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Fanocracy: Turning Fans Into Customers and Customers Into Fans
Fandom isn't just for actors, athletes, musicians, and authors anymore. It can be rocket fuel for any business or nonprofit that chooses to focus on inspiring and nurturing true fans.
The most powerful marketing force in the world isn't social media, email blasts, search ads, or even those 15 second commercials before a YouTube video. It's fandom.
David Meerman Scott and his daughter Reiko are very different - one is a baby boomer business strategist, the other a millennial medical student. But both noticed that the kind of enthusiasm they once reserved for pleasures like the Grateful Dead (David) and Harry Potter (Reiko) now extends to all sorts of companies and organizations. So they teamed up to explore a big question: Why do some brands, even in supposedly boring categories like car insurance and enterprise software, attract not just customers but raving fans?
The key is creating what they call a "fanocracy" - an organization that puts the needs and wishes of fans ahead of every other priority. It can be scary, at first, to focus on intangibles like community, generosity, and fun, rather than squeezing every penny from each interaction. But those who apply the strategies in Fanocracy are more likely to dominate their categories. And beyond the financial benefits, fanocracies spread more joy and inspiration to the world at large.
Fanocracy features a wide range of examples, including...
* The surfboard maker that invites customers into its workshop, where it reveals its proprietary processes.
* The underwear startup that's "empowering people to live a life of boldness." (Yes, underwear.)
* The teenager who turned eggs (the ultimate commodity) into a unique and delightful brand.
* The nonprofit that works closely with musicians to encourage their fans to register and vote.
* The battery company that wins loyalty by giving away its products during natural disasters.
The most powerful marketing force in the world isn't social media, email blasts, search ads, or even those 15 second commercials before a YouTube video. It's fandom.
David Meerman Scott and his daughter Reiko are very different - one is a baby boomer business strategist, the other a millennial medical student. But both noticed that the kind of enthusiasm they once reserved for pleasures like the Grateful Dead (David) and Harry Potter (Reiko) now extends to all sorts of companies and organizations. So they teamed up to explore a big question: Why do some brands, even in supposedly boring categories like car insurance and enterprise software, attract not just customers but raving fans?
The key is creating what they call a "fanocracy" - an organization that puts the needs and wishes of fans ahead of every other priority. It can be scary, at first, to focus on intangibles like community, generosity, and fun, rather than squeezing every penny from each interaction. But those who apply the strategies in Fanocracy are more likely to dominate their categories. And beyond the financial benefits, fanocracies spread more joy and inspiration to the world at large.
Fanocracy features a wide range of examples, including...
* The surfboard maker that invites customers into its workshop, where it reveals its proprietary processes.
* The underwear startup that's "empowering people to live a life of boldness." (Yes, underwear.)
* The teenager who turned eggs (the ultimate commodity) into a unique and delightful brand.
* The nonprofit that works closely with musicians to encourage their fans to register and vote.
* The battery company that wins loyalty by giving away its products during natural disasters.
Audible Audio
First published January 7, 2020
126 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
David Meerman Scott
63 books110 followersOur always-on, Web-driven world has new rules for competing and growing business. Advance planning is out – agile is IN! Those who embrace new ways will be far more successful than those who stay who stay stuck and afraid to change. No one knows more about using the new Real-Time tools and strategies to spread ideas, influence minds and build business than David Meerman Scott. It’s his specialty.
He’s a sales and marketing strategist who has spoken on all seven continents and in 40 countries to audiences of the most respected firms, organizations and associations.
David is author or co-author of ten books - three are international bestsellers. He is best known for The New Rules of Marketing & PR, now in its 6th edition, which has been translated into 29 languages and is a modern business classic with over 400,000 copies sold so far. David also authored Real-Time Marketing & PR, a Wall Street Journal bestseller. He is co-author of Marketing the Moon (with Rich Jurek) and Marketing Lessons from The Grateful Dead (with HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan).
