Building An Online Community
Hi All,
One thing I talk about all the time is “community” I wanted to speak on what community actually means as some may associate it with those who live in the same borough or from the same country etc.
What is an online community?
A group of people who interact with each other over the internet (email, websites, messaging, social media, etc). This group of people have shared values or a common interest that brings them together. They come together for a purpose. You want people to come together to interact with and celebrate your brand and what it stands for.
For example, my podcast Hustle Smart has been building an online community of people committed to self-development whether that’s working professionals, entrepreneurs, or students.
How do we invest in our online community?
We create content that solves their problems/pains.
We create products to alleviate their problems/pains. The Hustle Smart Planner was a direct result of us listening to our audience and understanding that the majority struggle with maximising their productivity or keeping track of their goals.
We engage consistently with our community, we reply to every DM, comment, or email. We engage with our community by using the Q&A story function.
Here are a few benefits of us investing in our online community:
Strong Relationships built
It is invaluable for us being able to engage with our community and building a relationship as this has helped us build trust which creates loyalty. Through building a relationship, when we launched our first product, we received a great amount of support.
Invaluable Feedback
You should be listening as much as sharing on your online community. This is a great way to get feedback and insight into what you’re currently doing as a brand. We get feedback through surveys, reviews, Q&A on Instagram or even asking our audience in the DMs what they like most about our podcast. If you can tap into your audience’s needs, pain points and interests, then you can adjust your overall business strategy accordingly.
Empowers your customers
Your customers can be your most important marketing asset. Customers feeling valued and empowered to tell your story is an incredibly powerful tool for brands. You are creating a group of brand ambassadors that will talk about you in a positive way any chance they get.
Business Growth Opportunities
Having an active online community will generate buzz about your brand, allowing you to create opportunities to engage potential customers. Posting engaging content linking back to your website will also drive traffic to your website.
Competitive advantage
An online community is a great way for you to establish brand differentiation from your competitors.
Take the time to figure out how you are different than your competitors and use that to create value for the customer.
Your business starts with your customers, you need to be able to connect with them in a meaningful way on a regular basis. You need to constantly find ways to create new and engaging content to spark discussion and positive experiences with your brand.
As always, feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or would like me to expand on any points. Have a great week all and thank you for being part of my online community!