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7 steps to validating your community.
This is what I do before committing fully to building a community.
This is what I do before committing fully to building a community.
1. Have a vision, but start small and specific
Those who seek to create communities have visions. They can be big, or small. The size does not matter. When things are too big to picture, for me at least, they can become overwhelming and distracting.
Those who seek to create communities have visions. They can be big, or small. The size does not matter. When things are too big to picture, for me at least, they can become overwhelming and distracting.
2. Spend time studying your people
I've ended up with a phrase that I just keep repeating.
Study your people.
I cannot reiterate this enough. This doesn't mean passively sitting there and watching them. It means taking the time to proactively understand their life.
I've ended up with a phrase that I just keep repeating.
Study your people.
I cannot reiterate this enough. This doesn't mean passively sitting there and watching them. It means taking the time to proactively understand their life.
You want to know the lingo they use when they talk
You want to read what they write or create
You want to know the kind of things they watch or listen to
You want to know what excites them, makes them laugh, or know what really annoys them
You want to read what they write or create
You want to know the kind of things they watch or listen to
You want to know what excites them, makes them laugh, or know what really annoys them
Ultimately, you want to know if these are your people. You can only do that if you spend the time with them and all the spaces they are in.
3. Have a note-taking mindset
This is not necessarily about how to take notes, but more about having the mindset of looking for ideas, conversations, and opportunities with the intention of taking note of them.
This is not necessarily about how to take notes, but more about having the mindset of looking for ideas, conversations, and opportunities with the intention of taking note of them.
4. Start conversations
In the most simple mindset, community tends to form around conversations.
Of course, that doesn’t mean every conversation creates community.
Nor does it mean that community can’t be created or supported without conversations.
In the most simple mindset, community tends to form around conversations.
Of course, that doesn’t mean every conversation creates community.
Nor does it mean that community can’t be created or supported without conversations.
Because you have a vision, and have been studying your people, taking notes then you should know what conversations resonate.
In addition to this, because you have been intentional & taken the time, people will know who you are and be more open to having conversations with you.
In addition to this, because you have been intentional & taken the time, people will know who you are and be more open to having conversations with you.
When you start intentional conversations you become a community builder. And as you are having these conversations, you can be asking yourself whether the community you are building feels right.
5. Flywheels start to happen
Conversations are magical. They never cease to amaze me.
The more you put out into the world, the more that just keeps coming back at you. It's a flywheel that if you get started can lead to many amazing things.
Conversations are magical. They never cease to amaze me.
The more you put out into the world, the more that just keeps coming back at you. It's a flywheel that if you get started can lead to many amazing things.
Studying your people can lead to conversations.
Conversations can lead to ideas.
Ideas can lead to creating something.
Creating something can lead to more conversations.
More conversations and ideas mean patterns emerge.
The more you instigate, the more comes back to you.
Conversations can lead to ideas.
Ideas can lead to creating something.
Creating something can lead to more conversations.
More conversations and ideas mean patterns emerge.
The more you instigate, the more comes back to you.
At this point community is happening, but you are not overly committed. You are still exploring. You've spent time, but probably not a lot of money. You are figuring out and gaining confidence in what would actually work.
6. Simple tools to begin with
All ideas should be validated with the simplest tools possible.
These days I keep telling people to start with a simple website and a newsletter.
If you can't build a community with something like this, then a tool is not going to fix the problem
All ideas should be validated with the simplest tools possible.
These days I keep telling people to start with a simple website and a newsletter.
If you can't build a community with something like this, then a tool is not going to fix the problem
Of course, don't quote me the website + email combo. This could vary between communities.
It could be:
* website + Instagram
* TikTok + website
* Twitter + newsletter
* Website + Slack + Twitter
Find what works for you and your people, but please keep it simple.
It could be:
* website + Instagram
* TikTok + website
* Twitter + newsletter
* Website + Slack + Twitter
Find what works for you and your people, but please keep it simple.
The advantage for you is that it still keeps the commitment low risk and you can focus in on doing your best to connect with your people.
7. Validate and decide on what the community should be
By doing the above and hopefully not rushing it (too much), the answers will come to you about what to do next. It won't make it risk free, but it will give you more confidence and a greater chance of success.
By doing the above and hopefully not rushing it (too much), the answers will come to you about what to do next. It won't make it risk free, but it will give you more confidence and a greater chance of success.
You won't need to ask people if what you are doing is a good idea, you know it is a good idea because you are (probably) the only person who has spent the time to do what you are trying to do.
You are the one who has the understanding. The hopeful positive conversations. The traction. The feedback. The vision.
There’s no point asking someone else if it’s a good idea, only you will know.
There’s no point asking someone else if it’s a good idea, only you will know.
The whole point of going through the process above is to educate yourself, not only about whether the community is 'viable', but whether it is something that you feel committed to and whether it brings you the energy to see it through.
I hope you liked this thread, I put lots 
into writing the full article.
Read the full post https://rosieland.substack.com/p/the-7-steps-to-validating-your-community
into writing the full article.Read the full post
https://rosieland.substack.com/p/the-7-steps-to-validating-your-community
