What's the difference between creating fans versus collectors?

Think of building fans rather than collectors because it’s a more understandable and actionable concept. ‘Collectors’ sounds esoteric and difficult to grasp. But ‘fans’ makes it clear there’s an entertainment component to what you’re doing—you need to create content that engages people, brings them into your world, and makes them interested in following your journey. Fans aren’t just people who might buy; they’re people who talk about you to others, who follow your work, who feel connected to you. Those fans eventually become buyers. But even fans who never buy still provide enormous value through word-of-mouth and attention. When you think ‘I need to create fans,’ you naturally start considering how to entertain, engage, and build relationships—which is exactly the mindset shift needed for successful marketing today.

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Asked by a general teaching point · Answered by Nick Friend · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-06-21