013: Build a Community, Not an Audience with Gina Bianchini
Nov 23, 2023
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Gina Bianchini, co-founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, shares tips on building a thriving community and the difference between building a personal brand and a community brand. They discuss the benefits of building a community around a business and the challenges of creating a welcoming digital community. The importance of having clear community guidelines and a defined culture is highlighted. They also discuss the power of creating a community for personal growth and the process of setting and cultivating a culture within a community.
Building a community is about fostering relationships and shared purpose, not just having an audience.
Resilience and perseverance are crucial for becoming a billion dollar creator and protecting intellectual property.
Positioning a product within a community creates meaning and relevance, selling a shared journey instead of just a product.
Deep dives
Building a Community for a Billion Dollar Creator
The podcast episode discusses the importance of building a community for creators and entrepreneurs. The hosts emphasize that community is the key to capturing attention and turning it into real wealth. They highlight the difference between an audience and a community, stating that a community is about building relationships with each other towards a shared purpose. The hosts provide practical tips for turning an audience into a community, such as having a big purpose, focusing on progress, implementing monthly themes, creating a weekly calendar, and engaging members with daily polls and questions. They also share examples of successful brands, like Joel Runyon's Impossible, that have leveraged their communities to scale their businesses and achieve greater impact.
Resilience and Perseverance: The Key Traits of a Billion Dollar Creator
The podcast highlights the importance of resilience and perseverance in becoming a billion dollar creator. The hosts discuss Joel Runyon's brand, Impossible, and his relentless pursuit of turning it into a massive brand. They commend Joel for his ownership of trademarks and his ongoing legal battle against a billion dollar company. They emphasize the need for creators to push through challenges and protect their intellectual property. The hosts stress the significance of having a bigger purpose and a community around a brand, as well as the power of creating products that align with that purpose and have a tangible impact on customers' lives.
Community as a Catalyst for Product Success
The podcast episode explores the role of community in product success. The hosts discuss the importance of positioning a product within a community to make it more meaningful and relevant to customers. They highlight the value of challenges and events in fostering deeper engagement within a community. The hosts suggest selling a challenge or experience instead of just the product itself, as it creates a sense of belonging and a shared journey. They provide an example of a sleep product and how it can be marketed as a solution within a community dedicated to achieving the best sleep possible. They emphasize that by focusing on the community and its collective goals, creators can build a powerful and impactful brand.
Creating a Culture of Resilience and Growth in Communities
The podcast episode focuses on creating a culture of resilience and growth within communities. The hosts discuss the importance of having a clear purpose and goals in community building. They emphasize the need for communities to continuously challenge and inspire their members, providing both novelty and habit through monthly themes and a weekly calendar. The hosts highlight the power of daily actions, polls, and questions in fostering connections and storytelling within a community. They stress the shift from a personal brand to a community brand, where members are the heroes and the focus is on providing value and enabling their growth. The hosts encourage creators to build communities that foster accountability, support, and collaboration, ultimately leading to greater success and impact.
Building a Successful Community by Focusing on Identity and Purpose
One key insight from the podcast is the importance of building a community that focuses on member identity and purpose. The speaker highlights that the most successful communities quickly identify the unique identity of their members and create a sense of motivation and purpose for them. This can be achieved by starting with the members' goals and aspirations, and designing a community experience that helps them achieve those goals. An example mentioned in the podcast is Nancy Anderson, a celebrity trainer who created the Birth Recovery Center, a digital platform focusing on birth preparation and recovery. By placing emphasis on what the community is for and addressing a specific need, Anderson built a thriving eight-figure business.
Leveraging Community to Scale and Innovate
The podcast episode also explores how creators can leverage community to scale their businesses and unlock new opportunities. One example discussed is Pinky Cole, the owner of Atlanta-based restaurant Sledi Vegan. Besides using social media to engage with her audience, Cole actively involves her community by asking questions, providing giveaways, and responding to every DM (direct message). She has also created a separate community called American Sesh, where regular entrepreneurs get the chance to connect with celebrities and share their business ideas. This unique approach has not only helped Sledi Vegan gain popularity and grow, but it has also spawned her second business venture and potentially a TV show. By constantly seeking engagement and creating unique experiences within her community, Cole has been able to scale her business and pursue new opportunities.
How do you build a thriving community that lays the foundation for a successful creator business? Gina Bianchini, co-founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, is one of the best in the world at building community, and she’s sharing everything you need to know today.
We’re discussing why culture builds a stronger community than guidelines and the difference between building a personal brand versus a community brand. Plus, Gina is sharing her tips for building a community from scratch.
