Unconventional Career Idea 💡 Create a Fun Online Fan Club

Okay, so hear me out:

Memberships, but for FUN THINGS.

How sick are we of ‘online business memberships?’ It’s weird, but I think it’s because everyone who knows how to run an online membership is someone *in* online business, so therefore the content ends up being all *around* online business, and for the love of my dirty big toe (from all the pretend gardening I did yesterday), I don’t really think that:

1. People want ‘online business’ content
2. Creators running ‘online business memberships’ actually want to be doing it

My hot take! I said what I said.

So, how about we take modern technology, and apply it to fun things we actually *do* like doing—right now, in your current era???

Think:

• A France fan club
• A British architecture fan club
• An Airbnb fan club
• A hotel design fan club
• A historic interiors fan club
• An upcycling fan club
• An anthropology fan club
• A languages fan club
• An AI artistry fan club
• An urban beekeeping fan club
• A letterboxing fan club
• A fermentation fan club
• A mushroom foraging fan club
• A retro computing fan club (fixing up old computers)
• A bird watching fan club
• A furniture restoration fan club
• An urban sketching fan club
• A hiking for beginners fan club
• A trout fishing fan club
• A global cheese fan club
• A vintage furniture fan club
• A period wear fan club
• A pastry fan club
• A home gardening fan club
• A milliner’s fan club
• A calligraphy fan club
• A house painting fan club
• A house projects fan club
• A bread baking fan club
• A sewing fan club
• A watercolor art fan club
• An equestrian owner’s fan club
• A homeschooling fan club
• A craft lover’s fan club
• A pickleball fan club
• A Peloton fan club
• A podcasting fan club
• A video game fan club
• A trainspotting fan club
• A wood whittling fan club
• A home farm fan club
• An astrophotography fan club
• A historical fan club
• A tattoo artistry fan club
• A quilling fan club
• A model ship building fan club
• A hot air balloon fan club
• An old-school blacksmithing fan club
• An ice swimming fan club
• A beer brewing fan club
• A vintage car fan club
• An urbex fan club
• A macrame fan club
• A drone flying fan club
• A 3D printing fan club
• A sustainable living fan club
• An electric skateboard fan club
• A voice acting for digital content fan club
• An adult ballet fan club
• A competitive coder fan club
• A competitive ANYTHING fan club

So, what’s something you love?! Something you spend your spare time researching and reading about and finding inspo on? Something you love to do on the weekend, when you feel like you can finally enjoy yourself? (And not feel guilty for not working.) Something you buy books about, and open newsletters on, and buy subscriptions to?

Those are big clues! And, hint: they probably more accurately represent your most current passion, rather than the “one that makes you money” that’s now an outdated passion from your former life that you’re still trying to force-feed into your current one. (And silently dread.)

This is especially timely, because platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and the internet as a whole, have exposed us to ALL SORTS of new and exciting interests and hobbies and ideas we didn’t even know about, or care about, before. (Refurbishing old bureaus, anyone?!)

But, where to go to obsess over them?

Create that place.

There is *extreme* value in curation right now, in a world full of endless noise.

Today, you can make a damn good living running a FUN online fan club, through the internet, entirely remotely, dedicating your energy to something you really, really freakin’ enjoy.

(Note: pay extra special attention to *your* paid subscriptions. If you’re willing to spend money on it, other people would be willing to spend money with you.)

Want to learn how to turn an online fan club into a seriously fun career—and make seriously fun money with it, too? (Estimate: $100K/annually for just 500 members at the lowest price point analyzed, and $1M/annually for just 500 members at the highest price point analyzed, though analysis goes up to $20M 🤯)

Upgrade to a paid membership now to access the advanced career plan and view all breakdowns. ⬇️

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Next: The Online Fan Club—Career Plan (Advanced)

Career Title:
Fan Club Creator

Career Overview:
Create and run an online fan club around a niche hobby or interest

Career Income:
$100K for 500 members at lowest price point analyzed;
$1M for 500 members at highest price point analyzed;
range, however, goes up to $20M/year 🤯

Income Plan + Profit Breakdown:

So, there’s a BIG misconception that people won’t pay you for things unless you’re an expert.

…and unless you’re “teaching something.”

…and unless you’re “a big-name brand.”

…and unless you have “experience in that thing,” and you’ve “made a name for yourself.”

But, guess what?

That’s outdated thinking that reflects an outdated understanding of the internet, how it works today, and what people (really) want…now.

What people want now is pleasure and meaning.

My estimation of this creative career is an annual income of $300K on average for beginners, and $1M+ for fan clubs that gain traction.

