Building your own community 12 tips
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Transcript of Building your own community 12 tips
12 EssentialsTo Build Your Own
Community
Francisco Beisterveld, 12-1-2016
Purpose
A purpose is something bigger, not just a short term cause
What do you want to change in this world?
A community without a purpose is just a (facebook) group
The purpose should be communicated well
Don't focus too long on your purpose
Leader(s)
People identify with persons, not with organisations
Every group needs people who lead
A leader can give an example others can follow
A leader creates a community culture / atmosphere
For example: how formal is the communication? How ambitious are community projects?
Ideal: 2 or 3 leaders
Leadershipqualities
A good leader serves her community, she is not putting herselfFirst
People may have a desire for leadership, they came to join the community in the first placefor their own interest.
A good leader is authentic and thrustworthy
Leader's qualities are reflecting on the community. Trust that leader is focused on common purpose
A good leader is an anchor point, not a weather vane
A leader must be happy with herself and daring to show herself
Risk of becoming a 'flat'character.
Branding
Brand can carry the purpose and communicate the atmosphere
People need to remember & recognize your community
Watch out for brand confusion. People don’t care about Brand 'intentions'
Communitymembers
95% of the (encountered) people are enthusiastic & helpful
5% of the (encountered) people are cynical/don't care at all/have clinical problems. Let their negative energy not affect you.
Existing community members attract specific people
Enable community members to interact with each other
Traction
Whatever works in a particular phase
'Critical mass' depends on what you want to do
The bigger the loyalty, the less traction you need
Perception
Perception is your biggest friend
If just a few people attend a meeting, just a few will know it was not a success
Perception manipulation techniques
Communication Pictures Business development
Leverage
Being perceived as important/big/succesful opens many doors
Volunteers
Attracting volunteers requires leadership + purpose
Watch out not to attract same kind of people
Volunteers are best advocates and traction sources
It gives community members possibility to engage
Volunteers can spread community culture + values
Managing volunteers doesn't require leadership but management
Guaranteeing community's brand & value
Monetization
Precedent
People don't mind paying if they see value. Just switching from 'all is free' to 'paid' is difficult.
Sales strategy should serve the community purpose
Paid is perceived as more serious
Professionalism
Purpose, leadership, engagement are great words. Repetitive work, management, efficiency, effectiveness are the day to day reality if you want to grow a community and monetize it
Hybrid communities
Offline meeting people adds trust & feeling of belonging
Online enlarges target group
Tension between growth & keeping community recognizable offline
For online you need technology