You can't build a community on social media
TheBigK
21 replies
I am passionate about community building; and I've been building communities since 2005.
A lot of fellow PHers are asking for advice on building community on social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, PH, IH, Instagram. Let me save you lot of time and efforts: You cannot build a community on social media.
Before you jump-in to prove me wrong; here me out. You can build a following on social media - not a community. Those are two different things.
A community is a group of people which common goals. They share common interests, problems, vision - and that's what brings them together. You might be tempted to call your SM following your community; but it's not.
I see social media as a massive party where everyone's shouting to be heard. You'll get followers, but how many deep, meaningful conversations you can have? Not many. It's always full of distractions.
So, how do you build a real, thriving community? Use social media to find your members. Bring them to your platform. Amaze them with value and form strong bonds. Build a network around your niche.
Think about a community you absolutely like. Let's say PH. We all come to PH to find new products, tell people what we are building and find like-minded people. It works for PH, it's their community. You need your own PH; and there are several proven ways to build it.
It's not a community unless there's a sense of belonging among the members of the community. Your community members need to feel special. They need to feel being a part of a group of people similar to them. That's the right way to build community.
If you are building a community, talk to me or connect with me. I'll be happy to help.
Replies
TheBigK@thebigk
Upp.Vote
Am I the only one who thinks most, if not all of the replies in this discussion are AI generated? Do we have humans on PH?
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Launching soon!
TheSprkl
@nadiaaesty Yeah, straight out of chat gpt.
@oxana_ivanova - I agree. That's why it's very important to build a community of humans.
@xeno1 Take a look - https://www.producthunt.com/disc...
@xeno1 - Social media is for building a following. It's a great way to keep people informed about your business. You can engage with people and build connections.
Communities are deeper. They'll bring people together with some mission, goal, interest and build a network of people around a topic or theme. For example, Product Hunt is a community of 'early adopters' - who like to try new products. It's a niche community but works like a well oiled machine.
Bringing people to your own website or platform is the best way to building a long-term community. It lets you create a controlled environment that protects users from distractions.
I'm not a fan of chats though. Chat has to be a feature of the community; not the community itself. Let me know what you are building and we can discuss some specific strategies for your community.
@thebigk Ok then some info. My case maybe is specific. I have been keeping a dream diary for a long time, and I am also a lucid dream practitioner.
My goal is to create an mobile app that solves all the problems of "dreamers"
1 - convenient diary keeping (improved transcription of text by dictation) (GPT works well)
2 - maintaining visual statistics
3 - Help and practice tips (I am going to train a GPT assistant soon)
Monetization through the use of GPT
There are several chats on telegram and forums where I communicate with people, but I can't advertise there.
AI Researcher
TheBigK, your distinction between building a following and a community is a crucial one, highlighting the depth and engagement true communities require. Your approach to leveraging social media as a starting point rather than the destination offers a valuable strategy for creating meaningful connections.
It's evident that you're deeply passionate about community building, and your experience since 2005 speaks volumes about your expertise in this field. While social media can indeed help in connecting people and building a following, fostering a genuine community requires more than just amassing followers. It demands cultivating shared goals, interests, and values among members, fostering meaningful interactions, and creating a sense of belonging. Platforms like AiToolsKit.ai offer a range of free AI, SEO, writing, YouTube, and social media tools that can aid in this process by helping you identify and engage with your target audience effectively. By utilizing these tools alongside your expertise in community building, you can create a thriving community where members feel valued, connected, and empowered. If you're looking to delve deeper into community building strategies, I'd be more than happy to share insights and collaborate with you on this journey. https://bit.ly/product-AiToolsKit
GSC Agent
TheBigKI, your distinction between a following and a community is a compelling reminder of the depth and engagement true communities require. I'd be interested in learning about the strategies you've found effective in transitioning from social media noise to creating those meaningful, value-driven platforms.
I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I don’t think it is impossible but more like a relationship starts there and then moves out of there to a space more appropriate for it. For example, to a discord server.
@0xcaponte - IMHO, social media is for building a following of people interested in what you have to offer. That's a great way to find the members of your community. Discord is okay - but i'm highly against building community on discord or slack. You lose on the organic growth and meaningful discussions get lost quickly in the jungle of chats.
hard to do, but possible 🐸
Launching soon!
Thank you for sharing that! I am trying right now to build a community around my product (smart wardrobe with outfits creation) through collaborations with influencers on instagram
@nadiaaesty - interesting use case. I think for fashion/outfits - Instagram is a must. However, what's the higher goal that your users would want to pursue? I'd build a community around that. What's your approach to building your community?
Llanai
Growth Marketing takes time, consistency and different tools to grow your audience.
Social media can be grown organically with ads, reels, engaging and constant content.
The products website can also help with SEO optimization, knowing which longtail keywords to use, the ease of use in your website, having authority and offering value.
Again, this will take time to built but you can do it