How to Show Appreciation to Your Fans: Part Two
Last blog we talked about how you can show your fans you appreciate their support. There are a myriad of ways you can show this appreciation, but here are some more ideas:
Hang out with your fans. Before and after your shows, walk around the lobby or the section of the bar where people are waiting and talk to your fans. Many of them are just happy to make conversation with you, so smile, thank them for coming out to your show, and enjoy talking with the people who love the music you make.
Interviews- Find some fans who regularly blog about you and coordinate an interview. They'll love the chance to one-on-one with a band they love, and they'll promote your band when they post the interview on their site or JBA profile. You may even record the interview and post the video on your site. Have fun being the interviewee-- the fans will love you for taking time to show them the people behind the band they love.
Website- Your website is a place where fans can communicate with each other between shows as well as stay updated on what's new with your band. You can even use your JukeboxAlive.com profile as your band's website. Here you can upload music, become friends with your fans, write and respond to fan messages, and regularly post on your blog. Add photos, montages, and videos to make your JBA profile a multimedia experience. The goal is to create a sense of community on your website where your fans can network and share.
Be Available- Fans love to communicate with bands they love, so take time to connect with your fans. Reply to messages, posts on your JBA profile, and blog. Even a short personalized message, "Thanks for the compliment on the new song, [insert fan's name here]!" will be enough to make a fan feel appreciated and worthy of bragging rights to their friends. Even as your band becomes more and more busy, try to get in the habit of "checking your ego at the door" when it comes to your fans, remembering that many of them were supporting you when no one else was. An idea taken from one of my favorite bands: encourage fans to submit a question of the day. It can be about anything, from what the drummer's favorite color is to the bass player's favorite movie. Post the question on your blog along with the answer. Fans love the little bits of trivia, and it only takes a few minutes to post and answer the question.
Say "Thanks." During a show, when a new fan joins your street team, or when someone posts a generous comment on your JukeboxAlive profile, thank them. Thanking fans along every step of your growing music career will let them know they're appreciated. It's a simple yet effective way to show you're glad you get to do what you love because of support from your fans.