What are you obsessed about? Really. Take a moment to think about it.
- Do you have a favorite restaurant that you take everyone who visits you to?
- A favorite film series you'd be willing to camp outside the movie theater for on opening day?
- A favorite clothing store that never fails your outfit needs?
- A band you could listen to all day every day?
- A coffee shop that always knows exactly how to make your perfect coffee?
If you immediately knew your answer and weren't even thinking about how much those things cost - this means you are a super fan.
You want these kinds of super fans for your business.ā£
You know the ones. The people who:
- Anxiously await the launch of your new programsā£
- Are messaging you to sign up even before you open up the cartā£
- Get on your wait list, counting down for a spot to work with you to open upā£
- Keep on loving you and wanting to work with you even when you make mistakes or things don't go according to planā£
- "Get you" and know that you are the one who can solve their problemsā£
- Tell everyone about you and your businessā£
Take a few moments and think about who the super fans are for your business.
Ask yourself (or even better, ask them!):ā£
- Why do they want to work with you over someone else?ā£
- What is it about you that they resonate with?ā£
- How do they describe you / your business?ā£
- What result are they looking for (in their own words) that they know you're the one to help them solve?ā£
While you will come up with a variety of answers, there are usually 2 that are top of the list for our coaching and consulting clients and I am going to guess will be on your list too.
- Value: They love what you are sharing and are getting tremendous value out of it.
- Authenticity: They know, like, and trust YOU because they feel like they know the real you.
One of the best ways to build super fans is to be authentic.
So let's explore authenticity.
One of the things that has always struck me as a little weird is when we often hear "people are craving authenticity now more than ever."ā£ I mean, was there ever a time when people didn't want authenticity?!? š¤·āļøā£
ā£I think what has changed is that people are sick of the highlight reel and are savvy enough now to recognize when that's all they're getting. ā£ They want to actually know someone - mistakes, quirks, eccentricities, and all. ā£
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And it has taken business owners a long time to get comfortable putting all of themselves out there and not feeling like they will be perceived as a failure or "less than" in some way. ā£
One of the most effective and lasting ways to build super fans is to be authentic. It really is that simple. But I am talking about true authenticity, not the bright shiny carefully-curated authentic.ā£
ā£You know the kind. Like when you were interviewing for a job (if you can remember that far back) and they would ask you about your weaknesses and you'd come up with clever answers like "I care too much" or "I work too hard"...ā£ Yeah, that's the kind I'm talking about. šā£
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True authenticity is all about you being you, sharing your unique experiences, sharing #behindthescenes into your business and life, especially the imperfect parts - that is what people usually fall in love with and resonate with most. THAT is how you create super fans.ā£
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Lots of people teach the same things and do the same things, but no one does it quite like YOU.ā£
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When you want to gain more super fans and fast, start to show more of the full you to the world.
It's important to note that there are always exceptions when you are running a business. Authenticity isn't about sharing your most private moments or uncomfortable oversharing. There is such a thing as TMI (true even outside of business - we all have that one friend or family members is known for the cringe-worthy oversharing). But it is important to show up as your full self, such as:
- Share your point of view unfiltered. Don't tone it down, edit yourself, etc. Share it like you would with your business bestie over a cocktail.
- Show your lighter side. Sure, business is serious, but it can also be fun. (I would argue if you aren't enjoying the journey and having some fun along the way, why are you even doing it at all?!?) Don't forget to share those moments too.
- Don't be afraid to share the tough moments or the things you learned, i.e. the mistakes along the way. This is how other people learn, and it is the thing people often want to know the most.
- Post some behind the scenes into your life too. What do you do when you aren't working? You don't have to get overly personal, but a successful and sustainable business is about balance. Set the example and show how you manage to keep a personal life in addition to running a business.
The key is to not hold yourself back and know that sharing the full you doesn't mean people will take you less seriously.
When you want to grow your super fans, a really practical tip to do so quickly is to leverage referrals.
This is the #1 way to generate new business, and there is no one better to refer you than your current super fans.
Have a new program being released? A new 1:1 coaching opportunity? Or simply want to grow your followers with a free download? Great! Ask them to tell anyone they think would be a good fit for what you do.
Always make it super easy for them to share by giving them some copy and graphics they can use.
While super fans are usually more than happy to tell everyone about you and typically don't need an incentive to do so, I always recommend that you find a way to show them some love and appreciation. It can be as simple as a thank you note (handwritten goes a long way!), a small gift like a Starbucks gift card, or something more significant like a free coaching session, free product, or a cash referral bonus.
Building super fans for your business is much easier than most people think.
Provide value, be authentic, show your current super fans love, and periodically and strategically ask them to invite others to get to know you and your offers. XX
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale.Ā Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business.Ā She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.Ā
