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1/ 
Trends #0045 — Paid Communities
A thread:
•
24 Players
•
3 Predictions
•
7 Opportunities
•
4 Key Lessons
•
5 Haters
Trends #0045 — Paid Communities A thread:
•
24 Players•
3 Predictions•
7 Opportunities•
4 Key Lessons•
5 Haters
2/ 
Problem
Free communities tend to be noisy without a barrier to entry.
ProblemFree communities tend to be noisy without a barrier to entry.
3/ 
Solution
Paid communities use strategic friction to build high-signal environments.
SolutionPaid communities use strategic friction to build high-signal environments.
4/ Paid Communities
• Trends Pro @DruRly
• Femstreet @femstreet
• Founder Summit @FounderSummit
• MicroConf Connect @MicroConf
• Consulting Club @consultingclub_
• Launch MBA @LaunchMBA
Paid Communities• Trends Pro @DruRly
• Femstreet @femstreet
• Founder Summit @FounderSummit
• MicroConf Connect @MicroConf
• Consulting Club @consultingclub_
• Launch MBA @LaunchMBA
5/ Paid Communities
• PandoLabs @PandoLabs
• MicroAcquire @microacquire
• Launch House @launch_house
• Lenny’s Newsletter @lennysan
• Everything Marketplaces @Yoroomie
Paid Communities• PandoLabs @PandoLabs
• MicroAcquire @microacquire
• Launch House @launch_house
• Lenny’s Newsletter @lennysan
• Everything Marketplaces @Yoroomie
6/ Tools
• Laylo @laylodotcom
• Icebreaker @IcebreakerVideo
• Hopin @hopinofficial
• Gumroad @gumroad
• Commsor @Commsor
• Slack @SlackHQ
Tools• Laylo @laylodotcom
• Icebreaker @IcebreakerVideo
• Hopin @hopinofficial
• Gumroad @gumroad
• Commsor @Commsor
• Slack @SlackHQ
7/ Platforms
• Disciple @DiscipleMedia
• Facebook @Facebook
• Circle @CircleApp
• Mighty Networks @MightyNetworks
• Patreon @Patreon
• PeerBoard @peerboard
Platforms• Disciple @DiscipleMedia
• Facebook @Facebook
• Circle @CircleApp
• Mighty Networks @MightyNetworks
• Patreon @Patreon
• PeerBoard @peerboard
8/ Prediction
Fractionally-owned assets will be the basis of “paid” communities. @Nike MAG shareholders have more in common than those of utility companies. https://www.withotis.com/drop/nike-mag
PredictionFractionally-owned assets will be the basis of “paid” communities. @Nike MAG shareholders have more in common than those of utility companies. https://www.withotis.com/drop/nike-mag
9/ Prediction
Community-as-a-Service will become a common XaaS category. Late Checkout helps brands build communities. https://trends.vc/trends-0017-xaas-anything-as-a-service/
PredictionCommunity-as-a-Service will become a common XaaS category. Late Checkout helps brands build communities. https://trends.vc/trends-0017-xaas-anything-as-a-service/
10/ Prediction
Funds will leverage paid communities for deal flow. See MicroConf Connect ( @tinyseedfund) and Founder Summit Remote ( @earnestcapital). https://trends.vc/trends-0019-bootstrap-funds/
PredictionFunds will leverage paid communities for deal flow. See MicroConf Connect ( @tinyseedfund) and Founder Summit Remote ( @earnestcapital). https://trends.vc/trends-0019-bootstrap-funds/
11/ Opportunities
Build an audience first. Start with a newsletter, podcast or YouTube channel.
Audience-to-community solves the chicken and egg problem.
http://Trends.vc reached 20,000+ subscribers before Trends Tribe meetups were launched. https://trends.vc/trends-0030-audience-first-products/
OpportunitiesBuild an audience first. Start with a newsletter, podcast or YouTube channel.
Audience-to-community solves the chicken and egg problem.
http://Trends.vc reached 20,000+ subscribers before Trends Tribe meetups were launched. https://trends.vc/trends-0030-audience-first-products/
12/ Opportunities
Craft a mission statement. See @CompoundWriting's Manifesto.
Why do you gather?
What’s your mission?
What are your core values?
