Following someone or something on Twitter indicates a small amount of intent. It takes literally less than a second to follow someone. Replying and conversing does show more intent.
Becoming a Fan on Facebook is the same. Liking something on Facebook indicates a small amount of intent.
Subscribing to someone’s newsletter takes slightly more intent. Reading, forwarding, sharing, and clicking through indicates greater intent.
What does it say about someone, though, who watches all of your videos or listens to all of your audio podcasts? What does it say about someone who tunes in all the time? What does it say about someone who shares every piece of content you create with their social circles and relentlessly flogs other people to tune in?
They are a true fan. They’re dedicated. They believe in you and the information you have to share.
The question is, how well are you treating them? Or are you spending all your time chasing new audience, and ignoring the gold mine you’ve already got subscribed to your podcast?
If you don’t know who your evangelists and true fans are, you probably don’t deserve to have them, and in fairly short order if you continue to neglect them, you won’t.
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I agree Chris. Although I appreciate every person who follows me or subscribes to my blog, seeing someone share my work or starting a conversation with me is even more of a buzz. A good way of finding those evangelists and true fans is to look at who has spent their own personal time to have a conversation with you on your blog – I think it says an awful lot. Isn’t being grateful part of a superhero’s responsibility? 😉
It depends on the hero. I’m not sure Batman is, but he’s also kinda crazy.
True. I’ve heard batman is not a superhero because he doesn’t have superhero powers – he is just very strong, fast, clever and skilful. I could be wrong though – that’s just what I’ve heard. There must be a few batman’s out there in the world of social media – doing great work without revealing their identity.
This is SO true…and is something that I’ve come to realize in the past year: podcasting is NOT about “fame and fortune”, it’s about making connections: inspiring and motivating others and celebrating community! I don’t care if I have a BAZILLION listeners: I don’t want an AUDIENCE: I want friends in a community: that’s the true measure of success with a podcast (or blog). If I have only 10 subscribed to my podcast, I want to know that they are the RIGHT 10 people that I can interact with. I love this medium. As usual: well said Chris.