Creating an online community is a significant step both for individuals and businesses. It helps companies connect deeply with their audience, drive traffic, and can lead to growth. In fact, 60% of businesses are known to have a branded online community.
Online communities offer a safe space for different people to share ideas, interact, and feel a sense of belonging. For businesses, they boost customer loyalty and brand visibility.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of having a thriving online community, follow these tips now!
Let’s be honest: Not all platforms are meant for all types of business communities. You must find which platform aligns best with your audience, goals, and content format.
For instance, if you want to have open and broad discussions, Facebook Groups, Reddit, and LinkedIn are ideal. LinkedIn is the most powerful platform out of the bunch and is useful for building online communities of professionals and B2B audiences.
To amplify your community-building efforts, connect with a reputable linkedIn ads agency. With their expertise in campaign management and tailored content, you’ll attract the best professionals in your community.
If your business requires focused and controlled interactions, Discord offers a great platform to boost your online community. It lets you create organized spaces for detailed interactions.
If you want to build a community focused on creating and sharing video or written content, YouTube and Medium are suitable platforms.
Building an online community majorly depends on your content. The right content is key in attracting and retaining the right individuals. Research and try to build high-quality, useful, and relevant content for your audience.
For instance, you can offer educational content, such as informative articles, guides, and video tutorials.
Another way to make your content more attractive is to host interactive content, such as live Q&As, events, and webinars. The audience will be able to interact with you in real-time and enjoy a sense of belonging.
Consider sharing exclusive content too, which can provide certain users early access to your offerings.
Most people make the mistake of only focusing on growing their online community. They want a larger number of members, followers, or subscribers, but that’s not enough. You must focus on getting more engagement. Some tips to make it happen are:
Your community’s culture impacts its chances of success. You must try to make them feel safe and comfortable. For instance, mention guidelines for respectful interactions and set strict consequences for violating them.
Make everyone feel welcome despite their experiences, background, or other differences. This will boost inclusion and diversity in your community. Show members that they can share their thoughts without feeling judged.
With the rapid growth of your community, encourage members to accept leadership roles, such as moderators and community leaders. They can support you in maintaining a healthy culture within the community and encourage others to engage and participate more.
Some responsibilities to transfer to moderators and community leaders are:
Another unique way to grow an online community is to drive engagement by encouraging more UGC. This will make community members feel more valued. They’ll take pride in contributing and become invested in sharing UGC.
You can encourage more UGC with these tips:
Online communities for businesses are more than a discussion space. They serve as the foundation for customer engagement and brand advocacy. With these strategies you can build a healthy platform for members’ interactions. Connect with your audience on a personal level to receive long-term support for your business!
