard, and helped by what you’re already sharing.

Audience Growth Strategies for Beginners (That Don’t Require Going Viral)

Let’s rename this section: “Forget Going Viral—Do This Instead”

If you’re in the early stages, here are my favorite audience growth strategies for beginners:

Pick one platform and go deep, not wide
Share your story—your real one—because relatable wins over perfect
Offer valuable freebies or mini trainings to attract the right people
Make it ridiculously easy for your followers to share you with their people

Bonus tip: I grew my list and following massively by hosting free trainings every Thursday. I gave away value, and guess what? People shared it. Real growth doesn’t need to be loud—it just needs to be valuable.

Why Small Audiences Convert Better (Yes, Really)

Let’s talk results. One of my students created a super simple, value-packed webinar. They had no real online presence. No audience to speak of.

But the offer was good. The content was great. And in 10 months?

They made over $300K.

My student, Jordan, recently crossed the $2 million mark with a small, but mighty following:

10K Instagram followers
1,300 Facebook page likes
5,600 YouTube subscribers

Why? Because she’s built trust. Not reach. And trust builds conversion, not follower count.

How Digital Products Help You Monetize a Small Audience

Here’s where things get even more exciting: when you combine a small audience with the right digital product, you create a business that scales—without burning out.

Inside the episode, I explain how digital products:

Are scalable and low-cost to launch
Help you serve deeply without trading time for money
Work for you 24/7—even if your audience is small and your schedule is tight

You don’t need a massive launch or a giant email list to make money with a digital product. You just need an offer that solves a problem and a message that’s clear.

Overcoming the “I’m Not Ready Yet” Objections

Let’s hit these head-on, shall we?

“But I only have 500 followers…”
Perfect. That’s enough. Focus on relationships, not reach.

“I don’t know what I’d create…”
That’s exactly what we figure out together in my new workshop.

“I’m not techy…”
The tools are easy. The templates are ready. If you can click and drag, you can do this.

How to Grow a Small Audience and Monetize It (Yes, You Can)

It’s not about how many people follow you—it’s about how many people trust you. And that trust? You already have it. You just need the strategy to turn it into something real.

If this message hit home for you—and you’re ready to grow your audience with intention and create a digital product that pays you back—I want to invite you to something special.

Confident & Profitable: Your Digital Product Kickstarter Workshop

This live, virtual experience is where we take everything you’ve just read and actually build it out. I’ll help you uncover your most profitable idea, map out your offer, and show you how to launch it—even with a small audience.

Because you don’t need big numbers to build a big business.
You just need clarity, confidence, and the right plan.

Save your seat now at tanyaaliza.com/confident

Resources, Links & More That Will Help You

START HERE | Learn more about the different ways Tanya can help you in your business. Whether it’s starting an online business or growing the one you have.

DIGITAL CREATOR STUDIO | Digital Creator Studio transforms how entrepreneurs build and grow online, combining excellence in automation with simplicity. Our all-in-one marketing platform delivers a proven path to growth with intelligent systems and proven training, giving you the freedom to focus on what you do best.

MY FAVORITES | My personal camera and video gear, my health, wellness and beauty products, my favorite books and more.

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