Creating Loyal Brand Fans
Having loyal brand fans is sort of like your being Mick Jagger and being followed around by groupies. Anytime a star exists, that person will be accompanied by fans. In fact, without the fans, the star will not be in the coveted position that he or she is in.
The importance of fans for your business
As a business owner, you understand that you don’t live in a silo. You can’t exist without other people. Your loyal brand fans not only express their appreciating to you about your offerings and buy what you are selling but they are also more than happy to go out on a limb and share what you have shared with them with other people. It is important to remember that there are several elements that will contribute to your success and it is incorrect to think that people will become your loyal fans simply by learning about your products and/or services. The other element that is a major contributing factor to your success when it comes to acquiring fans is the human element. You need to interact with people on a human, emotional level. If you don’t do that, they won’t talk to you.
Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Interestingly enough, both rock stars and companies have one think in common. They both have a need to market. Without marketing, nobody will have any idea that they exist. They have to let people know who they are and what they can do. In business (any type of business), the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. If you spend a great deal of time marketing your business, you will be noticed, appreciated, loved, etc. It is well worth the time, effort and expense that you feel you need to put into it.
Build the relationship
It is very important that you identify why specific people are your fans and what has motivated them to stick with you and then you have to establish the relationship that you have with those people and focus your efforts on making that relationship what you want it to be so that you can both get out of it what you feel you want to get out of it. It is important to understand that the answers may not come so easily to you. You may have to delve deeply into what makes these people tick and what is important to them and why. However, your efforts will be rewarded. You will need to discover what people are passionate about and why.
Trust your fans and empower them
Once you have completed this part of the process, it is time to put some trust in your fans. If you don’t trust them, your relationship doesn’t have a chance of moving up to the next level. It is critical that your fans understand how much they mean to you and how much you value their opinions. Just like in the situation with rock stars, you may wish to consider creating some sort of program where you identify brand ambassadors and appoint people. This will turn out to be a true success story. Nothing bad will happen if you give your fans control. On the other hand, a great deal of good will come out of it. Your fans will be delighted to work on your behalf and they have certain powers that you don’t possess. It will turn out great.
Conclusion
It is very important that you don’t lose sight of the big picture. Holding everything close to the vest and not relinquishing any control will put you in a silo and your business will not be a success. Make sure that you express to your fans how important they are to your professional success and how you can’t do it without them. In actuality, your clients and prospective clients want to have a relationship with your brand. It gives them something exciting with which to identify. So, make sure that you are there for your fans and they will be there for you. Make sure that you give them whatever they need and want.
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Very nice – beautifully written and structured – I am a fierce admirer and follower!
Absolute masterful clarity and vision in the presentations and technically flawless and perfect!
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Succeed: Small Business Network, Powered by Staples
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
One of my best friends growing up is a fantastic musician since childhood when they had garage bands or you jammed with your buds.
He also finished both High School as well as College he works with children as he has children & if wanted to work for a company it would be the one that he works for Lego Please talk about a dream job for a kid.
I am a writer I have worked for one of my dream company’s Duracell Research Center it was fantastic.
I am in that place in my life that I love my solitude.
My friend even better maybe but experienced/seasoned what makes him happy.
I don’t want to be a Rock Star I’m to private & really good with it.
By Jackie Williams
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
I think the word You are looking for here is stupidity. Yes the world is
full of ignoramuses. Most have an opinion even it they do not have a clue.
This world programs people to believe what they are told, and most never stop
to realize that the world is totally corrupt, and fills everyone heads full of
nonsense, and garbage. Then they believe it until 5 minutes after they die.
George Harrison said it best (beware of darkness).
By James Guthrie
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: My Small Business
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Asking questions and providing the correct response can help grow your Fan Base with with those of Like Mind
By Chuck Bartok
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Many companies use Rock Stars, Athletes and other familiar faces to acquire fans. The culture is driven by Marketing and has been for quite some time now.
missjnyce.com
By miss j NYce Management
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
So not true!!
