Superfans

"Want to create a brand that will stand the test of time? Want to build a business that will last, one made to withstand the onslaught of competition, the whims of algorithmic changes, and the unscrupulous efforts of trolls and hackers? The key isn't the best technology, the diverse revenue stream, or the biggest marketing budget. The key is people. If you want to build a business and brand that can't be foiled, you need to cultivate aficionados who will sing your praises, have your back when things get tough, and buy everything you create. You need superfans"--Dust jacket flap

A Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist pulls back the curtain on the extraordinary inner lives of America’s most obsessive sports fans. There are fans, and then there are fanatics. In this wondrously immersive look at American sports fandom, George Dohrmann travels the country to find out what distinguishes an ordinary, everyday enthusiast from that special breed of supporter known as the superfan. In Minnesota, Dohrmann meets newly minted generals of the Viking World Order, a Minnesota Vikings affinity group organized along military lines. In Oregon, he shares a few beers with a determined soccer fan who amassed—almost singlehandedly—a four-thousand-strong cheering section for the fledgling Portland Timbers. In Illinois, he talks with the parents of a five-year-old boy whose intense hatred of Tom Brady went viral on YouTube. Through these and other intimate profiles, Dohrmann shows us the human faces behind the colored face paint, the real people inside the elaborate costumes who prowl the stands and parking lots at stadiums from coast to coast. In addition to the fans themselves, Dohrmann also talks with the experts who study them. He uses the latest thinking in sports psychology—some of it learned during a spirited round of miniature golf with a group of professors at the annual Sports Psychology Forum—to unravel the answers to such burning questions as: How does fandom begin? What are its effects on everyday life? When does it go too far? For everyone who’s ever body-painted their torso with the team colors of their alma mater before heading off to a sports bar—or even just screamed at their television during the NBA Finals—Superfans offers an entertaining and insightful exploration of the many ways human beings find meaning in something bigger than themselves. Featuring photos of the Rally Banana, Timber Jim, the officers of the Viking World Order, a pair of Kentucky Wildcats tattoos, a Kevin Durant jersey torched by a jilted fan, and more. Plus analysis of the . . . Arizona State Sun Devils • Chicago Bears • Dallas Cowboys • Green Bay Packers • Indianapolis Colts • Milwaukee Brewers • Nebraska Cornhuskers • New England Patriots • Oklahoma City Thunder • Philadelphia Eagles • San Diego State Aztecs • Seattle Seahawks “Well reported and meticulously researched . . . Dohrmann is a respected, diligent sportswriter and has been so for years—you don’t get Pulitzers for message-board posts.”—The Wall Street Journal

From the author of Let's Get Digital and Amazon Decoded, this book will change how you think about marketing. Strangers to Superfans puts you in the shoes of your Ideal Readers, and forces you to view your marketing from their perspective. *Learn the five stages in the Reader Journey. *Identify where your blockages are and how to fix them. *Optimize each stage to increase conversion. *Boost sales by making the process more frictionless. *Build an army of passionate readers who do the selling for you. It's not enough to know who your Ideal Readers are, you also need to imagine how they feel when a recommendation email arrives containing your cover. You must figure out why they hesitated before clicking the Buy button. And it's crucial to determine why they liked your book enough to finish it... but not sufficiently to recommend it to their friends. The Reader Journey is a new marketing paradigm that maps out the journey your Ideal Readers take in their transformation from strangers to superfans.

Winning the title of "WrestleManiac" sounds pretty awesome, especially for a twelve-year-old die-hard WWE fan. The WrestleManiac gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to carry the defending champ's belt at WrestleMania, not to mention a trip to the event and the possibility of meeting the champ! Problem is, first you have to win a nationwide competition, and WWE fans can be kind of . . . competitive! Read along as one kid does whatever it takes to win the title of WrestleManiac, even if it means bodyslamming the competition!

Fandom isn't a noun, it's a verb. Fans create; they engage; they discuss. From comics to clothing, boundaries between fans and creators are blurring, and in this new fandom-based economy, it's clear: consumers may buy a product, but it is fans who can make or break it. An essential guide to the fan-fuelled future, Superfandom explores the explosion of fandom and its transformative impact on culture and business. In chapters centred on illuminating case studies, experts Zoe Fraade-Blanar and Aaron Glazer delve into the history, sociology and psychology of fan culture, and how it can change the way business works. With them we visit Disneyland, drink Frida Kahlo branded margaritas, meet the fans who rebelled when Polaroid discontinued its film, and find out how fan-modding of Grand Theft Auto adds value to the game. The internet allows direct access to this world: businesses can talk directly to their fans, hear their needs and desires, and react in real time. But while the benefits of this relationship can be huge, businesses that exploit or ignore fan bases do so at their peril. It can be very easy to get fan engagement wrong - as IKEA found out when it tried to shut down a fan site. Practical, investigative and reflective, Superfandom is a compelling and convincing exploration of the subject, and an indispensable guide to the brave new world of tech-fuelled fandom.

