11 Jul Turning Online Fans Into Live Paying Fans
Author: Jacqueline Dax
If you ask anybody if they have heard of the Beatles the answer will almost always be ‘yes’. The Beatles are musical legends, but they did not start out that way. Back then, bands made it by gaining popularity through playing shows and selling records. Times have changed and things are different now. Living in the technological age has changed up the game; artists now make it using the Internet and social media. Just look at Justin Bieber, who used his YouTube channel for making a foundation for himself. Acquiring followers and managing a prosperous social media greatly increase the chances for any musician to make it big.
Whether it was back then or now, anyone can agree that the foundation and success of any band derives from the loyalty of fans. Lets face it, without fans a band cannot prosper. Building a strong fan-to- band relationship is the first crucial step for any up- and-coming band to become a sensation. So, how do you succeed in building a relationship between followers and your band in today’s world? Thanks to social media, new musicians have it easier than ever to flourish in the online community. Unfortunately, it is not as easy as it sounds. You do not just create an account and followers start streaming in. Then how do you gain followers and utilize your social medias to your advantage? Although it is not a simple, following these pointers provided by Kissmetrics can make your life easier:
1. Define a target market
Whether your ideal market is focused on old souls or the trendy new millennial, focusing on a target market for your social media will aid in knowing what to post.
2. Set the tone
After developing and gaining an understanding for the target market, having a similar attitude as the fans in online posts will be able to relate more.
3. Identify what is effective
With that being said, do not be afraid to stray off the road and try new things in order to understand what your fans like and dislike. Posting new material on social media accounts can lead to more popularity. Lets be real, people like seeing new, different things.
4. Look at it as a long-term investment
Like a relationship, it takes time to grow. Immediate results will not happen. No one starts out with a million followers.
5. Customize your profile
Creating a profile that is unique and reflects your personality will seem more authentic to followers.
6. Keep it real, relevant, and relaxed
In other words, be true to yourself. Post material that falls under your interests and values. Do not try to be someone you are not; your fans like you for being you.
7. Update your followers
Post relevant material and stay consistent.
8. Observe and gauge
Continue to measure the growth of your followers online and find what is the most effective way to continue building.
The endless possibility the Internet has to offer makes it a great tool for new artists to use. YouTube, Instagram, and other social media platforms make it effortless for artists to reach out to followers. Direct communication to supporters is just a post away. Utilizing these social domains as well as apps can make bands one-step closer to success. However, online success is only part of the equation. Having a million Facebook followers does not guarantee that you will be able to sell out an arena show and gain revenue. So, how then can bands turn these online fans into live paying fans? In comes FanFlex. FanFlex is a new innovative app that allows artists to sell performance opportunities directly to their fans. The FanFlex platform connects venues in need of filling open time slots with artists that can leverage their fan base into paid attendance. This unique relationship removes financial risk to all parties involved while guaranteeing shows to capacity crowds. In addition, FanFlex is a free app, meaning there are no extra ticket fees or membership fees for users. Artists pocket all of the money when booking shows through Fanflex. Playing shows has never been easier. For more information on booking and playing gigs, sign up at fanflex.com.