Issue #197 | June 2nd, 2026

​Presented by Poppy AI​

Hi, it’s Pat!

Most people think building superfans is about getting more followers, more engagement, more attention.

But here's a secret that flips everything upside down: The fastest way to build superfans is to focus on the ones you already have.

Let me share a story that changed the way I think about appreciation.

Are you a growth marketer 🔥

Poppy AI is hiring a growth marketer to help scale from $500k/mo to $1 million/mo. Are you up for a challenge?

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Story of the Week

The Unexpected Thank You

A few years ago, I was scrolling through my Instagram comments when I noticed the same name appearing over and over: Marcus.

For months, he'd been commenting on my reels, always adding value to the conversation.

Instead of just liking his comments, I decided to do something different.

I made a quick 30-second video thanking Marcus by name for being such an engaged community member. I sent it to him as a DM on Instagram.

What happened next blew my mind.

Marcus personally shared that video with everyone. He didn’t have a huge following, but that didn’t matter.

He told his friends, his colleagues, and even his family about it. He became my biggest advocate, bringing dozens of new people into my community.

He even told me, “Pat, that video made such a huge impact on me, I’m going to start doing that in my business too. And of course I’ll keep telling everyone about you!”

One thank you created a ripple effect that's still going today.

Understanding the Superfan Pyramid

Here's the journey every superfan takes:

Casual Audience → Active Audience → Connected Community → Superfans

Most creators obsess over moving people from casual to active. But the real magic happens when you focus on moving people from connected community to superfans.

And the secret weapon? Genuine appreciation.

Why Appreciation Creates Superfans

When you publicly appreciate someone in your community, three powerful things happen:

1. The person feels seen and valued (turning them into a superfan)
2. Others see how you treat your community (building trust)
3. You create a culture of appreciation (encouraging more engagement)

It's not about fake praise or empty compliments. It's about genuinely recognizing the people who show up for you.

The Superfan Secret

Superfans aren't born from your content — they're born from your attention.

The people who become your biggest advocates aren't necessarily those who found you first. They're the ones who felt appreciated, recognized, and personally valued by you.

Keep Climbing the Pyramid

Remember, the superfan journey isn't about converting everyone. It's about recognizing and nurturing the people who are already showing up.

Your most loyal fans are often hiding in plain sight, waiting to be appreciated.

Oh, and before I go, one more thing to say:

I appreciate you 🙂

Your WIN of the Week

Hey hey! Liz Wilcox here. Your loyal Director of Community. And guess what? Pat is so right.

Creating superfans is simpler than you think.

Making just one person feel special can have a ripple effect you couldn’t imagine.

Just last week, I sent out some snail mail to a member in my Facebook group who finally hit 1,000 email subscribers.

She emailed me to thank me and said, “I just shared your membership in my mastermind group!”

So let’s get you in WIN.

Your Superfan Challenge

This week, identify one person in your community who consistently shows up. You know, the one who:

• always leaves thoughtful comments
• regularly shares your content
• brings positive energy to your community

Then, appreciate them publicly:

• Give them a shoutout in your next post
• Mention them by name in a video
• Send them a personal thank-you message

You don’t have to do all three of those. I just wanted to give you some examples. Watch how this one act of appreciation transforms not just that person, but your entire community.

And that’s What’s Important Now.

SPI News and Notes

There’s an audience out there that only you can reach and impact: your superfans! In this episode of The Smart Passive Income Podcast, I sit down with our Community Director, Liz Wilcox, to share some of our favorite superfan stories (both powerful and hilarious) and talk about how you can find and cultivate your own. Watch the full interview below! ⬇️​ ​

We're excited to host a duo workshop at Craft + Commerce! If you're in Boise next week, come hang out with Liz Wilcox and me. With nearly 30 years of combined experience growing our online brands through collaborations, we're going to share the 3 things that have made it easiest for us to find partners. If you’ll be there too, let me know below! 👇

Cheers,

Pat Flynn

Co-founder, SPI Media

Dad Joke of the Week

What did the green grape say to the purple grape?

“Breathe, you fool!”