So where do you find these elusive superfans? I know we could all use them for our own businesses or even as a teacher. The positive public image that spreads like wildfire from 100 superfans would take thousands of dollars to match in paid advertising, and it still wouldn’t have the same conversion rate.
Superfans are created, not bought. When you are starting your business, it is extremely important to go through the productions process of testing the market, getting feedback, and reiterating. BUT it is equally important to treat your early customers as more than test subjects. They are your potential first superfans and could be the difference between an explosive growth and a small trickle increase. When you are trying to build a superfan you want to go above and beyond to please and impress a customer. The product or service needs to be top notch, the customer service and attention to detail must make your customer feel like the most valued and important person in the world to you.
A combination of those two will potentially create a superfan. They will LOVE what you are putting out in the world along with how you treat them, and they’ll be back for more. Impress them again, and they’ll keep coming back every time you release something new. They’ll start telling their friends about you. Anytime someone is looking for a recommendation, they’ll give your name. They’ll start raving about you on social media and actively advertising for you (all free for you by the way)!
A superfan is worth so much more than paid advertising because new customers want reassurance that they are buying something that is going to meet their needs. An advertisement is created by the business and can say what it wants. A true review or recommendation from an existing user is a much more powerful force in convincing someone to become a new customer.
Here’s my advice to you and your students. Work really hard to give the customer what they actually need and want. Get feedback, reiterate, and then provide something better. Communicate and build relationships with your customers. Ask them for input on new ideas and plans to build a sense of ownership and a belief that you value their opinion. Reward your returning customers with special deals, a thank you note, a shoutout on social media, or some sort of fan merchandise.
Work hard for those first 100 superfans and then watch them word hard for you because they believe in what you are doing! If you have examples of how you or your students have accomplished this we’d love to hear about it in our Facebook Community Group, or tag The Simple StartUp on social media when you share the experience.