He’s a sales and marketing strategist who has spoken on all seven continents and in 40 countries to audiences of the most respected firms, organizations and associations.
David is author or co-author of ten books - three are international bestsellers. He is best known for The New Rules of Marketing & PR, now in its 6th edition, which has been translated into 29 languages and is a modern business classic with over 400,000 copies sold so far. David also authored Real-Time Marketing & PR, a Wall Street Journal bestseller. He is co-author of Marketing the Moon (with Rich Jurek) and Marketing Lessons from The Grateful Dead (with HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 13, 2020
The book contains a lot of examples across a variety of industries and sectors. Having said that, it felt too much a reflection of the authors' lives and habits and not true applicable advice I can exercise in starting a business. Certainly, having read the anecdotes, the reader is free to draw her own conclusions and take lessons away from the book, but I don't think the actionable advice is direct, in the sense of a list of things to try. The tone of the book reads like an essay, where each chapter lays out a point, such as "Fandom can unite a city," and then stories from various events like the Boston Marathon or Red Sox World Series back up that claim.
All in all, I believed everything the authors wrote, and I bought their premise about the importance of fanocracy, but wished that they spent more time and words describing how to actually implement it in a new or not-yet-established business, almost like a "how-to" book, rather than simply listing examples, many of which don't extend past that context or situation. I -- and I assume many other business owners -- aren't merely interested in reliving other companies' successes and reviewing them in hindsight, but rather knowing how exactly their methods translate to other industries, or to something new, immediate, and actionable. Otherwise, it's just a history lesson.
All in all, I believed everything the authors wrote, and I bought their premise about the importance of fanocracy, but wished that they spent more time and words describing how to actually implement it in a new or not-yet-established business, almost like a "how-to" book, rather than simply listing examples, many of which don't extend past that context or situation. I -- and I assume many other business owners -- aren't merely interested in reliving other companies' successes and reviewing them in hindsight, but rather knowing how exactly their methods translate to other industries, or to something new, immediate, and actionable. Otherwise, it's just a history lesson.
September 15, 2019
I've been a fan of David Meerman Scott's writing since I was a young PR pro decades ago. When I heard that Fanocracy was coming out I was thrilled. As someone with a background in a little cog-sci, I was intensely interested in the science (which his daughter, Reiko Scott, brings to the table) behind what makes people want to become fans. I have made some shifts in the way I market some of my own projects as a result of what I learned in this book, and have seen very positive results. It's a new way to think about marketing and selling through making better connections with people, by drawing them in and making them part of your tribe. A win-win for everyone.
January 24, 2020
I really enjoyed listening to audiobook that is read by the authors themselves. Their narration sounds very positive, well-matched to the book contents. I feel like fanocracy is not very special but just honest and kind way of choice, both as a businessperson and a consumer. What is the most encouraging fact for me is, passion outside of my work is surely helpful for my work. I’d like to express my fandom more.
June 15, 2019
The pendulum has swung too far in the direction of superficial online communications. How many hours do we spend feeling social on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook; often unaware that we’re interacting with automated bots? People are starving for true human connection. To the point that the relationship companies build with their customers is often more important than the products and services they sell to them.
Create a product or service that highlights how you can get closer to friends/family; sharing more meaningful experiences. Loving things outside of work and sharing those passions enables you and your business to create meaningful connections with like-minded people. These deep connections lead not only to success in business, but at the same time, exposing yourself to people who share your interests leads to a happier life.
Create a product or service that highlights how you can get closer to friends/family; sharing more meaningful experiences. Loving things outside of work and sharing those passions enables you and your business to create meaningful connections with like-minded people. These deep connections lead not only to success in business, but at the same time, exposing yourself to people who share your interests leads to a happier life.
April 19, 2020
I liked the idea, but couldn't get into it and think I would have preferred a much shorter version.
April 1, 2023
Praticamente inutile, forse adatto solo a chi non ha mai letto né passato del tempo su un social o che non si guarda intorno.
