Here is the second phase of how to build an online community. Development of communities plays an indispensable role in establishing loyalty of the consumers towards the business. It is considered to be a perfect option to connect people with similar needs, interests, and behaviors. That is a perfect place where different consumers develop relationships with one another as well as with the brand. It helps in adding value for the consumers and retaining the potential customers. To build an online community, the first phase involves starting small. In addition to this, it is essential to add the layer of the exclusivity, ethics of helpfulness, making connections, to name a few.
As you have started
speaking more about the community, it is time to add the members and work for
scaling. There are different options to do the same. The effectiveness will be
dependent on the kind of community, you are willing to run. There are different
practices that have proved the effectiveness of the development of the
community. Take a look to learn how to build an online community.
The referral program
The communities of Hunn
and Quibb let the early members in inviting people for joining. The same
strategy holds good for Ello. The assumption is that as the early members of
the community contribute to the same in a worth mentioning manner, their
friends are likely to do the same. They will only make the best of the people
join the communities. Referrals are considered to be the perfect option for
people to share a cool thing as they are considered to be an indispensable part
of spreading the word of the specific brand. Referees are known to award the
most effective referral programs. As rewards, you can offer certain features,
swag, product discounts, tickets, freebies, to name a few to the referee. There
are certain referral programs where the point systems are being used. Referral
programs can help in the addition of the other layer of engagement and let the
competition go in a healthy manner.
Newsletters
Newsletters are another
integral option how to grow an online community. Newsletters will be much
helpful in the management of a large community, spreading the word to the
existing customers. It also helps them in understanding the objectives of the
community, and the value they are going to add.
Tiered invites
Every brand and its
communities have tiered customers. For instance, the consumers of Tier A may be
super loyal, hyper-engaged whereas the consumers of Tier B might be loyal and
moderately loyal customers. As you start small, you need to invite the consumers
of Tier-A in the beginning. As you have prepared the guidelines, it is now time
to invite the customers of Tier B and this is how the list goes. SaaS programs
such as NomNom and Intercom are useful in finding the most engaged customers.
Social channels
The social audience can
be effective when you think about how to build an online community. It is also
useful in making engagements. As the community runs in a smooth manner and
there is a tight process, it is time to unleash the hounds, indicating that it
is announced to the world. The social channels help in sharing wins,
highlights, and insights from a different community. Through social media, you
can let your targeted audience know what they are missing exactly and the
reasons for which they need to join the community. You can add a wide array of
members to your community by making announcements on social media as well as on
the blogs.
Targeted outreach
In case you are trying
to build and develop a huge community, you need to include people outside the
customer base as well. The outreach happens to be an effective strategy for the
development of an online community. You require finding relevant blogs,
publications, and newsletters and share the same with the community. Create a
compelling and short message and let your customers know why they should be a
part of the community. There are different tools for the identification of
relevant outlets.
Public relations
You can be available as
an expert for different new media sources. It is useful in bringing more people
to the community. As you create a high quality of content, you can have higher
leverage while reaching out to people. Media are fond of experts on a specific
subject. If you are confident about your knowledge on the specific niche on
which the community is developed, appear on media as an expert. This will be
helpful in growing your community in no time.
Personal network
Believe it or not, but
your personal network can do wonders in how to build an online community. In
fact, it may help you in turning your community into the brand. If someone
wants to volunteer, listen to them. Begin with a call to your personal network
and keep moving.
Attractive videos
You need to find
specific sites in the niche in which you can go for guest posting. In addition
to building links, it is considered to be an integral option for the
development of community and bringing in new people. Being a good and quality
writer of a specific medium can help you in qualifying in doing guest blogging.
Conducting live events
Most of the development
of online communities involves offline connections. Though a virtual handshake
can be amazing, a real-life one can do wonders. If you can manage to grab the
attention of people while they are away from computers, it will do more good.
Conduction of live events is considered to be an ideal option for bringing
people in your niche together. In the era of the social web, you can find more
people for the growth of your community in the live events.
Interviews
It is another crucial option part of how to build an online community. It is useful in establishing new connections and growing the community. You need to ensure that the content of the interview is amazing and useful. It will help you in building an online community at ease.
These first and second phase tips could help you to grow online community. If you didn’t read the first part yet, you can to do this here: How to build an online community: part 1.