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Building a Thriving Online Community Together

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Kenneth Keith
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In today’s world, many people feel lonely and isolated. But, what if you could make an online community that’s full of life and connection? Are you ready to learn how to build an online community that changes lives and gets real results?

Ashley Fox’s Empify movement has reached over 20,000 people. The Wealth Builders Community has more than 1,000 members. This shows how powerful online communities can be. In fact, 80% of brands with communities see a positive effect on their business and meet their goals. So, if you’re an entrepreneur, a content creator, or just want to make real connections, it’s time to start your online community.

Key Takeaways

  • Discover the power of online communities to drive engagement, connection, and growth.
  • Learn from the success stories of thriving online communities like Empify and Wealth Builders.
  • Understand the benefits of building an online community for your business or personal brand.
  • Explore the various types of online communities and how to choose the right one for your needs.
  • Gain insights into the changing landscape of online communities and the role they play in the future of business and personal development.

The Power of an Online Community

Online communities are a big deal today for both businesses and individuals. Ashley Fox’s journey shows how powerful they can be. At 20, she left a high-paying job on Wall Street to start Empify. This platform helps the “99%” who traditional banks often ignore. It quickly grew, reaching over 20,000 people and more than 50 schools.

Ashley then created an online community, and it was a huge hit. The Wealth Builders Community made $100,000 in two weeks and now has over 1,000 members. They all want to overcome poverty. Ashley’s story shows how online communities can change lives.

Benefits of Building an Online Community

Ashley’s success highlights the perks of online communities. 80% of brands find these communities boost their business and help meet goals. They’re great for building a brand, starting a side hustle, or just for fun.

These communities can increase your site’s traffic, improve customer relationships, and boost your revenue. Every generation loves joining communities about brands they care about, especially GenX at 62%.

“Online communities can drive traffic to your website, strengthen your relationship with customers, and increase your business’ revenue.”

Online communities are key for engagement, loyalty, and belonging. They bring people together around common interests or goals. This helps businesses gain valuable insights, feedback, and collaboration. It’s a big win for success.

Understanding Online Communities

An online community is a place online where people with similar interests or experiences meet. They connect, work together, and form strong bonds. These communities are common today, giving people a sense of belonging and a place to share their passions.

Definition of an Online Community

An online community is a group of people who share common goals or interests. They meet to support, learn, and connect with each other. These communities grow as members put their energy and passion into them. They often have hosts and moderators to keep things running smoothly.

Types of Online Communities

  • Mastermind groups: Small groups that support and challenge each other’s growth.
  • Group coaching: Communities where experts coach and guide members.
  • Micro-communities: Focused groups that create a strong sense of belonging.
  • Content communities: Communities centered around creating and sharing specific content.
  • Online brand communities: Groups centered around a brand, product, or service.
  • Communities of practice: Groups of professionals who share knowledge and skills.
  • Learning communities: Communities focused on sharing knowledge and resources.
  • Event communities: Communities based on specific events, like conferences or webinars.

These online communities share common traits but differ in structure and purpose. They meet the unique needs and likes of their members.

Reasons to Build an Online Community

Today, we’re more connected than ever, but many feel alone. A study showed 46% of people in the UK feel lonely often or always. The answer to this loneliness is community engagement.

Creating an online community brings joy and value to its members. It’s a place where people can find genuine connection and focus their attention on things they love.

Finding Connection

We need deep social connections, not just endless scrolling. An online community helps build these bonds. Members share ideas, support each other, and grow together. The 2020 State of Community Management Report found that community engagement boosts everyone’s success. It gives access to knowledge, inspires loyalty, and brings new ideas.

Focusing Attention

Unlike social media, an online community keeps people’s focus on what’s important. This focused attention leads to big results. Aberdeen’s research shows that such communities improve marketing return by 33 percent.

An online community brings many benefits. It helps people grow and helps brands gain loyal customers and more revenue.

Personal Growth and Learning

Joining an online community can change your life, offering many chances for personal growth and learning. Studies show a strong connection between social support and personal development. Online communities provide a perfect place for this support.

Being part of an online community means you get a supportive group. This group helps you learn new skills, stick to good habits, and reach your goals. The accessibility of online learning brings together people of all backgrounds. This mix makes learning more diverse and enriching.

Online courses also connect you with experts from different fields. This opens doors for networking and moving forward in your career or studies. The digital world has made learning easy, offering many ways to grow your skills and keep learning.

  • Online courses help you manage your time better and be more disciplined. This is key for balancing work, hobbies, and learning.
  • Learning online lets you share your thoughts freely and join in discussions. It makes you feel more confident.
  • Being part of online communities helps you bounce back from tech problems and other challenges. It builds your resilience and helps you solve problems in new ways.

