PLEK DIY Playbook: Layer 1 - Community Building

Build Your Fanbase Like a Tech Startup - Own Your Community, Own Your Data

Aug 25, 2025

What You'll Accomplish

By the end of this playbook, you'll have:

- A thriving PLEK community that replaces Discord/social media groups

- Complete fan data and analytics (location, engagement, preferences)

- Direct 1:1 messaging with your biggest supporters

- City-based fan groups for tour planning and local events

- A sustainable community that grows organically

Why PLEK Destroys Discord & Social Media for Artists

The Problem with Discord

- Zero Data Ownership: Discord owns all your fan information

- No Geographic Intel: Can't see where your fans actually are

- Generic Platform: Built for gamers, not music careers

- No Revenue Integration: Can't sell directly or track fan value

- Algorithm Dependent: Your messages might not reach your fans

- No Real Identity: Fans hide behind usernames and avatars

The Problem with Social Media Groups

- Platform Risk: One policy change kills your community

- No Real Connection: Shallow engagement, endless scroll

- Algorithm Hell: Pay to reach your own fans

- Data Blackout: Zero insights into who your fans really are

- No Monetization: Can't sell directly or capture real value

The PLEK Community Advantage

Complete Fan Intelligence

- Exact Location Data: See every fan on the map with city precision

- Real Names & Profiles: Know who your supporters actually are

- Engagement Analytics: Track who's most active and valuable

- Purchase History: See which fans spend money vs. just lurk

- Discovery Source: Know how fans found you and joined

Direct Revenue Integration

- No Platform Fees: Keep 96% of everything you earn

- Instant Payments: Money hits your account immediately

- Fan Lifetime Value: Track total spending per community member

- Conversion Analytics: See which messages drive actual sales

Professional Artist Tools

- Broadcast Channels: Reach all fans with important updates

- City Groups: Organize fans by location for touring

- 1:1 Messaging: Direct connection with VIP supporters

- Event Integration: Community flows directly into ticket sales

- Merch Integration: Sell directly to engaged community members

Step 1: Setting Up Your PLEK Community

Community Setup Checklist

- Community Name: Use your artist name + "Community" or "Crew"

-Welcome Message: First thing new fans see when they join

- Community Guidelines: Set expectations for behavior

- Profile Setup: Complete your artist profile with bio, photos, links

- Geographic Settings: Enable location sharing for fan mapping

Onboarding Flow Design

Welcome Sequence (Auto-sent to new members):

Message 1 (Immediate):

"Welcome to the [Artist Name] community! You're now part of an exclusive group of [X] fans who get direct access to me, early releases, and special events. Check out the map to see fans near you!"

Message 2 (24 hours later):

"Quick question - what's your favorite song of mine? And where did you first discover my music? Always curious how fans find me! "

Message 3 (Week 1):

"Here's something exclusive for community members only: [Demo/Behind-the-scenes content/Early access]. This is the kind of stuff you'll get for being part of the inner circle."

Community Structure Best Practices

Channel Organization:

- General Updates: Main broadcast channel for announcements

- Music Discussion: Fans discuss your releases and share favorites

- City Channels: Automatic groups based on fan locations

- Direct Messages: 1:1 conversations with individual fans

- Events: Integrated with your PLEK event system

Step 2: Fan Data Collection & Analysis

Geographic Intelligence

The Fan Map Advantage:

PLEK automatically shows you where every community member is located. Use this data to:

- Plan Tour Routes: See where you have fan density

- Target Local Events: Find cities with enough fans for shows

- Collaborate Locally: Connect with other artists in fan-heavy areas

- Understand Your Reach: See if you're regional, national, or international

City-Based Community Management:

- Auto-Groups: PLEK creates city channels when you have 5+ fans in an area

- Local Meetups: Organize fan gatherings in high-density cities

- Regional Touring: Plan multi-city tours based on fan concentration

- Local Partnerships: Partner with venues where you have active fans

Fan Profile Intelligence

What You Learn About Each Fan:

- Real Name & Photo: No hiding behind anonymous profiles

- Join Date: How long they've been supporting you

- Engagement Level: Messages sent, events attended, purchases made

- Location History: If they move, you track their new city

- Music Preferences: What they share and discuss most

Fan Value Analytics:

- Lifetime Value: Total money spent across all PLEK features

- Engagement Score: Combination of messages, shares, event attendance

- VIP Identification: Automatically identify your top 10% supporters

- Growth Tracking: See how fan value increases over time

Step 3: Engagement Strategy That Builds Careers

The 90/10 Community Rule

90% Value, 10% Ask

- 90% of your messages should give value: Music, insights, behind-the-scenes, entertainment

- 10% can be asks: Come to shows, buy merch, support releases

Content Strategy for PLEK Communities

Daily Engagement (5-10 minutes/day):

- Morning Check-in: "Working on something new today" + photo from studio

- Respond to 1:1s: Answer direct messages from fans personally

- Share Progress: Studio clips, lyric ideas, gear photos

- Ask Questions: "What should I work on next?" / "Where should I tour?"

