Dear Bri: Community Strategy, Fiascos, and Drama

In this episode, we’re hearing from Wavering But Hopeful. Our letter today deals with the very tough reality of deciding whether to continue putting in the effort to keep your community going or to close the doors when it feels like there’re more times when it isn’t working.To better help Wavering But Hopeful, I invited Salome Schillack as my guest expert. She has been through over a decade of owning her craft and her expertise, and five years of running her own community membership, which she tastefully sunset after realizing it was no longer in alignment. Having been in Wavering’s shoes, her insights deeply resonate.So, even if you’re not thinking of whether or not it’s time to shut down your community, make sure to tune in to this episode because you’ll discover what to anticipate, what to think about, and the questions you need to ask now in order to build a community for longevity and to decide if stopping or pivoting is the way to go.In this episode:(03:03) The tale of how Bri and Salome first met(05:49) The communitea: Wavering But Hopeful’s letter(07:03) Salome’s own experience of building a membership and making the decision to close it(15:14) What ultimately wasn’t working in Salome’s membership(21:53) How Salome’s community journey translates into Bri’s matrix of communities(24:40) Approaching the decision to close the doors or pivot as a marketer(29:02) How to turn your community around if shutting it down is not the way to go(31:04) What to ask yourself and keep in mind for a community that lasts and lights you up(37:38) If you’re also wavering, know you’re not alone🤫 A boundary that felt impossible (but built more trust). Here's the bonus conversation with Salome!Resources Mentioned:🧑‍🏫 Check out the 4 Types of Communities Masterclass.🎙️ Tune into Salome’s podcast, The Launch Lounge Podcast.❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.Salome Schillack🖥️ Website📱 LinkedInBri Leever🖥️ Website📹 Youtube📱LinkedInWant 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.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 empathyResources 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📱 LinkedIn🎙️ PodcastBri Leever🖥️ Website📩 Newsletter📹 Youtube📱LinkedInWant 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.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Zach Hawtof, Co-founder and CEO at Tightknit, dives deep into the evolution of community building. He discusses why offline connections always triumph over digital ones and reveals the 'cheat code' for engagement isn't automation. Zach also unpacks why Slack is both a community platform and not at the same time, sharing insights on anticipating member needs and the significance of listening. He candidly reflects on his biggest mistake and the challenges communities face today, especially with the rise of AI.

Murtaza Bambot, Founder & CEO of Heartbeat, shares insights on building niche communities, especially around sensitive topics. He emphasizes empathy and communication for attracting initial members. Murtaza discusses grassroots strategies over paid ads, the power of a paid waitlist, and the necessity of constant research and testing. He highlights the importance of focusing marketing on transformation and advises on leveraging tools like ChatGPT for support. This conversation is a goldmine for anyone looking to foster genuine community connections!

In this episode, we hear from Negativity in New York. Today’s letter deals with the nuanced line between keeping your community positive while making space for people to be honest and real about the struggles they are experiencing.To better help Negativity in New York, I invited Mallory Contois as my guest expert. She has lots to contribute today because as the creator of one of my FAVORITE communities, Old Girls Club — a virtual community for working women with over 1,800 members that’s been running for 2.5 years on Slack.Mallory has seen some sh*t, so tune in for some tactical advice and practical strategies for navigating the difficult task of allowing tough conversations to take place in your community but not letting them take over.In this episode:(04:33) Moderating difficult topics and maintaining a safe space(12:08) The Politics channel: a test(16:28) Different responses for different sizes of community(19:31) The communitea: Negativity in New York’s letter(20:58) What to do when a community member is trauma dumping(27:35) Practical advice for having those tough conversations(33:39) The importance of creating some distance from community members(37:37) The wild success of the Yell in Caps Here channel in the OGC communityExpect: Thoughtful community engagement tactics and community management coaching.Resources Mentioned:👩‍🦰 Join the Old Girls Club jointheogc.com.🎧 Past episodes mentioned: Episode 7 with Andrea Middleton and Episode 9 with Jae Washington.❤️ Sign up for Heartbeat. All-in-one community platform.💛 Join Ember. The place for community creators building community-powered businesses.Mallory Contois🖥️ Website📱 LinkedinBri Leever🖥️ Website📩 Newsletter📹 Youtube📱 LinkedinHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Carrie Melissa Jones, an award-winning community builder and CEO of the CMJ Group, discusses conflict resolution in community settings. She emphasizes the importance of proactively addressing potential conflicts and reassessing community values regularly. Carrie shares insights on navigating drama during events, trusting intuition, and fostering transparent communication. Additionally, she explores the balance between competition and collaboration within communities, encouraging leaders to foster trust and integrity for stronger connections.