I was loyal to [original ]Kustom Company..still own my 1971 K-200 b.still fully functional..never let me down. I would love to own a KUSTOM tee Shirt…ESPECIALLY if it is electric bass oriented.
I continue to be loyal to vintage as well as GC Brand Acoustic Control Corp. I am original owner of ACC 370 head as well as G C Acoustic b200 combo as well as b200 head/cab seperates.
As a loyal Acoustic end user, I also do what I can to encourage George Grexa of Acoustic
U S A . I don’t have one of George’s Acoustic TEES..but I soon will.
I have owned a Fender TEE shirt…wore it out..need a new one. I have friends who proudly wear Marshall TEES.
Perhaps greater product ‘fan’ base would be achieved if a promotional TEE shirt was given along with a new purchase, as opposed to additional purchase of a tee, which we are buying..because of product loyalty..gives company free advertsing, by the way…
So how’s that for fan base??..or is it fan BASS?? ): MY version of F-CLEF
By Joel Eberhardt
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Rock stars that have no – apparent – trouble acquiring fans are a preselected group. The “stars” are those rock acts that have acquired a lot of fans. For every one of them there are hundreds or thousands of others that have plenty of trouble attracting fans. That’s not even to say that the stars acquire those fans without a great deal of struggle. On the company side, McDonald’s, Coca Cola, and others have plenty of “fans”. They are among the “rock stars” of corporations, I suppose.
By Leon Robinson
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Certain rock stars have that “charisma”. As Joel Eberhardt points out, so do certain companies: Kustom, Acoustic…when I was at ARP, Kurzweil and Cakewalk, I think we had a bit of it. Some companies have so much they don’t need to market at all.
I think people are a little suspicious of why companies want a fan list and what they will do with it. On the other hand, most everyone would like to be somehow associated with their favorite rock star. I’m trying to get fans as well as artists for a new startup music game company now. They sort of trickle in on Facebook, but after product release I do hope we’ll have a lot more.
By Bruce Cichowlas
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Music speaks in all languages and attempt to speak to the heart.
Companies do not and are usually self serving completely.
A better question would be why would someone be a fan of a company if there wasn’t something to gain out of it? Not fans of their products — fans of how they operate.
Large corporations and companies are the new leaders of the world and have an agenda that is barely ever for the individual.
Of course there are a few companies that are an exception, but NONE of the big ones are they are like some sick political movement that dictate how we live.
By John Greco
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Artists remain kind of human, even if some resemble corporations (Jagger and his mates!), so easy to identify with, like etc. Corporations are anonymous, bottom line driven and no one is responsible: when asked, why did you fire xxx employees, you will hear: our shareholders (=anonymous) request higher profitability. An artist is not anonymous, unknown and mysterious perhaps, but there is one or a few person(s) that you can praise or blame for their output. Thus like or dislike.
By Klaus Justus Gehlhaar
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
as a long time player from way back i can say this… much of rock n roll blows…. but people actually do give a damn because much if not most of it is heartfelt and honest.
as a long time consumer I can say this…. most corporations suck…. but people couldnt give a toss because most if not all of it is either simply a lie or is chock full of toxic crap.
By Geoff Marr
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
I think if a company came on the scene that produced an honest, good quality product with no bollocky ingredients or materials people might then like it. It is easy to be a fan of the farmer who sells you organic, unpasteurized milk that tastes yummy and is good for you than it is to be a fan of that conglomerate dairy company that just pumps out disease ridden filth & part of their business plan is to destroy the little guys. Who, as it happens, can always beat them on quality and often on price at the same time as they don’t have a corporate food chain to nourish.
By Xan Angelfvkk
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Artists have fans. Sports teams have fans. Companies have customers.
By Dave Scott
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Actually, artists have customers too. A fan IS a customer. (Or one would hope so!) If people stopped buying their releases, merch & concert tickets pretty soon most ov those artists would stop producing!