February 7, 2023
Anyone in business can get something out of this book! Whether you sell products or services, this book illustrates how fans are made and why a passionate fanbase is essential to every business.
January 7, 2020
As a lifelong fandom participant (comic cons, midnight book signings, buying merchandise, fan fiction etc), this book gets it right when considering the enthusiasm and loyalty of fandom! It is engaging throughout, easy to digest, and thought provoking.
From cover to cover, I enjoyed reading "Fanocracy" - which isn’t something I typically say about marketing books. The insights David and Reiko offer about harnessing passion as a marketing tool really resonated with my nerd self and I cannot wait to put them into practice!
From cover to cover, I enjoyed reading "Fanocracy" - which isn’t something I typically say about marketing books. The insights David and Reiko offer about harnessing passion as a marketing tool really resonated with my nerd self and I cannot wait to put them into practice!
January 7, 2020
FANOCRACY is not just another business book. It’s a revelation.
There is a fundamental truism of business that most people working today have never learned or have simply forgotten in our hyper-digitized world: regardless of the sector we are in, or the product or service that we offer, we are all in the business of relationships. Our success (and our failure) stems from our ability (or inability) to generate a true human connection in an increasingly dehumanized world.
FANOCRACY by the father/daughter team of David Meerman Scott and Reiko Scott lifts the lid on this important insight, and provides a powerful, engaging exploration of ways in which businesses – and, indeed, ANYONE, from garage bands to YouTubers -- can build life-long relationships with fans and super-fans. As David and Reiko make clear, creating a FANOCRACY around your product or service is at the very heart of what it means to build a brand or any meaningful corporate culture.
As the authors make clear, people crave meaningful and relevant relationships in their lives. Some of the most powerful (and enduring) relationships are built around shared passion. As the many examples in this book illustrate, the strongest and longest lasting relationships are formed when our personal passions intersect with the normal daily activities of our lives. Are your customers your biggest fans? Do they crave engagement with your company like they do when they engage in their hobbies? If not, and you WANT them to, then you NEED to read this book.
In reading FANOCRACY, I was also particularly impressed with the generational perspective – from boomer to millennial -- as Reiko and David each bring to the table their own personal, insightful observations and lessons. This unique dynamic infuses FANOCRACY with an engaging and urgent authenticity.
FANOCRACY is a unique and invaluable business book. It’s a page turner. And a heck of a lot of fun to read. In a word: I’m a fan. Buy the book. Read it. Practice it’s simple but fundamental lessons. You will be a fan, too.
There is a fundamental truism of business that most people working today have never learned or have simply forgotten in our hyper-digitized world: regardless of the sector we are in, or the product or service that we offer, we are all in the business of relationships. Our success (and our failure) stems from our ability (or inability) to generate a true human connection in an increasingly dehumanized world.
FANOCRACY by the father/daughter team of David Meerman Scott and Reiko Scott lifts the lid on this important insight, and provides a powerful, engaging exploration of ways in which businesses – and, indeed, ANYONE, from garage bands to YouTubers -- can build life-long relationships with fans and super-fans. As David and Reiko make clear, creating a FANOCRACY around your product or service is at the very heart of what it means to build a brand or any meaningful corporate culture.
As the authors make clear, people crave meaningful and relevant relationships in their lives. Some of the most powerful (and enduring) relationships are built around shared passion. As the many examples in this book illustrate, the strongest and longest lasting relationships are formed when our personal passions intersect with the normal daily activities of our lives. Are your customers your biggest fans? Do they crave engagement with your company like they do when they engage in their hobbies? If not, and you WANT them to, then you NEED to read this book.
In reading FANOCRACY, I was also particularly impressed with the generational perspective – from boomer to millennial -- as Reiko and David each bring to the table their own personal, insightful observations and lessons. This unique dynamic infuses FANOCRACY with an engaging and urgent authenticity.
