When I first learned about the Internet, I was a bulletin board system operator organizing a worldwide computer network; a BBS that circled the globe from the United States to Singapore and back.
When I could no longer ward off the calling, I started the Women Entrepreneurs Online Network (WEON) – my first Internet community. As the community grew, so did the word of mouth advertising.
Before long, the website attracted the media and was featured in Web Bound Magazine. Naturally, that led more people to weon.com and the community grew by leaps and bounds.
I wholeheartedly believe the popularity of the website resulted from my willingness to give people what they wanted. If someone mentioned a tool that would help them in their business, I found a way to provide that tool.
Because of my successes, I know it doesn’t take much to please people. Likewise, a community is within your grasp – if you want it bad enough. I believe anyone can attract faithful watchers – even with mediocre effort and time.
How to Foster Your Own Community
There is one thing, above all else, that will attract the kind of loyal community you desire. What is it? It’s called deliberate implementation. That is, you should build a community around what people crave.
Here are a few examples of deliberate implementation:
- A website design service creates a tool where people can output cascading style sheets (CSS) with the touch of a button.
- A newsletter directory produces a tool that allows publishers to format their newsletters in preparation for email publishing. This is always a nice option to have before sharing a broadcast.
- An article workshop provides article templates, text-box swipe code, and other services for writers, which helps trickle content to publishers and consumers.
- An eBook directory invents a way for people to convert their documents to PDF files. This is a beneficial service to offer for free since other sites charge a fee.
- A video website initiates a free tool that offers different colored video skins or premade squeeze pages that allow marketers to gain the most from video marketing.
It doesn’t matter how popular your business is off the net; in the online word, if you’re not writing valuable content and providing an audience with an edge over competitors and setbacks, they won’t have an incentive to return to your website.
To build a loyal community, you must offer more than written content. Try to wrap your online purpose around deliberate implementation and you can turn a little hole in the wall website into a thriving community.
Your turn. What tool can you offer an audience to build a community? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Thanks for reading,
– Bonnie
P.S. Did you enjoy this message? If so, please share it with your friends so they can benefit from schmoozing. Then, if you want to get more messages like this one, connect with me via my social links below or hop aboard my notification list. I would like to keep in touch.
Image Credit: Pixabay.com
How to Add HTML Pages Outside of WordPress
Hey there Bonnie… this is such a great post full of some amazing ideas. I’m wondering what I could do or how I could implement those ideas with my business. Thanks for planting a seed 🙂
What type of business do you have, Tamala?
That dog years table is a cool idea
We just lost our old friend after 18 and a half years – so I guess that is about 129? Oh my gosh
RIP Stanley 🙂
Sue
Even though I lost my doggy almost 2.5 years ago, I still feel the loss. They truly become a part of the family.
Hi Bonnie,
another killer post choc full of useful and usable goodies.
Many people, myself included, have run reasonably successful offline businesses and have understood and implemented exactly these principles.
But for some reason, when we go ONline, these things become a mystery and something we have to re-learn all of a sudden.
They should be obvious, but generally aren’t. Who can say why?
Thanks for the reminder Bonnie 🙂
Sometimes some of the most simple things remain a mystery. 🙂
I’m glad it piqued renewed interest for you Paul.
Bonnie,
This post sparked a remarkable idea for me. I am a student of online discussion since I often teach courses with an online component and make use of discussion boards.
But the idea(s) here about providing tools for the community sparked my creative fire as I prepare to teach a new course. I’m going to sleep on the question: What’s the tool my new students will be delighted to receive from me?
This is my first visit to your blog on Day 31 of the UBC but you can bet I’ll be back. I’m on my way now to sign up for your list and look forward to the templates! Wow! You and your blog are treasures.
Thanks.
Discussion boards are great opportunities to schmooze and build community! It’s brilliant you’re including it in the courses you teach.
You made me grin because you realize the potential behind offering a community tool! Good for you!
Even more, I love the idea that you’re going to return so we can get to know each other better.
