Using Funnel Cakes to Create Yummy Communities
Let's talk about some tips and tricks on how to grow a following on social media from the lens of a marketing funnel (also happy Year of the Dragon, also I'm gonna be beboppin around Baltimore/DMV!)
Top 3 Hot Topics Today:
Social Media and Funnel Cakes
Chúc mừng năm mới! Xīn nián kuài lè!
GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE~
Social Media and Funnel Cakes
Marketing funnels are a lot different than funnel cakes, most notably that marketing funnels aren’t deep fried to a delicious golden crisp that incapsulates pillowy-soft innards then drenched in powdered sugar… BUT—
In marketing, there are different funnels used to track a customers journey so that you can be as strategic as possible when targeting your audience and meeting them where they’re at. The reason it’s called a “funnel” is because the visual shape of where the customer is as it narrows down to a certain point that is the goal (maybe a sale, maybe a subscriber, maybe a new lead, maybe a loyal member of the community etc). You can google different types of marketing funnels but they all have the same jist, so you can also just look at my expertly made funnel below.
So now that we’re hungry…
This will high level information will be focused on the goal of building a strong (and hopefully safe) social media following over time. I’m gonna give you some ideas on how you can look at this funnel and come up with different ideas on how to engage an audience or community that may be in different stages of the funnel. Spoiler alert: all these tips are about how to be social on social media, you know, in the way you gotta interact with people online.
AWARENESS
GOAL: get people who don’t know you yet to notice you and your brand
Meme-able/shareable content is the way to go here. These are lowlift, low effort posts that show off your point of view and humor.
Adding onto a “Quote Retweet” QRT train (ie. QRT with 2 characters you relate to)
Use instagram “Add Yours” templates (ie. pick 5 favorite 2000’s movies)
INTEREST
GOAL: attract like-minded/similar niche audiences that maybe now are aware of you to engage or interact
Ask questions!!! People love giving advice, their point of view, their experience in hopes to help others! (ie. what’s a fun 2 player board game for someone who doesn’t like conflict)
Use polls - this is an easy way and low-effort way for OTHERS to interact with you (also can drive engagement with how easy others can interact with it!)
CONVERSION
GOAL: go from a casual onlooker to a new follower and/or a new member of your community
Share things that are “edu-tainment” - educational and entertaining to people. It’s a great way to merge your expertise (what you can provide value) and your personality (what makes you unique)!
Instead of “meme” content - it’s content featuring you! ie. funny takes, pictures of your board game/ttrpg collection, “a day in the life”
LOYALTY
GOAL: have active followers/members of the community who seek you out to readily to support you
This is when you can open up a smaller group to a discord or private channel, collaborate, or use things like “friends only” or “close friends” - think a bit more candidly
Push towards active Call to Actions (CTA’s) like subscribing to a substack or on twitch, or more personal projects
ADVOCACY
GOAL: For a community that has a high level of mutual trust and champions you/your ideals/your projects/etc.
Here is where you can have community game nights, watch parties, book clubs, etc with a smaller, more tight knit hang outs.
This is kinda where digital communities thrive. These community members are super excited and support you and see the change you affect, so they encourage other like-minded people to maybe be “aware” or are “interested” in the same things which could “convert” into more “loyal” community members later on! (see what I did there?)
So what’s the TL;DR? It does take time to build community and a strong social media following that not only keeps you safe but also those who support you safe. However, there are ways to raise your “brand awareness” and get your eyes on your projects/streams/content. Try to look at it from a big picture strategically and then come up with some boundaries and structure on how you can turn it into tactics (ie. this month I’ll focus on relatable memes and 2 “high value edu-taintment” posts).
Chúc mừng năm mới! Xīn nián kuài lè!
Happy Lunar New Year (in Vietnamese, pronounced chook-moong num moy and in Mandarin, shin-nyan kwai leh)! And if you didn’t know, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, specifically the Wood Dragon.
I miss celebrating with my family back at home! It’s always a good time to see friends and family in celebration of health and good fortunes ahead. Here are some traditions that remind me Lunar New Year:
Vegetarian meals on the first day that consisted of rice, stir-fried snow peas, and tofu. This is meant to purify the body and spirit to kick off the new year!
Burning incenses and praying to our ancestors. When I would pray to my grandparents, I would catch them up on my life and wish that they watch over my family. We also always got onto our knees and bowed 3 times.
Red Envelopes - these were usually passed from our grandparents and parents to all the kids and cousins. These red and gold hongbao (Mandarin for “Red Bag”), represent prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year.
February 10th starts celebrations around the world and I encourage you to look up some Lunar New Year celebrations around your community! I can promise you music, laughter, GREAT food, and if you’re lucky, maybe even a little red envelope!
GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE~
Lastly, on February 17th, I’ll be a special guest at the grand opening of largest game store on the east cost, Games and Stuff! If you’re in the DMV area (that’s DC, Maryland, and Virginia, not the one with the long lines and weird waiting rooms…) and you’re free on Saturday, come on down to Games and Stuff from 10am-4pm! Other special guests include Elizabeth Hargrave (award winning game designer) and Eric Slauson (fellow dawg and designer of MonsDRAWsity, Tattoo Stories, Wacronyms + more). There will also be tournaments, how-to-plays, publisher showcases and more so come on out for a day of games and community!
And that’s all for today, folks! As always thanks for taking the time to read and let me hang out in your inbox/on your phones/computer screens for a bit! If there’s ever any questions or comments, feel free to leave them here or reach out to me! I’m always looking for feedback to make sure I can provide some value and enrichment to your day (even if that’s just a smile!). Have a good day/week/weekend and Happy Lunar New Year! Until next time…!
Stay strong. Stay thicc. *Big hug*
OOOOH YEAH!!!