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Trends #0014 — Paid Communities
1. 
Problem
Free communities tend to be noisy without a barrier to entry.
ProblemFree communities tend to be noisy without a barrier to entry.
2. 
Solution
Paid communities have requirements, financial or otherwise.
As Derek Sivers says, the higher the price, the more they value it.
SolutionPaid communities have requirements, financial or otherwise.
As Derek Sivers says, the higher the price, the more they value it.
3. 
Paid Communities
Makerpad ( @makerpad)
Founder Summit Remote ( @FounderSummit)
Everything Marketplaces ( @Yoroomie)
Visualize Value ( @visualizevalue)
Polymathic ( @2PMinc)
Paid Communities Makerpad ( @makerpad) Founder Summit Remote ( @FounderSummit) Everything Marketplaces ( @Yoroomie) Visualize Value ( @visualizevalue) Polymathic ( @2PMinc)
4. Paid Communities (con't)
Weekend Club ( @weekendclubldn)
FTT+ ( @fintechtoday_)
Study Hall ( @studyhallxyz)
Workfrom ( @workfrom)
Farnam Street Learning Community ( @farnamstreet)
Paid Communities (con't) Weekend Club ( @weekendclubldn) FTT+ ( @fintechtoday_) Study Hall ( @studyhallxyz) Workfrom ( @workfrom) Farnam Street Learning Community ( @farnamstreet)
5. Membership Tools
Gumroad ( @gumroad)
Pico ( @tryPico)
Patreon ( @Patreon)
MemberClicks ( @MemberClicks)
MemberPress ( @memberpress)
Membership Tools Gumroad ( @gumroad) Pico ( @tryPico) Patreon ( @Patreon) MemberClicks ( @MemberClicks) MemberPress ( @memberpress)
6. Membership Tools (con't)
LaunchPass ( @LaunchPass)
Memberful ( @memberful)
Buy Me A Coffee ( @buymeacoffee)
Memberstack ( @MemberstackApp)
Kajabi ( @Kajabi)
Membership Tools (con't) LaunchPass ( @LaunchPass) Memberful ( @memberful) Buy Me A Coffee ( @buymeacoffee) Memberstack ( @MemberstackApp) Kajabi ( @Kajabi)
7. Platforms
Slack ( @SlackHQ)
Discord ( @discord)
Mighty Networks ( @MightyNetworks)
Circle ( @CircleApp)
Tribe ( @TribePlatform)
Platforms Slack ( @SlackHQ) Discord ( @discord) Mighty Networks ( @MightyNetworks) Circle ( @CircleApp) Tribe ( @TribePlatform)
8. Platforms (con't)
Discourse ( @discourse)
Flarum Pro ( @Flarum)
Disciple ( @DiscipleMedia)
Hivebrite ( @hivebrite)
Playgroup ( @PlaygroupHQ)
Platforms (con't) Discourse ( @discourse) Flarum Pro ( @Flarum) Disciple ( @DiscipleMedia) Hivebrite ( @hivebrite) Playgroup ( @PlaygroupHQ)
9. 
Predictions
Tools like http://sharedthis.email will make it easy to pirate paid newsletters.
This will accelerate the move towards content-based communities.
Predictions Tools like http://sharedthis.email will make it easy to pirate paid newsletters. This will accelerate the move towards content-based communities.
10. Predictions
Communities will be built on exhaust data.
• Fitbit leaderboards track your steps & update friends
• Open Startup dashboards track revenue & update the world
What’s next?
A community built on continuous glucose monitors? https://www.dictionary.com/browse/data-exhaust
Predictions Communities will be built on exhaust data.• Fitbit leaderboards track your steps & update friends
• Open Startup dashboards track revenue & update the world
What’s next?
A community built on continuous glucose monitors? https://www.dictionary.com/browse/data-exhaust
11. Predictions (con't)
Hyperniche media companies will be well-positioned for paid communities.
Social networks have network effects.
Paid communities have reverse network effects.
Think Farnam Street versus Facebook. https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/linkedin-twitter-and-reverse-network-effects
Predictions (con't) Hyperniche media companies will be well-positioned for paid communities. Social networks have network effects.
Paid communities have reverse network effects.
Think Farnam Street versus Facebook. https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/linkedin-twitter-and-reverse-network-effects
12. 
Opportunities
Don’t use money as the only filter for your paid community. Price is not one-dimensional. It’s time, risk, sacrifice.
• @ecommercefuel members must own a 7-figure biz
• Everything Marketplaces members must run a marketplace
• @makerpad is invite-only
Opportunities Don’t use money as the only filter for your paid community. Price is not one-dimensional. It’s time, risk, sacrifice.• @ecommercefuel members must own a 7-figure biz
• Everything Marketplaces members must run a marketplace
• @makerpad is invite-only
13. Opportunities (con't)
Build a paid community from your email list
The founders of @TTTSEOCommunity & @web (Founder, @2PMinc) used this strategy.