Hi Bonnie
I have been trying to figure out what to do for this on my dog related blog.
I try to be uplifting and have good blog post information, but I need to figure out something extra.
Thanks
Mary
I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
What kind of community tools are there for dog lovers?
Is there any way that you can get someone over on Elance to program a PHP table that will convert “dog years” to human years? I know there are a ton of people who like to know the real age of their pooches.
I know I did when I had my girl. 🙂
That sounds cool!
Is that something where they would input their dog himan years and it would output the dog years?
Or is that a table that they can look at it and see the ages?
I am not sure what php is…
I love the idea either way though!
Mary
You could have the programmer make the table work either way. In dog years translated to human years or from human years to dog years.
I know my pooches VET told me that most people get it wrong, since the dog years decrease with their age. (Most do the translation of 6 dog years per every human year) but the VET says this is wrong.
As the dog ages, those years shorten; hence, the table would come in handy. 🙂
RE: PHP
PHP is a programming script… Nothing for you to worry about, but if I were ordering a tool like this for doggy lovers, I’d request it be made in PHP – that way you can easily make it match the rest of your website in colors, etc.
Oh yea.. another idea – see if you can implement a tool to help people NAME their new pets. 🙂
That would be a neat tool, too. eh?
I absolutely agree! This is why I opted to send my customers a Weekly Passion Tip VS a salesy newsletter. They actually look forward to it!
That’s a very good idea, Erica!
Not to mention it’s less work providing a tip versus an entire newsletter!
Just realised that I’d forgotten to return the favour! Thanks for the comments on my blog! Great post!
Actually, if you’re here, you didn’t forget at all! LOL
Thanks for stopping by!
This is definitely something I’ve been thinking about in relationship to my services business. I’ve got some ideas and your post has just helped me cement one of them.
I’m glad it sparked an idea for you, Minna!
Obviously there is more to building a community, but this is the place I started when I built mine (and every community thereafter followed the same concept). Why did I do this? Because it works!
Kinda different – but one thing that helped my own community become entwined with one another (as opposed to just me) is that I implemented Greg’s Threaded Comment Numbering free plugin.
It really made a difference because I started to see people responding to each other and having ongoing conversations on my blog.
I had an entire section on building community through discussion boards, but I first wanted to plant the idea that building one isn’t as hard as people think, so I removed it from this article.
Your discussion forum IS your tool to connect with people. But I have to admit Tiffany, your blog isn’t the “normal blog” that you see floating around the net. 🙂
On another note, if you weren’t there to engage with your audience through your discussions, how useful would that tool be to bring new followers and keep them returning?
The tools I discuss here don’t require the blog owner to be present for them to pull in traffic – repeatedly. That’s the whole point. 🙂 You can’t always say the same thing for a blog.
Great post – will be back to read more and have signed up to your list
Blessings
Cher
UBC
Hi Cheryl!
It’s a sad thing that the UBC ends today for another few months, isn’t it?
I’m glad you made it over here!
I look forward to staying in touch.
My website offers people tools to create the lives they want through brief inspirational moments in my blog, training consulting, and speaking services.
Listening really is key to attracting people to yoru site. All we really have is this life is time and energy so “free” info or webinars no longer appeal unless I’m sure it is a good use of my time.
We both know the Internet is filled to the brim with content that people can read.
Unfortunately, not everybody learns through reading. Some prefer audio, video, and practical tools that they can use to help themselves.
Since I am in the service of helping others, I realize that people won’t always need a blog post or consultation to get the results they want.
I’m not talking about webinars or training sessions. I’m suggesting tools that help draw people to your site, Individuals who wouldn’t otherwise give your blog a second glance in order for you to attract a bigger audience.
It always comes back to being of service and giving the people what they want! Such a simple recipe 🙂
You would be surprised how many people FORGET this simple recipe. They’re rushing to find the “secret” to success when all it really is is serving others in the way they crave.
Just a quick follow up. How did you do with installing the HTML pages outside of WordPress? Did the tutorial help you, Tamsin?