How Are You Building Community?

by Cara Lumen

The people we need to care for the most are our loyal followers. 80% of our sales will come from 20% of our community. We need to spend more time nurturing our community than we do trying to bring more people into it.

Let others bring people in

One excited person telling one other person about your work is worth more than any sort of broadcast marketing. One person taking a course from you and writing a testimonial adds to your credibility. One coaching client who recommends you to others is invaluable. If we take care of our core of loyal followers, they will help us spread the message – just because they want to – because they have had a rich and rewarding experience with you.

Are you constantly delivering value?

We take care of our community by delivering the value-laden content and inspirational experiences. We take time with our blog post and article to be certain they are clear and meaningful. We look at the comments we receive to see what new need has arisen that we might be willing to meet. We keep flexible. We keep open. We keep ready to change. And we keep in touch with the people we serve.

Get up close and personal

One of the most affective services I offer is a 20-minute free coaching call to everyone who takes one of my classes. I did it to enhance the class content and I love the personal interaction. Sometimes they end up as coaching clients but that is not why I did it, it just happens because I create time to build a deeper connection with each person.

My Monthly Momentum Builder calls are also meant to develop a nourishing and interactive event for my community. These hour-long calls have an interesting topic to discuss and then we each share our goals for the coming month and get help with our stuck places. This deepens the connection within a small group of people.

Write from your heart

Share yourself. Let your blog posts show your insights, your vulnerability, your stuckness and how you moved forward. Be an example. Be an inspiration. Be a collaborator. Be a compassionate person. Your blog lets people know who you are, what you value and that they can trust you. Your information products educate, motivate and inspire. Just keep writing from your heart – a gift from you to your community.

I regularly post articles in article submission sites. I have a blog in which I encourage comments. I have a bi-monthly emagazine that offers resources and learning opportunities. I hold my Monthly Momentum Builder Calls to actively connect with people. I have a steady schedule of telecourses I offer every two months with free coaching included. I am in collaboration with a membership site for holistic practitioners to offer a year’s worth of content to their members and am co-teaching a course with a peer mentor. And I am creating a book on managing your ideas that will help my community offer their best ideas to their chosen communities.

But I need to look for more ways to serve. I need to listen to my community. I need to look around at the world and keep an eye on trends so I can bring them to my group. I need to keep learning and making up new classes that help people build their own community.

How are you building your community? I’d love to hear your comments.