Cory A. Johnson’s Post

Community building is no longer a luxury. It’s essential for the growth of your business. Does the process seem daunting? Overwhelming? The truth is that building a strong community for your business is simpler than you think. Avoid: ← Focusing only on selling and neglecting the customer experience. ← Trying to attract everyone instead of a specific group. ← Ignoring member feedback and failing to provide value. Instead: → Define your community’s purpose and dream outcome. → Engage with members regularly and create value. → Build a roadmap that guides members to success. → Create opportunities for meaningful interaction. Focus on these strategies for the first 1-3 months: 1. Identify your community’s purpose. ↳ Reflect on what outcome you want for your members and what value you provide them. 2. Create a clear onboarding process. ↳ Ensure members know what to expect from the beginning and have a clear path to follow. 3. Engage your members with valuable content. ↳ Offer guides, discussions, events, and opportunities for learning and growth. 4. Foster active community participation. ↳ Encourage feedback, create spaces for members to connect, and recognize achievements. 5. Provide consistent support and follow-ups. ↳ Regular check-ins, structured events, and a team member dedicated to client success will keep engagement high and churn low. P.S. Remember, community building is a journey, not a destination. Stay focused, provide value, and enjoy the process. P.P.S. If you don't want to deal with it yourself & are looking for a shortcut, feel free to DM me and see if I can help. 😊

Joining your local chamber of commerce is a strategic move that can yield significant benefits for businesses of all sizes. Here are some reasons why it's important to become a member: 1. Networking Opportunities : Membership in a chamber of commerce provides access to a broad network of local businesses, leaders, and influencers. Regular events, such as mixers, luncheons, and seminars, offer opportunities to build relationships that can lead to new clients, partnerships, and referrals. 2. Visibility and Credibility: Being part of the chamber enhances your business's reputation. Membership signals to the community that your business is reputable and invested in the local economy. Chambers often promote their members through directories, websites, and local events, increasing your business's visibility. 3. Advocacy and Influence: Chambers of commerce often advocate on behalf of local businesses at the municipal, state, and even national levels. By joining, you can have a voice in discussions and decisions that affect the business environment in your community. This advocacy can lead to more favorable regulations and policies. 4. Access to Resources: Chambers of commerce provide members with valuable resources such as market research, economic data, and business development tools. They may also offer educational workshops, training sessions, and professional development opportunities that help you stay competitive. 5. Community Involvement: Being an active chamber member allows you to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of your community. Engaging in chamber initiatives, volunteering, and sponsoring local events not only enhances your business's profile but also demonstrates your commitment to the community's growth and prosperity. 6. Support and Mentorship: Especially for small and new businesses, the chamber can be a vital source of support. Mentorship programs, peer support groups, and access to experienced business leaders can provide guidance and advice critical to navigating the challenges of running a business. https://lnkd.in/g9Rdyev4

Given our collective efforts to strengthen downtown, we want to emphasize the reasons why your involvement with the DBA is crucial. Join us and be part of the momentum! Together, we can achieve more for our downtown community. Joining the Downtown Business Association is a crucial step toward cultivating a more robust and dynamic downtown community. Here are several key benefits that businesses can gain by becoming members: ◾ Networking Opportunities: Membership provides ample chances to connect with local businesses, potential customers, and community stakeholders. These connections often lead to collaborations, partnerships, and increased visibility. ◾ Advocacy and Representation: Through collective action, the association can advocate for policies and initiatives that benefit downtown businesses. Members gain a stronger voice in addressing issues like infrastructure improvements, safety concerns, and regulatory changes. ◾ Marketing and Promotion: The association organizes events, campaigns, and activities to drive foot traffic downtown. Members can leverage these initiatives to enhance visibility and attract more customers. ◾ Professional Development: Many associations offer workshops, seminars, and training sessions to help members improve skills and stay current with industry trends. This ongoing development is crucial for business growth and sustainability. ◾ Community Engagement: Membership facilitates active engagement with the local community, fostering goodwill and providing insights into customer needs and preferences. ◾ Collaborative Opportunities: Collaboration among members can lead to innovative projects, shared resources, and mutually beneficial partnerships. Businesses working together can achieve more than they could individually. In conclusion, joining the Downtown Business Association is a strategic decision that offers numerous advantages for businesses seeking success in a downtown environment. From networking and advocacy to marketing support and professional development, association membership plays a pivotal role in enhancing individual business outcomes and the overall vitality of the downtown area.

