It matters significantly less than what we think when we see how companies, artists, and content creators go about the relationships with their fans. If you’re passionate about any living brand that attracts a dedicated audience, you may have personal feelings about this type of situation.

Fan engagement is another set of keywords that I have seen way too many times in this discussion, but it remains are relevant as ever. When you have your own following, their engagement is akin to the sap that you can extract to drive your motivation forward.

In other cases, you see a more cynical approach, but this is just the way business goes sometimes. Overall, opportunity begets information when the right minds are at it, and we’re here to analyze such scenarios. An open mind can do wonders for those who want to enjoy the upside of modern-day tech, especially if it fits the philosophy of current times.

Join us as we look into some interesting methodologies for creating new platforms and avenues of fan engagement. The future looks interesting when you look hard enough into the opportunities at hand!

Interactions via Dedicated Digital Social Spaces

Digital social spaces have been mostly social media apps for the longest time. These are avenues that far surpassed many wild imaginative scenarios, and some have spiraled into behemoths of business and innovation.

However, you can argue that some of them have become too unpredictable with their extremely complex algorithms and oversized user base. As such, certain entities with smaller followings have become harder to reach. In turn, they may encounter certain struggles when it comes to reaching certain audiences, especially if they’re trying to expand it.

Since viral content is what attracts certain algorithms, many have operations or a certain style that doesn’t fit with the identity of the creator/team that seeks to expand its audience. In such cases, you can expect an offshoot-alternative pathway.

This is where you see either a certain channel or an altogether different app. Naturally, a Discord channel that is specifically designed for smaller content creators is something that you see quite a lot. In the case of more financially potent entities, you can expect instances like a brand new platform that puts them in direct connection with the fandom.

Flocker, Monterosa, and even Choicely are very popular models that have become somewhat of a hybrid. Their ethos is mostly about fan engagement, which shows that this connection is very marketable, having a big level of monetization appeal.

Blockchain-Inspired Methods

We’ve used the word ‘inspired’ in this context mostly because the blockchain is also a philosophical presence in today’s society. Independence from the worldwide banking system is very important to many who have been through the 2008 stock market crash. The blockchain and its peer-to-peer connectivity makes it really appealing as a type of mentality.

The crypto market has become way more than just a series of coins of all sizes and intents. Some see it as a proving ground for digital entrepreneurship, while others see it as an elaborated grift that simply works in conjunction with the promises of a new world. Naturally, the truth is right back in the middle, with tangible opportunities working side by side with a lot of regulatory uncertainty and, at times, unapproachable complexity.

Most platforms of this kind revolve around the Socios.com methodology, which use the blockchain to connect with fandoms by giving them the possibility to acquire something. Naturally, the Web3.0 format is still new to many, but participating in decision-making, getting special access, and being part of an inner circle can certainly feel as if you own equity in a sports team. Feeling part of the process certainly drives engagement.

Other interesting examples that have already gone out of fashion are those that remind us of the NFT craze that reached its apex in 2021. Back then, the vision (from a fan engagement experience) was to ‘own’ tokens like certain moments/shots (the NBA model), while others tried to piggyback off of microtransaction models popularized by game producers.

Meta-Universes and VR

This is the type of fan engagement avenue that still carries the most potential but is in the rawest form yet. VR technology is increasingly popular in fields that are not as visible or attractive to the public eye, becoming very potent for alternative medical treatments, engineering, architecture, or other fields that can really benefit from 3D visualization in real-time.

The global VR market is doing quite well, but certain improvements can be seen when it comes to implementation in the entertainment industry. Naturally, this would also require certain levels of investment that necessitate a certain market, not to mention the calculation regarding the bottom line.

VR can be extremely interesting if you manage to implement a direct connection to an event, for example. Attending a concert, a game, or just a digital fan gathering can be a fascinating experience. Even betting platforms, as identified by BetBrain, are trying to dabble in this kind of experiment.

The Metarverse tries to bring something similar to the table by pairing native VR hardware with this kind of experience. By creating a digital, 3D-rendered space where fans can engage in community activities and connect with the subject of their fandom, the experience becomes even more appealing.

Conclusion

Closing thoughts should go in the direction of determining the realities of implementation. These ideas that we’ve showcased certainly have the potential to revolutionize how we perceive contact between fans and celebrities/communities. However, the technology implicated in each phenomenon ought to become more affordable, not to mention popular.