Here’s the profit plan for this business (and exactly what I’d charge for, and how):

Primary Revenue Stream: Paid Memberships

If you’re a fan of something, you are far less price sensitive than non-fans. (Just think how much people spend on Taylor Swift tickets.) You also don’t have a lot of places to go where people like you can gather to celebrate your love of everything Bill Bryson, or Georgian architecture, or functional fashion. (Or whatever kinky thing you love.) So, when you find a fan club dedicated entirely to the thing that makes your loins tingle, how can you *not* sign up? This is now part of your identity. And identity is one of the most powerful forces on earth.

Let’s brainstorm what your paid membership could include, and how much to charge for it!

• Membership to The Official Fan Club (1 year, member dues billed annually)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Signature Book
• Access to The Official Fan Club Learning Library (you could source experts to give workshops on related topics, and put ‘em all together into a library, thus removing the need for YOU to be the face of everything)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Course or Program (if you were to do a more cohesive, organized, step-by-step version, with a higher perceived value)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Forums (for discussion + questions)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Inspo Room (for getting ideas and inspiration)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Black Book (where you list all secret sources, related links, products, locations, or whatever makes sense for your club)
• Access to The Official Fan Club Directory (where you can find other folks who share your interests)
• Access to a yearly invite-only meet-up or trip (for example, to England to source real-world inspo, or to France to explore real-world markets, or to a beach house in Bermuda to bring your fan club to life in real time

How fun would this be for something you’re *totally obsessed with?!*

Like, if I am obsessed with everything French 🥖, why WOULDN’T I want to be in this???

Membership dues would be charged annually. (And that feels appropriate, because we’re used to that model: join a club, pay dues.)

Annual dues would be based on how many of the above elements you’d incorporate, and to what extent any information provided (like courses and learning libraries) is niche / difficult to find or critical to know for one’s professional success (like if you’re creating a Career Club for Hand Lettering Creatives).

Also, positioning has a lot to do with perceived value.

An official course or program is going to be perceived to be higher in value than a learning library—and that’s literally just semantics. But, semantics matter. However, a learning library is a great way to get started building right now. Remember: you can re-brand it later.

That said, here are a few different pricing models fleshed out so you can see how this all breaks down:

1. ~ $199/year
   Popular & “easy yes” - includes the basics, like a members-only newsletter and/or forum

   1. 300 members ~ $60,000

   2. 500 members ~ $100,000

   3. 1,000 members ~ $200,000

   4. 5,000 members ~ $1,000,000

   5. 10,000 members ~ $2,000,000
      
      Pros: Easy yes, short sales cycle, don’t need to educate target market for a year prior to purchase, isn’t a big-ticket purchase, no expectation for private coaching / mentorship
      
      Cons: Volume needed to make this profitable. As a result, lots of people = more moderation. Also, lack of member vetting process can lead to less cohesive community.
      
      Note: At this relatively low price point, do not recommend monthly pricing. It’s a lot of money + time to market to the right people, so you need to be able to recuperate those costs with each sign up. Charging $15/mo and having a quick cancellation is going to cost you more than you earn.
      
      Great Examples: NomadList - “Join the #1 global community of 34,355 digital nomads living and traveling around the world since 2014.” Publishers Marketplace (though at $25/mo, they are actually in the ~$300 range); Rustico Cooking (a couple teaches you how to cook Italian dishes!)
      

2. ~ $499 / year
   Still an easy yes, better for niche (like Excel fans, lol) - includes learning library and other bonus content, such as black books + directories

   1. 300 members ~ $150,000

   2. 500 members ~ $250,000

   3. 1,000 members ~ $500,000

   4. 5,000 members ~ $2,500,000

   5. 10,000 members ~ $5,000,000
      
      Pros: You can see here, a small increase in annual dues means a big increase in a business’s revenue potential.
      
      Cons: This price point may be confusing for customers, who may assume that private mentoring/coaching will come from you. (Not appropriate at this price point.) Must be clear in membership benefits.
      
      Examples: Cloud9’s Stratus Membership for Superfans (online gaming), featuring an exclusive Discord, monthly access to staff in the organization, social media perks, and exclusive merchandise; The Saint Louis Browns Historical Society & Fan Club
      

3. ~ $1,000/ year
   For the committed fan - would include high-value content, such as an official course or program.

   1. 300 members ~ $300,000

   2. 500 members ~ $500,000

   3. 1,000 members ~ $1,000,000

   4. 5,000 members ~ $5,000,000

   5. 10,000 members ~ $10,000,000
      
      Pros: Excellent revenue potential for less members (which means a more intimate community, and more serious players in community)
      
      Cons: You’re going to have to do more marketing to get to the “yes,” e.g. a longer sales cycle including long-term email marketing; higher expectation for constant new content
      
      Examples: Seth Godin’s The Marketing Seminar ($745/year)
      

4. ~ $2,000/ year
   For the superfan or deeply curious - would include high-value content, such as an official course or program, and some form of group coaching / mentorship