We covered the content-to-community playbook in #0011 https://trends.vc/trends-0011-paid-newsletters/
Opportunities (con't) Build a paid community from your email listThe founders of @TTTSEOCommunity & @web (Founder, @2PMinc) used this strategy.
We covered the content-to-community playbook in #0011 https://trends.vc/trends-0011-paid-newsletters/
14. Opportunities (con't)
Add gamification to boost engagement and lower churn. @Moz Community rewards members with MozPoints.
These are redeemed for profile upgrades, t-shirts, tickets to MozCon and more.
Opportunities (con't) Add gamification to boost engagement and lower churn. @Moz Community rewards members with MozPoints. These are redeemed for profile upgrades, t-shirts, tickets to MozCon and more.
15. Opportunities (con't)
Have a founding member launch.
Use the launch to shape the culture of your community. Offer early members great prices.
The @visualizevalue community was $19 for lifetime membership. Now it’s $99 per year.
Opportunities (con't) Have a founding member launch. Use the launch to shape the culture of your community. Offer early members great prices.
The @visualizevalue community was $19 for lifetime membership. Now it’s $99 per year.
16. Opportunities (con't)
Track the NPS and KPIs for your community.
Diana Tower spoke with James Schramko ( @JamesSchramko) about the importance of collecting qualitative and quantitative feedback from community members.
Opportunities (con't) Track the NPS and KPIs for your community. Diana Tower spoke with James Schramko ( @JamesSchramko) about the importance of collecting qualitative and quantitative feedback from community members.
17. Opportunities (con't)
Host guest AMA sessions. Online Geniuses ( @OnlineGeniuses) featured:
• Courtland Allen ( @csallen)
• Gary Vaynerchuk ( @garyvee)
• Guy Kawasaki ( @GuyKawasaki)
Opportunities (con't) Host guest AMA sessions. Online Geniuses ( @OnlineGeniuses) featured:• Courtland Allen ( @csallen)
• Gary Vaynerchuk ( @garyvee)
• Guy Kawasaki ( @GuyKawasaki)
18. Opportunities (con't)
Think twice before building a paid community using Facebook groups
We discussed platform risk in Trends #0012 — Micro Private Equity https://trends.vc/trends-0012-micro-private-equity/
Opportunities (con't) Think twice before building a paid community using Facebook groupsWe discussed platform risk in Trends #0012 — Micro Private Equity https://trends.vc/trends-0012-micro-private-equity/
19. Opportunities (con't)
Have shared struggles. Members will justify the struggle (price) to themselves.
See fraternity initiation and military bootcamps. Look into commitment and consistency bias. https://fs.blog/2016/08/commitment-consistency-bias/
Opportunities (con't) Have shared struggles. Members will justify the struggle (price) to themselves. See fraternity initiation and military bootcamps. Look into commitment and consistency bias. https://fs.blog/2016/08/commitment-consistency-bias/
20. Opportunities (con't)
Create a group identity.
Give your community a name, develop a language and have swag. Pat Flynn has Team Flynn. Their slogan is “Team Flynn for the win.” And you can buy a shirt with the slogan.
Opportunities (con't) Create a group identity. Give your community a name, develop a language and have swag. Pat Flynn has Team Flynn. Their slogan is “Team Flynn for the win.” And you can buy a shirt with the slogan.
21. 
Haters
“All paid communities are not online.”
Sure. WeWork Labs, The Gathering Spot and Renzo Gracie Academy are offline paid communities.
Haters“All paid communities are not online.”
Sure. WeWork Labs, The Gathering Spot and Renzo Gracie Academy are offline paid communities.
22. 
Links
How to Build and Profit from a Hyperlocal Community Site
Katy Katz ( @katykatztx) and Sean Jackson ( @seanthinks) talk about the power of hyperlocal (or hyperniche) communities and how to build them. A few years old but relevant. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-digital/how-to-build-and-profit-from-0SWJaNBz9mw/
LinksHow to Build and Profit from a Hyperlocal Community Site
Katy Katz ( @katykatztx) and Sean Jackson ( @seanthinks) talk about the power of hyperlocal (or hyperniche) communities and how to build them. A few years old but relevant. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-digital/how-to-build-and-profit-from-0SWJaNBz9mw/
23. Links (con't)
Come for the tool, stay for the network
@cdixon shows us how Instagram & Delicious were built on single-player tools
@StuMcLaren says that people come for the content and stay for the community
Tools or Content. Both work. https://cdixon.org/2015/01/31/come-for-the-tool-stay-for-the-network
Links (con't)Come for the tool, stay for the network
@cdixon shows us how Instagram & Delicious were built on single-player tools
@StuMcLaren says that people come for the content and stay for the community
Tools or Content. Both work. https://cdixon.org/2015/01/31/come-for-the-tool-stay-for-the-network
24. Links (con't)
From Audiences to Communities
Web Smith ( @web) tracks his journey from newsletter to community. This intersects with insights from Chris and Stu.
