I’m a BTS fan… but I’m a super fan of Jungkook.

Yesterday he did a live that reminded me why I love this group so much. They don’t pretend to be perfect idols. They show up as real men—who drink, have fun, and (apparently) smoke and cuss. (The sailor in me smiled)

He’s 29. Just stepping fully into adulthood. Who wasn’t a little wild in their twenties?

Of course, there’s some backlash. There’s always someone ready to complain. But what stood out to me wasn’t the controversy. It was the authenticity.

And as a promoter, I couldn’t help but look at this from a marketing lens.

#1 They Built Their Own Community – ARMY

BTS didn’t just create music. They built a movement—ARMY.

Yes, I’m part of ARMY.
I joined Weverse.
I look forward to the lives.
I watch the videos.
I read the magazine interviews.
I tried to get concert tickets.
I’m excited about the livestream.

That’s not casual fandom. That’s community.

Question for you:
Are you building a community with your readers—or just posting about your book?

#2 They Sell More Than Music

BTS doesn’t only sell albums.

They sell:

Light sticks, Keychains,T-shirts, Stickers and Plushies

I bought a tote bag because it had a cute Koala bear on it. I didn’t even realize it was part of their BT21 merch at first. I loved it because it was purple.

That’s brand extension.

They’ve created multiple entry points for fans to support them.

Question for you:
What other revenue streams do you have connected to your books?

Merch?
Workbooks?
Audio?
Special editions?
Community access?

#3 They Engage With Their Community

They go live on Weverse.
They respond to comments.
They thank their fans.
They show appreciation consistently.

They make their fans feel seen.

Question for you:
How often are you engaging with your community?
Are you replying?
Are you going live?
Are you showing appreciation?

You may not be BTS.
But you can build your own ARMY.

A group of readers who:

💜Look forward to your releases

💜Share your content

💜Wear your merch

💜Feel connected to you

If you haven’t started, think about:

What do you want to share?

How often will you show up?

Where will you gather your people?

Community doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s built intentionally.

Jungkook fan for life. 💜

Want to build your own reader ARMY?
Start with one intentional connection this week.
Then tell me in the comments what will you try?