FANOCRACY is a unique and invaluable business book. It’s a page turner. And a heck of a lot of fun to read. In a word: I’m a fan. Buy the book. Read it. Practice it’s simple but fundamental lessons. You will be a fan, too.
January 7, 2020
It’s like some kind of inspirational soup for the Marketing Soul.
Fanocracy is an inspiration. Many marketing books describe a perfect scenario which often leaves me thinking, “That’s fine for them; they’re a big company. But my little company could never do it.” As you read Fanocracy, you say, “Hey, I could do that!”
Fanocracy is how you bring like-minded people together to celebrate what they love. And any company or organization can do it—including yours. Authors David Meerman Scott and his daughter Reiko show how organizations as diverse as Kampgrounds of America and Duracell create fanocracy. Fanocracy works for bands and batteries, multi-player games and surf boards—well, it works wherever you find fans and organizations aligned around a purpose or a passion.
David writes, “A great way for to create love for what you do is to figure out ways to let people into your world. When everyone else is making products and services sold via transaction, you create fans!”
Reiko adds, “A fandom business is human-centered instead of data-obsessed.”
It’s actually quite simple: be consistent in your behavior and you win the trust of your customers. After all, when you encounter a person or organization treating you honestly and fairly, aren’t you surprised? I’m thinking of car companies and internet providers—who seem to have tricking (or cheating) their customers as a key element of their business model.
If you’re in a marketing role, you surely know the power of work-of-mouth. Without it, you’re missing the best way to reach your clients—by creating a community of and for your die-hard fans.
Fanocracy is an inspiration. Many marketing books describe a perfect scenario which often leaves me thinking, “That’s fine for them; they’re a big company. But my little company could never do it.” As you read Fanocracy, you say, “Hey, I could do that!”
Fanocracy is how you bring like-minded people together to celebrate what they love. And any company or organization can do it—including yours. Authors David Meerman Scott and his daughter Reiko show how organizations as diverse as Kampgrounds of America and Duracell create fanocracy. Fanocracy works for bands and batteries, multi-player games and surf boards—well, it works wherever you find fans and organizations aligned around a purpose or a passion.
David writes, “A great way for to create love for what you do is to figure out ways to let people into your world. When everyone else is making products and services sold via transaction, you create fans!”
Reiko adds, “A fandom business is human-centered instead of data-obsessed.”
It’s actually quite simple: be consistent in your behavior and you win the trust of your customers. After all, when you encounter a person or organization treating you honestly and fairly, aren’t you surprised? I’m thinking of car companies and internet providers—who seem to have tricking (or cheating) their customers as a key element of their business model.
If you’re in a marketing role, you surely know the power of work-of-mouth. Without it, you’re missing the best way to reach your clients—by creating a community of and for your die-hard fans.
May 29, 2020
Good insights, stretched storytelling
Overall the idea of fanocracy and building fans is smart. I enjoyed some ideas and benefited, but found myself digging to figure out actionable advice. Here’s the breakdown:
Good takeaways:
- your brand should reflect your audience’s identity.
- 3.6 meters human proximity rule; getting within client’s social space will turn them into fans since they will feel they are part of the experience.
- hybrid lead magnet; offer clients totally free info/webinar etc. with nothing in exchange and within this free offering they will find another freebie that requires them to give some info. This is the most effective lead magnet method.
- let fans be part of creating their experience, see the brand through fans eyes.
- power of selfies, they break intimate barriers + they’re fun and show humanity which creates a strong passionate fans.
- mirroring effect; we unconsciously mirror others which means when you engage closely with a client other clients feel they are part of the action and the intimacy.
Downside:
- Filled with storytelling, sometimes fun and other times repetitive and well.. just kind of predictable and long to the point of boring.
- Lack of direct actionable steps.
- Could be shorter for sure.
