GoodnightEntrepreneur

The –INSERT NAME HERE- Fan club

I came across a very interesting article of Kevin Kelle. After reading it and following various links I realised that a lot of readers have also ‘discovered’ his article and contributed and referred to it. Such is the nature and advances of the digital world. We are globally exposed to ideas and we can use it, lose it or add to it.

I found Kelle’s article on 1000 True Fans very stimulating and think it might be useful to entrepreneurs.

The concept of 1000 true fans is the same as the idea of micro-celebrities. He argues that anyone who produces works of art can survive and have a comfortable life if they have at least 1000 true fans. A true fan is someone who religiously follows your work and will purchase anything and everything you produce.

The reason you can survive with only 1000 true fans (the number is not set, it is more the idea of a small following) is mainly due to the connectivity we have via the Internet and availability of digital technology. The creation, duplication and distribution of small quantities of creations are easy, fast and inexpensive. The word of mouth marketing attainable through the virtual tribes and social networks also potentially reduce marketing costs.

I think that there are business opportunities within this reasoning. An entrepreneur can start a new business by planning and working towards the creation and connection with 1000 true fans.

Kelle mainly focuses on artists such as musicians, photographers, craftspersons, performers, animators, designers and video makers. But I think with innovative thinking this reasoning can be applied to software developers, information specialists, lawyers, interior decorators, restaurants and more.

The digital world is available to everyone and with relative little money and fuss one can become famous to 1000 true fans who trust you and value your work enough to spend money on you in order to secure that your work stay vibrant.