Welcome Back, Friends! Several of my previous blogs delve into the many personal and professional reasons I Re-Sparked into collecting again after a ‘several’ year hiatus. Yet, one particularly important reason compelled me to write this article and share it with you, COMMUNITY.
FIRST THOUGH - THE ADOPTION CURVE
Digital Collecting is in its infancy and likely will be for at least the next few years, as it's so difficult to change perception, create adoption and ultimately, survive as a business in new industry. It doesn’t help that mainstream media loves hammering home the humiliating, siding with speculators, flaunting failures.
Throughout marketing history though, there is a well-known chart, THE ADOPTION CURVE, that shows how audiences should be communicated with, adding to the complexity of launching any brand, new technology or even industry to align with interests of each:
Visit https://www.cblohm.com/blog/uncategorized/adoption-curve-education-marketing-strategy/ to review the (5) main audience types & see where you feel most aligned, from Enthusiast, Visionary, Pragmatist, Conservative to Skeptic.
I could argue most digital collectible, NFT, or crypto-asset projects fall between the 1st to 3rd phases, with a HEAVY dose of skepticism polarizing the hype, but this is changing quickly as society today adopts new tech so much faster, based on our complete familiarity of the Internet and particularly, social media.
This is where things become not only interesting, but often critical for companies to survive, or thrive. The power of brand amplification is really, in each of our hands. So, when one fan becomes 2, then 2000, then over 200,000 & on, the ability to influence change or become part of a system can ultimately be the make or break ingredient.
GROUPS GOING GANGBUSTER!
As you read the next section, where I use the VeVe Digital Collecting Community as the example (for its newness & ability to have grown to almost 250,000 Social followers alone in just 2 years), consider any ‘fandoms,’ groups, associations or memberships you may be involved in. STAR WARS has 6.4M Twitter/X Followers, DISNEY with 10.5M or how about Back-to-the-Future with ~130,000 fans. Heck, AHSOKA has nearly reached 60,000 followers VERY fast!
Here is a quick review from ECOMI (parent company to the VeVe Digital Collecting App) on the “revolutionary new way for fans and collectible enthusiasts to engage with their favorite brands and artists:”
In fact, the allure of reaching the #VeVeFam has been strong enough for many new market entrants, (hash)-tagging VeVe fans’ strong grasp on the future potential of this asset class.
DCNFT/Candy Digital (DC Digital Comics & Collectibles), Cryptoys, Todd McFarlane NFT & more abound, taking this collection of enthusiasts very seriously…BUT WHY?
1) This is a COURTEOUS Bunch!
One of the most recognized assets of VeVe’s Community is the overwhelming courtesy shown by its members. From generous comic giveaways by collectors like Hawaii’s TheRealHinano & wife DeeOneAndOnly (who sent my son physical comics for his birthday), to NFT Artist KID ARCADE airdrops, the heartwarming spirit of generosity runs deep.
And it spreads…even the VeVe Team themselves take time to recognize individual contributions or collectors with ‘Social Spotlight’ recognitions, where fans respond in the 10’s of 1000’s with likes & comments of congrats!
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Kid Arcade NFTs[/caption]
Long-time physical comic book collector, Sleepyn Comics, offers comic collecting guidance and how it is morphing with digital comic collecting. Or, My Collectibles, a previous brick & mortar collectibles store owner who transitioned 100% into digital assets, regularly (EXCITEDLY) details his journey via socials, now with an extensive YouTube following to boot.
Fans further repost relevant blogs & articles to share intel, and if you see a red circle, blue heart or a ‘Silicon Secure (half-face / half bat-cowl) in a social profile, it most likely equates to a VeVe FAN.
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VeVe Fans
These enthusiasts represent a collective commitment to making the VeVe experience enjoyable for everyone, where an INCREDIBLE wealth of collecting knowledge is being amassed and distributed. Even an old dog like me has had a wonderful time sharing experiences & knowledge on several YouTube interviews!
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2) It's A Community of CAMARADERIE:
VeVe fans share a profound dedication to the platform’s vision and actively support the ECOMI team’s efforts with a deep spirit of cooperation. Collectors rally to support new ideas, criticism where need be, strategies, attend live events, share asset buys, and help each other build collections.
It’s not a competition, but a collaborative effort to make the VeVe universe richer and more engaging for all. Here, everyone’s contributions are valued from flippers to investors, stackers to edition-number hunters. Yet, everyone wants to see each other succeed, particularly with the fun of participation itself.
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Before criticizing this as just another crypto, techie, digital-only fanbase, know it is anything but.
There were no licensed IP digital-ledger based collectibles until just a few years ago, so, no licensed digital collectible OWNERS.
There were, however, comic / toy / stamp / bill / car / sports / poster / movie memorabilia collectors, physical collectible store owners, artists, designers, writers, government workers, business people, students, bankers, and race car drivers among many other backgrounds who simply felt comfy enough engaging a new format augmenting their collections.
