Nate Llorando, founder and CEO of JOOLT Fan App, a platform designed to boost interaction with celebrities, creators, athletes, and more.
At a time when direct fan engagement is for athletes, artists, and music artists, the fan engagement landscape is undergoing a profound transformation thanks to apps engaged in sports and entertainment. These platforms aren’t just reshaping the way enthusiasts engage with their favorites. personalities but also offer a more original and immersive experience compared to classic social media channels.
As the founder of a fan app who has spent years in extensive studies and development, I’ve found that one of the main drivers of the rise of sports and entertainment apps is the unpredictability of classic social media algorithms. Social media algorithms, plagued by bots, fake accounts, and account bans have led many artists and athletes to seek more controlled environments to interact with their fans. Similarly, with the uncertainty surrounding platforms like TikTok, artists and athletes are exploring new avenues to build deeper connections with their followers. .
Major players in the sports and entertainment industries are increasingly noticing the benefits of creating their own platforms rather than relying on social media giants.
A wonderful example of this trend is the collaboration between HYBE and Universal Music Group (UMG). HYBE’s Weverse platform has a global hub for fan engagement, combining content such as music videos, live streams, and an engaged merchandise store. In 2022, HYBE generated 67. 1 billion won ($51. 9 million) from their fan club’s activities. In a landmark agreement, HYBE and UMG have expanded their partnership, granting UMG exclusive distribution rights to HYBE’s music for the next decade.
Last February, Robert Kyncl, CEO of Warner Music Group, made the impression at the Web Summit generational convention in Qatar. He highlighted the importance of direct interactions between artists and super-enthusiasts, noting that super-enthusiasts consume and spend the maximum, which makes them very important. to maximize profits and engagement. Warner is creating its own superfan app to tap into this potential, allowing artists to connect directly with their most loyal enthusiasts and offering insights into those relationships.
The economic impact of superfans cannot be underestimated. For example, an end-to-end engagement team can generate revenue streams for artists by directly targeting their most engaged followers. The focus on superfans, who spend much more on music and merchandise, presents a lucrative opportunity for the entertainment industry.
Sports and entertainment apps can offer a variety of features to enrich fan engagement:
• Live streaming: From behind-the-scenes peeks to exclusive presentations, streaming features allow for real-time interaction between celebrities and their fans.
• Virtual Meetings: Apps facilitate virtual dating and allow enthusiasts to meet up with their idols regardless of geographical barriers.
• Interactive content experiences: Gamification, polls, and demanding interactive situations keep enthusiasts actively engaged and interested in their favorite personalities.
In my conversations with artists and mobile app developers, the consensus is clear: engaged platforms offer a more conducive environment to make genuine connections with fans. Developers are continually innovating to deliver tailored reports that fit the personal tastes of artists and their fans.
Creating an effective fan engagement platform requires a strategic technique that satisfies the desires of the enthusiasts and celebrities, creators, musicians, and athletes you intend to support.
A practical tip is to incentivize enthusiasts through a problem system, which can inspire greater interaction and loyalty through rewarding activities such as sharing content, commenting, or buying products. Additionally, helping creators and celebrities connect with suppliers or brands for their product progression can streamline the process. the procedure for launching new products on the market, the platform’s price proposal.
Ensuring that the platform is safe from bots and fake accounts is very important to maintain an original and trustworthy community. This can be achieved through physically powerful verification processes and complex security measures. Providing features that enable an ad-free experience can be particularly helpful in improving user satisfaction, as enthusiasts prefer uninterrupted access to content.
Finally, implementing a timeline ensures that users see the most recent posts in real-time, encouraging more original and timely interaction with the content and creators they follow. These more productive practices combine overall user enjoyment with the effectiveness of a fan engagement platform. .
As demand for original fan engagement continues to rise, sports and entertainment apps are poised to redefine the way athletes, artists, and music artists interact with their audiences. Through exclusive partnerships, cutting-edge features, and a focus on direct mailing. Fan relationships, platforms can engage fans and shape the long-term entertainment industry.
Forbes Business Council is the leading expansion and networking organization for businesses and executives. Am I eligible?