Creating an online community can really help you grow and learn. It connects you with others for support, knowledge, and different views. This can lead to discovering new things about yourself, improving your skills, and continuing to learn throughout your life.

“Joining an online learning community helped me develop new skills and overcome obstacles I never thought possible. The support and accountability I found there were truly transformative.”

In 2023, more students are picking online courses for the community they offer, not just the content. This shows how important it is to build a strong online community. Such a community supports personal growth and learning.

Teaching and Mastering Skills

In today’s digital world, the strength of community shines, especially in teaching and learning. Creating an online community for your courses or workshops boosts engagement, learning, and completion rates. This is thanks to the chat-like nature of community learning.

Hosting Real Conversations

Since the early days of the internet, conversations have been key to building communities. From AOL chat rooms to today’s online forums, they’ve always been central. Now, modern tools make it easy to have real, meaningful talks that deepen understanding and skill.

  • By letting students share their stories, ask questions, and talk with each other, you create a supportive and rich learning space.
  • Encouraging everyone to share their views, question ideas, and explore topics together leads to deeper insights and a strong community bond.
  • Community learning’s interactive nature helps people remember information better as they apply and discuss it.

Building an online community around your teaching is a great way to promote community teaching, community learning, and deep community conversations. It creates a place where everyone works together and supports each other. This helps students learn new skills and understand their subjects better.

Degree Program Average Completion Time
Educational Leadership – M.S 60% earned within 23 months
Curriculum and Instruction – M.S 62% earned within 12 months
Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed 62% finished in 10 months
Mathematics Education (K–6) – M.A 61% earned within 12 months
English Language Learning (PreK–12) – M.A 62% earned within 17 months
Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A 63% earned within 18 months
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A 62% earned within 16 months
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A 64% earned within 18 months
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A 64% earned within 18 months
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – M.A 60% earned within 14 months
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – M.A 62% earned within 17 months
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – M.A 62% earned within 15 months

The National Standards for Quality Online Teaching offer a guide for creating a tailored learning space. They focus on teachers’ professional duties like ongoing learning, managing time, and being a good digital citizen. By following these standards, you can make sure your community gets a top-notch, engaging, and supportive learning experience.

Monetization Opportunities

Building an online community is now a key business strategy. McKinsey calls it a top growth strategy for the 2020s. Brands that focus on community growth see easy sales, member growth, and a self-building business.

Earning Revenue from Your Community

There are many ways to make money from online communities. You can use sponsorships, ads, affiliate marketing, in-app purchases, and more. These methods increase income, keep users coming back, and help your community grow.

Cint offers solutions for making money through surveys. This helps brands make better decisions and learn more about their customers.

Building a Business with an Online Community

People now spend over six hours a day online, offering a big chance to build strong communities. Successful brands use this trend to earn more and build lasting businesses. Some important facts:

  • 81% of brands use affiliate marketing to boost sales
  • The online e-learning market is set to hit $167 billion by 2026
  • 83% of consumers trust advice from people they know
  • Native ads are preferred by 53% over traditional banners
  • Print-on-demand has changed the game for branded merchandise
  • Membership sites boost user engagement by 65%
  • Coaching programs increase customer loyalty by 32%
  • Donation strategies raise donations by 45% with personalized gifts

These facts show the huge potential for a successful business in online communities. You can make money through content, memberships, or a wide range of products and services.

online community monetization

“In a 2022 report, McKinsey named ‘community’ the marketing ‘big idea’ for the 2020s.”

Examples of Successful Online Communities

Building a strong online community is key for businesses and groups of all sizes. Many examples show how having an engaged group of users, customers, or members can help. Let’s look at some real cases that show how online communities can make a big difference.

Visa, a top company in payments technology, saw a huge jump in community members, up by 124%. They also got a lot more positive feedback, 1,300% more, from their members. This shows how a community can make customers happier and more loyal to a brand.

HP, a big tech company, cut down on how long it took to solve customer issues by 41% over a year. They also cut agent response time by 35%. This is proof that an active community can make customer support better and more efficient.

  1. Virgin Mobile Australia’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) went up after they started their community. They got 435 peer-to-peer solutions accepted in just one year.
  2. Telstra, an Australian telecom company, got over 20,000 pieces of content from users in just five months. This shows how a community can create a lot of content and keep users engaged.
  3. Brands using Khoros-powered communities saw better customer growth, more value from current customers, faster issue solving, and lower service costs.

These examples show how online communities can help businesses grow, make customers happier, and create a strong sense of community. By using the right tools and strategies, companies can create communities that really help their business.

