A thread:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💬" title="Speech balloon" aria-label="Emoji: Speech balloon"> Trends #0014 — Paid Communities https://trends.vc/trends-0014-paid-communities/">https://trends.vc/trends-00...
1. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔍" title="Left-pointing magnifying glass" aria-label="Emoji: Left-pointing magnifying glass"> Problem

Free communities tend to be noisy without a barrier to entry.
2. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💡" title="Electric light bulb" aria-label="Emoji: Electric light bulb"> Solution

Paid communities have requirements, financial or otherwise.

As Derek Sivers says, the higher the price, the more they value it.
3. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Paid Communities

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Makerpad ( @makerpad)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Founder Summit Remote ( @FounderSummit)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Everything Marketplaces ( @Yoroomie)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Visualize Value ( @visualizevalue)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Polymathic ( @2PMinc)
4. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Paid Communities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Weekend Club ( @weekendclubldn)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> FTT+ ( @fintechtoday_)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Study Hall ( @studyhallxyz)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Workfrom ( @workfrom)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔘" title="Radio button" aria-label="Emoji: Radio button"> Farnam Street Learning Community ( @farnamstreet)
5. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Membership Tools

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Gumroad ( @gumroad)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Pico ( @tryPico)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Patreon ( @Patreon)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> MemberClicks ( @MemberClicks)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> MemberPress ( @memberpress)
6. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Membership Tools (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> LaunchPass ( @LaunchPass)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Memberful ( @memberful)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Buy Me A Coffee ( @buymeacoffee)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Memberstack ( @MemberstackApp)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚪" title="White circle" aria-label="Emoji: White circle"> Kajabi ( @Kajabi)
7. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Platforms

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Slack ( @SlackHQ)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Discord ( @discord)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Mighty Networks ( @MightyNetworks)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Circle ( @CircleApp)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Tribe ( @TribePlatform)
8. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🏁" title="Chequered flag" aria-label="Emoji: Chequered flag"> Platforms (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Discourse ( @discourse)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Flarum Pro ( @Flarum)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Disciple ( @DiscipleMedia)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Hivebrite ( @hivebrite)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⚫" title="Black circle" aria-label="Emoji: Black circle"> Playgroup ( @PlaygroupHQ)
9. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔮" title="Crystal ball" aria-label="Emoji: Crystal ball">Predictions

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles"> Tools like http://sharedthis.email"> http://sharedthis.email  will make it easy to pirate paid newsletters.

This will accelerate the move towards content-based communities.
10. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔮" title="Crystal ball" aria-label="Emoji: Crystal ball">Predictions

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles"> 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">https://www.dictionary.com/browse/da...
11. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔮" title="Crystal ball" aria-label="Emoji: Crystal ball">Predictions (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Sparkles" aria-label="Emoji: Sparkles"> 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">https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/tec...
12. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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/">https://trends.vc/trends-00...
14. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> Host guest AMA sessions. Online Geniuses ( @OnlineGeniuses) featured:

• Courtland Allen ( @csallen)
• Gary Vaynerchuk ( @garyvee)
• Guy Kawasaki ( @GuyKawasaki)
18. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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/">https://trends.vc/trends-00...
19. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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/">https://fs.blog/2016/08/c...
20. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> Opportunities (con& #39;t)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔵" title="Blue circle" aria-label="Emoji: Blue circle"> 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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😠" title="Angry face" aria-label="Emoji: Angry face"> Haters

“All paid communities are not online.”

Sure. WeWork Labs, The Gathering Spot and Renzo Gracie Academy are offline paid communities.
22. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> 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/">https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/...
23. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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">https://cdixon.org/2015/01/3...
24. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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/">https://2pml.com/2020/01/0...
25. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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/">https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2018...
26. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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/">https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/...
27. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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">https://hbr.org/2019/09/h...
28. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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">https://www.indiehackers.com/interview...
29. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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/">https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/...
30. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;t)

Trends #0008 — Remote Fitness

A new type of paid community. Remote fitness companies are becoming networks. https://trends.vc/trends-0008-remote-fitness/">https://trends.vc/trends-00...
31. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link symbol"> Links (con& #39;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/">https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/...
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https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☁️" title="Cloud" aria-label="Emoji: Cloud"> 16 Opportunities (60% More)
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If you& #39;re interested in trends such as

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💌" title="Love letter" aria-label="Emoji: Love letter"> Paid Newsletters
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🦄" title="Unicorn face" aria-label="Emoji: Unicorn face"> Startup Studios
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧱" title="Bricks" aria-label="Emoji: Bricks"> No-Code
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💰" title="Money bag" aria-label="Emoji: Money bag"> Micro Private Equity
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🍳" title="Cooking" aria-label="Emoji: Cooking"> Cloud Kitchens
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🍎" title="Red apple" aria-label="Emoji: Red apple"> Online Courses
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥾" title="Hiking boot" aria-label="Emoji: Hiking boot"> Bootstrap Funds
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎙️" title="Studio microphone" aria-label="Emoji: Studio microphone"> Podcast Memberships

Stay Updated https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Downwards arrow" aria-label="Emoji: Downwards arrow"> https://join.trends.vc/ ">https://join.trends.vc/">...
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