Community is currency: Leveraging networks to skyrocket your business

Hey UpFlippers,

Do your marketing efforts have you feeling like 90% of the time you’re shouting out into the void of…nothing? No response. No interest. Nothing from anyone? It all feels like a waste and the momentum is gone, like the air out of a balloon. If yes, it’s a sure sign your business is ready for some concentrated community-building efforts.

Why? There’s no better business resource than a community of people from all walks of life who use and champion your product or service. And there’s no better marketing strategy than organic word of mouth.

The community advantage: Why networks matter

Think of your business community as your very own army of brand ambassadors—except instead of swords, they're armed with tweets, reviews, and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth. And trust us, in the battle for customer attention, these are way more effective than any billboard.

A strong community brings benefits like:

• Customer loyalty

• Word-of-mouth marketing 

• Product feedback that's honest and believable

Actionable Tip: Dial in your business's core values. Are you all about sustainability? Top-notch customer service? The perfect cup of coffee? Whatever it is, wear it on your sleeve. You'll attract community members who share your passion.

Digital gathering spaces: Building online communities

Every business that has, or wants, a presence online should dedicate resources to building its online community—whether that’s achieved via social media, a newsletter, or even a WhatsApp group.

Whatever it is, it should give people a place to connect with you and with one another. 

Here's where to set up shop:

• Facebook Groups: For when you want to feel like the cool teacher who hangs out with students after class

• LinkedIn Communities: Where professionals go to pretend they're working while actually networking

• Instagram: (Because most people have Instagram accounts) For reaching lots of your (potential) customers in one place

• Slack, Discord, or WhatsApp: For folks who like their conversations threaded and their opinions strong

Actionable Tip: Pick one platform and commit to it like it's your New Year's resolution. Post daily, engage with comments, and be yourself.

Real-world connections: Nurturing offline networks

Believe it or not, people still enjoy meeting face to face. We know—shocking in this age of digital everything, right?

Try these old-school (but still cool) strategies:

• Local meetups: Sit around a table with people and have a nice, casual conversation. 

• Hold workshops and classes to teach people about your product or service. 

• Collaborative spaces: Find one that suits you, because working alone is so 2019!

• Community involvement: Show you care about more than just your bottom line.

Actionable Tip: Plan a small, in-person event for your most engaged customers. It could be a workshop, a meetup, or a casual coffee chat. Just remember, if you're serving snacks, people will come. If you're serving free snacks, they'll bring friends 😉

Community-driven product development: Let your audience be your guide

Remember, your customers aren't just wallets with legs. Treat them with more respect than that! They are a goldmine of ideas, feedback, and, occasionally, brutal honesty. Use it all to your advantage!

Here’s how you bring the best out of them:

• Gather and implement customer feedback (yes, even the stuff written in ALL CAPS).

• Beta test with community members (they'll feel special; you'll get free quality assurance).

• Launch co-creation projects (two heads are better than one).

• Encourage user-generated content (because sometimes your customers are more creative than your marketing team).

Actionable Tip: Set up a simple system to collect and organize customer suggestions. It could be a dedicated email address, a suggestions box (physical or digital), or maybe a carrier pigeon if you're feeling really old school.

Success stories: Businesses built on community

Let's look at some businesses that turned their communities into gold (ethically, of course):

1. Glossier: Started as a beauty blog, turned into a billion-dollar brand by treating every customer like an influencer. Turns out, people like feeling important. Who knew?

2. Harley-Davidson: Created a community so strong, people literally tattoo its logo on their bodies. Now that's commitment.

3. The Friendly Toast (local restaurant chain): Used quirky events and community involvement to become the go-to brunch spot in multiple cities. Because nothing builds community like shared hangovers and endless mimosa…

Actionable Tip: Analyze these success stories and steal...we mean, borrow...one strategy you can adapt for your business. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all.

Your community roadmap: Where to start

Ready to build your foundation? We mean, community? Here's your roadmap:

1. Identify your target community: Who are your people? Where do they hang out?

2. Choose your platforms: Go where your people are, whether that's LinkedIn or the local coffee shop.

3. Create valuable content and experiences: Give more than you take.

4. Measure engagement: Because if you can't measure it, you can't brag about it!

Actionable Tip: Set specific, measurable goals for your community-building efforts. For example, "Increase Facebook group engagement by 25% in 3 months" or "Host one local event per quarter."

UpFlip Recommends

📚 For a deep dive into community building, see our picks for Best Networking Groups plus Best Mastermind Groups & Mastermind Pro Tips. 

🎥 Watch our YouTube interview highlighting how a previous UpFlip video—and our extensive, real-world network—changed entrepreneur Chris Lawhead’s life.

🛠️ Check out Mighty Networks, a platform designed to help you build and monetize your community. It's like Facebook, but you're in charge (and there are fewer political rants 🙏).

Wrapping it up: Your community is out there

Building a community around your business isn't just about increasing sales (although that's a nice perk). It's about creating a tribe of people who believe in what you do, champion your brand, and might just become friends along the way.

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a strong community. But with consistency, authenticity, and maybe a few pizza parties, you'll be amazed at the empire you can build.

What's your biggest challenge in building a community around your business? Is it finding time, knowing where to start, or figuring out what to say that isn't just "Buy my stuff"? Drop your thoughts in the comments (or reply to this email)—we'd love to hear from you!

Remember: "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson (who knew a thing or two about building successful teams!)

Thanks to you (our community) for reading!
The UpFlip Team

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