{"id":53,"date":"2020-02-08T21:38:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T21:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/simplesprout\/?p=53"},"modified":"2021-04-13T18:32:20","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T18:32:20","slug":"how-to-build-your-community-online-8-steps-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/simplesprout\/2020\/02\/08\/how-to-build-your-community-online-8-steps-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Your Community Online: 8 Steps for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An online community is great way to engage and target your ideal customers. This is turn, will of course, help grow your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But where do you start when you want to start a community? What types of content do you share? And how do you engage your community anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8 Steps to Build Your Community Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you choose to create a community on a social network, a podcast, or on your website, it\u2019s important to start with the basics. Here\u2019s how to build a community online with 8 steps for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Define your objectives.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Determine what you want to accomplish with your online community. Answer these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Why do you want to create this community?<\/li>
  • Who do you want to target?<\/li>
  • What need(s) are you fulfilling?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    2. Develop the strategies.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Next, you\u2019ll need to develop the strategy behind your community. As we know, marketing tactics without strategy won\u2019t get you far. Answer these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Where will you be engaging your community?<\/li>
    • When will you be posting or publishing content and engaging with your community?<\/li>
    • How will measure success and continue an ongoing plan?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s important to be clear about your goals during this stage, as they will set the tone for your community and future strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3. Learn your industry.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Use your industry to fuel valuable research for your community. Find out what other communities are out there doing, what appears to be working, and what doesn\u2019t in order to learn from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Don\u2019t forget to learn from your audience by asking questions of them: where would they like to be involved in a community? What types of content would help them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      4. Create value.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Content must always give value for your audience in order to keep them engaged and coming back for more. This means focusing on educational content, rather than promotional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Think of it this way: when your target audience comes to you, what are they looking to learn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Be prepared to create the type of content that your audience craves, then spend the time necessary to create it for the right platform(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n