DEAR INDUSTRY: THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T OWE YOU AN AUDIENCE

Dear Industry,

Somewhere along the line, many of us started believing that simply participating in the industry meant the industry owed us something in return. We launch a business and expect customers. We become a model and expect followers. We start a podcast and expect listeners. We host an event and expect people to buy tickets. We publish a magazine and expect everyone to read it. Then, when those things don't happen as quickly as we'd hoped, we often blame the algorithm, the industry, or a lack of support. While those factors can certainly play a role, the reality is much simpler: the industry doesn't owe any of us an audience.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see today is the belief that followers equal customers. They don't. Some of the most successful businesses I know don't have massive social media followings, and some of the largest social media personalities struggle to sell products, fill events, or convert engagement into revenue. We've become so focused on the numbers that we've forgotten what those numbers are actually supposed to represent. Followers don't automatically become customers. Customers become customers because they trust you, believe in your brand, and see value in what you're offering.

The same can be said about talent. Being talented is important, but talent alone has never been enough. Every day there are incredibly gifted designers, photographers, makeup artists, models, writers, stylists, and entrepreneurs entering this industry. What separates those who build lasting careers from those who fade away isn't always talent. More often than not, it's consistency, professionalism, relationship-building, and the willingness to keep showing up long after the excitement wears off. People invest in brands and professionals they know, trust, and remember.

Another myth I think we've bought into is the idea that posting every day is the same as marketing. It isn't. Posting content simply because you feel obligated to stay visible doesn't automatically create demand for what you do. Marketing is intentional. It's understanding your audience well enough to know what they need, what problems you're solving, and why they should choose you over someone else. If every post is simply another photo of yourself or another reminder that you're available, you're not necessarily building a brand. You're just adding more content to an already crowded timeline.

I also think it's time we have an honest conversation about support. I hear people say all the time that nobody supports them, and sometimes that's true. But before we point the finger outward, we should probably ask ourselves a few questions. Do we support the people we expect to support us? Do we buy from independent brands, or do we only ask them for discounts? Do we attend industry events when we're not the featured guest? Do we subscribe to the magazines we expect to feature us? Do we share someone else's work simply because we believe in it, or only when there's something in it for us? A healthy industry isn't built on one-sided expectations. It's built on reciprocity.

I've learned through Queen Size Magazine and The Full Figured Industry Awards that earning people's attention is never a one-time achievement. You don't build an audience once and keep them forever. Every article, every event, every issue, every partnership, and every conversation is another opportunity to prove why people should continue paying attention. Audiences evolve. Consumer habits change. New businesses enter the market every day. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow, which means we all have to continue earning the trust and attention of the people we hope to serve.

Instead of asking why people aren't paying attention, maybe we should ask whether we've given them a reason to. Instead of chasing followers, maybe we should be focused on building relationships. Instead of measuring success by likes and views, maybe we should pay more attention to loyalty, credibility, and the impact we're making on the people who already believe in us.

The truth is, the industry doesn't owe any of us an audience. It doesn't owe us customers, readers, ticket buyers, clients, or opportunities. Those things are earned over time through consistency, professionalism, and the value we bring to the people we serve. The good news is that when you stop expecting attention and start focusing on earning trust, you're no longer building an audience for today. You're building a reputation that can last for years.

Because in the end, audiences don't stay because you asked them to. They stay because you've given them a reason to.

Until next time…..