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"What would you recommend to someone looking to convince solopreneurs, startups, and small businesses that they should invest in community?" 
We posed this question to a handful of community builders in the latest issue of Community Club Weekly
We posed this question to a handful of community builders in the latest issue of Community Club Weekly
Kicking things off with @Shanahasatwitr:
Define the goals
"There are multiple ways to convince startups/solo entrepreneurs and each are going to be based on the goals/mission that they have. That should 100% be your first question, and where they see the company going."
Define the goals"There are multiple ways to convince startups/solo entrepreneurs and each are going to be based on the goals/mission that they have. That should 100% be your first question, and where they see the company going."
Impact & Accuracy"How much of an impact will this project make on the company and will this project end up blocking anything? Break down how much of a lift it will be and maneuver between what you can do and how much time you need from dev/company/other teams."
Show me the money"Prepare for the conversation around $$$ - they are going to want to ask for a return on this project. Give examples of competition who are utilizing community and how this will differentiate us from the competition."
From a recent talk with @jardim:
"Customers are usually the first community any company will have, and they need to be happy and satisfied with what you offer. Bain Company data has shown that increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%."
"Customers are usually the first community any company will have, and they need to be happy and satisfied with what you offer. Bain Company data has shown that increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%."
Invest in your community"It is way smarter for a company to have recurring revenue from customers who they already know (community members), than spending a lot of money on ads trying to find new customers and convincing them to buy from you."
Taking a different approach, @CarterGee gives his thoughts:
Focus on a problem
"Instead of trying to explain the concept of community management overall - an arduous, task with a complex, nuanced answer - focus on a simple problem with a solution your community is facing."
Focus on a problem"Instead of trying to explain the concept of community management overall - an arduous, task with a complex, nuanced answer - focus on a simple problem with a solution your community is facing."
"Is the community having trouble with civility or are they not trusted to contribute respectively?z
All you need to sell your company on is moderation.
Retention an issue?
Explain how reward systems or ambassador cultivation can scale meaningful relationships."
All you need to sell your company on is moderation.
Retention an issue?
Explain how reward systems or ambassador cultivation can scale meaningful relationships."
An approach that works at any stage, from @Najvasol:
Show some evidence
"Community, in general, is a long term play that requires significant investment… which can feel hard to do early on. To convince folks, I'd include case studies and value prop for similar businesses."
Show some evidence"Community, in general, is a long term play that requires significant investment… which can feel hard to do early on. To convince folks, I'd include case studies and value prop for similar businesses."
"I'd focus both on directly measurable value (marketing/sales) but also the less tangible, things like: retention, good will, faster product feedback loops, employee morale, and trust. Perhaps more importantly, I'd make 'community' feel doable."
Advice applicable across any type of community setup by @tessak22:
"I convince stakeholders to invest in community by ensuring that I am considering and helping to contribute to goals outside of the community teams goals."
https://devocate.com/blog/managing-up-to-achieve-developer-community-success/
"I convince stakeholders to invest in community by ensuring that I am considering and helping to contribute to goals outside of the community teams goals."
https://devocate.com/blog/managing-up-to-achieve-developer-community-success/
Cross-functionality"If your work can contribute more cross-functionally to the entire team, it's a lot easier to get the approvals that you need. A great way to do this in your community work is through customer advocacy programs."
Our very own @knitting4cats gave her thoughts:
Don't get discouraged
Community should always serve a purpose
Focus on the impact of community
"The sooner you start thinking about community the sooner these benefits will shape up and compound with each other"
Don't get discouraged Community should always serve a purpose Focus on the impact of community"The sooner you start thinking about community the sooner these benefits will shape up and compound with each other"
