{"id":3859,"date":"2016-07-04T00:10:56","date_gmt":"2016-07-04T05:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bizwomenrock.com\/?p=3859"},"modified":"2016-07-04T00:10:56","modified_gmt":"2016-07-04T05:10:56","slug":"build-community-part-2-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bizwomenrock.com\/beta\/build-community-part-2-4\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Community – Part 2 of 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

To listen to the podcast episode that features this series, CLICK HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cAlone we can do so little; together we can do so much.\u201d Helen Keller<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been very tuned in to how powerful TOGETHERNESS is since I was a kid. \u00a0I was raised in a family with six kids. \u00a0I was an avid athlete on just about every team sport you can imagine. \u00a0I was always a key leader in school organizations. \u00a0And as it relates to business, I spent the past 7 years of my life building an in-person entrepreneurial community with my husband. \u00a0So once the dust settled from the launch of this crazy idea I had called Biz Women Rock, I knew without a doubt that I wasn\u2019t simply producing a podcast or building a business that created products and services…I was building a <\/span>community<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Google defines community as\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cA group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.\u201d \u00a0Or \u201ca feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Basically, my <\/span>community<\/span><\/i> was getting created as I gathered my listeners, my supporters, my email readers, my coaching clients, my course students and anyone else who identified with the Biz Women Rock brand and brought them together for a larger purpose. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what I\u2019ve been doing since I was a kid. \u00a0And this is what I love. \u00a0Because I believe that my purpose is to make a massive impact in the lives of women around the world. \u00a0And I\u2019ve seen over and over again how creating and leading a community allows me to do that exponentially.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past few years, the word \u201ccommunity\u201d has become a bit of a buzzword within the online business space. \u00a0Everyone is talking about their \u201ccommunity.\u201d \u00a0They\u2019ve exchanged the words \u201cfollowing\u201d or \u201ctribe\u201d or \u201cemail list\u201d or \u201clisteners\u201d or \u201creaders\u201d for <\/span>community<\/b>. \u00a0And while I love this shift to utilizing my favorite multi-dimensional term, my purpose in creating this series is to expose just how intricate this whole <\/span>building a community<\/span><\/i> thing really is. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve identified seven simple steps to follow in order to build a tremendous community. \u00a0And I\u2019ve even included some phenomenal advice from some of the most impactful and successful community builders I\u2019ve ever had the privilege of knowing!<\/span><\/p>\n

This series is broken up into four parts that will be showcased over the next four weeks. \u00a0So, if you happen to be diving into part 3, make sure you go back and listen to all the previous ones in order to get the full impact of the lessons here. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One final note…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Building a community is not for the faint of heart. \u00a0Nor is it for someone who wants an \u201ceasy\u201d business model. \u00a0Building a community and becoming a leader of one is for someone who wants to make an impact in a profound way on the lives of others, who wants to make ripples in the universe and do it through other people. \u00a0And as it pertains to business, it\u2019s for someone who believes in giving value to a group of people they truly LOVE (and I don\u2019t use that word lightly) before ever offering products or services for sale…because they understand the value and fragility of having an endless pool of loyal customers who believe in their brand. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re listening to this because you want to \u201cbuild your following online,\u201d you will definitely get some great ideas here. \u00a0However, I highly recommend you listen with an open mind knowing that building a community is something that happens in an entirely different stratosphere…and maybe, just maybe…you\u2019ll feel called to lean into the possibilities it can open for you to live in your purpose. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So here were go\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

