Building an online community is a powerful way to connect with your audience, support your customers, grow your brand and generate more recurring revenue for your business.
In fact, here at SPI, we’ve changed our entire business model to focus on community, and it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.
Starting a community from scratch, however, can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll take you step-by-step through the entire process of building a successful online community. Along the way, I’ll address common concerns and share practical tips and tricks to help you achieve your community-building goals.
Let’s get to it!
Part 1: Understanding the value of an online community
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of starting your online community, it’s essential to understand the value a well-managed community can bring to your business or organization. An online community can:
- Increase connection and engagement among your audience or customers
- Establish your authority in your niche
- Provide valuable insights and feedback to help you improve your products or services
- Generate additional revenue through membership fees or other monetization methods (optional)
When you realize how valuable a community can be to your business and brand, you’ll take the extra care needed to make sure it’s great for your people and integrates well with your brand.
Part 2: Laying the groundwork for an online community
Step 1: Determine your “why”.
Your “why” is the driving force behind your community. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of the purpose and value your community will provide, which will help guide your decisions as you build and grow your community.
Consider the following questions:
- Are you trying to solve a problem for your audience?
- How will your community support your audience in achieving their goals?
- What unique perspective or skills do you bring to the table?
Always remember: Your earnings are a byproduct of how well you serve your audience. Start with your people first and the revenue will be the reward.
If money is your primary driver, it won’t work.
Step 2: Identify your target audience
To build a thriving community, you need to know who your ideal members are. Think about the characteristics that define your target audience, such as demographics, interests, and needs.
Also think about the struggles and challenges they are going through and what their goals are ultimately.
These simple things are what bring a community together. People on the outside may not really “get” or understand, but when you’re on the inside, you feel like you’ve found your people.
This type of critical thinking will help you tailor your community’s content, structure, and engagement strategies to attract and retain the right members.
Step 3: Define your community’s core values
Your online community’s core values serve as guiding principles for how members interact with each other and what they can expect from your community. Examples of core values might include mutual respect, continuous learning, or cooperation.
Our community’s core values are shared during the onboarding process, as soon as a person joins one of our communities. If you’re curious, or looking for help with your online business journey, click here to see what we have to offer!
It’s important to clearly communicate your core values to your members: they help set the tone for your online community and encourage positive behavior.
Part 3: Choosing the Right Platform and Technology
When it comes to hosting your online community, there are countless platforms and technologies to choose from Some popular options include forums, social media groups, and custom-built platforms.
Facebook groups were the first choice, but groups (and Facebook in general) have been losing users for some time now
I recommend using Circle, a modern, user-friendly platform designed specifically for building and managing online communities — one you can own and control (instead of playing in someone else’s sandbox).
Circle offers a wide range of features, including customizable branding, membership management tools, and seamless integration with popular tools like Zapier, WordPress, and Slack. This is the community platform we also use for SPI Pro and our All-Access Pass.
If you want to know more about Circle, Click here.*
*(Please note that this is an affiliate link and we earn a small commission if you end up accepting a payment plan – all at no extra cost to you, we just want to be up front about it.)
Part 4: Designing Your Online Community Structure and Engagement Strategy
1. Determine the type of community
There are three main types of online communities: communities of interest, communities of learning, and communities of support. Each type serves a different purpose and requires a unique approach to engagement and content creation.
Consider your “why” and your target audience when choosing the right community type for you.
2. Start simple
It’s crucial to start with a simple, sustainable community structure that delivers the right amount of value for your goals.
Avoid committing to long-term programming or overly complex schedules before you launch your community. This is very important, especially in the beginning. Trust us, we know this from our own experience.
Instead of getting too complicated, focus on creating a basic structure that you can build on and adapt based on member feedback and engagement.
What is the most valuable element of your community? If you could only pick a few, what would they be? Start there.
3. Establish an engagement strategy
An effective engagement strategy is key to the success of your online community. Consider offering a mix of asynchronous (eg discussion posts, resources) and live (eg webinars, group calls) content to meet different member preferences and schedules. Experiment with different types of programming to see what works best for your community
Again, while there are thousands of things you can do to encourage engagement in your community, start simple and lean. From there, you can build complications in a more controlled and tested manner.
4. Set expectations and boundaries
Setting clear expectations for your community members and establishing boundaries for your own time and availability is essential. Prominently communicate your community guidelines and moderation policies to ensure a safe, welcoming environment for all members. This should be done as soon as a person joins — right in the onboarding process.
And of course, model the behavior you expect from your community to set the tone and encourage positive interactions.
Part 5: Pricing and Revenue for Online Communities
If you decide to monetize your online community (which we recommend because people value what they value) there are several pricing models and strategies to consider.
Some popular options include freemium-tiered memberships, one-time fees, and recurring memberships. When determining your price, consider factors such as your time investment, overhead costs, and the financial resources of your target audience.
Remember that your pricing structure may evolve over time, and that’s okay. Be prepared to make adjustments based on feedback, market trends and the needs of your community.
Additionally, see what other communities offer and what their price points are Finally, consider what the overall value of your community is to your members. When the community and your guidance help a person, what does it mean to them? How much time and/or money will they save? How good will they be because they belong to the group?
Part 6: Launching and Growing Your Online Community
1. Start with a small, engaged group
When it comes to launching your community online, it’s best to start with a small, engaged group of members who are genuinely interested in your community’s purpose and values. This will help you build a strong foundation for growth and ensure you can effectively manage member engagement as your community expands.
How many must be correct? Even starting with five motivated members can do wonders. It would already seem that these people are together and can help influence what the membership and community becomes, and perhaps even grow it through their personal networks.
2. Ask for feedback and repeat
As you launch and grow your community, it’s essential to regularly solicit feedback from your members. Use a variety of methods, such as one-on-one conversations, anonymous surveys, and open discussions, to gather insights and ideas for improvement. Be prepared to iterate and adapt your community structure, content and engagement strategies based on the feedback you receive.
3. Embrace organic growth
While it’s tempting to focus on rapid growth, it’s important to remember that thriving communities can be small. We can’t stress this enough, especially when you’re likely to find communities with thousands of members when you research other niches within your niche.
You may be a small but mighty force!
Also, a small community can often provide a more intimate, supportive environment that fosters deeper connections and engagement. Embrace organic growth and prioritize the quality of your community over the number of members.
4. Promote your online community
To attract new members to your community, it’s essential to promote across multiple channels.
Leverage your existing audience, clients or network to generate interest and consider offering incentives for early adopters, such as discounted membership fees or exclusive content. We advise against discounting so that you don’t “cheap” your community just to bring people in; Instead, use exclusive bonuses, or use language like “beta tester price” or “early bird pricing” to convey early act pricing.
Additionally, share testimonials, success stories and other social proof to demonstrate the value of your online community and entice new members to join!
To finish…
Starting an online community can be a rewarding endeavor that brings immeasurable value to your business or organization. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving, engaged community that supports your audience goals and leads to the growth of your brand.
Remember, building a successful online community takes time, effort and adaptability. Don’t be afraid to iterate, experiment, and learn from your members as you chart your community’s path forward. With persistence and a clear vision, you can create a vibrant, thriving community that makes a lasting impact and even changes lives.
If you’d like to learn more about the thriving entrepreneurial communities we’ve built at SPI, or if you’re looking for community support on your own entrepreneurial journey, Click here. We have a variety of memberships for entrepreneurs of all levels and business sizes, and we have an entire team dedicated to creating an exceptional experience. Hope to see you there soon!
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