How to Build a Community, Not Just a Following

Building a community is a very important strategy in the digital marketing world because it helps you build your brand with a lasting impact in view.

Your brand or business could have a massive following/traffic on your website or page, but that does not equal building an active community that interacts and engages with your posts and content.

We might say yes, you need a following but trust us, you need a community even more.

In this article, we’ll point out why you need a community, how to build a community, and the difference between building a community and not just following.

What Is an Online/Social Media Community?

A community consists of a large or small group of people who are enamored or love a particular brand or business ranging from products to services.

These kinds of communities usually grow and flourish on social media platforms where fans and clients keep in touch and share the latest updates and information on the brand/business.

The primary target of a community is not just to gather a following but also to foster trust and loyalty between the client and the brand and increase engagement and visibility.

To grow your community, you need to consistently create content, engage and reply to customer feedback, and cultivate a sense of family and trust among your customers.

Why Do You Need An Online/Social Media Community?

A brand or business owner needs an online community to bring customers together in a place where questions can be asked, and feedback will be given.

You need an online community to help your customers and fans locate your services and products among the many competitions. You need an online community to help increase your income.

You need an online community to help foster upgrades for your services and products through the feedback of your audience. You need an online community to help build your online presence.

Types Of Online Communities

There are many types of communities but we will be focusing on only 6 that you will probably encounter regularly.

They include;

• Interest-based community: This community comes together for a shared interest or goal.
• Action-based community: A community brought together by a desire to inspire change, e.g., A charity organization forming a group to help the underprivileged.
• Place-based community: A community created within a geographic area, e.g., a Facebook page created for people visiting China for the first time.
• Profession-based community: A community created to connect people of the same profession with tips and materials to excel in the workplace for example Doctors create a group to pass information and updates.
• Learning-based community: A community created with the intent to focus on shared learning passion, it might be about a profession or a hobby.
• Brand-based community: A community created by a brand focused on a shared mission, goal, or lifestyle.

7 Steps to Building an Online/Social Media Community

Building an online community takes a lot of effort and time, but your gain far outweighs the pain.

So, here are seven powerful steps to build your online community:

1. Specify Your Community’s Goal

Begin by specifying the goals of your community; this has to do with the primary reason for which your community exists and what kind of value it offers to your audience.

It could be learning-based, Interest-based, or action, whichever is a particular goal that sets the tone for a strong community.

Your goals will be the ladder on which the right customers will be drawn and also on which your content and interactions will nurture your community.

2. Know Your Target Audience

It is important you know who your community is for and build accordingly.

Your audience is definitely in the social media space, but you need to find them first and create engaging and relevant content that can pull them to you.

Your content should be customized to reach the needs, desires, and preferences of your audience.

3. Pick The Right Channels

There are different platforms/channels for reaching different audiences.

Do your research and find what platform is best suited for the audience you want to reach, and then build your community there.

Also, check out your competitors and find out what they are doing better than you; finding the right platforms will help you channel your strength and gain better results.

4. Create Engaging Content

High-quality and engaging content has a way of attracting your audience, keeping them engaged and willing to interact.

To effectively pull this off you have to create a content calendar and keep making consistent posts, Give your audience relevant information, tips, and knowledge that focus on your niche, Use high-quality visuals that represent and advocate your brand personality.

5. Respond To Your Community

Building an Online community entails that you will be an active participant.

You have to respond to comments, answer questions, and receive feedback from your audience consistently with your brand’s voice.

Responding to your community helps to build trust, it also showcases your dedication to the development of your community.

6. Set Clear Rules For Safety Purposes

Set rules and guidelines that would help maintain order and respect in your community and also include penalties for offenders.

Make use of tools that help to hide negative feedback that is not seen for safety purposes. Give room for constructive talks and shun any form of negativity and harassment.

The Difference Between a Community and a Following

A community is and can be your friends and your greatest cheerleaders, but the following just contributes to a small percentage of your engagement:

Followers are strangers. A community is full of people who would recommend your services and products to others but your followers will not do that because they don’t care.

In the end, numbers would not matter if you are unable to sell your products and services or if your numbers are unable to generate leads for your brand.

A community is there for the long-term and the long haul but a following is just for the moment and will never last.

Your community will give you all the support you need at crucial moments, but mere followers do not care, so you will receive minimal support from them.

Conclusion

Building and growing your community will always have a great impact on your business/brand.

It increases your visibility, engagement, and conversion rates. Also, the joy that comes with building a great community gives cannot be quantified.