Overall the idea of fanocracy and building fans is smart. I enjoyed some ideas and benefited, but found myself digging to figure out actionable advice. Here’s the breakdown:
Good takeaways:
- your brand should reflect your audience’s identity.
- 3.6 meters human proximity rule; getting within client’s social space will turn them into fans since they will feel they are part of the experience.
- hybrid lead magnet; offer clients totally free info/webinar etc. with nothing in exchange and within this free offering they will find another freebie that requires them to give some info. This is the most effective lead magnet method.
- let fans be part of creating their experience, see the brand through fans eyes.
- power of selfies, they break intimate barriers + they’re fun and show humanity which creates a strong passionate fans.
- mirroring effect; we unconsciously mirror others which means when you engage closely with a client other clients feel they are part of the action and the intimacy.
Downside:
- Filled with storytelling, sometimes fun and other times repetitive and well.. just kind of predictable and long to the point of boring.
- Lack of direct actionable steps.
- Could be shorter for sure.
June 5, 2021
This was boring and uninformative. It was basically a book of stories where the writers had received better than average customer service from various product companies or services. I do not recommend.
September 18, 2020
It's certainly a unique idea, going beyond the concept of just satisfying customer needs or disrupting markets. The Scotts identify the central North Star for any company looking to maximize its customer service: by turning them into fans. The idea is that if customers love you like people love movies or music or books, or certain brands like Apple or the Green Bay Packers, they'll not only become lifelong loyal customers, but probably the strongest on-the-ground marketing component for your business.
My team at work read this as part of our monthly book club, and I will say, it was a good selection. Creating that mindset among as many employees as possible is essential--any company where every associate is hyper-focused on creating fans is bound to succeed. The stories were insightful, like how McKinsey taps alumni to become brand ambassadors beyond their employment, or how Magic: The Gathering creates an immersive world where players can customize their decks, thereby giving them more control over their experience. They talk about how video games give players the tools to build their own experience, and how one surfboard company invites customers to workshops where they can learn how to build their own board. There are dozens and dozens of examples where companies thought outside-the-box to create unique experiences that turned customers to fans.
Where the book fell a little short for me, personally, was that in the end, this felt more like a list of all of the authors' favorite brands and companies. These were experiences they'd had and collected over the years, identifying why some businesses stood out to them more than others. While insightful, I was unsure how to carry this back to my own work. For the record, I work for a health insurance company, where turning customers into "fans" is inevitably going to be a little more difficult than, say, Ubisoft, who makes colossally creative and imaginative games, or Nike, a company associated with the sports we play as a kid and root for as an adult. We pay insurance claims. It doesn't matter if a service is denied because their employer chose a plan that didn't cover it -- most often, we're the faceless bad guys. That doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to turn people into fans, or that we haven't already. It's just a much taller order.
I'd hoped to find something a little more prescriptive, maybe. I don't know if that's possible, though there were moments where they came close, such as how Adobe's website spent more time addressing how the word "Photoshop" should and shouldn't be used in the English language than on actually improving the experience with the program. I also enjoyed the anecdotes about how IHOP intentionally misled customers with their "IHOB" campaign, as opposed to KFC who, when they once ran out of chicken, were bluntly honest with customers in a way that people appreciated. I work in content strategy (similar to marketing), and wholeheartedly believe honesty is crucial for every business. But if there'd been something more in this book about how to elevate customer service interactions, or communicate a brand story, or even stats on the most impactful forms of customer interactions, it'd have made it easier to figure out how I could apply these concepts at my own job.
I will say that, at the very least, I have a new goal. Not just at my current job, but any job I have hereafter. I want to work for a company that when people think about it, they smile, that they tell friends and family about. I want them to genuinely enjoy what my company did/does for them. I want to work for a company that people enjoy having in their life, that they'd buy a t-shirt of and wear at the store like Nike or the Packers or Coldplay. I think that's an honorable goal to have in life, and for that, I should thank the Scotts. (Also, they personally signed this copy of the book--something I didn't ask for, or pay extra for, but it definitely made me smile to see it. Things like that are just cool.)