We all know community is a good thing, but here are 4️⃣ ways building community in the workplace can help increase innovation: 🌟 Fueling collaborative creativity 🌟 Providing useful constructive criticism 🌟 Cultivating beneficial partnerships 🌟 Boosting resilience #innovation #community

Community matters in business. It's more than a concept. It's a core strategy. Successful businesses understand this. Businesses with strong communities stand out. Attracting more followers. This isn't by chance. It's by design. Engaged communities support business growth. They provide feedback, foster loyalty, and drive innovation. Successful companies know this. They engage. They listen. They evolve. Their communities are their base. This engagement fuels growth. It fosters loyalty. It inspires innovation. Building a community takes time. It's an investment. An investment in people. In relationships. In the future. It's about creating an environment where dialogue flourishes. Where feedback is valued. Where loyalty is nurtured. In 2024 communities can be vast. They can be across the globe. Yet, they can feel as close as a local neighborhood. They're where your brand comes to life. Where it gains meaning. And purpose. These communities become your brand's advocates. They spread the word. They defend you. They're your most authentic form of marketing. Because when a message comes from the community, it resonates deeper. It feels genuine. Because it is. So, cultivate your community with care. Engage with sincerity. Listen with intent. Grow together. Because when your community thrives, so does your business.

Did you know, being a WWS Hub member means you can join our Women’s Work Social Mastermind? What’s a Mastermind? It’s where we get together to set goals, share ideas, and keep each other moving forward. The Women's Work Social Hub is all about giving a deeper more personalized support on your business journey—and our Mastermind series is just one way we make that happen for you and your business throughout the year. This first event? It’s a Collaborative Strategy Session on December 6th in Guildford where you and your trusted fellow Hub members will join forces to plan out 2025 (yes, now!). It’s your time to stop and set those big Q1 and year-long goals together—with clarity and confidence to hit the ground running next year! You’ll have the skills, support, and accountability of the whole room cheering you on, helping you make things happen. And yes, we get it—life gets busy, and planning for next year can slip down the list. This is your chance to get it done without distractions. We’ll be guided by the amazing Jane Galloway who’ll lead small, group discussions, where you’ll swap tips, get accountability, and connect with women who truly understand the business juggle. This isn’t just another event—it’s real support from women with the knowledge and experience to help you grow. Plus, you’ll get to share your own expertise, helping others hit their goals too! It’s a win-win: clear goals for you and the chance to support and offer your businesses services to the others in the room. Ready to join? Membership rates go up in January, so sign up now at 2024 rates! 🌟 Comment ‘HUB’ below, and we’ll send you the link to join today. ➕Plus, don’t miss our Winter Warmer Christmas party on November 28th—a perfect way to end the year with your WWS community - becoming a member will save you 25% off your ticket! 🎄 Let’s make 2025 amazing—together! 📸 Hester Barnes

Building with Purpose: What I Learned About Community When I first started building a community, I had grand visions of a bustling, thriving hub filled with passionate people. I imagined massive growth, vibrant discussions, and collaborations happening naturally. But the reality? It was quiet. Too quiet. At first, I thought I just needed more people. If I could get the numbers up, everything would fall into place, right? So, I focused on bringing in anyone who was even remotely interested. The group grew in size, but something was missing. The conversations felt shallow, and engagement was inconsistent. That’s when I realized I had skipped the most important step: defining the purpose of the community. Without a shared mission, the group felt like a collection of strangers. So, I took a step back. I asked myself, Why does this community exist? I started small, aligning with people who shared the same vision, and suddenly, it clicked. The community wasn’t about numbers it was about relationships. I remember one pivotal moment: a member reached out with an idea for a small project. Instead of brushing it off or micromanaging, I encouraged them to take the lead. The result? Not only did the project succeed, but the sense of ownership they felt inspired others to step up. That’s when I learned the power of empowering members it wasn’t about what I could build; it was about what we could build together. Another lesson came when I started to overcomplicate things. I’d plan elaborate events, thinking they’d bring excitement, but they often felt forced. Then one day, I just posted a simple question in the group: “What’s one thing you wish existed here?” The responses were eye opening. People didn’t want flashy; they wanted consistency regular check ins, meaningful conversations, and a space where they felt heard. One of my biggest mistakes was underestimating the value of listening. I used to think I needed to always have the answers or guide every discussion. But when I started asking for feedback and letting members shape the direction, everything changed. People stayed because they felt like their voices mattered. Looking back, I wish I’d known that community building is a long game. It’s not about rushing to scale but about nurturing connections, celebrating small wins, and staying consistent. Now, every time I see a member share something unprompted or step up to help someone else, I’m reminded of the power of starting with purpose and building with people, not for them. If I could give my past self advice, I’d say: Focus less on the numbers and more on the relationships. Empower others to lead. Listen more than you speak. And above all, stay patient because the best communities are grown, not built.

