The DIY Artist Route Podcast

The DIY Artist Route Podcast


The Secrets To 1000 True SuperFans With Kevin Kelly

October 19, 2016

 
Kevin Kelly is a man with a rich background in writing and science. His wisdom and thoughtfulness is pervasive in not only his writings but also his lectures.
He’s someone with an eye and ear to the future, looking at both trends and technology paired with the human psyche to see what futures await us. The artistic side of this approach to vision casting is brilliant. It’s also intriguing.
How I came to understand and embrace Kevin’s theories on growth goes back a few years to when I was starting my first endeavor in the creative entrepreneurial realm.
The Birth Of The SuperFan Idea
Back in 2008, while starting the initial syndication build for The Appetizer Radio Show, I first met an artist who would become a good friend. William Fitzsimmons had transitioned from one career as a therapist into becoming a full-time musician. He wasn’t famous, but he did have a really strong core audience that propelled his growth.
Years later, I’d connect with several other artists who’d share with me how they’d built their growth strategy around reaching 1000 true fans. It was a theory created by Kevin Kelly in an article he wrote that was published a few decades ago. Intrigued, I looked it up and found it contained the exact formula I was using to build my platform.
Fast-forward to this past summer. My good friend (and fellow DIY Artist Router) Chandler Coyle told me of an opportunity to speak with Kevin. Kevin has a new book out called The Inevitable, and was looking at some artistic, entrepreneurial and marketing related podcasts to get on to promote the book. I put my name in the hat and was privileged to get to connect with him.
The result of that connection is this podcast episode. It’s been several months in the making, but it’s brilliant on a variety of levels. The are several things I loved about talking with Kevin Kelly, especially how down-to-earth and open he is. It was like talking with an old friend.
He’s also incredibly objective, which is refreshing for someone who has done so much in their careers.
A Brief Bio On Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly is most known for being a writer, author, and co-founder of Wired Magazine. He’s also got a rich history in science, photography and digital marketing. He’s the founder of The WELL, a virtual community created with Stewart Brand.
He’s written for publications like The Economist, Esquire, GQ, and the New York Times. His lectures cover subjects ranging from marketing and economic growth to scientific and technological innovation.
His writings and books include New Rules for the New Economy: 10 Radical Strategies for a Connected World (Penguin, 1999) and”Forward: 1000 True Fans,” pp. 3–8, in Be The Media, David Mathison, editor, (2009), which is where the concept of the SuperFan was born.
More insights into Kelly available on his website.
Notable Quotes From This Podcast Conversation With Kevin Kelly
“The best way to do research on the Internet is to say something and people will tell you that you’re wrong. Numbers aren’t as critical as just doing it.”
“The Internet was inevitable but the kind of Internet we have (wasn’t). (There’s a) shift to Internet of experiences away from an Internet of knowledge. Much more emotional and experiential overlay will take place.”
“Marketing (The Inevitable) on Twitter was something we did well. Tweeting once a day with a quote from the book was very successful.”