“Brands utilizing Khoros-powered communities could improve customer acquisition, increase existing customer lifetime value, accelerate issue resolution, and reduce service costs.”

The stories we’ve shared show how online communities can really change the game for different types of organizations. They help with engagement, loyalty, and making things run smoother. These examples prove the big impact of successful online communities.

Considering Paid Memberships

More businesses and creators see the worth of building an online community. They’re now looking into paid community memberships. These memberships offer special content, early looks, members-only events, and more. These perks make the experience better and help people feel they belong.

Strikingly is a platform that’s great for paid online communities. It’s easy to use and has customizable templates. This makes it perfect for businesses and creators starting out. Strikingly has features just right for membership sites and is affordable.

Proving the Value of Paid Communities

When thinking about a paid online community, you need to show why it’s worth it. Here’s how:

  • Tiered Subscription Options: Offer different levels of access and perks. This meets the needs and wants of your community.
  • Free Trial Periods: A free trial or lower prices at first can draw in new members. It also helps keep revenue steady.
  • Competitive Pricing: The price you set matters. It makes your membership website stand out or blend in with others.

The kind of membership model you pick affects how people see your paid online community. You can have tiered memberships or recurring subscriptions. Each type meets different community needs and content types.

“Providing exclusive content, early access to products, members-only events, and discounts are key benefits that can encourage members to join and remain active in the paid community.”

By making your paid community offerings special, you can turn followers into paying members. This helps your online community grow and stay strong.

The Changing Buyer Landscape

Buying habits have changed a lot in recent years. Today, people do a lot of research before they buy something. They read reviews and ask friends for advice. This change is thanks to online communities, which are now key in the B2B world.

The Role of Online Communities in B2B

A 2018 survey found that 45% of business buyers spent more time researching purchases than before. Online communities in B2B help teach potential customers about products. They let us understand B2B buyer behavior and offer chances for online communities in buyer research.

By joining online communities, B2B buyers meet experts, share ideas, and find important info. This helps them make better choices. It also builds trust and leads to more confident buyers.

Statistic Value
Customer experience management market valued at USD $10.65 billion in 2022
Anticipated growth rate of the customer experience management market from 2023 to 2030 15.4%
Apple’s brand loyalty with a customer retention rate of 90% in 2021

As the B2B buyer landscape changes, online communities are key for businesses. They help connect with customers, build trust, and increase sales. By using these communities, companies can keep up with their B2B buyers’ needs and expectations.

Free vs. Owned Online Community Platforms

Choosing between free and owned online community platforms is a big decision. Each has its pros and cons. The best choice depends on your community’s goals and needs.

Pros and Cons of Free Platforms

Free platforms like Facebook and Twitter make it easy to start an online community. You can share content with followers for free. But, you don’t fully own your community and rely on social media giants.

  • Potential to attract a higher number of members compared to paid communities
  • Serve as a way to collect leads, connect with like-minded people, and promote paid products
  • Require more moderation efforts and are more susceptible to spam
  • May have lower-quality content compared to paid communities
  • Potential for member distraction on social media platforms
  • Difficulty in engaging members and maintaining their attention

Pros and Cons of Owned Platforms

Owned community platforms, such as a forum or discussion board, are run by the brand. They offer more control over the community’s message and brand. These platforms take more work to start and keep up, but they give you full control over your community.

Pros of Owned Platforms Cons of Owned Platforms
Higher quality content and interactions Require more effort to build and maintain
Increased member engagement May not be as effective for lead acquisition
Recurring stream of revenue Require a reliable platform and technical expertise
Better moderation and member vetting
Total control over communication and branding

When picking between free and owned platforms, think about how community fits into your long-term plans. Owning a platform can secure your organization’s future. By weighing the pros and cons, you can choose what’s best for your community and business goals.

“A key question when choosing between social media and an owned member engagement platform is to consider the role community plays in your long-term strategy and how owning the platform can future-proof your organization.”

Steps to Building an Online Community

Building a strong online community takes careful planning and action. You might want to boost customer happiness, cut down on support costs, or find key supporters. First, define why you want a community and what you hope to achieve. This helps match your community’s goals with your company’s aims.

Choosing the Right Platform

Picking the right platform for your online community is key. Free options like Facebook Groups and Reddit come with a ready-made audience but limit your control. Owned platforms, such as Discourse or Tribe, offer more customization but need more work to grow and keep members. Look at each platform’s features, costs, and how well it fits your needs.

Developing a Launch Framework

Having a solid launch plan is vital for your community’s success. Set clear goals like tracking market share, customer feelings, and Net Promoter Score. Also, watch for how the community affects support costs and customer happiness.

