Own a Business? You Don’t Need Everyone, You Need 1000 True Fans

The book, 1000 True Fans is the result of the author, Jongo Longhurst, capitalizing on an opportunity. He noticed that a lot of people were searching for that key phrase because they wanted to learn more about Kevin Kelly’s concept.

Since only a blog post existed, he wrote the book. I got the book two years ago and didn’t even notice that it wasn’t the originator of the concept who wrote the book. I’m embarrassed to say that while I was reading 1000 True Fans, I saw the name Jongo. I asked myself, “Who the hell is Jongo?” And that’s when I realized that Kevin Kelly didn’t write the book.

Book Bite: If you try to sell to everyone, you sell to no one. Find your 1000 true fans.

What is 1000 True Fans: Use Kevin Kelly's Simple Idea to Earn A Living Doing What You Love by Jongo Longhurst About?

Just a reminder, for the Digest 30 Books in 30 Days, I only read the sections of a book that would help me in my business. I’m used my blog to chronicle my journey. 

There are five stages to the 1000 true fans concept and I’m listing them below.

1. Create attention grabbing stuff.
2. Get exposure.
3. Gain followers.
4. Convert followers to fans
5. Sell stuff to fans

Create Attention-Grabbing Stuff

In the past, I've hosted many reading challenges. They help people to intentionally tackle their to-be-read pile of books, digesting the ones that have the ideas that’ll allow them to reinvent themselves and their businesses. Here are some of the things I do.

• Art of Learning Leadership Academy membership site.
• Website with a lot of content. 
• Videos on YouTube 
• Publish articles on Forbes, LinkedIn, and Medium.
• Images on Pinterest and Instagram.
• Post content and updates to social media every day.

One of the things I like about the book 1000 True Fans is that Jongo Longhurst gives examples of how to decide if you need to focus on true fans or the mass market. And the examples are in the form of four rules.

Rule 1

For instance, if you create a product that requires your labor, then target true fans. However, if you create a product that needs a lot of financial resources, then you need to target the mass market.

Rule 2

If people keep purchasing the things you create then it’s best to cultivate true fans. However if people buy the product once, it’s best to target the mass market.

Rule 3

If people are obsessed with the things you create then target true fans. On the other hand, if people like what you create, but don’t love it, it’s more suitable for the mass market.

Rule 4

If your product is easier to sell to existing customers, then target true fans. If it’s easier to sell to new customers, then it’s more ideal for the mass market.

Get Exposure

Published articles have always worked well for me in getting exposure. I need to invest more time writing articles filled with tips. I commit to publishing two new articles each week.

• Published articles on Forbes, LinkedIn, and Medium.
• Answered questions on Quora.
• Interviewed a few times.
• Won an award a few years ago.
• Guest on podcasts.
• Host The One Problem podcast.

Gain Followers 

• Building a tribe, Reading Rocks: Read Books, Discover Solutions, Change the World.
• Opt-in offer on my website to get people to sign up to my email list.
• Active on the major social media platforms.
• Get more likes on my Facebook page. Need to ask people to like the page.

Convert Followers to Fans

I'm not good at this yet. I don't have the right people on my list. It’s time to focus on where I’m showing up. Since the crisis, I’ve stepped out of my shell and now I’m actively participating in groups where my clients do exist. Here are some of the activities to engage in.

• Encourage fans to email you. I’ve done this in my newsletter.
• Reply to the emails and respond to comments on social media.
• Hold Facebook lives for fans.
• Host webinars.
• Hold an online event.
• Create a group identity, a story. That’s what I’m doing with the Reading Rocks: Read a Book, Discover Solutions, Change the World Facebook group.

Have you read?

Life is a Contact Sport by Ken Kragen, Book Review

Sell Stuff to Fans

If this interests you and you’ve done the above steps, here’s what Jongo recommends.

• Subscription boxes. These are very popular right now.
• Monthly membership. I'm doing this. This book is on my list to read The Membership Economy: Find Your Super Users, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue.
• Monthly PayPal donations. I have Buy Me a Cup of Coffee
  
• Paywall on your website.
• Email offers to the fans on your email list, sending them to your e-commerce site.

Final Thoughts: Own a Business? You Don’t Need Everyone, You Need 1000 True Fans

I like 1000 True Fans: Use Kevin Kelly's Simple Idea to Earn A Living Doing What You Love by Jongo Longhurst because it has a strategy that you can use right now. He breaks the book down into clear steps that you can take to get your true fans.

Next Steps

Wondering what to do next, you can do all of:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

2. Join the Art of Learning Membership Site

3. Download Unlock Your Genius Power Reading Tips Sheet

4. Buy me a cup of coffee!

If you want access to my Bookish Notes, please consider joining my membership site, the Art of Learning.

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First Published April 2020!