How do you rebuild when your audience disappears after you set boundaries?
I built a following on social media through content I put a lot of time, care, and personal energy into. But over time, I noticed most followers weren’t engaging—they were watching, but never supporting or interacting. I tried asking politely for support, explaining that engagement mattered and that I needed real participation, not just passive views. But people ignored it.
Eventually, I got fed up. I started drawing hard boundaries. I said I'd remove ghost followers. I was direct. I even said I'd block people who continued to consume without engaging—because at that point, I was exhausted. That only pushed more people away.
I’ve offered things like:
- A simple $5 donation form for those wanting my time or advice — no one used it.
- A website where people could submit questions for a small fee — people found ways to bypass it and message me directly anyway.
- A Patreon — no subscribers.
The message I kept getting from my audience was: “We want what you offer, but we don’t want to pay, engage, or support you in return.”
Now my platform feels empty. The people still there don't interact. I don’t know how to fix it.
So my questions are:
- Was I too harsh?
- Is there a way to regain trust without becoming a pushover again?
- How do you protect your time and energy without driving away your entire audience?
Any real advice is appreciated. Not looking for pity — just perspective.
