The Web abounds with writers who ponder how to develop that proverbial network that’s supposed to represent their 1,000 true fans…those fans who are supposed to make growth possible. Those fans who want anything we have to offer, and tell others about it. In case you are not familiar with the concept, read these articles. You need to know.

A 20-Step Process for Finding Your 1,000 True Fans (from 2008)
http://www.copyblogger.com/20-steps-1000-fans/

1000 True Fans? Try 100 (today)
https://future.com/1000-true-fans-try-100/

1000 True Fans (today)
https://elitecontentmarketer.com/1000-true-fans/ 

The logic is that if you could find 1,000 true fans willing to pay $100 a year for your work, you develop a $100,000 income. The theory is over a decade old. Is it still applicable?

Of course it is.

In some circles, outside that of books, of course, the logic has expanded to finding 100 fans willing to buy $1,000 worth of product in a year, and yes, there are ample examples of products out there where this works. Sports clothing, video games, home interior products learn to use their brand and cater to the repeating customer.

The problem with that theory in the publishing industry, however, is that writers cannot create $1,000 worth of product in a year. Even if you had $1,000 worth of titles in your backlist, any given reader buys each book once. Heck, $100 worth of sales per reader per year is impossible. But let’s say you write two books a year, each costing $16 (print). That’s $32 per year. Multiply that times 1,000 loyal fans, that’s $32,000.

Today, however, fourteen years after the 1,000 fan theory was born, we have sites like Patreon.com, Kickstarter.com, Ko-fi.com, BuyMeaCoffee.com, SubscribeStar.com, and Memberful.com, and they make that $100 per year from 1,000 loyal fans more possible. These sites allow you to create subscriptions or unique product for your loyal fans, those willing to pay for your work. Offering them exclusive stories, novels, or material . . . treating them like they are golden, ups the odds of you achieving that higher annual income.

So . . . to earn those true-blue 1,000 fans, you need to:

Return emails to anyone with the slightest interest in your work, without exception. Regardless of what you think of them, regardless of how serious you think they are about their writing, regardless of how quirky, angry, bubble-headed, or tacky they are, you answer them, and you lead them to a website with your products, or better, exclusive products.

Be liberal in your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok connections and friends. Unless the friend request is blatantly fake, like from some middle-aged man standing in front of his convertible or a tycoon from another country, give them a go. If you’ve spent any time on social media, you can spot the fakes. Don’t be so picky . . . just be smart. And of course, lead them to your website or subscriber page.

Be bold in your profiles (Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, Google, LinkedIn, etc.). Liberal means being upfront about the writer you are. Show others you mean business in this writing business. Be professional with your mugshot. AND . . . lead them to your website or subscriber page.

Once they arrive, whether you have a newsletter or keep a blog, whether you provide unique story material or simply sell your books, you must maintain steady communication. If you don’t have time for your fans, why should they have time for you?

Smile. Enjoy others company. The more people feel appreciated, beloved and respected, the more they will reward you with their business.

Sounds like work, doesn’t it? Of course it is. But it’s the most rewarding work, outside of writing your stories, that you can accomplish. That’s assuming you want to put WRITER on your tax return under PROFESSION.

BIO – C. Hope Clark is editor of FundsforWriters.com and author of the Carolina Slade Mysteries, the Edisto Island Mysteries, and the Craven County Mysteries, published by Bell Bridge Books.