Identifying Key Stakeholders

Creating a community needs teamwork from different parts of your company. This includes community managers, marketing, customer support, product teams, and top management. Make sure everyone knows their role to work together well and make the most of the community.

Setting Up Your Community

Keep your community private at first to build excitement and focus. Show off popular topics and set up main categories to help newcomers. Make sure signing up is easy and welcoming for new members.

By taking these steps, you can build a strong online community that meets your business goals and helps your members. Remember, making a successful community is an ongoing task that needs constant improvement and interaction.

Engaging and Growing Your Online Community

Building a strong online community is a journey that needs careful planning and growth. After setting up your community, focus on getting people involved, thanking loyal members, and making the experience better with their feedback.

Here are ways to engage and grow your online community:

  1. Promote your community: Share it on social media, email newsletters, and places where your industry is talked about. Ask your members to invite their friends and coworkers to join.
  2. Encourage people to talk: Start interesting conversations by asking big questions, hosting live events, and letting members share their thoughts and stories. Use different kinds of content like videos, polls, and articles to meet everyone’s tastes.
  3. Thank your active members: Give special rewards to your most active members. This could be exclusive benefits, showing off their achievements, or making them moderators to make them feel part of the community.
  4. Keep making it better: Always ask your members what they think and use their ideas to improve the community. This might mean fixing problems, adding new features, or changing rules to make it a safe place for everyone.

About 55% of people in online communities don’t really get involved. To get them back, try reaching out and asking them to take action. Being active online and sharing helpful content can also make people more engaged and loyal.

Engagement Metric Benchmark
New member interaction Highest when members first join
Recurring events Increase engagement (e.g., “Ask-me-Anything Tuesday”)
Member achievement celebration Fosters a sense of community and engagement
Online community moderation Contributes to creating a safe space for members

Building a great online community takes work and patience, but it’s worth it for customer loyalty, brand support, and business growth. By keeping your members involved and growing your community, you can create a dedicated group of supporters.

“Higher engagement in online communities leads to stronger relationships, customer loyalty, and increased revenue.”

For more tips on reviving your online community and managing online community engagement, or building an effective online community, check out these resources.

Conclusion

Building a strong online community is a great way for businesses and creators to grow. It helps create deep connections, supports personal growth, and opens new ways to make money. An online community can change how you connect with your audience.

If you’re starting or want to improve your community, focus on your goals. Keep your members engaged and always update your community to fit their needs. This approach can lead to a successful business.

By understanding how to build a online community and using best practices, you can make a place where people feel they belong. They’ll learn and grow with you and care about your brand’s future. This article gives a full guide on how to make a valuable online community.

The need for online community building will keep growing as the digital world changes. Using this tool helps you stay ahead, build a strong bond with your audience, and set your business up for success in the digital world.

FAQ

What is an online community?

An online community is a group of people who share common interests or goals. They meet to inspire, support, and learn from each other. It’s a place to connect and grow together.

How do online communities experience growth?

Growth in online communities comes from member-led efforts. People put their energy and passion into the group. Hosts guide the conversation and keep things running smoothly. Moderators, often from the community, help manage the space.

What are the different types of online communities?

There are many types of online communities. Some are mastermind groups or group coaching setups. Others are content communities or online brand communities. You can also find online forums, learning communities, and event communities.

Why should I build an online community?

Building an online community adds value for its members. It inspires, supports, and connects people. It also helps drive traffic to your site, strengthens customer relationships, and boosts your business.

How can an online community support personal growth and learning?

Online communities support personal growth by offering social support. They help members learn new skills and stick to new habits. This is thanks to accountability and support from others in the community.

How can an online community support teaching and learning?

Communities make teaching and learning more effective. Connecting an online course to a community improves results and completion rates. Conversations in communities have been key since the internet began.

How can an online community be monetized?

Online communities can make money through memberships. Whether you’re starting small or have a big brand, they can bring in steady income. Selling memberships is a common way to make money.

What are some examples of successful online communities?

Successful communities include a faith group with 470 leaders across 67 countries. An entrepreneurship group reached 5,000 members in just 2.5 weeks. A health-focused community earned ,000 in annual revenue from 100 members.

What are the pros and cons of free vs. owned online community platforms?

Free platforms like Facebook and Twitter let you create content and reach people. But you don’t fully control the community. Owned platforms give you more control over your brand but need more effort to grow.

What are the key steps to building a successful online community?

To build a successful community, start by choosing the right platform. Develop a plan for launching and set up the community structure. Then, focus on engaging and growing your members over time.

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