Holding Space with Your Community: 3 Ways to Post That Foster Connection 📖
Ways to share your brand so that people feel connected 🔗
Putting all your time into social media and only getting 2 likes and 1 comment from a relative is not worth it. 🙅♀️ That’s why today we’re talking about 3 ways to turn followers into your brand’s community, and get people invested in its future. 👇
🔬 R&D with Community:
Get input from your audience on what they want to see from your brand in the future! Working on a new project? Consider creating a “close friends” story or message group that lets people give you input on questions you have about current and future projects. Less “what do you want to see?” and more “what colors do you want to see this year?” Be specific and ask people to elaborate if you need to—your brand will be all the better for it, and the community you’re building will feel closer than ever. Here’s an idea to start with:
You’re trying to figure out why everyone’s seemingly favorite product isn’t the best seller on paper..and you decided your community can help you! Start with a story that allows people to respond, and when people respond ask them a few questions about their favorite products (both yours and competitors). In addition ask for any other comments they weren’t able to add to their original response. After you talk, make sure to thank them for their time by offering them something exclusive like a coupon or free product. A little gift can go a long way!
🧐 Be Transparent:
Have a funny, or random, every day stories about work?? Show people the brand’s personality through those stories. They will connect in a way that good, ol’ buttoned up origin stories and brand content just don’t. By giving your community insight on what your team, and day-to-day goals, are like you’re letting them be part of your brand. Film in your office..or if you don’t have an office, talk about that! Don’t be afraid to show off the elements that make your brand who it is every single day. Here is a prompt to get you started:
Create a daily (or weekly) check-in via one (so you don’t get overwhelmed, or take too much time out of your day) social platform where you update everyone on the progress of something that your community asks about a lot, or that you want people to get excited about. This could be a group message, a story, an email list, or something else—wherever your people are is the best place to send it!
📬 Add to Your Output:
Be exclusively inclusive by offering to create a special sect of your community accessible through certain criteria. Whether that’s being a customer in the past, following a certain page on a social media platform, or creating something like a Patreon. Creating an exclusive group will create super fans that will spread the word of your brand far and wide, creating a following that will never fail to find you. Here is a way to implement this for your brand:
Create an exclusive mailing list that allows community members, meeting certain criteria, to receive or test products early. Create your criteria for this based on the goals your business has.. If your goal is to sell more of a certain product, consider setting some aside to send out as free samples to the first 50 people who sign up. After a month or so, send the same people a feedback form asking if they would buy it, and for their any additional comments, questions or concerns. They’ll appreciate you taking their opinion into account, and feel more part of the process. Plus you get some opinions to think about from the people that matter most to your brand!
🤡 BONUS! Be Unserious!
Social media is for fun at the end of the day—so have fun. Whether that means deep dives on your industry/brand, using silly audio clips, or doing a little dance, don’t take social media too seriously—because when you’re having fun, so is your community.
