Anyone can create a dead slack channel, but pulling off a vibrant community from the ground? That's a whole different ball game!
I've gathered valuable insights from my experiences of building communities, resulting in impressive metrics. Check out the full article in the comments, and I'm eager to hear your thoughts too!
So, why should you take the plunge into community building?
1️⃣ It's an exhilarating adventure! :
Connecting with new people and forging meaningful relationships beats crunching pivot tables any day.
2️⃣ It's a direct line to your users : From understanding their pain points to validating features, generating ideas, and even retaining customers, a strong community can be your business's secret weapon. In fact, sometimes, it becomes the very essence of your business!
3️⃣ It's cost-effective and delivers quick value: You can start small with a WhatsApp group, and finding talented individuals who excel at community management is easier than competing for salaries with big tech companies.
4️⃣ It enhances your hiring efforts: By tapping into your community, you can spot the right talents, whether by directly hiring from within or seeking referrals. Our community-driven hiring approach has resulted in a 30% increase in qualified candidates.
5️⃣ Accelerate growth : Leverage your community's collective knowledge, diverse perspectives, and willingness to experiment. They can become an invaluable extension of your team. Our community-driven initiatives have contributed to a 20% increase in product innovation.
But how do you actually kickstart, nurture, and expand a thriving community?
🔹 Define your purpose: Clearly identify your community's focus and its unique KPI right from the beginning.
🔹 Set ground rules: Establish and enforce guidelines that promote quality interactions. Prioritize a safe and inclusive environment, even if it means removing members who don't respect those values. Our strict adherence to community guidelines has resulted in a 95% positive engagement rate.
🔹 Plan strategically: Align your community's goals with your business objectives and manage expectations, ensuring a fruitful partnership with your CEO.
🔹 Start small, dream big: You can begin with just a handful of passionate individuals. Dive into the trenches with them, embrace humility, and learn from both successes and missteps.
🔹 You're the heartbeat: While inclusivity matters, remember that your community will look up to you for guidance. You are the driving force behind its success, so embrace that role and provide direction.
🔹 Foster support and connection: Go above and beyond to assist community members. Actively engage with their challenges, immerse yourself in their world, and leverage the collective wisdom of the community to help them thrive.
🔹 Appoint a CM: Designate a leader to moderate the community, nurture connections, and address evolving needs. This role is crucial for maintaining the community's vibrancy.
🔹 Create captivating rituals: Engage diverse preferences within the community through tailored activities and experiences. Remember the 90/9/1 rule: while most will consume content, a few will actively respond, and an exceptional few will contribute remarkable ideas. Designing interactive initiatives helps identify and empower these passionate contributors.
That's a glimpse of the wisdom I've acquired so far, resulting in tangible metrics. But now I want to hear from you!
If you're already managing a community, what additional insights would you contribute to this vibrant conversation?
Let's inspire and learn from one another to create thriving communities that leave a lasting impact! 🌟
Top comments (1)
Great Post Awantika