You Don’t Need to Lie to Attract an Audience

Mark Thompson
2 min readJan 28, 2025

It’s not surprising that Online Marketers have a bad reputation, from faking screenshots to hiring big houses and Lamborghinis for videos our audiences have seen it all.

BUT it doesn’t have to be that way.

Honesty is the most powerful tool in a writer’s arsenal.

In a world overflowing with exaggerated claims and clickbait, stand out by being honest, your audience is jaded from all the lies and half truths they see everyday.

Learn to Think Outside The Box

The idea that you need to embellish the truth or outright lie to gain attention is not only flawed but also counterproductive in the long term.

Even if you are just starting out aim for an audience who started just after you, go find the content that helps you and them and share it.

Lies may offer a fleeting moment of attention, but they come with a cost-trust.

Once an audience discovers that a writer is prone to half-truths and exaggeration, all credibility is gone.

On the other hand, hard won trust can be very valuable in the long term.

Be honest and build a relationship with your audience, one where your readers feel respected and valued.

This fosters loyalty and encourages readers to return, engage, and share content with others. How would share a blatant lie?

Being truthful doesn’t mean being boring.

Great writing is about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, crafting narratives that resonate because they’re real.

Instead of overstating results or inventing wild stories, focus on relatability and insight.

Share failure as well as wins, show the lessons you learn from failure, and don’t shy away from simple truths that your audience can relate to

In the long run, honesty doesn’t just build an audience it builds the right audience. People who value truth are more likely to engage meaningfully with your work and stick around for the journey.

By staying true to your voice and your values, you’ll attract readers who share those values, creating a foundation for a genuine and lasting connection.

Trust grows slowly but can be lost in an instant. Choose honesty.

It’s not only the right thing to do; it’s the smartest choice for building a meaningful, sustainable relationship with your audience.

Originally published at https://simpleisprofit.com.

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Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson

Written by Mark Thompson

Veteran Content Marketer, Keeping it Simple and Sharing What Works in my regular newsletter: https://substack.com/@simpleisprofit

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