By Xan Angelfvkk
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Network
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
This may be a pointless question, perhaps. More people have something in common with others, especially with music and musicians that they collectively feel passionate about, dance to, listen to and make love to etc…than with a company that makes a cold physical product that’s only used when it’s *needed* and people form little or no emotional attachment to.
According to my logic, since most people *don’t* play a musical instrument then Gibson, Fender, Yamaha and Roland who make purely physical products that even the ‘greats’ use to wow us 24/7 would therefore *not* have as many fans as the Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen or Prince.
Regarding some of the other comments: A music fan is not necessarily a direct ‘customer’ of the band as the record label usually deals with that angle…unless they book their own gigs where they may also sell their CD’s directly to the public/regular customers/fans…whatever your semantics dictate.
A musician – like any other enterprising individual person, band, group or company, is like any other and need lists to selectively *target* sections of the public and the “Like” lists are useful for simultaneously sending out their publicity or bumf.
Since more people love sex, music, pop stars, dancing, clubs and wine bars more than junk mail, the answer to the question seems obvious – to me.
By Des Chisholm
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: The NJ Networking Forum
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
This is something I continue to remind myself of each day. I still haven’t quite figured it out entirely but feverishly working on it!
By Tiffany Harmon
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: The NJ Networking Forum
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Yeah, it’s definitely about personalities. A music artist represents are target for adoration, or lack thereof. However this can be seen in companies too. Look at Apple. I’m sure Steve Jobs has his fan base. He’s dead now. But so is Jimi Hendrix and people can still be a fan post-humors. And as for products? People have been going absolutely mental over the new iPhones when they are released. It’s the sort of behavior that HAS been more associated with rock’n’roll in the past than with products. heh
By Xan Angelfvkk
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: The NJ Networking Forum
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
IMHO to denigrate all large corporations as ‘gay’, ‘corrupt’ or otherwise, is missing the point entirely. First off, large corporations, by their very nature, employ many people. That’s good isn’t it? Secondly, regardless of whether we are musicians/artists or Small Business owners/entrepreneurs, many of us here are presumably somewhere along the time-line between ‘just starting out’ and ‘incredibly successful’? Don’t forget: large companies were once small companies, headed-up by hard-working, driven, strategic thinkers and risk-takers who often will have put their own savings/house/reputation/marriage?! on the line to grow their dream into a reality. Large corporations comprise of Human Beings ie: PEOPLE! Some PEOPLE are ethical, social, humanitarian animals before, during and after they become successful. Others are not. In the pursuit of success, sometimes the ‘ethical’ part of the dream becomes downgraded because of the realities of market forces. This is an ever-present risk when growing your business (assuming you started out ethically anyway) but sometimes in order to make the grade (acquire sales/hit songs and fans/likes) we do stuff that appears ugly from an outsiders perspective. Whether you’re a small or large business or a small or large musician/artist, who doesn’t want more fans? If you genuinely don’t want more fans why on earth are you on LinkedIn? …Just my take on it…no offence intended to any posters.
By Phil Dale
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: The NJ Networking Forum
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
@Phil you pretty much summed it up. Successful companies and Rock stars are successful because they figure out how to acquire fans which in turn becomes customers. The companies and artists that don’t have a large amount of fans should put more focus into growing their base. We work with both companies and artists so I can tell you that the goals are the same to become more successful.
By miss j NYce Management
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group:Marketing Communication
Discussion: Why do rock stars have no trouble acquiring fans but companies do?
Interesting article. In order for a rock star to have a hit song they have to record something that appeals to their audience. This is the same for content marketers. If the content does not interest readers, they won’t read. Once they start to like the sound of your “songs” they are more likely to turn to your brand for information and to purchase. I think it is very important to “trust and empower your fans”, as the article suggests. You can only get your content so far, but consumers can share and introduce your brand to others.
By Justin Belmont