Over the last 20 years, I’ve built several large, active communities, and here’s something I’ve learned: community building isn’t as hard as people think. Hear me out. The real challenge isn’t about how difficult it is - it’s about consistency. That’s where most people struggle. But if you’ve got a solid plan and stick to it, it gets a lot easier.
The most important factor? Creating immediate value for your members. Think about it - why would anyone join a community if there’s no instant benefit? Let me give an example: Administrata offers real value by running events that helps other community leaders and shares advice and ideas. As community leaders, we should always be offering something meaningful right from the start.
I like to call this “painkiller content.” It’s content that solves a specific pain point or fulfills a need for your members. When you offer something they can’t easily ignore, you grab their attention. You’ve got, what, about 0.2 seconds to capture someone’s interest? Okay, that's exaggerated, but you get the idea. Whether it’s a detailed guide, a helpful tool, or quick tips, you need to provide instant gratification.
But here’s the thing - your value shouldn’t stop there. It’s about creating content that people want to engage with. That could mean well-crafted discussions, articles, videos, or events. Variety is key because different members are attracted to different things. Some come for knowledge, others stay for the networking or opportunities.
Once members see the value you’re offering, they’re naturally more inclined to engage. The trick is to build a cycle where value leads to participation - one member shares, another responds - and that creates even more value. And so the cycle keeps going.
With the right mindset and tools, community building becomes a process. It doesn’t have to be hard. It’s all about creating a structure where value, content, and engagement feed into each other continuously.
What strategies have you found most effective in creating that initial value for your community members? How do you keep them engaged after they join?
The most important factor? Creating immediate value for your members. Think about it - why would anyone join a community if there’s no instant benefit? Let me give an example: Administrata offers real value by running events that helps other community leaders and shares advice and ideas. As community leaders, we should always be offering something meaningful right from the start.
I like to call this “painkiller content.” It’s content that solves a specific pain point or fulfills a need for your members. When you offer something they can’t easily ignore, you grab their attention. You’ve got, what, about 0.2 seconds to capture someone’s interest? Okay, that's exaggerated, but you get the idea. Whether it’s a detailed guide, a helpful tool, or quick tips, you need to provide instant gratification.
But here’s the thing - your value shouldn’t stop there. It’s about creating content that people want to engage with. That could mean well-crafted discussions, articles, videos, or events. Variety is key because different members are attracted to different things. Some come for knowledge, others stay for the networking or opportunities.
Once members see the value you’re offering, they’re naturally more inclined to engage. The trick is to build a cycle where value leads to participation - one member shares, another responds - and that creates even more value. And so the cycle keeps going.
With the right mindset and tools, community building becomes a process. It doesn’t have to be hard. It’s all about creating a structure where value, content, and engagement feed into each other continuously.
What strategies have you found most effective in creating that initial value for your community members? How do you keep them engaged after they join?
