Merissa Dawson and Ashley Bowe from 37signals share their expertise in building the Basecamp Community. They dive into the origins of the community, emphasizing how early Q&A forums laid the groundwork for deeper connections. The duo discusses the vital role of community facilitators and how to balance guidance with autonomy. They generously offer tips on launching a community without fear of failure and strategies to maintain engagement and support, showcasing the joy of fostering creativity and collaboration among users.
The Basecamp Community originated from a historical interest in customer interaction, evolving significantly since the introduction of '37 Answers' in 2010.
Creating a safe and collaborative environment for users is crucial, emphasizing the importance of feedback and tailored content for diverse member needs.
Deep dives
Origins of the Community
The idea of building a community stemmed from a long-standing interest in fostering customer interaction at 37 Signals. The introduction of '37 Answers' in 2010 set the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into a thriving community, showcasing the value of customer-driven support. A notable example was a customer using Basecamp as a community forum for their espresso machine users, which inspired the team to explore similar initiatives. Eventually, after discussions and planning, the community started to take shape in late 2021, culminating in a beta launch in May 2022.
Community Structure and Engagement
The community is designed as a creative and open space that encourages users to share their experiences and seek advice on various projects. A highlight is the 'Inspiration Exchange' where members can post unique ideas and solutions they've implemented, prompting curiosity and collaboration. Members benefit from direct engagement with 37 Signals team members, fostering a sense of closeness and accessibility that is often missing in corporate environments. The community thrives on user-led discussions while the support team facilitates interaction without overshadowing member contributions.
Lessons Learned and Future Directions
The leaders of the community emphasize the importance of creating a safe environment for sharing and learning, stressing that trial and experimentation are key to growth. They successfully seeded the community with strategic content before inviting members, which helped create a welcoming atmosphere right from its inception. Feedback from members is integral, allowing the team to continuously improve the platform and address any issues promptly. Moving forward, there is a focus on tailoring content for different user groups to ensure that all members can easily find what they need, reflecting the diverse needs within the community.
There is a way to bring your customers together in a meaningful way. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes welcomes 37signals' Support Team members Merissa Dawson and Ashley Bowe to discuss how the Basecamp Community came to life. They describe how they've connected with Basecamp customers and how they've connected customers with each other. They also offer a few tips for anyone looking to start their own community of customers and company enthusiasts.
Key Takeaways:
00:40 – Meet Merissa and Ashley from Basecamp Support
01:54 – The Basecamp Community origin story
05:03 – The Community as a place for sharing and collaboration
07:20 – The 37signals team role within the Community
09:08 – Starting a community without fear of failure
13:27 – Tips for starting your own community of users and fans