# Superfans  Author:: Pat Flynn ## Highlights > As a superfan, you also become a hardcore ambassador for the object of your fandom. You wave that flag high, and you wave it proud. You tell your friends and family about it, even if they don’t want to hear it. You take pictures and immediately share them on social media. You might even start a YouTube channel or a podcast about it, and over time, you’ll influence even more people to start loving this thing. Superfans invest time, money, and, most importantly, emotion into what they love. ([Location 181](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=181)) > If you want to win, capture people’s attention and show them quickly how you can add value to their lives. ([Location 345](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=345)) > Adding more value is the mandatory baseline. If you don’t offer value, then you’re not going to get picked up. ([Location 354](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=354)) > And that’s the secret when it comes to creating superfans: to create new experiences and help audiences unlock something new in their life. ([Location 363](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=363)) > People don’t become superfans the moment they find you. They become superfans because of the magical moments you create for them over time. ([Location 367](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=367)) > Your casual audience makes up the largest segment of your audience. These are the people who don’t find you because they know you, but rather via a recommendation, a link or mention on another website, a search result, a related video, or something along those lines. They are usually there because you’ve provided something useful, ([Location 374](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=374)) > Your active audience is the group who knows who you are and what you and your brand have to offer. When you share, create, or publish something new, your active audience makes a decision as to whether or not to invest time or money (or both) in that new content or product. ([Location 381](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=381)) > To move people from casual to active, you need to create a moment of activation—something that connects them to you and makes them go, “Oh, that’s different, and I like it.” ([Location 460](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=460)) > Building a strong, successful brand is about solving people’s problems. Step one is to know what those problems are, but step two, so often underrated and overlooked, is knowing exactly how those people describe their problems. The language they use should become the lyrics you use in your brand. ([Location 494](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=494)) > Sing the right lyrics, and you’re going to get people to stick with you. You’re going to activate them. ([Location 500](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=500)) > Method 1: Find conversations that are already happening online. ([Location 510](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=510)) > Method 2: Describe your biggest challenge related to _______________. ([Location 541](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=541)) > Method 3: Real-Life Conversations ([Location 563](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=563)) > Step 1 Choose at least one of the methods above and find five key phrases that your audience uses to describe their problems/what they’re going through. ([Location 582](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=582)) > Step 2 Once you have your five key phrases, practice writing something, whether it’s an email, social media post, or blog article, incorporating the language you identified in step 1 and send it or post it to test the response you get from your audience. ([Location 584](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=584)) > when you add personality into the mix and inject elements that your audience can relate to, then they’re not just going to follow your work. They’re going to follow you. ([Location 626](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=626)) > I had an idea to hopefully inject some humanity into my show and make some real connections with people. At the beginning of each of my podcast episodes, I’d have my voiceover guy read a fun ten-second fact about me in the intro. Every single time. ([Location 674](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=674)) > Step 1 Share something as simple as a small post on your favorite social media channel, or just a couple of seconds in a podcast or video you publish. It doesn’t have to be huge or overly produced. ([Location 715](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=715)) > Give your audience a small, quick win. ([Location 744](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=744)) > Collect stories of positive transformation from your audience. ([Location 888](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=888)) > Gather at least five stories that show how what you teach or provide can help change people’s lives or businesses (or both!) for the better. ([Location 889](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=889)) > Don’t leave anyone hanging. Follow up with everybody, especially when it’s their first interaction with your brand. ([Location 912](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=912)) > Audit your communication channels to find messages you haven’t responded to. ([Location 964](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=964)) > Come up with a system to make sure no more handshakes go unmet and no more messages slip through the cracks. ([Location 966](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=966)) > ‘In the comments below, tell us how you think this works.’ Ba-dum! That’s it.” Can you guess what happened next? Engagement went through the roof! ([Location 1046](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1046)) > It also works really well when you ask people to answer a question that doesn’t have an obvious, “correct” answer. ([Location 1083](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1083)) > Like many great brands, LEGO encourages interaction and wants its audience to suggest product ideas. This process is known as co-creation, and it’s a brilliant way to further activate your audience and turn them into a connected community. ([Location 1116](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1116)) > Come up with a challenge for your audience. