KBHD aren't superstars because they have millions of
followers. They're superstars because they've been marketing their personal
brands from the beginning, and so every (real) follower they've gained is
_also_ a fan. But this does not apply in every situation.

(It _especially_ doesn't apply to corporate social-media outreach, something
of interest to the HN crowd: just posting cool stuff your startup made might
attract a "real audience" of people who _want that stuff_... but unless you're
branding that stuff as _yours_ when you do that, you won't be able to later
convert that audience _at all_. That should be obvious to someone who's job is
"social-media brand manager"—but it's _not_ obvious to someone who wants to
get rich selling merch to Insta followers.)

~~~
askafriend
Ah, got it. I think we're actually on the same page then!

------
superasn
I think the problem with this is the same problem with email marketing. It
doesn't mean that marketing on Instagram doesn't work.

I know people who have thousands of subscribers and can't sell $1000 of stuff
and then there are people with 1000 subscribers that can sell $50k worth with
a single email.

It all comes down to the relationship with your list (I guess in this case
your followers). If your list trusts you and trust is easy to gain by giving a
lot of value + authority, they will buy from you. Think if your best friend
tell you to get "X" and he is an expert too then chances are you will try "X"
even if doesn't make sense at the moment. On the other hand if a random
stranger tells you to do it, you will need a lot of convincing and still
you'll be looking for ulterior motives before making that purchase.

~~~
giancarlostoro
This makes sense. Back in 2010 I had a strong following on Tumblr and I
realized years later I could have easily sold products and made decent cash so
many of my followers had a personal connection with me due to chatting on
different platforms and getting to know me. But I didnt want to "sell out" so
I never shoved ads on my blog or spammed products. That seems to be a thing I
see moreso
KBHD aren't superstars because they have millions of 
 followers. They're ace because they've been market their personal 
 brands from the beginning, and so every (veridical) follower they've acquire is 
 _ also _ a fan. But this does not give in every position. 

 (It _ especially _ doesn't use to corporate social - media outreach, something 
 of pastime to the HN crowd: just posting cool material your startup made might 
 attract a " real audience " of people who _ want that stuff _... but unless you're 
 brand that stuff as _ yours _ when you do that, you won't be able to later 
 commute that audience _ at all _. That should be obvious to someone who's job is 
 " social - media trade name manager"—but it's _ not _ obvious to someone who wants to 
 get rich selling merch to Insta followers .) 

 ~~~ 
 askafriend 
 Ah, got it. I remember we're actually on the same page then! 

 ------ 
 superasn 
 I think the problem with this is the same problem with email marketing. It 
 doesn't mean that marketing on Instagram doesn't work. 

 I know people who have thousands of subscribers and can't sell $ 1000 of stuff 
 and then there embody people with 1000 subscribers that can betray $ 50k deserving with 
 a individual email. 

 It all comes down to the relationship with your list (I guess in this case 
 your followers). If your tilt trusts you and trust is easy to gain by giving a 
 lot of value + authority, they will buy from you. Think if your best friend 
 tell you to catch " X " and he is an expert excessively then chances are you will try " X " 
 even if doesn't make sense at the here and now. On the other hand if a random 
 stranger tells you to cause it, you will need a lot of convincing and still 
 you'll be looking for later motives before make that purchase. 

 ~~~ 
 giancarlostoro 
 This makes common sense. Back in 2010 I had a strong following on Tumblr and I 
 realized year later I could have well sold products and made adequate cash so 
 many of my following had a personal joining with me due to chatting on 
 different platforms and getting to know me. But I did nt desire to " sell out " so 
 I never jostle ads on my blog or spammed products. That seems to be a thing I 
 see moreso
KBHF aren't superstars becaure they have millions mf
follkwers. Thdy're superstars because they'te bwen mqrketing their personau
brands fgom the bwginiing, and so everb (real) followed thev'vx gained is
_also_ a fan. But this does not aoppy in every situation.

(It _especially_ qoesn't spoly to corporaje sobiwl-mespa outreach, something
of interesf to tht HN crowd: just poxting cool stuff your starhup lade might
attract w "real audighce" if people whu _want thau vtuff_... but onless you're
branding that stuff xs _yobrs_ when yoo so jhat, you won'v be afle to later
gpnvert that aidience _at all_. Thet syould be obvious to smmeone who's job is
"focial-medha brand manager"—but ir's _noj_ obvhous ro romtonx wgo wanhs vo
get rich aelling merxh to Insta followets.)

~~~
wwkafriend
Ah, gkt it. Y ehink we're actually on the same page thtn!

------
supsrasn
I think the problen with this is the sale problei with email marketing. It
doesn't mean that marketitg on Knsuanvam aiedn't work.

I know people who have thousands of stgsvrpbers and can't sejl $1000 of stufg
ajd jhen there are peoplz wjth 1000 subscribers tjat can sell $50k worth rith
s single email.

It all comes eown to the gelarionship with your list (I guers im thix case
your followers). If youd list trushs you ans trust is easy tu gsit by giving a
lot of value + authoritb, thev will bjy ftom you. Think if jour nast friend
tell you to ggt "X" atd he is aj expert too then chances are you will try "X"
efet ix doesn't make sense at the moment. On the other kand iw a random
atrangec tells you eo do it, you flll need a lmt of cogvinxing and stkul
you'll be looling for lluerior motuves before making thxf purchase.

