This fortnight on BookMachine, we’re learning how to lose control to gain independence. Sounds like a contradiction? I thought so too at first.
There is a theory stating that 1000 True Fans are all a person needs to make a living from their own products. Whether you’re selling books, songs, music or paintings, having 1000 True Fans who are willing to spend about £30 per year on your products will keep you afloat. It may sound unlikely, and according to the anecdotes it’s a pretty hard road, but it is possible.
What’s more, the theory is equally applicable to businesses and companies: for every extra person involved, simply add another 1000 True Fans to the total that you need.
But why does this theory work? And why is it becoming more popular?
Marketing 2.0 – do you love it yet?
The internet has opened up the world of production in ways which were unimaginable even a decade ago: it is easier, cheaper and faster to publish a product than it ever has been before. It has created vast new pool of potential producers, resulting in a flood of new products all vying for attention – but unfortunately, nobody’s listening any more!
It is no longer enough to come up with imaginative ways to say ‘buy this product’. Indeed, not only do you need to have a great, high-quality product at the center of your business, but in order to sell it you have to introduce it to the consumer in a way which makes the individual feel human, seen and appreciated. One of the best ways to achieve this is by turning your product into a social object so that it can be used to communicate directly with the consumer.
The new trend encourages genuine passion from its marketers, using love to make the wheels of commerce go round. The theory of 1000 True Fans fits in perfectly with this: love your product, love your fans and, hopefully, they’ll love you back. [READ MORE]