My team at work read this as part of our monthly book club, and I will say, it was a good selection. Creating that mindset among as many employees as possible is essential--any company where every associate is hyper-focused on creating fans is bound to succeed. The stories were insightful, like how McKinsey taps alumni to become brand ambassadors beyond their employment, or how Magic: The Gathering creates an immersive world where players can customize their decks, thereby giving them more control over their experience. They talk about how video games give players the tools to build their own experience, and how one surfboard company invites customers to workshops where they can learn how to build their own board. There are dozens and dozens of examples where companies thought outside-the-box to create unique experiences that turned customers to fans.
Where the book fell a little short for me, personally, was that in the end, this felt more like a list of all of the authors' favorite brands and companies. These were experiences they'd had and collected over the years, identifying why some businesses stood out to them more than others. While insightful, I was unsure how to carry this back to my own work. For the record, I work for a health insurance company, where turning customers into "fans" is inevitably going to be a little more difficult than, say, Ubisoft, who makes colossally creative and imaginative games, or Nike, a company associated with the sports we play as a kid and root for as an adult. We pay insurance claims. It doesn't matter if a service is denied because their employer chose a plan that didn't cover it -- most often, we're the faceless bad guys. That doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to turn people into fans, or that we haven't already. It's just a much taller order.
I'd hoped to find something a little more prescriptive, maybe. I don't know if that's possible, though there were moments where they came close, such as how Adobe's website spent more time addressing how the word "Photoshop" should and shouldn't be used in the English language than on actually improving the experience with the program. I also enjoyed the anecdotes about how IHOP intentionally misled customers with their "IHOB" campaign, as opposed to KFC who, when they once ran out of chicken, were bluntly honest with customers in a way that people appreciated. I work in content strategy (similar to marketing), and wholeheartedly believe honesty is crucial for every business. But if there'd been something more in this book about how to elevate customer service interactions, or communicate a brand story, or even stats on the most impactful forms of customer interactions, it'd have made it easier to figure out how I could apply these concepts at my own job.
I will say that, at the very least, I have a new goal. Not just at my current job, but any job I have hereafter. I want to work for a company that when people think about it, they smile, that they tell friends and family about. I want them to genuinely enjoy what my company did/does for them. I want to work for a company that people enjoy having in their life, that they'd buy a t-shirt of and wear at the store like Nike or the Packers or Coldplay. I think that's an honorable goal to have in life, and for that, I should thank the Scotts. (Also, they personally signed this copy of the book--something I didn't ask for, or pay extra for, but it definitely made me smile to see it. Things like that are just cool.)
November 25, 2021
Whenever I find myself reading non-fiction outside the explicitly medical/health fields I'm always surprised how universal some themes and topics are and how you can easily apply concepts to other industries. In other words, I don't always go seeking out medicine, but it often finds me in unlikely places. In this book, told by a father-daughter duo (a first in my reading life, to my knowledge) the daughter is a medical student and used several medical examples I found highly relevant to my own life.
I liked Fanocracy because it worked to explain the phenomenon I've seen in businesses around me. Why are Jordans so popular? Why is Starbucks? What drives the phenomenon around Harry Potter? The Grateful Dead? These are several examples that the book discussed & to a certain extent I wish they had been discussed even further.
The book alternates author & their tone is definitely distinct. Unsurprisingly, I found myself relating much more to Reiko, as a young woman in medicine myself. And I didn't relate as much to David's sections and often found myself kind of skimming those.
It's an interesting and different business book than I've read before. I especially liked the resources you could download online with the passcode in the back of the book. Here's to participating & building fandoms.
As an aside, I think a podcast called Fanocracy with each episode dedicated to covering different fandoms & their unique traits & customs would be so fascinating and I would be an avid listener. Someone please create this or tell me if it already exists.
