In today's ever-changing business landscape, it's more important than ever to build trusted and profitable relationships as customers may be feeling that they are not heard or understood when, for example, they are interacting with chatbots and AI (Artificial Intelligence) which as yet, does not display any empathy or ability to stand in the shoes of the client.

One avenue to set your business apart or to take your vision to a reality is to consider building your own community. Of course, like anything in business, this has its own challenges and it takes time, however, with the right strategies and tools, it's possible.

Building a community, you can utilise the need for human connection as an opportunity to generate a following, build a business model and and sustain cashflow and connection, whether that be for profit or not for profit. When you invest the time in building trust, driving business, navigating change, enhancing reputation, and improving collaboration, you can create a solid foundation for growth and success.

The essentials you will need:

CLEAR PURPOSE AND VISION

The first step to building a community is to have a clear purpose and vision. Without a clear purpose, it's difficult to attract and retain members who are passionate about what you're trying to achieve. Your purpose should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

To define your community's purpose, ask yourself these questions:

· Why do you want to build a community?

· What are your goals for the community?

· What are the benefits for members of the community?

· Who is your target audience?

· What are their pain points, interests, and values?

· What unique value can you offer that other communities can't?

Once you have a clear purpose, it's easier to develop a vision for your community. Your vision should be an inspiring and aspirational statement that captures your community's long-term goals and values. It should also align with your purpose and be communicated clearly to members of the community.

For example, I started my business community in 2013 for entrepreneurs and business owners, who were looking to build valuable relationships and network within a community, but were also seeking more knowledge and support than traditional business networking or referral networking events provided. Technical knowledge is all very well, but business can be a very challenging journey without the right skills and people you trust surrounding you.

Over the years, my community Your Time Matters has evolved. Communities should not and do stay stagnant. They need to adapt to the needs of the people involved . We have over the years, added support in various forms - mentoring, tools, a member portal, various event and workshop formats- both online and in person. Our vision to create connection, foster community and influence change as our members learn, grow and achieve has remained unwavering and we work towards creating a world where entrepreneurship is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or resources and that they think beyond themselves- rather than “what’s in it for me?” - “How can I make a difference?”.

ENGAGING CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES

The second thing you need to build a community is engaging content and activities. Members join communities to learn, connect, and have fun. If your community doesn't provide value, members will quickly lose interest and leave. Therefore, you need to create content and activities that are relevant, informative, and entertaining.

To create engaging content, consider these tips:

· Understand your audience's needs and preferences

· Use a variety of formats, such as videos, blog posts, podcasts, and infographics

· Provide practical tips, advice, and case studies

· Encourage members to participate and share their insights

· Respond to comments and feedback promptly

To create engaging activities, consider these ideas:

· Host live events, such as webinars, Q&A sessions, and workshops

· Create challenges, contests, and quizzes

· Facilitate peer-to-peer networking and mentoring

· Organize social activities, such as virtual happy hours, game nights, and book clubs

· Recognize and celebrate members' achievements and milestones

You can see from the variety of events we run for our community, the insights on our websites, our social media and youtube channels and our membership that we engage our community in various ways. This has not happened overnight. It has taken trial and error, good times and more challenging times. Each time learning more about our members needs and what works.

By providing valuable content and activities, you'll keep members engaged and motivated to participate in your community. We have 75% retention rate of members who have been with us for over 5 years and 25% since the initial meeting in 2013. Members who have moved on, have been able to proceed on their business journey alone, feeling more equipped by the time they have spent in our community.

CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT

The third thing you need to build a community is consistent communication and community management. Building a community is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires continuous effort and attention. You need to communicate regularly with your members, listen to their feedback, and address their concerns.

To communicate effectively with your members, consider these best practices:

· Use multiple channels, such as email, social media, and messaging platforms

· Set expectations for communication frequency and response time

· Be transparent and authentic in your communication

· Seek feedback and suggestions from members

· Use analytics and metrics to track engagement and growth

To manage your community effectively, consider these tips:

· Define clear rules and guidelines for behavior and interaction

· Monitor and moderate discussions and content

· Provide support and assistance to members who need help

· Recognize and reward members who contribute to the community

· Continuously evaluate and improve your community strategy

By investing time and resources in communication and community management, you'll create a sense of trust and belonging.

