Staying true to his word, streaming 🍃superstar Ninja tweeted his phone ☂number to his 4.7 million followers — well, sort of.
Perhaps it would have been more accurate for Ninja, whose real name is Tyler Blevins, to instead insist he would be sharing a phone number that would give fans an opportunity to subscribe to a mobile messaging service. It appears many fan believed it would be a personal line dire🉐ctly to him. And, while he claims he's making an attempt to respond to and engage with the influx of messages, it's not exactly the same as someone having a one-on-one convo with their hero.
In the video message acc♐ompanying the release of his phone number, Ninjﷺa explained how it works.
"Send me a text message right now. There's gonna be a link that's gonna follow. Fill it out so I have your information and I'm gonna be 🍌able to contact you guys, text you guys personally, send you guys awesome videos, messages, behind the scenes of whatever event my beautiful wife Jess and I are at, or even freaking c🐽ute, adorable pictures of our little puppies who are just laying on the couch right now."
312-584-4684 yes this is my n꧅umber. Yes I will receive each and every text. I'll try to reply to as many as possible. This is gunna be fun... longt꧑erm!!
— Ninja (@Ninja)
Upon sending the text, a message from the number ♕invites people to submit their information to him via a form upon which they receive a confirmation and a contact download for Ninja.
However, it appears some fans felt duped ✨out of the chance to communicate directly with their hero, sharing their disappointment with the marketing ploy on Twitter.
OMG NINJA ANSWERED ME!!!!
— JhbTeam 🗣️💯 (@JhbTeam)
all of this just to be a 😔 I just wa⛎nted to talk to Ninja💖 gg
— Evade Orange (@orangie)
More likeNinja: text me so you can agree to be directly sent promotiꦇonal ꦺlinks
— Justin Mattioli (@HookedOnMontana)
However, in spite of some fans' feelings about the authenticity of the effort, it seems to be working. In a follow-up video posted moments shortly after the first video, the streamer claimed to have already gotten tens of thousands of𓂃 text messages and thꦇat he's making an effort to reply to as many as he can.
"I'm getting one of two things," he said in the second face cam video. "I'm either getting 'Hi Ninja, hi Ninja, hi Ninja, hi Ninja, hi Ninja, hi Ninja, hi Ninja, play with me,' or incredibly kind, heartfelt messages about loads of things, es𒁃pecially my switch to Mixer."
Quick update on my phone numbeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚr...🐼appreciate all the freaking love.
— Ninja (@Ninja)
He also shares that he plans to reach out to some fans and invite them to play 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Fortnite with him.
Ultimately, it's not much different than signing up for something like an email list. In fact, , according to a survey from Esendex. Contrast that with on average, according to marketing technology🎀 company HubSpot.
That, paired with the relative anonymity that allows viewers to act toxic on streaming platforms or social media, provide insight into some reasons Ninja is choosing to𒀰 engage his fans in such a manner. And, with the potential for a response from the man himself, thereꦡ's no reason that super fans wouldn't want to sign up for exclusive content and first looks at new merchandise.
The move comes just days after his sudden departure from his longtime digital home on Twitch to emerging streaming platform Mixer — and also, on the same day he le🎃arned Twitch was promoting other videos, including one featuring adult content, on his still-active profile.
As streaming becomes more and more popular, professional streamers must find creative ways to continue to cultivate two-way connections with fans. Ninja, who has worked incredibly hard for his success, is also a master of personal branding. So, it's no wonder recent marketing efforts range from a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Red Bull can to , and now this.
Data shows that Ninja's channel is performing extremely well on Mixer. But, it's possible it's only a matter of time until the novelty wears off, at which point Fortnite's poster child will again have 𝓀to compete for attention from other rising stars.
Ninja is smart to ride the popularity wave while it's high, as he understands more than most that attention is a fickle thing. It certainly doesn't hurt to offer fans a one-to-one connection, even if it is an illusion. However, smart marketing tricks can rapidly devolve into pure deception, so it's importanꦦt for Ninja to continue to make sure not to Boogie Bomb his chances for s🐼uccess at such a transitional point in his career.