What problems do you solve together?
OpportunitiesCraft a mission statement. See @CompoundWriting's Manifesto.
Why do you gather?
What’s your mission?
What are your core values?
What problems do you solve together?
13/ Opportunities
Use challenges to gamify success. @LaunchMBA members produce 12 products in 12 months. https://trends.vc/trends-0021-gamification/
OpportunitiesUse challenges to gamify success. @LaunchMBA members produce 12 products in 12 months. https://trends.vc/trends-0021-gamification/
14/ Opportunities
Create rituals.
Host standups, meetups, co-building sessions and retreats to form bonds and productive habits.
Trends Pro Members build compounding relationships in daily standups. https://twitter.com/naval/status/1002103908947263488
OpportunitiesCreate rituals.
Host standups, meetups, co-building sessions and retreats to form bonds and productive habits.
Trends Pro Members build compounding relationships in daily standups. https://twitter.com/naval/status/1002103908947263488
15/ Opportunities
Leverage user-generated content.
Hundreds of people Tweet using #100DaysOfNoCode. Bringing attention to the community.
OpportunitiesLeverage user-generated content.
Hundreds of people Tweet using #100DaysOfNoCode. Bringing attention to the community.
16/ Opportunities
Nurture one-on-one connections to build a stronger community.
Trends Pro Members have weekly one-on-ones.
OpportunitiesNurture one-on-one connections to build a stronger community.
Trends Pro Members have weekly one-on-ones.
17/ Opportunities
Build growth tools to draw members into your paid community.
See the No-Code Marketplace directory, toolkit and book from @marketplaceshq https://trends.vc/trends-0016-growth-tools/
OpportunitiesBuild growth tools to draw members into your paid community.
See the No-Code Marketplace directory, toolkit and book from @marketplaceshq https://trends.vc/trends-0016-growth-tools/
18/ Key Lessons
Price is multi-dimensional.
@CompoundWriting requires you to submit your best writing to apply.
This is non-monetary friction.
Key LessonsPrice is multi-dimensional.
@CompoundWriting requires you to submit your best writing to apply.
This is non-monetary friction.
19/ Key Lessons
Paid community members have skin in the game.
Investment limits noise and boosts engagement.
Key LessonsPaid community members have skin in the game.
Investment limits noise and boosts engagement.
20/ Key Lessons
You’re the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with.
Paid communities raise the average.
Key LessonsYou’re the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with.
Paid communities raise the average.
21/ Key Lessons
Beware of reverse network effects.
Scale changes everything. Especially groups.
Engagement drops as communities grow.
Key LessonsBeware of reverse network effects.
Scale changes everything. Especially groups.
Engagement drops as communities grow.
22/ Haters
“You already covered this.”
Yes and I’ve covered No-Code, Bootstrap Funds and Micro Private Equity more than once.
There’s always more to learn. https://trends.vc/trends-0038-micro-private-equity/
Haters“You already covered this.”
Yes and I’ve covered No-Code, Bootstrap Funds and Micro Private Equity more than once.
There’s always more to learn. https://trends.vc/trends-0038-micro-private-equity/
23/ Haters
“Most of these communities are online.”
Google jiu-jitsu, country club or university if you’re looking for offline paid communities.
Haters“Most of these communities are online.”
Google jiu-jitsu, country club or university if you’re looking for offline paid communities.
24/ Haters
“Some online paid communities are built without an audience.”
Cold outreach, personal networks and borrowed credibility can work.
Haters“Some online paid communities are built without an audience.”
Cold outreach, personal networks and borrowed credibility can work.
25/ Haters
“Paid communities are exclusionary.”
Yes. So are “free” communities. You can’t pay to become a Navy SEAL but the price can be your life.
Price is more than money.
Haters“Paid communities are exclusionary.”
Yes. So are “free” communities. You can’t pay to become a Navy SEAL but the price can be your life.
Price is more than money.
26/ Haters
“What about community fatigue?”
Fatigue is a forcing function for quality. The same goes for newsletters. https://trends.vc/trends-0036-paid-newsletters/
Haters“What about community fatigue?”
Fatigue is a forcing function for quality. The same goes for newsletters. https://trends.vc/trends-0036-paid-newsletters/
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