4 Things to Consider When Building a Community

Building a community can be one of the most rewarding aspects of any business or personal venture. Whether you're running a tight-knit digital group or building a large, global network, there are key factors to consider at each stage of the journey.

In this article, we'll explore four critical aspects to keep in mind when building and maintaining a community: size, engagement, retention, and niche.

1. Size

Like any other business, the size of a community influences the strategy you undertake. While a bigger community has obvious benefits in terms of network expansion, a small community can also be extremely beneficial to members if executed correctly.

Small Communities - Tight-Knit and Personal: In the early stages, a smaller community allows for deeper, more meaningful connections. When your community is small, engagement can be highly personalized, and every individual member matters. It's a chance to forge real relationships, understand the unique needs of your members, and fine-tune your offerings to match their interests.

Big Communities - Broad Reach, More Connections: As your community grows, things inevitably become more complex. With more members, the emphasis will shift toward maintaining inclusivity and fostering diverse interactions.

Running a large community like a small one will lead to operational challenges and burnout while running a small community like a large one makes for a terrible experience with members gaining little value.

2. Engagement

Engagement is the driving force that keeps a community alive. Without active participation, a community can quickly wither, no matter how big or small it is.

Create opportunities for participation: Host regular events, discussions, and challenges that invite members to share their thoughts, experiences, or expertise. Find ways to connect community members together using different formats.

Provide valuable content: Offering high-quality, relevant content will give members something to engage with. This could range from insightful articles to interactive webinars or Q&A sessions.

Reward participation: Recognize active members, whether through shout-outs, badges, or even tangible rewards. This reinforces positive behavior and encourages others to get involved.

Be transparent: Share the community’s progress, updates, and challenges. Transparency builds trust and shows members that they are part of a larger vision.

Foster respect and inclusivity: Ensure that discussions are respectful and welcoming to all members. Diversity of thought and experience should be encouraged and celebrated.

Engagement isn’t just about activity—it’s about creating an environment where members feel their participation is valuable and impactful. A community that is actively engaged will naturally attract more members and retain those who are already a part of it.

3. Retention

Retention should be at the forefront of any community strategy. A low retention rate often signals that members don’t find long-term value, and that’s the kiss of death for any community. Here’s how to improve retention and keep your community thriving:

Always offer value: Regularly assess what your members need or want and adjust your offerings accordingly. Communities thrive when members feel they are consistently gaining something of worth—whether it's knowledge, connections, or entertainment.

Provide exclusive benefits: Exclusive content, events, or resources are a great way to give members a reason to stick around. This creates a sense of exclusivity and belonging.

Provide support: Show your members that you care by offering guidance and support. This can be through direct interaction or creating a safe space for them to share challenges.

Retention isn’t just about keeping members; it’s about ensuring that they are genuinely invested in the community’s growth and success. A community with strong retention is one that members see as an essential part of their lives.

4. Niche

Choosing the right niche is one of the most critical decisions when building a community. It determines your community’s identity, its appeal, and its potential for growth. Here are some considerations:

Too General - Lack of Focus: A general niche can seem like a safe choice because it attracts a wide range of people. However, it can also lead to a lack of meaningful interactions, as members may feel the community doesn’t cater to their specific interests. It’s hard to foster deep engagement if the content and discussions are too broad to be truly relevant to anyone.

Too Niche - Limits Market Size: On the other hand, choosing a hyper-specific niche can narrow your audience too much. While it might create a highly engaged group of people who are passionate about a particular topic, it can also significantly limit growth potential. If your niche is too narrow, you may run out of new members or struggle to sustain long-term engagement.

The key is to find a balance between a specific, identifiable niche and the flexibility to appeal to a broader audience. Aim for a niche that is specific enough to create a sense of community and shared purpose, but broad enough to allow for growth and varied participation.

Final Thoughts

Remember that it is impossible to make every community member happy all the time. Members may also outgrow the community over time, which is a natural and happy phenomenon. The goal is to find a balance in ensuring cohesion across the community while attempting to give as much personalised support as possible where required.

Check out our review of the top Singapore-based founder communities in Southeast Asia.