The creator economy has officially taken off.
And while there’s a lot of noise out there about who’s winning and who’s losing…
The creators who are winning right now are not the ones posting the shiniest content.
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They are the ones having real conversations.
DMing your followers is the single most effective way to turn passive followers into paying fans. Seriously. It’s that powerful…
But most creators don’t even think about it.
Here’s the reality:
Your public content gets eyes on it. Private messages build relationships. And relationships are what create desire…
Desire to buy. Desire to pay monthly subscriptions. Desire to promote you.
Whether you’re an adult content creator, starting a fitness coaching business, or building a brand on social media. Here’s what you need to learn about direct messaging your fans.
Why Direct Messaging Is The New Frontier For Creators
Just look at the numbers.
The creator economy was already valued at $250 billion USD by Goldman Sachs, and they predict it’ll reach $480 billion USD in revenue by 2027.
But how did it get that big? Overnight? Of course not.
There are millions of creators out there grinding away… And most of them are stuck in the same rut.
Posting boring content on social media and hoping for the best.
But the creators on the rise know better.
They know the future of the creator economy is one-on-one engagement.
Think about it…
Social media algorithms are crazy restrictive. Feeds are overflowing with garbage content competitors are posting.
Why post into the noise when you can message fans directly?
Text messages land right in the palm of someone’s hand. While most social media posts get lost in the void. Text messages boast open rates of 98% or higher compared to social media posts and poorly optimized email campaigns.
Obviously, there is a massive opportunity here.
Especially for adult creators who engage subscribers through intimate one-on-one conversations in their DMs to increase subscriptions and retention rates. But even non-adult content creators can benefit.
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Whether that be personal coaching, music, lifestyle brands… You get the point. Any creator that communicates privately with their fans via messages is crushing the competitors who won’t get in the game.
Let’s explore the science behind why this works.
The Psychology Of Why Online Conversations Work
What most people don’t know about private chats with fans …
By building a relationship with someone privately through messages, you activate the same part of the brain they use for real-life relationships.
Research has indicated that parasocial relationships (the enter into with creators we follow) are processed in many of the same parts of our brains as real-life social relationships.
Basically, followers don’t quite know the difference between a Snapchat from their best friend and a message from their favorite creator.
This is called parasocial relationship.
It is a relationship where one party (the follower) has an inexplicable, one-sided connection to the other (the creator). Private messages take that a step further.
When a creator contacts one of their followers inquired. It generates what psychologists refer to as “performative intimacy.”
Your follower will feel special. Valued. Cared for.
But here’s the best part…
When you create this one-sided relationship with your followers. You rewire them to want you more.
You induce a craving to purchase your content. Your merchandise. You cultivate an interest in your social media posts. Leaving comments, sending tips.
You build fans who buy from you month after month for life.
Think about your favorite creator.
They’ve probably been in private communion with you at one time or another. And when they post a new product. You become obsessed. You have to support them.
There’s a scientific reason why.
How To Build A Creator Direct Messaging Strategy
Figuring out your creator’s direct messaging strategy doesn’t have to be complicated.
But it does have to be calculated. Here are some simple rules that apply to ANY creator across any niche.
Know Your Audience
Your followers aren’t all the same.
You have new subscribers. Long time followers who’ve been with you since day one. Then you have your top spenders.
These three groups of followers should all be messaged differently.
Consider creating subscriber “categories” like:
Each category should receive different types of messages.
Welcome messages are great for new followers. Exclusive discounts work well for your top spenders. Maybe your “engaged” followers get access to commenting privileges before everyone else.
It’s all about segmentation here.
Create A Messaging Rhythm
Don’t spam. But don’t go silent for months either.
As a general rule of thumb, most creators will see the best results by reaching 2-3 fans privately per week.
More than that and you risk overwhelming your subscribers. Too little and they’ll forget you’re even there.
Personalize Your Messages
Here is where a lot of creators go wrong.
They try to send the exact same generic message to every follower.
And expect different results.
Who replies to a robot message that could’ve easily been sent to 100 other people?
Personalization is key. When you craft a message, speak to that individual follower. Reference something they said in a previous comment. Ask them a personal question that will encourage a genuine response.
Even if you use message templates (and it’s highly recommended). Leave room for customization in your templates so the subscriber never feels like they’re reading a generic message.
Provide Value
Last but not least. You should always add value in your messages.
Which doesn’t always mean something physical. Send your followers some free stuff every now and then, sure.
However, you can give value through:
- Providing early access to your new materials
- Involving them in your creative process
- Giving them an exclusive discount
- Saying thank you
When the recipients of your messages open up those messages and FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY. Your next communication will be highly anticipated.
And that is what you want.
The Mistakes Most Creators Are Making
Now, at this point you’re probably convinced every creator needs a DM strategy.
And though it may seem obvious… Most do not have one.
Here are some of the key missteps creators take when engaging fans.
It is seen as trying to sell way too much. When every message you send has affiliates links and selling pressure. Soon enough, subscribers will grow weary and unsubscribe. Except for the occasional promotion, your messages should primarily be evergreen value.
Inconsistency. If you send a metric ton of messages one week and then go radio silent the next, your subscribers have no idea what you’re going to do. Then ghost them for months. Establish a cadence for when you’ll be in touch with fans. And stick to it.
Not replying to fan messages. This one usually destroys the relationship fast. If someone goes out of their way to respond to your DM… Respond back. You do not need to write a novel. A simple Hi there! is sufficient for establishing the connection.
Not tracking results. Well, this isn’t exactly a mistake. But if you aren’t tracking what messages get clicked the most. Engagement. Sales. You have no way to refine your trade plan.”
Learn what works. Learn what doesn’t. And optimize from there.
Conclusion
Creating a DM strategy your fan base is the one thing you can do to ensure lifelong fans who pay you every single month.
There will always be those who sign up and pay you nothing.
But figure out how to create desire around your followers. And you’re creating fans who would not normally pay monthly for you… Until they simply can’t help but fork over the dough for your content.
There you have it.
You know now how valuable DM engagement is, in addition to what a successful strategy looks like for engaging your followers.
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