The foolproof formula for building superfans (1,000 true fans on steroids)

Today’s Tip: The key to surviving in business is developing superfans. Here’s the step by step formula for doing it…

There’s a famous essay by Kevin Kelly called 1,000 True Fans about “how to be successful as a creator.”

This framework became the basis for helping millions of business owners and creator entrepreneurs make a living online.

In essence…get to 1,000 true fans that will buy anything you make, and you can sustain yourself forever.

Since the essay was originally written (2008), internet fandom has evolved significantly.

In the current era, having “true fans” might not be enough given the number of parasocial relationships the average internet consumer maintains.

In my view, most people have:

• 100-200 creators they are aware of

• 30-40 they are fans of

• 2-3 they are superfans of

What you’re after…are the superfans.

If you can be in the top 2-3 internet influencers for a person, you become a significant part of their life, work, and success.

And it’s likely, if you make something that can help them achieve their goals, they will consider paying you for it.

So if you’re a business owner trying to make content, the most important question is…how does one develop superfans?

Said another way, is their a formula for super fandom?

Here it is…

1. [Value] Develop deep & differentiated knowledge in a category (skill, topic, or combo)

2. [Uniqueness] Create content sharing unusually interesting/valuable stuff, leveraging your knowledge in that category

3. [Focus] Stay rigidly disciplined and only make content in this way, in this category

4. [Consistency] Do this repeatedly, as frequently as you can, for a while

5. [Scale] Play in mediums/formats that have natural tailwinds (video)

If you do these 5 things, you will create superfans.

Here’s where most people trip up at each stage…

1. They don’t actually have deep & differentiated knowledge. Their skills aren’t sharp or their experience isn’t proven. If this is the case, focus here first

2. They don’t have a unique or interesting perspective about their category. They are regurgitating high level principles that are already known and accepted

3. They get bored of their category and wander

4. They get bored of their category and wander

5. They make content in formats that have decreasing algo push (swimming upstream)

This is simple, but not easy.

Build superfans.

PS - If you want more help improving your videos, you can check out my full breakdown on the psychology of great hooks (responsible for billions of views)