How often do you see Executives of a company REGULARLY participate in group discussions & sharing passions directly with followers? VeVe provides Community Updates on YouTube, Twitter, Discord…it thanks its fan base with “Collector Spotlights,” meetups all over the map, contests, and rewards programs. The largest following is on Twitter/X with active groups on Facebook & Discord.
They respond to fan social posts, accept ideas & criticisms openly, and genuinely make the entire experience fun. Trust me when I say, it is deeply motivating and humbling to be recognized on this level.
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3) This is A CREATIVE Community:
The VeVe community teems with talented content creators who are passionate and deeply committed to their crafts.
Content Creators like Sleepyn Comics, Comics&Crypto, VeveMagic, MyCollectibles, FosterHilt, NFTPirates, TheRealUCPodcast, Swagglehouse, OldRhubarb, TheRealRandyChavez, WillGoesMeta, CollectorsGoneDigital, PatientHodler, DannyTheBull, Dr of Stuff, BobSales, WebVCollective, SuperStarMoney, HodlFandom, DoktaStrange, John Savage Crypto, Digital Vibes, Meta Mona & more, continuously put out informative, helpful content, even criticism when needed to help spread updates, news & resources that spark great discussion and thought.
And of course, DO check out VeVe’s fantastic YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@vevedigitalcollectibles where their reviews of collectible drops & the history associated is simply FANTASTIC!
If you like good, old-fashioned READING, check out DOUBLEQUILL who writes satirical blogs on Medium.com about the VeVe Community experience itself?—?always a fun read on Sunday mornings with a cup of coffee! If you want to get up to speed quickly, these are the people to start following, or check out their content.
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Artists & Digital Media Creators like Metaverse Lyfe, KidArcade, VeVeFanArt, Omilli Tees, $MintaLocs, FroEcomi, Mr Falcon, GreyhoundGroot, Claritzhalatina, CasualVeVe & SO MANY MORE help drive community vitality, creating incredible animations, movies, t-shirts, digital art, NFTs, and stunning clips or visuals of their prized collectibles in action (many are Augmented Reality Ready for the most part)! What’s truly remarkable is most do this out of pure, unpaid enjoyment sharing their talents & passions for all.
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Now THAT'S PHYGITAL
Casual VeVe's Disney Vault4) It is A Community of COMPASSION:
One story that exemplifies the compassion within the VeVe community was the loss of OG VeVe Collector, SiliconSecure.
This beautiful soul touched the hearts of so many in the community, drawing fans together at local meet-ups or consuming his video content. With his unfortunate passing, VeVe DISNEY collecting expert VeVeMagic galvanized fundraising support for Silicon’s family across the #VeVeFam. Further, VeVe CEO David Yu announced plans to produce a VeVeverse statue dedication in his honor, recognizing the first ‘VeVe Community Member Profile’ and fan who was even granted the unique right to determine the edition size & pricing of the iconic DC Bat Lamp drop!
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Phoenix-area Realtors Tina & Rudy further held a recent meet-up & live-stream event to help raise additional funds for Silicon’s Family. These deeply meaningful gestures simply show how the VeVe community is not just about collecting or profiting, but heavily about caring and supporting one another through the ups, and downs any group faces.
While many VeVe collectors may not have personal connections outside the app, the bonds being created are genuine. Sharing time online or at events has become an integral part of many lives, enriching experiences, connecting with new friends around the globe and even supporting new platforms that wish to engage this vibrant collection of enthusiasts.
It’s so exciting to see how friends are doing, what they’re collecting or building, what they’re ‘flexing’ on social sites and how a simple idea by a few old-fashioned collectors has sparked a nostalgia movement that is actually changing the world. Even a hashtag emerged to drive that home: #NOSTALGIARESPARK
Love for SiliconSecure
Tina & Rudy Silicon Fundraiser5) This Is...A FUN COLLECTORS COMMUNITY!
There is something truly magical happening here?—?a vibrant and passionate group of over 300,000 people has gelled around a collecting concept that did not exist just a few short years ago. It is extending to other brands & platforms and transforming a nostalgia-driven collecting experience into something much more profound, one collectible at a time.
As we journey forward, let’s continue to celebrate and uplift one another, forging lasting connections and memories within this incredible new frontier. It may seem odd that so many complete strangers could come together so openly and enthusiastically, so quickly. Yet, this is a testament to the power of shared passions, deep love and commitment to our favourite brands and the beauty of human connection.
Digital Collecting is made BETTER by the experience & inputs of the physical space. it is made BETTER by the multitudes of backgrounds, knowledge, and passions of those engaging and building in this space. It is made BETTER by those willing to invest their time, thoughts, resources, and energy to building something so many DO, and WILL enjoy.
The VeVe Team even coined #CollectorsAtHeart. It just makes so much sense.
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So, even if you have yet to check out this fun fandom?—?the largest group resides in Twitter/X, usually by #VeVeFam, #VeVeCommunity, or just #VeVe, or maybe still considering your first digital collectible, Thank You for reading and being a part of this remarkable journey.
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