The Unexpected Secret to Growing Your Online Business

Let’s be honest. The old tricks for growing an online business? They just don’t work anymore.

Sending cold DMs. Writing generic emails. Guessing what your audience wants.
If you’ve tried these, you know how frustrating it is. They don’t build trust, and people see right through them.

People today are savvier. They want real value, not empty promises. So if you’re still using those outdated strategies, it’s time to stop.

Why Old Tactics Fail

It used to be simple: send email blasts to your list, make big promises with flashy offers, and hope for the best. But people are over it. Nobody wants your sleazy sales pitch.

Instead, they want businesses that listen. Ones that understand their struggles and offer real solutions.

What Actually Works Now

Growing an online business today is about three things:

• Listening:
  Pay attention to what people say online. Actually taking time to listen to the words they are using and the tone they are emoting.
• Learning:
  Notice what they share and buy. Watching what they do and how they do things — their interactions.
• Helping:
  Solve their problems in honest, relatable ways. Showing them the ups and downs of your journey, not just the fluffy parts.

It’s not magic. It’s about showing you care enough to understand them.

How to Grow the Right Way

1. Know Your Audience

Stop guessing what they want. Find out for real.

• Read reviews and comments on things similar to what you offer.
• Check social media to see what they share and complain about.
• Join their online communities. Search for patterns in what they share.

This helps you understand their real problems—not what you think their problems are.

2. Learn What Matters

Actions speak louder than words. Watch what they do, not just what they say.

• Look at what they’re buying and recommending.
• Pay attention to how they describe their concerns. Use the same words they use in your content.

For example, if they keep saying, “I feel stuck,” use that phrase in your posts. Show them you get it.

3. Solve Their Problems

Be real. Share your own struggles and how you overcame them.

• Tell stories about mistakes you’ve made and what you learned.
• Offer clear, actionable advice they can use today.

When you do this, people see that you get their struggles. They see you as someone who’s been where they are—and knows the way out.

What to Avoid

Don’t waste your time on things like sending out surveys nobody cares to answer and overhyped email campaigns with no depth.

I’ve made these mistakes myself. Once, I spent weeks creating content for a new service. But I didn’t follow what the audience needed or what they were asking for. Guess what? Nobody cared.

Your Next Move

Start small. Here’s what you can do today:

1. Pick one place where your audience hangs out and leave reviews. Maybe it’s Reddit, Facebook groups, Google reviews or products on Amazon.
2. Spend 30 minutes reading what they’re saying. Look for common complaints or questions.
3. Create one piece of content that answers one of those questions.

This one step can change everything.

Growing your online business isn’t about working harder.

Building an online business isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter.

When you take the time to listen, learn, and help, people notice. They trust you. They stick around.

So stop guessing. Start connecting.

What are you waiting for? Your audience is out there, waiting to be heard.