Just as Lady Gaga has her Little Monsters and Justin Bieber has his Beliebers, BBC America's Orphan Black has its own little corner of the Internet for fans to gather as part of the Clone Club.
The #CloneClub is the given name for the Orphan Black fandom, and a way for fans to share anything and everything to do with the show across social media. Although an introductory post on the Clone Club was posted to the official Orphan Black page on Tumblr, this hashtag goes beyond just this social site. One of the best things about becoming part of a devoted fan club is that joining is super easy and requires no sign up, only participation, which is often fan-driven. Although these communities have a tendency to naturally form on Tumblr, this is a great example of how Orphan Black got the ball rolling.
Social Sci-Fi Fan Clubs
Orphan Black's Clone Club is an Organized Way for Fans of the Show to Chat
Trend Themes
1. Fan Community Engagement - The #CloneClub demonstrates the power of passionate fan communities to organically build engagement and share content through social media.
2. Social Media Fandom - The popularity of the Clone Club hashtag on multiple social media platforms shows the potential for brands to leverage fandoms for increased brand awareness and user-generated content.
3. Nontraditional Marketing - Orphan Black's fan club exemplifies the unconventional marketing opportunities that can arise from fostering dedicated online communities around a brand or product.
Industry Implications
1. TV and Entertainment - Television shows and entertainment companies can use fan communities to amplify their reach and create a passionate audience.
2. Social Media and Technology - Social media platforms and technology companies can explore ways to facilitate and enhance fan engagement within online communities.
3. Marketing and Branding - Marketing and branding professionals can learn from the success of the Clone Club in utilizing user-generated content and non-traditional marketing strategies.