Weekly Deep Dives (30 minutes/week):

- Behind-the-Album: Share story behind a specific song

- Gear Breakdown: Show and explain your setup

- Fan Spotlight: Highlight an active community member

- City Shoutout: Give love to fans in a specific location

Monthly Exclusives:

- Demo Releases: Songs only community members hear

- Virtual Hangouts: Live video chat with community

- Early Access: New releases 24-48 hours before public

- Backstage Content: Photos/videos from shows and studio

1:1 Messaging Strategy

Who to Message Directly:

- New High-Value Fans: Anyone who joins and immediately engages heavily

- VIP Supporters: Your top 5% most active/valuable community members

- Local Fans: People in cities where you're planning shows

- Engaged Lurkers: Fans who read everything but don't comment much

Message Templates That Work:

For New Active Members:

"Hey [Name]! Noticed you just joined and you're already super active. Love to see it! Quick question - how'd you discover my music? Always curious about the journey fans take to find me."

For Local Fans Pre-Show:

"Hey [Name]! Saw you're in [City] and I'm actually planning a show there soon. Would love to know what venues you think I should check out. You know the scene better than I do!"

For VIP Supporters:

"[Name] - you've been such an incredible supporter of everything I do. Wanted to give you a heads up that I'm working on something special for my top community members. Stay tuned... "

Step 4: City-Based Community Management

Building Local Scenes

When PLEK Auto-Creates City Groups:

- Automatically happens when 5+ fans in the same city

- Fans get notified they can join their local group

- You get admin access to all city groups

City Group Management Strategy:

1. Welcome New City Groups: Post introduction when new cities activate

2. Local Content: Share city-specific content (venues, local artists, events)

3. Meetup Coordination: Help fans organize local gatherings

4. Tour Intelligence: Use city groups to plan and promote local shows

5. Local Partnerships: Connect with venues and promoters fans recommend

Pre-Tour City Engagement

90 Days Before Show:

- Message city group: "Planning a [City] show! What venues should I look at?"

- Get fan input on venue selection and local support acts

- Build anticipation with behind-the-scenes planning content

30 Days Before Show:

- Announce show to city group first (24 hours before public)

- Offer community member pre-sale or discount

- Ask for help promoting to their local friends

Show Week:

- Share soundcheck clips in city group

- Coordinate meetup times for fans to connect

- Post real-time updates from venue/city

Post-Show:

- Thank city community with photos/videos

- Share fan photos and videos from the show

Step 4: City-Based Community Management

Building Local Scenes

When PLEK Auto-Creates City Groups:

- Automatically happens when 5+ fans in the same city

- Fans get notified they can join their local group

- You get admin access to all city groups

City Group Management Strategy:

1. Welcome New City Groups: Post introduction when new cities activate

2. Local Content: Share city-specific content (venues, local artists, events)

3. Meetup Coordination: Help fans organize local gatherings

4. Tour Intelligence: Use city groups to plan and promote local shows

5. Local Partnerships: Connect with venues and promoters fans recommend

Pre-Tour City Engagement

90 Days Before Show:

- Message city group: "Planning a [City] show! What venues should I look at?"

- Get fan input on venue selection and local support acts

- Build anticipation with behind-the-scenes planning content

30 Days Before Show:

- Announce show to city group first (24 hours before public)

- Offer community member pre-sale or discount

- Ask for help promoting to their local friends

Show Week:

- Share soundcheck clips in city group

- Coordinate meetup times for fans to connect

- Post real-time updates from venue/city

Post-Show:

- Thank city community with photos/videos

- Share fan photos and videos from the show

- Tease next visit: "When should I come back?"

Step 5: Community Growth Strategy

Organic Growth Mechanics

The PLEK Community Flywheel:

1. Great Content → Fans engage more

2. High Engagement → PLEK algorithm boosts your visibility

3. Increased Visibility → More fans discover and join

4. Larger Community → More social proof and FOMO

5. Social Proof → Higher quality fans join

6. Quality Fans → Better engagement and revenue

Fan Recruitment Strategy

Where to Promote Your PLEK Community:

Social Media Bio Links:

- "Join my exclusive community for behind-the-scenes access"

- "Get early music access + connect with fans worldwide"

- "See where fans are on the map + get show updates first"

Email Signature:

- "PS - Join [X] other fans in my PLEK community for exclusive content"

Live Shows:

- "If you want to stay connected and see where other fans are, join my PLEK community"

- QR code on screen during shows

Streaming Platform Bios:

- "Want exclusive content? Join my fan community (link in bio)"

Community Quality Control

Keeping Your Community Valuable:

- Active Moderation: Remove spam and self-promotion quickly

- Quality Standards: Set expectations about engagement quality

- Reward Good Behavior: Highlight and thank active, positive members

- Private Community: Keep invite-only to maintain exclusivity

- Regular Pruning: Remove inactive members quarterly

Step 6: Content Strategy for Music Artists

Content Categories That Work

Music Content (40% of posts):

- Work-in-progress studio clips

- Lyric explanations and stories

- Cover song performances

- Collaboration teasers

- Music equipment demos

Behind-the-Scenes (30% of posts):

- Studio setup and workflow

- Songwriting process videos

- Day-in-the-life content

- Travel and tour preparation

- Personal moments and reflections

Fan Interaction (20% of posts):

- Q&A responses

- Fan art and cover features

- Community challenges

- Local fan meetup coordination

- Responding to fan messages publicly

Business/Career (10% of posts):

- Release announcements

- Tour announcements

- Merchandise launches

- Collaboration announcements

- Industry insights and lessons

Content Calendar Template

Weekly Schedule:

- Monday: Music Monday (new clip or song breakdown)

- Tuesday: Check-in Tuesday (what you're working on today)

- Wednesday: Behind-the-scenes Wednesday

- Thursday: Fan Thursday (highlight community member or answer questions)

- Friday: Future Friday (tease upcoming projects or shows)

- Weekend: Casual/personal content

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Step 7: Advanced Community Features

Fan Tier System

Automatic Fan Tiers Based on PLEK Data:

- Supporter: Basic community member

- Advocate: High engagement, shares content frequently

- VIP: Attends events, buys merch, top 10% of activity

- Ambassador: Your biggest supporters, get special access

Community Management

Special Treatment for Top Fans:

- Early Access: New music 48 hours before others

- Direct Line: Priority response to messages

- Exclusive Events: VIP-only virtual hangouts or meet-and-greets

- Input Opportunities: Vote on setlists, merch designs, tour cities

- Recognition: Public thanks and features

Data-Driven Decisions

Use PLEK Analytics to Optimize:

- Peak Activity Times: Post when most fans are online

- Content Performance: See which posts drive most engagement

- Geographic Opportunities: Plan tours based on fan density

- Fan Journey: Track how community members become customers

- Conversion Rates: Optimize messages that drive event attendance/purchases

Step 8: Community Launch Checklist

Pre-Launch (Week Before)

- Complete profile setup with photos, bio, links

- Write welcome message sequence

- Plan first week of content

- Set up community guidelines

- Test all features (messaging, posting, map viewing)

Launch Week

- Day 1: Announce community launch on all platforms

- Day 2: Share first exclusive content

- Day 3: Post fan map screenshot showing early members

- Day 4: Start first community discussion/question

- Day 5: Feature first active community member

- Weekend: Share behind-the-scenes from your week

First Month Goals

- 50+ community members

- Daily posts and engagement

- 5+ cities represented on fan map

- 10+ 1:1 conversations with fans

- 1 piece of exclusive content shared

- Community guidelines established and enforced

Measuring Success: Community KPIs

Growth Metrics

- Monthly Active Users: Fans who engage weekly

- Geographic Spread: Number of cities/countries represented

- Engagement Rate: Messages/posts per member per month

- Retention Rate: Percentage of fans still active after 3 months

- Referral Rate: New members brought by existing fans

Quality Metrics

- Message Response Rate: How often you reply to fan messages

- Content Performance: Engagement per post

- Fan Lifetime Value: Revenue per community member

- Community Health Score: PLEK's algorithm-based community rating

- Conversion Rate: Community members who become customers

Business Impact Metrics

- Revenue Per Fan: Total revenue divided by community size

- Tour Planning Efficiency: Time saved using geographic data

- Customer Acquisition Cost: Cost to gain fan vs. social media

- Fan Data Quality: Complete profiles vs. anonymous followers

- Direct Relationship Strength: 1:1 conversations per month

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't Do This:

- Broadcasting Only: Talking at fans instead of with them

- Generic Content: Posting same stuff as social media

- Ignoring Geography: Not leveraging the map and city data

- Over-Promoting: Too many sales messages too early

- Anonymous Interaction: Not personalizing messages with fan names/data

Do This Instead:

- Two-Way Conversation: Ask questions and respond to answers

- PLEK-Exclusive Content: Make community membership valuable

- Geographic Strategy: Use location data for planning and connection

- Value First: Build relationship before asking for anything

- Personal Touch: Use fan data to make every interaction personal

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Transitioning from Discord/Social Media

Migration Strategy

1. Announce Transition: Explain why you're moving to PLEK

2. Overlap Period: Run both communities for 2-4 weeks

3. Exclusive Content: Post best content only on PLEK

4. Direct Invitation: Message active Discord/social members personally

5. Final Migration: Sunset old community, direct all traffic to PLEK

Migration Messaging

"I'm moving to a platform that's actually built for musicians like me. On PLEK, I can see where you all are, message you directly, and we can build a real community together. Plus, when I plan tours or releases, I'll have the data to make better decisions for all of us."

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