Is The Silent Majority Reading Your Work?
Why your writing matters—even when no one clicks "like"
Back when I started my first newsletter, for my copywriting service The Copy Box - I literally used to obsess over open rates and clickthroughs.
In its early days, if an email didn’t get immediate engagement, I assumed it had failed. I imagined a digital tumbleweed blowing across all those empty inboxes.
But my stats obsession didn’t stop there…
I then started watching my blogging numbers like a hawk too - this time with Content Champion.
The likes. The comments. The shares. Where are they?!
Then it was my podcast listeners. I spent an unhealthy amount of time refreshing my browser in Libsyn, as I watched my show downloads tick slowly upwards.
Then I remembered that old folk saying:
A watched pot never boils.
The more I just did the work and ignored the stats, something strange kept happening.
People I hadn’t heard from in months—former colleagues, distant friends, even that guy I met once at a conference in London—would message me out of the blue.
“Hey, I’ve been reading your stuff. Great work.”
Or...
"Caught your latest podcast - super interview!"
Whaaat?!
You never liked anything, commented, or subscribed?
Whadderyamean ffs?!
Turns out, they were 'lurking'.
According to a 2022 study in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, these silent readers (or watchers and listeners) make up the vast majority of online audiences.
Lurkers—those who read, watch, and absorb without visibly interacting—are everywhere.
And they’re not just passive observers. Many are engaged, influenced, or silently moved by your work.
So what’s the ‘lurking’ lesson here for creators?
Simple: don’t confuse silence with failure.
When you start writing online—whether it’s a blog, newsletter, or social post—it’s easy to feel like no one’s listening.
But just because someone isn’t clapping doesn’t mean they’re not in the room.
They are watching, evaluating, and thinking.
That article you posted last week? You know - the one you nearly didn't publish? Turns out it planted a seed.
That essay you thought was too vulnerable? It changed someone’s mindset.
You might not see it immediately—but it’s happening.
And that’s the power of consistency.
Because over time, those lurkers become subscribers. Customers. Advocates.
But only if you keep showing up.
Only if you write for the invisible audience as much as the vocal one.
So keep publishing. Keep sharing your voice. Not for likes—but for the silent impact you can’t yet measure.
They’re listening. Even if they never say a word.
Want to keep showing up for the silent majority—and turn your writing into a powerful daily practice?
Subscribe to Weekday Writer, your morning dose of mindset, motivation, and method for building an online content business—one rep at a time.
Content Champion Ghostwriting
Need Content That Sounds Like You & Grows Your Business?
(Without Writing It Yourself)
If you’re a founder, creator or solopreneur and want to build authority and grow your audience — I can help with ghostwritten content in your authentic voice.
With over 25+ years of experience, I’ve written copy for clients such as British Airways, B&Q, Harrods, Prudential and Arsenal FC — plus 100’s of founders, SME’s and entrepreneurs.
Using first hand interviews, advanced AI workflows for research and drafting, then hand crafted and edited content — I can efficiently write the following:
✅ Thought leadership blog posts and Medium articles
✅ Engaging newsletters that get opened and read
✅ LinkedIn, X and other social content that drives growth
✅ Sales pages and conversion copy for all stages of your funnel
🗓 I only take a couple of new clients every month. Want to claim a spot or find out more?
📩 Comment below or email me at: loz@contentchampion.com