Fostering Engagement: How to Build Authentic Digital Communities

Fostering Engagement: How to Build Authentic Digital Communities

In my exploration of community mobilization and formation, "Brains on Fire" by Robbin Phillips, Greg Cordell, Geno Church, and Spike Jones has been an invaluable resource. Complementing Seth Godin's "Tribes," it offers deep insights particularly relevant to those of us in project management and community building. Drawing from this book and my own experiences, here are some perspectives on creating sustainable movements that I first blogged in 2011.

1. Unearthing the Passion Conversation: Discovering individuals who naturally talk about your product can be challenging. Often, these conversations are part of larger discussions where your brand is just one element. My focus on e-commerce, business models, curriculum development, digital marketing, agency development, artificial intelligence, and leadership has fostered increased participation and engagement within my community. It's in these conversations that you uncover underlying frustrations and potential injustices, fueling ideas for shaping your movement.

2. Initiating the First Conversation: Movements begin with a shared passion. The Philippine Internet Commerce Society, for instance, was born from a collective desire to make e-commerce a reality in the Philippines, leading to the formation of the E-Commerce Law or Republic Act 8792. This movement grew from an amalgamation of ideas and sustained community activities.

3. Seeking Inspirational Leadership: Authentic influence in the digital age is not transient; it's about genuine connections. Brands must seek passionate individuals who embody their values, transcending mere transactional relationships.

When I started the DigitalFilipino Club (DFC), I discovered the diversity of its members – starting from active e-commerce players to low-profile entrepreneurs wanting to learn – each bringing unique insights. This communal knowledge exchange, shared through various platforms, has inspired members and the wider audience.

4. Creating Entry Barriers for Quality: Balancing accessibility with quality is crucial in community building. For DFC, maintaining a certain member count ensures quality engagement, while encouraging members to create their sub-communities.

5. Empowering Members with Knowledge: Knowledge exchange within communities fosters growth. The success of the iBlog: The Philippine Blogging Summit for up to fifteen years was a testament to this, where participants become evangelists and contributors.

6. Fostering Shared Ownership: In lobbying for the E-Commerce Law, we embraced One Internet Day, encouraging local Internet users to organize their events. This decentralized approach led to new organizations, supportive of the lobbying cause, and stronger bonds among participants.

7. Building on a Powerful Identity: Establishing a community often results in polarization. Emotions, both positive and negative, signify that your efforts are resonating. It’s about earning a powerful identity through peer respect and strong relationships.

8. Merging Online and Offline Efforts: Digital platforms are great for spreading ideas, but offline interactions cement relationships. In DFC, for example, connections formed at events often lead to long-term collaborations and memberships.

9. Turning Members into Stars: In any community, the spotlight shouldn't always be on the founders. Activities that highlight members, such as conferences, webinars, vlogs, podcasts, and industry awards were essential.

10. Delivering Tangible Results: Results can vary from financial gains to invaluable experiences like project opportunities, investments, job referrals, business partnerships, and even personal connections. In DFC, we even had a couple who met through the group, fell in love, and got married.

Lesson #11: Leadership and Agility: My additional lesson emphasizes the importance of leadership agility. It’s about pursuing your vision with determination, adjusting to feedback with humility, and managing your ego. Recognize where to invest your time and energy wisely.

Conclusion: Forming a movement is as challenging as it is rewarding, involving a myriad of personalities. Leadership in this context means being patient, and kind, and maintaining inner peace, regardless of the hurdles.

Leopold Grassin

We design PowerPoint presentations for Healthcare & Life Sciences companies.

11mo

Looking forward to reading it!

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This newsletter couldn't have come at a better time! 🙌 Building authentic digital communities is not just about creating spaces; it's about fostering meaningful connections and empowering voices.

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