Building a Strong Community on YouTube: Insights from Meghan Tonjes

Imagine the delight of a 12-year-old acknowledged by a celebrity. That level of personal impact is what Meghan Tonjes aims for in her interactions with her YouTube community. In her master class, she divulges her secrets to fostering a robust community on the platform.

Understanding Your Audience

At 19, Meghan began creating content with no particular direction, initially targeting her friends. It wasn’t long before she noticed a broader audience resonating with her genuine narrations about life, and personal challenges. Many of her viewers shared common experiences with weight, self-esteem, sexuality, and the feeling of being an outsider, issues that Meghan herself was familiar with.

Connecting Beyond Analytics

Analytics can offer you a snapshot of your audience’s demographics, which is handy for collaborations or sponsorships. However, to truly understand your viewers, you need to see them as real individuals. Meghan suggests engaging in the comment sections and delving into the profiles of recurring viewers to learn about their ages, locations, and shared interests and preferences.

The Power of Recognition

Acknowledging your audience can significantly boost engagement. Simple actions like liking comments or pinning them to highlight visibility is an expression of gratitude. Even if time doesn’t allow for individual responses, these small gestures make your viewers feel noticed and appreciated.

Leveraging Audience Input

Interacting with your audience can lead to a treasure trove of content ideas and collaboration opportunities. Meghan points to discovering shared interests among her viewers, like popular TV shows, as a springboard for related video content. Engaging in the comment sections can also bring forth partnerships with other creators who share your style or message.

Understanding what captures attention in other creators’ content can also be instructive, offering insights into what appeals broadly. This awareness is not only critical for developing innovative content but also for integrating these elements to improve engagement across your channels while staying true to yourself.

Active observation and response to other creators’ work are just as important. Identifying the moments that deeply resonate can uncover valuable insights for your creative process.

Such attentiveness led Meghan to the affectionate use of ‘Bebe’ for her viewers—a term of inclusivity that transcends gender identity. It creates a sense of warmth and belonging, reinforcing a sense of relationship and community beyond just followers or subscribers.

It’s clear that even small, considerate actions can significantly strengthen the bonds between creator and viewer. By fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and empathy, we can cultivate thriving communities built on the pillars of understanding and compassion.