Welcome to the second installment in our Spotlight on Growth series! As lovers of fandom culture, we know that social media is a great place for new fans to discover your content, and that the communities you build on those platforms are a great place to find new channel subscribers. In this post we’ll explore ways to make your social platforms work harder for your Pennant channel.
The Art of the Tease
Think of your social media posts as movie trailers – they should give just enough to hook your audience while leaving them hungry for the full experience. The key is striking that perfect balance between revealing and concealing, giving followers a taste that makes them crave the complete story only your subscribers get to see.
- Find the most “social friendly” bits of your behind-the-scenes content, AKA the goofy/surprising/provocative bits, and use them to hook new viewers
- Post interview snippets that hint at deeper conversations available to subscribers
- Show quick glimpses of rehearsals or production processes
- Consider posting the first installment of a series in full on your social accounts, and drive to your subscription channel for the rest of the story
Establish Content Rhythms and Styles
Your followers are creatures of habit, and that’s actually a good thing for your growth strategy. When people know what to expect and when to expect it, they start looking forward to your content. Building these predictable rhythms doesn’t just keep your audience engaged – it trains them to think about your channel at specific times throughout the week.
- Develop regular features like “Subscription Sunday” or “Member Monday” showcases
- Create a recognizable visual style for channel-related posts
- Use hashtags specific to your channel content to build recognition
- Time posts strategically when your audience is most active; the dashboard of your social media accounts will tell you when this is
Leverage Platform-Specific Features
Posting the same content everywhere is a trap many content creators fall into, but not all social media platforms are created equal. What works on Instagram might fall flat on TikTok. Each platform has its own personality, audience expectations, and unique tools that you can use to your advantage. Instead of posting the same content everywhere, tailor your approach to match how people use each platform. And! If you don’t have the bandwidth to cover all the popular platforms, pick 1-2 and make sure you’re covering them really well.
- Instagram/Facebook Stories with “swipe up” links create direct pathways to your video subscription page
- Instagram Broadcast Channels let you send direct messages to all followers at once – perfect for exclusive subscriber previews and behind-the-scenes content that feels personal
- Use keyword-rich captions on Instagram and TikTok since these platforms now function as search engines – people search for content like “behind the scenes” of their favorite performances
- Threads’ conversational format is ideal for authentic, behind-the-scenes updates and audience Q&As without the pressure of polished content
Show the Human Connection
At the end of the day, people don’t just subscribe to channels – they subscribe to connect with the creators and communities they care about. Your social media should pull back the curtain and show the real people behind your Pennant channel content, creating that sense of intimacy and belonging that turns casual followers into devoted channel subscribers.
- Post genuine reactions from current Pennant subscribers discovering exclusive content – their excitement sells the value better than any marketing copy
- Feature subscriber questions that led to new channel content, showing how subscription creates a direct line to influence what gets made
- Show creators personally responding to subscriber comments and feedback, demonstrating the intimate community that only exists behind the paywall
Next time we’re going to tackle how to create special moments that can entice folks to tune into your subscription comment. You can also check out our previous post about naturally integrating your subscription video channel into all your other fan touchpoints.
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