5 Proven Tips to Turn Followers Into Fans

The Real Social Media Experience Involves Turning Followers into Devoted Fans.

I recently watched a YouTube video called “Death of the Follower and the Future of Creativity on the Web.” It was a keynote that featured Jack Conte the CEO of Patreon. And while some argued that he was doing nothing but advertising, he still made some valid points that are actually being shown on today’s internet.

This article is nothing but my review based on that discussion and what was shared. The keynote is about 46 minutes long and starts with a breadth understanding of the history of the internet.

Stating simply just facts.

In the 1990s, the internet was very new. This was called Web 1.0. People just wanted to share information, so they put things online to make them exist. Websites were static, and interaction was minimal. All to share information digitally.

In the 2000s we shifted a bit, here is when we moved to Web 2.0. It was all about connections and people started caring more about their content. They wanted to share interesting things about their day, the music they loved, and the people they cared about then ranked them.

This is when MySpace became popular. MySpace began the introduction of Web 2.0. And was a big part of why a lot of us knew how to use basic HTML.

Thanks, Tom.

You could share what you liked, find interesting people, and connect with them. It was the beginning of social media as we know it. User-generated content became king, and the internet became more interactive and social.

By the 2010s, a shift started to happen making the internet more user friendly. This is how Facebook and Instagram became very popular. They continued the Web 2.0 idea of sharing and connecting with others but tried to get more personal.

Instagram was all about photography and connecting with people easily. Snapchat also came in with a different approach creating a private interactive way of messaging. These platforms introduced new ways to interact, like stories and live streaming, making the experience more personal and real-time.

Now, in the 2020s, we see a new trend. People are wanting to get a bit deeper into communities. They want real peer reviews on clothing, books, movies, anime, food, traveling, parenting, and so forth.

While many focus on the following count, the reality is the connection happening behind it. There are many people focused on being useful and that my friend, is the real gold mine.

This era is changing, leading us to Web 3.0, where you can have more control over your content and monetize it. People have forgotten the whole reason why social media was created in the first place. It never was supposed to be about the algorithms, that became the name of the game because influencers spoke about it. And while your number of followers may have gone up, your engagement didn’t.

But who is to blame? We all have tried tricks to up our game.

And this will be the downfall of your following count.

This is because the focus is shifting and those that get it will understand that the key is in creating safe spaces for their true interests. Web 3.0 is all about decentralization. It will be about giving power back to the users and creators so that they can directly engage with each other without intermediaries.

And if you’re not sure how to do that, no worries. I’ve highlighted a few tips to help get you started.

1. Finding Your True Fans

You just have to find your tribe. These are the true fans who truly care about what you do. Your follower count won’t matter as much as the impact you give people.

Which just means you need to connect deeply with your audience and build a community of genuinely interested people.

It will involve understanding who they are and what they want. Engaging with them through comments, messages, and live interactions. Listening to their feedback and creating content that resonates with them.

These true fans are those who will support you through thick and thin, who will buy your products, attend your events, and promote your work to others.

Companies are also pushing for more creative freedom, allowing creators to own their careers. Platforms like Discord and Kajabi are becoming popular for this very reason. Discords allows for real-time communication and community building, while Kajabi offers tools for creators to build, market, and sell their content directly to their audience.

The internet is shifting, and as a creator, you need to build what you aspire to build, dive deep into your community, and invest directly in it.

2. Creating Meaningful Content

It’s all about quality over quantity. You’ve heard it a thousand times and the reason is because it’s as simple as it can get. If it takes you a while to create something good and meaningful, who are we to judge you on it? All that matters is once you push publish, that it’s genuine, and serves a purpose.

Your content should excite you and its intended audience. There are all types of methods to do this whether its educational, entertaining, or inspirational content. The key is to be authentic and passionate about what you create.

3. Building a Community

It will take time and effort. However, this space that you create will allow you to truly shine and your fans to feel valued and heard.

Too often you see people fail at this part. And when it comes to selling something, they fumble the bag. The reason is because they were to focus on the potential dollar signs.

You have to not only create but engage with your people regularly. And be creative with it, no one is assuming you can talk to everyone.

You are still one person however there are many ways to go about this.

You could host Q&A sessions, create exclusive content, and offer behind-the-scenes insights into your work. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, SKOOL, and Patreon can be great tools for this.

4. Monetizing Your Content

If you’re doing it right, you can eventually start making some coins for your work. I mean honestly, why not? Big brands do it every day. And you are a brand, so why can’t you make any income?!

But, this is only if the work was done beforehand. That means possibly doing a lot of stuff for FREE.

You heard me.

We are focused on building a community and if you want to be different then you should focus on just doing it for free. Give as much free information as you can, and watch it work wonders for you.

Gary Vaynerchuk does a good job doing this, and then right out of nowhere, he has a product to sell. And because he did the work on connecting and becoming valuable people trust whatever he puts out.

You’ll have to go beyond traditional ads and sponsorships. You can explore options like selling digital products, offering subscription services, or newsletters. The key is to find monetization strategies that align with your content and resonate with your audience.

5. Adapting to Change

As a creator, it’s important to stay adaptable and open to new opportunities. That just means you’ll need to embrace new technologies, experiment with different content formats, and continuously learn and grow.

The most successful creators will be those who can adapt to change and leverage new trends to their advantage.

TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

We are hitting another shift. People are finding their voice and realizing they have more power than they think they do. But it will all depend on you building out what that looks like, by finding your ideal tribe.

To do this it’s a simple blueprint, just focus on making cool, interesting content that excites you. Don’t worry about the algorithm, but about connecting with your intended audience.

Know what you want and stick to it. Too much feedback can distract from your original purpose, but can also help you stay on target. This era is all about building connections, and those who truly get the assignment will be rewarded.