Let’s build a community of loyal supporters
When you make a community online, choosing the right platform is really important. There aremany options, but I’m gonna share a few of my favorite and when they’re the best option. Discord is really good for anyone in the gaming or streaming field, Geneva is good for closer-knit professional communities, Facebook/Twitter are good when your audience is already on that platform, and MIghtyNetworks is good for having paid memberships within a larger free community. If you’re not sure which platform is best for you, schedule a free Informational Meeting with me and I can help find the best option for your unique goals!
When someone joins your community, the onboarding process is your first impression and it’s crucial. If you can, use an alternate account to test the onboarding process. Are things easy to understand and find? Make sure there are clear welcome guides, pinned posts, or onboarding messages that introduce members to key features, rules, and discussion channels. Try to have a staff member or two who welcomes everyone in personally, if you can.
In any community, there needs to be some sort of rules and enforcement team (usually called moderators). Your rules and the culture you build should be aligned with your brand values. Be sure there are clear guidelines for acceptable behavior, and that they’re enforced fairly. Set clear community guidelines and make sure your moderation team is active and approachable. Encourage positive interactions and acknowledge members who contribute positively.
How often are you asking members for feedback or giving them opportunities to shape the community? People will naturally invest more time and energy into something if they feel like they’re part of the team, so try to make them feel involved in the growth of the community. Use polls, surveys, or open feedback threads to understand what your members want. Implement member-driven initiatives, such as allowing them to suggest topics or even run events. Try to set up official channels for this so that you can still moderate suggestions and your community stays aligned with your brand values.
Take a look at the content you’ve shared in the past, or start analyzing the content you currently share. What are people engaging with the most? Are you providing valuable, relevant, and consistent content that sparks conversation? Try to post more content like that, finding new ways to interact with all members of your community. Regularly post a mix of content—educational, entertaining, and community-driven prompts. Host events like Q&As, live streams, or challenges to keep members active. The more you can do to provide valuable interactions, the better.
Consistent growth is an important aspect of managing your community, especially if you’re still smaller. What are you currently doing to encourage people to join your community? Offer referral incentives or promote your community through email newsletters, social media, and partnerships. Encourage existing members to invite others by creating special perks for referrals. Consider creating an ambassador program or working with influencers in your niche to encourage membership.