I liked Fanocracy because it worked to explain the phenomenon I've seen in businesses around me. Why are Jordans so popular? Why is Starbucks? What drives the phenomenon around Harry Potter? The Grateful Dead? These are several examples that the book discussed & to a certain extent I wish they had been discussed even further.
The book alternates author & their tone is definitely distinct. Unsurprisingly, I found myself relating much more to Reiko, as a young woman in medicine myself. And I didn't relate as much to David's sections and often found myself kind of skimming those.
It's an interesting and different business book than I've read before. I especially liked the resources you could download online with the passcode in the back of the book. Here's to participating & building fandoms.
As an aside, I think a podcast called Fanocracy with each episode dedicated to covering different fandoms & their unique traits & customs would be so fascinating and I would be an avid listener. Someone please create this or tell me if it already exists.
March 21, 2020
Looking to add value to your product or service? The future of interaction in an increasingly dehumanizing society.
The book Fanocracy: Turning Fans into Customers and Customers into Fans by David Meerman Scott and Reiko Scott divulges into the importance of developing meaningful relationships and fostering a unique connection amongst consumers. Some lessons I learned from completing this book include:
• Get to know your customers by taking advantage of what you have in common.
• Long term relationships with consumers are more influential than the product itself.
• Fandom brings people together that normally wouldn’t be acquainted.
• Deeper connections serve as the forefront for a successful business.
• Creating channels for easy human interaction is vital for fans and businesses.
I would recommend this book to any business looking to add value to their business by creating meaningful relationships. I would also recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about the importance of human interaction.
The book Fanocracy: Turning Fans into Customers and Customers into Fans by David Meerman Scott and Reiko Scott divulges into the importance of developing meaningful relationships and fostering a unique connection amongst consumers. Some lessons I learned from completing this book include:
• Get to know your customers by taking advantage of what you have in common.
• Long term relationships with consumers are more influential than the product itself.
• Fandom brings people together that normally wouldn’t be acquainted.
• Deeper connections serve as the forefront for a successful business.
• Creating channels for easy human interaction is vital for fans and businesses.
I would recommend this book to any business looking to add value to their business by creating meaningful relationships. I would also recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about the importance of human interaction.
June 20, 2020
Generously giving it a solid three stars
If you're from Red Sox Nation Reiko's simultaneous claims that she's from Boston and the Red Socks are *just*a baseball team are going to leave a bad taste in your mouth and you might find yourself swearing passionately. Just a warning in case there are kids around...
As for the rest of the book, each chapter opens with an example of fandom that is totally overlooked and not discussed for the rest of the chapter. Pointless anecdotes that you didn't need to buy this book to know they exist. Turns out, that when people are passionate about things, they talk about it. I knew that already... I'm three chapters in and I haven't learned a thing about turning consumers into fans.
If you've studied anything about markets and marketing (for example, you are aware of the difference between the two) this book might not be all that helpful.
If you're from Red Sox Nation Reiko's simultaneous claims that she's from Boston and the Red Socks are *just*a baseball team are going to leave a bad taste in your mouth and you might find yourself swearing passionately. Just a warning in case there are kids around...
As for the rest of the book, each chapter opens with an example of fandom that is totally overlooked and not discussed for the rest of the chapter. Pointless anecdotes that you didn't need to buy this book to know they exist. Turns out, that when people are passionate about things, they talk about it. I knew that already... I'm three chapters in and I haven't learned a thing about turning consumers into fans.
If you've studied anything about markets and marketing (for example, you are aware of the difference between the two) this book might not be all that helpful.
October 7, 2020
This book contains useful reflections about different elements of businesses that help turn customers into fans. However, throughout the book we are forced to look at the authors’ experience and interpretation of situations and accept them as the “only way”, because they have not completed their thoughts with published research from others to help confirm or discuss their own views. That part was lacking.