   1. 300 members ~ $600,000

   2. 500 members ~ $1,000,000

   3. 1,000 members ~ $2,000,000

   4. 5,000 members ~ $10,000,000

   5. 10,000 members ~ $20,000,000
      
      Pros: Top revenue potential (we like $20M); also excellent for turning your product into a market leader
      
      Cons: Must include high-value content such as a program or school or a positive outcome that fan club members can receive; you’re proooobably going to need help pulling it off; you’ve def gotta create a world-class experience at this price point
      
      Examples: This is a common price point in the online business space—Digital Course Academy (affiliate link) is in pre-launch right now, so I highly recommend you follow along if you want to see how the pros do it. You’ll see every step of the way and get lots of ideas for your marketing (and how to create a world-class product at a $2,000+ price point). Even though I want you to think outside the online business box, the folks who work in online business are still the best at showing you how you could replicate this for any kind of fun fan club you’d like!
      
      (Seriously. Start that pottery club…asap.)

Software to Use

You know what always gets me excited about a new idea?

Cool software!

If I see something that’s been specifically designed for my use case, I get alllll sorts of giddy. It makes it all seem possible!

So with that said, here are a couple of my favorite pieces of software you could use to create your online fan club:

• Discord - great for live text chatting, can create different channels, can do activities together (like watch YouTube together online), vibe is very quirky and fun, can charge for access, super easy to set up and get going, and free to start! Also like that lots of people are using Discord right now, so it feels more native to their everyday experience. (Like Facebook used to be.)
• Mighty Networks, Heartbeat & Circle - great for posting traditional forum-like posts, also has a live text chat option, can create different channels, can charge for access, and also has an integrated area for hosting an online course, or doing Zoom calls, and gathering everyone together. Super robust capabilities!
  I’d say Discord is better for live chatting (like Slack, but casual), creating a buzzy, fun vibe, and best for a more youthful target audience. Mighty Networks, Heartbeat & Circle are better for premium communities with a high-value vibe, and a more mature audience.
  

How I’d Market It

Consider where the fans are!

If you’re creating an interior design fan club, you’d hang out on Pinterest and Instagram.

If you’re creating a bird watcher fan club, you may hang out on Facebook. (Think about your target audience and where they hang out.)

If you’re creating a food fan club, I’d think about newsletters & magazines those folks are already subscribed to!

I’d think about where your people are, and then I’d do exactly this:

1. Create a free newsletter for your fan club.
2. Set up a social media account in the MOST likely place where your people are hanging out.
3. Start a dedicated series for fans, based around one specific thing that they love. For example: this month, we’re talking ALL about British-inspired gardens.
4. At the end of each post, I’d include a call to action to join the free newsletter for the rest.
5. I’d then start contributing to / starting discussions on existing (related) accounts, using an awesome brand name that’s clear + will immediately make people who love that thing, want to click. They find your account, they see your series, they see you’re doing something fascinating and fun, and then they join your free newsletter.
6. Once they’re on the free newsletter, I’d have a series of automated emails go out each day, alllllll on the topic of this same series, but more in depth (since this is what they signed up for and are interested in).
7. Then, after 1-2 weeks, I’d send a BIG, fun, lively pitch to join the official fan club. This would also be automated. This all happens via email. And I’d keep the doors open for 2 weeks. This would also be automated using my favorite countdown software (affiliate link).

The beauty of this sales method is that it’s all happening on autopilot, 24/7. Once you set it up, you let ‘er rip, and technology does the work for you of a sales team of 100 HUMANS. (Give or take. 😉)

Note: I offer an entire online course allllll about how to do this, called Selfish School. Make sure you’re on the waitlist, doors are opening again soon!


Pros of This Remote Career

• It’s 100% online!
• You can do it from anywhere in the world (my specialty 🥰)
• You can HAVE FREAKIN’ FUN AGAIN
• You can lead something you’re passionate about
• You can connect with like-minded people who are on your same level
• You can create one hell of an income, thanks to the internet
• You can scale this easily (read: you can earn more without having to work more, just by adding new members)

Cons of This Remote Career

• Community management can be overwhelming (you may need to hire a moderator or two)
• You need to learn how to sell your product effectively for an online marketplace (leaving doors open all the time, year round, is often a recipe for failure - again, make sure you’re on the waitlist for Selfish School)
• You’re going to feel pressure to constantly be creating content to “add value” to the membership (this can be overcome by making sure you’re doing something you totally, absolutely are obsessing over, so it doesn’t feel like work! It feels like sharing whatever fun things you’re finding.)
• Depending on your topic, you may get requests for private consulting that would not be appropriate at this price point (and therefore, expectations must be managed in a way that’s respectful and professional—sometimes easier said than done!)
  

Overall, however, this is a remote work slam dunk—so long as the positives outweigh the negatives in your world. 🌎

Do you happen to have any experience doing something like this—or know someone who does?! Would love to hear YOUR own experience / tips / watch-out-for / career wisdom in the comments!

We could ALL use your advice. 🗯️