How To Mobilize Fans and Alumni (For Your Band & Chapter)
Content. Consistency. Conversation.
Engaging your fans and alumni is very important. They have the capacity to be your greatest champions, financially and otherwise. If your band or chapter is in need or striving for a particular goal, it is crucial to gain as much support as possible. Opportunities can also open up to you, when people take notice of the influence you have and the power you wield in the community.
Promote your social media.
After you have setup your Facebook Page, Twitter account, or Instagram, make sure you let people know where they can follow you. Make sure your band website showcases all the different social media links. As individuals, share the links with your friends. Also, engaging with other bands or chapters who have their social media setup can give you a chance to plug yours.
Show your stories.
(show is better than tell, BTW)
The great work you do should be publicized and shared across social media platforms.
- Share photos and video from each performance.
- Spotlight members of the band and/or chapter.
- Post behind-the-scenes photos of preparation.
- Promote any events you are hosting. (Live tweet/status updates!)
- Post about the history of your chapter and program.
- Share milestones.
Connect with your fans and alumni. The more you share, the more invested they will be in your success.
Be consistent.
Post regularly. No one is going to follow a page that hasn’t been updated in 2 years. Always be thinking of new content to post, or old content to present in a different way. Activity on your social media is key to staying at the forefront of your fans’ minds.
Engage with your audience.
(Allow them to share some of their stories…)
Don’t just post and forget it. See who is liking it. Respond to reasonable comments and questions that people may have. Let your fans and alumni know that you appreciate their support. Personalize your message and pay attention to how the community to interacting with you.
FOR EXAMPLE — Connect with your alumni and get updates on what’s going on in their lives. Have an alumni spotlight feature.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE — Create a hashtag that represents support for your band/chapter. Select the best Instagram photos, Facebook statuses, and Tweets that use it and repost those. You could have a contest with a prize for the one with the most Likes, Retweets, etc.
Provide value. (Don’t just take.)
Don’t let every single post be a plea for money or support. Provide value. Entertain, inform, and include. It is much easier to get support for your cause, when you’ve provided enough value to make your fans & alumni invested in your future success.
“There is no sale without the story; no knockout without the setup.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy World
When someone sees your great work, they want to know where they can learn more and provide support. Alumni, just want to know what’s going on with their band & chapter to feel connected. Mobilize these forces of support to help you achieve greater good.
~b.
