Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama What’s step one for someone totally new to creating their own community space? With Marjorie Anderson, Director of Community for Exos
In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Newbie. Our letter today deals with how overwhelming it can be to enter the world of community-building without really knowing where to begin.
To better help Community Newbie, I invited Marjorie Anderson as my guest expert. She is the Director of Community for Exos and the Principal Strategist at Community by Association L.L.C. Marjorie is a bright light in the community spaces, has been professionally building community for 11+ years, and has helped many people get started with community.
So, tune in for some incredible plant analogies that will make you look at both problems and community in a whole new way, the tools you need to lay a strong foundation for your new community, and tips on what you can do to have the best community for both you and your members.
In this episode:
(03:16) The communitea: Community Newbie’s letter
(04:21) Stop feeling stuck with Marjorie’s beautiful oak tree analogy
(07:24) Who should be looking to build community, and who shouldn’t
(10:24) Beware of sabotaging your own community
(11:36) Let’s make one thing clear: Community DOES really work
(16:02) 3 foundational questions and a boundary to get you started with building community
(24:35) The importance of interviewing 10 of your ideal members and what to ask them
(27:27) Build the unique community you and your members want and have a manager
(33:24) Listen to your community members with equal parts authority and empathy
Resources Mentioned:
📗 Learn more about The Mom Test.
❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.
💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.
🔥 Ready to hear the stories we almost kept to ourselves? Here's this week's secret episode with Marjorie!
Marjorie Anderson
🖥️ Website
🎙️ Podcast
Bri Leever
🖥️ Website
📹 Youtube
Want your story to be next? Submit an anonymous letter about your community conundrum, fiasco, drama, or other dilemma here.
*Dear Bri is produced by Ideablossoms.
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