Michael Minelli cracked the code on how to engage his fans, create viral momentum, and generate new revenue—all with virtually zero upfront time, cost, or risk.
Here’s how he did it:
Michael launched a fan-driven T-shirt design competition within his Grouped community. The challenge? Create an official “Minelli Family” shirt—something fans could proudly wear to shows and instantly recognize other members of the Group in real life. This wasn’t just merch—it was a badge of belonging.
Fans submitted their designs using the Discussion Tab in his Group. Then, Minelli hosted a livestream inside Grouped where he reviewed each submission in real time. In a Zoom-like experience, fans were able to join on camera and explain their designs directly to him and the community—turning the livestream into an interactive, co-creative event.
At the end of the session, he asked fans to vote on their favorites and combined that input with his own to narrow it down to the top five. He then posted a final image poll inside the Group, giving members a chance to vote on the winning design. This wasn’t just fun—it was strategic pre-sales validation. Fans who voted were highly likely to purchase the design they backed.
The winning design was made available for purchase via Print On Demand, meaning Minelli had no upfront costs, no inventory to manage, and zero logistical headaches. The fan behind the winning shirt received a lifetime membership, a free shirt, and bragging rights forever.
The best part? What started as a simple idea turned into an entire month of content, deep engagement, and new revenue—all created organically by the fans themselves.
This is a perfect example of how artists can turn their Group into a creative studio, focus group, and storefront—all in one—with very little effort and maximum return.
