How to Build an Online Community [That’s Active + Engaged]

Success Unscrambled Podcast

Anna felt stranded, she heard that growing a community on social media is a great way to generate a consistent income online. But she wondered, how to build an online community that is engaged. A few years ago, Anna made a first attempt at building an engaged group on social media but it went quiet pretty quickly. This time she wants to do it right so that she can have over 1,000 engaged group members in 90 days. As you know, social media has become a part of our everyday lives. Whether we’re talking about posting pictures and updates on Facebook, tweeting about our latest activities on Twitter, or sharing funny memes on Instagram, social media has become a major source of entertainment and information. Social media platforms are also powerful tools for connecting people and building community. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram bring people together. Facebook groups in particular are great online communities. If you want the students in your online course to be able to connect and learn from each other you are probably interested in how to build an online community. But building an online community isn't always easy. This guide will walk you through the steps needed to build an online community. What Is an Online Community? An online community is a group of individuals who share common interests and goals. The members of an online community may be connected through a website, blog, forum, Facebook group, or any other form of digital communication. Online communities provide a platform for individuals to interact and collaborate around specific topics. They also allow businesses to connect with customers and prospects. For course creators, online communities serve as a powerful learning tool. Facilitating connection between your students and allowing them to learn from each other improves the overall learning process. Your vibrant online community can also drive sales of your online course. Why Build Your Own Online Community? As a course creator, the online community you create will be focused on bringing your students together. This has obvious benefits for your students in the form of a space for them to ask questions about course procedure or content, and to learn from each other. However, it also has benefits for your online training business including turning satisfied students into brand ambassadors. Creating an online community can ultimately increase the money you make from selling online lessons. Students who actively engage in your online community are more likely to find that they receive a benefit from your course. This will lead them to purchase further courses and increase your revenue. Happy students will also help you reach a larger audience. If they are happy with the benefit they have received from your course, and from being with like-minded people in your shared space, they can refer new people to your online platform. Your online community will also afford you the opportunity to present yourself as a leader in your field with the social proof of a large online community behind you. The students engaging with you in your community will also feel a connection to you and be more likely to refer others to your course. Social networks and blog posts can only take you so far. Having real people see and attest to your expertise is great for content creators to showcase their abilities. Online communities will not only highlight your strengths and build brand loyalty but also point out your weaknesses. Don’t worry! This is a good thing. Taking the temperature of your online community and finding the content your students are struggling with allows you to improve your course offerings. Students in your community will also be able to point out any potential technical glitches. Your engaged community can be your first line of quality assurance. Main Types of Online Communities for Entrepreneurs