1000 True Fans is the name of a famous essay by Kevin Kelly.
The key idea is that, thanks to the internet, you only need 1000 true fans to make a living from your work.
A true fan is defined as a fan that will buy anything you produce. These diehard fans will drive 200 miles to see you sing; they will buy the hardback and paperback and audible versions of your book; they will purchase your next figurine sight unseen; they will pay for the “best-of” DVD version of your free youtube channel; they will come to your chef’s table once a month. If you have roughly a thousand of true fans like this (also known as super fans), you can make a living — if you are content to make a living but not a fortune.
But I reckon 1000 is an overestimation.
For example, successfully funded projects on Kickstarter have only 255 backers on average.
And Growth Lab has several examples of people earning big money from tiny email lists (eg $20,800 from 450 subscribers).
Encouraging, right?
You don’t need millions of views or followers to earn a living online.
If you freelance, you only need a handful of good clients.
If you’re a remote worker, you only need one good remote job.
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