Charles Broskoski, co-founder of Are.na—a unique visual organization tool for artists and thinkers—shares insights from his journey in creating a community-driven platform. He discusses the growth of Are.na from a few artist friends to over 100,000 members. The conversation emphasizes the significance of subscription-based models over advertising, advocating for mindful online spaces. Charles also imparts advice on community building, highlighting the importance of engaging with users and valuing their feedback.
Are.na has successfully transitioned from a small group of artists to a global community of over 100,000 members by prioritizing meaningful idea sharing.
The platform's subscription model fosters alignment between creators and users, emphasizing the importance of a mindful online space over traditional advertising techniques.
Deep dives
Understanding Arena's Unique Concept
Arena is designed as a visual organization tool that aims to help users connect and build knowledge through idea sharing rather than the typical 'like' interactions of other social networks. It is often described as 'Pinterest for nerds,' which illustrates its functionality of allowing users to collect and organize visual inspirations in a community-driven environment. The platform encourages a mindful approach to creativity, enabling users to explore and work through projects over time. This emphasis on connecting ideas rather than promoting superficial engagement differentiates Arena from more traditional social media platforms.
The Evolution of Arena and Its Business Model
Initially developed by a group of artists in 2010, Arena evolved from a concept inspired by changes in other platforms, such as Delicious, which was a social bookmarking website that no longer served its original purpose. The team recognized that they needed to create a platform they would actually use, leading to a shift from a closed system to a more open-ended one. Arena's business model is centered around user subscriptions, a departure from the advertising-driven approaches common in social media, thus aligning the motivations of the company with its users. This subscription model was introduced three and a half years prior, reinforcing the idea that users are willing to pay for a product that genuinely meets their needs.
Creating a Community-Oriented Platform
As Arena grew, the user base included not just close friends but a wider circle of creative individuals seeking a collaborative space to share their thoughts and ideas. The platform encourages interaction and engagement while maintaining an open feedback channel, allowing users to express their thoughts on potential features and improvements. Notably, the community aspect is highlighted by users' strong resistance to adding features like a 'like' button, which reflects a collective commitment to maintaining the platform's integrity. This sense of community involvement is crucial, as it fosters a supportive environment that helps the platform evolve based on user needs.
Market Positioning and the Future of Social Platforms
The conversation highlights a broader trend regarding the functionality of social networks and user behaviors, emphasizing an active engagement with information rather than passive consumption. In 2019, Arena's appeal lies in its ability to provide users with tools to make sense of the overwhelming content available online while promoting a collaborative learning process. Looking ahead, there are ideas for expanding Arena's influence, such as creating a publication or conference that brings like-minded creatives together, demonstrating a commitment to community growth. The positioning of Arena as a mindful alternative to conventional social platforms reflects an evolving understanding of what users truly desire from their online interactions.
Charles is a co-founder of Are.na, a visual organization tool designed to help you think and create.
Some call it the Pinterest for nerds, others an alternative social network that helps you collect and connect ideas with a community of like-minded visual researchers. Are.na has over 100,000 members today and more than 8,000 paying members that financially sustain the platform.
In August 2019, we had the chance to sit down with Charles at The Conference in Malmö to chat about topics such as:
- How Are.na grew from a group of artist friends in New York City to a global community of over 100,000 members today
- Subscription vs advertising: the importance of a business model that aligns the creators of a platform with their members
- The Internet as a public square: why we need to create more mindful spaces online to challenge the status quo
- Charles' advice to community builders: it's vital to consider yourself a participant of your own community, receive feedback and take your member's opinions seriously
Here is episode #24 of the co-matter podcast with Charles Broskoski.
----
Follow Charles at @broskoski on Twitter and sign up to Are.na via www.are.na.
Hungry for more insights? Join our mailing list via co-matter.com/mailinglist for a monthly update from the co-matter network covering new episodes, insights, summits & more.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode