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I’ve help build internet communities that have generated hundreds of millions of members
The most often question I get asked is:
But Greg - how do I build a community from scratch?!
Here's what I usually say:
The most often question I get asked is:
But Greg - how do I build a community from scratch?!
Here's what I usually say:
First, why you should care about community:
- It's the best way to build a movement
- It supercharges word-of-mouth
- People want community more now than ever
- Products built on-top of communities scale fast
If you unlock community, it's an unfair advantage
Img: @gapingvoid
- It's the best way to build a movement
- It supercharges word-of-mouth
- People want community more now than ever
- Products built on-top of communities scale fast
If you unlock community, it's an unfair advantage
Img: @gapingvoid
Start small. Start tiny.
95% of communities can start as a simple group chat
A community only needs a shared purpose and a place to thrive
Don’t overthink it
95% of communities can start as a simple group chat
A community only needs a shared purpose and a place to thrive
Don’t overthink it
Weak community leadership kills communities
6 qualities of high-performing community leaders I’ve noticed:
1. Captivating
2. Consistent
3. Loud
4. Obsessed with the mission/people
5. Relentlessly helpful
6. Sincere
6 qualities of high-performing community leaders I’ve noticed:
1. Captivating
2. Consistent
3. Loud
4. Obsessed with the mission/people
5. Relentlessly helpful
6. Sincere
Invite-only works
95% of communities should begin as waitlists. B2B or B2C. Doesn’t matter
Exclusivity and scarcity drives demand
Tip: waitlist communities outperform
95% of communities should begin as waitlists. B2B or B2C. Doesn’t matter
Exclusivity and scarcity drives demand
Tip: waitlist communities outperform
Merch supercharges communities
You’d be surprised what designing incredible merch can do to a community
It gives them a “raison d’etre”
Example: @100Thieves
Tip: hire streetwear designers to design your merch
You’d be surprised what designing incredible merch can do to a community
It gives them a “raison d’etre”
Example: @100Thieves
Tip: hire streetwear designers to design your merch
Get members where they want to go
The secret to community design: get members they want to go (ie: milestones etc)
The best communities: move members
The secret to community design: get members they want to go (ie: milestones etc)
The best communities: move members
Who we are
I’ve never found a community that thrived that didn’t have a compelling “who we are” story
Key points:
- Describe the future utopia
- Describe the cause with passion
- Amplify the real reason they exist
Tip: tighten your who we are story and terrific things happen
I’ve never found a community that thrived that didn’t have a compelling “who we are” story
Key points:
- Describe the future utopia
- Describe the cause with passion
- Amplify the real reason they exist
Tip: tighten your who we are story and terrific things happen
Not all founding members are equal
Example: Clubhouse recruited well-known tech people in April 2020 and gave them a virtual place to hang out
Tip: your first members set the tone. Choose wisely
Example: Clubhouse recruited well-known tech people in April 2020 and gave them a virtual place to hang out
Tip: your first members set the tone. Choose wisely
Community/market fit
Founders obsess about product/market fit. But don’t obsess enough about community/market fit
How to build a startup in 2021:
1. Community/market fit
2. Product/market fit
3. Scale
Founders obsess about product/market fit. But don’t obsess enough about community/market fit
How to build a startup in 2021:
1. Community/market fit
2. Product/market fit
3. Scale
Design rituals
Being in a Zoom call together isn’t community building
The goal: Create daily/weekly rituals that make people feel alive and grateful to be apart of the community
Being in a Zoom call together isn’t community building
The goal: Create daily/weekly rituals that make people feel alive and grateful to be apart of the community
Takeaways:
1. Human beings can’t help it: we need to belong
2. The long term win is in building a community
3. Building a community is where art meets science. It's perfectly do-able
1. Human beings can’t help it: we need to belong
2. The long term win is in building a community
3. Building a community is where art meets science. It's perfectly do-able
If you enjoyed this thread, RT it to share with your followers. The world needs more communities not less :)
and toss me a little follow at @gregisenberg
and toss me a little follow at @gregisenberg
And if you enjoy learning about internet communities and the exciting world of community based products
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