Advertisement Ideas: How To Build A Fan Base!!!
While I was a senior at Hofstra University in 1987 I had the opportunity to be a public relations and marketing intern with The Long Island Knights of The United States Basketball League. From day 1 I stressed how important it was to build a fan base and create a following for the team. Our arena was located about 100 from a train station across from SUNY Old Westbury. I would take stacks of tickets and simply go to the train station and ask people if they liked basketball if they said yes I would give them two free tickets. I would take this a step further and go business to business asking if people liked basketball and if they said yes I would give them tickets to an upcoming game. I would walk the SUNY Old Westbury campus and give out tickets. I would then begin to call media outlets and share The Long Island Knights with them. As the season progressed the team went from averaging 300 fans a game to over 1000 fans a game. The key was doing promotion to build a fan base.
As I reflected back on my experience with The Long Island Knights I realized that not only in sports is it important to build a fan base but is any business it is imperative to create raving fans. It is important to engage and listen and then prioritize what your fans want so that they will continue to buy your products and services and recommend you to others. We are told all the time have a unique selling proposition (USP) that differentiates you from everyone else in your industry. When I worked with The Long island Knight we had the most unique selling proposition as we had Nancy Lieberman on our team, she was known as Lady Magic and as a result we were able to showcase her in our marketing program. Nancy had many fans who came to see her play and as a result our fan base increased. We also had a great USP in the fact that our games were considered affordable at $10 a ticket. We also flooded the market with free tickets and sold the fans on the idea that they would see competitive basketball. The idea is to make the experience with you memorable and pleasurable so that people will continue to support your business and recommend you to others. Remember it is important to bring the fans in and to make them raving fans. When you can get people talking positively about you this increases your following and thus translates into more fans spending more money resulting in the strengthening of your brand.
You have heard it over and over again people do business with people they know, like, and trust. People are not buying your what but they are purchasing your why. Make sure that your why resonates with the target demographic that you desire to do business with. Ask yourself how am I showing up and what is being said about me? Perception is 90% reality. Do a self check and see how you are being perceived. In all interactions make sure you leave people with a good feeling about you and your why. IT goes back to the concept that people will forget what you said or did but they will remember how you made them feel.
A great example of this is my experience with Starbucks. Years ago I thought that Starbucks was only a good place to stop and use the restroom. Then one day I got a lap top and sought a wi-fi connection and stopped into a Starbucks and had a Caramel Frappuccino and had a good experience that I have been going to Starbucks ever since. Over the years I got to know many of the local baristas and have been able to network my many projects. As a result I know many of the regulars that come to Starbucks and am able to interact with them. This has helped me to create a following and gather support for many of my endeavors. It is as simple as just saying hello and handing out a business card. Create that positive feeling and it translates into strengthening your brand and increasing your cash flow.
After you build your raving fans the next step is to engage them. One ingredient to make sure you have fans supporting you is to be of service and value to them. What is it that you can do to enhance their personal and professional life. Tell your story and share who you are and what you do with others. make sure you tell them why you do it remembering that people will buy your why not your what.
Social media is a great way to create a strong base however nothing beats the old school way of face to face interaction. The key is to get out in the community and share what you do and why you do it. I offer FREE Tickets to a basketball game because I believe hat every basketball fan should experience a game live. I go door to door collecting donations for Relay For Life because I want to help cancer patients and their families. When I share my why I create fans and thus strengthen my brand and my cash flow. When developing you fan base remember to give people a reason to do business with you.