In this episode, we’re hearing from Hopeful in Houston. Our letter today deals with a community builder who wishes they had better guided their community through diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).To better help Hopeful in Houston, I invited Jae Washington as my guest expert. She is the perfect person to bring us new insights because she is a community consultant, curator, and connector with experience at Zeenefits and as Head of the Global Client Community at Headspace, where she revolutionized community engagement and community-building within B2B organizations.So, tune in for a truly insightful and profound episode, with frameworks and tactics to help you build a community full of belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.In this episode:(04:00) Some harsh realities of being a community manager for an organization(10:07) The communitea: Hopeful in Houston’s letter(12:18) The 3 GRs: gratitude, grace, and growth(14:38) The value of belonging(18:38) Steps to bring a better DEIB initiative to your organization’s community(23:21) A new state of B.E.I.N.G.(25:48) Celebrating differences in your community(28:16) How to start your community on the right track with DEIB(31:09) When the community is asking for something you can’t deliver(34:47) Support, not save(37:55) A surprise: the letter’s originsExpect: Community strategy and community engagement tactics focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.Resources Mentioned:❤️ 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.Noteworthy quotes:“Just because an organization hires you to manage or institute community does not mean they value community.“ - Jae Washington“If our similarities are the spark for connection, our differences beget growth and education.” - Bri LeeverJae Washington🖥️ Website📱 LinkedinBri Leever🖥️ Website📩 Newsletter📹 Youtube📱 LinkedinHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Alli Ball, founder and CEO of Food Biz Wiz, shares her decade-long expertise in marketing successful community programs. Dive into the challenges of balancing free and paid communities, and discover the importance of setting clear expectations. Alli discusses navigating feelings of entitlement versus empowerment among members. She emphasizes effective engagement strategies, including innovative pop-up groups and targeted marketing techniques. Learn how to foster a collaborative environment while managing community dynamics!

In this episode, we’re hearing from Toxic Member in Toronto. Our letter today deals with a toxic community member stirring up trouble to revolt against the community manager.To better help Toxic Member in Toronto, I invited Andrea Middleton **as my guest expert. She is a seasoned veteran of the community space who loves finding paths to productive and powerful collaborations with opinionated and skeptical communities, which is perfect for our letter today.So, tune in for a lot of wisdom from someone who’s dealt with a toxic community member or two and some really practical tools on what to do when your community turns against you.In this episode:(03:34) When Andrea fanned the flames without a gameplan(06:21) 3 strategies for conflict de-escalation in online communities(11:57) The communitea: Toxic Member in Toronto’s letter(15:08) How to protect yourself against toxic community members(17:49) Having a strong code of conduct in place and tips to get there(28:32) The diagnostic phase and possible plans of action(34:44) Fighting fire (conflict) with a vacuumExpect: Community management best practices and community strategy for conflict resolution.Resources Mentioned:❤️ 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.Noteworthy quotes:“You don't need to agree with someone to understand where they're coming from. But without understanding her goals and motivations, you're never going to be able to form a strategic plan for how to address her behavior.“ - Andrea Middleton“You don't need to arm yourself with all of these rigid guidelines and rules when really, as “the protector” of the community, your job is to bring forth the spirit of the community, not to just enforce the things people aren't supposed to do.“ - Bri LeeverAndrea MiddletonAndrea is a veteran community organizer who loves finding paths to productive and powerful collaborations with opinionated, skeptical communities. She spent 10 years working in community efforts in the WordPress open source project, and joined Reddit in 2021.🖥️ Website📱 LinkedinBri LeeverBri got her start building a community and growing it to a multi-million dollar revenue stream for a social enterprise in Portland, OR. Now, she supports folks used to running their business on content, coaching, and consulting to create their community offer. She's a Community Strategist by day and a Campervan host by night on the Big Island of Hawaii and you'll usually find her on, in, or under the water.🖥️ Website📩 Newsletter📹 Youtube📱 LinkedinHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jelani Memory, the VP & Publisher at DK, dives into the art of balancing community and business goals. He emphasizes the power of creating genuine connections and leading by example in community culture. Jelani shares his process for helping others access their stories and discusses strategies for fostering authentic engagement. He outlines three key principles for community caretaking and reflects on aligning community initiatives with core values for sustainable growth. Tune in for valuable insights that inspire a fresh perspective on community building!