HOW TO BUILD A COMMUNITY<\/b><\/h2>\n

PART 2<\/b><\/h2>\n

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We\u2019re talking about the intricacies of community building! \u00a0In this four part series, we\u2019ll be diving deep into what it takes to not only \u201cbuild an online following,\u201d but build a COMMUNITY…something dynamic, multi-dimensional and POWERFUL! \u00a0If you haven\u2019t yet read or listened to Part 1 of this series, make sure to do so by clicking HERE so you can have a solid foundation moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In Part 1, I talked about the first two steps of community building. \u00a0The first was to establish your niche and super niche, thereby getting clear on your avatar. \u00a0And step two revealed the three levels of platforms that are required to deliver your message and gather your people. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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As a quick review, I broke up the different platforms into 3 separate levels: two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multi-dimensional. \u00a0And, I stated that to truly be a successful community leader, you must have a platform in EACH level. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s a quick review of those levels…<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \n
  1. Two dimensional (deliver message and receive feedback)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
        \n
          \n
        1. Podcast <\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Blog <\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Video blog <\/span><\/li>\n
        4. Email <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Three-dimensional (they can connect to each other only as long as you start the convo)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
                \n
                  \n
                1. Blab<\/span><\/li>\n
                2. Facebook Live<\/span><\/li>\n
                3. Periscope<\/span><\/li>\n
                4. Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n
                5. Facebook Page<\/span>\n