A new standalone novel in the Brooklyn Bruisers world! Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day. Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny. But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name. While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly. But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date. She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart. Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing to win. Be still my heart! Silas is book boyfriend PERFECTION. This one has everything you'll love in a swoony romance--a sweet, but take charge hero, a determined heroine and a lovable cast of side characters. New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan Sarina Bowen’s hockey romances books can be read together or separately: BROOKLYNAIRE OVERNIGHT SENSATION SUPERFAN ROOKIE MOVE HARD HITTER PIPE DREAMS BOUNTIFUL THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN THE YEAR WE HID AWAY THE FIFTEENTH MINUTE HIM US GOOD BOY STAY Don’t miss Sarina’s other romances, including the USA Today bestselling True North series: BITTERSWEET STEADFAST KEEPSAKE BOUNTIFUL SPEAKEASY FIREWORKS _______________ For fans of: Helena Hunting, Elle Kennedy, Catherine Gayle, Avon Gale, Toni Aleo, Kristen Callihan, LJ Shen, Mona Kasten, Corinne Michaels, Jana Aston, Karina Halle, Meghan March, Jay Crownover, Anna Todd, Geneva Lee, Audrey Carlan, Jill Shalvis, Suzanne Brockmann, Helen Hoang, Christina Lauren, Kristan Higgins, Sally Thorne, Penelope Sky, Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts, Maisey Yates, Elle Kennedy, Lauren Blakely, Susan Mallery, Penny Reid, Julia Kent, Kelly Jamieson, Melanie Harlow, Carrie Ann Ryan, Kendall Ryan, Kennedy Ryan, Ilsa Madden Mills, Nana Malone, Helen Hardt, Penelope Skye, Jasinda Wilder, Melissa Foster, E.L. James. Keywords: hockey romance, hockey novel, sports romance, Brooklyn, hockey, workplace, office romance, billionaires, New York City, urban romance, forbidden romance, alpha male, genius, alpha billionaire romance, sexy billionaires, hot billionaires, rock star, second chance, missed connections, sports hero, hockey star, second chance romance, super fan, superfan, rock star romance, professional hockey, hockey players.

The Curve by Nicholas Lovell is a breakthrough business idea: Chris Anderson's The Long Tail meets Seth Godin's Purple Cow The Curve is a new way of doing business and of seeing the world. For most of the last century, companies strived to sell more and more products at uniform prices. But the future of business is about variation: tailoring products for customers of all stripes, and letting your biggest fans spend as much as they like on things they value. The Curve shows us not to be afraid of giving some things away for free. The internet helps you forge direct relationships with a vast global audience, and take them on a journey from freeloaders into superfans. Value lies in how you make people feel, by building communities, bespoke products and experiences. Small numbers of high spenders are enough to fuel a profitable business. In games, free is becoming the norm, but some people now spend hundreds or thousands of dollars playing a single game. You can already see the Curve transforming areas like music, books and film, and it will rapidly spread to the physical world as 3D printing becomes reality. With stories drawn from artists, toymakers, sports, food, manufacturing and more, The Curve is nothing short of a business thinking revolution. 'An astute and perceptive guide to the new rules for making money in a radically disrupted internet economy. This book deserves to be a hit' -David Rowan, editor, WIRED Nicholas Lovell is an author and consultant who helps companies embrace the transformative power of the internet. His blog, GAMESbrief, is read by those seeking to learn how digital is transforming gaming - and how to apply that knowledge to other industries. His clients have included Firefly, nDreams and Square Enix (creators of Tomb Raider), as well as Channel 4 and IPC Media. His articles have appeared in TechCrunch, Wired, and the Wall Street Journal. He lives in London. @nicholaslovell www.nicholaslovell.com

Ever wonder where your concert ticket money goes or what happens when you stream your favorite song on Spotify? Heard about the Music Modernization Act but not sure what it means? In Superfans: Power, Technology, and Money in the Music Industry, concert fanatic Emily Gumbulevich dives straight into the mysteries of the music industry. Despite touring and releasing music, many successful artists still have to work a day job to stay afloat. However, fans have more say in the music industry than ever, and it is up to these fans to contribute to building a new industry that puts the power (and money) back in artists' hands. In these pages, you'll discover: how and why the music industry is changing how Taylor Swift has used social media to challenge the status quo of the "old" music industry why seemingly successful artists like DREAMDIVE still have to work side jobs to pay the rent If you are a music lover looking to support your favorite artists or understand the music industry, then this book is for you.