February 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and the conversational style in which it was written. The authors used a lot of different examples (though some where a bit repetitive), and I found it to be a nice storytelling compilation of case studies; however, there wasn't really a solid summary of overall advice, and some of the examples seemed a bit lucky (i.e., there were probably other stories of companies who took the same tactic but failed to build a fanocracy).
July 31, 2021
First audiobook I have explored. Also first time I schedule time for daily professional development during work time. I enjoyed lots the book and it’s more 3.5 stars as it gives great examples of Health sciences that I can apply engaging with people that also works on this field.
The most valuable tip I keep from this book is the link between passion and building a fanocracy “your relationship with your customers starts with the curiosity you have about them”
The most valuable tip I keep from this book is the link between passion and building a fanocracy “your relationship with your customers starts with the curiosity you have about them”
March 12, 2020
Authors David and Reiko Scott master the art of storytelling to fan the flames around creating a fanocracy. While the term might seem a bit like hyperbole, the stories and concepts shared throughout the book reveal building real connections between customers and businesses is not only valuable but also attainable.
March 16, 2020
This book has a lot of interesting stories from companies and organizations that have found ways to engage with their audience. But I feel like these anecdotes could have been tightened up a bit since they hit the same points multiple times. I also would have liked more actionable tips. But still, it is a good thought started for building a base of loyal fans.
June 10, 2020
It took me over a month to finish this one and now that I have finished it, I can point to the reason why. It felt very repetitious. The concept is very interesting and the tactics given are useful but I think a long-form blog post would have done the trick! I did grab some good highlights and do plan to revisit them when working through some strategic planning.
October 25, 2020
My purpose put in words
I work on igniting fandom with my brand consultancy since 5 years. Neon42. Would it be the book I should have written back then? Surely. I would have had some methodologies, this is what I do specifically for each my client...and I would be happy to talk about that with the authors. Nice job...starting to be a fan.
I work on igniting fandom with my brand consultancy since 5 years. Neon42. Would it be the book I should have written back then? Surely. I would have had some methodologies, this is what I do specifically for each my client...and I would be happy to talk about that with the authors. Nice job...starting to be a fan.
February 21, 2021
The overall message of this book is spot on and the authors share really great examples of why it’s so important to make business personal and to find a shared passion with employees and customers. I would have liked some kind of acknowledgement of the tension between showing genuine interest in/forming relationships with customers and the challenges of scaling a business with that same mindset.
July 23, 2022
Gli spunti iniziali sono anche interessanti, ma la narrazione è riempita in maniera eccessiva da una sequela di esempi ridondanti. Va bene cercare di far capire il concetto teorico, ma a tratti la teoria sembra scarseggiare e gli esempi vengono usati come espedienti per riempire delle pagine altrimenti vuote. In generale, non mantiene fede alle aspettative iniziali
January 24, 2020
The technical info was good, but it was too bogged down in personal stories* that felt a little too 1%. I don't think I can recommend this book to my business clients. Most of them just won't be able to relate to the authors.
*I don't want to know someone's underpants preference. Seriously!
*I don't want to know someone's underpants preference. Seriously!
May 4, 2020
3.5
Some really interesting insights into how to stand out as a business and acquire a fandom! So many different types of fandoms from Grateful Dead to Brookline Booksmith, Harry Potter, RVCA, and more.
Some really interesting insights into how to stand out as a business and acquire a fandom! So many different types of fandoms from Grateful Dead to Brookline Booksmith, Harry Potter, RVCA, and more.
April 1, 2021
A discussion of the psychology behind fandom, why a fan base is preferable to a customer base and how to create a fan base. Many examples of companies that have successfully developed a fan base are cited.
August 24, 2021
I had a hard time finding a coherent business strategy in this book besides making people fans, not customers. There were lots of good stories but the authors didn’t connect stories and strategies in an actionable way.
January 16, 2023
The book provides an interesting concept of creating a sense of community that entrepreneurs can get inspiration from. However I found it to have far too many examples of different businesses and it becomes repetitive.
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