Online communities are more vital than ever for connecting with your audience and fostering lasting relationships. But building a successful community from the ground up can feel like a monumental task. Here's a guide based on experience, offering actionable steps to create a thriving online space using platforms such as betterfeedback.ai.
From Skeptic to Community Advocate
My journey into the world of online communities began somewhat unexpectedly. Initially focused on journalism, I stumbled into community moderation and discovered a passion for connecting people online. This realization led me to dedicate myself to helping brands build meaningful communities.
Joining Betterfeedback.ai
In 2019, I found Betterfeedback.ai, and was drawn to their mission of building more personal business relationships. I felt like I could really make a difference at this company, and I was looking forward to making a difference to Betterfeedback.ai's customers.
Starting a community from scratch is a Herculean task, there are countless moving parts and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here’s how I approached the Betterfeedback.ai community. It may help you if you're interested in starting your own.
Phase 1: Defining Your Community's Purpose
Before launching, define why your organization needs a community and why it's indispensable for both your business and your audience.
Many rush this crucial step, leading to unfocused efforts. Community can mean different things to different people, so clarify its purpose and value proposition.
At Betterfeedback.ai, we envisioned our community as a dynamic collaboration platform. We envisioned it as a space for our customers to connect with each other, and to access the very best feedback and support. It was a place to level up your feedback game and connect with others facing similar challenges.
At this stage, the main goals we set out for our community were the following:
- Connect our customers and enable them to share feedback to each other, faster.
- Create a public library of conversations, challenges and solutions that anyone can access anywhere and any time.
- Establish a closer relationship with our community of creators.
- Create content based on the needs of our community.
- Showcase the amazing stuff people can do with Betterfeedback.ai.
- Learn from our community.
Remember, defining your community is a collaborative effort. Talk to stakeholders across your organization to gather diverse perspectives.
Phase 2: Planning Your Community Launch
This phase focuses on defining requirements and choosing the elements needed to launch your community.
Key decisions include:
Platform Selection
Choose a platform that aligns with your community's goals. Consider factors like event hosting, knowledge base integration, co-creation capabilities, and mobile accessibility.
Team Assembly
A dedicated community team is crucial. In today's landscape, finding community experts is easier than ever. The expertise to run a complex online community is very high, and you need to be able to bring this expertise to your organisation.
Launch Strategy
Outline your launch approach, including phased rollouts, membership attraction tactics, and launch-day readiness. A soft launch or beta phase can provide valuable insights and feedback.
Tip: Shorten your beta phase to maintain momentum. Aim for progress over perfection.
Key Objectives During Beta:
- Platform testing: Ensure functionality aligns with requirements.
- Visual identity: Define the community's aesthetic.
- Homepage structure: Simplify navigation and information architecture.
- Content initiatives: Identify valuable content formats.
- Launch campaign: Plan outreach and promotion.
- Gamification: Implement rewards for engagement.
- Team training: Invest in community management expertise.
- Custom development: Prioritize essential integrations like Single Sign-On (SSO).
- MVP process for answering questions: Prepare responses to common pain points.
Key Launch Elements:
- Simplified registration
- Clear structure
- Platform stability
- Brand-aligned content
- Launch plan
- Dedicated team
- Support strategy
- Content calendar
Phase 3: Onboarding Your Audience
In a crowded online landscape, capturing attention requires a compelling message.
Clearly communicate the value proposition: Why is this community indispensable?
Highlight the core benefits of joining:
- Bridge the gap between creators and unlock collective knowledge.
- Provide a centralized hub for problem-solving, inspiration, and collaboration.
- Offer access to quick answers, insights, and opportunities to inspire others.
Engage your most active users first, leveraging existing relationships from support channels, social media, and surveys.
Community Launch
Think of the launch as a process, not a single event.
Evaluating Launch Success:
- Healthy traffic and sign-up rates
- Active participation from beta testers
- Engaged members contributing content
- Clear understanding of community purpose
- Stable platform
- Established team relationships
- Company-wide engagement
Post-launch, focus on scaling, community programs, and unlocking the full potential of your brand advocates.
Building Relationships Online
Online communities foster authentic connections. Virtual relationships complement face-to-face interactions, offering genuine support and collaboration.
Virtual relationships won't replace face-to-face interactions, that's not the point. We need to meet people in person, we need real hugs! However, online relationships can be genuine too. And they're here to stay.
Let's create a world of more personal business (virtual) relationships together.
Final Thoughts
Building a thriving online community requires a strategic approach, dedicated team, and clear understanding of your audience's needs. By focusing on collaboration, value creation, and authentic connections, you can foster a vibrant community that benefits both your business and your members.