YOU NEED A STRATEGY

Having a well-defined strategy is essential for building a successful community that is focused, engaged, and achieves its objectives. including:

1. Building Trust: Trust is the foundation of any successful business relationship. When you build trust with your customers, partners, and stakeholders, you create a sense of security and reliability. This can help you build a loyal customer base and attract new customers through word-of-mouth referrals.

2. Driving Business: Building trusted relationships can help drive business growth and opportunities. When you have a strong network of contacts and partners, you can tap into new markets, find new customers, and explore new business opportunities.

3. Navigating Change: The business landscape is constantly changing, and building trusted relationships can help you navigate these changes. When you have a network of trusted partners and advisors, you can rely on their expertise and support to help you adapt to new trends and challenges.

4. Enhancing Reputation: Building trusted relationships can help enhance your reputation as a reliable and trustworthy business partner. This can help you attract new customers, partners, and investors who value these qualities.

5. Improving Collaboration: Building trusted relationships can improve collaboration and communication with your partners and stakeholders. This can help you work more efficiently, make better decisions, and achieve better outcomes.

To implement the strategy you need,

Clarity of Goals: A clear and defined strategy can help define the goals and objectives of the community. This ensures that everyone involved in the community understands what it's trying to achieve, making it easier to work towards these goals and track progress.
Consistency: With a strategy in place, you can establish consistent messaging and actions, ensuring that everyone involved in the community is working towards the same goals. This helps to create a cohesive and consistent community that is more likely to achieve its objectives.
Focus: A community strategy helps you to focus on the areas that matter most to the community, such as identifying the needs of the members, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for growth. With a focus on the most important areas, you can create a more effective and engaged community.
Engagement: A well-planned strategy can help to build engagement by creating a sense of ownership and buy-in from members of the community. By involving members in the development of the strategy, they are more likely to be committed to its success.
Measurable Outcomes: With a clear strategy, you can define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the community. This allows you to track progress and make adjustments to the strategy as needed to ensure continued growth and success.

Another area to consider investing, is to work with someone who has experienced building a community.

A MENTOR -A VALUABLE ASSET TO YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

1. Accelerated Learning: A mentor who has experience in building a community can help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls. They can share their knowledge and experience to help you develop a better understanding of what works and what doesn't. This can help you avoid costly mistakes and accelerate your learning.

2. Personalized Guidance: A mentor can provide personalized guidance and support tailored to your specific needs and goals. They can help you develop a customized plan for building your community, and provide feedback and advice as you move forward. This can help you stay on track and achieve your goals more quickly and efficiently.

3. Refinement of Processes: A mentor who has been building communities over the years has likely refined their processes and strategies for success. They can provide insights into the best practices for building and managing a community, and help you develop a plan that is tailored to your specific situation and goals.

4. Networking Opportunities: A mentor who has built successful communities likely has a strong network of contacts and connections that can be invaluable for building your own community. They can provide introductions and connections to potential partners, collaborators, and customers.

5. Faster Time to Results: Working with a mentor who has experience in building communities can help you achieve results more quickly. They can help you prioritize your efforts and focus on the most important tasks to achieve your goals. This can save you time and help you achieve your objectives faster.

In summary, I can assure you that building a community is a rewarding experience, but not for the faint hearted. If only I had reached out to someone who had had the experience I needed, I could have accelerated my learning, had personalized guidance, refined my processes more easily , identified more networking opportunities, and had a faster time to results.

Hello , I am Kerryn Powell, The Network Catalyst and founder of Your Time Matters. I wish you every success and if you are you ready to start on your own journey? And if learning from the experience of others who have walked the path before you, so you can avoid mistakes, stay on track, and achieve success more quickly and efficiently, as you are kept accountable and moving forward, reach out to me and I will send you a copy of my BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY checklist TODAY!

Tips for Building a Thriving Community

The essentials you will need:

YOU NEED A STRATEGY