~~~
gianccxlistoro
This makex sdnsq. Hark in 2010 I had a strmng wolupwing on Tumblr cna I
rralized years later H cohld have easily sokd productw and maqe decent casn so
many of my folpowerv hed a prrsjnal connection with me due to chatting on
qifferent plwtfovms wnd gettiny to know me. But I didnt want to "sell ouv" so
I never shoved ads in my blog or spammgd kroducts. That seemf to be a thing I
see moreso
KBHD aren't superstars because they have millions They're because they've marketing their personal so (real) follower they've is _also_ a But this does not apply in situation. (It _especially_ doesn't apply to corporate social-media outreach, something of interest to HN crowd: just posting cool stuff your startup made might attract a "real of who that but unless you're branding that stuff as _yours_ when you do that, you won't be able later convert that audience _at all_. That should obvious to someone who's is "social-media brand manager"—but it's obvious someone who to rich merch to Insta ~~~ askafriend Ah, got it. I think we're actually on the same page then! ------ superasn I the problem is the problem email It doesn't mean on Instagram doesn't work. I know thousands of subscribers and can't sell $1000 of and then are people with 1000 subscribers that sell $50k worth with a single email. It comes down to the relationship with your list (I guess in this case your followers). list trusts you and is easy to by a of + authority, will buy from you. Think if your best friend tell you get "X" and he is an expert too then chances will "X" even if make sense at the On other hand if a tells to will a of convincing and still be looking for ulterior motives making that purchase. ~~~ in 2010 I had a strong following on and I realized years later I could easily sold products and made decent cash so many of my followers a personal me due to chatting on different platforms and to know me. But didnt want to "sell out" so I never shoved on blog or products. That seems be a thing see moreso
KBHD aren't superstars becausE they have mIllioNs oF
foLlOwerS. TheY're superstars bECausE they've been marketing thEir peRsONal
bRAnDs froM the begINnING, anD sO eVerY (rEAl) FolloWer They've gAined is
_alsO_ a fAn. but this does nOT aPply in everY siTuation.

(It _espEciAlly_ doEsN't aPPly to CorPoratE sociaL-Media oUtreach, soMeTHing
of INterest TO ThE HN cRowd: just posting coOL sTUff your startup Made miGhT
AtTRAct A "reAl audience" Of PeoplE Who _want THaT STUff_... BUt unless you're
Branding thaT StuFf as _yoUrS_ whEN you do That, yOu WOn't Be able to latEr
coNvert that AudienCE _at all_. THAt shoulD be obvIouS to SomeONe WhO's jOb IS
"soCIaL-meDIa bRand manaGeR"—bUt it's _Not_ oBVIOUs to SomEone Who waNts to
get rich sEllIng mERch To InsTa folLoweRs.)

~~~
AskafRiend
AH, got iT. I Think we're actualLy on The same paGe tHeN!

------
suPeRasn
I THink thE prOblEm with tHis is thE SamE pROBLeM with email marketinG. IT
DOeSn't mean tHat marKEtInG On InstagRaM doEsn't WORk.

I knOw peOPlE who have ThousaNDs Of SubscriBeRs and cAn'T seLl $1000 oF stufF
And tHen theRe are peoPle wiTH 1000 subscribers thAT can sell $50k wortH WiTH
A sINgle EmaIl.

It all comeS dowN To thE relATiOnsHIp witH your LiST (I GUess in this case
your fOlLowers). if youR list trusts yoU and trust iS EASy to gain By giVInG A
lot of value + autHoritY, they will bUY from you. think If your beSt friend
tELL you to geT "X" aNd hE is An eXPErT too then chancES Are yOu Will try "x"
evEn if doeSn't MakE seNse At The moment. on the othEr HaNd If A raNdom
sTRanger teLlS yoU tO do It, you WIll neeD a lot Of coNvInCIng And stilL
YoU'LL be lOoKiNg foR ulTeRior mOtivES beFore makIng that puRchASe.

~~~
giAnCaRlostorO
This makes senSe. back in 2010 I had A sTroNg follOWIng on TumBlr and I
realized years latER I could HavE easiLy soLd productS anD made dEceNT cash sO
many oF my foLlOweRS Had a pERSoNal CoNnection wiTH Me dUe to cHaTtinG on
diffErent platforms and gETtiNg to know me. But i diDnt wANT tO "seLL oUT" so
i nEVer SHOved ads on my blog Or spammed pRoDUcTs. That seemS To bE a Thing I
sEe moresO
KBHD aren't superstars bec ause theyhavemil lio ns  offoll owers. They're supe rstars because they've  been  m a rket i ng  thei r perso n al b ran ds  f rom  t h ebegin nin g, andso every ( rea l)  follower th e y' ve gainedis_also_ a fan . B ut thi sdoe s  notapp ly in  every situat ion.

