An Artist's Guide to Finding Your First 100 Fans

Building your first 100 fans and cultivating a dedicated audience is essential for any artist. It lays the foundation for a loyal and engaged audience that can support you throughout your journey. From our 25+ years of industry expertise, we put together this concise guide to provide you with the core steps for creating and growing an authentic fanbase from scratch.

Step 1: Define Your Identity and Branding

1. Establish Your Artist Persona: Consider your unique qualities—style, story, and message. Define who you are as an artist and what makes you stand out.
2. Consistency is Key: Ensure all aspects of your presentation, from visuals to messaging, align with your identity.
3. Research and Inspire: Look at successful artists you either look up to, take inspiration from or are in your niche, and analyse how they have built their brand.

Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience

1. Create Your Fan Avatar: Determine the demographics, interests, and values of the people who would resonate with your music. Where would they like to hang out, what brands are they interested in? 

Note: Pro members can download our template to create your Fan Avatar! Check out the 'Understanding Your Fanbase' activity.

2. Leverage Tools: Use platforms like un:hurd music and Spotify For Artists to gain insights into the demographics of similar artists. Look at artists from your location, in your niche but a bit further along their journey.

Step 3: Strategise to Connect with Your Audience

1. Engage in Relevant Spaces: Identify social media platforms, online forums, and communities where your potential fans spend their time. Are your ideal fans gamers? They might hang out on Twitch and Roblox /or Reddit communities like r/hiphop101 for hip hop artists.
2. Create an Online Hub: Develop a website with links to all your social profiles and music platforms. You can create a website and FanHub on un:hurd to share your releases and socials with fans, while collecting fan data too!

Step 4: Post Regularly and Keep Content Engaging

1. Plan and Schedule: If you set aside 1-2 hours a week for just content creation and plan out the next few months with releases, photoshoots, behind-the-scenes videos, collaborations, partnership deals, tutorials etc, you will find yourself with lots of good quality content that will take the pressure off having to constantly think about new content to post. Have a look at social posting tools like Buffer which can save you a lot of time managing when to post!
2. Test and Adapt: Continuously experiment with different content types to see what resonates with your audience. You might find showing off a hobby really connects with your fans!
3. Focus on Key Platforms: Prioritise two platforms like TikTok and Instagram to begin with for the most impact. This allows you to focus on the limited time you have, rather than spreading yourself thin across 5 or 6. 
4. Consistency is Key: The positive effect of consistency is that it keeps you fresh in your followers' minds and keeps them coming back to see what's new. Out of sight means out of mind. It also means being out of algorithms!

Step 5: Foster Connections Through Live Activities

A fan being present with you is a unique experience that cannot be truly replicated through recordings or digital platforms. Engage face-to-face with fans at gigs, host meet-and-greets, and share behind-the-scenes moments. Here are some ideas to help:

1. Create Unique Experiences: Consider hosting informal events like acoustic performances in intimate settings.
2. Host meet and greets before or after shows to interact with fans face-to-face. Sign autographs, take photos and answer questions.
3. Share behind-the-scenes moments on social media – soundchecks, green room, tour bus activities etc. to display the transparency between you and your fans and help them feel special and part of the journey.
4. Learn your fans’ names and details during interactions so you can reference them next time as recognition makes a big impression!
5. Between shows, chat with your audience online and in real life about your creative process, influences etc. so they feel they are getting to know the real you in real time - a good example of an emerging artist using live strategies is Isaac Anderson - see here!
6. Offer VIP experiences with exclusive merchandise, early entry, tours etc. as an incentive for superfans.
7. Connections don’t have to just be at shows.  Create happenings or situations to interact more with your fans - you could set up a trip to the pub or the cinema with your 10 closest fans for example.  Or set up an acoustic performance in one lucky fan’s sitting room.  Fun ideas like this can go a long way!
8. Follow up with fans online after shows – share photos, inside jokes, thanks etc. to keep momentum going. You can even ask them to influence artwork, lyrics etc.
   

Step 6: Focus on Engagement, Not Just Numbers

1. Quality Over Quantity: Aim for 100 engaged fans rather than thousands of passive listeners. When you look to monetise your fans, those who are engaged will be more likely to support you through merch orders.
2. Seek Constructive Feedback: Encourage fans to provide input and suggestions.
3. Remember the Human Element: Treat fans as people, not just statistics.

Building a fanbase takes time, dedication, and authenticity. By defining who you are, understanding your audience, and engaging creatively, you can confidently grow your first 100 fans. Remember, every fan matters, and each step connects you closer to a flourishing music career.

Ready to find your first 100 fans?

Head back to the un:hurd app to explore more tools and resources for connecting with fans and building your audience.

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