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be huge. It should be achievable but—yes—a little challenging. ([Location 1254](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1254)) > 1. It Helps Your Audience Appreciate the Quality and Care Behind the Product ([Location 1290](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1290)) > 2. It Makes Your Audience Feel Unique and Special ([Location 1300](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1300)) > 3. It Connects Your Audience with the People Behind the Brand ([Location 1310](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1310)) > When you open your factory doors, your fans will cherish the opportunity to see and connect with the people behind the brand. ([Location 1327](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1327)) > 4. It Gives Your Audience Something to Share ([Location 1328](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1328)) > If you want to take your audience from active to connected, you’ve got to be willing to gig. ([Location 1402](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1402)) > highly recommend giving your community a name. It’s a great way to strengthen the identity of your fanbase and give people something to rally around. ([Location 1531](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1531)) > Once you’ve picked a name, use it! ([Location 1546](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1546)) > Once the name has stuck, consider creating swag ([Location 1548](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1548)) > come up with a related phrase or saying to go along with the name, like my “Team Flynn for the Win” ([Location 1551](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1551)) > Create your first meetup! ([Location 1639](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1639)) > That’s why if you have a community, you should be going out of your way to feature your community members. ([Location 1667](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1667)) > The people telling these stories are more relatable, and that’s why featuring community members is so important: It’s social proof in action. ([Location 1743](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1743)) > Generate a list of all the possible ways you can feature people from your community: blog posts, podcast interviews, video interviews, social media posts, email newsletter, etc. ([Location 1765](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1765)) > It’s the thoughtful, unautomated moments that can take you to the next level. ([Location 1814](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1814)) > Spend time learning about the members of your connected community, then put that knowledge into action at your next event. ([Location 1911](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1911)) > if you really want to make an impression and bring out someone’s inner superfan, send a video message. Videos, maybe more than any other kind of digital communication, are personal. They suggest more time and effort went into producing and sending them, and since there’s a real person with a voice and a face on the other end engaging with you and you alone, it can make a very powerful impression. ([Location 1942](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1942)) > creating a platinum access experience should never—I repeat, never—come at the expense of the experience for the general attendee. The baseline experience you provide for people should always be awesome—you just want to offer something that’s even more awesome for the people, the devoted fans in your audience, who are willing to pay for it. ([Location 2256](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=2256)) > Brainstorm your VIP offering. Consider what you could do to thank and delight the small number of highly engaged members of your audience. ([Location 2296](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=2296)) --- Title: Superfans Author: Pat Flynn Tags: readwise, books date: 2024-01-30 --- # Superfans  Author:: Pat Flynn ## AI-Generated Summary None ## Highlights > As a superfan, you also become a hardcore ambassador for the object of your fandom. You wave that flag high, and you wave it proud. You tell your friends and family about it, even if they don’t want to hear it. You take pictures and immediately share them on social media. You might even start a YouTube channel or a podcast about it, and over time, you’ll influence even more people to start loving this thing. Superfans invest time, money, and, most importantly, emotion into what they love. ([Location 181](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=181)) > If you want to win, capture people’s attention and show them quickly how you can add value to their lives. ([Location 345](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=345)) > Adding more value is the mandatory baseline. If you don’t offer value, then you’re not going to get picked up. ([Location 354](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=354)) > And that’s the secret when it comes to creating superfans: to create new experiences and help audiences unlock something new in their life. ([Location 363](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=363)) > People don’t become superfans the moment they find you. They become superfans because of the magical moments you create for them over time. ([Location 367](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=367)) > Your casual audience makes up the largest segment of your audience. These are the people who don’t find you because they know you, but rather via a recommendation, a link or mention on another website, a search result, a related video, or something along those lines. They are usually there because you’ve provided something useful, ([Location 374](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=374)) > Your active audience is the group who knows who you are and what you and your brand have to offer. When you share, create, or publish something new, your active audience makes a decision as to whether or not to invest time or money (or both) in that new content or product. ([Location 381](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=381)) > To move people from casual to active, you need to create a moment of activation—something that connects them to you and makes them go, “Oh, that’s different, and I like it.” ([Location 460](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=460)) > Building a strong, successful brand is about solving people’s problems. Step one is to know what those problems are, but step two, so often underrated and overlooked, is knowing exactly how those people describe their problems. The language they use should become the lyrics you use in your brand. ([Location 494](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=494)) > Sing the right lyrics, and you’re going to get people to stick with you. You’re going to activate them. ([Location 500](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=500)) > Method 1: Find conversations that are already happening online. ([Location 510](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=510)) > Method 2: Describe your biggest challenge related to _______________. ([Location 541](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=541)) > Method 3: Real-Life Conversations ([Location 563](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=563)) > Step 1 Choose at least one of the methods above and find five key phrases that your audience uses to describe their