4/17/2025

The Importance of Setting Expectations with Your Audience When Building in Public

In today’s fast-paced digital world, building in public has emerged as a revolutionary strategy for creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses alike. The concept revolves around sharing the ups, downs, and everything in between of your journey with your audience openly. But with this transparent approach comes a crucial responsibility: setting clear expectations with that audience.

Creating transparency can lead to a myriad of benefits; however, alongside those benefits come challenges. Today, we’re diving deep into why setting expectations is vital when you’re on this journey of public building, how it impacts audience engagement, and how to effectively communicate these expectations.

What Does Building in Public Mean?

Building in public is a practice where individuals or businesses openly share their development processes, struggles, and successes with their audience. This strategy fosters a sense of community among followers and allows for deeper connections. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram have become hotspots for this practice, where creators share everything, from their product development phases to their marketing tactics. By letting your audience inside your journey, you not only build trust but also keep them engaged in the evolution of your brand.

Why Setting Expectations is Key

Accountability and Trust

When you share your projects openly with your audience, you are inviting them into your world. They become invested in your success, and thus, it’s crucial to set proper expectations right from the start. Here’s why:

Creates Accountability: By publicly sharing your timeline and objectives for your project, you hold yourself accountable. This accountability isn't just for you—your audience will also check in to see if you're keeping to your promises. When you set realistic expectations, it becomes easier for everyone involved to gauge progress and stay motivated together.
Builds Trust: Transparency breeds trust. When you set clear expectations and deliver on them, it fosters a reliable relationship between you and your audience. A lack of transparency or failure to meet expectations, on the other hand, can lead to disappointment and disconnection.

Managing Audience Feedback

Engaging your audience through public building means you’ll get feedback—some of it good & some of it not so good. Setting expectations allows you to frame this feedback effectively. Here’s how it works:

Preparation for Criticism: When you specify your goals and what you're hoping to achieve, you give your audience a context for their feedback. They’re less likely to criticize you for something you didn’t intend to do in the first place if you’ve laid out a roadmap from the get-go.
Guided Conversations: When expectations are set clearly, discussions about your project can stay on track. If your audience knows your timeline, objectives, and potential challenges, their queries and comments will be more relevant and constructive.

Engagement & Participation

Setting expectations also paves the way for greater engagement:

Audience Participation: Engaging your audience in the journey encourages them to be part of the process. When they know what to expect, they feel more invested in contributing—be it through comments, shares, or even prompt suggestions. This collective engagement can fuel your project forward.
Sustained Interest: Consistent updates grounded in shared expectations keep the audience coming back for more. When they know you'll be regularly updating them on progress, it fosters anticipation and loyalty.

Developing Stronger Community Connections

Public building creates communities where followers often share similar interests and values. Setting expectations helps in nurturing these communities:

Common Goals: If you share what you’re working towards, like releasing a new product or achieving a milestone, your audience can rally around those shared goals. They’ll feel they are walking alongside you in your journey, making the connection much deeper.
Shared Wins: When you celebrate milestones with your community, you create a sense of victory for everyone involved. Recognizing and reinforcing shared expectations means everyone can get excited about your successes.

Best Practices for Setting Expectations

Now that we understand why setting expectations is crucial, let’s dive into some best practices to do it effectively:

Be Transparent: Share your timelines, goals, and potential obstacles. Transparency doesn’t mean oversharing; it’s about providing enough context that your audience understands your journey.
Communicate Regularly: Use various platforms—such as social media, newsletters, or blogs—to provide updates on your progress. Regular communication keeps your audience engaged and informed.
Encourage Dialogue: Ask for feedback and encourage your audience to share their thoughts. This creates a two-way street, making your audience feel valued and listened to.
Adjust Expectations When Needed: It’s important to communicate any changes to your original plan or timeline. If you hit a roadblock, let your audience know and outline how you plan to navigate it. This fosters trust and keeps them in the loop.
Use Visuals and Data: Visual representations of your progress—like graphs, charts, or infographics—can convey your progress clearly and engagingly. This can help in solidifying understanding and maintaining interest.
Celebrate Milestones: When you hit important targets or milestones, share that excitement with your audience. Celebrate your journey together and reinforce the idea that your audiences are part of this journey.

Conclusion

Setting expectations with your audience while building in public is NOT just a best practice; it's a necessity. It lays the groundwork for accountability, trust, and sustainable engagement. Your audience is there for the journey, and they want to be involved, so give them a clear picture of where you’re headed and what they can expect. Remember, transparency and communication are your best friends in this voyage.

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