                  <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

                    \n
                  1. Multi-Dimensional (they can connect with you and without you)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                      \n
                        \n
                          \n
                        1. Facebook Groups<\/span><\/li>\n
                        2. Your own forum<\/span><\/li>\n
                        3. Physical meetings<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          To get a deeper understanding of these levels, make sure to listen or read Part 1 of this series.<\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          But before you can kick ass in all three of these levels, you must CONSISTENTLY commit to ONE of them. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Which leads us to Step 3…<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Step 3: Establish your platform and commit to consistently showing up and delivering great content<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          There are 3 key words in this step that dance with each other and will be the makers or breakers of your entire community building experience. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          COMMIT<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you. ~ Author Unknown<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Committing to your platform means keeping your word to show up. \u00a0Making it a priority. \u00a0Getting it done no matter what…because you said you would. \u00a0Always choosing to give that platform your energy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          This is why it is VITAL to choose a niche that you love and a platform that you enjoy. \u00a0Because if you don\u2019t enjoy either, you\u2019ll stop. \u00a0You\u2019ll re-neg on your commitment. \u00a0Which is DEATH for a community leader because you\u2019ve now let your members know that you are unreliable and aren\u2019t committed to them or the community you\u2019ve built. \u00a0They\u2019ll feel your wavering energy. \u00a0And the result of this is a complete unraveling of the community. \u00a0If you\u2019re not committed, they are less likely to trust anything you do. \u00a0If you\u2019re not committed, they\u2019re less likely to invest in anything you offer (because they won\u2019t know if you\u2019re actually going to stick around to follow through on what you\u2019ve promised). \u00a0If you\u2019re not committed, they\u2019re less likely to be an active and engaged member of the community (because why should they have roots in your community if you are touch and go as a leader?). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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                          When your members see that you are committed to them, to the community and to the purpose you are fulfilling by leading them, they have every reason to fall in love with you and give you their loyalty. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          CONSISTENTLY<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Mediocre marketing done consistently over time will beat inconsistent brilliant marketing every time. ~ Jay Conrad Levinson<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Put simply, consistency is showing up REGULARLY. \u00a0On some sort of schedule. \u00a0In a way that your community can count on. \u00a0It adds another dimension of trust to the relationship you\u2019re developing with your community members. \u00a0They know they can rely on your email newsletter every Friday. \u00a0They know they\u2019re going to hear your weekly podcast every Monday. \u00a0They know they\u2019re attending your meeting on the first Wednesday of every month. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Consistently delivering your content and engaging with your community members deepens their belief that you\u2019re there for them, that you love them, that you value them and that what you\u2019ve created for them is sticking around for a long while. \u00a0And most importantly, it reminds them, every single time they hear from you, that you provide VALUE to them on a regular basis. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          A worthy side note: when it comes to consistency, please know that your consistency can evolve. \u00a0When I first launched the Biz Women Rock podcast, my episodes aired three times each week. \u00a0After not sleeping for three months (seriously, I think I slept less in those three months than I did during the first three months of my daughter\u2019s life!), I decided that I needed to shift to a twice a week schedule. \u00a0That lasted about a year and then I decided to release a show only once per week. \u00a0Changing up your schedule and your consistency is okay, as long as you\u2019re keeping your community in the loop and as long as you keep showing up!<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          My good friend and fellow podcaster Natalie Eckdahl of the Biz Chix <\/a><\/em>podcast\u00a0had a similar story. \u00a0What began as a 5 day a week podcast (OMG!) has slowly evolved into a series-driven show that releases weekly for as long as the series lasts. \u00a0Then there\u2019s a break until her new series releases. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          And even if your platform completely changes, you can still be consistent. \u00a0My husband Chris launched his podcast <\/span>Story Jam Theatre<\/span><\/i><\/a> thinking he would release one show each week. \u00a0Because his show – which is a compilation of short stories told in front of a live audience – requires big event productions in order to create the content, he not only shifted to a series based schedule, but he started showing up consistently in another way…through related projects that he\u2019s passionate about – Podfest Multi Media Expo<\/a> and The Messengers Podcast Documentary.<\/a> \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          So, yes, be consistent. \u00a0But be consistent as you let yourself evolve. <\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          GREAT CONTENT<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          I cannot stress this enough. \u00a0You MUST deliver <\/span>GREAT<\/b> content. \u00a0As the platforms to deliver content like blogs, podcasts, ebooks and videos have become more and more accessible to everyone, the barrier to entry is low. \u00a0Which is wonderful in the sense that it\u2019s easy for you to get going and utilize them. \u00a0BUT…it also means that everyone and their mother, grandmother and cousin can do it too. \u00a0Which means there\u2019s a lot of crap out there for content consumers to sift through. \u00a0And in a sea of mediocre content, the GREAT content is the cream that rises to the top. <\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Content is KING! \u00a0Or Queen in our case.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          I know we hear this a lot, but what does \u201cgreat content\u201d actually mean? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          It means that the information you are delivering – the articles you\u2019re writing, the podcast episodes you\u2019re producing, the ebook you\u2019re writing and the videos you\u2019re creating are actually filled with information that is relevant, usable and helpful to your avatar. \u00a0It means that the information you\u2019re delivering are valuable. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Here\u2019s a quick comparison:<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Crap content:<\/strong> a blog article that is written mostly for the purpose of SEO, filled with lots of keywords and links and all sorts of stuff that Google bots will love. \u00a0But the information doesn\u2019t necessarily flow very well. \u00a0And it\u2019s boring. \u00a0It\u2019s just a list of information that\u2019s been read a million different times, repurposed to fit your SEO needs. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Great content:<\/strong> a blog article that is written from your heart, with your knowledge and IN YOUR VOICE. \u00a0You write the article for the purpose of sharing helpful information with your community and thus, don\u2019t really pay attention to keywords…you just write great stuff. \u00a0(But you know that writing great stuff will produce the accurate keywords you need…but you don\u2019t laden the dang thing with them just for the sake of SEO). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Here\u2019s the kicker. \u00a0Crap content may actually get more \u201cattention\u201d in the beginning, because of its ability to play the Google game. \u00a0But, great content ALWAYS wins! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          It wins because your community continues to see you as an intelligent person who loves to share what you know. \u00a0And because they come to you to get something that they can\u2019t get anywhere else! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Some of the best content producers I know – podcasters, vloggers and bloggers – launched their platforms with just a few people consuming it. \u00a0Their content far surpassed other shows that were getting tons more of attention. \u00a0But over time, as they showed up consistently to their platforms, committing to produce great content over and over again, they attracted more and more of their ideal listener, subscriber or reader. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          ***<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          You might be asking yourself, <\/span>how am I actually supposed to do this?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          How do you actually commit to producing great content consistently?<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          JUST DO IT.<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Tony Robbins has an incredible saying about <\/span>deciding<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0He says that deciding is you cutting the ropes from your boats that have landed on a new island when you have no idea how or if you can survive on it. \u00a0But, you decide to cut the ropes and let the boats loose. \u00a0Because you\u2019ve <\/span>decided<\/span><\/i> you\u2019re going to survive…you have no other option! \u00a0And then…all that\u2019s left is action.<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          \u201cA real decision is measured by the fact that you\u2019ve taken a new action. \u00a0If there\u2019s no action, you haven\u2019t truly decided.\u201d ~ Tony Robbins<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Step 3 knows no drama. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t accept excuses. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t understand \u201cI\u2019m too tired\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m on vacation\u201d (I write this as I\u2019m <\/span>on<\/span><\/i> vacation right now). \u00a0It just knows ACTION.<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                          Here are a few quick hacks on how to JUST DO IT.<\/span><\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n