problems/what they’re going through. ([Location 582](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=582)) > Step 2 Once you have your five key phrases, practice writing something, whether it’s an email, social media post, or blog article, incorporating the language you identified in step 1 and send it or post it to test the response you get from your audience. ([Location 584](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=584)) > when you add personality into the mix and inject elements that your audience can relate to, then they’re not just going to follow your work. They’re going to follow you. ([Location 626](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=626)) > I had an idea to hopefully inject some humanity into my show and make some real connections with people. At the beginning of each of my podcast episodes, I’d have my voiceover guy read a fun ten-second fact about me in the intro. Every single time. ([Location 674](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=674)) > Step 1 Share something as simple as a small post on your favorite social media channel, or just a couple of seconds in a podcast or video you publish. It doesn’t have to be huge or overly produced. ([Location 715](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=715)) > Give your audience a small, quick win. ([Location 744](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=744)) > Collect stories of positive transformation from your audience. ([Location 888](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=888)) > Gather at least five stories that show how what you teach or provide can help change people’s lives or businesses (or both!) for the better. ([Location 889](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=889)) > Don’t leave anyone hanging. Follow up with everybody, especially when it’s their first interaction with your brand. ([Location 912](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=912)) > Audit your communication channels to find messages you haven’t responded to. ([Location 964](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=964)) > Come up with a system to make sure no more handshakes go unmet and no more messages slip through the cracks. ([Location 966](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=966)) > ‘In the comments below, tell us how you think this works.’ Ba-dum! That’s it.” Can you guess what happened next? Engagement went through the roof! ([Location 1046](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1046)) > It also works really well when you ask people to answer a question that doesn’t have an obvious, “correct” answer. ([Location 1083](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1083)) > Like many great brands, LEGO encourages interaction and wants its audience to suggest product ideas. This process is known as co-creation, and it’s a brilliant way to further activate your audience and turn them into a connected community. ([Location 1116](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1116)) > Come up with a challenge for your audience. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be huge. It should be achievable but—yes—a little challenging. ([Location 1254](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1254)) > 1. It Helps Your Audience Appreciate the Quality and Care Behind the Product ([Location 1290](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1290)) > 2. It Makes Your Audience Feel Unique and Special ([Location 1300](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1300)) > 3. It Connects Your Audience with the People Behind the Brand ([Location 1310](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1310)) > When you open your factory doors, your fans will cherish the opportunity to see and connect with the people behind the brand. ([Location 1327](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1327)) > 4. It Gives Your Audience Something to Share ([Location 1328](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1328)) > If you want to take your audience from active to connected, you’ve got to be willing to gig. ([Location 1402](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1402)) > highly recommend giving your community a name. It’s a great way to strengthen the identity of your fanbase and give people something to rally around. ([Location 1531](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1531)) > Once you’ve picked a name, use it! ([Location 1546](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1546)) > Once the name has stuck, consider creating swag ([Location 1548](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1548)) > come up with a related phrase or saying to go along with the name, like my “Team Flynn for the Win” ([Location 1551](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1551)) > Create your first meetup! ([Location 1639](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1639)) > That’s why if you have a community, you should be going out of your way to feature your community members. ([Location 1667](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1667)) > The people telling these stories are more relatable, and that’s why featuring community members is so important: It’s social proof in action. ([Location 1743](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1743)) > Generate a list of all the possible ways you can feature people from your community: blog posts, podcast interviews, video interviews, social media posts, email newsletter, etc. ([Location 1765](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1765)) > It’s the thoughtful, unautomated moments that can take you to the next level. ([Location 1814](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1814)) > Spend time learning about the members of your connected community, then put that knowledge into action at your next event. ([Location 1911](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1911)) > if you really want to make an impression and bring out someone’s inner superfan, send a video message. Videos, maybe more than any other kind of digital communication, are personal. They suggest more time and effort went into producing and sending them, and since there’s a real person with a voice and a face on the other end engaging with you and you alone, it can make a very powerful impression. ([Location 1942](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=1942)) > creating a platinum access experience should never—I repeat, never—come at the expense of the experience for the general attendee. The baseline experience you provide for people should always be awesome—you just want to offer something that’s even more awesome for the people, the devoted fans in your audience, who are willing to pay for it. ([Location 2256](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=2256)) > Brainstorm your VIP offering. Consider what you could do to thank and delight the small number of highly engaged members of your audience. ([Location 2296](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07V3GVGL2&location=2296))