To make rockstar income ... Think like a Rockstar!

Viewing yourself as the CEO of your blog is the first step to building a business, but you still have to bring in the money. This is where I start to falter. I am struggling to build my fan base and community. Part of that reason was I wasn't being true to myself. I wanted to have thousands of followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram ... you name it. I am impatient (probably where my girls get it from) and I didn't want to have to do the work. The only thing I truly knew about acquiring followers was not to do it through purchasing them.

I have since then learned several things ... and since learning them, I have started to immediately notice changes. The Type-A Parent Conference kicked off with Keynote Speaker Mack Collier talking about how to build communities by Thinking Like a Rockstar. He gave me two pages of notes that I plan to pass on to you today.

What an incredible way to start off my first conference for bloggers. While we nibbled on breakfast, Mack started by telling us how to acquire customers. The biggest message he got across to me was that every message you send needs to have relevance. Companies work on getting new customers ... but rockstars market to their current fans. Why? Because their current fans are loyal and they can translate messages into a way that is relevant for their friends. Rockstars don't have to work for their fans!

Mack Collier

Here are four ways rockstars think that work for bloggers as well (and  small businesses)

1. Get in the Face of Your Fans

It is impossible to know what your fans want without interacting with them. They will forget your brand and your purpose if you do not talk to them. Mack said one thing that really resonated with me, and changed how I use Twitter.

"Think about using Twitter as a conversation tool."

Stop viewing social media as a way to make direct sales. It is a passive sales maker. Make sure you are making your fans feel special. Gratitude goes a LONG way. Think about the actions you want from your followers. How do you reward them for those actions?

• Follow you on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Etc - Thank them
• Sign up for your mailing list - Thank them & give them something free
• Comment on blog posts - THANK THEM

2. Give Up Control to Get Control

This is SO hard for me. I am a control FREAK. Seriously, so much so that when I even think about relinquishing control, I fight anxiety. However, giving your customers power and control brings in more customers. Give your fans gifts for contests. Let them promote something they are passionate about. This may sound backwards, but you will find out more about your fans and ways to reach them.

3. Find the "Bigger Idea" Behind the Content you Create

Create content that has the reader in mind. Commercials show you a message you relate to ... THEN the product. When you are blogging ... make sure you share the relevance ... not just the product you are trying to pimp. This is where many people get stuck with direct marketing. Everyone is tired of hearing "buy this" because of this or that. People hate having things shoved down their throat. Direct marketers are trying to change tactics by showing you how their product helps others with visible results. Find the bigger idea ... the idea that will relate to your readers ... the one that will touch them and bring in more fans.

4. Love the People who Love You

This is probably the most obvious but most overlooked. Give your fans special access and benefits that others do NOT get. If someone attends your webinar, allow them access to discounts that the rest of your readers do not get. This is in line with saying thank you, but taking it a step further. You want to give back to those who have followed you, and give them something they value greatly. They will then sing your praises.

So, did this help you as much as it helped me? If so, tell me what resonated the most with you? What changes are you looking at putting into place because of this post.