10 Best Tips For Engagement and Developing Aficionado Fans 

There is a lot written about exposure, engagement and fans. All three will be the deciding factors on whether you succeed as an indie artist.

However, not all engagements are equal. Some are from those who are just curious but cold about your music. Some just want whatever you are giving away. But others may be curious and could warm to your music while others, you have converted straight away and love your music.

You can see that focusing on getting the wrong type of engagement is not going to be beneficial. But, if you could engage with those that love your music they will turn into 'aficionados' of your music, your A-list fans. 

These Aficionado fans have been defined in a Nielsen study of US consumers as having these characteristics (paraphrased):

• They are the top-tier connoisseurs of music. 
• They have eclectic music tastes.
• They have a propensity towards indie music
• They are always on the lookout and listening to new music.
• They are willing to spend on all aspects of an artist's typical revenue streams e.g. merchandise, ticket sales, album sales and streaming.

As shown above, Aficionado fans, can become lifelong, true supporters of your music, ready and waiting to invest in your products. Your music matters to them and they want to travel your musical journey with you as loyal fans. They can play as great a part in promoting your music as any ad campaign. 

A core following of Aficionado Fans can be all you need to have a sustainable music career and this following does not have to be exceedingly large. Look at the rough annual budget below.

10 Tips to Get More Engagement and Turn Fans Into Aficionado Fans

It's all about connecting. Fans are fans because they feel a connection to you in some way and it is this feeling you need to nurture and give your fans the opportunity to savour and express.

These are important fans so make them feel special. Here are some ideas to nurture that engagement.

To develop your connection to your fans you need to make sure you are in control of communications and that this is not controlled by a third party platform. The best way to achieve this is by having a fan-based email list. The list belongs to you and you can communicate with your fans whenever you wish.

It is a great way to communicate offers and rewards to your fans and develop further engagement. For example:

• email private links to a new track not released to the public yet.
• Email exclusives. Maybe earlier demos of your release.
• Access to presale of your upcoming release or tour.
• Offer generous discount codes for your merchandise or releases

This all goes to make fans feel they are a cut above the rest.

Everyone loves a giveaway. So run an online time-limited giveaway. This could be a bundle offer of some merchandise or something more personal like meet and greet at one of your gigs, a backstage pass or a one to one consulting session. Many fans are also musicians, singers or songwriters who would love to get your advice.

There is online giveaway software like Gleam, Woobox and ShortStack that can be used to help you set up your give away. Free plans are available.

• After your gig stick around to greet your fans in person.
• Man your merch table and give away a handwritten thank you card when they make a purchase. You can add a discount voucher or code for larger purchases (Bandcamp allows you to create discount codes).
• If you have fan birthday details you can use one of the electronic birthday card services and send a birthday card using their email address from your email list.

Think what your best fans would appreciate. Remember these are the fans that could be with you for a lifetime and are willing to support you.

If you are up for it, an AMA is a great way for fans to connect with you on a deeper level. Set up an invite only event and use Facebook Live or YouTube live. You can also get some useful insight into your fans that might drive your next project, gig or merchandise product.

Contests are great for getting engagement. You could arrange a contest for best dance video or cover version of one of your songs or wearing or advertising some of your merch in the most unusual setting or in the furthest location from your base. Provide details of the selection process, the reward and how and when the winner will be announced. Make this an event in itself.

Exclusivity is something fans are willing to pay for. There are services that allow you to set up a membership only subscription website on their platform, for example, Wild Apricot. This may be worth the investment and return a decent ROI if you have enough aficionado fans and have identified how much much they are willing to pay for a subscription. It is also a way to differentiate your top fans and allows you to create another reward or offer e.g. first-year subscription free. This membership area would be where you provide your top offers and exclusive insights.

If you don't want to go down that route you can create a private Facebook group with exclusive access for your aficionado fans.

These types of online areas allow your top fans to communicate with each other about your music and may encourage other fans to become members. Especially, if you make social media posts showing yourself and a member(s).

It takes a significant amount of time and effort to develop aficionado fans of your music, but the ideas above will help you set the wheels in motion. This type of fan can really make the difference to whether you can live the dream of having a full-time career in music.

Find them and nurture them, they are as important to you as you are to them.

Good luck.