{"id":3883,"date":"2016-07-26T01:10:46","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T06:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bizwomenrock.com\/?p=3883"},"modified":"2016-07-26T01:10:46","modified_gmt":"2016-07-26T06:10:46","slug":"build-community-part-4-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bizwomenrock.com\/beta\/build-community-part-4-4\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Community – Part 4 of 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\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

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\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 4<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Step 6: Help Your Community Members GROW and Make Them Feel Special<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Here\u2019s where those who want to be community leaders can really screw up. \u00a0They focus on the number of people who are a part of their community. \u00a0And they think that the more people they have, the more \u201csuccessful\u201d they are. \u00a0Which inevitably leads to their belief – consciously or unconsciously – that quantity is better than quality. \u00a0This is a grave mistake and will ultimately dissolve the group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A great community leader understands that their entire existence relies on the fact that they are able to provide value to ONE PERSON in a way that makes that person feel special (because they <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> special!). \u00a0And true success is the ability to scale that equation while maintaining QUALITY. \u00a0So truly, it doesn\u2019t matter how big your \u201ctribe\u201d is, it matters how deeply each individual person is engaged and how strongly they believe in the community you\u2019ve created. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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But, that\u2019s not enough. \u00a0A community is an ever-evolving, living, breathing entity in and of itself. \u00a0And in order for <\/span>it<\/span><\/i> to continue growing, each of its members must continue to grow. \u00a0The best community leaders understand that <\/span>they<\/span><\/i> are the ones in the best position to provide growing opportunities for their members as a part of the benefits of the community! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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We discussed in detail during Part 3 of this series in step 5 (Give your community what they want) how to best provide products and services that your community members are asking for (and thus how to monetize your community in a way that is a tremendous value exchange). \u00a0So, I won\u2019t go on my rant about how financially lucrative it can be to create products and services for your community (<\/span>go listen to the last episode<\/span><\/a> to hear that rant cuz it\u2019s good!). \u00a0But, I <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> make a statement to drive this point home: creating products and services that your community members are asking for is a phenomenal way to not only generate revenue, but to fulfill your members\u2019 need to <\/span>grow<\/span><\/i> as individuals…and thus help evolve the community as a whole!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Because if the community remains static and provides the \u201csame ol\u2019 same ol\u2019,\u201d then what incentive do your members have to stay engaged and active?<\/span><\/p>\n

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In addition to creating products and services, you can provide growth opportunities for your members in other ways. \u00a0Here\u2019s a quick list of just a few\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

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