Benchmarks are tricky things in the world of community building. In an industry where we prioritize individual connections, safe spaces, and mutual concern over numbers, benchmarks can feel flat, meaningless, or plain useless to measure our success. But you know what’s worse? Entering into a massive, important, and costly endeavor blindly—with no measures of success. In the past, I’ve shied away from prescribing or sharing benchmarks with community builders. In some ways, I thought it went against my values. How do benchmarks from mission-specific communities provide value to other communities doing totally different stuff? How do I support community managers in following their vision if they’re distracted by measurements that aren’t part of their story? But I field questions daily that could be answered by sharing what my team and I have learned from guiding hundreds of community strategies over the past decade. Questions like: 🧡 How many members should we expect after our first month? And our first year? 🧡 How big should our email list be before we launch? 🧡 What percentage of people should show up to our virtual events? Being the research nerds that we are, my team and I dug into our past work and started to identify patterns of success. Then it hit us … sharing these benchmarks is powerful. The transparency alone is powerful, but we also started to understand that, by sharing these patterns and norms, these benchmarks might actually alleviate anxiety, help community builders tell a compelling story to stakeholders, and create space to focus on the things that matter most! With reliable benchmarks, you can set realistic expectations for your work, which means you can turn away from anxiety—and toward celebration! And that’s a much more sustainable mindset. You have a world-changing impact to make, and if the path to getting there is paved with nothing but second-guessing and struggle, then you will eventually grow too exhausted to continue. That's why, on April 30, we’ll dive into the most crucial benchmarks for leading an effective community. It’ll be our team’s first event on Circle, and I’m excited to try something new with you—and share some truly thrilling news from The CMJ Group! (You’ll need to sign up for our Circle Community to join the workshop, but it’ll be so worth it.) We will explore the common patterns that repeatedly lead to community success. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take an existing community to the next level, learn the essential framework for community success based on real-world examples and data. RSVP HERE: https://lnkd.in/euyv2HiX

Joining a local directory that promotes independent businesses can be highly beneficial for both the small businesses themselves and the local community seeking reliable recommendations. Here’s a breakdown of how it serves both parties: Benefits for Small Businesses Increased Visibility Targeted Audience Community Trust SEO Boost Networking Opportunities Cost-Effective Marketing Reviews and Recommendations Advantages for Local People Trusted Recommendations: Residents looking for dependable services or unique shopping experiences can rely on the directory's curated list. The businesses included are often vetted or recommended by other community members, providing a higher level of trust. Supporting Local Economy: By using the directory, locals can more easily contribute to the local economy, keeping money within the community and fostering local development. Convenience: The directory serves as a one-stop resource, saving residents time and effort in searching for reliable local businesses. It can include everything from restaurants and shops to service providers like plumbers or pet groomers. Discovering Hidden Gems: A well-maintained directory can introduce locals to new or lesser-known businesses they may not have found otherwise, enriching their experience of their own community. Personalised Experiences: Independent businesses often offer more personalised, unique, and high-quality service compared to larger chains. Using a local directory helps residents discover businesses that align with their values and preferences. Community Engagement: The directory can also highlight community events, special offers and seasonal promotions from listed businesses, helping locals stay informed and engaged with what’s happening in their area. This means that for small businesses, joining a local directory provides a platform to gain exposure, credibility, and meaningful customer connections. Meanwhile, for residents, the directory serves as a trusted guide to discovering quality, local options while contributing positively to the local economy and culture. This symbiotic relationship enhances the vibrancy and resilience of the local community. https://lnkd.in/epjSJHVv

40 Lessons I’ve Learned from Working in Community for nearly 10 Years: 1. Vision activates people to dream for themselves. 2. Don’t make generosity a strategy. Make it a value instead. 3. People pay for accountability more than knowledge. 4. Give someone a path to go on, but let them decide to take the first step. 5. There's a fine line between being an authority and being intimidating. 6. Creating something truly valuable takes months, sometimes years. 7. If you give freely to others, positive consequences will follow. 8. Most people prefer group learning over solo learning. 9. IRL communities vs. Online communities are more similar than they seem.  10. If 10 people will pay $50/month, 100+ will too. 11. Value isn't in what you offer; it's in the transformation you guide others through. 12. A community without vision is a recipe for disengagement. 13. Don’t wait until everything is perfect—launch with what you have. 14. Celebrate victories shamelessly, no matter how small. 15. The first 10 members are the hardest to get. 16. Founders often confuse building a community with building a product. 17. Trust is the most important currency in any community. 18. A vibrant community feels more like home than a marketing funnel. 19. Not everyone will "get" your vision. Focus on those who do. 20. Always have a structure to any event you host. 21. But... People matter more than event structures. 22. You never know who you might meet on a group call. Be open. 23. Clarity is a gift. 24. People want to belong to something bigger than themselves. 25. Your core group will set the culture—choose them carefully. 26. You don’t need thousands of members to make a meaningful impact. 27. Your community should reflect your values, not just your business goals. 28. Business happens naturally in your community—don’t force it. 29. Your job is to create the container for community, not the community itself. 30. Automation shouldn’t ever replace real relationships. 31. Community building is a long game—don’t rush the process. 32. Conflict is proof of care.  33. The best ideas come from your members, not from you. 34. Being transparent builds trust faster than any launch event. 35. When community members start teaching each other, you’ve won. 36. Small, regular events build more momentum than big, infrequent ones. 37. Your members will forgive a lot if you show up consistently. 38. It’s not about perfection; it’s about being present. 39. Most people don’t leave communities because of conflict—they leave because they feel unnoticed or irrelevant. 40. A great community feels like a shared mission, not just a shared interest. Take each of these lessons with a grain of salt. Every community is different, and your journey will be unique. But if I could give one piece of advice, it’s this: Build with people, not for them. I love helping founders build communities. If you want help to build a community of your own: https://lnkd.in/dza5wY2J