{"id":4032,"date":"2019-09-10T07:45:11","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T07:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/?p=4032"},"modified":"2024-10-15T11:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:11:57","slug":"building-online-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/building-online-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Building an Online Community: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_3-1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-image align_center\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"454\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_137221511-e1568102014567.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing-online community\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_137221511-e1568102014567.jpg 680w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_137221511-e1568102014567-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_137221511-e1568102014567-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Recently a lot has been asked regarding what some of the best ways are of building an engaged online community.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s mainly because building a community can be lucrative for a business, if done right of course.<\/p>\n<p>Having a community around your business gives you the edge over competitors solely because of the fact that you are changing the narrative of the marketing landscape.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of putting your marketing messages in front of people, you are allowing people to move closer to your brand while getting them to first interact with you.<\/p>\n<p>Most businesses today are considering more niche platforms, such as Ning.<\/p>\n<p>They want content-focused communities similar to Medium, and even moving to double-down on platform-based groups on LinkedIn or <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/how-use-facebook-in-my-business-social-media-marketing\/\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And the real question is, which will deliver the finest results and what can be done to maximise those efforts?<\/p>\n<p>Because there&#8217;s a wavering display of results from all different platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Which then ultimately reflects on how little or how much, they&#8217;ll end up profiting an organisation is mostly dependent on four important factors.<\/p>\n<p>Like one great man said; it is the quality of our questions that gives us our quality of life.<\/p>\n<h2>A few questions to keep in mind when it comes to building your online community.<\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Do you have a willingness to foster a community?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Remember, there&#8217;s a big difference between posting content and nurturing a community.<\/p>\n<p>Another wise man once said: &#8220;No one cares about how much you know until they see just how much you care.&#8221; Which is true, growing a community requires a lot of effort.<\/p>\n<p>You would need to show your community that you care about their views and opinions, by simply taking the time to engage with them, through thoughtful commentary.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s time-consuming, yet the investment in building it is worth it, and it will be long-standing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-video align_none ratio_16x9 has_iframe\"><div class=\"w-video-h\"><iframe title=\"Vimeo video player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/280503991?autoplay=0&loop=0&autopause=0&color=00adef&portrait=0&byline=1&title=1&controls=1&muted=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div><div class=\"w-video-icon\" style=\"font-size:1.5rem;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h2><strong>Do you offer value?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There is nothing worse than being part of a group where the group owner posts nothing but sales pitches.<\/p>\n<p>You will need to offer value if you want people to stick around. Hardcore sales posts will push people away and leave you empty-handed.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Don&#8217;t force them in; allow them to opt-in!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Refrain from forcing your connections into the said community.<\/p>\n<p>People are notorious for adding connections to groups lacking their <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/blog\/permission-marketing-and-how-it-works\/\"><strong>permission<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a simple no go; you must allow people to opt-in themselves.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Are you meeting people where they are or are you simply asking them to join you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Facebook groups won&#8217;t vanish anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p>Audiences are already on the platform daily, and there has been little need for them to go anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>Because ultimately, people want what&#8217;s convenient.<\/p>\n<p>So bare this in mind when considering where to look for building your community.<\/p>\n<p>The most important thing is always to give the people what the people want! And find them at their most relaxed state.<strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s simple, like everything else, you only get out of groups, exactly what you put in.<\/p>\n<p>Meaning building an engaged online community requires you to put the community first, establishing and nurturing relationships over time by sharing helpful content, and serving your community needs.<\/p>\n<p>So in that sense, maybe the most significant question of all is &#8216;are you keen on doing the work, or rather what it takes?<\/p>\n<p>Well, take your time, although you shouldn&#8217;t think about it too long, because very soon your competitors will lead the game.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it, business landscapes are changing and then so should your policies and the efforts you employ. In essence, you&#8217;d need to play the Modern day game.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/contact-us\/\"><strong>Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Want to learn more about digital marketing and how it can help your business? The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/\">Digital School of Marketing<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/digital-marketing-course\/\">Digital Marketing Course<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0will teach you this and so much more. For more information about this and our other online digital marketing courses, please follow this\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/\"><strong>link<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/courses\/digital-marketing-course\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-759 size-shop_single\" src=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DSM_Footer04-600x96.jpg\" alt=\"DSM Digital School of Marketing Digital Marketing course registration\" width=\"600\" height=\"96\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_justify\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"#enquiry\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Enquire Today<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Blog Categories<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_5cd26a65\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><ul>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-1\"><a href=\"\/blog\/content-marketing\/\">Content Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/\">Digital Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/cyber-security-blog\/\">Cyber Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-2\"><a href=\"\/blog\/graphic-design-blog\/\">Graphic Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-3\"><a href=\"\/blog\/public-relations\/\">Public Relations<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-4\"><a href=\"\/blog\/seo\/\">SEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/social-media-marketing\/\">Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"cat-item cat-item-5\"><a href=\"\/blog\/web-design-blog\/\">Web Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><h3 class=\"w-text us_custom_6caa4608 has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">You might also like<\/span><\/span><\/h3><div class=\"w-html\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/social-media-marketing-blog\/zero-moment-of-truth-benefit-social-media-marketing\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Use the Zero Moment of Truth to Benefit your Social Media Marketing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/digitalschoolofmarketing.co.za\/digital-marketing-blog\/your-complete-guide-to-ppc-marketing-basic\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Your Complete Guide to PPC Marketing Basics. 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