Web leveraged content https://2pml.com/2020/01/06/an-open-letter-to-creators/
Links (con't)From Audiences to Communities
Web Smith ( @web) tracks his journey from newsletter to community. This intersects with insights from Chris and Stu.
Web leveraged content https://2pml.com/2020/01/06/an-open-letter-to-creators/
25. Links (con't)
The Rise of Private Communities
Steve Pavlina explains why we should opt for paid communities.
He notes that they are full of engaged doers. This is an excellent, in-depth piece. Take into account: He has a paid community. https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2018/01/rise-private-communities/
Links (con't)The Rise of Private Communities
Steve Pavlina explains why we should opt for paid communities.
He notes that they are full of engaged doers. This is an excellent, in-depth piece. Take into account: He has a paid community. https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2018/01/rise-private-communities/
26. Links (con't)
My Paid Mastermind Experiment. Is It Worth It?
Omar Zenhom ( @TheOmarZenhom) echos Steve Pavlina. He compares his experience in free masterminds to his experience in paid masterminds. Omar also has a paid community. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-100-mba-show/mba1211-my-paid-mastermind-PuJhbB8Hdka/
Links (con't)My Paid Mastermind Experiment. Is It Worth It?
Omar Zenhom ( @TheOmarZenhom) echos Steve Pavlina. He compares his experience in free masterminds to his experience in paid masterminds. Omar also has a paid community. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-100-mba-show/mba1211-my-paid-mastermind-PuJhbB8Hdka/
27. Links (con't)
How to Create an Online Community That People Will Pay For
A tactical post from @dorieclark. He shows us how use an email list to build a paid community and gives examples such as Food Blogger Pro and Magnetic Memory Method. https://hbr.org/2019/09/how-to-create-an-online-community-that-people-will-pay-for
Links (con't)How to Create an Online Community That People Will Pay For
A tactical post from @dorieclark. He shows us how use an email list to build a paid community and gives examples such as Food Blogger Pro and Magnetic Memory Method. https://hbr.org/2019/09/how-to-create-an-online-community-that-people-will-pay-for
28. Links (con't)
Growing a Knowledge-Sharing Community to Six Figures in Ten Months
The story of how @nick_eubanks partnered with @matthewbarby and @ianhowells to grow Traffic Think Tank ( @TTTSEOCommunity) to $31k/mo in 10 months using email lists. https://www.indiehackers.com/interview/growing-a-knowledge-sharing-community-to-six-figures-in-ten-months-980ea57924
Links (con't)Growing a Knowledge-Sharing Community to Six Figures in Ten Months
The story of how @nick_eubanks partnered with @matthewbarby and @ianhowells to grow Traffic Think Tank ( @TTTSEOCommunity) to $31k/mo in 10 months using email lists. https://www.indiehackers.com/interview/growing-a-knowledge-sharing-community-to-six-figures-in-ten-months-980ea57924
29. Links (con't)
How to Build a Loyal Community
@laurynevarts shares an inspiring story of building The Skinny Confidential for 3 years before making money. She also talks about how to make community building a habit. Interview with @sophiaamoruso https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/girlboss-radio/how-to-build-a-loyal-0O4rRFjqYNH/
Links (con't)How to Build a Loyal Community
@laurynevarts shares an inspiring story of building The Skinny Confidential for 3 years before making money. She also talks about how to make community building a habit. Interview with @sophiaamoruso https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/girlboss-radio/how-to-build-a-loyal-0O4rRFjqYNH/
30. Links (con't)
Trends #0008 — Remote Fitness
A new type of paid community. Remote fitness companies are becoming networks. https://trends.vc/trends-0008-remote-fitness/
Links (con't)Trends #0008 — Remote Fitness
A new type of paid community. Remote fitness companies are becoming networks. https://trends.vc/trends-0008-remote-fitness/
31. Links (con't)
Build a More Human Internet
Caterina Fake ( @Caterina) talks to Reid Hoffman ( @reidhoffman) about shaping community culture from the start. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/masters-of-scale/build-a-more-human-internet-_1Yh-Gym6jg/
Links (con't)Build a More Human Internet
Caterina Fake ( @Caterina) talks to Reid Hoffman ( @reidhoffman) about shaping community culture from the start. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/masters-of-scale/build-a-more-human-internet-_1Yh-Gym6jg/
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Trends Pro #0014 report has 3x more insights.
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116 Players with Links (380% More) 4 Predictions (33% More) 16 Opportunities (60% More) 18 Summarized Links (80% More)All for $3 https://gumroad.com/l/PUthZk
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