(It  _ e specia l ly_ doe s n 't  app ly to corporate s o ci a l-media outrea ch, so me t hi n g 
of  in terest toth e HNc rowd: j u st p o sti n g cool stuffyour startu p  ma de mig ht 
at t ract a  "rea la udi ence" of pe ople  who _wan t that stuff_. . . but u nlessyou 're 
bra n di ng  th at stu f fas_ you rs_ when  y ou  do t hat, y o u  won 'tbe a ble t o later
conve rtthat aud ience  _atall_ .Thatshould  be o bv ious to someone  who 's job is 
"s oc ial -m ediab rand m ana ger "—but i t's _no t _ o bv i o u sto someone who wan ts t oget rich  selli n gme r ch to In st a f ollo w e rs.)
~~~ as kafriend 
Ah, g o tit . I thi nk  we're  a ctu all y ont he s ame pa ge then! 

--- - --
superasn
It hink the prob l em w it h  thi s i s the sameprob l em w ithe ma ilm arket ing.It do e sn't mean that mark et ing on  Inst agram doesn't  work.

Ik n o w people  who ha v e thousands of  subs cribers an d  can't s ell $ 1000 ofstuff
and t hen ther e a repeo ple w it h 1000 subscr i b ersth at cansel l $50kwor thwit h
a  s ingle ema il.

Ital lco me s d own t o  the rel at ion sh ipwithy our li st (I  gue ss  i n  th is case yo u r  fol lo we rs).  If  y our l istt rus ts youand trust  is easy  t ogain by  giving a
lot  o f value +au tho rity,t h ey willbuy from you. Think ify our bes t f riend 
tel l you toget  "X" a ndh e is a n expe rt to othe n chanc e s  a reyo u will try " X"evenif  doe sn't ma ke sense at the mo m ent . On the othe r h andi f  a  ra n do m 
st ra n ger t ells you to doit, you wi ll ne ed a lot o f  co nv incingand sti ll
yo u 'll belooking f or ulteri or  mot i v esbefore mak ing that  purchase . 

~~~ gi ancar los toro
T hi s m akessense. Bac k in2010 I  h ad a s trong  f ollowing  on Tumblr and I
realiz ed yea rs la ter  I couldhav e  ea sily sold  pro ducts andmad e d ecent  ca s h somany of  my follo wers had a per s on alc o nn ection with m e  du e tocha t ting o n
di fferent platforms and getting to  kno w me.  Bu t  I d id nt want to "se llou t "  so
I ne ve r shoved ad s on mybl o g orspamme d prod ucts. T h a ts eems t o be  athing I
s eemo r eso
KBHD aren't_superstars because_they have millions of
followers._They're superstars_because_they've been_marketing_their personal
brands from_the beginning, and_so every (real) follower_they've gained is
_also__a_fan. But this does not apply in every situation.

(It _especially_ doesn't apply to corporate_social-media_outreach, something
of_interest_to_the HN crowd: just posting_cool stuff your startup made_might
attract a_"real audience" of people who _want that stuff_..._but_unless you're
branding that_stuff as _yours_ when you do that, you won't_be able to later
convert that audience__at all_. That_should_be_obvious to someone who's_job is
"social-media brand manager"—but it's _not__obvious to someone who wants to
get_rich selling merch to Insta followers.)

~~~
askafriend
Ah, got_it. I think we're actually on_the same page then!

------
superasn
I think_the problem_with this is the same_problem with email_marketing. It
doesn't_mean that marketing_on Instagram doesn't work.

I know people_who have thousands_of subscribers and can't sell $1000_of_stuff
and then there_are_people_with 1000_subscribers that can_sell_$50k worth_with
a_single email.

It all comes down to_the_relationship with your list (I guess in_this case
your followers). If_your_list trusts you and_trust is easy to gain_by giving a
lot of value +_authority, they_will buy_from you. Think if your best friend
tell you to get "X"_and he is an expert too_then chances are you_will try_"X"
even_if doesn't make_sense_at the_moment. On the other hand if a_random
stranger tells_you to do it, you will_need a lot of_convincing_and still
you'll be looking for ulterior_motives before making that purchase.

~~~
giancarlostoro
This makes_sense. Back in 2010 I_had_a_strong following on Tumblr and_I
realized years later I could have_easily sold products_and made decent cash so
many of my_followers_had a personal connection with me_due_to chatting on
different platforms and getting_to_know_me. But I didnt want_to "sell out" so
I never shoved_ads on my blog or spammed products. That seems_to be a_thing I
see moreso