Bring Your True Fans to Ontheside

As an athlete Ontheside, it's important to think about how you'll grow your followers and turn content consumers into pass-holders. Encouraging your fans to join you Ontheside starts with your existing accounts and content channels. Follow the 4 steps listed below to help you promote your profile and content.

• Step 1: Get your core audience excited
• Step 2: Build your promotion content
• Step 3: Put your plan into action
• Step 4: Grow your fans and sponsors over time

Step 1: Get Your Core Audience Excited

Ontheside, you have the opportunity to engage with your fans in different ways. Posting free content to your feed allows everyone to follow along on your athletic journey, regardless of whether they are Ontheside pass-holders. Creating paid Tracks allows you to create playlists that are tailored to a specific audience, or focused on a topic you’re especially passionate about. Paid Tracks Ontheside are only accessible with an all-access platform pass.

So as you create a plan for your content on Ontheside, consider how where you share your content (directly to the feed vs listed in a Track) will impact who has access (any user vs pass-holders only), and how you can engage with them.

Test the Waters

First, it’s helpful to start testing your content ideas with your existing audience on other media channels. This is especially important if the content you’ll create Ontheside is different from what they are used to seeing. You can start sharing teasers and short clips of your new content on your current platforms to see how they respond.

For example, you may be thinking about launching a nutrition vlog or blog for runners Ontheside. First, post a couple of social media posts sharing your opinion on a topic to see how your audience engages. This can help you uncover what your existing followers are and aren’t interested in hearing more about.

No matter what platform you’re using to test the waters, pay attention to who’s engaging with your content. Are they your desired core audience? Do they see value in what you’re sharing? Are you attracting new fans that you can bring to Ontheside?

Listen to Your Existing Audience

Take advantage of your opportunity to gather feedback from your existing followers. Let them help you shape and fill your content calendar for Ontheside.

Let’s say there are different podcast topics you’re planning to create, and you don't know which one to list first. Get your fans’ opinions on which topics they’re most interested in hearing about. You can use polls on your social media stories or ask your followers to DM you their thoughts.

Look for feedback that provides you with valuable insights into what your audience truly needs and is interested in. The feedback you receive can also inspire new or different content that’s more likely to attract your audience of sports enthusiasts on Ontheside.

Pro tip: Think of anyone who engages in your polls or surveys as your initial group of followers to invite to join you Ontheside. They are clearly invested in your content and want to hear more from you!

Step 2: Build Your Promotion Content

Your promotion content is any post, email or other type of content asset you create to get your core audience to take action. Each promotional piece can serve a different purpose, such as to:

• Explore your Profile.
• Start to follow you.
• Explore your Public, Private or Paid Tracks.
• Watch paid content teasers.

Promotion content can be informational, inspirational or simply entertaining. However, it should leave your audience wanting to engage with you more. Make sure to always include a link back to your Profile or content on Ontheside.

As you dive into planning your promotion content, focus on what you’ve learned about your ideal audience. Whether you’ve created your Tracks or not, your plans for exclusive content Ontheside should guide the topics and tone of your promotion content.

Share What’s Different Here vs. There

Use your existing communication channels to help your existing followers understand what your Ontheside Profile is about. Share your goals and aspirations, so they know what they can look forward to. Address what makes you relatable AND what makes you stand out from other athletes.

When talking about your content clearly state what’s different about what they’ll get to experience on Ontheside. What additional value are you providing only Ontheside? Let your followers know what you are able to do Ontheside that you don’t feel like you can do anywhere else.

These posts aren’t about converting everyone, but should focus on engaging those who’ll want to follow your journey on a different level on Ontheside.

Create Teaser Content

Teasers are an easy way to provide your audience with a preview of what they’ll be able to experience once they follow you on Ontheside. They are a key way for you to share just enough to reel them in.

Focus the Teaser on Your End Goal

When you create your promotional content, it’s important to keep your end goal in mind. That’s not just the action you want followers to take on Ontheside. It’s also about deciding who you are looking to reach; and who you want to take action.

Converting Your Existing Followers and Fans

Don’t forget to consider topics fans may have previously reached out to you about. If you gathered direct feedback, apply it to your teaser. Additionally, include a clear call-to-action (CTA) and link back to Ontheside with each teaser.

For example, if you’re posting a weekly challenge and progress updates for your followers on Ontheside, share a post about it on social media on Mondays. This can be an image or short video of you addressing the weekly goal with a CTA to “follow for daily updates on Ontheside”.

Pro tip: Your content teasers are a great way to stay relevant with your followers on Ontheside as well. Simply repost them as a Spotlight and link to your Profile or extended content piece directly in the Spotlight caption.

Converting new Followers to Pass-holders

Once you’ve gathered new followers on Ontheside, it’s your opportunity to convert them to pass-holders for access to your premium content. Here are a couple of ways to do that:

1. Add a visual prompt to “check out your premium Tracks” in your Spotlight posts. (Don’t forget to adjust the caption to include a direct link.)
2. Create 1-2 teaser posts per content asset in your Paid Tracks. That’ll allow you to post about it multiple times and bring fans back to your Profile.
3. Share your Paid Track overview post on social media and encourage your fans to check it out.

Step 3: Put Your Plan Into Action

Once your promotion content is built, it is time to start posting. Make sure to stay consistent, and keep a sustainable cadence.
Here are some quick tips to help you share your content.

1. If you have newsletter subscribers, include a link to your profile page Ontheside in your emails.
2. Tap into your existing athlete network. Whether you’re working with a coach, or are part of a team or a local club, share your Profile link with them, so they can help spread the word.
3. Tap into new networks. Our team at Ontheside works to bring different athlete organizations, clubs, etc. to the platform. This is your opportunity to follow them Ontheside, and tag them in your Spotlight content. Also consider tagging them when posting your promotion content on your other channels. Leverage their network to grow your own fan base wherever you can.
4. For any social media posts, use strategic hashtags that not only engage your existing group of followers but also attract new potential sponsors to your handle. This helps you continuously generate more followers Ontheside.
5. Include hashtags specific to Ontheside, and consider tagging Ontheside on Instagram (@ontheside_world). Our team can repost and share your content to amplify its reach.
6. Add the link to your Profile Ontheside to your social media accounts, making it easy for your core audience to find you.
   

Pro tip: Not all social media platforms allow multiple external links in your profile description. Use tools like Linktree or Beacons to set up an extended list of Profile links. Direct followers to your Profile page, and add direct links to your Tracks Ontheside. Using the different customization features of these tools allows you to personalize these links even further.

Step 4: Grow Your Followers Over Time

Every new post, article or video you share outside of Ontheside has the potential to engage a new fan. Therefore, keep sharing posts that are relevant to your content Ontheside, and link them back to your Profile and content. Every follower that engages with you has the potential to become a pass-holder Ontheside.

Pro tip: Tools like Canva, or Adobe Express offer free QR code generators that you can customize to fit your style. QR Code Monkey is another tool for simple QR codes that doesn’t require an account.

Build Lasting Success Ontheside

As you go through these four steps, remember that the key to bringing your core audience to Ontheside is consistency and engagement. Leverage your existing channels and invite followers to your targeted content Ontheside.

Get your fans excited to explore a new way to engage with your story. This creates a strong foundation for a supportive community base that helps you earn. Focus on both your audience and your authentic brand to set yourself up for lasting success Ontheside.