One true fan — cc Heraklit, courtesy of Flickr
The idea of supporting yourself comfortably on the proceeds from 1000 True Fans may sound loopy, but the math is straightforward. Get $100 a year from 1000 people and you’ll earn $100,000 each year.
The theory has its inevitable skeptics and hesitants, but Seth Godin believes it’s a concept worth restructuring a business around. Both positions call for a deep think, and it’s also important to ponder collecting a fanbase and improving customer experience.
Because although the math is simple, the execution of a 1000 True Fan Plan can be complex. Surviving and thriving on 1000 True Fans means:
- Earning and keeping the attention of tens of thousands of Potential True Fans AND
- Bringing them to part with a day’s pay (according to the theory) AND
- Convincing them to pay you year after year AND
- Maintaining a collection of 1000 willing buyers AND…
You get the picture. It takes time and helluvalotta work. It takes thoughtful strategy. And maybe more than those, it takes massive action and perseverance. But it’s doable. And it’s being done. I have proof.
Introducing Ali
In my Dismiss Your Doubts post, I introduced Alexandria Brown—the information marketer formerly-known-as the Ezine Queen—who solopreneured her way to $2,000,000 last year. I don’t mean she’s accumulated $2M over her 7 years in business, I mean that was her income for 2007. Notably, that’s a ninefold+ jump from the $270K she made in 2005.
Yes, way.
No sh!t.
How the heck would I know about her income? Well…because she told me. Offering details about her enviable lifestyle, workstyle, and earnings is one of her keenly effective marketing techniques. Ali uses all the income-generating methods she shares, so she is her own poster child. She’s attracted 22,000 28,000+ Potential True Fans with her success story, free teleseminars, and free email newsletter.
Me, the Hater
She also attracts haters, and I’m among them on my lesser days. It’s painfully stupid of me to feel that way when—with equal diligence and focus—I can accomplish as much as she has. In truth, it will be easier for me because I can work from the strategies Ali’s already developed, tested, and outlined (which is why I subscribe to her weekly ezine and never miss a teleseminar).
Now, I’m not an affiliate and this series of posts isn’t sponsored. But there is a payout for me, of sorts…
My positive and productive penance
Maybe writing about her success will extinguish my cussed crabbiness about it and swing my karma around. It serves everyone better for me to be truly thrilled for Ali, and proud that there are one-woman shows who earn a ton for their hard work, and particularly thankful that she’s left a trail of free breadcrumbs we can follow.
From what Ali shared in her Top 10 for 2008 teleseminar and my observations of her strategies and tactics, I’ve developed a bird’s-eye view of what she’s built, how it works, and how she makes millions from fewer than 1000 True Fans.
Subscribe to my full feed or sign up for my email service so you won’t miss:
Part 1: Be a Tollbooth on the Information Highway
Part 2: Big-Ticket VIP Access for a Few
Part 3: Get a Life With Automation and Delegation
Et tu? What do you think about where this week’s posts are headed? Let me know down below…
