All people feel connected to their community. Strong relationships can be a boon for both parties.

Businesses can connect with customers and be part of the equation by creating a website. 

This article will explain how to create an online community around your brand. This includes creating safe spaces for everyone and finding the right niche.

What is an online community exactly?

An internet community is a group of people connected by a common interest. It can feel like an event between friends, family, and colleagues.

In reality, the majority of people are already members of an online community like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. This shows how there are many ways to connect with people like you.

A third type of online community is called the brand community. This allows people to connect around a common theme.

Stakiwi Colors, an international company selling handcrafted artisanal watercolors, is based in the United States. The company offers an online forum where customers can get instant advice on selecting the right ink and pigment, as well as all the tools required to start watercolor painting.

Many benefits are offered by online communities

People want a voice in the decisions that affect their livelihoods, just as Stakiwi Colours’ artist’s community. Organizations and businesses that create their online communities can add value to customers and build customer loyalty.

There are many benefits to creating an online community for your business:

• Think about the people you trust. These are your closest friends, family members, and colleagues. These people are honest with you and will share your needs with you.

• Engagement. Brands need to be able to connect with their target audience on an emotional level. 

• Focus group: You don’t have to pay anything. Get feedback from your members by using polls and discussion boards. 

• Online communities can have a higher ROI.

• Reduce support costs: An online community can help reduce support ticket volumes. One case study revealed that customers can find the information they are looking for quickly in an online community and have their questions answered faster than ever before. 

• Brand awareness

How do you create an online community

1. Choose a niche

There is one thing that unites all successful online communities. They can offer valuable content and be experts in their area.

You need to think about your target audience and decide what topics you would like to share with them. There will be many opportunities to share your knowledge if you focus on sub-niches such as how to organize a workout, metabolic boosting exercises, and hydration tips.

2. You should clearly define your goal

A community won’t be able to give its members a reason for joining if they don’t have a clear vision and purpose. People need to know what they are doing, and what the return on their efforts is.

Your brand is the foundation for your online community. Ask yourself, “What can they benefit from me that no one else has?” If you sell cosmetics, for example, you might help your customers apply flawlessly to their makeup.

It is time to review your vision, mission, and core values. 

3. Select a structure

Online communities can be created in two ways.

• Forums allow you to have content-driven discussions and can be added to any website. You can create these categories, which will make it easier for members to search for and find the information they need.

• Groups are more personal than forums. Members can also upload photos and videos to make communication more multimedia-intensive. Group content is also very relevant, as the feed is organized according to the most recent posts. To make it easier for others to find your posts, members can assign tags. Members can also create subgroups within their community to help them narrow down on particular issues and increase engagement. Bonus: Before people can join Kobe DigitalGroups, you can screen them. Ask prospective members questions when they sign up for Kobe Digital. These rules and norms can be included in your screening process to ensure that only those who are willing to comply with them are admitted.

4. Create a profile for a member

The members of your online community define you. To give a valuable experience, you can create a profile.

Ask questions like “Are they male or female?” Ask questions such as “Are they male, female, or both?” and “Where do their lives reside geographically?” These demographics look for diverse things online.

Gaining insight into your members may help you to create inclusive engagement strategies. Make sure that your content is clear, concise, and fair. 

5. Make guidelines

Your online image is everything. To protect your online community, you can create guidelines.

These rules will allow you to establish ground rules that determine appropriate language and behavior. You might also consider adding consequences in the unlikely event of rule-breakers within your audience.

Pin the rulebook to the top of your forum or group page. Members can also add the rules in your About section.

6. Establish management

To manage an online community, you will need to have management. Members will grow in confidence and begin to interact with one another by creating posts and answering questions.

First, define the roles of moderators/administrators. These people will ensure that your community is safe and encourage members to participate. These people are responsible for answering members’ comments and making sure that new members feel welcomed so that the community can continue to function smoothly.

Moderators can be given to any member of your forum.

A member can be appointed Group Administrator. This person can moderate discussions, approve requests for members, and even remove them from their group.

7. Add a member area

Enhance the spirit of community by creating a members area on your site and giving each member an account. Members will be able to communicate privately with one another and continue the conversation one-on-one.

This feature allows members of the community to create their own profile pages. Members can keep track of all interactions and see who they are following.

8. Choose privacy settings

Now is the time to make major decisions about the future direction and structure of your community. The decision must be based on the location of the community.

Trusted online communities are safe places that allow for meaningful conversations. Members can share content and have intimate discussions. 

Group members can create a secret group.

9. The first post should be

When writing your first post and any subsequent ones, think about who your audience is. Next, consider what motivates them. You can then develop topics that are both relevant and original and that meet all of their needs.

Here are some tips to help you create great posts in your online community.

• Use a descriptive title. Compelling headlines will get the attention of your readers and make them click.

• Follow correct formatting. Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes. 

• Use visuals. These will make your post stand out and encourage people to share it.

• Use tags. Tags allow readers to find related content. This is crucial when you are creating a content strategy for your online community.

• Be sure to post in the right category. It’s important to arrange your posts so that readers can find what they need quickly.

10. Promote your community

Now that your online community has been established, it’s time to get the word out. 

• Email marketing. Every business owner needs to send out an email newsletter to let people know that their online community has finally started. 

• You can share your posts on social media. Use the Share icon to share your forum posts across your social media accounts. This will enable you to reach out and inform your existing followers on social media. 

Monetize your online community

1. Subscriptions are the best way for you to make money online. To give your customers more options, you can create a pricing strategy.
2. You can have an online shop that sells merchandise to your community. Members will love your branded merchandise such as mugs, totes, and t-shirts.
3. Organizing events and meetups are a great way to monetize your community. This is a great chance to get to know people and build relationships.

Examples from online communities

Airbnb now has more than 1 million members. Over 1 million members are part of Airbnb.

Tripadvisor is one of the most popular online travel communities. It provides relevant topics for its members based on their destination. You will also find a help center that offers technical support and user guides. HP welcomes new members into its online community. Find out How to Post and more. This community has more than 3 million members. Non-members can also ask questions.

HP has hosted meetups with experts in the past. You may also browse the online community to view high-quality photos from events.